Chapter 777: A New Market, A New Balance of Power

Thinking of the feasibility of selling the Eternal Military Outpost for Chaos Stones, Nash quickly shook his head. "This is too risky."

What difference is this from giving the enemy a knife to kill them?

"Exchanging the Eternal Military Outpost for mother core ships is fine, as it could strengthen our foundation. While chaos stones are merely consumables that can be found everywhere."

Hearing his words, Teal also fell into thought. Suddenly, he remembered those S- to SSS-class Eternal Battleships. Although they were not necessarily better than the ones from the Mechanical Race, they were cheaper.

"How about the Eternal Battleships? We can also exchange Faith Essence Potions!" Teal added. With the current industrial scale of Faith Essence Potions, they could already enjoy freedom of supply.

"Oh? This is feasible." Nash nodded in agreement.

Whether it was the Eternal Battleship or the Faith Essence Potion, they could manufacture them as long as they had materials.

Unlike the Eternal Military Outpost, which needed most components to be manufactured using the mother core ship, the battleships and potions could be built by mass-produced industrial machines.

After building a large number of industrial machines, they only needed to process the core components, leaving the mother core ships' production capacity free.

"It's a pity the dark energy purification device is already outdated. Otherwise, we could also sell it." Teal sighed.

"This… Once I have time, I'll see if I can scale it up." Nash said, also feeling emotional.

The Neon Star Alliance had grown into one of the top-level teams using the dark energy purification device. However, at the Eternal Star Alliance's current scale, that income was already too small. Even if they could sell it, it wouldn't be worth much.

When he created the dark energy purification device, Nash was still in the Tier 5 realm, ignorant and lacking much ability. Now, however, things were different. Not only was he at the Tier 6 realm following the primordial path, and a pseudo-triple Tier 8 Scientific Philosopher, he also had insights into the original essence of the universe.

Once he upgraded the dark energy purification device, it might become one of the Eternal Star Alliance's major income streams.

"Supreme Leader, what about selling subscriptions of the Universal Runic System?" Suddenly, Julius, listening from the side, suggested.

"Selling subscriptions of the Universal Runic System? How? Didn't the others already have the ability to bind to the system whenever they wanted?" Teal asked in puzzlement.

Nash hadn't put any limit or restriction on the Universal Runic System; as long as they called out to and believed in Nash, an invitation to the guest version of the system would find them.

Unfortunately, because of security concerns and fear that Nash would use it against them, most major alliances prevented their people from using the system.

"The major weakness of the Universal Runic System is security. What if we could fix it and give the major alliances peace of mind?"

The Universal Runic System's usefulness was beyond doubt. Just being able to communicate unhindered despite the dense concentration of dark origin essence was already a miracle. What if they added security?

"Security?" Nash's eyes lit up, quickly understanding where Julius was coming from. If they could ensure solid security and gain the trust of the major alliances, the Universal Runic System would spread throughout the Empyrean Will Primogenal Land!

"But how? As far as I know, the Universal Runic System relies on the power of will. Without it, the range it could reach is limited."

"We can only depend on the Supreme Leader to think of a solution," Julius muttered, turning to Nash.

"Leave it to me."

Although he was on vacation, the engraving of runic patterns in the Eternal Time Server 01 began to get faster and faster! Coupled with the foundation he had built while creating the Mind Hive Module, solving the security problem shouldn't be hard.

"That's good. What do you think of a suitable price?"

"Haha, if it can be done, we'll sell 1,000 account for 1 Chaos Stone. Furthermore, this wouldn't be permanent but a yearly subscription." Nash grinned.

"Hiss! Too ruthless!"

Even if those major alliances only covered the core of their members, the subscription amount would still reach over a trillion Chaos Stones a year!

"It's just the surface layer." Nash thought, already thinking of a more lucrative money-making scheme.

Soon, they began finalizing their plan for the upcoming Altier Convention. They didn't know whether this convention would lead to war or peace. To ensure the Eternal Star Alliance was prepared for anything, they entered a wartime state.

---

A week later…

Taking over ten thousand leaders of the Eternal Star Alliance with him, Nash teleported to the Altier Arcane Tower.

This time, they no longer needed a large number. Unlike the previous Altier Convention, where each team was on its own, the attendees were now split into just ten factions.

Arriving at the Altier Arcane Tower, they could feel the freezing air, as if a fight could break out at any time.

Seeing them arrive, the others only shot them cold looks and stayed in their own corners. Even Nash's acquaintances from the other major alliances only gave him a helpless look and a nod.

Not daring to move, everyone could only stay in place, waiting for Primos to warm up the atmosphere. As an absolutely neutral party in this cosmic competition, he was the only one who could lead the convention.

Feeling each second pass like a year of torture, they finally saw the star host of the show arrive.

"I see that everyone has arrived. Please pardon my late arrival. Shall we begin the Altier Convention?"

"…"

Hearing the silence, Primos's expression didn't change, or perhaps he didn't have any expression to begin with.

"May I call the supreme leaders of the major alliances up to the stage?" Unfazed by the tension, Primos called them up.

Not wanting to appear weak, each supreme leader stepped forward and approached Primos. From Ferguson, Jiro, Samara, Aetherion, the Chronos Saint, Stragos, Escanor, Opeous, Zhi, Lance, and Nash. Seeing each other eye to eye, the surrounding air began to spark.

"Now, now, please relax. The Altier Convention is a platform for us to communicate and make peace." Primos hurriedly mediated, inviting them to sit.

"Hmph!" Not wanting to be the first fish on the chopping block, everyone obediently sat down.

Among them, the Chronos Saint couldn't even be bothered to waste another second, finding a seat to continue training. Curious about this out-and-out prodigy and training maniac from his homeland, Nash sat beside her.

"What are you looking at?" Feeling a prying gaze, the Chronos Saint shot Nash a piercing look.

"I'm sorry." Curious about her strength, he had activated his runic eyes. He didn't expect it to be detected so easily. Unlike before, his control over his ability had already reached transcendence. When he tried his ability on others, as long as he didn't probe too deeply, they didn't detect a thing, yet this woman seemed to have an animal-like intuition.

"Be careful before I gouge out your eye." Giving a warning, the Chronos Saint went back to her training.

"Um…"

"Haha, what did you do, Nash?" Stragos laughed, noticing their interaction.

"I just looked a few times." Nash smiled wryly.

"Oh? Just that?" Stragos didn't believe it. The Chronos Saint interrupting her training just for a few glances? Impossible! In the past, even when they mocked and insulted her face to face, she wouldn't even open her eyes, yet she heavily scolded Nash after a glance.

"I don't know either…" Nash didn't continue, but turned his gaze to Primos.

Stragos also didn't press further; although they had had a few exchanges before, it was merely a matter of interest.

Soon, after everyone quieted down, Primos began his speech.

"First, let me welcome everyone again. For this Altier Convention, we will talk about two things: the benefits of a dimensional-scale dark gate and the terms of a new treaty!"

Hearing his words, everyone suddenly tensed up, feeling the atmosphere turn colder.

"It seems I managed to capture everyone's interest. Then let me talk about the dimensional-scale dark gate. There is only one authority granted to us by the Void Administrator: Material Conversion."

"Material Conversion?"

"As you have guessed, this authority grants us the ability to turn Merit Source into materials, more specifically Tier 9 materials."

"Tier 9 materials?!"

At this moment, a wave of shock spread among the crowd. The looks on the faces of the three latter major alliances also turned cold, filled with killing intent.

The limit of the cosmic competition was Tier 8 power, treasure, material, and technology. For the seven major alliances, acquiring the source to break the balance was like wielding a nuke to hold the others by the neck.

If they didn't break out now, while the seven still hadn't gotten a Tier 9 weapon to wipe them out, they wouldn't have a chance later on.

Even Nash, confident in the defensive ability of the Eternal Military Outpost, felt dread, wondering whether to attack or escape while they still had time.

Although the Eternal Military Outpost could go head-to-head with a Tier 9 dark beast, it was only a stopgap. If a real Tier 9 weapon appeared, they would be nothing more than a paper wall.

"Please calm down. I'm not saying this to warn or threaten you. In fact, we told you about this because we want to open an exchange market to trade these Tier 9 materials. Whether it's Chaos Stones, Merit Source, or barter, we are willing to accept."

"Why?" A question rang out in the hall.

Yes, why? Why would they give them charity to catch up and breathe? Given their power and foundation, they should be able to conquer and incorporate them. Shocked and puzzled, they held back their killing intent and waited for Primos to continue.