Taking Notice

At the Great Sun Sword Sect. Chisongzi was once again summoned to the Sect Master's palace. When he arrived, Baishi, the Master of Heavenly Palace Hall, was already there with his retinue delivering an intelligence report. "The Nine Cauldrons Sect has indeed fully completed technical improvements on their spirit-gathering formations. Moreover, the techniques they employ are likely a cut above even the latest ones held by Wuji Astral Palace, to say nothing of other factions. According to intelligence our hidden agents risked their lives to obtain after infiltrating their Energy Department, there are even seventh-rank, third-generation modified spirit-gathering formations among them! These formations have revitalized numerous spirit energy nodes that were previously impossible to exploit..." Baishi's voice echoed through the hall. To Chisongzi's ears, however, the words brought a secret shock. A seventh-rank, third-generation spirit-gathering formation!? As early as ten years ago, they had learned that the Nine Cauldrons Sect was reinstalling spirit-gathering formations across its grounds. Yet energy departments were always heavily guarded and of paramount importance, and as for formations... Unless one was also a formation master, it was exceedingly difficult to perceive their intricacies. Furthermore, with the Nine Cauldrons Sect confirmed to possess Dharma Idol-level combat power, although the Great Sun Sword Sect knew they were reinstalling spirit-gathering formations, they had been unable to ascertain their true technical sophistication and tier. They had merely speculated that fourth-rank formations were being upgraded to fifth-rank, and fifth-rank to sixth-rank. Now, it appeared matters went far beyond that. "If I remember correctly, the Nine Cauldrons Sect's overhaul of their spirit-gathering formations began ten years ago?" Long Zechuan looked at Baishi, Master of Heavenly Palace Hall. "And if we trace it back through the period we overlooked, it should be fifteen, perhaps even sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen years ago. Since they have mastered even seventh-rank, third-generation formations, sixth-rank and fifth-rank third-generation designs are naturally well within their grasp..." Long Zechuan fixed his gaze on Baishi. "So tell me, over these years, how high has the Nine Cauldrons Sect's spirit stone output reached? With such massive production, combined with their steady dumping of Zixiao series flying swords over the past decade—which wrested nearly a third of the global market from Wuji Astral Palace—just how much wealth have they amassed? And once that wealth was converted into cultivation and infrastructure, how many late Foundation Establishment Rank Three Great Cultivators must they have nurtured, and how comprehensive a formation defense system must they have established?" Cold sweat instantly broke out across Baishi's face. Without even calculating, he knew it had to be a staggering sum. Three hundred million? Probably far more! Likely 350 million, 400 million, or even 450 million! A figure that, aside from Wuji Astral Palace and the Immortal Alliance, left every other top immortal sect trailing far behind. "What was our Great Sun Sword Sect's total spirit stone revenue last year?" Long Zechuan asked. "Our gross production was two hundred and ten million, and foreign export revenue was forty-six million..." Baishi hurried to reply. "The Nine Cauldrons Sect's foreign trade reached one hundred million last year alone, and their spirit stone production was no less than four hundred million... We, who aspired to become the hegemon of Tianxing, have been left far behind—and you, the Master of Heavenly Palace Hall, remained completely oblivious..." Long Zechuan's tone grew heavy. Baishi immediately bowed low. "I am deeply sorry..." "At the next Heavenly Palace rotation, step down. Resign from your post as Master of Heavenly Palace Hall and be transferred to the East Sea Situational Awareness Department, concurrently serving as the First Seat of Shenhuo Institute." Long Zechuan handed the file to his assistant. "Send this intelligence to Hall Master Jones of Wuji Astral Palace." "Yes." Taking the dossier, the assistant hurried off to carry out the order. Long Zechuan then turned his gaze toward Chisongzi. "You have been staying in the East Sea recently observing the Nine Cauldrons Sect's development. Do you happen to know that their elite combat courtyards now number twenty?" "Twenty?" Chisongzi froze in disbelief, then quickly blurted, "Th-that's impossible, isn't it? Thanks to their growth over the past dozen-plus years, the Nine Cauldrons Sect has indeed added many standard combat courtyards. It's said they even relaxed certain criteria to establish so-called reserve combat courtyards. But elite combat courtyards... They only added Ganjiang Courtyard eight years ago and Moye Courtyard three years ago, bringing their elite total to nine. Twenty? Where could they possibly get so many late Foundation Establishment Rank Three Great Cultivators?" Long Zechuan said nothing, merely pointing toward a folder for him to read for himself. Chisongzi stepped forward and flipped through it for a moment. Cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead. The report plainly stated that six months ago, the so-called reserve combat courtyard Yinhu and the Nine Cauldrons Sect's veteran elite combat courtyard Shenwei had conducted a drill mirroring actual combat. The final result... Forty to thirty-four! The reserve unit, Yinhu, had actually edged out the veteran elite Shenwei Courtyard! "How... how is that possible!? That was clearly just a reserve unit..." There were twelve such reserve units. No! According to the latest intelligence in his hands, the Nine Cauldrons Sect seemed intent on forming another twelve reserve combat courtyards. In three years at most, they would have a total of twenty-four such reserve units. If every one of these units possessed strength on par with an elite combat courtyard like Shenwei... That would mean thirty-three formidable combat courtyards! Such military might... An uncontrollable chill crept over Chisongzi. "How can there be so many..." In less than twenty years, how had the Nine Cauldrons Sect gone from five or six elite combat courtyards to on the verge of thirty-three!? Was this some kind of joke? "And it's not just combat courtyards," Long Zechuan said coldly. "Over these past dozen-odd years, the Nine Cauldrons Sect has also been mass-producing sky-patrol warships. Aside from that first-generation warship purchased from the Myriad Beasts Sect and our Chunyu and Vajra, in a mere dozen or so years they have constructed four warships: the Jizhou, Qingzhou, Yangzhou, and Xuzhou... Above all, the Shenzhou, which is nearing completion..." Long Zechuan's expression turned frigid. "It is suspected to be a fourth-generation sky-patrol warship!" "A fourth-generation sky-patrol warship!?" Chisongzi was completely stunned. "That makes no sense... Our Vajra barely entered the ranks of third-generation warships. By studying the technology on our Vajra, producing third-generation warships within a dozen years should have been their absolute limit! How could they possibly innovate and develop fourth-generation sky-patrol warship technology—something only Wuji Astral Palace currently masters!?" The Deputy Hall Master wracked his brain, unable to make head or tail of it. "It is likely connected to the brand-new system the Nine Cauldrons Sect has been promoting." Long Zechuan spoke with a grim countenance. "That new system they've been advancing... is far from simple. It is suspected to be... a complete legacy from Beihai." "A Beihai legacy!?" As Deputy Master of the War Hall, Chisongzi had heard at least something of Beihai Star. Without exaggeration, all the "new-type" cultivation systems in the present world had originated from Beihai. However, due to the crisis at the time, what could be sent across had been limited. In the end, the Void Cavern realm experts who warped space had only transmitted methods tilted toward offensive combat, giving rise to individual extreme powerhouses. "We are in the midst of a great transformation not seen in a century, and in this shift, our Great Sun Sword Sect is undeniably at a disadvantage. Under these circumstances, thinking we can turn the tide on our own is no longer realistic. The only way forward is to seek the aid of an ally." Long Zechuan said calmly, "The intelligence regarding the Beihai legacy was sent along to Wuji Astral Palace as well. Therefore, we await Wuji Astral Palace's final decision." Hearing this, Chisongzi looked up sharply at his Sect Master. Divulging all of this intelligence to Wuji Astral Palace... Was the Sect Master intending to... Relinquish their claim to hegemony over the Tianxing Continent and throw their lot entirely behind Wuji Astral Palace? "Time is already running out. Only twenty-odd years remain. In the future, the competition among the top immortal sects will never be as mild as it is today... If our Great Sun Sword Sect had achieved victory in our war against the Nine Cauldrons Sect a dozen-plus years ago, or even annexed them outright, perhaps we would still have had hope of taking the grand stage to vie with the top immortal sects... But now, our strength, territory, and influence are not what they once were... and the Holy Son's attempt to break through to the Golden Core realm... also ended in failure... Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to make a decision." As Long Zechuan spoke, deep sorrow and regret settled between his brows. Hearing those words, Chisongzi felt a wave of grief as well. The Great Sun Sword Sect's most promising Holy Son—hailed as the genius Immortal Foundation cultivator most likely to become the first to attain the Golden Core realm in recent years—had, like the predecessors before him, fallen along the path to the Golden Core. This news was currently being kept secret, but the sect's uppermost echelon had already heard whispers. It was precisely the blow of this tragedy that had led their Sect Master, recognizing that becoming the hegemon of Tianxing was now a hopeless dream, to decide on throwing their full weight behind Wuji Astral Palace. ... On the other side. Jones, Master of Heavenly Palace Hall in Wuji Astral Palace, reviewed the intelligence dossier sent by the Great Sun Sword Sect as soon as it arrived. With diverse charts and data, the report delineated in meticulous detail the Nine Cauldrons Sect's current power. As well as... The curve of their growth! Starting fifteen years ago, the curve surged toward the heavens at an absurd, near-ninety-degree angle. Whether in talent, economics, or military capability, everything had soared at breakneck speed. In a mere fifteen years, the trajectory was so steep that it had reached a level capable of posing a genuine threat to Wuji Astral Palace. Upon examining this data and comparing it against the vast—yet less detailed—intelligence they themselves possessed, cold sweat instantly broke out on the Heavenly Palace Hall Master. He immediately reported the findings to the current Palace Master, Chuan Yunhai. Holding the dossier, Chuan Yunhai conferred with his think tank for three days and three nights. Afterward, bearing the conclusions of their deliberations, he sought out Lin Deng, Luofu, and Wuji Astral Palace's stable Solar Golden Core cultivators. Following another round of intensive consultations, Wuji Astral Palace finally realized that a new challenger was on the rise. They had to mobilize every ounce of strength at their disposal to suppress it before it could become an existential threat. Shortly thereafter... A world-shaking announcement issued from Wuji Astral Palace: Wuji Astral Palace officially acknowledged the failure of its strategy on the Heiyan Continent and would completely withdraw from the Black Feather Sect theater of war.