"That many?"
Su Ming wore an expression of helplessness.
Cao Dezhi was also startled by Su Ming's tone.
"Do you really think there are that many divine artifacts? Nine? That would nearly empty half the accumulated wealth of all the major factions."
Su Ming raised an eyebrow.
"It's that few?"
In his view, a set of Four-Word Battle Armor essentially represented a divine artifact. After all, even if it couldn't help a Limit Douluo reach the quasi-god level, that Limit Douluo could simply infuse the Battle Armor's spirit into something like their Martial Spirit before death to artificially create a divine artifact.
Take the Sky-Piercing Spear, for example.
If Yun Ming died and intended to do so, the Sky-Piercing Spear could definitely be left behind, and in the form of a divine artifact.
"It's not as simple as you think." Cao Dezhi sighed. "Since the emergence of Four-Word Battle Armor, the Federation has indeed produced countless quasi-gods. Over ten thousand years, the number is staggering. But you also need to know that the arrival of the Abyss was a heavy blow to the Douluo Planet."
He took a deep breath, looking towards the location of the Abyssal passage.
"The Abyss is like a giant, blood-sucking beast clinging to the Douluo Planet, voraciously devouring its Heaven and Earth Vital Energy. The Douluo Planet has a large mass and absorbs energy from the universe to strengthen itself. Without the Abyss, given the flourishing state of the Spirit Master world, breaking through to become a god-level plane would almost be a certainty."
"However, precisely because of the Abyss, not only has the Douluo Planet been unable to strengthen itself, but the entire planet's energy has been slowly draining away. Even if the plane speeds up its absorption of cosmic energy, it can't keep up with the loss."
Hearing this, Su Ming remained expressionless.
He was, of course, aware of this. This was the nature of the Abyss.
"With the overall energy level declining, yet the Spirit Master world remaining so prosperous over ten thousand years, how do you think that was achieved?" Cao Dezhi countered.
Su Ming was taken aback.
Wasn't it by frantically extracting Heaven and Earth Vital Energy, just like the Abyss?
"On one hand, it's the inheritance within the Spirit Master world. The emergence of Spirit Souls and Battle Armor has allowed certain Martial Souls to be optimized generation after generation, becoming stronger. On the other hand, it's what you're thinking—using the power of a quasi-god before death to nurture a divine artifact. However, a divine artifact isn't that easy to form. It requires continued nurturing over several subsequent generations to truly take shape. But this is equivalent to using resources that are already being constantly depleted to create divine artifacts. The future environment would only worsen. Therefore, these artifacts are never truly fully nurtured; they are merely used as an opportunity for the next generation within a family to achieve a breakthrough."
Huh?
Su Ming was stunned.
"So, divine artifacts cannot be nurtured into existence. In top-tier inheriting families, the older generation of Limit Douluo would try their best to preserve their power before death, providing hope for the family's descendants—that is, inheritance."
The power of Limit Douluo was passed down through generations. Coupled with the fact that one or two new talents indeed emerged in each era, this gave rise to the current spectacle of Limit Douluo being seemingly everywhere.
If it were purely about extracting a share from the current era's Heaven and Earth Vital Energy, given the Douluo Planet's current state, if over a dozen Limit Douluo appeared consecutively across three generations, the Douluo Planet would be drained dry.
"Of course, some families have inheritance so stable they can spare the extra effort to forge divine artifacts, but they are few."
Cao Dezhi educated Su Ming on the approximate number of divine artifacts held by major families and factions today.
"The Tang Sect I know best has about five divine artifacts. The Spirit Transmission Pagoda should be similar. Shrek is hard to judge, as the successive Sea God Pavilion Masters haven't come from a single faction."
"The War God Hall probably also has around five."
"Beyond these four super factions, among the remaining powers, the largest might possess up to three divine artifacts—families like the Qian Gu Family, the Sea God Family, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. As for sects like the Clear Sky Clan, I don't know."
Su Ming interrupted Cao Dezhi.
"So there are this many divine artifacts? Nine isn't that many. You're acting as if it's life or death for them."
Cao Dezhi was at a loss, offering only a bitter smile.
Nine divine artifacts would require emptying out two super factions to gather!
Is that not many?
Emptying out!
This is ten thousand years of accumulated heritage!
Su Ming curled his lip.
"This grand formation of mine can help Spirit Masters devour abyssal energy. Come to the Blood God Legion to fight, actively devour abyssal energy. One Limit Douluo is enough; they'd definitely earn it back within ten years."
"Moreover, I've discovered that abyssal energy is very suitable for nurturing divine artifacts. This energy is not only high-level and intense, capable of tempering divine artifacts, but also blank, able to perfectly preserve the divine essence awakened in a divine artifact embryo."
Cao Dezhi was intrigued by Su Ming's words.
Abyssal energy is suitable for nurturing divine artifacts?
This was something he truly didn't know.
If that were the case, then...
That changes the equation entirely.
"Can a grand formation constructed with nine divine artifacts withstand the abyssal energy within so many Limit Douluo?"
Su Ming scoffed.
What happened to your previous attitude?
"It's more than enough. Furthermore, once the Abyss is successfully resolved, the nine divine artifacts will be returned to whoever contributed them. During this period, I'll arrange additional mechanisms for the grand formation to collect a tax rate. No matter who devours abyssal energy, they must hand over at least one-tenth as sustenance for the formation's operation."
"Those below Spirit Emperor rank pay one-tenth. Spirit Emperors pay 15%. Spirit Sages pay 20%. Spirit Douluo pay 30%. Battle Armor Masters are categorized based on their peak combat strength. As for Titled Douluo, they pay 20%. Super Douluo pay 30%. Limit Douluo pay 40%. Quasi-gods pay 50%."
Cao Dezhi gasped in shock.
What? Such a high tax rate?
"I said it's for maintaining the grand formation's operation. The remainder is used to nurture the nine divine artifacts guarding the formation," Su Ming clarified.
The tax for Titled Douluo was set lower because nine-ringed Titled Douluo no longer have the capacity to convert Abyssal Spirit Rings. They have one fewer method to absorb abyssal energy, thus putting less strain on the formation, so their tax is slightly lower.
"I understand. If everything proceeds as described, then I think gathering nine divine artifacts would be easy."
At this point, Cao Dezhi's mouth twitched slightly.
He now regrets not speaking up earlier about the Tang Sect's willingness to contribute more.
"By the way, for the nine divine artifacts, it's best if they belong to nine different factions. For example, treat the Qian Gu Family and the Spirit Transmission Pagoda as one party. The Sea God Legion and the War God Hall similarly. Families or sects with powerhouses holding the position of Deputy Hall Master or higher with real authority within these four super factions are all counted as one party."
There are many factions with divine artifacts. Get everyone involved.
"Oh, and reserve one extra spot. The Star Luo Empire must also participate."
"Hmm?" Cao Dezhi showed a puzzled expression.
"The Star Luo Empire's newly advanced Limit Douluo, the Qilin Douluo, came to the Federation with me and is currently a guest with the Sea God Legion," Su Ming said. "His goal is to join the Blood God Legion, but the Federation's approval process has been stalled."
"What about the Heaven Dou Empire? Should we include them too?"
"Does the Heaven Dou Empire have any Limit Douluo?" Su Ming asked doubtfully.
"Then we won't bring them in."
***
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(End of Chapter)