LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 137 Chief
At the age of twenty-one.
He pursued dual cultivation of both Body Refinement and Divine Refinement.
He also possessed artifact refining skills nearly at the level of a master artifact refiner.
Such talent would be considered exceptional even within the Nine Cauldrons Sect.
Seeing Alkaid agree, both Zhang Jianlin and Qin Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
Their personal recruitment efforts hadn't been in vain.
Standing beside them, Lin Sen couldn't help but feel envious.
Though a seasoned high-rank artifact refiner himself, his age meant that not only was advancing his cultivation to the realm of a great cultivator out of reach, but even securing a master title in his best skill, artifact refining, was doubtful.
In comparison, Alkaid could truly be said to have a boundless future.
"We've prepared three general proposals for you already upon our arrival. The first proposal is to send you to the main sect for further studies. However, even though you've reached the Seventh Layer Realm in body cultivation, there are many similar talents at the main sect... Should you decide to go there, I would advise you to primarily pursue the path of divine refinement.
The sect's support for divine cultivators is the greatest. Compared to body cultivators of the same realm, divine cultivators have access to resources easily ten times greater. I am also willing to secure for you the same treatment as a true disciple, with an annual salary of one hundred and twenty spirit stones..."
Your journey continues with empire
Zhang Jianlin laid out the three proposals one by one.
Alkaid glanced at them.
In essence, they were all based on his particular strengths, offering main cultivation in body refinement, divine refinement, or artifact refining.
Of the three, the proposal focusing on divine refinement, followed by artifact refining and then body refinement, provided the most substantial funding.
The training program that concentrated on body refinement offered the least support.
The difference was more than tenfold.
This clearly showed what kind of talent the Nine Cauldrons Sect was most in need of.
However...
An annual salary of one hundred and twenty spirit stones, along with some other benefits and various subsidies on achieving certain levels of success...
It was certainly generous.
But to Alkaid, it still fell short.
Besides, divine refinement was not entirely satisfactory in combat, and his ultimate goal in cultivation was to ensure his personal safety. Thus, focusing primarily on divine refinement was not appropriate.
He did not possess the noble spirit to dedicate and even sacrifice himself for others.
Therefore...
"I choose this one."
Alkaid picked up one of the proposals.
"Primary in artifact refining, secondary in divine refinement, auxiliary in body cultivation... "
Zhang Jianlin was briefly taken aback, then he said, "Alkaid, perhaps you might consider the divine-focused proposal... Compared to artifact and body refining, divine refinement allows for faster achievement and more resources... Additionally..."
He quickly unfolded a piece of information: "Look at this, with divine refinement as primary, supported by artifact and body refining, this is the combat system. You will primarily cultivate the Spirit-Suppressing Visualization Technique, which derives divine sense capable of significantly suppressing the spirituality of magic artifacts and spiritual artifacts.
In artifact refining, you will mainly study the Spiritual Power Deconstruction Technique, understanding the connections and operational principles between spiritual power and magic artifacts to find opportunities for disruption.
Body refinement will focus on the Xuanwu Divine Demon Body, cultivating a Xuanwu Divine Demon Body that can draw upon a powerful stellar power field capable of withstanding attacks from any non-treasure-level flying swords."
The Star Lord Realm is divided into three stages: the early stage, where one attracts and uses the stellar power field; the middle stage, where one evolves the stellar power field using one's own life force field; and the late stage, where one increases one's own mass to embody a Stellar Demon.
However, different Divine Demon bodies also signify different paths.
The Xuanwu Demon God is slow and weak in attack but very strong in defense.
The other Divine Demon bodies vary, some capable of aerial combat, some faster, and others potent in attack, and so on.
"After attracting the stellar power field enhancement through the Xuanwu Divine Demon Body, it can already withstand all non-treasure-level attacks.
Adding the influence of the Spiritual Power Deconstruction Technique on flying swords and magic artifacts, along with the Spirit-Suppressing Visualization Technique's suppression, even treasure-level flying swords will not be able to break through your defenses.
Moreover, due to the characteristics of the Spiritual Power Deconstruction Technique and the Spirit-Suppressing Visualization Technique, you can actively suppress the power of an enemy's non-treasure-level flying swords by one level."
As Zhang Jianlin spoke, he unfolded a map: "A divine cultivator who has just cultivated a Primordial Spirit can have a divine sense range of hundreds of miles. If the Primordial Spirit is fully matured, it could even reach thousands of miles. In other words, within thousands of miles centered on you, the power of all spiritual artifacts will be reduced by one stage.
And with your strong defensive power, you can stand at the forefront of the battlefield. Essentially, where you are, thousands of miles would become a flying sword restricted zone, completely eliminating the threat of enemy sword cultivators."
"I understand," Alkaid nodded slightly.
But...
He had no intention of cultivating the Xuanwu Divine Demon Body.
"I will practice the Spirit-Suppressing Visualization Technique, and learn the Spiritual Power Deconstruction Study, but... instead of standing like a suppressing fortress at the front of the battlefield, I prefer to cultivate a Divine Demon Body with powerful offensive capabilities like the Vermilion Bird Heaven-Burning Divine Demon Body," Alkaid said with a smile.
"With the quick alternation between the stellar magnetic field and my own life force field, I can create the immensely destructive Vermilion Bird True Flame Domain.
Combined with the Spirit-Suppressing Power and Spiritual Power Deconstruction Technique, any flying sword that enters the domain is first weakened in spirituality, then its spiritual power is disrupted, its structure is shaken, and finally, it is twisted, crushed, and burnt by the domain. Wouldn't the effect be better in this way?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jianlin was momentarily stunned, then said, "The power of the Vermilion Bird True Flame Domain isn't that great..."
"Therefore, I need a Divine Demon Body even more powerful than the Vermilion Bird Divine Demon Body, and I need stronger divine cultivation methods than the Spirit-Suppressing Visualization Technique and the Spiritual Power Deconstruction Technique, as well as secret techniques targeting magic artifacts and flying swords," Alkaid said.
"Times have changed. The days when one person was responsible for a battlefield are gone. Now, it's all about teamwork."
Qin Yi spoke up solemnly, "If you can ensure your own safety with the Xuanwu Divine Demon Body and then stand on the frontlines of the battlefield, using the spirit-suppressing power derived from the Spirit-Suppressing Visualization Technique and the Spiritual Power Deconstruction Technique to cause tremors in the structure of the enemy's magic artifacts and flying swords, you would certainly provide sword cultivators with an opportunity to strike.
When that time comes, other sword cultivators attacking could destroy the opponent's lifebound flying swords more rapidly, causing significant damage. Paired together, interception efficiency against flying swords would be much higher than if you were to cultivate the Vermilion Bird Divine Demon Body."
Upon finishing, he added gravely, "There's a saying, standing firm is prerequisite to striking effectively."
"I will consider it," Alkaid said.
He believed that once he improved his Martial Path realm a bit more, a balanced Stellar Demon Body adept at both offense and defense would eventually appear.
"Additionally, whether the salary and subsidies mentioned above are equivalent to those of a True Disciple is not important. What matters is that I hope to have my own Artifact Refining workshop."
Alkaid said.
"Do you plan to focus on Artifact Refining next?"
Zhang Jianlin asked.
"Yes, I have a feeling that a breakthrough in my Artifact Refining is imminent. Once I break through in Artifact Refining, I should receive better treatment. Then it won't be too late to switch my attention to Body Refinement and Divine Refinement,"
Alkaid said.
"That's a prudent choice, but the Artifact Refining field is no longer workshop-based; it has evolved to establishing different Artifact Refining Courts based on various specializations... What exactly are you good at?"
Qin Yi inquired.
"Good at what..."
Alkaid himself obtained information from Artifact Refining that suggested a focus on versatility.
However, on the Nine Cauldrons Sect's side...
Body Cultivation was most prevalent.
Theoretically, it had the largest market.
But this market on one hand had numerous competitors, and on the other hand... Body Cultivators were not exactly wealthy.
And for them, Battle Armor was not an absolute necessity.
In contrast, every Sword Cultivator would nurture a Lifebound Flying Sword. It was an item intertwined with their lives, and while it's not to say that if the sword exists, so does the person, once a Lifebound Flying Sword is destroyed, a Sword Cultivator would certainly be greatly weakened, taking three to five years to recover fully.
In such circumstances, a good Flying Sword would be worth a Sword Cultivator's entire fortune.
Therefore, refining swords presented the highest return on investment.
"Flying Swords."
Alkaid said and then added, "Not civilian Flying Swords, the Lifebound Flying Sword market."
"Lifebound Flying Swords!?"
Qin Yi and Zhang Jianlin exchanged glances.
That was the pinnacle of the market.
It's the very top of the Flying Sword industry, almost monopolized by the Six Great Immortal Sects.
After deliberation, Qin Yi still said, "Generally speaking, disciples are supposed to focus on cultivation and learning during their tenure and cannot hold official positions. However, you intend to prioritize Artifact Refining, and you are nearly at the level of a Master Artifact Refiner...
If you want to go to the Main Sect, I can help you secure a position in a Flying Sword Refining Court, but if you prefer to stay in the Nine Heavens Domain..."
He smiled, "Our local brand 'Purple Cloud' Sword Casting Court's previous Chief was removed for repeatedly failing to complete assigned tasks from upper management. The position of Chief is currently vacant, and I can apply to the Sect Master, allowing you to take up the post in Purple Cloud Courtyard."
"I shall remain in the Nine Heavens Domain,"
Alkaid declared without hesitation.
On the side, Zhang Jianlin reminded, "The cultivation efficiency in the Main Sect is significantly higher than in a Sub-sect. We generally recommend that our most outstanding disciples go to the Main Sect..."
"It's alright. I managed to reach the Seventh Layer of Body Refinement, the Sixth Layer of Divine Refinement, and nearly reached the realm of a Master Artifact Refiner through self-study in the minor world. This shows my self-learning capability is quite decent. Whether I go to the Main Sect or not doesn't make much difference. Moreover...
The database of the Void Divine Realm in the Sub-sect is connected to the Main Sect's database. Anything I don't understand, I can simply enter the Main Sect from the Void Divine Realm to inquire,"
Alkaid stated, then looked towards Qin Yi, "Further, there's no need for that much trouble. There's no need to have my name entered into the disciple's archive when I join the Sect; I can just join the Sect directly as a candidate for the position of Chief of Purple Cloud Courtyard."
"But in doing so, you will miss out on the various benefits, subsidies, and entitlements for disciples..."
Zhang Jianlin said.
"If I can turn Purple Cloud Courtyard into a thriving success, the profits belonging to the position of Chief will definitely exceed the benefits and subsidies offered to a True Disciple by far,"
Alkaid said with a smile.
"The Lifebound Flying Sword market... Nine Cauldrons Sect doesn't exactly have an advantage here..."
Zhang Jianlin diplomatically said.
"Then, I will establish our own brand advantage,"
Alkaid calmly said, "In theory, a Lifebound Flying Sword could be nurtured starting from the Seventh Layer of Qi Refinement, but, nurturing a Lifebound Flying Sword doesn't mean the stronger it is, the better. The more powerful a Lifebound Flying Sword, the slower the nurturing efficiency and the greater the consumption during use.
A Sword Cultivator at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refinement might only need one or two years to nurture an Interior Grade Spirit Artifact Level Lifebound Flying Sword, but a Superior Grade Spirit Artifact... it could take ten or eight years to succeed. It all depends on our positioning."
Seeing Alkaid so confident, Zhang Jianlin did not know what else to say.
He simply turned towards Qin Yi, "If Purple Cloud Courtyard cannot pass the evaluation in four years... I'm afraid it will be downgraded from a Sub-sect Level Artifact Refining Court to a City Domain Level Artifact Refining Court?"
"Given that Alkaid is not an actual Master Artifact Refiner, and considering Purple Cloud Courtyard is facing a downgrade, having him as the Chief makes it convenient to go through the necessary procedures on the Sect Master's side."
Qin Yi's eyes shone brightly as he looked at Alkaid, "It rests on you whether you can advance your Artifact Refining skills further within the next four years."
"Four years is enough,"
Alkaid replied with certainty.
"Well then, I'll take you to meet the Sect Master right now."
Qin Yi showed a pleased expression.
Keeping Alkaid in the Nine Heavens Domain, someone who was certain to become a Master Level Artifact Refiner in the future, was naturally good news for their Nine Heavens Sub-sect.