"Longxiang City is the second-largest city in the Nine Heavens Domain, surpassed only by the capital, Nine Heavens City. It serves as a major transportation hub. Had the Nine Heavens Domain not implemented its Capital-Strengthening Strategy and relocated the Energy Department's headquarters from here, Longxiang City would likely be the region's leading economic powerhouse. Even so, it remains the most populous city in the domain and the top choice for migrants, boasting an annual GDP of two hundred billion." As they drove, Zong Yan gave everyone a quick introduction to Longxiang City.

Initially, Yaoguang found the information somewhat jarring, but as he observed the neon-lit streets and the endless stream of hovering cars, he gradually grew numb to the spectacle. Especially since they were already stuck in a traffic jam!

The first challenge he encountered upon arriving in the Great Cangwu World was, of all things, a traffic jam! The vehicle began to crawl toward the city center at a snail's pace.

Once he had somewhat accepted the current reality, what made him feel truly out of place were the sword cultivators. Hundreds of meters above, on tracks paved with flowing light, they occasionally streaked across the sky.

Anyone at the seventh realm of qi refinement or above could fly on a sword. Even wealthy cultivators at the fifth or sixth realm could achieve the same feat if they purchased a spirit artifact flying sword.

Still... Is it really appropriate for cultivators to be zipping around on swords like that in such a modern metropolis? Yaoguang thought.

As he pondered, another streak of sword light swept past at low altitude, accompanied by a loud whoosh and a dazzling display of visual effects that caught everyone's eye.

"Those brats are showing off their flying swords again. They turned the light pollution up so high I nearly lost sight of the road. Don't they worry about causing an accident?" The driver of the car moving alongside them grumbled.

"Stop being so jealous. If you had the money, you’d buy one too. If you had a flying sword, you wouldn't be stuck in this piece of junk, unable to move in traffic," a woman in her thirties mocked from the passenger seat.

"What's so great about a flying sword? The experience is terrible. It's not nearly as comfortable as sitting in a car," the driver argued stubbornly.

"If you can't afford it, just say so. Is that hard to admit you're failing? Then again, top-tier luxury items like that are things you're either born with or you'll never have in this lifetime," the woman added.

Yaoguang watched the receding trail of light and asked, "Are flying swords that common now? Even cultivators at the fifth or sixth realm of qi refinement have spirit artifacts?"

"With the aggressive promotion of industrialization and large-scale production, output across all industries has surged, causing items that were once precious to depreciate significantly. In the past, it was impressive for a high-tier cultivator to own a high-level refined artifact. Now, spirit artifacts are basically standard equipment. Some even upgrade to middle-grade or high-grade spirit artifacts, just as many high-tier cultivators now specialize in spells that were originally intended for Foundation Building Realm or even simplified Golden Core Realm," Zong Yan explained.

He then added, "However, the Nine Cauldrons Sect only recently emerged from a period of turmoil, and its industrial capacity hasn't caught up yet. Obsolete products like artifact-level flying swords are one thing, but spirit-artifact-level ones are still not widespread. Currently, those who can afford spirit-artifact-level flying swords are, without exception, the children of wealthy and powerful families. Even those with almost no combat functions, designed solely for flight, cost in the tens of millions."

"A spirit artifact... with no combat functions?" As a ninth-tier refiner, Yaoguang possessed a solid understanding of refined artifacts and spirit artifacts. These items had always been powerful tools used for combat. A spirit artifact without combat capabilities seemed as absurd as a fighter jet that couldn't fire missiles.

"What's the point of refining such things?" Yaoguang asked.

"Brand recognition, I suppose. If others use materials at the refined artifact level while yours reach the spirit artifact level, it sounds prestigious. I heard the Great Sun Sword Sect recently released an Immortal Lord Edition of their Light Spirit Type 14 flying sword. Its combat utility is inferior than a high-level refined artifact, yet it costs over ten times more. Despite that, it’s still sold out," Zong Yan said.

"The Light Spirit series is struggling now," Ji Pingtian interjected. "Supposedly, the Immortal Lord Edition was accused of discriminating against women and was pulled from the shelves after being reported. Currently, the best-seller in the high-end market is the Flowing Immortal Type 9, Fairy Edition from their biggest competitor. Sales in the first half of this year alone have already exceeded ten thousand units."

"The Flowing Immortal series? Didn't the Nine Cauldrons Sect's Quality Control Department report that those are a total scam?" Zong Yan asked, surprised.

"They're imports from the Great Sun Sword Sect," Ji Pingtian said with a smile. "Many people perceive them as high-end. Some even believe the Quality Control Department is intentionally sabotaging foreign high-end products to protect local trade."

Having spent time in the upper echelons of society, they could see through these tactics instantly. However, the local cultivators did not necessarily share that perspective.

The car continued its stop-and-go journey. Along the way, Yaoguang noticed that the clothing worn by the crowds was roughly divided: a third wore modern clothing, a third traditional clothing, and a third had eccentric outfits. The architecture followed a similar pattern, featuring both skyscrapers and magnificent jade palaces. Even the ancient-style pavilions were packed with electronic products, resembling modern replicas of antique buildings.

Yaoguang saw many shops with refined artifacts and spirit artifacts for sale, simply hanging from the walls. Various medicinal pills were displayed in the same manner. However, the goods and decor seemed to be polarized. Shops belonging to the Nine Cauldrons Sect primarily sold low-to-mid-range items, while shops bearing the names of foreign sects were quite upscale.

On the electronic screen of one particularly opulent shop, an advertisement for treasured artifacts was playing.

"You can even buy treasured artifacts?" Yaoguang asked, looking at the screen.

"Forget treasured artifacts, you can even buy spirit treasures," Zong Yan remarked with a touch of emotion. "Nowadays, whether it's refining, alchemy, array arts, or talismans, everything is moving toward a large-scale factory model. This has drastically reduced production costs while accelerating efficiency. This philosophy has permeated everyone's consciousness. The myth of a single individual possessing all-encompassing power is being gradually dismantled in favor of a collective cooperation model. Therefore, upon arriving in Cangwu, the first thing we must do is change our mindset and learn new knowledge."

Yaoguang remained silent, turning his gaze back to the bustling streets. If spirit artifacts and treasured artifacts were available for purchase, then the same likely applied to the pills needed for cultivation. If that were the case, the time required to bring his heavenly being body to perfection might be significantly shortened.

***

A city of sixteen million people was certainly no small town. After more than an hour, the car finally stopped at a compound in the old city district. A sign hung at the entrance, bearing the words: Hundred-Refinement Sect.

The Hundred-Refinement Sect appeared quite large, comparable to a middle school. It consisted of six buildings as well as several squares and gardens. Considering its location, the value of this estate was easily over a hundred million. This provided a glimpse into the influence Zong Lian wielded in Longxiang City.

After parking the car, Zong Yan and Ji Pingtian led Yaoguang into the courtyard. Many people were practicing martial arts in the outer yard, with others standing by to offer guidance.

Upon seeing Yaoguang’s group arrive, a man who looked to be in his thirties quickly came out to meet them.

"Senior Brother Yang," Zong Yan hurriedly stepped forward and greeted him with a bow.

The man addressed as Senior Brother Yang nodded, then immediately turned his gaze toward Yaoguang. "You are indeed very young."

Yaoguang looked at him and, relying on Perception, quickly determined that this man was a heavenly being. In fact, he was a heavenly being even stronger than Xie Boen.

"This is Fourth Senior Brother, Yang Kaitai," Zong Yan introduced him to Yaoguang.

"Master is waiting for you. Follow me," Yang Kaitai said, leading Zong Yan and Yaoguang toward the inner courtyard.

Ji Pingtian, however, stayed behind. Although he was one of the three presidents of the World-Saving Society, more than half of the formal disciples in the Hundred-Refinement Sect surpassed him in strength. He lacked the qualifications to enter the inner sect.

After walking about a hundred meters, the group arrived at a courtyard. As soon as they stepped inside, Yaoguang immediately sensed something unusual.

The inside and outside of the courtyard felt like two completely different worlds. Everything he heard and saw was distinct. This difference quickly made him realize something was going on. An array art?

In the center of the courtyard, two people were currently exchanging moves. Three others stood by, observing. Among the spectators was an old man dressed in somewhat archaic clothing. The other two—a man and a woman—also leaned toward a traditional style of dress. The man was in his thirties or forties, wearing a white magua, while the woman, who looked under thirty thanks to the fact she took great care of herself, wore a cheongsam that outlined her slender, perfect figure.[1]

Upon seeing Yaoguang, they nodded slightly. They did not speak, however, keeping their attention on the match in the center.

These two were also experts at the seventh realm of body refinement. Their fist arts, combat skills, secret techniques, and combat experience were all top-tier. Even if they fought against Xie Boen while he was possessed by Leng Tianfeng, they probably would have been able to match him.

A few minutes later, the match concluded. Yaoguang paid close attention to the fact that the fist jin erupting from their battle seemed to be absorbed by some invisible force. Consequently, this battle between heavenly beings did not leave the courtyard in ruins. His gaze lingered for a moment on some unique runes on the ground.

"So it is an array art," Yaoguang muttered.

It seemed that refined artifacts, medicinal pills, array arts, and cultivation had permeated every aspect of life for the people of this world.

"How was it?" the old man sitting in the seat of honor asked.

Yaoguang thought for a moment before replying politely, "Not bad."

Before he had forged his heavenly being body, it would not have been easy for him to defeat either of them.

"Not bad?" These words sparked dissatisfaction in the winner of the match.

The man's gaze fell directly on Yaoguang. "I am Chen Shu. I have been at the seventh realm of body refinement for four years. Care to compete?"

Yaoguang did not speak. He simply turned his gaze toward the elder, Zong Lian.

Zong Lian said, "I heard from Zong Yan that you are very confident in your talent and plan to establish your own sect before integrating into the Nine Cauldrons Sect?"

"Yes." Yaoguang nodded slightly.

Zong Lian’s Hundred-Refinement Sect followed exactly this model. They enjoyed the status of honorary elders within the Nine Cauldrons Sect and were required to step in when the sect faced danger. However, the everyday rules of the Nine Cauldrons Sect did not apply to them. On the other hand, the Nine Cauldrons Sect hardly cared for official disciples of the Hundred-Refinement Sect, unless they were discovered practicing fiendish arts or were murdered in particularly cruel ways, the Nine Cauldrons Sect would not even inquire.

"I assume you won't be switching to become a sword cultivator or a spell cultivator?" Zong Lian asked.

"I won't," Yaoguang replied.

His new branch would not grow until he became a star lord. In other words, before becoming a great cultivator, he could not practice other paths simultaneously. Furthermore, even if he became a star lord, the newly grown branch might not necessarily be Qi Refiner.

"The paths of a sword cultivator or spell cultivator are not something a self-made person can afford to play with. But if you take the path of a body cultivator, achieving independence and autonomy will not be easy," Zong Lian said calmly. "In today’s world, there is a saying: first the psyche cultivator, second the sword cultivator, third the spell cultivator, and fourth the body cultivator. This ranking directly proves the importance of the four major systems. The psyche cultivator system has weaker combat power and relies heavily on talent; even though the Nine Cauldrons Sect has focused on promoting it, its development remains slow. What people truly yearn for are the sword and spell cultivators who can decide victory from a thousand kilometers away, not the body cultivators who charge the front lines and suffer the highest casualty rates. Therefore, body cultivators are at the bottom."

Yaoguang nodded. He was well aware of this.

"Training sword and spell cultivators requires a massive amount of refined artifacts, spirit stones, and natural treasures. But the Nine Cauldrons Sect is just beginning to recover. While we have the heritage left by the Artifact Sect in the field of refinement, technology in this world evolves too quickly, and the Artifact Sect's techniques are now outdated. The importance of spirit stones goes without saying. The Nine Cauldrons Sect is extremely lacking in these two aspects. The reason it can hold its throne as a major sect is entirely due to its body cultivators!"

The great cultivator, who practiced spell cultivation, looked at Yaoguang calmly. "In terms of body cultivators alone, the Nine Cauldrons Sect is comparable to the Six Great Immortal Sects. So, you intend to stand out by following the body cultivator path in such a competitive environment?"

The nature of combat in the current Cangwu had long since changed. The characteristics of a body cultivator were high consumption, high stability, and long endurance. But when two sects truly clashed, it was usually the psyche cultivators who performed reconnaissance, sword cultivators who led the assault, and spell cultivators who provided bombardment. Only at the very end would the body cultivators move in to occupy the territory.

The Nine Cauldrons Sect was only strong in body cultivation. Without taking out the enemy’s fortifications or understanding their deployment, charging blindly into enemy territory was essentially suicide. One would likely be locked onto by the enemy's psyche cultivators and targeted by long-range strikes from sword and spell cultivators before even finding out where the enemy was, leading to a total wipeout. Therefore, the importance of the body cultivators was in decline.

With declining importance, high risk, and a low entry threshold, and considering the Nine Cauldrons Sect was already a powerhouse of body cultivation, the sheer number of cultivators in this category led to intense internal competition. Under such circumstances, it would be immensely difficult for Yaoguang to distinguish himself as a body cultivator.

"So, tell me... Since you want to establish your own sect. Where does your confidence come from?"

1. Magua was a style of jacket worn by males during the Qing dynasty, while cheongsam is a form-fitting, one-piece Chinese dress with distinctive features like a mandarin collar, side slits, and frog fastenings. ☜