Modern World's Martial Dao Human Immortal

Chapter 154 The Gift

"Realm Master."

Alkaid was somewhat astonished to hear what Xiang Tianheng had said.

The Nine Cauldrons Sect was extremely sensitive to territory.

It related to the strategic direction of the Nine Cauldrons Sect.

After all, there were inevitably other remnants of the Artifact Sect in the world. If these individuals emerged claiming to be the orthodox Artifact Sect and seized territories that originally belonged to the Artifact Sect, it would surely lead to incessant turmoil.

Thus, their claim to any territory formerly owned by the Artifact Sect was unyielding, and they were extremely aggressive about it.

Whenever they discovered anyone daring to claim a mountain as their own, they would obliterate them with a thunderous and overwhelming force.

Even now, when they clearly lacked the capacity to annex the East Sea Archipelago and the Hundred Thousand Mountains—indeed, being dragged down by these two places to the extent of having to invest a massive amount of manpower and resources every year—the Nine Cauldrons Sect had never once compromised on their claim of ownership to these lands.

It was the fundamental building block upon which the Nine Cauldrons Sect was established.

Under these circumstances, the Nine Cauldrons Sect was actually willing to gift him this Subordinate World that also originally belonged to the Artifact Sect, to become his private territory, and to appoint him as the master of an entire realm.

Such treatment was exceedingly rare.

Compared to territorial ownership, the inherent value of a Subordinate World itself was nothing special.

"Congratulations, Realm Master Alkaid," Xiang Tianheng said with a smile.

After pondering for a bit, Alkaid ultimately decided to accept this gift.

Perhaps the value of a world was insignificant, but this world, after all, held special significance for him.

Moreover, the Su Family...

The Su Family had taken root in that world and had spread their branches wide.

A world was also their territory as well as a route of retreat.

Alkaid accepted the information and nodded, "Thank you."

"It's what you deserve," the smile on Xiang Tianheng's face grew even warmer. "Apart from this small gift, we've also brought an order for Chief Alkaid."

He handed another document to Alkaid.

Alkaid glanced at it, "A thousand Purple Cloud 12 Modified Type Flying Swords? A procurement price of 1,800 Spirit Stones?"

At this procurement price, the profit margin for Purple Cloud Courtyard would only be around 12%.

"We know the procurement price is a bit low, but... the procurement department's budget for the year has already been spent..." Xiang Tianheng said, pointing to a set of numbers on the document, "As compensation to Chief Alkaid, we are willing to sell the raw materials required to refine the flying swords at cost to Purple Cloud Courtyard."

Alkaid looked at it.

Purified minerals, engraved Formation Patterns, preliminarily refined components...

The prices were indeed a lot lower.

After a quick calculation, the final profit for the Purple Cloud 12 Modified would soar to over 18%.

Higher than the profits from the Purple Cloud 12.

"We understand the difficulties of the Flying Sword Division, a procurement price of 1,800 Spirit Stones is enough," Alkaid promptly agreed.

"They're very interested in the tactical concept you proposed for the Purple Cloud 12 Modified, so they hope you can quickly produce a batch of improved flying swords. Sect Master Zhao plans to deploy them in the Eastern Sea battlefield to test this tactic," Xiang Tianheng said.

"Oh? They're planning to implement it so quickly?" Alkaid was slightly surprised.

The tactic he proposed was quite different from conventional ones.

"In fact, this tactic has already been incorporated into the layout of the Limitless Star Palace, and their arrangement is even more comprehensive. It's not just about Sword Cultivators and Flying Swords; later on, Technique Cultivators and Formations will be used to complete the combat system, achieving multilayered strikes with compatibility.

Therefore, they've already discussed that compatibility, composite battlefields would be the main form of sect combat in the future," Xiang Tianheng's expression became slightly solemn: "The era of cultivators fighting alone or forming combat teams has passed.

Whoever can't keep up with the new future that the composite combat system represents will be eliminated in the upcoming competition among sects..."

As he spoke, he seemed a bit helpless: "And the three most important cornerstones of the composite combat system—Divine Cultivators, Formations, and Artifact Refining... we haven't been able to keep up with the world's forefront in any of these areas."

The only thing the Nine Cauldrons Sect could boast about at the moment was Body Cultivation.

Of course, there was also the Golden Core that had survived from the era of the Artifact Sect.

If it weren't for these factors, the Nine Cauldrons Sect, unlike the Great Sun Sword Sect and with far less strength, but occupying several times more territory, would have long been compelled to defend a single location.

Alkaid nodded after hearing this.

As times developed, relevant tactics would naturally progress with them.

In just a few hundred years, the cultivation system of the Cangwu Great World had moved from Ancient Cultivation to a new era of cultivation, and it was now transitioning from the new era of cultivation to the era of Dual Cultivation of complexity.

A monumental change not seen in a millennium.

At the side, Zhao Siliang glanced at Alkaid, and after pondering for a moment, he said, "Speaking of which, there isn't much time left for us... As the representative overseeing the Cangwu Alliance of the ten Immortal Sects... there is no longer a 'ten' Immortal Sects, but the Cangwu Alliance Conference established to counter the Moon Demon Empire still exists to this day.

According to its internal consultation, more than half of the Golden Cores... have tacitly agreed to unify the Cangwu Great World through combat below the Golden Core Realm, in order to gather all of Cangwu's forces to face future crises similar to the Moon Demon Empire."

Alkaid's heart stirred upon hearing this.

As his identity and status ascended, he naturally came into contact with the current situation of the Cangwu Great World.

In the Five Directions Continent, with the exception of the Streaming Light Continent where the Limitless Star Palace stood unrivaled, the remaining four continents were in perpetual strife.

The Sunburst Continent's Myriad Beasts Sect and Immortal Alliance, the Cold Moon Continent's Supreme Yin Sect and Heavenly Law Pavilion, the Black Flame Continent's Golden Temple, and many other large and medium-sized sects.

As for the Heavenly Star Continent where the Nine Cauldrons Sect is located, there's no need to say much—it's never at peace.

The Nine Cauldrons Sect is at war with the Great Sun Sword Sect, Star Sea Sect, Primordial Yang Sect, Dayue Dynasty, Xuanming Sect, and Ancient Immortal Sect in the East Sea Archipelago.

Heading towards the direction of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, the Brahma Heavenly Kingdom, Supreme Mystery Dynasty, and White Jade Sect are also in an endless dispute.

It's the same with the Nine Cauldrons Sect; the others Sects are not too different.

The Brahma Heavenly Kingdom is fighting for orthodoxy with the Brahma Sect and Brahma Heaven Sect to the point of no return, while the Primordial Yang Sect, due to disputes between the sword and technique paths, has also split into two. White Jade Sect is plagued by warring factions, with ceaseless internal conflict.

Regarding those of greater distance, there's even less need to say much.

The only difference is the intensity of the conflicts.

He originally thought that this was the turbulence and reshuffling brought about by the end of the Moon Demon Empire's war, but now it seems...

That might not be the case.

"All Six Great Immortal Sects aspire to become the lord of Cangwu, confronting each other sharply. Some large Sects are also not willing to fall behind, taking advantage of situations from both sides, while small and medium-sized Sects are content to act as pawns, taking early sides in hopes of getting a share in the future situation..."

Zhao Siliang spoke up to this point, emphatically saying, "Small and medium-sized Sects can become pawns, but for large Sects, and even forces at the level of the ten great Immortal Sects that still hold a seat in the Cangwu Alliance, there's no room for retreat. We must become stronger.

Only by strengthening ourselves can we deter the surrounding jackals, preventing them from making rash moves, and allow for peaceful development, so as not to end up like Quicksand Sect, Yang Divine Sect, and Pill Sect—divided and devoured, completely annihilated."

Xiang Tianheng, seeing the atmosphere becoming heavy, chuckled and said, "Our Nine Cauldrons Sect is not like those forces of Quicksand Sect; our Sect's foundation is not as simple as it appears."

While speaking, he glanced at Alkaid again, "However, if you really can pull off this combat system, the entire Flying Sword Division will have to thank you."

Alkaid nodded, "I will do my best."

"Haha, then we await your good news," said Xiang Tianheng, casting a glance at Zhao Siliang and Zhang Jianlin.

The quick-witted Zhang Jianlin immediately said, "Masters Yun Lai and Wei Yan, please take Sect Master Zhao for another tour through the production workshop. We are very curious about how the Purple Cloud Courtyard's production efficiency can reach such levels.

According to the scale of your four Master Artifact Refiners and a hundred high-rank Artifact Refiners, theoretically, you could produce a hundred and eighty Flying Swords per month..."

In the midst of speaking, he and Zhao Siliang led the unrelated parties and left.

The others seemed to understand that Xiang Tianheng had other matters to instruct Alkaid about, and followed suit accordingly.

Only when everyone had departed did Xiang Tianheng take out a jade box from his person.

"This is something that the Hall Master personally asked me to deliver to you. Open it and take a look," he said with a smile.

Alkaid, puzzled, took the jade box and opened it.

Inside the box was a nearly transparent elixir, within which a purple, nebula-like circular flow continuously swirled.

Alkaid's mind and spirit were merely touched by this purple light, and he felt an urge for his Divine Sense to surge and his Primordial Spirit to fully coalesce.

"This isn't good!"

For a moment, Alkaid, paying no heed to anything else, forcefully suppressed his Divine Sense, afraid that he might accidentally reach a breakthrough.

Fortunately, as Xiang Tianheng had walked the path of Qi Refinement and was not a Primordial Spirit Cultivator, he only felt the surge of Alkaid's Divine Sense, incredibly potent, but didn't understand what was actually happening to him. He even thought the effect of the elixir had given Alkaid some insight into his Divine Refinement cultivation.

He laughed and replied, "This is a Divine Transformation Pill. Your foundation is even thicker than I had anticipated. With this pill, I reckon it won't take long for you to condense your Primordial Spirit and step into the Great Cultivator stage!"

Alkaid did not speak, instead focusing on controlling his Realm to avoid a breakthrough.

"Phew!"

After a while, he managed to press down that state of mind and spirit.

As he looked at the elixir he had "sealed" again with the box, he said somewhat helplessly, "Sect... why would you give me such... such a precious elixir?"

"Artifact Sect Grandmaster Dong Liu has thoroughly researched your design plan. Your design philosophy for this Flying Sword is exceedingly advanced. He estimates that the key reason you weren't able to refine it into a Magical Treasure lies in your Cultivation.

Once you can make another breakthrough in your Divine Refinement Realm, your Artifact Refining skills will also improve, allowing you to refine a Treasure and become a true Master Artifact Refiner," Xiang Tianheng explained.

The Nine Cauldrons Sect had no shortage of capable people.

But...

Now, he didn't want it.

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However, to refuse a Divine Transformation Pill seemed illogical, and even though the Nine Cauldrons Sect was currently quite amicable with him, that did not mean he was willing to reveal his greatest secret.

Even if that was the way to maximize his benefits.

Ultimately, it was his sense of insecurity driving him.

What he sought on this journey was exactly that—a sense of security.

"Let me delay it a bit longer..."

Alkaid contemplated.

At the very least, he wanted to raise his Martial Path to Star God and his Divine Path to Dharma Phase before considering it.

"Please convey my thanks to Hall Master Xu and tell him I appreciate it," said Alkaid.

"Haha, don't worry, I'll pass on the message," said Xiang Tianheng. Taking out another bag, he continued, "This is a personal reward from our Artifact Refining Hall. It's not much, but it's a token of our appreciation. I hope you won't find it unsatisfactory."

Alkaid, seeing the bag taken out, was struck with a thought, "This is...?"

"A Storage Bag," said Xiang Tianheng with a nod.

Alkaid's face broke into a smile.

The Storage Bags of the Cangwu Great World were no ordinary tools; each was a Treasure-Level artifact, and the larger ones with significant space were even considered strategic assets.

Compared to the Divine Transformation Pill, Alkaid was more satisfied with this Storage Bag.