LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 134 Deviation
On the way back, Zong Yan's gaze toward Alkaid couldn't help but carry an added measure of reverence.
A professor of the first level at the academy is not a role just anyone is qualified to hold.
One must at least attain a high evaluation in a certain sub-profession to be called a professor.
Such people, even without being professors, could prosper through their professional skills alone.
For the vast majority of people, professors are the highest-ranking individuals they could ever encounter in their lives.
Particularly Professor Lin Sen, who also happened to be a senior professor capable of leading an important research project.
Above that rank are the special-grade professors, who are essentially the backbone of an entire academic discipline within an academy.
And if one were to continue climbing higher...
They would be crowned with a master-level title.
Like Master Artifact Refiner, Alchemy Master, Array Master, and so on.
The status of such individuals is comparable to that of Nine Cauldrons Sect's elders.
However, they wouldn't appear in the academy, as they are generally engaged in research work in divisions directly under the Nine Cauldrons Sect.
"Is something about to happen? Why are the streets and lamps along the road being decorated?"
At that moment, Alkaid's voice rang out.
Zong Yan reined in his thoughts and glanced outside, replying, "In a month's time, it'll be the Ninetieth Anniversary celebration of the founding of the Nine Cauldrons Sect. There will be a joyous celebration across the sect, and additionally, a grand competitive performance ceremony will be held in the Main Sect's Chao Yang City.
Representatives from the four major systems of Body Cultivation, Sword Cultivation, Technique Cultivation, and Divine Cultivation will be sent by their factions to attend. It's said that for the sword cultivators, they will even display our Nine Cauldrons Sect's most prestigious and independently developed and refined Dragon Chant Flying Sword."
"Dragon Chant Flying Sword."
While the Nine Cauldrons Sect is a major sect of body cultivators with not an insignificant number and related battle armor, sword cultivation...
Had never formed a combat system of their own.
It's because the quality of flying swords refined internally by the Nine Cauldrons Sect was very poor, and often they had to purchase them from other sects.
But who knows if there were any tricks left inside the flying swords purchased from other sects.
After all, these were meant to be lifebound flying swords, intimately linked with one's fortune and life. One misstep and an entire batch of cultivators could be reverse-controlled by the enemy and reduced to puppets.
Yet, for sword cultivators, the most important thing is their lifebound flying sword.
If the quality of the lifebound flying sword is mediocre, within the same realm, perhaps three to five sword cultivators of the Nine Cauldrons Sect might not even be able to defeat one sword cultivator of the enemy.
If the Dragon Chant Flying Sword, as the first independently refined flying sword, can truly supplement the shortcoming of the Nine Cauldrons Sect in the flying sword aspect, it would inevitably enhance the Nine Cauldrons Sect's speaking power within the Cangwu Realm.
At the very least, sects in the East Sea Archipelago and the Ten Thousand Mountains would no longer dare to be so brazenly sovereign over the mountains.
However, just how the Dragon Chant Flying Sword fares still needs to be seen, such as what level of sword cultivators it's benchmarked against, its maximum speed, energy consumption, and what are the numerical values of its lethal power.
If the data is not satisfactory, even if the flying sword is refined, it might not add much deterrence to the Nine Cauldrons Sect.
If the quality is too poor...
It might even become a joke among other sects.
"These don't have much to do with me at the moment."
Alkaid thought to himself.
"Alkaid, haven't you always been curious about just how formidable the Nine Cauldrons Sect is? This time, you should be able to get a clear picture," Zong Yan said with a smile.
"I know."
Alkaid replied, "Perhaps we are lacking in sword cultivation, technique cultivation, and divine cultivation, but as a major body cultivation sect that rivals the Six Great Immortal Sects, my estimate is that the number of Star Masters possessed by the Nine Cauldrons Sect...
probably numbers in the thousands, and the high-level cultivators who can engage in battle will likely number in the tens of thousands."
"Tens of thousands? Probably over a hundred thousand," Zong Yan countered. "Don't forget that every Subordinate World under the Nine Cauldrons Sect typically has several high-level cultivators stationed there. When added up, these people are not a small number."
"Subordinate World."
Outside the Great Cangwu World, there are eighty thousand stars.
However...
"Hasn't it been said that with Moon Demons lurking in subordinate worlds, the Nine Cauldrons Sect has not yet fully launched the recovery of those that once belonged to the Artifact Sect?"
"We haven't fully commenced the recapture of subordinate worlds, but those that can be contacted have mostly been reached. To my knowledge, the number of subordinate worlds currently in contact with the Nine Cauldrons Sect has already surpassed three thousand," Zong Yan explained with a hint of awe.
"Even if you consider a population of ten billion per world, it still means indirect governance over thirty trillion beings."
Thirty trillion!
That number...
Even Alkaid felt astonished.
"The potential of the elite selected from thirty trillion people is massive, as one can imagine," Zong Yan remarked.
Alkaid, thinking of how even high-level cultivators in the Nine Cauldrons Sect could at best ensure a good life for themselves and extend fortune to a few people around them, slightly nodded in agreement.
For such a behemoth, if he wanted to have a say in the Nine Cauldrons Sect in the future, he estimated he would have to become a great cultivator and achieve the rank of Star Master.
"I hope I can get a share of Spirit Stones from the Lin Sen project this time, not too many, even just ten percent would enable me to enter the eighth stratum of Body Refinement in the coming months."
Alkaid gathered his thoughts.
...
Meanwhile, as Alkaid returned to his residence, the project group under Lin Sen's charge at Long Xiang Academy was a hive of bright lights.
This project was led by Special Grade Professor Qin Yadong, with Lin Sen and Guo Wen in charge, and the rest consisting of a research team of dozens of people.
As soon as Lin Sen brought Alkaid's model, the application was quickly made for a Divine Path cultivator skilled in calculations to carry out the proof.
By the next morning, when the proof results came out, the entire project group was in an uproar.
"Spirit Consumption has actually dropped to 99! Quick! Send these data to Professor Qin! No! I'll go myself!"
Lin Sen immediately grabbed the good news and headed out.
Before he could reach the door, Qin Yadong had already arrived at the project team. "No need, I've come over. I heard you've been busy all night, and I guessed there must be some results. Otherwise, you wouldn't be working overtime all through the night. So, how is it? What are the results?"
"The latest data, Spirit Consumption at 99 for ten thousand kilometers!"
Lin Sen quickly handed the data to Qin Yadong.
"99!? Have we met the goal set by the higher-ups?"
Qin Yadong also showed joy on his face. "Wasn't the latest data just 118 not long ago? How did it suddenly drop to 99?"
"Professor Qin, do you still remember Alkaid I mentioned to you?"
Lin Sen said.
Qin Yadong immediately remembered.
Their Spirit Consumption was reduced from the previous 135 to 118 because of the inspiration provided by Alkaid.
And now he...
"Professor Qin, I have a suggestion; we should invite him to join our project team."
Lin Sen spoke as he spread out the data in his hands. "Last night, while waiting for the verification results, I took a close look at the modifications he made. Many of them... seem to be a bit unfinished, perhaps he held back a little, but more likely... it's because he hasn't yet had the chance to observe the full design of 'Xian Shadow 60'."
"You mean... if he has access to the complete data of 'Xian Shadow 60', the Spirit Consumption could be lowered further!?"
Surprise showed on Qin Yadong's face.
"A consumption of 99 just barely reaches the leading edge of Cangwu Realm, and while the gimmick isn't small, if we can lower the Spirit Consumption even more, it doesn't need to be much, just reaching a Spirit Consumption of 95, then at least in our Eastern Continent, that would be of the highest standard."
Lin Sen's eyes sparkled with brilliance. "If we spread the word about this, it would be a powerful tonic for all the self-research institutions within the Nine Cauldrons Sect; it wouldn't just allow our Dragon Rise Academy to catch the eyes of the Sect's higher echelons, receive more funding, but also greatly boost the confidence of the sect members and improve their spirit."
Qin Yadong did not reply but immediately turned his gaze to a high-ranking cultivator beside him. "Zhou Hao, have you checked out his background thoroughly?" Your journey continues on empire
Lin Sen was slightly taken aback.
Then, he also felt that it was to be expected.
'Xian Shadow 60', although a civilian project, still had a certain level of confidentiality.
An Artifact Refiner who suddenly emerged and possessed such exquisite Artifact Refining technology was not surprising to be discreetly investigated by Qin Yadong.
"It's clear now; he comes from a Subordinate World, from the Artifact Nurturing Realm number 108 of the Artifact Sect era..."
Zhou Hao, the high-ranking cultivator, quickly reported.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yadong nodded slightly.
Being from a Subordinate World, it essentially eliminated the possibility of him being a spy from other forces.
Moreover, he passed the Demon Viewing Platform, so there were no issues with his identity.
While listening, Qin Yadong suddenly caught on to a key phrase. "Wait! What did you just say? The previous sentence..."
Zhou Hao knew what he wanted to ask and immediately repeated, "According to the investigation, he is indeed only twenty-one years old this year."
"Twenty-one years old!? And you previously mentioned that he has reached the Seventh Layer of Body Refinement? A high-ranking cultivator?" Qin Yadong asked in astonishment.
"Wait? Seventh Layer of Body Refinement? Isn't he a Middle Rank cultivator in the Sixth Layer of Divine Refinement?"
Lin Sen couldn't help but interject as well.
"Sixth Layer of Divine Refinement!?" Qin Yadong looked at Lin Sen in amazement. "He's reached the Sixth Layer in the Divine Path?"
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes as he operated my workstation. That level of efficiency, at least Sixth Layer of Divine Refinement, and his proficiency in it was also quite deep."
Lin Sen said.
After saying this, he glanced at Zhou Hao, then back at Qin Yadong.
Qin Yadong, too, exchanged a look of mutual understanding with him.
The next second, they both simultaneously drew a sharp breath.
"Dual Cultivation!"
"He has the talent for Dual Cultivation!"
Excitement flashed in both of their eyes.
"We've discovered someone with this one-in-a-billion talent for Dual Cultivation?"
"It seems... he is a Dual Cultivator in both Body Refinement and Divine Refinement," Zhou Hao reminded them.
This remark brought the two of them back to a calmer state.
They then began to feel a sense of regret.
"Why is it that he cultivates both Body and Divine Paths..."
"If only he was a Technique and Divine Path Dual Cultivator, how wonderful would that be? He could follow the path of ultra-long-range remote combat! Using his Divine Cultivator traits, he could project techniques several thousand, even tens of thousands of kilometers away to kill enemies..."
They both looked regretful.
"Body and Divine Path Dual Cultivation can also take the path of commanding bases, combat centers, guide centers... Regardless, he is a Dual Cultivator, unquestionable in talent. I don't believe there is any force willing to send a Dual Cultivator over as a sleeper agent, spy to our Nine Cauldrons Sect, especially... when he has exposed himself so openly."
"Not just Dual Cultivation; on the path of cultivation itself, he also possesses exceptional talent, twenty-one years old with Seventh Layer of Body Refinement plus Sixth Layer of Divine Refinement..."
As they spoke, the discussion about Alkaid completely shifted from his Artifact Refining skills to his talent for Dual Cultivation.
After a while, Lin Sen finally said, "Professor Qin, let's report this."
"Yes, the composite combat system brought by a Dual Cultivator is indeed the future of the Sect."