Pef contemplated the effect these pills would have for his Legion.

In the short term, he could ascend his immediate family, the wives and his disciple, as well as most regiment commanders. But in the long term it wouldn't help that much.

Not against the goliths, for sure.

He turned towards the Alchemist. "How much did this batch of pills cost? Not including the Godbeast parts and the tribulations."

Rejin smiled sadly. "About 5 billion spirit stones, in rare seeds and grass, not including using the Wood Sacred Flame, and my precious time."

Pef noted the cost, which was rather high but accessible. "I can buy more seeds..."

"Per pill. 5 billions for each pill, so at least 400 billions for the ingredients. Other Alchemists charge 500 billions for every use of their Alchemy Flame." Rejin countered with stern voice.

Our hero sighed and slumped. Even if pooled all the captured spirit stones from the Shin, and his own savings, he could only reach 800 billions.

"We can sell a few Universe pills and buy more ingredients. One Universe Pill should sell at 600 billion, maybe more if we auction it!" Yue proposed in a peaceful voice.

Pef glanced at her, and then at the universe devourer floating at her side. Perhaps finding a rare ring with a powerful cultivator locked inside wasn't all that great, in hindsight.

Especially if that cultivator was an evil beast bent of destruction.

The orange glove wasn't very delighted with the new addition, exactly due to the impossibility to predict a higher rank cultivator beast. At least the Alchemist was human and could be modelled to some degree, and so far the glove's advice had worked to befriend and aim him at the goliths.

"We might do that, if we lack funds. For now we have the new Shin recruits to organize, and then the Autumn Sect to pacify. I think you should learn universe-wide administration here, Yue." Pef said softly. His wife was new to her rank, and would benefit from exploring her powers in a safe-ish environment.

The indigo-haired wife nodded cautiously. "Will the Shin listen to me, hubby?" she asked a bit fearful.

Pef turned towards his new recruits. "What do you say, recruits?" he asked with a wry tone.

"Yes, Lord Xi! Lady Yue will have our full obedience." the lead Elder Admiral shouted with a deep bow.

The blue-glowing beast growled as well. "I can eat a few to keep them in line, Soldier. These Elder Gods make quite the delicious squid snack."

Pef just placed his hand out, and ignored the bragging badger. "Let's see about acquiring more funds, Lord Rejin."

The Tier 7 God snorted softly, then grabbed Pef and displaced them both back in their former universe, then shifted locations again to arrive in orbit over the Autumn Tree planet.

"You cannot use Yin-Yang bombs here, Pef Xi. This is Grand Alliance territory. And I don't ever fight people." the Alchemist warned him as Pef began to gather qi around.

Pef just shrugged in a casual manner. "Autumn Sect, your war declaration has been accepted. The Veritas Legion has arrived!" Pef shouted in a qi-infused voice, shockwaves propagating in the entire star system. Orbital trading stations, ships and even ground buildings shook and weaved as the universe itself trembled.

An opposing qi of even higher strength rose from deep below and calmed the atmosphere, but the impact was already done. Now it was a public venue, and everyone around had heard the war declaration.

An old man with a long white robe, flew up from the planet, followed by large entourage of Elders and high-level sect disciples.

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"It must be a misunderstanding, Legion Soldier. We have never attacked the Veritas Legion." the old man spoke with an angry voice.

"So, you're saying you were not involved with the Shin Admiralty in the plot against Lady Yue, our new Legion Soldier? That's not what the Shin themselves said, after they surrendered." Pef asked with a mild voice, while taking out a Yin-Yang Demolisher. Sometimes, actual use of weapons was indeed overkill. Just showing the enemy that had the ability to obliterate them worked fine.

The old Tier 6 Sect Ancestor gulped as he glanced from the device in Pef's hand to his backer, someone he couldn't even discern the cultivation of.

"If there has been any plot, please feel free to investigate and arrest the perpetrators, Legion Soldier." he muttered in a lower voice.

"Of course I will investigate and punish the evildoers. But the fact remains. Your sect's actions constitute a war declaration, and one I have publicly accepted. Do you intend to resist, or can I accept your surrender already?" Pef wondered while playfully passing the bomb from one hand to another.

The Elder God grit his teeth while glancing back at his vulnerable Sect followers. "We surrender."

"Good. But do it louder please. We don't want more misunderstandings, do we?" Pef demanded with a playful voice.

"The Autumn Hafaz Sect surrenders to the Veritas Legion!" the Tier 6 God boomed and more shockwaves covered the entire star system.

"This time, you proved a bit wiser, Lord Pef. Not even a single galaxy had to be reconstructed and the inhabitants revived." Rejin observed with a wry smile.

Truth be told, most of the deaths in the Pearl Sea Plane had been already reversed, as the Shin had over 100 Tier 5 and 6 Gods to conduct emergency resurrections, except for those unlucky ones obliterated inside the inner universes of the deceased Gods.

While the quality of life for the inner universes was no doubt higher and less risky than the real world, it did pose the risk of catastrophic ending if that God died.

This was the exact reason that Pef had arrived here without passengers in the inner universe, except his Avatars.

"Lower your resistances and allow to be transferred into my inner world, while I conduct the investigation." Pef ordered to the nearby Autumn Sect Elders and disciples, while gesturing the Elder God to move aside.

The man just slumped and stepped to the side, while his planet and all the Autumn Sect vanished into Pef's inner world.

While the Avatars began the registrations and interrogations of the war prisoners, Pef approached the old God. "Things cannot go back as before, old man. This type of reckless behaviour from your Sect is a sign of deeper problems. Mental and cultivation deviations, outside corruption and poor education for your members. Surely you knew that three Saints have died in the Mausoleum, right?"

The man paled even more, and lowered his eyes. "I haven't focused on the sect for many years. We were once proud and strong, respected by the universe, not common rapists and murderers. Whatever judgement it is, I will bear the guilt..." he offered in a sorrowful tone.

Pef sighed and patted the defeated God on his head. "You will all join the Legion and defend all life in the multiverse, from things like these and worse. And if you die fighting the nu-golith menace, then the Heavens have spoken for punishment. However, if you live...then you will Ascend and become a True Immortal like Lord Rejin here. So, do you think the Heavens are just?"

The Elder God glanced up with reverence. "I will obey the Heavens Will, no matter what may come!"

"Perfect. Let the indoctrination begin!" Pef proclaimed out loud, and the glove giggled in his head.