Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)

Before every departure, the Nine-Heavens Fleet was tasked not only with conquering the universe and spreading the Heavenly Emperor’s glory, but also with a hidden mission—to search for spirit stones.

The Zhutian Civilization had risen through spirit stone veins, using the spirit qi within to strengthen organic matter, thereby forging invincible warships and peerless Zhutian warriors.

After the Heaven Emperor came to rule over the Zhutian Civilization, he took their mastery of spirit stones to new heights. It could be said that spirit stones were vital not only to the Heavenly Emperor but also to the entire Zhutian Civilization.

Although every warship was equipped with a spirit stone detection radar, and they had searched for ages, they wound up empty-handed everywhere except at the place where the Heavenly Emperor first rose to prominence.

Now, they had finally found spirit stones, and top-grade spirit stones of the highest quality at that! If they were fortunate enough to locate a vein of top-grade spirit stones, the Heavenly Emperor would surely reward them, and their Biluo Heaven Legion would leap to become the foremost of the Nine-Layers Heaven Fleet.

Shi Wumian’s original plan had been to meet the Council Chairman and force him into submission, but with top-grade spirit stones right before his eyes, everything else could wait.

After disembarking, he followed the radar’s direction and rushed toward the Institute’s research lab. Even his personal guards couldn’t keep up.

A few scientists were analyzing the energy within the top-grade spirit stones with various instruments, completely oblivious to the chaos outside, until Shi Wumian kicked open the several-ton alloy door, startling them.

Shi Wumian was in no mood to bother about the scientists’ reactions. His gaze locked onto the top-grade spirit stones in the glass case, his breathing growing heavy.

There’s no mistaking it—these are top-grade spirit stones!

He shattered the glass with a single punch and seized the spirit stones.

“Lord Shi.” His guards arrived belatedly, gasping for breath after struggling to catch up.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

“I have a task for all of you. Find out where these top-grade spirit stones came from.”

“Yes, sir!”

With that, Shi Wumian returned to the command ship with the top-grade spirit stones and awaited word from his personal guards. His guards were elite Zhutian warriors, each handpicked from among a thousand. They were outstanding in combat and meticulous in their duties.

“Lord Shi, here’s the list of Interstellar Alliance leaders willing to surrender. Please review it.”

“Put it over there.”

“Your Excellency, here’s the area of the Interstellar Alliance’s territory.”

“Put it over there.”

“Commander, here’s an analysis of the Interstellar Alliance’s technological development. I believe our top priorities should be the Ether computer and quantum communication. Both are technologies we lack, especially quantum communication, which enables instantaneous transmission regardless of distance...”

“Put it over there.”

The Biluo Heaven Legion had conquered countless planets. Each command member had their own duties and responsibilities. According to protocol, they had to submit their findings to Shi Wumian so he could formulate the next plan.

The Interstellar Alliance was the most advanced civilization the Biluo Heaven Legion had encountered. In the past, Shi Wumian would have eagerly gone through intelligence reports like this. But now, he only felt impatient. It’s not like the Interstellar Alliance is going anywhere. None of these matters. What matters most is where these top-grade spirit stones came from.

At last, his personal guards returned with crucial intelligence. “Your Excellency, we’ve looked into it. These top-grade spirit stones don’t belong to the Interstellar Alliance. They came from a place called the Cultivation World.”

“Cultivation World?” Shi Wumian furrowed his brow. He had never heard of it. “Give me the details.”

“This starts with a cultivator named Lu Yang, who stumbled into a television production...”

Shi Wumian steepled his fingers, frowning in thought. “You’re saying that the Cultivation World has abundant top-grade spirit stones and is rather backward, having only just managed to enter the cosmos, and that they even require humanitarian aid from the Interstellar Alliance?”

His eyes sparkled. The words “the Cultivation World has abundant spirit stones” wouldn't stop replaying in his mind. A backward civilization with advanced energy is no different from a child clutching gold in a crowded market. It’s practically begging to be plundered!

His personal guard nodded. “Yes. Strangely, though they’ve only just entered the cosmos, they can already traverse wormholes to reach the Interstellar Alliance.”

Shi Wumian waved dismissively. “Read more. It’s just a technological explosion. That’s perfectly normal. Before the Heavenly Emperor’s emergence, our Zhutian Civilization constantly suppressed and dominated discovered civilizations to maintain our rule and prevent such technological explosions in other civilizations from threatening our position.

“The Cultivation World must have figured out a way to utilize spirit stones, allowing their civilization to develop rapidly. However, no matter how fast they’ve developed, how can they outpace our fleet?”

The personal guard was taken aback. “Do you mean that... we’re going to the Cultivation World now?”

“Of course. Compared to the Cultivation World, this Interstellar Alliance is nothing. Have you found out its location?”

“This is the star chart Lu Yang left behind, depicting the route from the Interstellar Alliance to the Cultivation World. Please review it, Your Excellency.” The personal guard presented the map with both hands.

Shi Wumian burst into laughter. “Good, good, good! This Lu Yang just keeps doing good work. Whatever I need, he leaves it behind!”

“But Lu Yang seems quite powerful. He can envelop an entire planet with sword arrays, exterminate all ferocious beasts, and even stop bullets midair, returning them to their magazines,” the personal guard said in a low voice, sounding uncertain.

“That’s nothing. They’re mere parlor tricks. It’s just killing all animals in an instant. Any of our warships’ auto-targeting artillery systems can do that. Besides, we have 1500 such warships. As for stopping bullets midair and such, I’d like to see what those petty tricks can do against a full Biluo Heaven Legion!

“Did Lu Yang claim to be among the strongest in the Cultivation World? If that’s true, the Cultivation World is nothing impressive!

“Pass down the order—prepare to launch a campaign against the Cultivation World!

“Also, we must send regular work reports to the Heavenly Emperor. Write down everything that happened today and send someone to deliver the letter.”

“Yes, sir.”

~~~

In the Zhutian Civilization, the Heavenly Emperor resided atop a nine-tiered tower.

He had once been Wu Yao, the first Yu Emperor. Now, he was the Heavenly Emperor, the sovereign of the cosmos. Two reigns had made his aura ever more profound and inscrutable. Rather than calling him the leader of the Zhutian Civilization, it was more fitting to call him its god.

A beautiful handmaiden approached gingerly, holding a letter. “Your Majesty, a letter from the Biluo Heaven Legion.”

Although she had served the Heavenly Emperor for a few months, his imperial presence remained as unfathomable as an abyss. She was cautious with every movement, fearful of breaking a taboo.

“A letter from Shi Wumian?” The Heavenly Emperor opened his eyes, countless stars reflected in his eyes.

He took the letter. Noticing how prudent the handmaiden still was, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Cui’er, I’ve told you before. You don’t need to be so cautious around me.”

The handmaiden named Cui’er dared not disobey him and simply muttered, “Yes.”

The Heavenly Emperor shook his head helplessly. He tore open the envelope and quickly read its contents.

“Oh, Shi Wumian has discovered a major faction in the universe called the Interstellar Alliance and even found leads on top-grade spirit stones.” The Heavenly Emperor smiled. This is fantastic news. It’s been so many years. At last, a second planet bearing spirit stones has been found.

“Shi Wumian has already led the Biluo Heaven Legion there. The destination is called... the Cultivation World?!”

The Heavenly Emperor shot to his feet, his gaze fixed on the words “Cultivation World.” His eyes turned bloodshot, his lips quivering.

Shi Wumian, you’re not my subordinate! You’re my freaking father!!!