After Zong Yan, Kong Xuan, and Xie Yushu left, Yaoguang’s life returned to its usual rhythm. He had no close friends or relatives here. Even the Hundred-Refinement Sect, the only place he could have considered familiar, had become an awkward presence because of Huang Yunqi. As for socializing, the circles he now moved in were far beyond the ordinary. Those who came and went were all major cultivators, and within the Nine Cauldrons Sect, which was still struggling to establish itself, every major cultivator held an important post. No one had the leisure to stop by for casual conversation.

In the end, he shifted his focus entirely to artifact refinement. Earning enough spirit stones and accumulating sufficient experience was the priority.

***

"The Nine Cauldrons Sect really pays efficiently..." Yaoguang smiled faintly.

He briefly sensed the gold foil in his storage pouch, which represented his account balance.

My total assets have passed three hundred thousand. Yaoguang thought.

Three hundred thousand spirit stones were an astonishing sum!

If all these spirit stones were poured into cultivating a single person, anyone with a qi refinement aptitude score of 60 could be pushed into becoming a great cultivator within ten years, as long as they didn't focus on psyche refinement, which depended heavily on innate talent and had strict requirements. With a high-grade aptitude of around 80, that time could be compressed to three to five years. As for buying pills, with my advantage of not being constrained by realms, once I reach the Star Lord Realm, I could directly cultivate a fifth-tier god-fiend body. Even in terms of the primordial psyche, I would be able to withstand the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning.

Despite his thoughts, Yaoguang had no intention of buying pills, nor did he plan to stockpile any. The Nine Cauldrons Sect’s alchemy techniques were acceptable for ordinary pills and spirit pills, but the quality of their treasured pill refinement methods was poor. Pills produced that way carried varying degrees of pill toxicity, and long-term consumption would bring more harm than good.

If he wanted treasure pills with negligible toxicity, he would have to purchase them from places like Immortal-Proving Pavilion, Star-Plucking Tower, Divine Beast Pavilion, or Great Sun Tower. Yet, just like treasured artifacts, those establishments sold pills suitable for great cultivators at outrageous markups.

Rather than handing over the spirit stones he had worked so hard to earn to those factions, he preferred to wait. If the Alchemy branch were to grow later on, how would he ever lack treasure pills?

As Yaoguang was tallying his gains, Xiang Guangming’s voice came from outside. "Chief, Master Qiangwei has arrived."

"Oh, please let her in," Yaoguang replied.

Led by Xiang Guangming, Zi Qiangwei walked in, holding several jade talismans. She glanced at the active workbench beside Yaoguang and smiled as she raised the talismans slightly. "Care to take a look?"

"What are they?"

"Some revisions to the array patterns of the Purple Firmament Type 12 flying swords," Zi Qiangwei said.

"Hmm?" Yaoguang accepted the jade talismans, somewhat surprised. "Aren’t you an array caster? You also understand artifact refinement?"

"My array art certification is level 5, 1 star. My artifact refinement certification is level 4, 2 stars," Zi Qiangwei said calmly. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

That answer made Yaoguang look at her with renewed surprise. A level 5, 1-star array caster could set up first-generation level 5 arrays. And as a level 4, 2-star artifact refiner, she could also refine second-generation low-grade spirit artifacts.

Moreover, judging by her appearance... She looked no more than a young woman in her early twenties, yet her cultivation had already reached the Primordial Psyche Realm! Even if she was actually in her thirties or forties, a great cultivator at that age was without question a genius! A true genius!

"Miss Zi Qiangwei is truly versatile and outstanding. With achievements like these, you must already hold the position of an elder in one of the halls. I’ve been discourteous," Yaoguang said sincerely.

"You’re too kind, Chief Yaoguang. Compared to you, my modest accomplishments hardly count for anything. If you were to take the artifact refiner assessment, you could directly earn a level 6, 3-star rating. In our entire Nine Cauldrons Sect, there are probably fewer than ten refiners with that level of ability," Zi Qiangwei replied.

"Fewer than ten?" Yaoguang froze for a moment, genuinely surprised.

"Yes," she said, nodding. "Once refiners are able to produce high-grade spirit artifacts, most of them shift their focus to treasured artifacts. As a result, they either remain at level 6, 1 star, or advance straight to level 7, 1 star, the rank that represents an artifact-refinement grandmaster."

Yaoguang understood. Compared to artifact-refinement masters capable of producing third-generation high-grade spirit swords, what the Nine Cauldrons Sect truly needed was a sufficient number of artifact-refinement grandmasters. Spirit artifacts were just toys compared to astra-level artifacts, which were the real pillars of national power.

"I am here because Grandmaster Dong Liushui took a look at the Purple Firmament Type 12 flying swords you refined, and he felt there was still room for improvement," Zi Qiangwei said, then quickly added, "This isn’t meant to question your refining skills. At your level, no level 6, 3-star refiner could find fault with your technique. It’s just that, in terms of array patterns, the Purple Firmament Type 12 could have a better design. With further optimization, it could even step into the realm of fourth-generation low-grade spirit swords. At that point, we could carve out a share of the fourth-generation spirit artifact market currently monopolized by the Infinite Star Palace and the Immortal Alliance."

"You mean external sales?" Yaoguang asked, quickly grasping her point.

"Exactly. Third-generation flying swords are already at a world-leading level and highly competitive, but that market is saturated. If the Purple Firmament Type 12 is to break through in the low-grade spirit artifact market, the best approach is to strike downward from the fourth-generation market. With the appeal of fourth-generation flying swords alone, we could easily secure the entire market of the Heavenly Star Continent, at the very least," Zi Qiangwei said with confidence.

Her words opened a new world for Yaoguang. That was right. His flying swords did not have to be sold only within the Nine Cauldrons Sect. They could be sold to other sects as well.

Spirit artifacts were not subject to the same strict sales prohibitions as treasured artifacts. As long as certain aspects were slightly weakened or small backdoors were left in place to prevent buyers from using them to threaten the Nine Cauldrons Sect, it would be fine. And fourth-generation flying swords were rare commodities. Raising profit margins by thirty, forty, or even fifty percent wouldn't be difficult.

At once, Yaoguang accepted the jade talisman from Zi Qiangwei, projected it from the workbench, and examined it carefully.

He did not understand array arts, yet when he embedded the array patterns Zi Qiangwei had provided into the Purple Firmament Type 12 flying sword, he clearly perceived its room for improvement.

It was as though some kind of shackle had been broken. The upper limit of the flying sword had suddenly been raised by an entire tier. Now he only needed to modify the Purple Firmament Type 12 a bit more to take full advantage of that newly revealed potential.

While Yaoguang thought, Zi Qiangwei waited quietly. She did not urge him in the slightest. Several hours later, Yaoguang finally opened his eyes and gave a firm, unequivocal answer. "It can be modified."

"Really?" Zi Qiangwei looked at Yaoguang with unmistakable delight.

"Mhmm." Yaoguang nodded. "But I think the compatibility of these array patterns shouldn’t start at level 4. We should jump straight to level 6 array arts. That way, the improved Purple Firmament Type 12 flying sword can be further refined. Let’s call it the Purple Firmament Type 12B for now. Once we complete it, its performance should be able to rival a first-generation treasured artifact."

"A first-generation treasured artifact?!" Zi Qiangwei could not help widening her eyes.

"Yes. I’m confident," Yaoguang said.

In fact, even fourth-generation flying swords were not the limit of what he had grasped. If he invested more time and mental effort, improving it into an unprecedented fifth-generation flying sword wouldn't be impossible.

"I’ll need to report this to my fathe—the hall master," Zi Qiangwei said, then continued, "But if fourth-generation flying swords truly perform as well as you say, something this disruptive definitely cannot be sold externally. For external sales, we should still prioritize low-grade spirit artifacts."

She added another point. "We also have to consider the purchasing power of other sects. Compared to higher-performing but more expensive high-grade flying swords, they care more about cost-effectiveness."

"So that’s how it is..." Yaoguang said, frowning.

The profit from selling high-grade spirit artifacts was undoubtedly greater than that of low-grade ones. However... Zi Qiangwei had studied the Purple Firmament Type 12 for several months before cautiously proposing this plan, and she could do that only because she herself also practiced artifact refinement.

If it had been another array art master instead... Unless that person’s artifact refinement level had also reached level 6, who knew how long it would take them to research before offering any useful advice.

Considering that the existing Purple Firmament Type 12 orders were already complete and that the improved version only had an order of four hundred swords, Yaoguang said, "I’ll first study how to optimize the Purple Firmament Type 12 and turn it into a fourth-generation flying sword. Then I'll determine where to add modifications for the export model."

"Alright." Zi Qiangwei nodded.

She also needed to report this news upward. After Zi Qiangwei left, Yaoguang seemed to realize something and suddenly slapped his forehead. "I was careless again."

With this, his importance would probably increase yet again. Had he known that a Purple Firmament Type 12B flying sword, capable of rivaling a first-generation treasured artifact, would end up being withheld from sale, he would not have gone out of his way to do this.

Shaking his head, he calmed his mind and turned his gaze back to the array patterns on the workbench. At the same time, he projected the Purple Firmament Type 12 flying sword design blueprint that had been gathering dust for nearly half a year.

However, his refinement only continued for a short while before he perceived something. His heart stirred. "Such a big scene?"

In the next instant, the Sky Net talent derived from the Refiner branch was activated. His thoughts and perception directly leaped over the workbench and the tens of thousands of kilometers between him and the East Sea's islands, appearing in a stretch of sea not far from Posuo Island. More precisely, they appeared on several flying swords.

"Hmm?! Those are familiar faces..."

***

1500 kilometers west of Posuo Island in the East Sea, Yun Qing was leading Zhan Yunfei at full speed on flying swords while continuously relaying messages through the Heavenly Palaces cultivators to other teams. "Base discovered! Enemy base discovered! Thirty-two high-tier sword cultivators! I repeat, thirty-two high-tier enemy sword cultivators have gathered!"

As he spoke, his tone was firm. "With so many elite high-tier sword cultivators concentrated here, they absolutely have ulterior motives!"

"Captain Yun Qing, four squads are currently converging on your position. In one minute, Hall Master Bai Lu’s psychic thought will arrive to provide coverage. Assemble your forces and cooperate with Hall Master Bai Lu in a counterattack!"

Soon, an order came through from the rear command center.

"Counterattack? They also have primordial psyche cultivators! Twenty of us counterattacking thirty-two of them?!" Yun Qing was somewhat startled.

"Please trust the swords in your hands!" The command center left him no room to refuse. "Black Owl Squad and Falcon Squad are being connected..."

"The swords in our hands!" Yun Qing looked at the flying sword he was holding, an improved Purple Firmament Type 12.

So far, only about four hundred had been produced, and fewer than two hundred people had successfully refined them and put them to use. The details of the flying sword flashed through his mind...

"The Purple Firmament Type 12 already gave us a significant advantage in past battles. As an improved Purple Firmament Type 12 that’s a high-grade spirit artifact..." Yun Qing quickly made his decision. The order had already been given. Refusal was no longer an option.

"Black Owl, Falcon, converge on my position. Prepare to engage the enemy!" Yun Qing rapidly entered the communications of the other four squads.

"Understood!" Responses quickly came through his earpiece.

Soon, at the far end of the sky, streaks of sword light tore through the clouds and entered the field of vision of Yun Qing, Zhan Yunfei, Tu Hong, and Zhang Lie.

"How do we fight?"

"They have the numbers. Should we use speed to our advantage?"

"Heh, I love battles with this level of intensity!" Voices rang out one after another in the virtual channel in the Void Psychic World.

However, before they could finalize any strategy, a powerful psychic thought descended like a vast net, instantly enveloping the surrounding void.

"I am Bai Lu." Information flowed into their psychic thoughts, followed immediately by an uncompromising command. "Listen to my orders. East by 27 degrees, coordinates 177:816:291. Everyone, strike with full force! I will guide you. Destroy the enemy!"