Chapter 748: Compensation

The Ocean of Time was an ancient Transcendent existence, a being whose history dated back to the era when the Astral World first shattered. Nearly every Intelligent Lifeform, in one way or another, owed a debt to it during their development. In a sense, it could even be regarded as the progenitor of Intelligent Lifeform.

Yet unlike the Intelligent Lifeform races that chose sides, the Transcendent within the Ocean of Time always remained neutral. It never involved itself in the grudges or conflicts of any race.

Over countless ages, without ever altering its original form, it had split off 128 fragments of authority. Through various channels, it used these fragments to observe the world and uncover its hidden truths.

These fragments were like its offspring, carrying a portion of its bloodline. When needed, they could draw on the computing power of the original body—allowing them to reach a state nearly equal to true Transcendence.

Most of these sub-authorities bore critical responsibilities. Some oversaw calculations across multiple Abyssal Rifts. Others studied the mysteries of Abyssal Beasts. A few sought to uncover the truth behind the destruction of the Ancient Astral World.

However, a small number of them had been "leased"—given out in exchange for a price—to various Supremes and Highlords.

After all, an intelligent assistant capable of approaching Transcendent-level cognition was invaluable. Whether for cultivating the path to Transcendence or for daily support, no Supreme or Highlord could overlook the aid they offered.

But not just any Supreme or Highlord was qualified to lease a sub-authority. Only those who had reached a certain threshold on the Transcendent path could be acknowledged by that ancient Transcendent existence as a "fellow Daoist." Only then would a sub-authority be permitted to remain by their side for an entire era.

And now... a sub-authority—something that could benefit even Supremes and Highlords in their cultivation—had been handed over to Li Pin by none other than the Black Abyss Highlord!?

What did that mean!?

In that moment, everyone present wore expressions of shock, confusion, and the dawning realization of a truth so startling it felt almost unreal.

Tyrant Zhen Ming parted his lips, but his thoughts stuttered as if his mind had jammed. "Didn't they say... that the Highlord... didn't take him in as a disciple? Then why...?"

Many turned to look at him.

Why? They all wanted to know the answer too!

But the fact that the Black Abyss Highlord had entrusted Sasha's authority to Li Pin said everything—it was clear how much he valued him. Even some direct disciples of Supremes and Highlords had never received such treatment.

Just then, a Sacred Monarch spoke up cautiously, bringing up the Highlord. "Could it be... the Black Abyss Highlord gave Li Pin a trial?

"Something like reaching Cosmic Radiance in an extremely short time—maybe a thousand stellar years, a few hundred, or even just a hundred?

"That might explain why Li Pin has been pushing himself so hard in cultivation, even to the point of accidentally taking in some Eternal Oblivion Force."

"A trial..."

Those words struck a chord.

Many Sacred Monarchs and Cosmic Tyrants suddenly felt as if they had grasped the truth. Their spirits lifted.

"Yes, that must be it. A trial!"

"It's not that easy to become a Highlord's disciple. Not to mention, Supremes and Highlords rarely accept Astral World lifeforms who haven't even reached the ultimate lifeforms stage. The Black Abyss Highlord must've set multiple trials for him. It makes perfect sense."

"Even if it's just a trial, the fact that the Black Abyss Highlord still transferred Sasha's authority to Li Pin shows how highly he regards him!"

"Maybe the reason Li Pin never brought it up before... was because the Highlord warned him not to act like a prospective disciple before passing the trial. That's why we all assumed he'd failed to get accepted."

"That would also make sense of why the Divine Race ranked Li Pin ninth on the Black List! He's a direct heir to a Highlord. As long as he doesn't die prematurely, his future is guaranteed to reach the Sacred Monarch level at minimum... he might even have a real shot at becoming a Heavenly Emperor..."

In truth, there was still one thing no one dared to say aloud.

The Black Abyss Highlord wasn't like other Supremes or Highlords. He had no race or faction ties to bind him. When choosing disciples, he didn't need to weigh political factors.

There was only one reason he'd accept someone: talent. Talent strong enough to truly move him.

Forget Sacred Monarchs or the high odds of becoming a Heavenly Emperor... there might even be the slightest hope of rising to become a Supreme or Highlord.

Mo Xuan had stayed silent for a long time, quietly listening to the others' discussion. Only after the voices gradually died down did he finally sigh and speak. "We should've realized it sooner. For the Highlord, taking in a disciple isn't something that can be decided in a single meeting. We came to our conclusion far too hastily.

Yan Hao added, "There must have been more than one reason why the Divine Race had placed Li Pin as Rank Nine on the Black List. But even just the title of 'Highlord's direct disciple' is enough to justify it.... Even if he was still undergoing the trial and hadn't officially become the Highlord's disciple yet."

Ji Shun gave a nod.

The line that determined whether someone was considered a Supreme's or a Highlord's personal disciple was unclear.

As long as one caught their attention, they were more or less treated as such.

Imagine two cultivators, equal in talent and cultivation, seeking a master. One happened to meet a Supreme in a fine mood and was accepted; the other found the Supreme displeased and was turned away. With outcomes so dependent on chance, how could anyone claim one truly had greater potential than the other?

"I wonder what sort of trial the Black Abyss Highlord gave him. Was it to reach Cosmic Radiance in a short time, or something even more extreme?" Mo Xuan's tone turned serious. "Because of our mistake at Sacred Flame Hall, we nearly overlooked someone like him. The price we owe for that... won't be small."

Yan Hao immediately understood what Mo Xuan was getting at.

The so-called compensation was just a pretense. What truly mattered was building a strong relationship with this young prodigy, someone with the potential to become a direct disciple of a future Highlord.

𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

It was worth noting that the Black Abyss Highlord remained neutral, unaffiliated with the human faction. However, if they managed to establish close ties with Li Pin, then in the event of a future crisis where the human race needed external support, this connection could allow them to reach out to the Black Abyss Highlord.

"He should indeed be compensated properly." Yan Hao nodded slightly. "As for Black Abyss' evaluation, judging by Li Pin's approach in the Shattered Star Sea, it felt like he deliberately showed off his abilities to draw in foreign experts to assassinate him.

"So aside from achieving Cosmic Radiance, his position on the Black List might also be a key factor."

Ji Shun gave him a glance. "You mean, before he achieves Cosmic Radiance, his Black List ranking needs to be high enough?"

At that moment, Vice Hall Master Yuan Guang, who had been listening in silence, looked up. He knew Li Pin was likely undergoing the Black Abyss Highlord's trial.

After a moment of thought, he said, "Actually, I've been trying to secure the Primordial Disk from the Humanity Sanctum as a reward for Li Pin, but the application hasn't been approved for various reasons."

The moment he spoke, Vice Hall Master Zhen Ming's expression stiffened.

Mo Xuan, too, noticed the sudden change in both Vice Hall Masters' reactions.

"The Primordial Disk..." muttered Mo Xuan.

As the Hall Master of the Sanctum, he was well aware of this Top-Tier Cosmic Radiance Divine Equipment.

"Has the application been approved?" he asked.

Yuan Guang promptly forwarded the document.

Mo Xuan gave it a quick glance, then turned his gaze to Zhen Ming.

Zhen Ming let out a sigh and stepped forward, cupping his hands. "It was my selfishness that nearly cost us this prodigy. I... am willing to accept punishment."

"Since you acknowledge your mistake, head to Abyssal Rift No. 6," Mo Xuan said indifferently. "Unless your vitality suffers irreparable damage, you are not to return for a hundred epochs."

A hundred epochs!

The atmosphere in the room instantly turned tense. Even the Cosmic Tyrants and Sacred Monarchs present felt a chill run down their spines. For beings at their level, a hundred epochs was no short time.

Based on the average lifespan of an Astral God, a hundred epochs were enough for ten cycles of reincarnation—in other words, an Astral God could die ten times in that period.

Such a punishment... was undeniably harsh.

Zhen Ming bowed his head. "I accept the punishment."

He knew this was already the best outcome. If Li Pin passed the Highlord's trial and was taken as a direct disciple, any past transgressions would have led to far more severe consequences.

Mo Xuan gave a light wave of his hand, and Zhen Ming was silently expelled from the meeting room. "Go."

The scene made Wan Gujie and Shi Xingzun's expressions shift slightly, though neither spoke in Zhen Ming's defense. After all, they were partly responsible as well.

Yan Hao coldly said, "The other races may think we're too harsh on our prodigies if a Top-Tier Cosmic Radiance Divine Weapon is all we give him as a reward.

"In terms of protection, we don't have much to worry about with Sasha around. Her assistance in cultivation is also significant, but her database isn't linked to our human faction.

"How about this? Let's raise Li Pin's permission level to 89 for now. Once he reaches the Cosmic Radiance stage, we'll bump it up to 90. What do you all think?"

An authority level of eighty-nine was just one step away from being on par with the Sacred Monarchs.

In the human race, every Sacred Monarch was a figure who ruled over a region. They were practically powerful officials.

Mo Xuan remarked, "Increasing his authority level is a reasonable suggestion. Once he achieves Cosmic Radiance, it will be like preparing a pillar of strength for our human race.

"At that point, elevating his authority to level ninety and revealing some secrets would be expected. However, simply raising his authority level might seem too modest of a reward."

Mo Xuan glanced at the two Heavenly Emperors before continuing, "Perhaps we should apply to the Supreme Council, giving him the chance to enter the Gate of Space and Time.

"Let him directly experience the evolution of the universe. This would provide a solid foundation for him to become a Cosmic Tyrant after achieving Cosmic Radiance."

Many Cosmic Tyrants in the room showed admiration upon hearing this. The Gate of Time and Space, where space-time was twisted, allowed one to witness the supreme evolution of the universe.

"It was akin to observing a Heavenly Emperor breaking through to the Supreme level. Such an opportunity would lay the foundation for Li Pin's future rise, making it incredibly precious.

Ji Shun nodded slightly. "Then, let him have the chance to enter the Gate of Time and Space."