However, thanks to Yang Kai's vigorous argumentation, jurisdiction over the Lingxiao Domain's Star Market was predictably wrested into his hands.
Overseeing such a massive Star Market was exhausting and demanding work, but the benefits were far from trivial.
With this authority in their grip, Lingxiao Palace could claim half a share of the Star Market's profits all to themselves! Half a share might not sound like much, but when the remaining nine and a half shares were split evenly among one hundred and eight parties, the contrast became staggering.
Xu Linggong had even told him not to underestimate that half share — it might not be any worse than the profits from the Void Land Star Market.
In exchange, however, Yang Kai would need to lay down Space Formations centered on the Star Boundary, connecting the Star Market and the Domain Gate leading to the Lingxiao Domain, to facilitate travel between them.
This was exactly the compromise Xu Linggong had spoken of earlier — each side making a concession.
Lingxiao Palace had taken the Star Market's jurisdiction, swallowing the fattest piece of the pie, but the Space Formations would be Yang Kai's burden to bear.
Yang Kai grumbled, "I don't have a problem with laying down the Space Formations. Ordinary ones can't transmit across too great a distance — once it's too far, the connection breaks. But if the Star Boundary's own power is used as a conduit, it should be sufficient to teleport people from the Domain Gate into the Star Boundary. What I'm curious about, though, is why they don't just build a Heaven and Earth Temple inside the Lingxiao Domain? Why make me set up Space Formations instead?"
Nearly every major domain had a Heaven and Earth Temple, serving as a rest and transfer point for traveling cultivators. More often than not, it saved an enormous amount of travel time.
But a place like the Lingxiao Domain — previously an unnamed backwater marked on the Heaven and Earth Map — wouldn't have one.
Xu Linggong replied in an unhurried tone, "It's not that they don't want to — they can't. Every Heaven and Earth Temple that currently exists across the major domains is an ancient relic, something left over from a bygone era. The people of the present-day Blessed Lands and Cave Heavens simply don't have the ability to build one."
Yang Kai was taken aback. "There are things even the Blessed Lands and Cave Heavens can't do?"
Xu Linggong nodded. "A Heaven and Earth Temple is essentially an advanced version of a Space Formation, but either way, it requires an exceedingly profound mastery of the Laws of Space. Without that expertise, you can't take on the job. What you may not know is that several Heaven and Earth Temples in the major domains have already fallen into disrepair and ceased to function. We old fogeys have tried every which way to repair them, but nothing works. There aren't many people across the entire Three Thousand Worlds who are skilled in the Laws of Space, and even fewer who've truly mastered them."
Yang Kai fell into thought.
Xu Linggong glanced sidelong at him as if reading his mind. "I know what you're thinking — you want to go study the secrets inside a Heaven and Earth Temple?"
Yang Kai nodded. "If the opportunity arose, that would be ideal." The Heaven and Earth Temple naturally contained profound secrets of the Dao of Space. Being able to enter its restricted areas and gain even a glimpse of understanding would be of tremendous benefit to him.
Xu Linggong chuckled. "Keep dreaming. I've already reported the matter to the Sect Master, and she'll make arrangements. But since you don't come from any Blessed Land or Cave Heaven, whether you'll get the chance to explore inside one — I honestly can't say. The final decision will have to wait until the higher-ups have discussed it."
Yang Kai couldn't help frowning. "Why be so cautious about it? If the Heaven and Earth Temples could be repaired, wouldn't that benefit everyone?"
Xu Linggong let out a long sigh. "The Three Thousand Worlds — what you see is not the whole picture. There are many things I can't go into detail about just yet. Once you reach a certain level of achievement in the future, you'll naturally learn the truth. All I can tell you now is that the secrets of the Heaven and Earth Temple are of grave importance. Any misstep could endanger the peace of the entire Three Thousand Worlds!"
A chill ran down Yang Kai's spine. He stared at Xu Linggong, but saw no sign of exaggeration in the old man's expression.
"So, about the Space Formations — have you made up your mind?" Xu Linggong pressed. "Those old coots are counting on me to be your mouthpiece. Give me a straight answer — yes or no."
Yang Kai snorted. "Teleporting from the Domain Gate to the Star Boundary would require a formation of enormous scale. The cost won't be small, and my Lingxiao Palace and Void Land are modest organizations — we can't shoulder it."
Xu Linggong scoffed. "How petty. If it's really being built, the materials naturally won't come out of your pocket."
Yang Kai nodded. "Then that's acceptable. But the distance from the Domain Gate to the Star Boundary is vast. Even with a formation in place, it still needs the Star Boundary's power to pull people through. Every use depletes some of the Star Boundary's reserves. So even after the formation is set up, it can't be used for free — Lingxiao Palace will need to charge a fee for each teleportation."
Xu Linggong let out another scoff. "You've already got two golden geese with the Void Star Market and the Lingxiao Star Market, plus the bountiful resources of an entire new domain as your backing, and you're still trying to squeeze profit out of the Space Formations?"
Yang Kai grinned. "Even mosquito meat is meat. Small amounts add up — grains of sand pile into a tower. You can't afford to dismiss that. Elder Xu, you've never had to run a household, so you don't understand the cost of rice and oil."
Xu Linggong pondered for a moment. "Fine — give each of the Blessed Lands and Cave Heavens a limited number of free uses per year. Within the quota, no charge. Beyond the quota, they pay the same as anyone else."
Yang Kai lowered his head in thought. "I can agree to that."
"Make a list of all the materials needed for the formation, and hand it to me later. I'll get them to split the costs evenly."
Yang Kai broke into a broad grin, reached into his robe, and produced a jade slip, which he handed over. "It's all in here."
Seeing how prepared he clearly was, Xu Linggong couldn't help rolling his eyes. He took the jade slip and glanced at its contents, then rolled his eyes again.