"For now, I don't have any updates, but don't worry. As soon as I get any information, I'll let you know," the broker assured Daniel, putting on an air of confidence.
Daniel, however, couldn't help but smirk internally. He knew full well what kind of person the broker was. The broker's promises weren't worth much. The Orb, containing the Power Stone, was sought by many throughout the universe, including the Collector. However, most people didn't realize what was inside the Orb—they were merely interested in its uniqueness and high value as a collectible.
It was much like how collectors on Earth would covet rare items. The reason Daniel had been able to buy anything from the broker in the first place was due to his connections with the Collector in Knowhere. Without the Collector's influence, it would have been nearly impossible for Daniel to gather such wealth in a short amount of time.
Thanks to rare species he had brought from the worlds of Harry Potter and One Piece, Daniel had been able to trade valuable creatures for a considerable sum. The Collector had a notorious obsession with gathering anything rare or unknown to him. His strength in the universe was also well-known—after all, he controlled Knowhere, a massive celestial head filled with rare resources. No one could hold such a place without immense power, as proven when Thanos attacked to retrieve the Reality Stone. Despite the destruction, the Collector had survived, showcasing his hidden strength.
Daniel didn't trust the broker's words because the broker would always sell to the highest bidder. While Daniel had accumulated a decent amount of wealth, it was nothing compared to the fortunes of the galaxy's true elites.
He decided not to press the issue for now. The broker was bound to give the Orb to whoever offered more.
"Here's what I need this time," Daniel said as he handed the broker a chip. This was a request for Stark, who needed certain technological schematics. Although Daniel had already acquired some tech, Stark's focus was different—he needed advanced spacefaring technology for constructing starships, a field Earth was severely lacking in. Naturally, Daniel would cover the cost since Stark had no access to galactic currency.
The broker quickly handed over the requested data. To him, this technology was outdated and easily obtainable.
"Let's head back." With the schematics in hand, Daniel and Stark took a final stroll around Xandar before preparing to leave. Stark had initially hoped to meet a few exotic alien women, but upon seeing some of the more unusual species, he quickly dropped the idea.
Daniel felt the same way. He couldn't imagine someone like Ego, Star-Lord's father, having no standards when it came to women. No matter how strange the species, Ego didn't seem to care. Daniel, on the other hand, had no particular attraction to alien women, even Gamora, who, despite her beauty, wasn't someone he had any interest in. Star-Lord's upbringing among Ravagers had shaped his tastes differently from Daniel's.
"I guess I'll have to wait for Star-Lord to find the Orb," Daniel thought to himself. After considering his options, he realized that waiting was his best bet. Even if he knew the name of the planet where the Orb was hidden, locating it would still be nearly impossible. Unlike the Soul Stone on Vormir, which had a specific guardian in the form of the Red Skull, the Orb was buried on a desolate world with no clear guide.
Star-Lord had been able to locate the Orb by using specialized technology that could somehow recreate the planet's past. Daniel didn't possess such equipment, and even the broker couldn't provide something like that. It was likely a custom tool made by the Ravagers. Their unique skills and resources allowed them to survive in the galaxy as long as they had.
Star-Lord's adoptive father, Yondu, wielded an extraordinary weapon called the Yaka Arrow, controlled by whistling. This made it a formidable tool in combat, particularly for wiping out weaker enemies. Daniel had always wanted to see the Yaka Arrow in action up close.
"I'm heading back."
"Not seeing you off," Stark said nonchalantly as he watched Daniel leave. Stark didn't mind Daniel's departure—he was already immersed in the new technology Daniel had brought back.
---
Back on Earth, Daniel promptly left Stark's place, returning to the world of Qin's Moon.
"Master Immortal, it's been a long time. I see you've finally emerged from seclusion," a familiar voice greeted him as soon as he reached the gates of the Yin-Yang Clan. It was Star Soul, one of the clan's protectors.
"Star Soul Protector, it's been a while. Is Lord Yun Zhongjun in?" Daniel asked with a smile.
The reason for his immediate visit to the Yin-Yang Clan was to enlist Yun Zhongjun's help in refining the elixirs. He had collected a significant amount of rare herbs, enough to produce dozens of "Gathering Immortals Pills."
"Yun Zhongjun is inside. Please, this way, Master Immortal."
"Thank you, Protector Star Soul," Daniel replied as he followed Star Soul inside. To his surprise, Star Soul, who seemed to have been on his way out, decided to accompany him back into the clan.
"If you have something important to attend to, don't let me hold you up," Daniel said politely.
"It's nothing urgent. It's not often that the Master Immortal visits. I would be glad to accompany you," Star Soul insisted.
"As long as it doesn't interfere with your duties."
When they reached the Golden Hall, Yun Zhongjun was already waiting outside, having been informed of Daniel's arrival by the clan's attendants.
"Master Immortal, it's an honor," Yun Zhongjun greeted him with a respectful bow.
"No need for formalities. I have a favor to ask of you, Yun Zhongjun."
"Please, say the word. I am at your service."
"Let's discuss it inside."
Once inside the grand hall, Daniel wasted no time explaining his request. He then laid out several wooden boxes on the hall's floor. Yun Zhongjun and Star Soul were both shocked at the sight. Despite being well-versed in the arts of Yin-Yang magic, they had never seen such a technique—how Daniel could summon such a large number of boxes from thin air was beyond them.
Yun Zhongjun and Star Soul exchanged glances before opening the boxes. What they found inside left them even more astonished. The amount of rare herbs Daniel had brought was beyond anything they had ever seen. Even with the Yin-Yang Clan's resources, they had never gathered such a large quantity of ingredients for refining the Gathering Immortals Pills.
The successful production of these pills would undoubtedly boost Qin's military strength significantly. While one or two top-tier martial experts wouldn't change the course of history, an army of a dozen or more could shift the balance of power.
"Rest assured, Master Immortal. I will give this task my utmost dedication and ensure the elixirs are ready as soon as possible," Yun Zhongjun promised after inspecting the herbs.
"Thank you. I leave it in your capable hands." Although Daniel could refine the elixirs himself, he had no time for such things.
"Yun Zhongjun, it seems like you'll be spending more time in Xianyang. Looks like you won't be heading out to sea anytime soon," Daniel joked, hinting at the alchemist's new full-time role.
Daniel had no qualms about revealing certain aspects of his abilities to the Yin-Yang Clan. The use of magical storage boxes, enchanted with undetectable extension charms, was not something he needed to hide. However, he was careful not to give them access to certain technologies, such as Pym Particles or more advanced space-manipulating spells. It wasn't that he was selfish—it was just that some things would unbalance the progress of Qin too quickly.
Transporting supplies for war was one of the greatest challenges of the Warring States period. Armies often relied on countless civilian laborers for logistical support, sometimes outnumbering the soldiers themselves. If Daniel provided the Yin-Yang Clan with the ability to transport supplies effortlessly, it could drastically reduce the need for such labor.
But he held back because accelerating Qin's unification of the six kingdoms would come with its own problems. History had already shown that the Qin Dynasty collapsed just two generations after unifying China. The rapid unification didn't allow enough time for the central government to solidify control over the conquered territories.
While Daniel had already discussed this with Ying Zheng (the future First Emperor of Qin), he knew the ambitious king might not heed his warnings. Ying Zheng was not one to let opportunities pass.
"Your Excellency, the Eastern Emperor," Star Soul called out shortly after Daniel left the Yin-Yang Clan. A towering figure cloaked in black appeared in the hall—Eastern Emperor Taiyi, the mysterious leader of the clan.
Ignoring Star Soul and Yun Zhongjun's greetings, Taiyi simply raised his hand, and one of the wooden boxes floated toward him. He opened it and inspected the herbs inside.
"Was that who I think it was?" Star Soul began to ask, only to be silenced by a gesture from Taiyi.
"I already know the situation. Yun Zhongjun, start refining the pills immediately. Star Soul, attend to your duties," Taiyi ordered, his voice brooking no further discussion.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
---
Later, Daniel found himself at the Sun and Moon Pavilion, a modern-style mansion he had built through the skills of the Gongshu Clan. As he entered a private room on the fifth floor, he was met with an unexpected sight—Han Fei and Zi Nu standing together on the balcony, with Han Fei's arm wrapped around
Zi Nu's waist, wine glasses in hand.
"Looks like I'm interrupting something. My apologies," Daniel said, smiling awkwardly as the two abruptly separated, turning to face him. Zi Nu's face flushed crimson.
"Does the Master Immortal not know how to knock?" Zi Nu chided, clearly embarrassed.
"My bad. But congratulations to you two," Daniel teased.
"I'll head downstairs," Zi Nu muttered, clearly flustered, before hastily leaving the room.
"Master Immortal, it's been a long time," Han Fei greeted Daniel after a moment, the atmosphere calming down.
"It has indeed. I hear there are whispers of a new alliance among the six kingdoms. What do you make of it?" Daniel asked. As soon as he had returned, Daniel had reviewed the intelligence gathered by Ying Ge and her agents. While he hadn't been concerned at first, the news of someone attempting to rally the six kingdoms caught his attention.
After some thought, Daniel deduced that the mastermind was likely Lord Changping. Given his position as the Right Chancellor, it was impossible for Changping not to see the changes happening in Qin. If Qin continued to grow at its current rate, the other states would have no chance of resisting its eventual domination. With no way to assassinate Ying Zheng, uniting the six kingdoms in an alliance would be Changping's best option.
"What does the Master Immortal think?" Han Fei responded with a smile after a moment of silence.
"I think it's impossible. No matter who is behind this attempt to revive the alliance, it will fail," Daniel replied with a shake of his head.
"Oh? I'd like to hear your reasoning."
"It's simple. If the rulers of the six kingdoms had the vision and courage to form such an alliance, they wouldn't be in their current positions. Tell me, Han Fei, do you believe the King of Han has the nerve to attack Qin?"
Daniel's words made Han Fei fall silent. He knew his father all too well. Given Han's proximity to Qin, it was highly unlikely his father would risk a direct confrontation.
"The same goes for the other kingdoms," Daniel continued, his voice laced with subtle mockery.
Even if Changping could convince the other kingdoms that Qin posed a grave threat, it wouldn't matter. Without the rulers of the six states feeling an immediate and existential threat, no alliance could form.
Han Fei's face darkened as he considered Daniel's words. He had indeed participated in the discussions surrounding the alliance, even going so far as to send a letter to his father and elder brother outlining the strategic importance of a united front. But neither his father nor his brother seemed to care.
All Han Fei could do now was lament the situation in silence.
---
Having wrapped up his business in Qin's Moon, Daniel decided not to visit Ying Zheng directly. Instead, he simply sent over a batch of books and left the rest to Ying Zheng. After all, the future First Emperor didn't need someone constantly advising him.
His next destination was the world of Hunter x Hunter.
"Qi Duo has become the new chairman of the Hunter Association, and Pariston didn't cause any trouble this time around," Daniel observed. Because of his interventions, Gon had never been injured, so Killua's younger sister was never brought out. Netero had still resigned following the Chimera Ant incident, taking the blame for the catastrophe.
After reviewing the latest intelligence from the Hunter world, Daniel found that aside from the change in leadership within the Hunter Association, nothing significant had happened. He then contacted Ada and Robin, giving them an update on the situation in the Akame ga Kill world.
"Esdeath, Akame, Kurome, and Chelsea—they're all women, aren't they?" Ada noted, after listening to Daniel's account.
Daniel was momentarily speechless.
"It's not like that. They just had too much potential to leave in that world," Daniel explained, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
"Don't worry, I know you. Even if you had certain thoughts, you wouldn't act on them," Ada teased.
"Hey, I'm not letting that slide!"
"Sure, if you'd actually made a move, I'd pretend I didn't say anything."
Daniel found himself unable to retort. It was true, after all.
"Anyway, can you come back now? I'd like to introduce you to them."
"Not right now. We're in the middle of exploring some ruins. Maybe later," Ada said before hanging up, leaving Daniel at a loss for words.
"Seems like she's really taken a liking to that place," Daniel mused. Since neither Ada nor Robin seemed eager to return just yet, Daniel didn't see the need to push them.
"Time to explore a new world," Daniel decided, realizing that all his current affairs were in order. With the looming threats of Hela's release and Thanos' arrival, it was time to grow stronger, as fast as possible.
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