Chapter 177: Sea Guardian
The fact that they had even used the words "exhausting resources" alone showed the extent of the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s determination to support Yaoguang. After all, third-generation flying swords marked a true transformation for the sect, a leap from nothing to something.
Although the Nine Cauldrons Sect had been able to refine treasured artifacts in the past, all of them were essentially first-generation flying swords. In order to create second-generation ones, they had relied on brute force, sparing no expense on materials. Meanwhile, third-generation flying swords could only be purchased from outside. Each one easily cost over one hundred thousand spirit stones. Compared to their production cost of twenty to thirty thousand, the markup was staggering.
"We don’t really have to exhaust everything. Low-grade flying swords are still quite weaker than high-grade ones. If we’re going to rearm the whole sect, we should keep about half of the cost-effective low-grade ones for routine patrols. The rest of the sword cultivators should be equipped with high-grade ones," Yaoguang said calmly.
"High-grade flying swords?!" Xu Qiexing and Dong Liushui’s eyes blazed uncontrollably at the implication hidden within those words. "Y-you already have a direction in mind?"
"Mhm. I’m going to focus entirely on the Purple Firmament series. I can’t guarantee other types of flying swords, but I already have some ideas for a high-grade model based on the Purple Firmament Type 13, the Purple Firmament Type 15," Yaoguang said. "Of course, it will take time. In the meantime, we can keep improving the Purple Firmament Type 13 and refining the associated techniques. We will refine and learn until I finish the design of the Purple Firmament Type 15."
He showed a faint smile. "When that is done, we move to large-scale deployment."
Xu Qiexing and Dong Liushui gasped. "The Purple Firmament Type 15!"
Assigning it a designation was proof of Yaoguang’s confidence in making it a reality. If he managed to design such an advanced, high-grade treasured-artifact flying sword, even if it only reached second-generation standards,, it would still bring about a qualitative leap in the sect’s overall strength.
Yaoguang looked at Xu Qiexing. "To avoid waste, let me ask a somewhat presumptuous question. Exactly how many elite Foundation Building sword cultivators does the sect have? Specifically, third-tier ones."
The number of great cultivators a sect possessed was always top-secret information. Even figures like Zhao Siliang or You Qianshan would not be able to state an exact number, let alone ordinary people.
However, Xu Qiexing hailed from the main sect. As a deputy sect master and the head of the Artifact Refinement Hall, he naturally knew the number well. Moreover, Yaoguang’s question did not touch on the most sensitive core data, such as the total number of great cultivators.
Therefore, Xu Qiexing responded through psychic consciousness transmission, "We have three hundred of them."
"Three hundred..."
The number was roughly in line with Yaoguang’s expectations, even a bit higher.
After all, on the surface, the Nine Cauldrons Sect had just eight or nine hundred sword cultivators. That meant third-tier Foundation Building sword cultivators accounted for over one-third of them.
Before Yaoguang could speak, Xu Qiexing changed his tone. "You should know that the Nine Cauldrons Sect allows regional sects to retain their own legacies. The Hundred-Refinement Sect you once lived in is an example. There are still some independent Foundation Building sword cultivators like Sect Master Zong Lian. If we include them, the number rises to five hundred."
Yaoguang was shocked. "Five hundred?!"
It was hardly different from the openly acknowledged number of elite Foundation Building sword cultivators in the Great Sun Sword Sect!
"Also, do you recall how our sect has quite a few vassal worlds? Some of those worlds are not bad in quality. Although their spiritual power nodes can’t be compared to the core territory, some still have three to five nodes that can support Foundation Building cultivators. If we include the cultivators that have not returned from those vassal worlds, the total comes to around seven hundred," Xu Qiexing said frankly.
Yaoguang stared at Xu Qiexing in stunned disbelief.
Xu Qiexing could only smile wryly. "Our sect is one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects. The other six that are still standing do not want to see another immortal sect emerge and claim a part of the benefits. To avoid drawing their restrictions and blockades too early, we have no choice but to keep a hidden hand."
A hidden hand. Is this really just a hidden hand? Yaoguang had thought that concealing ten or twenty percent of their strength would already be impressive. Instead, they had concealed a whole one hundred thirty percent!
"So... when you mentioned exhausting all resources earlier..." Yaoguang said.
"That part was true. Our spirit stone output isn’t particularly high. Even counting some hidden yields caused by accounting discrepancies and the vassal worlds, it still wouldn’t exceed eighty million," Xu Qiexing replied immediately.
Yaoguang had expected around 50 million, so the difference wasn’t as exaggerated. Even so, if they hid some of their sword cultivators and spirit stones, they were likely hiding some other things as well.. For example, spell cultivators, body cultivators, and psyche cultivators. If they were to be added up... The Nine Cauldrons Sect’s ability to hide its strength was astonishing.
"All right. I have a clear picture now," Yaoguang said.
He had always found it strange. Despite having Golden Core cultivators, the strength the Nine Cauldrons Sect displayed was nowhere near that of the other six Great Immortal Sects. They had fallen so far behind major sects like the Great Sun Sword Sect and First Yang Sect that groups like the Xuanming Sect and the Great Yue Dynasty dared to come to the East Sea to exploit them.
However, everything would make sense if there was a larger strategy at play.
"Then give me an order for three hundred low-grade treasured artifact flying swords first. As for the price, how about thirty thousand spirit stones each?" Yaoguang then recalled something. "From the design plan, you can see that I only have a profit margin of three to four thousand spirit stones per sword. Once that’s divided up, my share is only one or two thousand, and I’m using that to purchase cultivation resources. If your prices aren’t too high, I’ll buy everything from the Nine Cauldrons Sect."
"No problem!" Before Xu Qiexing could speak, Liang Qiu agreed at once. As the hall master of the Logistics Hall, she oversaw all sect resources. "We’ll proceed exactly as you suggested, Chief Yaoguang."
By using spirit stones to buy cultivation resources from the Nine Cauldrons Sect, Yaoguang ensured that all those spirit stones would remain in circulation internally. Just one full cycle like that would allow many departments to live comfortably for quite some time. Besides buying cultivation resources was an investment in himself. Since he was a member of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, his growth also strengthened the sect. It was a virtuous cycle.
Xu Qiexing had thought of this as well. In fact, he had thought even further ahead. Right now, Yaoguang could only refine low-grade treasured artifacts, and researching high-grade ones took significant time and effort. But wouldn’t that change once his cultivation level rose? Once he was capable of refining high-grade treasured artifacts and equipped a large number of elite Foundation Building sword cultivators with them...
Avenging the humiliation inflicted by the Infinite Star Palace would have to be set aside for now, but they could at least reclaim the East Sea's islands and the Shiwan Mountains, restoring the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s full territorial sovereignty.
Xu Qiexing smiled. "Since Chief Yaoguang has made his choice, Grandmaster Dong Liushui will remain here from now on. You two grandmasters should exchange ideas properly. Who knows, perhaps one day you’ll develop something even stronger than the Purple Firmament Type 15."
Though the Purple Firmament series emphasized low spiritual energy consumption, flying sword designers still had to prioritize speed and attack power above all else, especially for high-grade ones. After all, the deployment of high-grade flying swords meant life-or-death combat was at hand. At that point, who would still be worrying about conserving spiritual energy?
Yaoguang nodded toward the grandmaster. "Sorry for the trouble, Grandmaster Dong."
With Dong Liushui’s team joining them, the artifact refinement efficiency of the Purple Firmament Institute would climb to an entirely new tier.
"It's mutual learning and advancement," Dong Liushui said with emotion. "Of course, I won’t be able to keep up with your rate of advancement. Judging from your design concepts for the Purple Firmament Type 13, I take it that you’ve begun researching array patterns?"
Yaoguang nodded. "I have. Without understanding array patterns, third-generation flying swords are as far as we can advance. It would be impossible to keep up with the Infinite Star Palace and refine fourth-generation flying swords."
Array patterns were, in essence, a direction of research focused on localizing and miniaturizing arrays. Though less complex than full arrays, they required far greater psychic focus, as they emphasized compactness and compatibility with astras. Dong Liushui deeply agreed with what Yaoguang said.
"Our Nine Cauldrons Sect has, after all, experienced destruction once before. Only a little over eighty years have passed since its rebirth. I believe that if we’re given another eighty years, we’ll surely catch up to the forefront of the world, and restore our former glory as one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects," Xu Qiexing said with a smile.
He only dared to speak of restoring their former glory. As for catching up to the Infinite Star Palace, he did not even dare to imagine it. Even with the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s hidden strength, they were likely still somewhat weaker than the Great Sun Sword Sect, let alone the strongest power of the age. With the flip of a hand, Infinite Star Palace could dispatch over a dozen Sky Patrol Warships to barricade them.
Yaoguang did not continue that line of discussion. Who could say what the future held?
He said directly, "Since the sect has so much manpower, and the Nine Heavens Domain also has the East Sea to defend, assign me a group of people. I plan to test a new combat system."
"Assign you a group of people?" Xu Qiexing looked at Yaoguang. "If you choose the third suggestion and focus on artifact refinement research, we’ll establish a new combat department here. You can just take charge of it. It’s just that... Won’t this be too much for you? Don’t let these matters stall your cultivation. That would be putting the cart before the horse."
"It’s fine. I can handle it," Yaoguang replied calmly.
"Very well. Since that’s the case, we’ll do as you say. What requirements do you have for personnel?" Xu Qiexing asked.
"I need 72 Foundation Building sword cultivators, 36 spell cultivators, and twelve psyche cultivators. 120 great cultivators in total,"
A Sky Patrol Warship was a sect's ultimate divine artifact, one he would inevitably create in the future.
A standard Sky Patrol Warship was typically staffed with 36 Foundation Building sword cultivators, 24 spell cultivators, and 12 psyche cultivators, with adjustments made depending on specific capabilities.
However, building a Sky Patrol Warship would only happen once he possessed at least second-generation, or even third-generation, technology. Third-generation Sky Patrol Warships required far more great cultivators than first-generation ones. A force of just over a hundred was appropriate.
"A hundred twenty people. That’s just enough to form a hybrid reinforced combat unit," Xu Qiexing said. "No body cultivators?"
"No need. The primary threat in the Nine Heavens Domain comes from the East Sea's islands. In sea combat, body cultivators aren’t that useful," Yaoguang replied.
Although body cultivators could fly by using stellar force fields, their speed still lagged far behind that of sword cultivators and spell cultivators.
"Very well. Within one month, a hundred twenty great cultivators of at least the second tier will arrive in Longxiang City. This combat unit will primarily be responsible for guarding the Purple Firmament Institute, so it will be difficult to ensure everyone is third tier. I hope you can understand."
Yaoguang nodded. "Don’t worry."
"Have you decided on a codename for this combat unit?"
Yaoguang pondered for a moment. "A codename..."
There was no doubt that the primary battlefield for this unit in the future would be the East Sea's islands. Since the main theater of operations lay in the East Sea...
He decided. "Call it Sea Guardian."
