As time passed, the Purple Firmament Institute began producing flying swords at full capacity. Yaoguang once again lived a life where gold poured in by the bucketful. Moreover, after completing another round of recruitment, he reduced his personal workload to an extremely low level. Aside from guiding the production process to ensure everything ran smoothly, he only intervened when it came to engraving the institute’s array patterns.

Everything else, from major matters to countless minor details, he handed over to Master Yun Lai for management. During this period of close cooperation, Master Yun Lai, who was the very first to join the Purple Firmament Institute, had already earned Yaoguang’s trust.

It was precisely when the institute was operating at full throttle that Kong Xuan returned from the Yaoguang World.

***

Inside the courtyard where Yaoguang resided. Yaoguang watched as more than a hundred people were escorted away by Xiang Guangming to settle into their accommodations, while a dozen or so core members remained behind. His courtyard was spacious enough to house over a hundred people without any difficulty.

"So... the family head didn’t come?" Yaoguang looked at Lin Xia and asked.

"The chairman said he’s getting old and doesn’t want to leave his homeland to struggle elsewhere. Guarding that small piece of land in the Yaoguang World for you is enough. Everything here will be handled entirely by you."

Lin Xia replied respectfully. "Also, before we departed, the chairman convened all members of the Su family and publicly announced that, from today onward, you are the new family head of the Su family."

Yaoguang felt indifferent toward that title. If anything, he would have preferred Su Chiming to come and help him deal with the endless trivial matters. However, since Su Chiming had already said that he was old and unwilling to leave his roots, Yaoguang could not force the issue.

"When you go back next time, bring a Life-Prolonging Pill with you," Yaoguang instructed Kong Xuan.

Kong Xuan froze for a moment, then quickly acknowledged the order. Lin Xia’s gaze toward Yaoguang was likewise filled with shock. The Life-Prolonging Pill was a treasured pill, worth tens of thousands of spirit stones!

During the few months Kong Xuan had spent back home, he had already shared with the others some of what was common knowledge in the Great Cangwu World. They naturally understood what tens of thousands of spirit stones represented.

That was a colossal fortune that even high-level cultivators, living frugally for decades, might not be able to accumulate. Such an immense sum, enough to cultivate a single person right up to the threshold of becoming a great cultivator, was now being used so casually...

"Thank you, Family Head." Lin Xia bowed deeply.

Yaoguang said nothing, instead examining her carefully. Although she was already in her early thirties, her mental state, complexion, and appearance now resembled those of a woman in her early twenties. The reason...

"She really has reached the fourth realm of qi refinement." He glanced at the report Kong Xuan had brought back.

Using a Spirit-Measuring Device, Kong Xuan had evaluated the talents of the Su family and those closely associated with them. The results showed that the most gifted individual was neither Yue Xingzhou, who had already become a grandmaster, nor Leng Jun, Su Yaoxue, Su Hua, Lyu Tianhe, nor others who had demonstrated respectable Martial Dao talent. It was Lin Xia.

Her aptitude score reached an astonishing 79 points, a top-tier middle-grade spirit root! By comparison, the best among the Su family, Leng Jun, only scored 58. That barely qualified as a mixed spirit root below even low-grade, the kind of low-level aptitude that would lead to one being advised to withdraw from qi refinement programs at academies.

As for Su Yaoxue, who showed decent Martial Dao aptitude, her score was 55. Below her were Su Yaoyu, Su Yaoshuang, Su Yaoqin... Not a single one exceeded 40. In other words, they could essentially give up any thoughts of progressing in the qi refinement path.

Of course, if they truly refused to accept that outcome and worked themselves to the bone, they might still have a chance to reach the second or third realm of qi refinement by their sixties. This level of talent belonged to the kind where, even if one poured millions of spirit stones into it, there would still be no hope of becoming a major cultivator.

After glancing at the dozen or so core Su family members present, Yaoguang began making arrangements. If qi refinement was impossible, then Martial Dao was still an option. Especially for people like Lei Yun, Pang Long, and Ai Li, who had already served as drivers, assistants, and chefs, handling the trivial details of Yaoguang's daily life.

As for Su Yaoyu and the others... Yaoguang’s gaze fell upon them. Compared to Lin Xia, Leng Jun, and the rest of the Su family, these few were slightly closer to him in terms of personal ties.

"Su Yaoshuang and Su Yaoqin, you are still young. Prepare yourselves and sit for the entrance exams of the Longxiang Imperial Academy. Follow the psyche refinement route. I’ll give you some support, but whether you can get into the Longxiang Imperial Academy, and whether you can later enter the Nine Heavens Domain’s Nine Cauldrons Sect, will depend on yourselves." Yaoguang laid out his decision.

"Understood." Su Yaoshuang and Su Yaoqin replied obediently.

"And Yaoyu, how have things been going these past few years while you’ve been learning to handle the group’s affairs under Lin Xia?" Yaoguang asked.

"Young Lady has worked very hard. She’s already fully capable of standing on her own," Lin Xia replied.

"Then have her enter the Purple Firmament Institute’s Finance Department first," Yaoguang said, then paused. "And have her also make up for some knowledge in artifact refinement and psyche refinement."

Their talents were far too poor. With qi refinement blocked, psyche refinement was the only path worth attempting. With the information he possessed about the Psyche Dao, as long as they worked hard enough, perhaps they could achieve something in psyche refinement.

Of course, only Su Yaoyu would receive such treatment. Su Yaoshuang and Su Yaoqin would receive support, but not nearly as much.

"For now, each of you pick a room here. We’ll eat together later." Yaoguang gave another instruction, then turned to Xiang Guangming. "Go invite Professor Qin over for me."

"Yes," Xiang Guangming replied respectfully.

After Xiang Guangming left, Yaoguang returned to his room and contacted Zi Qiangwei.

"So, the chief has taken the trouble to contact a small-time array caster like me. What orders do you have?" Zi Qiangwei teased.

Because of this array art master’s extensive connections, communicating through her was practically equivalent to speaking directly with the higher-ups of the Nine Cauldrons Sect. As a result, during this period, Yaoguang had somewhat treated her as a messenger.

"Ahem. There’s business coming in. If I remember correctly, the sect sells a Sacred Spirit Liquid that can improve cultivation aptitude?" Yaoguang asked.

"You want to buy it?" Zi Qiangwei’s eyes lit up. She knew very well just how much wealth Yaoguang had accumulated.

"Yes." Yaoguang nodded.

He had far too many spirit stones on hand. If spirit stones did not circulate, they were meaningless. Right now, it was simply a matter of taking from the Nine Cauldrons Sect and using it for the Nine Cauldrons Sect.

"I want to buy three portions. Could you help me ask about the price?"

"No need to ask around. I can answer you directly. The internal price of Sacred Spirit Liquid is 260,000 per portion," Zi Qiangwei said. "Natural treasures that can improve one’s qi refinement aptitude are priced like this. What I quoted you is already the internal rate."

Yaoguang nodded. In truth, he could also have chosen to purchase Nine-Turn Spirit Pills from the Immortal-Proving Tower. The main ingredient of that pill was Sacred Spirit Liquid. The pill's price was under 200,000, and its effects were not much worse. But he did not want to let the Immortal-Proving Tower earn such a large sum of money.

Alchemy really is profitable. The main ingredient of the Nine-Turn Spirit Pill is Sacred Spirit Liquid, but once refined, a batch usually yields at least three pills. If the alchemist’s skill is high enough, a single furnace can even produce five or six Nine-Turn Spirit Pills. That’s an investment of under 300,000 for returns exceeding a million... Yaoguang thought to himself.

Unfortunately, judging from its price alone, the Nine-Turn Spirit Pill clearly belonged to the category of treasured pills. Treasured pills like this were something no one in the Nine Cauldrons Sect could refine. As a result, even though the Nine Cauldrons Sect stockpiled materials like Sacred Spirit Liquid, they could only watch helplessly as the Immortal-Proving Tower reaped the profits.

While his thoughts churned, his response was crisp and decisive. "I'll buy them."

"Boss, you're indeed generous," Zi Qiangwei praised him sincerely. "I’ll go find the Logistics Hall right away. Someone will contact you soon."

"I’ll wait for your news," Yaoguang replied.

Not long after he ended the call with Zi Qiangwei, Qin Yadong was brought over by Xiang Guangming. Upon learning that Yaoguang wanted to arrange enrollment for two people, Qin Yadong agreed without hesitation.

"Leave this matter to me. Psyche refinement major, right? I’ll make sure everything is arranged perfectly for you, Chief Yaoguang." Qin Yadong said solemnly.

Given the Purple Firmament Institute’s current status in Longxiang City, being at the height of its fame, the fact that Yaoguang, as chief, was willing to ask them for help was already a form of respect.

"There’s just one request," Yaoguang said. "Treat them as ordinary students. As long as they aren’t subjected to unfair treatment, there’s no need to grant them any privileges."

Qin Yadong paused briefly. After a moment’s thought, and based on his interactions with Yaoguang during this period, he understood his meaning. Yaoguang was a rather rational person. If these two were actually talented in psyche refinement, he would help them. If they were utterly hopeless, letting them live as ordinary people without worries over food and clothing might not be a bad outcome.

"Understood!" Qin Yadong nodded. "I’ll arrange them as regular students."

Then he added, "They’re new, so they might struggle to keep up with the curriculum at first. Coincidentally, my daughter Qin Ya is also studying there. She’s two years older than they are. Should I have her help them adapt to the academy environment?"

"Make the arrangements as you see fit. Just don’t give them special treatment," Yaoguang replied.

Qin Yadong understood perfectly. After a bit of small talk, he took his leave. Soon after, someone from the Logistics Hall contacted Yaoguang.

The improved Purple Firmament Type 12 had become famous throughout the Nine Cauldrons Sect during this period; naturally, many people had already heard of him, the person behind it. Faced with such a wealthy client coming to spend money, the Logistics Hall was exceedingly enthusiastic, pushing all kinds of high-quality goods in rapid succession.

In the end, Yaoguang didn't stop at purchasing three portions of Sacred Spirit Liquid: he also spent more than 300,000 on various cultivation resources. These resources were of relatively low tier, so in terms of quality, they were not much inferior to those sold by the Immortal-Proving Tower and similar organizations. They simply lacked the brand prestige of such powers.

Half a month later, the Sacred Spirit Liquid was delivered. Having spent those two weeks preparing, Lin Xia, Leng Jun, and Su Yaoxue did not hesitate. Under Zi Qiangwei’s gaze, filled with what could only be described as "wanton waste," they consumed this precious treasure worth 260,000.

More than ten days later, Lin Xia, whose aptitude had been reshaped by the Sacred Spirit Liquid, stepped into the high-grade spirit root category, with her aptitude reaching 83. Leng Jun and Su Yaoxue respectively reached 71 and 70, entering the middle-grade spirit root category.

From these changes, it was clear that the poorer one’s original aptitude, the better the effect of Sacred Spirit Liquid would be. With their aptitudes improved, Yaoguang specifically invited a Foundation Building great cultivator to instruct the three in their cultivation.

Everything returned to the proper track. Moreover, as batches of flying swords were delivered to the Golden Temple and repeatedly achieved outstanding results in strikes against the private forces of enemy elders, the name of the improved Purple Firmament Type 12 gradually resounded across the Black Flame Continent.

With such publicity, more interested factions flocked to the Nine Cauldrons Sect, seeking to make purchases. Everything was moving in a positive direction.

As the improved Purple Firmament Type 12 flying sword swept through the high-grade spirit sword market, conquering territory after territory... Someone became unhappy.

Without the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s knowledge, and in response to repeated invitations from the Xuanming Sect, a patrol fleet from the Infinite Star Palace departed from the airspace formerly controlled by the Northern Alliance and headed straight for the islands of the East Sea.