Spirit Treasure

"Deputy Hall Master?!" Yaoguang was taken aback. The Deputy Hall Master Xu Qiexing spoke of certainly did not refer to a branch sect's Artifact Refining Hall or Mystic Formation Hall, but to the main sect itself. The sheer weight carried by a Deputy Hall Master of the main sect... It was hardly inferior to a figure of Domain Lord standing. That was especially true for him, who would concurrently hold the post in both halls. If his status was elevated that high, his personnel costs would likely spike again. He immediately waved his hand. "There is no need for this. Everything I did was simply what I ought to do as a member of the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Furthermore, as I said, I already hold a thirty-percent share of the profits from improving the formations. That thirty-percent dividend is more than enough to satisfy me. If I accept any further appointments or rewards from the sect, it would be sheer greed, an insatiable appetite. Therefore, I ask Hall Master Xu and Hall Master Gao to rescind the order." With that, he turned at once to Tang Fenghua beside him and added, "Go speak with the Sect Master for me. Nothing I have done was done for promotions or rewards. If everyone thought of climbing into high positions the moment they achieved a bit of success, who in the Nine Cauldrons Sect would be left to focus on technical research?" At those words, not only Xu Qiexing, but even Gao Shenghan assumed a solemn expression. Neither of them had imagined Yaoguang possessed such a high level of ideological consciousness. With the post of Deputy Hall Master dangling before him, he remained entirely unmoved. Such noble character... It was deeply moving. The Nine Cauldrons Sect... It was precisely because countless individuals like First Seat Yaoguang existed that, in a mere eighty-odd years, a group of marginal figures had managed to drag the nearly wiped out, collapsed Artifact Sect back from the brink, forge it into the Nine Cauldrons Sect, and build it up to its present scale. In him... The two even caught a glimpse of Supreme Elder Li Hanqiu. Both laboured away from the limelight, silently contributing to the sect without fanfare. The only difference was that Li Hanqiu provided the Nine Cauldrons Sect with martial security, whereas Yaoguang... He was spearheading a rapid surge forward for the entire sect in production and economic strength. For a hero who forged the sect's sword like this, the Nine Cauldrons Sect could not allow his heart to grow cold under any circumstances. Xu Qiexing spoke with grave earnestness: "Hall Master Yaoguang, we are well aware that you do not covet the post of Hall Master, nor do you care for hollow outward fame. However, whenever anyone contributes to the sect, the sect must show recognition. Clear rewards and penalties, coupled with open avenues for advancement, are the bedrock of any sect's ability to grow strong. If merit cannot be rewarded, how can the Nine Cauldrons Sect establish trust with all its members so they can carry out their work with solid peace of mind?" Yaoguang understood Xu Qiexing's point. It was the dilemma of Zigong ransoming the captive. If he refused the reward purely to preserve his personal image of moral purity, what about others in the future? Would they feel obligated to follow his example? Otherwise, wouldn't they risk being branded as hypocrites who only craved reputation? And yet... Yaoguang's reluctance to accept the appointment had nothing to do with any so-called noble integrity. After a long pause, he said, "Given my current situation, I still need to keep a low profile..." "We are already handling this with the utmost discretion," Liangqiu remarked with a smile from the side. "Otherwise, with a contribution as immense as improving the Spirit Gathering Formation, one of us Hall Masters might have had to step down and yield our seat to you." Yaoguang felt a pang of emotion as he listened. Back when he first learned about the Nine Cauldrons Sect, he had heard from Zong Yan that high positions within the sect went to those with ability. He had initially assumed it was mere propaganda, never imagining... The Nine Cauldrons Sect actually meant it. They truly practiced that doctrine. For now, he had only improved the Rank 5 Spirit Gathering Formation and demonstrated the ability to optimize Rank 6 formations. If he kept going and improved Rank 7 formations in the future, wouldn't he immediately become a Hall Master and concurrent Vice Sect Master? If he could even lay out Rank 8 Spirit Gathering Formations, or even Rank 9 formations, would Li Qingshan have to step down and let him take over as Sect Master of the Nine Cauldrons Sect? Of course, as the founder of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, Li Qingshan possessed prestige and stature that no Hall Master or Vice Sect Master could possibly match. If Yaoguang truly wished to replace him with everyone's acclaim and mount the Sect Master's throne, even being a Rank 9 formation master would likely fall short. Still... Judging by their attitude in handling these matters... The Nine Cauldrons Sect gave him a fairly good impression. Moreover, prestige and status were not things that vanished simply because he declined them. The fact that the Nine Cauldrons Sect offered such treatment proved his stature had already risen. In the end, Yaoguang gave a nod. "Then I shall accept with humility." "Excellent." Xu Qiexing, Liangqiu, Gao Shenghan, Zhao Siliang, and the others all broke into smiles. Presided over by the two Hall Masters, a brief promotion ceremony was held on the spot for Yaoguang. His title officially shifted from First Seat of Zixiao Institute and Zhenhai Institute to Deputy Hall Master of both the Artifact Refining Hall and the Mystic Formation Hall. "Congratulations, Hall Master Yaoguang." "Rising at such breakneck speed—from First Seat of a branch sect's Artifact Refining Institute to First Seat of the main sect's Artifact Refining Institute, to concurrently overseeing two key institutes, and now being promoted to Deputy Hall Master in both the main sect's Artifact Refining Hall and Mystic Formation Hall—this pace of advancement is truly unprecedented." "Yet every bit of it is well deserved by Hall Master Yaoguang. The faster you rise, the more it proves your outstanding talent." The surrounding figures voiced their praise one after another. Yaoguang responded with modest words. Once everyone had seen the formalities through, Liangqiu stepped forward and brought out two items. One was a piece of calligraphy penned by Sect Master Li Qingshan himself. The other... It was held within an array disc no larger than a palm. Yet within that palm-sized disc rested a star that had been shrunken countless times over, reduced to the size of a pigeon's egg. Looking at this treasure, Zhao Siliang seemed to recall something and let out a startled gasp: "This is... the Soul of the Stars?!" "Indeed. This is precisely that spirit treasure—the Soul of the Stars," Liangqiu replied with a smile. "A spirit treasure!" Yaoguang did not know much about the Soul of the Stars, but the words 'spirit treasure' alone were enough to convey its immense worth. Three hundred years ago, every single spirit treasure was considered a pillar of a sect. They were the single most vital component of a sect's foundational heritage. The value of any spirit treasure typically started at tens of millions of spirit stones, and some formidable ones could fetch prices in the hundreds of millions. Back before Spirit Gathering Formations had been improved, the average annual spirit stone output of the Ten Great Immortal Sects hovered around merely 150 million. After deducting cultivation and daily expenses, a sect's disposable spirit stones amounted to thirty to fifty million at most. That alone illustrated the sheer weight of a spirit treasure. Because spirit treasures nowadays were all first-generation artifacts, their market price and value had declined somewhat under the impact of third- and fourth-generation superior Treasure Weapons, yet they remained items worth tens of millions. And now Liangqiu had brought out such a supreme treasure... "The Soul of the Stars serves two primary functions. First, if a body cultivator refines it into their body, it can drastically accelerate the coalescence of their demon god body. Second..." Liangqiu paused briefly. "A body cultivator's strength stems from their affinity with the astral force field, and that process takes time. The longer they spend, the higher their affinity with the local astral force field becomes. Some body cultivators remain stationary in one place for years on end, coming to know every nuance of the surrounding astral force field's movements. Supported by that astral force field, even an all-out strike from a sword cultivator of the same realm cannot budge their force field in the slightest." He looked down at the Soul of the Stars in his hands. "The second function of this spirit treasure is that it can swiftly help a body cultivator enter that state of affinity." "Swiftly enter the astral force field state?" Yaoguang's eyes brightened. Such an ability would dramatically enhance the safety of any Star Lord. "Simply promoting you to Deputy Hall Master of the Artifact Refining Hall and Mystic Formation Hall was not enough to reflect the sect's appreciation for your contributions. Therefore, the sect resolved to bestow this spirit treasure upon you. We hope you will like it," Liangqiu said. This time, Yaoguang offered no refusal whatsoever. With a broad smile, he received the spirit treasure. "I like it. I like it very much." Considering his Artifact Refining progress had already surpassed eighty percent, he estimated he was not far from reaching the level capable of refining spirit treasures. He immediately used this treasure to lay some groundwork: "Lately, I have been attempting to make a breakthrough in the path of artifact refining, and I happen to need to study some extremely high-tier treasures. Although this spirit treasure is not a flying sword, all variations within the craft stem from the same fundamental principles. This spirit treasure could not have arrived at a better time." Nearby, Xu Qiexing, Gao Shenghan, and the others exchanged glances, privately marvelling. Yaoguang had declined the promotion to Deputy Hall Master every way he could, viewing power and status like dirt, yet his face lit up with undisguised joy when presented with a spirit treasure that could aid his artifact refining craft. Such devotion to the path of refining... No wonder he had attained such astonishing achievements at so young an age. "Hall Master Yaoguang, over the coming period, I will bring my people to study the improved Rank 5 Spirit Gathering Formation with you. Furthermore, I and several others I brought along possess some attainment in Rank 6 Spirit Gathering Formations as well. We hope to have thorough discussions with you when the time comes," Gao Shenghan stepped forward and said. "Of course," Yaoguang replied, glancing at him. The timing of this Mystic Formation Hall Master's arrival was rather fitting. He could seize the opportunity to roll out the Rank 6 Spirit Gathering Formation as well and let everyone learn it. As for the Rank 7 Spirit Gathering Formation down the road... He would likely have to pause for a while. No formation master in the Nine Cauldrons Sect possessed the ability to lay out a Rank 7 Spirit Gathering Formation. Even if he introduced it, he would have to construct it entirely with his own hands. Laying formations was fundamentally different from artifact refining; it was typically an enormous, painstaking project, to say nothing of a Rank 7 formation. Setting up a Rank 7 Spirit Gathering Formation down to the finest detail by himself would likely take three to five years. It would be far better to wait until these people became adept at laying the improved Rank 6 formations and then guide them toward a breakthrough. Once their standard rose, introducing the Rank 7 Spirit Gathering Formation would not be too late. Afterward, You Qianshan acted as host and treated Yaoguang and the several Hall Masters to a hearty feast. When night fell, Yaoguang returned to his residence. Rather than immediately examining the Soul of the Stars, he turned his attention first to the ancient tree within his spiritual world. "Excellent." Looking at the massive pool of experience accumulated upon the [Merchant] branch, a smile crossed his face. "My personnel costs went up, but fortunately it's only Deputy Hall Master, so the increase isn't exaggerated. And the boost brought by a spirit treasure..." His gaze swept across the four branches of [Formation], [Artifact Refining], [Martial Path], and [Divine Path] one by one. It was time to make his pick.