Of the eight thousand returning cultivators, nearly a thousand had actually left!
Moreover, most of those who departed were of relatively high cultivation realms. These people carried a different pride; each believed that with their superior strength and lofty cultivation, returning to the sect meant they were naturally entitled to positions of power.
Huo Gang hesitated for a long time. Thinking back on the days when he had lived under another's roof, relying on others for shelter, he ultimately stayed.
Another incense stick's time passed. Seeing that the crowd had settled down, Lu Kangnian raised a hand to seal the sect-protecting grand array.
He then shattered every single sect jade slip that had been discarded on the ground!
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
The sound of exploding jade slips rang out in rapid succession!
Watching Lu Kangnian destroy the jade slips without the slightest hesitation, everyone felt their hearts jolt. Lu Kangnian's gaze was resolute and unyielding; the departure of those cultivators meant they had thoroughly severed their ties with the sect.
Having done this, Lu Kangnian offered a slight smile. With a wave of his hand, he produced one million low-grade spirit stones!
Densely packed spirit stones floated in midair, and without exception, the Core Formation disciples looked on with flushed, excited faces.
At the same time, Sun Miao, the peak master of Pill Peak, took flight and landed beside Lu Kangnian. Bowing in greeting, he turned around and waved his hand, causing thirty jade caskets to hover in the air.
The corner of Lu Kangnian's mouth curled upward. The slap had landed; now came the sweet date.
"Here are thirty supreme-grade Infant Breaking Pills! Each increases a Core Formation cultivator's chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm by thirty percent."
The moment those words were spoken, the cultivators below nearly lost their minds.
"Supreme-grade Infant Breaking Pills! Has the sect's Pill Peak become this formidable?!"
"What conditions must we meet to get an Infant Breaking Pill? I've been saving spirit stones for decades... but I can't afford one at all! Simply out of reach!"
"Ahhh! I will lay down my life and shed my blood for the sect! Just give me one..."
Seeing the surging passion among the disciples below, Lu Kangnian spoke frankly: "There are more Infant Breaking Pills, but the spirit herbs needed to refine them are exceedingly rare. This first batch only has this many."
At these words, many returning disciples began howling in excitement.
"Sect Master, I have Ying Spirit Grass!"
"Sect Master, I have Windfrost Flowers and Heavenly King Spirit Ginseng!"
Many waved spirit herbs in their hands, shouting at the top of their lungs. To break through to the Nascent Soul realm, they had naturally racked their brains trying to scrape together the necessary herbs. Yet some had only gathered two or three, while others possessed different ones. Even if someone emptied their family fortune to gather every single material, they lacked both the connections and the wealth to hire a dependable alchemist.
Seeing this, Lu Kangnian promptly announced, "From now on, pill concoction can be exchanged using sect contribution points! Furthermore, the heavenly treasures and spirit herbs you gather can also be exchanged for points on Tianzhu Peak, or swapped for other resources."
Lu Kangnian smiled faintly. He was not at all worried that Tianzhu Peak's disciples would be overwhelmed. Li Guanqi had already arranged for Tang Ru to establish a Treasure Pavilion on Tianzhu Peak, dedicated exclusively to the Great Xia Sword Sect! Moreover, the plans for sect contribution rewards, point systems, and logistics were all Tang Ru's handiwork. Over this recent period, Qianqiusui had followed Tang Ru and learned a great deal, even beginning to feel that an inexplicable charm radiated from the fat man.
Next came the appearance of mid-grade spirit stones and Soul Formation Pills!
This time, however, the quantity of Soul Formation Pills was much smaller—only five. Yet those five alone were more than enough to drive the cultivators wild. Not only could they receive a steady monthly stipend of cultivation resources, but they could also obtain the incomparably precious Soul Formation Pills by completing missions! How could roaming outside as rogue cultivators and fighting tooth and nail over scraps compare to this?
Watching the scene unfold, the Soul Formation cultivators' eyes turned red with anticipation.
Core Formation cultivators had Infant Breaking Pills, Nascent Soul cultivators had Soul Formation Pills...
Then for them... could there be Void Shattering Pills?!
The Soul Formation cultivators below clenched their fists tightly, their eyes fixed on Lu Kangnian with burning hope.
Lu Kangnian's lips curled into a subtle grin. Reaching into his robes, he produced an amethyst jade casket. Instantly, a rich medicinal fragrance permeated the surrounding air. When the casket opened, a smooth, lustrous purple pill appeared before everyone's eyes!
"Void Shattering Pill!"
"Heavens... it really is a Void Shattering Pill!"
"They've got us by the throat—I'll work myself to the bone for the sect!"
"The sect is my home! I'll lay down my life for the sect!"
After placating the crowd, Lu Kangnian announced that Guanyun Pavilion had established a Mission Pavilion on Tianzhu Peak. By leveraging the Great Xia Sword Sect's massive population of cultivators for its own endeavors, Guanyun Pavilion could undertake countless missions in a short period! It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. Meanwhile, the Treasure Pavilion rapidly took in huge quantities of heavenly treasures that the cultivators had hoarded over the years. Before long, the thresholds of both the Treasure Pavilion and Guanyun Pavilion were practically trampled flat.
Having handled all of this, Lu Kangnian delivered another impassioned speech. All the disciples were now filled with boundless hope for the future. And for now, they were all considered thirty-eighth-generation disciples! Positions of elders and stewards would gradually be selected in the days to come.
Song Zhi'ang had been waiting eagerly in the crowd below, craning her neck and looking around, but she never saw the person she had been yearning for day and night. Disappointment was inevitable, yet she had no desire to return to her courtyard, so she headed toward Tianzhu Peak instead. She failed to notice that Han Chengxian's gaze lingered faintly upon her from behind.
Yet upon returning to his study, Lu Kangnian merely breathed a slight sigh of relief. He had settled the hearts of the low-level cultivators, but now he had to resolve the matter of the high-level experts! Among the experts who had returned, quite a few were former elders, peak masters, and the like. The strongest among them were even former sect masters and discipline masters... These individuals were the hardest to deal with.
Lu Kangnian gently tapped his fingers against the desk. For now, the ordinary disciples within the sect had been well-balanced. As for sect resources, with the support of factions like Tianji Pavilion, Guanyun Pavilion, and the Treasure Pavilion, balance was entirely achievable. In fact, once this transition period passed, the Great Xia Sword Sect could rake in astronomical wealth! Over twelve thousand cultivators—with such an enormous sheer number of cultivators, amassing fortune would be effortless.
*Boom!*
A terrifying surge of sword qi shot into the heavens!
Having restored his aura to its peak, Li Guanqi stood amidst the clouds, clenching his fists. Feeling the primal energy circulating through his body without the slightest obstruction, a faint smile finally appeared on his face.
Lu Kangnian flickered to his side and asked with a smile, "Recovered so quickly?"
Looking down toward the distorted rift in space, Li Guanqi smiled. "My brothers were worried about me, so they helped me refine the lingering demonic qi in my body."
Just then, Song Zhi'ang flew up to them with a cheerful smile.
"Li Guanqi!"
Surprised, Li Guanqi turned toward the woman soaring over. Looking at her gentle, refined air, he exclaimed in shock, "Song Zhi'ang? You actually started cultivating? And this speed... it feels even faster than mine! We haven't seen each other for just a few years, and you're already in the Nascent Soul realm?"
Li Guanqi was genuinely stunned.
With her hands clasped behind her back, Song Zhi'ang looked shyly at Li Guanqi, her cheeks slightly flushed and her eyes sparkling.
"Well? Impressive, aren't I?"
Li Guanqi nodded, then turned to Lu Kangnian and asked softly, "Sect Master, did everything go smoothly today?"
Lu Kangnian smiled at Song Zhi'ang, gave a nod, and then transmitted his voice softly: "Come, let us talk in the study."
Chapter 746