Modern World's Martial Dao Human Immortal

Li Hanqiu, Li Qingshan, Alkaid, and others discussed and formulated the development plan for the Nine Cauldrons Sect going forward.

Mortals were to cultivate and achieve Foundation Establishment as quickly as possible to ensure they were qualified to live on the Northern Sea Star and could survive outside the great sect's formation.

The other thirty thousand or so Foundation Establishment and higher level cultivators were to focus on their cultivation, with sufficient spirit stones provided.

In addition, given the potential threat from Jiang Zhanchuan of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, they temporarily refrained from using the name "Nine Cauldrons Sect," opting to present themselves externally as the Nine Heavens Sect.

Further, embracing the local customs, the Nine Heavens Sect also underwent a reorganization, introducing concepts of menial disciples, outer sect disciples, inner sect disciples, and true disciples.

However, true disciples of the Nine Heavens Sect differed from those in the Northern Sea Star.

In the Northern Sea Star, the relationship between a true disciple and a sect was akin to that between a company and its investors!

A true disciple used their talents as leverage to attract the sect's investment, focusing on the potential profits the talent could bring, while the sect ensured solid backing for the true disciple's advancement with its extensive resources.

A true disciple was more like the chairman of a subsidiary.

Both parties acquired what they needed, ensuring a mutually beneficial cooperation.

Nevertheless, the true disciples of the Nine Heavens Sect bore the responsibility of passing on the sect's legacy. While ordinary disciples might be exempt, any mishap involving a true disciple was viewed by the sect as an unforgivable betrayal.

After half a month, once the affairs of the Nine Cauldrons Sect...

Or rather, the Nine Heavens Sect were properly arranged, Li Qingshan, Li Hanqiu, and Alkaid gathered together once again.

...

"For the entire Northern Sea Star, the most critical aspect is resources," Li Qingshan shared the information he had. "The Cloudsoar Sword Sect, ruling over 36 cities east of Cloud River with over a million cultivators, derives its main income from three sources: taxation, plundering, and self-generated resources."

Li Qingshan mentioned, taking out a chart: "From taxation alone, they gather about 30,000 Mysterious Element Precious Pills annually. Their sect's own production is less than 10,000, with the remaining 40,000 or more elixirs resulting from plundering other forces."

"That's 80,000 Mysterious Element Precious Pills each year, or in other words, just over 60 Pure Yang Great Pills," Li Hanqiu added.

Such a ratio...

was low.

"Compared to the Mysterious Element Precious Pills, the ratio for Pure Yang Great Pills is about 1:1200. Primarily, Mysterious Element Precious Pills are used by mortals in Foundation Establishment, Unity Realm, and Core Formation. Some Heavenly Fire Realm cultivators opt for Mysterious Element Precious Pills as well due to cost-effectiveness, but in this world, Pure Yang Great Pills are the mainstream, especially from Foundation Establishment to Unity Realm. It's said just one Pure Yang Great Pill can properly balance a cultivator's essence, spirit, and energy, setting the foundation for advancing to the Unity Realm," Li Qingshan explained and paused, "Many in our Nine Cauldrons Sect... Nine Heavens Sect already have the foundation to advance to the Unity Realm. With enough Pure Yang Great Pills, we could probably have more than three thousand Unity Realm cultivators and several hundred Core Formation cultivators within a year."

Alkaid, who had used Pure Yang Great Pills and understood the Unity Realm thoroughly, nodded.

However, using Pure Yang Pills to complete the Unity Realm was overly extravagant; a Foundation Establishment cultivator could reach the peak of Foundation Establishment with a hundred or so Mysterious Element Precious Pills.

Although it would cost an extra year or two, many considered saving thousands of Mysterious Element Precious Pills in a couple of years a worthwhile deal.

"Resources are indeed essential on the path of cultivation, particularly in the Northern Sea Star with top-tier treasures like Pure Yang Great Pills and Void Dao Elixirs. Next, we need to quickly secure sufficient cultivation materials," Li Hanqiu stated.

"In fact, when I was organizing the information, I discovered another issue, one that might not be less troubling than the threat posed by Jiang Heavenly Venerable," Li Qingshan went on, glancing at Alkaid.

"What's the trouble?" Li Hanqiu asked.

"Heavenly Dao Sect," Li Qingshan responded gravely, "one of the Ten Great Immortal Paths."

He quickly continued, "The Combined Attack Divine Refining Formation exclusively for Heavenly Dao true disciples, practiced within our sect, is a secret technique that should only be available to the Heavenly Dao Sect. Any sect, particularly regarding their legacy, and especially true transmission legacies, takes serious offense to unauthorized learning and will retaliate with extreme measures..."

The kind of extreme measures in the Northern Sea Star...

could include annihilation.

Hearing this, Li Hanqiu also looked towards Alkaid, "Did you receive the legacy from the Heavenly Dao Sect back then?"

He then asked Li Qingshan another question, "And what about the Mysterious Origin Creation Technique?"

"I haven't found out much about the Mysterious Origin Creation Technique and the group behind it. Either this power doesn't belong to the top tier in the Northern Sea Star, or it's not even part of the Northern Sea Star," Li Qingshan replied.

"The style of the Mysterious Origin Creation Technique is upright and mild, which doesn't quite fit with the more aggressive Northern Sea Star; it likely comes from a top-tier legacy of a neighboring great world," Alkaid said, pausing momentarily. "But regardless of its origin, we obviously can't stop practicing it."

He looked at Li Hanqiu, "You've also reviewed the legacy of the Cloudsoar Sword Sect, and the refinement and stability of the Mysterious Origin Creation Technique isn't on the same level."@@novelbin@@

Li Hanqiu and Li Qingshan both nodded in agreement.

Especially Li Hanqiu, who had pondered over the entirety of the Mysterious Origin Creation Technique and had opened the Cloudsoar Sword Sect's manual, reputed to cultivate the Deep Blue Golden Core, only to be disappointed...

What rubbish.

"Therefore, we need to hold off on the Heavenly Dao Woeful Formation for as long as possible, keeping it hidden," Li Hanqiu suggested. "As for the Mysterious Origin Creation Technique, we'll make it seem like something else in the hope that by the time this so-called gathering group notices us, we'll have the strength to face the crisis."

"Yes, one must not refuse the gifts of Heaven! If we abandon top-tier methods due to potential risks, we can never aspire to be true powerhouses in our lifetime," Li Qingshan agreed with a nod.

"To enhance our strength, we must swiftly acquire resources, and the fastest way to obtain resources..."

Li Hanqiu said, pausing for a moment, "A characteristic of the Northern Sea Star... plundering!"

"We now need sufficient time to recuperate. Plundering, a method fraught with endless hidden dangers, is not suitable."

Alkaid said.

Li Hanqiu nodded.

He felt somewhat emotional.

Although there was enmity between Cloudsoar Sword Sect and them, it was understandable for them to seek revenge since a cultivator with a Crimson Red Golden Core from that sect had killed his fellow disciple, Qi Chixin.

But...

It did not justify annihilating their sect.

Yet, in the end, they still eradicated the entire Cloudsoar Sword Sect.

It was truly the harsh environment of the Northern Sea Star that forced their hand.

If you do not eliminate the roots, the spring breeze will bring them back to life again.

It could only be said that the brutality and competition of the Northern Sea Star transformed people into demons.

The survival of the fittest, moral decay.

Kind-hearted people simply cannot survive here; they would be completely devoured and even ridiculed in death as fools.

His fellow disciple, Qi Chixin, was the prime example.

"If we do not plunder, then we must rely on another method, bounty hunting."

Li Qingshan said, "We are near the Sea of Turmoil. The Sea of Turmoil, enveloped by constant terrifying storms and tsunamis, is inhospitable for ordinary cultivators. It shelters ruthless bandits and madmen. Dashang, Immortal Martial Sect, and even farther sects have issued many bounties. If we can eliminate one of the major bandit groups, we can not only obtain substantial spoils of war but also receive a significant bounty."

"The bounties of the Sea of Turmoil..."

Upon hearing this, Li Hanqiu seemed somewhat tempted.

In the Northern Sea Star, once one refines to the Hollow Void, they leap to the top echelons of the entire world, becoming a regional overlord.

Unless one is an irrational, anti-humanity extremist, even those on the Demonic Path who slaughter and raze cities, will still have demonic sects extending olive branches and invitations to join them.

They certainly have no need to flee to the Sea of Turmoil to hide.

With his capabilities...

As long as he was careful, it indeed seemed a good plan.

"The bounties of the Sea of Turmoil can be a backup option, but True Monarch, your most important task now is to fully refine the Domain Stabilizing Ring and stabilize your condition. Moreover..."

Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

Alkaid began, "The Sea of Turmoil, although rarely visited by Hollow Void experts, contains many extreme environments that can pose deadly threats to someone at Hollow Void. Currently, Nine Heavens Sect relies solely on you. If anything were to happen to you, the predicament of Nine Heavens Sect would become even graver. Therefore, we should use a relatively peaceful method to secure the first funds."

Saying this, he paused briefly. "If we really go for the bounty, then I shall be the one to go."

"You!? Impossible!"

Li Hanqiu immediately dismissed the idea, "Compared to me, you are the hope for Nine Cauldrons Sect to return to greatness one day. You must remain unharmed no matter what."

"How can one excel without experiencing hardships?"

Alkaid said calmly, "Life in the Cangwu Great World has been too comfortable; perhaps, True Monarch, you have forgotten that when I was in the Alkaid Realm, I also fought my way up step by step."

Li Hanqiu remembered the information they had obtained about Alkaid during his time in the Alkaid Realm. He hesitated for a moment, but still said, "I know you are capable, but compared to venturing out, I believe it's more important for you to quickly enhance your strength..."

"That's why I said we should first use a relatively peaceful method to secure the first funds," Alkaid said decisively. "Once I use this capital to advance my strength to a Crimson Red Golden Core, and even to a Sunburst Golden Core, ensuring that there is no threat to my life in the Sea of Turmoil, then it wouldn't be too late to accept the bounty."

After finishing, he glanced at Li Hanqiu, "The Nine Cauldrons Sect fell into this plight, and I must take certain responsibility. Therefore, I cannot let True Monarch Li shoulder the entire sect alone..."

"Don't talk like that."

Alkaid was interrupted by a wave of Li Hanqiu's hand before he could finish. "We are a whole, sharing both glory and hardships. There's no such thing as your responsibility or my responsibility. Those who can do more, those who can't do less—everyone is equal in dignity, each serving their duty for the glory and radiance of Nine Cauldrons Sect."

He looked at Alkaid and seemed to understand his determination and remorse.

Softening his tone slightly, he said, "If you really want to go for the bounty, I won't stop you, but you at least need the ability to save your life in the presence of a Deep Blue Golden Core before I can rest easy."

"I can."

Alkaid nodded slightly.

"What was the more peaceful method you mentioned earlier?"

Li Hanqiu asked.

"Sect Leader Li previously mentioned that sects of this world are extremely strict about locking down their own transmissions, leading to very few powerful divine powers being circulated outside, but I happen to have quite a few similar transmissions in my possession. Thus... my suggestion is to bring out some divine skills and sell them batch by batch. If all goes well, the first batch of Pure Yang Great Pills will be within reach,"

Alkaid said.

"Selling divine skills... this too comes with considerable risks."

Li Hanqiu said.

"In the Northern Sea Star, when is anything ever completely safe? Even if we stay indoors every day, can we live without worries? Sooner or later, a crisis will find its way to us!"

Alkaid said calmly, "The ethos of the Northern Sea Star is to strive. This principle runs through the hearts and wills of all cultivators here. Since we are in the Northern Sea Star, we must adopt the local customs."

As he spoke, he let out a slight breath, "Crises will occur, always. But I believe, as long as we grow fast enough, crises won't catch up to us. By the time crises arrive, if we are capable of resolving them with ease, we, then, are the crisis."