Arrangements

Xiang Tianheng departed. However, Zi Qiangwei and the several Great Cultivators who had accompanied them stayed behind. These Great Cultivators would shoulder the grave duty of safeguarding the Zixiao Institute, ensuring that no hostile outside elements could threaten Yaoguang, this future Artifact Refining Grandmaster. Nor did Yaoguang refuse these forces capable of guaranteeing his safety. When his own abilities were insufficient to ensure his security, surviving in as safe an environment as possible was simply a sensible, prudent choice. After seeing off Xiang Tianheng, Zhao Siliang, Zhang Jianlin, and the others, he instructed Yun Lai, Wei Yan, and the rest to upgrade the production line before heading to his own courtyard. He took inventory of the gains from his single meeting with Xiang Tianheng... Lavish. Even though he already belonged to an ultra-high income bracket pulling in tens of thousands a month, he still had to admit that Xiang Tianheng's series of gifts was extraordinarily generous. Gifting personnel, gifting territory, gifting pills, gifting dharma treasures, gifting spirit stones, gifting purchase orders... "This Nine Cauldrons Sect..." He smiled faintly. "Not bad at all." Right after, he focused his attention on his spiritual world. Even though the order for a thousand modified Zixiao Type 12 flying swords had not yet been delivered and the transaction was incomplete, the influx of assets such as the Spirit Transformation Pill, the storage bag, and the Yaoguang Realm had still boosted his [Merchant] experience by a massive leap. "As the modified Zixiao Type 12 shows its sharpness on the battlefield, I will inevitably step into the spotlight and become known to the world. Yet I intend to hold off on leveling up for a while longer. Under these circumstances, arming the Nine Cauldrons Sect as quickly as possible so my external environment becomes secure is the right path..." For a moment, he turned his gaze to the [Artifact Refining] branch. When the previous batch of Zixiao Type 12s was delivered, his [Artifact Refining] had already broken through to a realm equivalent to a Grandmaster, enabling him to forge treasure-grade flying swords. Moreover, it had birthed an exceedingly wondrous trait. "Artifact Master." Yaoguang sensed this talent. "Improves formation patterns to make dharma treasures compatible with divine mind, thereby allowing divine mind to manipulate flying swords just like divine sense." Spirit intent, divine sense, divine mind! All three were brand-new forms born from the metamorphosis of mental strength. Each possessed its own strengths. Yet because all three were converted from mental strength, once any single form reached the absolute pinnacle of power, it could also reproduce the effects of the other two systems. Just as an Origin Spirit realm Great Cultivator could also use divine mind to command a flying sword. It was only that their efficiency fell short even of a high-tier sword cultivator. Yet this current "Artifact Master" trait allowed his divine mind to manipulate a flying sword to slay enemies just like the divine sense of a sword cultivator at the same cultivation realm. Naturally, compared to a genuine sword cultivator of the same realm, his efficiency was still noticeably inferior. After all, other people's sword arts and sword mantras had not been practiced in vain. However... If he had enough pawns—letting sword cultivators command the swords to attack and then turning sword control over to him at the very last moment—the seamless coordination... It would absolutely far surpass the divine mind guidance of an Origin Spirit Great Cultivator. "Spirit artifacts are only spirit artifacts in the end. The weapons and equipment deciding battles of sect survival are still concentrated in the Treasure Weapon tier. For cost-effectiveness, ordinary Treasure Weapons are used; for precision lethality and focused strikes, top-grade Treasure Weapons are used. For the Nine Cauldrons Sect to become truly powerful, it is best that everyone be equipped with Treasure Weapons." Yaoguang had a rough understanding of the number of Great Cultivators in the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Around eight hundred sword cultivators, roughly six hundred spell cultivators, around six thousand body cultivators, and the remaining spirit cultivators were probably around a hundred and fifty. Of course, these figures were calculated and guessed from the surface; the actual numbers would certainly fluctuate. Among the eight hundred great sword cultivators, those who had cultivated to the peak of Foundation Establishment and ignited True Fire, or who had established a Dao Foundation and formed an inner elixir—the third-tier great sword cultivators—numbered just over two hundred. Meanwhile, fourth-tier great sword cultivators who had established a Dao Foundation and ignited True Fire probably totaled around forty. As for the Golden Core seeds who had established an Immortal Foundation... Those were classified under top-secret intelligence, likely beyond the reach of even branch sect masters like Zhao Siliang. Even what circulated outside regarding such figures possessed zero reference value. Yet inferring from these numbers... "Two hundred top-grade Treasure Weapons, six hundred low-grade Treasure Weapons." This was the Nine Cauldrons Sect's current demand for Treasure Weapons. Yet the Nine Cauldrons Sect currently possessed only the capability to produce first-generation Treasure Weapons. Among second-generation Treasure Weapons, they could not even produce low-grade flying swords and had to purchase them from the Myriad Beasts Sect. The price of each sword easily started at a hundred thousand spirit stones. Six hundred second-generation low-grade treasure swords would cost at least sixty million spirit stones! The total annual spirit stone output of the entire Nine Cauldrons Sect did not even reach that figure. After deducting the daily cultivation expenses of practitioners and the operational costs of maintaining formations and magical items, barely over ten million remained to be handed over to the War Hall each year. The War Hall likewise had all manner of expenditures. The equipment procurement quota that finally fell into the hands of the Flying Sword Department amounted to a meager two to three million. "Theoretically, the Flying Sword Department's procurement quota is only two to three million. But if I produce second-generation flying swords, or even third-generation flying swords, and hammer the price down from over a hundred thousand to tens of thousands... I imagine the Nine Cauldrons Sect would tighten its belt to buy eighty or a hundred of them. Besides, I am currently holding off on leveling up, so purchasing cultivation pills can wait. How many spirit stones can I alone spend for daily use?" Yaoguang broadened his thinking. "What is the essence of a merchant? Through transactions, circulation, and production, providing society with the goods and services it requires. If the Nine Cauldrons Sect runs out of spirit stones, can't I just circulate the spirit stones I earned back into the sect through other channels? At worst, I simply won't gain [Merchant] experience when there is no profit." He redirected his gaze to the [Artifact Refining] branch. The next instant, all the "experience" brought by the Spirit Transformation Pill, the storage bag, the spirit stones, and other resources was poured into this branch. Very quickly, the branch's progress climbed from 3% to 12%. Yaoguang calculated briefly, feeling a touch surprised. "It will actually take around 1.5 million spirit stones to push the progress to 100%?" He had originally thought about 1.2 million would suffice. The required amount had gratuitously grown by several tens of percent. Immediately after, however, he thought back to the scene at the Xie family banquet. "Even though I chose to hold off on leveling up, the influence brought by my artifact refining skill has still significantly boosted my status and standing. For a prominent figure of my rank and influence to personally refine and sell items... the labor cost naturally went up." Yaoguang realized where the issue lay. Strength represented labor cost. Status likewise fell under the umbrella of labor costs; it was just that its numerical influence was not as pronounced as strength, so he had not noticed it earlier. This time, he had directly stepped into the sights of the Nine Cauldrons Sect's upper echelon and was viewed as a future Artifact Refining Grandmaster, so his standing had naturally grown considerably. Right now, he was still bolstered only by the status of a "future Artifact Refining Grandmaster." If he refined a Treasure Weapon and genuinely demonstrated the caliber of an Artifact Refining Grandmaster... "Unless I refrain from forging Treasure Weapons and continually maintain the spirit artifact market under the identity of a Grandmaster of Artifact Refining, the moment I refine a Treasure Weapon and demonstrate the standard of an Artifact Refining Grandmaster, my standing within the Nine Cauldrons Sect will likely rank in the top dozens. At that point, the cost brought by status will exceed the cost brought by strength." Yaoguang understood clearly in his heart. Just like now, he was clearly not a Great Cultivator, yet an entire squad of Great Cultivators already guarded his side to ensure his safety. "Sure enough, there aren't that many bugs for me to exploit," Yaoguang murmured, though not much distress showed on his brow. As for stalling his level progression, he would hold off if he could, and if he couldn't, he wouldn't fret over gains and losses. The weight of an Artifact Refining Grandmaster... It was simply too heavy. In particular, once he forged a third-generation Treasure Weapon, he would inevitably become a prime assassination target for the Nine Cauldrons Sect's hostile factions. Even if the Nine Cauldrons Sect dispatched ever more experts to protect him by then, he still would not feel secure enough. Better to rely on oneself than on others. Therefore, once it reached that stage, he would also choose to elevate his own strength to the Great Cultivator level. For now... It was nothing more than an added reason to advance his strength. "Besides... once I reach Great Cultivator, the ancient tree will surely sprout new branches." Yaoguang settled his mind. "Whenever I had free time lately, I flipped through books on qi refining and alchemy. I wonder which one will end up lighting up." Qi refining meant he would achieve simultaneous cultivation of essence, qi, and spirit. Alchemy... It meant he would be self-reliant in his future cultivation, able to leverage all manner of top-tier pills to rapidly elevate his strength once his realm rose. Thus, whichever it was, Yaoguang could readily welcome it. *** In the period that followed, the Zixiao Institute led by Yaoguang focused primarily on producing modified Zixiao Type 12 flying swords. Because this batch of flying swords utilized minerals and formation patterns refined by the Nine Cauldrons Sect itself, the profit margin was actually higher. Each flying sword produced brought him nearly more than three hundred spirit stones in revenue. This income was already a hundred times that of the Great Cultivators charging on the front lines. Of course, the production efficiency of top-grade spirit artifact flying swords was slightly slower compared to low-grade spirit artifacts. The monthly yield was only around two hundred. Even so, after a month, it still brought him an income of sixty thousand spirit stones. Once the order for over a thousand flying swords was completed, his total earnings would surpass three hundred thousand. Just as he delivered the second batch of two hundred modified Zixiao Type 12s, Zi Qiangwei also completed the repair and construction of the Star Gate. However, busy refining spirit artifacts, Yaoguang could not spare the time to make a trip back. At once, he directly summoned Kong Xuan and Zong Yan. At the same time, he sent someone to fetch Xie Yushu to discuss the transfer of Xuelong's position as world hegemon to the Su family-controlled State of Xiayu. *** "You have three tasks for this journey." Inside the room, Yaoguang looked at Kong Xuan and Zong Yan, handing them an instrument fitted with a spirit stone. "This is a spirit-testing device. Your first task is to select a batch of cultivators with good talent, under thirty years of age. Their cultivation... can be lowered to Martial Master. These people will serve as our initial core, trained personally by me." Zong Yan looked at the instrument Yaoguang brought over. The device was not large, yet even an intact spirit stone could only run a thousand-odd tests; its spirit consumption was astoundingly high. Normally, the imperial families of both Chixing and Xuelong were rather reluctant to use it. Yet according to Yaoguang's instructions, any Martial Master under thirty had the right to be tested... They would have to test several hundred thousand people at the very least. In other words, several hundred spirit stones would have to be invested. "The second task..." Yaoguang laid out a batch of pills. "For those members of the Su family who are unwilling to come over, let them take these pills and oversee the Yaoguang Realm in the future. These pills are enough to cultivate over a hundred people to the fourth or fifth layer of body refining." "Understood," Kong Xuan acknowledged with solemn respect. "The third task is to take over the Yaoguang Realm. The Xie family will cooperate with you when the time comes..." He glanced at Zong Yan, then at Kong Xuan. Both men instantly understood Yaoguang's meaning. Just as Kong Xuan was about to volunteer, Zong Yan spoke up ahead of him: "Holy Lord, let me temporarily oversee and guard the Yaoguang Realm." He gave a sigh. "The Artifact Sect, a place worthy of being called a holy land... I have seen it. For the rest of my life, unless other fortunes come my way... I will probably never have any hope of becoming a high-tier cultivator. Rather than wasting away my remaining years here... I might as well return to live out my days in peace." "Very well." Yaoguang pushed forward another box. "Guarding a realm requires more cultivation than you currently possess. Take these pills; they should help you become a Heavenly Being." Zong Yan nodded, making no move to decline. "Go, and maintain the operation of the Yaoguang Realm well," Yaoguang said. Zong Yan gave a solemn nod. Guarding the rear. At this point, this was the only way he could contribute his remaining strength.