Chapter 787: Eastern Sky Region, CEO Miao
Under the starry sky.
What is going on today? Why has my eyelid been twitching nonstop?
Xiaomiao, the first commander of Earth's qi-powered fleet, stood gracefully on a mountain peak within a semi-transparent barrier of light.
She was on a planet two Primal Qi Passages away from Fengmo. It now served as one of the military bases of Earth's cultivation world.
While Wang Sheng spent a century in seclusion, ten thousand years had passed in the endless space. Xiaomiao was no longer the slightly naive girl she once was. Now, she was a beauty who had been cultivating for ten thousand years.
Having reached the late stage of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, she donned a full set of defensive spiritual treasures. However, her appearance still resembled that of an eighteen-year-old or nineteen-year-old girl. Her gaze was neither deep nor sharp, yet it had a natural clarity.
The defensive set was a joke in name, but she truly had more than twenty defensive treasures on her. Her light-green dress highlighted her graceful figure and enhanced her elegance without appearing seductive. In truth, it was also a forged spiritual treasure.
The hairpin set in her flowing hair, the ancient jade charm at her waist, her narrow white sash, inner garment, and embroidered shoes with peony patterns were all defensive spiritual treasures as well. Moreover, the bracelet on her wrist was a Qiankun artifact, capable of instantly transporting her into a sealed space where she could await rescue.
On top of that, she carried numerous automatic defensive treasures that would activate as soon as she was attacked, forming more than ten layers of protective barriers.
Though she was only a Heavenly Immortal who lacked weapons and was skilled in neither combat techniques nor offensive spells, even two or three Golden Immortals could struggle to swiftly break through her defenses.
Behind her stood Lin Yun, who never left her side. She watched quietly as Xiaomiao looked down at Earth’s special-operation units, which were forming ranks below.
Lin Yun had originally followed Yaoyun, but she had been protecting Xiaomiao ever since Wang Sheng had assigned the duty to her. Standing behind Xiaomiao, she had witnessed the astonishing growth of Earth's cultivation world from its early days, when it still hid under the Xinghai Sect with only a few dozen people, to now secretly controlling nearly a tenth of the Eastern Sky Region's planets.
Lin Yun had also seen the cultural expansion plan unfold, from the careful planning for each planet to the later explosive growth. She had never imagined that the young woman before her could change the fate of so many beings and cultivators within ten thousand years.
Now, with a single order from Xiaomiao, several planets could vanish from the endless space.
Lin Yun did not fully understand ideas like "cultural influence" and "soft power driving hard power." Still, what mattered to her was cultivation.
Through what Xiaomiao called "financial power," Lin Yun had reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm within ten thousand years. Xiaomiao had even obtained pills made from artificial spiritual roots, allowing Lin Yun to deepen her understanding of the Dao.
Xiaomiao and Earth's cultivation world had earned all the wealth for it.
By spreading Earth's culture and developing interplanetary networks, they completed the first stage of expansion through control of the cultural industry. Xiaomiao then used this initial network to launch one plan after another, establishing organizations such as the Duobao Pavilion, Yijing Pavilion, and Danling Pavilion.
Afterward, they reinvested and gradually gained control over the markets for treasures, techniques, pills, and materials across these planets. With wealth secured, the qi-powered fleet of Earth's cultivation world grew continuously.
Still unsatisfied, Xiaomiao expanded further by creating services such as matchmaking agencies and cultivation sanctuaries, effectively covering all aspects of methods, wealth, companions, and location. She also founded two organizations similar to mercenary immortal estates to maximize benefits. Through contracts, they could mobilize countless immortals at any time.
Beyond these public forces was also the assassin organization Dark Star and the intelligence network Wind's Whisper.
Thanks to Xiaomiao's management, the star domain under her control became increasingly prosperous. More unaffiliated practitioners gathered here, allowing her many organizations to expand at great speed.
Wang Sheng had not expected management experience from Earth to become such a valuable asset.
The only unstable factor remained the various celestial gates. Even so, Xiaomiao implemented several strategies that divided regions and gradually integrated these sects into a massive alliance known as the Huoxiang Righteous-Qi Alliance.
She knew that the power she now held could already seem formidable even to an ordinary Grand Dao Golden Immortal, yet she understood that it was still too weak for her brother to face the Immortal Emperor directly. She didn't have enough time either.
Given another thirty thousand years, she was confident she could bring the major regions of the Eastern Sky Region under her control, providing a steady stream of resources for her brother's future needs.
Clashes between forces required not only powerful individuals but also wealth and manpower.
Most of the endless space was still unexplored. The main cultivation regions of the Eastern Sky Region formed a fan-shaped expanse, spreading from the Daoist sects east of the Immortal Saint Realm.
Today, another qi-powered fleet formally joined the ranks.
Xiaomiao stood quietly for a while. She then covered her mouth and yawned. "Aunt Lin, let's head back."
"Alright," Lin Yun replied gently, then added with concern, "You should rest for a few days."
"No need. I am already a Heavenly Immortal; there is no need to rest." Xiaomiao smiled, clasped her hands behind her back, and stretched lazily. "I still have to attend a meeting at the Yibao Pavilion. Their rotating duty manager is about to change shifts."
A trace of concern appeared in Lin Yun's eyes. She took out an improved version of the Shadowless Shuttle from her sleeve. After releasing it, she brought Xiaomiao inside. Three shadowy figures then appeared and followed them inside.
Xiaomiao sat on a comfortable sofa and drank authentic herbal tea that had been shipped from Earth. Holding a luminous cup filled with drifting primal qi, she then closed her eyes and rested while thinking quietly.
Big Brother should be coming out of seclusion soon. If only he could stay in seclusion a little longer and give me more time to prepare.
She was only joking, though. After all, she was well aware of how tense the situation in the Nether Realm had become.
She had already arranged for a group of trusted subordinates to head there. Due to their limited time, none of them was a Golden Immortal. Still, the group was composed of three hundred Heavenly Immortals and six thousand True Immortals, none of them from Earth. They formed a capable elite force.
At the very least, their side would not be left without manpower, and their key figures would not have to handle everything personally.
The high-level forces that Earth's cultivators could rely on were Qinghua, Xu Zhongliang, Wu Tianshou, Chun Yangzi, Zhi Bing, Qinghua's remaining forces, the Western Pole Emperor's remaining forces, Ziwei's remaining forces, and the faction that Chun Yangzi had built.
Meanwhile, several of the fastest-progressing Daoist masters from Earth had already begun attempting to break through to the Golden Immortal Realm. This barrier was extremely difficult to cross, though. They could even remain stuck on it for tens of thousands of years. Though they could afford to wait, the larger situation could not.
Thinking about the severe shortage of mid-tier combat strength put Xiaomiao under constant pressure. She had even asked Zhi Bing whether the Time-Cycle Grand Array could be reversed so that one year outside would equal a hundred years inside.
Zhi Bing only answered with a bitter smile and a shake of her head.
Dismantling the array alone was already extremely difficult. Reversing it was out of the question.
At that moment, Lin Yun appeared behind Xiaomiao and vigilantly looked ahead.
The three hidden phantasms—female peak-stage Heavenly Immortals wearing half masks—inside the Shadowless Shuttle immediately revealed themselves and blocked the front.
The shuttle, which had been traveling at high speed, came to an abrupt and unnatural stop.
"Qiankun Art," Lin Yun whispered. Her expression turned more serious. "This is bad. It may be a Grand Dao Golden Immortal."
Though confused, Xiaomiao had already grasped a pale-blue petal.
How have we been exposed?
Several mighty figures had concealed her heavenly fate. No one should have been able to deduce any information about her. For many years, Xiaomiao had remained behind the scenes. Only Lin Yun and the core experts of Earth's cultivation world could make contact with her.
Did someone betray us?
Xiaomiao suppressed the thought at once. "Act according to the situation."
They were still ten thousand li away from the teleportation array. The Shadowless Shuttle remained frozen in place, and the surrounding space seemed to fold in layers.
A sweep of golden light suddenly bloomed ahead. Space opened like a doorway, and a slender figure stepped out with a longsword in hand. Dressed in golden armor, a golden mask, and a battle skirt, she appeared right in front of the Shadowless Shuttle.
With a slightly cold gaze, she raised her hand and pressed lightly toward the interior of the Shadowless Shuttle. The three female guards closed their eyes and immediately collapsed in perfect alignment.
Xiaomiao turned slightly pale, but she remained composed. She asked calmly, "May I ask who you are, and why you've harmed my guards and blocked my path?"
Lin Yun stood beside Xiaomiao, ready to unleash an escape technique at any moment. However, she also clearly sensed that any unusual movement would likely cost her life.
At that moment, the woman standing before the Shadowless Shuttle smiled faintly. She withdrew the pressure she had been exerting, lifted her mask to show her face to Xiaomiao, and then put it back on.
A hint of joy passed through Xiaomiao's eyes. She could not help but smile, revealing the dimples she had not shown in many years.
"Sister Lishang!"
Lishang nodded slightly. "Mm. Xiaomiao, come with me. Lin Yun, please stay here."
Lin Yun immediately understood. Excitement appeared in her eyes, but she knew she should not speak carelessly, in case a powerful being sensed it.
She quickly asked, "Is Her Highness..."
Lishang nodded once more. "Mm."
With a look of relief, Lin Yun breathed out softly.
Lishang reached out and made a light grasping motion. Xiaomiao passed straight through the wall of the Shadowless Shuttle, and Nuwa's descendant caught her by the shoulder. In the next instant, the two flickered and vanished.
Lin Yun immediately activated the Shadowless Shuttle's concealment ability to its fullest extent. For the moment, she did not dare leave this place.
