Morale

"Please ensure they are completely uprooted and achieve total victory." The divine mind transmitted the message. "Leave it to me!" Seeing two sword cultivators already step forward to give chase, Shen Qinglian gathered her focus as well. Not daring to waste any time, she sped off in pursuit. Their objective this time was a complete, sweeping victory—to strike fear into every sect in the East Sea Archipelago with thunderous force, stunning impact, and enigmatic dread. Under such circumstances, letting Song Xuan escape would cast a blemish on the otherwise flawless ambush. While Shen Qinglian led the pursuit, guided by Yaoguang after the sixteen fish that had slipped through the net headed by Song Xuan, the upper echelons of the Nine Cauldrons Sect were already watching the battle unfold through their "Kingdom of God"-brand Virtual Spirit Realm. Marching out from Jiuxiao Domain, the Nine Cauldrons Sect's first battle against the Xuanming Sect... Ended in absolute victory! ... "Good! Excellent! Every single one of them did brilliantly!" Li Qingshan praised with deep feeling. "After this battle, everyone must be richly rewarded!" "A truly thrilling and decisive victory." Huang Tianhao was all smiles as well. "These one hundred and forty-six Great Cultivators from the Xuanming Sect are finished. And not just these one hundred and forty-six—those on Fangyuan Island still haven't reacted even now. Once Qinglian deals with Song Xuan and the other stragglers, we can trap them like turtles in a jar and wipe them all out in one fell swoop." He Xifeng, Hall Master of the Xingtian Hall, said, "The crucial point is that we've kept our information tightly sealed. Outsiders have no idea what methods we used to wipe out over three hundred Great Cultivators of the Xuanming Sect. And the unknown is the most mysterious and the most terrifying. At the very least, before they figure out what hidden trump cards we hold, they will never dare to act rashly, let alone unite to lay siege to us." "Indeed. The unknown signifies what cannot be controlled, and what is uncontrollable naturally keeps every faction from recklessly entering the fray. Once we make an example of them and thoroughly obliterate the Xuanming Sect's living forces in the East Sea, we can concentrate our strength to confront our true adversary in the East Sea Archipelago," Zhou Lijian, Hall Master of the External Publicity Hall, said with a smile. The true adversary in the East Sea Archipelago... The Great Sun Sword Sect. The reason factions like the Astral Sea Sect, the Ancient Immortal Sect, and the Great Yue Dynasty dared to make such a commotion in the East Sea Archipelago was partly because they had major sects backing them, but also because the Great Sun Sword Sect had brought them along to carve up the East Sea Archipelago. In other words, the interest group carving up the East Sea was centered around the Great Sun Sword Sect. As long as they could repel or even crush the Great Sun Sword Sect, the numerous factions entrenched across the East Sea Archipelago would naturally crumble. There would be no need for the Nine Cauldrons Sect to laboriously push through them sect by sect. "We can already keep an eye out and look for an opportunity to test the Great Sun Sword Sect's true strength. If their strength is indeed as we understand it, and no other factions in the Cangwu Great World intervene in the East Sea, we can start preparing for this battle," Elder Huang Tianhao of the Elder Council said. "We don't necessarily need to defeat the Great Sun Sword Sect, but the East Sea Archipelago was our territory to begin with, and we must reclaim it." Hearing this, the various hall masters nodded in deep agreement. If nothing else, simply taking back the fourteen spirit energy nodes in the East Sea would increase the Nine Cauldrons Sect's annual revenue by tens of millions of spirit stones. Applied across all fronts, how much could those spirit stones improve the Nine Cauldrons Sect's strength and fortify its foundation? "It's truly... unbelievable." At this moment, the voice of Jiang Zhuoyue, Hall Master of the Guard Hall, rang out. Yet her tone carried an indescribable sense of oppression. As Hall Master of the Guard Hall of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, she was responsible for internal defense. Whenever a city required defensive formations, she would confer with Gao Shenghan, Hall Master of the Mystic Formation Hall, dispatch array masters, and coordinate with Liang Qiu for logistical resources to set up formations where reinforcements were needed. Likewise, if the Nine Cauldrons Sect's territory came under attack, she was the first to handle and suppress the threat. Only when a situation proved insurmountable would she seek assistance from the War Hall. Yet... This battle had made her acutely aware that if she, as Hall Master of the Guard Hall, ever faced such an information black zone, she would likely be powerless. She could not think of a single viable method to withstand the suppression of an information black zone. The other hall masters in the conference gathered her meaning from her tone. An information black zone. Before witnessing this battle with their own eyes, they had known it was terrifying, yet they still lacked a full understanding of it. They had only known that the Wuji Astral Palace had relied on this overwhelming advantage to effortlessly crush the Liusha Sect, which had been on the same tier as them. And now... Having witnessed the amplifying effects displayed by this spirit treasure capable of manifesting the methods of a Dharma Idol cultivator, they truly realized the colossal impact a Dharma Idol cultivator could exert over the battlefield. It truly was... if a Dharma Idol cultivator wished, they could effortlessly erase any mid-to-large sect from the Cangwu Great World on the informational level. The world could hear none of their voices. The world could see none of their actions. Even if they actively participated in an event, not a whisper of information would mention them. Under such conditions... What difference was there between that sect and nonexistence? "There is no need to be overly disheartened." At that moment, Li Qingshan's voice rang out. A gentle power permeated his divine sense. "We have weathered the most bitter times. Right now, everything in our Nine Cauldrons Sect is developing in a good direction." With a wave of his hand, scenes appeared—glimpses of Yaoguang teaching the sect's array masters over the years, instructing them on the improved Spirit Gathering Formation. "Hall Master Yaoguang refined the Spirit Gathering Formation, elevating the sect's formation expertise to the world's very pinnacle—perhaps not even the Wuji Astral Palace can rival us. As array master after array master masters these techniques, every Spirit Gathering Formation in the sect will be completely revamped over the next ten to twenty years. By then, our Nine Cauldrons Sect's total spirit stone output is projected to reach three hundred million." Then he switched the display to another scene. "By vigorously promoting the application of 'technology' in our subsidiary worlds, our population in every subsidiary world has multiplied several times over in just eighty years. A vast population base naturally gives rise to more brilliant prodigies. According to our data, the number of individuals possessing superior spiritual roots in the sect has already exceeded forty-nine thousand six hundred. Once our spirit stone production ramps up in the future, every one of them has the potential to achieve Foundation Establishment." As he spoke, image after image flashed by in rapid succession. "As for those with lesser talent, we are guiding them toward martial training. In the future, once they reach the third level of body refining, they can transform qi into spirit, develop divine sense, and work in the energy sector. To date, our reserve of personnel in this field has reached three hundred million. The moment we reclaim the East Sea Archipelago and the Shiwan Dashan, they can take up their posts immediately." "Then there are artifacts, equipment, and pills. In terms of flying swords, under the leadership of Hall Master Yaoguang, we are now capable of independently producing Generation 3.5 low-grade Treasure Weapon flying swords. With the design plans provided by Hall Master Yaoguang, he will undoubtedly be able to design Generation 3 high-grade Treasure Weapon flying swords in the future, allowing us to step fully into the world's top echelon in this domain! Although pills lag slightly behind, Hall Master Wu Qingying has already gained the ability to refine Generation 2 Treasure Pills." Li Qingshan's eyes swept across everyone present, and his voice rang out with resounding conviction: "The Nine Cauldrons Sect is growing stronger! Stronger with every passing moment! Especially now... with the influx of talented individuals, including exceptional talents like Hall Master Yaoguang, we are growing stronger at an unprecedented pace!" The crowd turned their gazes to Li Qingshan. The oppression and gloom in their eyes gradually dissipated, rekindling with brilliant radiance. "Therefore, we must not belittle ourselves." Li Qingshan's divine sense resonated throughout the Virtual Spirit Realm. "We need fear no one, nor do we need to bow beneath any power. Over these eighty-nine years, step by step, we built this foundation from scratch, creating what can only be called an unprecedented miracle. The Pill Sect, the Fiendgod Hall, and the Yang God Sect have all vanished like smoke, yet our Nine Cauldrons Sect's heritage endures. I believe that in the future, our Nine Cauldrons Sect will continue to survive, growing ever stronger and more prosperous. One day... we will ascend to the pinnacle of the world once more and stand as a top faction alongside the current Six Great Immortal Sects!" "Well said!" Zhang Ruosheng, Hall Master of the Administrative Affairs Hall, declared loudly, "We've weathered the darkest days, and everything is heading in a positive direction now. What do we have to fear from the future ahead?!" "In the end, our lives have just been improving, making us worry about gains and losses. But clearly, we are not yet strong enough—otherwise, such hesitation and anxiety would never have surfaced in us! To cast this mindset aside, the best way is to make ourselves stronger and return the Nine Cauldrons Sect to the summit of the world!" "Hahaha, well said! Returning to the world's summit—let us begin by reclaiming the East Sea Archipelago!" The other hall masters burst into laughter as well. An aura of vitality and thriving vigor filled the high-level council of the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Yaoguang observed this process in silence. At this moment, he faintly understood why Li Qingshan enjoyed the wholehearted support of everyone and remained firmly seated as sect master. It wasn't merely that he possessed decisive leadership and an unwavering resolve to dedicate everything to the Nine Cauldrons Sect's growth; it was his mindset. He was always able to maintain a passionate, forward-looking spirit, unafraid of hardship and undeterred by obstacles, facing impending pressure with serenity and accepting all of the world's challenges with composure. Because of this, no matter what danger or oppression the Nine Cauldrons Sect faced in the future, even if everyone else fell, he would never fall. Instead, he would struggle to pull everyone back to their feet, pressing onward and marching forward. ... While Yaoguang was lost in thought, Li Qingshan's divine sense reached him. "Hall Master Yaoguang, thank you." "What are you thanking me for?" "Were it not for you, we could never have won this battle so easily. Even with the Generation 3 flying swords you forged, wiping out those one hundred and forty-plus cultivators would have cost us at least twenty to thirty casualties," Li Qingshan said earnestly. "You flatter me." "We will still have to trouble you regarding Fangyuan Island," Li Qingshan said. "Displaying our edge at the right moment remains crucial for stabilizing the surrounding environment." "Of course." Yaoguang gave a slight nod. "I'm looking forward to everyone living peaceful, stable lives once the sect reclaims the East Sea Archipelago and the Shiwan Dashan." "With Hall Master Yaoguang's help, that day will not be far off."