Xiang Tianheng had left.
But Purple Rose, along with several Great Cultivators who had followed him, stayed behind.
These Great Cultivators would shoulder the heavy responsibility of safeguarding the security of the Purple Cloud Courtyard, ensuring that no external enemy forces would harm Alkaid, the future Master Artifact Refiner.
Alkaid did not refuse these forces that could guarantee his own safety.
In a situation where his own abilities were insufficient to ensure his safety, surviving in a relatively safe environnt was also a prudent choice.
After sending off Xiang Tianheng, Zhao Siliang, Zhang Jianlin, and others, he instructed Yun Lai, Wei Yan, and others to upgrade the production line and then went to his own courtyard.
He reviewed the gains from his eting with Xiang Tianheng...
Substantial.
Even though he now belonged to the superclass earning tens of thousands a month, he still had to admit the richness of Xiang Tianheng's series of gifts.
Giving people, territories, elixirs, magical treasures, spirit stones, orders...
"This Nine Cauldrons Sect..."
He smiled, "Not bad."
Then, he shifted his attention to his spiritual world.
Although the order for 1000 Purple Cloud 12 modified Flying Swords had not yet been delivered and the transaction was not complete, the revenues from the Divine Transformation Pills, Storage Bags, and assets of Alkaid Realm still significantly increased his "Businessman" experience.
"As the Purple Cloud 12 modifications demonstrate their edge on the battlefield, I will inevitably stand in the spotlight, known to the world. Yet, I plan to keep my level for a while longer. In this situation, quickly arming the Nine Cauldrons Sect to make my external environnt safer is the right way..."
For a mont, he turned his gaze to the [Artifact Refining] branch.
With the last batch of Purple Cloud 12 delivered, his [Artifact Refining] had already broken through to a domain equivalent to that of a Grandmaster, capable of refining Flying Swords of magical treasure grade.
Moreover, it had developed a particularly miraculous feature.
"Master of the Artifact."
Alkaid sensed this talent.
"Improve the formation patterns, making the magical treasures compatible with Divine Intent, allowing Divine Intent to manipulate Flying Swords much like Divine Sense."
Divine Intent, Divine Sense, Divine Thought!
All three are new forms evolved from ntal power.
Each has its strengths.
But since all three are transformations of ntal power, any one of them, when sufficiently powerful, can produce the effects of the other two systems.
Just like a Great Primordial Spirit Cultivator can also use Divine Thought for Sword Control.
However, the efficiency is much lesser compared to a high-rank Sword Cultivator.
But now, the "Master of the Artifact" trait allowed his Divine Thought to control Flying Swords in battle just like the Divine Sense of Sword Cultivators of the sa realm.
Of course, the efficiency was still significantly lacking compared to true Sword Cultivators of the sa realm.
After all, their sword techniques and sword skills were not practiced in vain.
But...
If he had enough tool people allowing Sword Cultivators to control swords in battle and transferred control of the Flying Swords to him at the last mont, the coordination...
It would absolutely surpass the Divine Thought guidance of a Great Primordial Spirit Cultivator.
"Spiritual Artifacts are ultimately Spiritual Artifacts. The decisive battles determining the life and death of a sect still revolve around Treasure Level weapons. Using ordinary treasures for cost-effectiveness and Superior Grade treasures for targeted precise strikes when necessary. If the Nine Cauldrons Sect wants to grow strong, it'd better arm everyone with treasures."
Alkaid had a rough understanding of the count of Great Cultivators in Nine Cauldrons Sect.
About 800 Sword Cultivators, around 600 Technique Cultivators, and 6000 Body Cultivators, with around 150 Divine Cultivators remaining.
Of course, these figures were estimated and inferred openly; the actual numbers could vary.
Out of the 800 Great Sword Cultivators, those who had cultivated to the pinnacle of Foundation Establishnt igniting True Fire, or those who had built their Dao Foundation and ford an inner core in the Third Rank, numbered slightly over 200, while those who ignited True Fire at the Fourth Rank after building their Dao Foundation were about 40 or so.
As for those who had built their Immortal Foundation and were Golden Core seeds...
That belonged to top-secret information, probably beyond the reach even of sub-sect sect masters like Zhao Siliang.
This type of data, even if circulated outside, held no reference value.
But using these numbers to speculate...
"Two hundred Superior Grade treasures, six hundred Inferior Grade treasures."
This was the current demand for treasures by the Nine Cauldrons Sect.
And Nine Cauldrons Sect currently only had the capability to produce first-generation treasures.
Among the second generation treasures, they couldn't even produce Inferior Grade Flying Swords and had to purchase from the Myriad Beasts Sect, with each costing at least a hundred thousand Spirit Stones to start.
Six hundred second-generation Inferior Grade treasured swords, at least sixty million Spirit Stones!
The entire annual output of Spirit Stones by the Nine Cauldrons Sect didn't even reach this figure.
After deducting the everyday cultivation expenses of the cultivators, the maintenance costs of formations and magic artifacts, and other sect operational costs, what was left to contribute to the Campaign Hall at the end of the year was barely over ten million.
The Campaign Hall also had various expenses to cover.
In the end, the equipnt purchase shares that ended up in the hands of the Flying Sword Division were just two to three million.
"Theoretically, the Flying Sword Division's purchasing budget is only two to three million, but if I produce second-generation, even third-generation Flying Swords and slash the price from over a hundred thousand to a few tens of thousands... it seems likely that Nine Cauldrons Sect would tighten its belt to buy a hundred and eighty swords.
Additionally, since I now intend to hold back on leveling, buying cultivation elixirs can wait, how much can I, one person, use Spirit Stones in day-to-day activities?"
Alkaid opened up his thinking, "What is the essence of a businessman? Through trade, operation, and production, to provide the required goods and services to society. If the Nine Cauldrons Sect runs out of Spirit Stones, can't I just cycle back the Spirit Stones I earn to the Nine Cauldrons Sect through other ans? It's just that I won't get \\"Businessman\\" experience when there's no profit."
He shifted his focus back to the [Artifact Refining] branch.
In the next mont, the "experience" brought by the Divine Transformation Pills, Storage Bags, and Spirit Stones was all invested into this branch.
Soon, the progress of this branch increased from 3% to 12%.
Alkaid did so quick calculations, sowhat surprised.
"It actually takes about 1.5 million Spirit Stones to push the progress to a 100%?"
He had originally thought that around 1.2 million would have been sufficient.
This unexpectedly increased the share by several percent.
But then, he rembered the scene at the Xie Family banquet.
"Even though I've chosen to hold back on leveling, the influence brought by my refining ability has significantly elevated my status and position. personally refining and selling... naturally increases the labor costs."
Alkaid realized where the problem lay.
Power represented human resource costs.
Identity also belonged to the category of human resource costs, only its impact on the figures was not as apparent as power; he had simply not noticed it before.
This ti, he had directly entered the upper echelons of the Nine Cauldrons Sect's vision and was regarded as a future Master Artifact Refiner, naturally placing him much higher in status.
Now he still had the identity of "future Master Artifact Refiner."
If he were to craft a Treasure, truly demonstrating the standard of a Master Artifact Refiner...
"Unless I don't craft a Treasure and continue maintaining the market for Spiritual Artifacts with the identity of 'Master Artifact Refiner,' when I do craft a Treasure and reveal the standard of a Master Artifact Refiner, by then, my status in the Nine Cauldrons Sect might rank in the top few dozen. At that ti, the cost brought by my status will exceed that brought by my power."
Alkaid understood this in his heart.
Just like now, he clearly was not a Great Cultivator, but he already had a small team of Great Cultivators guarding him, ensuring his safety.
"Indeed, there aren't that many bugs for to exploit," he said, without too much worry in his expression.
Level stuck, if he could stick, he would stick; if not, he would not be troubled over it.
The weight of a Master Artifact Refiner...
Was too heavy.
Especially after he had crafted Third Generation Treasures, he would undoubtedly be targeted by the Nine Cauldrons Sect's hostile forces.
Even if the Nine Cauldrons Sect sent many more experts to protect him, he would not feel sufficiently safe.
It's better to rely on oneself than others.
So, at that step, he would also choose to elevate his own power to the level of a Great Cultivator.
At the mont...
It was simply an additional reason to increase his power.
"Moreover... once I reach Great Cultivator, hopefully, the ancient tree will be able to grow new branches."
Alkaid leveled his mindset, "During this period of downti, I will flip through so books on Qi Refinent and Alchemy, not knowing which one I will ultimately pick."
Qi Refinent would an that he had achieved simultaneous cultivation of essence, energy, and spirit.
Alchemy...
Would an that in terms of cultivation, he could beco self-sufficient and make rapid advances in his strength by using various top-tier elixirs when he elevated his realm.
Therefore, whichever kind it was, Alkaid would gladly accept it.
...
In the following period, Alkaid's Purple Cloud Courtyard focused on producing the Purple Cloud model 12 improved-type Flying Swords.
This batch of Flying Swords, by using minerals and Formation Patterns refined by the Nine Cauldrons Sect itself, generated more profit. Each Flying Sword crafted almost brought him an inco of over three hundred Spirit Stones.
This inco was already a hundred tis that of those Great Cultivators at the forefront.
Of course, the efficiency of Superior Grade Spiritual Artifact Flying Swords was slightly slower compared to Interior Grade ones.
The monthly output was only around two hundred, but even so, it still brought him an inco of sixty thousand Spirit Stones a month.
Once the orders for these thousands of Flying Swords were completed, his total revenue would break through three hundred thousand.
Right after he delivered the second batch of two hundred Purple Cloud model 12 improved-types, Purple Rose had also completed the repair and construction of the Stellar Sect.
However, Alkaid, who was busy crafting Spiritual Artifacts, was unable to find the ti to return for a visit.
He imdiately summoned Kong Xuan and Zong Yan.
He also had soone call Xie Yushu to discuss the matter of transferring the position of world leader from the Snow Dragon to the Xia Yu Nation under the control of the Su Family.
...
"You have three tasks on this trip," he said, looking at Kong Xuan and Zong Yan as he handed them a Spirit Testing Instrunt installed with Spirit Stones. "This is a Spirit Testing Instrunt, and your first task is to select a batch of cultivators with decent talent, aged under thirty, cultivation... can be lowered to Martial Master.
These people will serve as our initial foundation, and I will personally train them."
Zong Yan looked at the instrunt Alkaid handed over.
The instrunt was not large, but even a complete Spirit Stone could only perform a little over a thousand tests, with a shockingly high Spirit Consumption.
Ordinarily, the Red Star and Snow Dragon royal family were sowhat reluctant to use it.
Yet according to Alkaid, even Martial Masters under thirty qualified for a test...
Minimally, hundreds of thousands of tis would be needed.
In other words, it would require the input of several hundred Spirit Stones.
"The second task..."
Alkaid laid out a batch of elixirs, "So people from the Su Family who are unwilling to co here, just let them take these elixirs. From now on, they'll stay in Alkaid Realm. These elixirs are enough to train over a hundred people up to the Fourth or Fifth Layer of Body Refinent."
"Yes," Kong Xuan gravely promised.
"The third task is to take over Alkaid Realm. The Xie Family will coordinate with you when the ti cos..."
He glanced at Zong Yan and then at Kong Xuan.
Both of them imdiately understood what Alkaid ant.
Just as Kong Xuan was about to volunteer, Zong Yan had already spoken out first, "Holy Master, allow to take charge of overseeing Alkaid Realm for now."
He sighed, "The Artifact Sect, which can be called a sacred land... I've been there once, and without other opportunities in the coming years... I'm afraid I'll never have the hope to beco a high-ranking cultivator. Rather than wasting my years here... it would be better to go back and enjoy my remaining years."
"It's possible," Alkaid pushed forward a box, "Overseeing an entire realm, your current cultivation is not enough. Take these elixirs; they should help you beco a Celestial."
Zong Yan nodded and did not refuse.
"Go, maintain the operation of Alkaid Realm well."
Alkaid instructed.
Zong Yan nodded seriously.
Overseeing from the rear.
At this mont, that was all he could contribute.
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