Chapter 180: Unrivaled
One after another, the array masters stared at the spirit-gathering array Yaoguang had presented. Their eyes widened uncontrollably.
"These performance figures... These parameters..."
"Can a level 4 spirit-gathering array reach this level across the board?"
"T-these numbers aren’t fake, are they? With the standard manpower operation model for a level 4 array, the output nearly matched a level 5 one?"
Even Huang Wei felt as if she was dreaming. Did we just witness the moment a spirit-gathering array is perfected?
Zhao Siliang could not help but ask Huang Wei, "Is this spirit-gathering array really that amazing, Hall Master Huang?"
Huang Wei nodded hard without the slightest hesitation. "It's amazing! Really amazing!"
She paused briefly as if to say something, yet found it difficult to believe even as the words reached her lips.
When she checked the array’s displayed data, her disbelief quickly turned into resolve. "Old Zhao, doesn’t this mean we have developed a fourth-generation spirit-gathering array?!"
Zhao Siliang froze for a split second. "A fourth-generation spirit-gathering array...?"
In the next instant, it was as if a great bell had thundered inside his mind, leaving his thoughts buzzing violently.
He raised his voice subconsciously. "A fourth-generation spirit-gathering array?!"
Huang Wei nodded. "Yes!"
Although she shared Zhao Siliang’s disbelief, they had just discussed and refined the array bit by bit, all under Yaoguang’s guidance. One could even say Yaoguang had shown them how to make it a reality.
As someone who had personally gone through the whole process, she had the right to speak on this array.
"We did it!" Her tone gradually grew excited. "We have developed a fourth-generation spirit-gathering array. Even though it’s only at level 4, it still raised our sect’s spirit-gathering arrays to the top standard of the world!"
"A fourth-generation spirit-gathering array! A fourth-generation spirit-gathering array!" Zhao Siliang exclaimed.
As the sect master of a side branch, he understood better than anyone what an iteration of the spirit-gathering array truly meant.
Though only level 4, with strict node requirements and unremarkable output, it was still a fourth-generation spirit-gathering array! If what Huang Wei said was true, then this invention had fundamentally transformed the sect’s foundation! The entire Nine-Cauldron Sect would benefit from it!
Zhao Siliang could not help but ask, "What about the results? How effective is it?"
"If the data is accurate, the overall performance increase is definitely over 50%!" said Huang Wei.
As soon as she finished speaking, her eyes widened slightly. Even she was startled by the number.
Among all the spirit-gathering arrays deployed at the sect’s spiritual power nodes, level 4 ones did not account for the highest output per array, but they were by far the most numerous. With so many of them, the annual spirit stone output already stood at 20 million. Meanwhile, a 50% increase meant an additional 10 million.
In other words, once the spirit-gathering arrays were fully upgraded, their sect would gain an additional 10 million spirit stones every year! 10 million a year, and 100 million in ten years! How many great cultivators could be nurtured over the long term? How many flying swords, treasured artifacts, and pills could it purchase?
"50%..." Zhao Siliang murmured, before snapping back to his senses and urgently issuing orders, "Quick, gather the manpower and begin testing immediately! Set up this array at once. Find out the exact increase in efficiency, with precision down to 0.0001% accuracy!"
"I’ll be in charge of the array setup," Yaoguang chimed in. "They’re still not familiar with it. I’ll take this chance to guide them through the setup and teach them how to further refine this new type. With my ‘resonance’ talent and the help of so many array masters, I can set up a level 4 spirit-gathering array quickly."
"You..." said Zhao Siliang.
Originally, he was reluctant to let Yaoguang spend time on anything else, but this concerned a matter of lasting significance. Everything else had to be set aside.
He stared at Yaoguang. "You’re willing to make this improved spirit-gathering array public and teach it to everyone?"
After days of collective refinement, it became clear the achievement was entirely Yaoguang’s. At best, the others were unpaid reviewers, helping him verify the feasibility of the improvement.
Yaoguang nodded. "Of course. That’s the only way to maximize its impact."
Spirit-gathering arrays were different from flying swords refined by the Thousand-Spirit Master. There was no issue with this spell being shared.
"Good!" Zhao Siliang took a deep breath and offered a fist-and-palm salute. "On behalf of everyone in the Nine-Cauldron Sect, I thank you for your contribution."
"Sect Master Zhao, that’s too much. Don’t forget, I’m also a member of the Nine-Cauldron Sect," Yaoguang replied.
Zhao Siliang nodded heavily. "Right. We’re all of the same sect. That said, even brothers must keep accounts clear. Any technical authorization entitles the inventor to patent fees, and our sect will not let you give out things for free!
"This fee usually accounts for 20% to 30 % of the profits, while exclusive authorization can reach 30 to 40%, and even 40% to 50%. With the spirit-gathering array improvement, if it really boosts performance by 50%, that means an annual increase of over 10 million spirit stones for the sect. 40 to 50% of 10 million—"
Yaoguang said calmly, "Just give me 30%."
He was still waiting for the Nine-Cauldron Sect to place orders for flying swords. If the sect ran out of money, who was he supposed to sell his flying swords to? And how was he supposed to refine and realize the combat system that involved controlling 129,600 treasured artifact flying swords?
"30%..." A trace of emotion surfaced in Zhao Siliang’s eyes. "Isn’t that a bit too little...?"
"Since our sect is rebuilding from the ground up, far too many places need spirit stones. Besides, it's just for my own cultivation. I won't know what to use that many spirit stones on."
"Good! Good! Good!" Zhao Siliang’s voice trembled slightly. Then, he said solemnly, "I understand your intentions. We will remember these contributions. Don't worry, we will never let you suffer a loss in the future."
"I don’t doubt it."
***
Soon after, Zhao Siliang and Tang Fenghua reported the news directly to the main sect. Upon receiving the report, Li Qingshan immediately withdrew from his talks with the Brahma Cult, which had been held to jointly restrain the Brahma Divine Kingdom.
There were only three major powers around the Nine-Cauldron Sect: the Great Sun Sword Sect, the First Yang Sect, and the Brahma Divine Kingdom.
Among them, the First Yang Sect had split apart due to disputes over sword qi, greatly reducing its threat. That left the Great Sun Sword Sect, which dominated the East Sea; and the Brahma Divine Kingdom, located south of the Shiwan Mountains.
The Brahma Divine Kingdom, the Brahma Cult, and the Brahma Sect had been locked in fierce conflict over the legitimacy of "Brahma." Naturally, the Nine-Cauldron Sect was willing to support the Brahma Cult’s development to counterbalance the Brahma Divine Kingdom.
As for the remaining forces, the medium and small sects were incapable of posing any truly fatal threat to the Nine-Cauldron Sect.
Li Qingshan’s eyes were filled with delight. "Chief Yaoguang really gave us a tremendous surprise."
Likewise, Zhao Siliang’s eyes were full of smiles. "Sect Master, you didn’t see the scene back then. Over a dozen array masters gathered around him like a student. Not a single person dared to interrupt, obediently paying attention to his teaching.
"Hall Master Huang Wei even stated outright that Chief Yaoguang was more talented in array arts than artifact refinement. If anything, array art is sharpening his artifact-refining talent. He should’ve focused on arrays from the very beginning."
"Array arts and psyche cultivation are both fields that heavily favor innate talent. Chief Yaoguang is obviously gifted." In a good mood, Li Qingshan directly instructed the assistant beside him, "Bring me a pen."
After the assistant presented paper and pen, he boldly wrote four large characters: Unrivaled in Arrays and Artifacts.
Then, he solemnly pressed his seal onto the page. "Have this mounted and delivered to Chief Yaoguang."
"Unrivaled in Arrays and Artifacts. A title that truly fits."
Though Zhao Siliang felt somewhat envious that Yaoguang received a personal inscription of recognition from the sect master, he knew it was fully deserved. With this inscription, no one would ever dare to question Yaoguang’s attainments in artifact refining or array arts.
After finishing the inscription, Li Qingshan turne to Tang Fenghua, smiling. "So? Assigning you to be responsible for Chief Yaoguang’s safety wasn’t overkill, was it?"
Tang Fenghua quickly replied, "Master, your arrangements were correct. I was the one with shallow vision."
Although he had always behaved with courtesy and restraint before Yaoguang, he used to be unwilling to stay in the rear. As a fourth-tier great cultivator and one of the top figures in the sect’s combat division, he wanted to fight on the front lines, defending the sect and killing enemies amid the tense situation in the Shiwan Mountains. However, after gaining a deep understanding of Yaoguang’s abilities and importance, those thoughts had completely vanished.
At the moment, Zhao Siliang was doing his utmost to shield Yaoguang from attention. However, the first batch of treasured artifacts had been delivered. They would be impossible to keep hidden once deployed. At that point, Yaoguang would inevitably be exposed to hostile forces.
Various assassination attempts would surely follow one after another. Under such circumstances, the pressure that faced Tang Fenghua would be no less than that of charging on the front lines.
"Chief Yaoguang possesses skills in both array arts and artifact refinement. Perhaps it won’t be long before he can set up level 5, or even level 6 arrays... With such array mastery, combined with his ability to refine astras..." Zhao Siliang said softly, then paused. "Should we begin researching and refining that strategic heavy weapon?"
Tang Fenghua’s pupils constricted.
Li Qingshan also immediately understood what he meant. "You mean—"
Zhao Siliang nodded heavily. "The Sky Patrol Warship!"
