Outside the Immortal-Proving Tower, Yaoguang glanced toward the inside. A fourth-realm qi refiner would have been the strongest individual in an entire nation back in the Artifact-Nurturing World. Even if the qi refinement system lacked the combat power of the Martial Dao system before reaching the high tier, such a person could still easily suppress a province. Yet, at the Immortal-Proving Tower, they were relegated to the role of a mere shop attendant.

"Rarity makes things precious," Zong Yan said with a touch of emotion. "When the numbers increase, the value naturally drops."

He seemed to have reached a state of acceptance. "I found it hard to believe when I first arrived, but now, I have come to terms with it. The main reason for this situation is the shift in the global landscape. Three hundred years ago, the literacy rate in our White Tower Federation was less than ten percent; now, it exceeds eighty percent."

Ji Pingtian chimed in. "Similarly, before we encountered the Lunar Fiend Empire three hundred years ago, a fourth-realm body refiner stood a chance at passing the exams for the Ten Great Immortal Sects to become a primary disciple. Cultivators were one in a thousand back then. But now, everyone has arts to practice, and everyone can cultivate."

"The times changed too quickly," Zong Yan agreed, nodding deeply. "A few hundred years ago, immortal masters were lofty and superior, but now they are just ordinary people. Cultivation arts that once required a fortune to obtain are now part of the compulsory education system. It truly is a new world. Those who fail to keep up with the trends will only be discarded by the era."

Yaoguang glanced at Ji Pingtian and Zong Yan. It was clear that although these two "older men" were trying their best to learn, they had spent too much time in the Artifact-Nurturing World. They would likely face the reality of being phased out by the modern era. This was why they kept sighing dejectedly.

"You are both sixth-realm body refiners; there is no need to be so pessimistic about the future," Yaoguang said. "You only need a small opportunity to grasp the power of heaven and earth and step into the realm of high-tier cultivators."

"A high-tier cultivator.... If I could step into that realm in this lifetime, I would be satisfied," Ji Pingtian replied with a bitter smile. "Even though the difficulty of becoming a middle-tier cultivator has dropped significantly, a high-tier cultivator is still considered the threshold of true success. It grants one status and position in any industry. Younger people could even apply for officer positions in the Nine Cauldrons Sect. We have already missed the golden age of cultivation. Taking that next step now will be difficult."

"Longxiang Higher Academy No. 15 is currently hiring Martial Dao teachers," Zong Yan suddenly said. "I plan to apply in a while. Once I am in that system, if I reach the seventh realm in the future, I can apply directly for a professorship at the Longxiang Imperial Academy."

Ji Pingtian was slightly stunned. "Is staying at the Hundred-Refinement Sect as an outer court coach not good?"

"I want to head to a higher academy to get exposed to the theories taught in those new schools, and possibly break my mental constraints," Zong Yan explained. "Perhaps then there will be hope for me to push for the seventh realm. If I stay in the Hundred-Refinement Sect, the sixth realm will likely be my limit."

Ji Pingtian fell silent after hearing this, wondering whether trying to keep up with the times would be the right choice for him as well. Without entering the current cultivation system of this world, he would never be able to follow the modern trends.

After a long pause, he said, "We both followed the path of Martial Dao, and the competition for Martial Dao teachers is the most intense. If we were sword or spell cultivators at the Sixth Heavenly Realm, we wouldn't even need to apply; we could just start working immediately with our certifications..."

"But we aren't young anymore. To abruptly switch to refining qi into psyche would lead to unpredictable consequences," Zong Yan said, shaking his head.

"Then let's go try together. If a higher academy doesn't work out, a high school would be fine too."

As Yaoguang listened to their conversation, he understood the difficulties they faced. Compared to him, Zong Yan and Ji Pingtian were older and had almost no room for development. He was only twenty-one and had the Nine Cauldrons Sect as a backup. Even if he wasted ten years and failed to establish his own sect, he could just join the Nine Cauldrons Sect for a stable, lifelong career.

But things were different for Zong Yan and Ji Pingtian, and especially so for the latter. While Zong Yan had Zong Lian's support at the Hundred-Refinement Sect, if Ji Pingtian didn't take a gamble, he might live a comfortable life but would never achieve anything significant in his career. For someone who was once the president of the World-Saving Society and could influence the fate of two continents, living as a face in the crowd was more painful than death.

***

At the Hundred-Refinement Sect, Yaoguang immersed himself in the stellar force field, feeling it temper his body alongside the Heavenly Being Pill he had recently consumed. Although he had known for a long time that medicinal pills provided immediate assistance to cultivation, he still let out a long breath when this round of cultivation concluded. His eyes shone with a brilliant essence.

"I knew it!" he muttered. "I do not need more insights into my realm, I am only missing enough accumulated energy. As long as I can build up the missing energy, I can quickly become a star lord."

He glanced at the nine remaining Heavenly Being Pills in his hand and performed a quick calculation. "If I have a steady supply of Heavenly Being Pills for every session, I can reach the eighth realm of body refinement in six months. That is assuming I can't maximize the medicinal effects. Otherwise, I could get there in under three months."

It was not an exaggeration to say he could reach the eighth realm in three months and the ninth in a year. After a period of stabilization, he could potentially become a star lord in as little as two years.

Over the following period, Yaoguang focused on progressing as fast as possible. However, a single bottle of Heavenly Being Pills did not last long. Half a month later, when he poured out another pill, he realized only three remained.

"Twenty spirit stones, gone just like that?" Yaoguang was frustrated. This was equivalent to the entire ten-year reserve of the Jiang family.

***

The next day, after finishing his cultivation, Yaoguang found Zong Yan. "I want to see Sect Master Zong Lian."

Zong Yan, who was leafing through a book, was slightly taken aback. He immediately stood up and said, "I will take you there now."

The two of them headed toward the backyard. After walking over a hundred meters, they arrived at a courtyard surrounded by walls and inscribed with array arts. A woman was currently teaching three people martial arts.

Yaoguang recognized her. She had been standing next to Zong Lian earlier, wearing a cheongsam. She was the eldest senior sister of the Hundred-Refinement Sect, Huang Yunqi. Because her talent for Qi Refinement was poor, she followed the Martial Dao system instead. She was responsible for teaching the inner court disciples and possessed eighth-realm body refinement strength.

The other three were official disciples. Compared to the Hundred-Refinement Sect, the Nine Cauldrons Sect was far more attractive to cultivators with the talent for sword or spell cultivation. Therefore, most disciples at the Hundred-Refinement Sect focused on Martial Dao. They were usually people who could not get into the Nine Cauldrons Sect but refused to give up on their cultivation path.

Only four people, led by the eldest senior brother Zong Wuya, truly followed the paths of sword and spell cultivation. These four were the true heirs of Zong Lian's legacy.

Everyone else, including Huang Yunqi, was essentially a high-level employee of the Hundred-Refinement Sect.

Because they were related to Zong Lian or had ties to him, they had received training from the Hundred-Refinement Sect since childhood. Once they achieved success in their cultivation, they worked for the sect to repay that debt.

"Eldest Senior Sister." Zong Yan stepped forward and gave a respectful bow. "I wonder if the sect master has some time?"

Huang Yunqi did not reply immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Yaoguang. After sizing him up for a moment, she remarked, "Your strength has improved quite a bit."

"You flatter me," Yaoguang said.

"Flatter you?" Huang Yunqi let out a soft laugh. "If I were to consume medicinal pills the way you do, I'm afraid I would have already become a star lord. Everyone knows how much resources aid one's cultivation."

Yaoguang glanced at her, feeling a bit puzzled. "Do you have some hostility toward me?"

"I just find it a bit hard to watch, that's all," Huang Yunqi said indifferently. "Do you know how long it took Little Junior Brother to save up two spirit stones?"

"Eldest Senior Sister..." Zong Yan hurriedly spoke up to stop her.

Yaoguang, however, ignored the literal meaning of her words. After a moment of thought, he quickly realized something. "You don't want me staying at the Hundred-Refinement Sect?"

Huang Yunqi’s expression remained unchanged, but a flash of panic crossed her eyes for an instant. Although she recovered quickly and regained her cold demeanor, Yaoguang still perceived it.

"I am merely stating a fact. Using pills to rapidly increase your strength proves nothing about your talent," she said quickly. "Since Master and Little Junior Brother both think so highly of you, you should prove yourself properly. Whether you join the Nine Cauldrons Sect or achieve success in another industry, that would truly prove your talent."

Yaoguang nodded, having realized the situation. Zong Lian clearly intended for him to stay at the Hundred-Refinement Sect. For what purpose? To serve as the sect's pillar after Zong Lian passed away.

However, Huang Yunqi, who had been raised in the sect since she was a child, clearly did not share that vision.

Yaoguang shook his head and paid her no more mind. After thinking things through for a moment, he suppressed his original plan of using his cultivation talent as leverage to get an angel investment from Zong Lian. He didn't want to get too deeply entangled.

As for the issue of spirit stones, he had already thought of a solution half a month ago, when he first realized the efficiency of the Heavenly Being Pills in aiding his cultivation.

"Eldest Senior Sister," Zong Yan said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "we came here to see Master."

"Master followed City Lord Luo to the East Sea's islands to participate in the annual maritime patrol," Huang Yunqi said.

Zong Yan was slightly stunned. "Why was it moved forward this year?"

"The Xuanming Sect has encroached upon the Posuo Island's waters. Naturally, the Nine Cauldrons Sect must provide a deterrent," Huang Yunqi replied calmly.[1]

Hearing this, Zong Yan had nothing more to say.

The Shiwan Mountains and the East Sea's islands had both belonged to the Artifact Sect. The Nine Cauldrons Sect had always campaigned that these were its lands, but the surrounding sects paid no heed. They occupied islands in the East Sea and mined resources as they pleased. The same went for the Shiwan Mountains.

Therefore, the Nine Cauldrons Sect organized personnel every year to conduct a sweep of these two regions. If things went well, they would reclaim some land. If not, they would lose a few resource points.

"Each patrol usually lasts two to three months. Yaoguang, do you have something urgent? If so, we can send a message to the Sect Master..." Zong Yan asked.

"No." Yaoguang shook his head. He then added, "I'm going out for a bit."

"I'll drive you."

"That's not necessary." Yaoguang waved his hand.

But Zong Yan insisted on driving and delivered Yaoguang to his destination: the Longxiang Imperial Academy.

Upon entering the academy, Zong Yan was somewhat baffled. "What are we doing here?"

"I had a brief look, the imperial academy has a research project underway. The funding approved by the Nine Cauldrons Sect for this project is as high as 1400 spirit stones," Yaoguang explained. "And I believe I can solve the problem this research is tackling."

1. Xuanming refers to the ancient Chinese god of the North, water, and winter. ☜