Suggestions

"Not worth it." Feeling the tearing tremors racking his Origin Spirit under the successive strikes of Zixiao Divine Lightning, Yaoguang had no choice but to stop. He had already undergone the tempering of eight strikes of Zixiao Divine Lightning. Although if he held on with all his might, he might be able to endure nine, ten, twelve, or even fifteen strikes, still... It was simply too dangerous. The Zixiao Divine Lightning that could descend within the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer did not always strike just one or two bolts at a time. When yin and yang clashed, any unexpected accident could occur. If three or four strikes of Zixiao Divine Lightning descended upon him simultaneously... He would not be able to withstand it. His Origin Spirit would likely be torn to shreds by the divine lightning. Therefore... "Venturing deeper just for a few more temperings of Zixiao Divine Lightning... is not worth it." He had always been a cautious person. With that, his Origin Spirit gradually drifted downward toward the edge of the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer. Just as he was about to leave the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer, Xu Kong's Origin Spirit finally caught up. When Xu Kong saw that although Yaoguang's Origin Spirit was enveloped in purple light and seemed to have suffered significant injuries, it had become exceptionally stable and condensed, delight broke out across his face. "Yaoguang, you succeeded?! Your Origin Spirit... actually withstood the tempering of Zixiao Divine Lightning?!" "Just good fortune," Yaoguang replied. At the same time, seeing that the simultaneous presence of two Origin Spirit realm cultivators' Origin Spirits in the Zixiao Divine Lightning layer was about to trigger a divine lightning "resonance" effect, he quickly added, "Elder Xu Kong is also undergoing tribulation? Then I shall take my leave..." Whenever an Origin Spirit realm cultivator entered a lightning layer, the clash of yin and yang would form a thundercloud. If two Origin Spirit cultivators were close together, it could cause the clouds to merge and form an even more terrifying thunderstorm cloud. Therefore, even when delving deep into a certain cloud layer, Origin Spirit cultivators always kept a wide berth from one another. "The surprise you gave us today... was far too frightening... Remember to keep it secret once you get back! Bailu and Zhang Jianlin will coordinate with you!" Xu Kong urgently instructed. Yaoguang instantly understood what Xu Kong meant. He also guessed that this was likely Sect Master Zhao Siliang's intention. This suited his preference to maintain a low profile without appearing entirely devoid of merit. "Understood." Giving this reply, his figure rapidly plunged toward the Blazing Sun Heavenly Lightning layer. After regrouping with Bailu, Zhang Jianlin, and the others waiting in the Blazing Sun Heavenly Lightning layer, their Origin Spirits descended directly toward Longxiang City under the protection of Zhao He and the other Foundation Establishment sword cultivators. ... His Origin Spirit returned to his body. Yaoguang did not immediately interact with anyone outside, instead quietly sensing the changes within himself. As for external matters... He had already spoken with Bailu, Zhang Jianlin, and the others on the way back, and they would handle it. To the outside world, it would be announced that he had passed the one-nine lightning tribulation in a single breath, but encountered an accident while attempting the three-nine lightning tribulation, causing an astonishing thundercloud comparable to a nine-nine lightning tribulation. Internally, a confidential file would record that he had passed the three-nine lightning tribulation on his very first attempt, only to suffer severe trauma during the nine-nine lightning tribulation. Heavily wounded, he had immediately requested help from the sect, which led to the rescue by Bailu, Zhang Jianlin, and the others. Both explanations were completely logical. They also aligned with outside speculations. On the contrary, the truth that Yaoguang had weathered a nine-nine lightning tribulation in one breath and completed multiple temperings of Zixiao Divine Lightning was utterly unimaginable. As long as a few inconsistencies and exaggerated elements were mixed in, hostile intelligence agencies would dismiss it as disinformation meant to mislead them if rumors leaked. ... 'An idealistic breakthrough truly comes naturally as long as the realm is attained,' Yaoguang mused. For the Divine Path, the physical body was finite, heaven and earth were finite, the starry sky was finite, the universe was finite—only the mind and soul were infinite. The Taiyuan Spirit Refining Art had also briefly mentioned a piece of information: Those of limitless physique are Human Immortals; those of boundless true essence are Heavenly Immortals; and those of infinite mind and soul are Divine Immortals. This was the first time he had seen a description of "Immortals" among all the information he had "read." However, aside from those brief words, there was not another syllable explaining what "Immortal" meant. What the Taiyuan Spirit Refining Art truly described most was the cultivation of the Origin Spirit. The threefold transformation: Yin Spirit, Origin Spirit, and Yang Spirit. Before cultivating into a Yang Spirit, the Origin Spirit always retained a "yin" attribute; once exposed to specific environments, it would trigger a clash of yin and yang. Only after converting to a yang nature could it truly soar freely. At that stage, a cultivator could even shed the shackles of the flesh. Even if the physical body perished, one could still survive as an Origin Spirit. Of course, without a physical body, the Origin Spirit could hardly grow any further; in other words, one's cultivation path would hit a ceiling. "Here in the Cangwu Great World, there is no division into Yin Spirit, Origin Spirit, and Yang Spirit—all are collectively termed the Origin Spirit. Judging by this alone, the path outlined by the Taiyuan Spirit Refining Art is more complete than that of the Cangwu Great World..." Yaoguang quietly sensed the changes in his divine mind. At this moment, he was equivalent to a cultivator who had undergone the Zixiao lightning tribulation. The detection range of his divine mind... In the next instant, Yaoguang's thoughts spread rapidly, sweeping out of Longxiang City at an incredible speed and continually expanding into the distance. Three hundred li, five hundred li, a thousand li, three thousand li... It extended a full six thousand li before finally stopping upon reaching the vast East Sea. "Foundation Establishment and body cultivators are divided into five tiers based on combat strength without factoring in external power. As for Origin Spirits... because of Heavenly Palace cultivators, a sixth tier was separately delineated atop the original five tiers." Yaoguang analyzed carefully. "The Taiyuan Spirit Refining Art is exceptionally stable and leans toward defense; it is not renowned for its detection range. Yet right now, the detection range of my divine mind is already comparable to those fourth-tier Origin Spirit realm cultivators who specialize in detection—that is, Xu Kong's level." It was even a notch stronger than Bailu, who was at the peak of the third tier. As for defense... Even if eight or ten enemy fourth-tier Origin Spirits slammed their divine minds into his, if they could shake him in the slightest, it would mean he had cultivated the Taiyuan Spirit Refining Art in vain. 'Furthermore... the offensive capability of my divine mind doesn't seem weak either...' If the defensive quality of the Taiyuan Spirit Refining Art was likened to a block of steel, even if that steel had not been forged into a divine weapon, simply smashing it down by virtue of its inherent "solidity" could still shatter the divine minds of those Origin Spirits with lesser stability. Moreover, tracking, locking on, searching, and energy efficiency had all reached the threshold of the fourth tier. It could be called all-around. "In the entire Nine Cauldrons Sect, the number of Origin Spirit realm Great Cultivators is between 150 and 200. Just as the ninth level of qi refining represents the front-line combat elites, among Great Cultivators, those who venture out to fight are typically third-tier elites. The second tier forms the frontline main combatants, while the first tier garrison local regions and shoulder duties such as teaching and assisting in production. However, because Origin Spirits are scarce in the Nine Cauldrons Sect, second-tier Origin Spirits often have to fight on the battlefield as well..." Cultivators like Bailu, who was at the peak of the third tier, fought on the front lines at all times. Meanwhile, Zhang Jianlin, who was at the first tier, served as the spokesperson for the External Publicity Hall in Jiuxiao Domain. Deducing from this, the Nine Cauldrons Sect likely had no more than forty third-tier Origin Spirits. As for fourth-tier Origin Spirits like himself, there were probably fewer than twenty. Fifth-tier and sixth-tier... Those were beings with hopes of reaching an even higher realm; barring exceptional circumstances, they would not be placed into combat rosters. A fifth-tier cultivator who had established an Immortal Foundation carried a weight hardly less than that of a sky-patrol warship. "The sixth tier of the Origin Spirit realm is somewhat unique. Heavenly Palace cultivators achieve unity between person and artifact and are not counted among the standard ranks. But with the concept of a 'Yang Spirit' in my Taiyuan Spirit Refining Art, could it actually give rise to a true sixth tier?" Having clarified his current standing, Yaoguang drew back the divine mind he had cast six thousand li away. Now that he had reached the Origin Spirit realm, his Star Lord realm also needed to be raised as soon as possible. At the same time, he needed to start preparing to establish his unique swarm tactics system. Next, all that remained was to wait for the sect to approve the dharma treasure refining proposal. ... Yaoguang did not have to wait long. One month after his Origin Spirit state stabilized, Nine Cauldrons Sect Vice Sect Master and Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall Xu Qiexing, Vice Sect Master and Hall Master of the Logistics Hall Liang Qiu, and Artifact Refining Grandmaster Dong Liushui arrived in Longxiang City, accompanied by Zhao Siliang. The moment Xu Qiexing saw Yaoguang, he strode forward and warmly grasped his hand. "First Seat Yaoguang, your reputation precedes you. On behalf of everyone across the Nine Cauldrons Sect, I thank you for your contributions to the sect during this time, and I thank you for saving the hundreds of millions of people in Jiuxiao Domain." "Saving others is also saving oneself. It was only what I ought to do," Yaoguang replied. "Originally, the sect master intended to come in person this time, but... we are currently taking advantage of the Wuji Astral Palace's distraction to break through their blockade. There is a great deal to be done, and the sect master could not get away, so I had to make the trip..." "I understand," Yaoguang nodded. Although the Wuji Astral Palace's sky-patrol fleet had withdrawn, the Nine Cauldrons Sect's current situation was still far from ideal. The East Sea Archipelago had been completely lost, and they had also been forced to abandon Shiwan Dashan. As sect master, Li Qingshan was undoubtedly swamped with work. After exchanging pleasantries for a moment, Xu Qiexing moved to the main topic. "In light of First Seat Yaoguang's unique situation, regarding your future development, we have three suggestions for you. Naturally, if First Seat Yaoguang has any thoughts of your own, please feel free to raise them. As long as it is within our power, the Nine Cauldrons Sect will do everything possible." "Please, go ahead." Yaoguang nodded. "First, as mentioned to you previously, we would like you to go to Chicheng and try taking command of the sky-patrol warship that has already been ordered. At present, we have already selected the crew to board the ship. Based on the ship's formation configuration, we have arranged thirty-six elite Foundation Establishment sword cultivators, twenty-four spell cultivators, and twelve Origin Spirit realm cultivators, with another three thousand high-ranking cultivators in various roles assisting." As Xu Qiexing spoke, he presented the second suggestion: "The leadership intends to establish a specialized institute modeled after the Sword-Bearing Institute based on your talents and abilities, granting an allotment of one hundred Great Cultivators. First Seat Yaoguang may state specific requirements as you see fit; if you need to increase or decrease the number of personnel, you need only ask. Anything goes, so long as it maximizes your natural advantages." 'Modeled after the Sword-Bearing Institute.' Yaoguang was somewhat surprised. The Sword-Bearing Institute was the strongest institute in the Nine Cauldrons Sect, an elite ace agency directly under the sect master's command. Its members were equipped with the most advanced dharma treasures and flying swords, and more than half were fourth-tier Great Cultivators. Combined with proper personnel pairings and seamless tactical battle formation coordination, their combat strength was formidable enough to go toe-to-toe with a sky-patrol warship of the Wuji Astral Palace. "The third concerns the Zixiao Type 13 flying sword you submitted. According to Grandmaster Dong Liushui, has this flying sword reached the level of a third-generation flying sword?!" When Xu Qiexing reached this point, his voice trembled slightly. "Yes, it has," Yaoguang nodded. At these words, Zhao Siliang, who clearly had not known this news beforehand, immediately sucked in a breath of cold air. A third-generation Treasure Weapon-grade flying sword! Across the entire Cangwu Realm, the sects capable of forging such Treasure Weapons could be counted on two hands. This was undeniably at the forefront of the world's advanced technology. "Therefore, our third suggestion is for the Nine Cauldrons Sect to fund a major expansion of the Zixiao Institute and dedicate full efforts to producing the Zixiao Type 13 flying sword." Xu Qiexing said emphatically, "When the time comes, Grandmaster Dong Liushui's team will join you. Moreover, if the Zixiao Type 13's performance truly is as exceptional as the specifications you provided, even more grandmaster teams will come to assist you in the refining process. In addition, the sect will spare no effort in placing substantial orders with you, even if it means emptying our coffers, so that we can arm the sword cultivators of the War Hall as quickly as possible."