At the Purple Firmament Institute, Yaoguang activated the power of his primordial psyche and guided Yun Lai, Wei Yan, Lu Yuan, and the other artifact-refinement masters as they rapidly produced the export version of the improved Purple Firmament Type 12 flying swords.

"Once this batch of flying swords is finished, the Golden Temple’s order will be halfway done." He had felt completely at ease.

The three thousand flying swords were being produced in batches of three hundred, and four batches had already been handed over. The fifth delivery would follow soon. Every delivery brought in spirit stones worth millions.

There was no denying it. This kind of business had been absurdly profitable. Of course, the main reason it had been so lucrative was that Elder Panqi had offered an exceptionally high price. Other factions would not necessarily have been willing to pay such a steep premium for high-grade spirit artifact flying swords. Treasured-artifact-level flying swords would have been more reasonable.

But no matter what, as long as there were orders, there were spirit stones to be earned. With spirit stones, the Nine Cauldron Sect's cultivators would no longer have to pinch pennies while cultivating. Spirit-gathering arrays could be upgraded, and other arrays across the city could be raised by a level as well. With enough spirit stones, even low-intensity, routine activation became feasible, using array power to regulate the climate of an entire region and ensure favorable weather and timely rain. As for better pills and materials to improve cultivation efficiency, buying more of those was a given.

It could be said that, for an immortal cultivation sect, spirit stones were the only universal energy source. Whoever controlled spirit stones controlled the future.

After the day’s work was completed, Yun Lai hurried over with a broad smile. "Chief, good news."

His face was filled with delight. "Relying on the advantage brought by the improved Purple Firmament Type 12, Elder Panqi directly wiped out an armed faction backed by his longtime rival. That has made the other elders extremely envious. Another elder has already contacted the sect’s Artifact Refinement Hall. They are interested in purchasing six hundred flying swords."

"Oh?" Yaoguang was surprised.

Six hundred swords were far fewer than Elder Panqi’s three thousand, but it undoubtedly proved that the export version of the improved Purple Firmament Type 12 had gained recognition from the Golden Temple. Once the number of factions equipped with these flying swords increased, how could the others possibly refrain from placing orders?

"Very good. Looks like our Purple Firmament Institute will not need to worry about orders for quite some time," Yaoguang said.

"Additionally, our institute’s level has already been raised. In the future, we will receive greater support from the sect. If this trend continues, the Purple Firmament Institute may even have a chance to contend for the position of the number one institute within the Artifact Refinement Hall," Yun Lai continued, glancing at Yaoguang with a grin. "By then, Chief, you'll be able to rely on your achievements to compete for the position of deputy hall master of the Artifact Refinement Hall, then advance from deputy hall master to hall master, and even contend for the role of deputy sect master."

He was not referring to a side branch's hall master within the Nine Heavens Domain. He meant the hall master of the main branch. With the Purple Firmament Institute having been upgraded into a key artifact refinement institute directly under the main branch, the weight of the institute chief was already enough to stand on equal footing with the hall masters of side branches.

Given the institute’s status, combined with the fact that several of the top-ranked hall masters in both the main branch and side branches were also deputy sect masters, his current influence could fairly be said to rival that of a side branch's deputy sect master.

Following this promotion path, the next steps were naturally deputy hall master of the main branch's Artifact Refinement Hall, then hall master, and eventually deputy sect master while concurrently serving as hall master.

Step by step, he would climb higher. Of course, the process would still require some time. But as long as Yaoguang maintained this pace of growth, securing the position of hall master of the main branch's Artifact Refinement Hall, or even deputy sect master, would hardly be an unrealistic dream.

"It is still too early to talk about that. Let's leave those words for the future. For now, we should finish the orders at hand first, so our distinguished clients are not kept waiting," Yaoguang replied with a smile of his own.

"Yes, yes, that is exactly right..." Master Yun Lai nodded repeatedly.

However, at that moment, Yaoguang sensed something and abruptly raised his head. Immediately after, Yun Lai felt it as well. Even the great cultivators throughout Longxiang City simultaneously turned their gazes toward the windows and the outdoors.

They saw rings of spiritual power fluctuations spreading outward as a pale blue barrier of spiritual power slowly rose from the array foundations embedded in the ground. Its ascent was not fast, but every increment of height represented a continuous infusion of spiritual power. Every single second of the process signified the burning of a massive amount of spirit stones.

"The city-protecting array?!" Yun Lai could not help but cry out. "Longxiang City was once the largest city in the Nine Heavens Domain. Its city-protecting array reached level 6, and because it's a first-generation array, activating it once consumes at least five to six thousand spirit stones. Maintaining its operation afterward requires over four hundred spirit stones per hour, even without being under attack. If attacked, the consumption would be even higher. Therefore, unless there is an external invasion, the array would never be activated..."

"The use of psychic consciousness in this area remains normal, but all communication and transmission-type signals have been completely sealed off and intercepted," Yaoguang suddenly said.

His words were firm and decisive. "Something's wrong!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Yi arrived in a hurry with several great cultivators assigned to protect him. "Chief Yaoguang, please come with us to the defensive facilities to take shelter."

"What happened?" Yaoguang asked.

Qin Yi hesitated for a moment, then answered truthfully. "According to news from the sect, a Sky Patrol Warship is flying at full speed toward our location."

After saying that, he added, "Please come with us quickly and take cover."

"What about the others?" Yaoguang glanced toward the courtyard where he lived.

"Someone will lead them over," Qin Yi replied.

"Chief Yaoguang, please leave with us first. The orders we received were to give you priority protection." Another great cultivator could not help but urge him, practically itching to act at once and carry Yaoguang straight to the hiding place.

Seeing the expressions on Qin Yi and the other great cultivators’ faces, Yaoguang knew this was not the time to waste words.

He nodded immediately and followed them.

"Chief..." Yun Lai called out, as if he wanted to say something.

In the end, however, he said, "Please rest assured. I will not let the Purple Firmament Institute’s operations be affected."

"Alright," Yaoguang replied briefly and departed at once.

Within Longxiang City, streak after streak of sword light shot into the sky. A large number of star lords rose into the air by stepping upon stellar force fields, following those sword lights. There were also primordial psyche great cultivators at the central hub, stationed within the activated array cores and prepared to provide support at any time.

With the arrays activated and great cultivators appearing one after another, panic inevitably spread through the city. Anyone with even a little common sense knew that something was wrong.

In an instant, the once orderly streets became chaotic. Traffic accidents started occurring all over the city, triggering explosions and fires. Cries of alarm echoed throughout every corner of the city.

Led by Qin Yi, Yaoguang quickly arrived at a palace protected by layers upon layers of arrays. The city lord of Longxiang City and many other key figures were gathered inside, positioned at the very core of the arrays.

It was in the moment he entered this palace that, through the perspective of an improved Purple Firmament Type 12, Yaoguang finally "saw" the culprit responsible for all this turmoil. It was a warship, a Sky Patrol Warship over a thousand meters long, flying at an altitude of ten thousand meters, wantonly rushing toward them while tearing apart the clouds!

This warship was not only enormous, but also packed with countless arrays and flying at several times the speed of sound. With its bulk and terrifying speed, if it were to lower its altitude even slightly and pass over the skies of the many towns and cities in the Nine Heavens Domain that lacked city-protecting arrays, the resulting shockwaves alone would be enough to raze them to the ground.

Even now, flying at ten thousand meters, it still appeared overwhelmingly large. So large that all great cultivators who went out to intercept one after another looked as insignificant as ants before it.

***

"How were we discovered?"

"Was it those four little insects earlier? Did they extinguish their life flames to alert these people?"

"This is troublesome. They’re prepared now!"

"So what if they’re prepared? This is a third-generation Sky Patrol Warship. With full firepower, tearing apart their so-called level 6 array won’t take long."

"After all, this is their territory..."

As great cultivators appeared one after another outside the Sky Patrol Warship, various discussions rang out from the cultivators of the Infinite Star Palace aboard the vessel. Compared to the stationed cultivators of the Infinite Star Palace, the captain’s cabin was different. Inside, the captain, Jormun, was showing a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

He looked toward the vice captain in charge of navigation. "Mr. Andre, can you explain to me why, despite maintaining full silence the entire way, the Nine Heavens Domain still managed to prepare? They don’t even have a Dharma Form cultivator."

"I failed in my duty. It's my fault." Andre lowered his head and honestly accepted the blame.

"Captain, what should we do now? According to the map, we are about to reach our destination, Longxiang City. But the city has already activated its arrays, and outside, a large number of Nine Cauldrons Sect cultivators are gathering." Another vice captain spoke up.

"Do I really need to tell you what to do?" Jormun replied calmly. "We proceed as originally planned. Go to Longxiang City and take that person. If they refuse to come, eliminate them on the spot. It’s that simple."

"And the Nine Cauldrons Sect cultivators outside..."

"They can watch all they like. Do you think they would dare to interfere, dare to attack our Sky Patrol Warship? Any action taken against this warship will be treated as a direct declaration of war against the Infinite Star Palace. Do you think the Nine Cauldrons Sect has that kind of courage?" A trace of amusement flickered in Jormun’s eyes. "Frankly, I really hope they make a move. That way, I can see whether this Sky Patrol Warship is capable of wiping out a major sect outright."

The vice captain felt his scalp go numb. Knowing their captain, this was something he truly might do. He quickly said, "That wouldn’t be appropriate. The higher-ups would have difficulty accounting for it later. And the Nine Cauldrons Sect still has Golden Core cultivators..."

"Heh." Jormun let out a soft laugh. "The Nine Cauldrons Sect’s Golden Core cultivators know very well that the only thing that could genuinely threaten the Infinite Star Palace is mutual destruction. But do you really think they would risk their lives for a few insignificant insects? Golden Core cultivators' lives are precious. Unless the situation completely spirals out of control, to the point where fighting to the death is unavoidable, Golden Core cultivators will never step in lightly."

As both the captain and an elder of the Infinite Star Palace, Jormun waved his hand casually. "Ignore them. Proceed directly to Longxiang City."

"Yes." The vice captains acknowledged the order.

A phantom projection suddenly manifested in front of the warship. Along with it came an overwhelming psychic thought, amplified and transmitted through layers of arrays. "I am Zhao Siliang, the sect master of this Nine Cauldrons Sect's side branch. I issue a solemn warning. You have trespassed into Nine Cauldrons Sect's territory. You have ten breaths to change course and withdraw. Otherwise, we will regard you as invaders and launch an attack, directly destroying this warship!"