Xiao Fei collected all the immortal stones from the human race, totaling over seventy million, still far from his goal.
This troubled Xiao Fei greatly. The human cultivators would surely have some reserves, but compared to his needs, it was like a drop in the ocean.
His next target had to be the Demon Alliance.
There were many ways to acquire all of an enemy's wealth.
The best method was to destroy their physical bodies and souls with force, occupy their territories, seize their wealth, and abduct their women!
However, Xiao Fei clearly lacked such strength. If he had it, he wouldn't be troubled.
Since he couldn't seize them by force, only stealing and deception remained.
As for trading, that was absolutely impossible.
Stealing or deceiving once or twice might be possible, but acquiring all the immortal stones of the Demon Alliance was an almost impossible task.
Thinking of these difficulties, he rubbed his bald head in distress.
Originally, the greatest difficulty for an ordinary person to advance to the Golden Immortal realm was comprehending the Great Dao.
But he now possessed a Great Dao, yet lacked sufficient immortal stones.
As a last resort, he had to seek out Dao Venerable Xuan Tian. This old man had lived the longest and might have a solution.
Dao Venerable Xuan Tian appeared somewhat dispirited, looking as if he had just been severely beaten.
"Dao Venerable, do you know of any other places in the Immortal Realm where large quantities of immortal stones can be obtained, at least over one hundred million?"
"The Immortal Realm has long since declined due to years of consumption, and the original immortal stone veins are all gone.
The total existing supply is limited; every piece used is one less.
Although I do possess two treasures, they are not enough for your needs."
As Dao Venerable Xuan Tian spoke, the jade bracelet on his wrist flashed, and two crystal masses, the size of human heads and radiating dense immortal energy, appeared in his hand.
"Are these Immortal Crystals?"
Xiao Fei had seen them in some ancient texts, which mentioned that in the past immortal stone mines, Immortal Crystals could occasionally be found.
The immortal energy contained within Immortal Crystals was tens of thousands of times greater than that of ordinary immortal stones.
"Indeed! They are Immortal Crystals. There are no such mineral deposits in the Immortal Realm anymore. I obtained these two five million years ago."
"I had intended to keep them as mementos, but I shall give them to you now!"
"Thank you, Dao Venerable!"
Xiao Fei thanked him profusely and accepted them.
These two large pieces in Dao Venerable Xuan Tian's possession were equivalent to at least twenty to thirty million immortal stones.
Combined with his previous savings, he now had barely one hundred million immortal stones.
"Are there any other ways I can obtain a large number of immortal stones? I implore Dao Venerable for guidance."
Dao Venerable Xuan Tian picked up his tea cup and took a sip of immortal tea. Xiao Fei quickly helped him refill it.
"Do you know why I have no interest in your Creation Jade Disk?"
"Dao Venerable's noble character, unmoved by mere external objects, truly earns my admiration. You are a role model for me to learn from!"
Although Xiao Fei didn't know the specific reason, flattery was always a safe bet.
"Bah!"
Unexpectedly, Dao Venerable Xuan Tian spat.
"Since ancient times, good people have short lives. If I possessed such high moral standards, would I be sitting here allowing you to flatter me? I would have died countless times over.
Throughout history, those who have achieved great things are all thick-skinned and dark-hearted.
When I was young, I also killed without mercy..."
Xiao Fei's flattery had backfired, and he no longer knew how to respond.
He couldn't exactly agree with Dao Venerable Xuan Tian, saying something like, "You're thick-skinned, dark-hearted, and not a good person..."
Fortunately, Dao Venerable Xuan Tian continued speaking, resolving Xiao Fei's awkwardness.
"I had seen this Creation Jade Disk of yours long ago and even handled it.
Unfortunately, this Creation Jade Disk is incomplete, and it seems to have hidden loopholes. There should be a master strategist behind it.
I am timid and dare not meddle with it."
Xiao Fei was startled by this and immediately bowed deeply to seek guidance.
"Please enlighten me, Senior."
He himself had harbored such suspicions but his strength was too low, and being within the situation, he couldn't perceive many things.
Regarding the Creation Jade Disk, he decided to take this opportunity to ask Dao Venerable Xuan Tian.
"I have studied your Creation Jade Disk. It should be a fragment, incomplete, and missing many components.
A complete world should at least possess the sun, moon, stars, earth veins, spirit veins, immortal veins, and various kinds of ores and mineral veins.
Even if your Creation Jade Disk is successfully repaired, it should not possess these things."
Xiao Fei nodded. This was also something that had always puzzled him.
Logically, the space had evolved into a world, but it lacked spirit stones, spirit veins, immortal stones, and immortal veins.
If the space had its own resources, he wouldn't need to go through so much trouble.
He could directly mine immortal stones from the space and feed them to the space, allowing it to grow.
It would be like a cow drinking its own milk, becoming full, then producing more milk internally, which it would then drink again, growing self-sufficient without needing any fodder.
This would create a perfect cycle.
It was a waste that the Creation Jade Disk lacked such a simple function!
"Since Senior says so, could there be other fragments of the Creation Jade Disk?"
Dao Venerable Xuan Tian nodded.
"There should be other fragments, and more than one. Only by gathering all these fragments will it possess the functions of a complete world."
"Does Senior think these fragments are in the hands of the Demon Alliance? Or are they hidden in secluded places, yet to emerge?"
This was also the reason why Xiao Fei had vaguely harbored such suspicions before but couldn't confirm them.
If other fragments existed, the Immortal Realm, over so many years, couldn't possibly have left no trace.
Dao Venerable Xuan Tian shook his head.
"The other fragments of the Creation Jade Disk are very likely not within this universe."
"Not within this universe? Are there other universes?"
This was the first time Xiao Fei had heard of such a thing and found it difficult to comprehend.
"Look at that small tree in front of you!"
Xiao Fei followed the direction Dao Venerable Xuan Tian pointed, his heart pounding.
It turned out that this inconspicuous small tree contained a great secret of the universe.
He had visited several times before but had been blind and discovered no clues.
"This tree has many branches and leaves. If the myriad worlds below are the leaves on the tree, then our Immortal Realm is the branch of this tree.
But this tree does not have only this one branch; it will have other branches, and a main trunk."
Dao Venerable Xuan Tian finished speaking, his gaze deep as he looked into the void, as if trying to see through this world.
Unfortunately, his cultivation and strength were still slightly lacking, preventing him from completely transcending this universe and witnessing a greater heaven and earth.
Xiao Fei waited for a long time, but there was no further explanation.
That was it...
It turned out this old man was just using that small tree as an analogy.
A waste of time!
"I speculate that the other fragments of the Creation Jade Disk are scattered across other universes, held by other individuals.
If one can find the other fragments and bring them all together, this problem should be resolved."
"Senior, this grand goal is too distant for me. I only wish to advance to the Golden Immortal realm now."