Outside the Ascendant Tower.
Alkaid glanced inside.
"At the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinent, one would be the strongest in a country within the Artifact Nurturing Realm; even though the Qi Refinent system is inferior to the Martial Path system in terms of combat power before the high-rank cultivators, suppressing a province is still no issue. Yet, within the Ascendant Tower, one can only do the bidding of others."
"Scarcity is what makes sothing valuable. When the number of people in a particular profession increases, its value naturally decreases."
Zong Yan felt sowhat emotional, "When I first ca here, I also found it unbelievable, but now... I've co to accept it..."
"The primary reason for this situation is the change in the world's structure. Three hundred years ago, our White Tower Federation had a literacy rate of less than ten percent, but now, it's over eighty percent."
Ji Pingtian continued the conversation, "Similarly, three hundred years ago, before coming into contact with the Moon Demon Empire, those at the Fourth Layer of Body Refinent still had hopes of being assessed by the top ten Immortal Sects and beco disciples of one of these sects. Cultivators were one in a thousand, but now...
everyone has a cultivation technique to practice, and everyone can cultivate."
"Yes, the tis have changed too fast. Hundreds of years ago, Immortal Masters who were once esteed by all, and the cultivation techniques that once cost a fortune to acquire have now been incorporated into the compulsory education system, radically changing everything... If one cannot keep up with the trends, they're inevitably weeded out by the tis."
Zong Yan nodded in firm agreent.
Alkaid looked at Ji Pingtian and Zong Yan.
Clearly, these two "elderly n," despite their efforts to learn, had...
Been delayed in the Artifact Nurturing Realm for too long and would inevitably face being phased out by the tis.
That's why they were so full of sighs.
"You are all experts at the Sixth Layer of Body Refinent; there's no need to be so pessimistic about the future."
Alkaid said, "With just a bit of opportunity, you could comprehend the forces of heaven and earth and step into the domain of high-rank cultivators."
"High-rank cultivators, ah, if I can step into the domain of high-rank cultivators in this lifeti, I'd be content,"
Ji Pingtian said with a bitter smile, "However, even though it has beco much easier to beco a middle-rank cultivator now, high-rank cultivators... they still represent reaching a significant level of achievent in cultivation. They can claim positions and status in all fields, and the younger ones could even secure a steward position at the Nine Cauldrons Sect.
We have already missed the golden age of cultivation; taking that step further... is hard."
"Longxiang City's fifteen higher educational institutions are recruiting Martial Path teachers. I am planning to apply after a while. Once in this system, if I enter the Seventh Layer of Body Refinent in the future, I will be able to directly apply for a professorship at Longxiang Academy of Higher Learning,"
Zong Yan suddenly said.
"You?"
Ji Pingtian was slightly surprised, "Isn't it good for you to be an external coach at the Hundred Refinents Sect?"
"Going to a higher educational institution and getting washed by new academic knowledge might open up my thinking. It may even give hope to break through to the Seventh Layer of Body Refinent. Staying at the Hundred Refinents Sect... reaching the Sixth Layer of Body Refinent might be my limit."
Zong Yan said.
After listening, Ji Pingtian couldn't help but fall silent.
Perhaps...
He should also keep up with the tis.
If one does not enter the current cultivation system of the world, one can never keep up with the currents of the tis.
After a while, he finally said, "We... are following the Martial Path, where the competition for Martial Path teachers is the fiercest... If it were Sword Cultivators or Technique Cultivators, just being at the Sixth Heaven could land a job directly with certification..."
"But we're not young anymore; it's risky to suddenly switch to Qi Refining into Divine..."
Zong Yan shook his head.
"Then let's try it together. If not higher educational institutions, then higher academies might work."
Alkaid listened to their conversation and understood the difficulties they were facing.
Compared to him, Zong Yan and Ji Pingtian were already quite old, with almost no room for developnt left.
He was only twenty-one, with the backing of the Nine Cauldrons Sect as a fallback. If he squandered ten or eight years and it was indeed hopeless to establish his own sect, he could always take the exams to join the Nine Cauldrons Sect and secure an iron rice bowl.
But for Zong Yan and Ji Pingtian...
Especially for Ji Pingtian.
Zong Yan still had Zong Lian of the Hundred Refinents Sect to look out for him. If Ji Pingtian did not take a gamble, he might be able to live without worry, but in terms of career achievent...
He really would beco just another face in the crowd.
For him, who was once the president of a society capable of stirring up troubles across two continents, this was harder to bear than death itself.
...
Hundred Refinents Sect.
Alkaid imrsed himself in the Stellar Power Field, thoroughly experiencing the tempering of his body by the Stellar Power Field as well as the recent tempering by the Celestial Pill.
Although he had long known that elixirs provide imdiate assistance to cultivation, he still let out a long sigh when this round of cultivation ca to an end.
In his eyes...
There was a bright sparkle.
"I knew it!"
He said firmly, "What I lack now is not understanding of the realm but Energy Accumulation. As long as my Energy Accumulation builds up, I can quickly step into the Star Master domain."
Glancing at the nine Celestial Pills he still had in his hand...
He did so quick calculations and soon ca to a conclusion.
"If I have a supply of Celestial Pills for every cultivation session, I can step into the Eighth Layer of Body Refinent within half a year. This still takes into account the maximum effect of the dicinal power of the elixirs; otherwise, this ti could even be reduced to under three months."
Reaching the Eighth Layer of Body Refinent in three months, and reaching the Ninth Layers within a year wouldn't be too much to claim.
With so more ti to consolidate...
In the best-case scenario, he could even achieve Star Master status within two years.
...
Over the subsequent period, Alkaid imrsed himself in this kind of cultivation that could be described as making rapid progress with each passing day.
However, a bottle of Celestial Pills eventually ran low.
Half a month later, when Alkaid poured out another Celestial Pill, he was shocked to find that only three pills were left.
"Twenty Spirit Stones, just like that?"
This was the Jiang Family of the Red Star's storage for ten years.
...
The next day, after completing his cultivation, Alkaid sought out Zong Yan.
"I'd like to et Sect Leader Zong Lian."
Zong Yan, who was flipping through a book, was slightly startled and imdiately stood up, "I'll take you to him right away."
The two of them then headed toward the back courtyard.
Having traversed a hundred or so ters, the two arrived at a courtyard surrounded by walls and engraved with formations.
At this ti, a woman in the courtyard was instructing three individuals in their practice.
Alkaid recognized the woman.
Previously, she stood next to Zong Lian, clad in a cheongsam.
She was the eldest senior sister of the Hundred Refinents Sect, known as Huang Yunqi. Due to her poor talent in Qi Refinent, she chose the Martial Path system and specialized in instructing the inner sect disciples in martial arts, possessing the strength of the eighth layer of Body Refinent.
The other three were formal disciples of the Hundred Refinents Sect.
Compared to the Hundred Refinents Sect, the Nine Cauldrons Sect had greater allure for those Cultivators with the conditions and talent for Sword Cultivation and Technique Cultivation. Thus, most disciples of the Hundred Refinents Sect mainly focused on the Martial Path—they were individuals who failed to qualify for the Nine Cauldrons Sect but did not wish to give up their path of cultivation.
The only ones who truly followed the paths of Sword Cultivation and Technique Cultivation were led by the eldest senior brother, Zong Wuya, totaling four people.
These four individuals were the true inheritors of Zong Lian's legacy.
Others, including Huang Yunqi, essentially amounted to high-level workers for the Hundred Refinents Sect.
Being related to Zong Lian, they had been nurtured by the Hundred Refinents Sect since youth, and after achieving so success in their cultivation, they worked for the sect to repay their debts.
"Eldest senior sister,"
Zong Yan stepped forward and respectfully saluted, "I don't know if the Sect Leader has any ti?"
Huang Yunqi didn't respond but instead turned her gaze towards Alkaid. After sizing him up, she said, "Your strength has improved quite a bit."
"You flatter ,"
said Alkaid.
"Flatter you?"
Huang Yunqi chuckled lightly, "If I could take elixirs like you, I'm afraid I would have already beco a Star Master. Who doesn't know the benefits of resources to cultivation?"
Alkaid looked at her, sowhat puzzled, "Do you have hostility towards ?"
"I'm rely a little displeased,"
Huang Yunqi said indifferently, "Do you know how long it took for our little junior brother to save those two Spirit Stones?"
"Eldest senior sister..."
Zong Yan hastily interjected.
But Alkaid didn't pay attention to the content of her words. After a mont of contemplation, he quickly realized sothing, "You don't wish for to stay at the Hundred Refinents Sect?"
Huang Yunqi's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes revealed a montary panic. Although she quickly returned to her icy deanor, Alkaid still "sensed" it.
"I'm rely stating a fact. Relying on elixirs to rapidly advance your strength doesn't prove your talent. Since both our Master and little junior brother think so highly of you, you should make an extra effort to show your worth. Whether you join the Nine Cauldrons Sect or make a na for yourself in another field, you can prove your talent,"
she said swiftly.
Alkaid nodded, considering sothing.
Zong Lian obviously intended for him to stay at the Hundred Refinents Sect.
For what purpose?
To support the facade of the Hundred Refinents Sect after his passing.
However, Huang Yunqi, who was born and raised in the Hundred Refinents Sect, clearly didn't see it that way.
Alkaid shook his head, unconcerned.
Yet after so thought, he decided to push down his initial idea of using his "cultivation talent" as leverage to secure a "venture investnt" from Zong Lian.
He was reluctant to get too entangled.
As for the Spirit Stone issue...
Half a month ago, when he realized the efficiency of the Celestial Pill in aiding cultivation, he had already considered it.
"Eldest senior sister,"
Zong Yan spoke disagreeably, "We are here to see our Master."
"The Master has gone with City Lord Luo to the East Desolate Island Group for the annual sea patrol,"
explained Huang Yunqi.
Zong Yan was slightly startled, "Why has it been moved up this year?"
"With Xuanming Sect encroaching on Posuo Island's waters, the Nine Cauldrons Sect naturally needs to demonstrate its deterrence,"
Huang Yunqi said calmly.
After hearing this, Zong Yan didn't have much to say.
The Wanhua Mountains and the East Sea Archipelago were both territories of the Original Artifact Sect. The Nine Cauldrons Sect had always claid these lands as their territory, but...
The surrounding Sects paid them no heed.
They annexed islands in the Eastern Sea Archipelago and mined resources as they pleased.
The sa went for the Wanhua Mountains.
As such, the Nine Cauldrons Sect organized an annual sweep in these two regions.
If successful, they would reclaim so land.
If not, they would lose so resource points.
"The patrol usually lasts two to three months. Do you have anything important, Alkaid? If so, we can send a ssage to the Sect Leader..."
Zong Yan asked.
"No,"
Alkaid shook his head.
He then said, "I will be stepping out for a bit."
"I'll drive you,"
"It's unnecessary,"
Alkaid waved his hand.
But Zong Yan still insisted on driving, taking Alkaid to his intended destination.
The Longxiang Academy.
Upon entering the academy, Zong Yan was slightly taken aback, "What are you doing here?"
"I checked, and the Longxiang Academy has a research project underway. This project has received funding of one thousand four hundred Spirit Stones from the Nine Cauldrons Sect. And I think... I can solve it."
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