Free Web NovelChapter 237: Importance
In the Great Sun Sword Sect, Chi Songzi was once again summoned by the sect master.
By the time he arrived, Bai Shi, the hall master of the Heavenly Palace Hall, had already brought a group of subordinates and was delivering a report.
"The Nine Cauldrons Sect has completed a full upgrade of their spirit-gathering arrays. The techniques they are using surpass even the most advanced methods mastered by the Infinite Star Palace, so there's no need to mention other factions. According to information obtained by our agents who risked their lives to infiltrate their Energy Department, they have even developed third-generation level 7 spirit-gathering arrays! These arrays have allowed many previously unusable spiritual power nodes to be revitalized..." Bai Shi’s voice echoed through the hall.
But as Chi Songzi listened, his heart tightened with shock. Third-generation level 7 spirit-gathering arrays?!
As early as ten years ago, they had already learned that the Nine Cauldrons Sect had begun upgrading spirit-gathering arrays within their territory.
However, the Energy Department had always been heavily guarded. And it was impossible to understand the intricacies of array arts without being an array caster.
Moreover, the Nine Cauldrons Sect was already confirmed to possess a Dharma Form powerhouse. Although the Great Sun Sword Sect knew they were rebuilding their spirit-gathering arrays, they had never been able to determine the exact level. At most, they had assumed upgrades from level 4 to 5, or perhaps from level 5 to 6. But now, it seemed far beyond that.
"If I remember correctly, their restructuring began ten years ago. If we trace back further, to the period we failed to pay attention to, it may have started fifteen, sixteen, even seventeen or eighteen years ago. And if they already possess third-generation level 7 arrays, then third-generation level 6 and level 5 arrays must be well within their grasp..." Long Zechuan said.
Then he looked at Bai Shi. "Then tell me. Over these years, what has been the spirit stone output of the Nine Cauldrons Sect? And if we combine that massive production with all their exports of the Purple Firmament flying swords, seizing nearly one-third of the global market from the Infinite Star Palace over the past decade, how much wealth have they accumulated? With so much wealth converted into cultivation and infrastructure, how many late-stage Foundation Building cultivators have they produced? How complete is their defensive array system?"
Cold sweat instantly covered Bai Shi’s face. There was no need to calculate, as the number would be terrifying. Three hundred million? Likely more! It was estimated at three hundred and fifty million, but some figures put it at even four hundred and fifty million! That was something that only the Infinite Star Palace and the Immortal Alliance could match, far beyond any other top sect.
"What was our total spirit stone revenue last year?" Long Zechuan asked.
"Total production was two hundred and ten million, with forty-six million from foreign trade..." Bai Shi answered hurriedly.
"The Nine Cauldrons Sect achieved a hundred million in foreign trade alone, and no less than four hundred million in total production. And yet we, who aspire to dominate the Heavenly Star continent, have already been left far behind, while you, as hall master of the Heavenly Palace Hall, remain completely unaware..." Long Zechuan’s tone grew serious.
Bai Shi immediately bowed deeply. "My deepest apologies, Sect Master..."
"During the next Heavenly Palace personnel turnover, you will be stepping down from your current role. You will be reassigned to the East Sea Situation Perception Department, concurrently serving as chief of the Divine Fire Institute." As Long Zechuan spoke, he handed the report to an assistant. "Send this intelligence to the Infinite Star Palace’s Hall Master Jones."
"Understood." The assistant accepted the document and quickly departed.
Long Zechuan then turned his gaze to Chi Songzi. "You have been stationed in the East Sea, observing the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Do you know that they already have twenty elite battle institutes?"
"Twenty?" Chi Songzi froze for a moment, then quickly said, "T-That cannot be right. Their standard battle institutes have indeed increased over the years, and I heard they lowered some requirements and established so-called reserve institutes. But elite battle institutes... eight years ago, they added the Ganjiang Battle Institute, and three years ago the Moye Battle Institute, bringing the total to nine. Twenty? Where would they find so many late-stage Foundation Building great cultivators?"[1]
Long Zechuan said nothing. He simply pointed to a document. Chi Songzi stepped forward and read it. Cold sweat immediately streamed down his forehead.
The report clearly stated that half a year ago, one of the so-called reserve battle institutes, the Tiger Battle Institute, had conducted a near-real combat exercise against the veteran elite institute, the Divine Might Institute.
The result was forty to thirty-four. The Tiger Battle Institute had narrowly defeated the Divine Might Institute!
"H-How is that possible?! Wasn't that just a reserve unit?!" Chi Songzi was in shock.
There were twelve such reserve units. And according to the latest intelligence, the Nine Cauldrons Sect was planning to establish twelve more.
Within three years, they would have twenty-four reserve units. If each of them possessed strength comparable to the Divine Might Institute, that would be thirty-three powerful battle institutes!
A chill rose uncontrollably within Chi Songzi. "How could there be so many..."
In less than twenty years, the Nine Cauldrons Sect had expanded from five or six elite battle institutes to nearly thirty-three! It was unbelievable!
"And it’s not just their battle institutes. Over the past decade, they have also been mass-producing Sky Patrol Warships. Aside from the first-generation warship purchased from the Thousand-Beast Sect and our Spring Rain and Vajra, they have built four more in just over a decade: the Jizhou, the Qingzhou, the Yangzhou, and the Xuzhou. And the latest warship nearing completion, the Shenzhou..." Long Zechuan's expression turned grim. "That one is suspected to be a fourth-generation Sky Patrol Warship!"[2]
"A fourth-generation warship!?" Chi Songzi was stunned.
"That’s impossible... Our Vajra barely qualifies as a third-generation warship. Even if they studied our technology, producing third-generation warships within a decade would already be the limit. How could they innovate further and develop fourth-generation technology, something only the Infinite Star Palace currently possesses?!" He racked his brain but found no explanation.
"It likely has something to do with the new system they’ve been promoting," Long Zechuan said solemnly. "That system... is not simple. It likely originates from a complete inheritance from the North Sea."
"The North Sea inheritance?!" As deputy hall master of the Warfare Hall, Chi Songzi had heard of the North Sea’s legacy.
It was no exaggeration to say that all modern cultivation systems originated from there. But due to the urgency at the time, only fragments had been transmitted, mainly attack-focused methods, resulting in many specialists who focused everything on one extreme.
"We are in the midst of a once-in-a-century upheaval, and in this upheaval, our Great Sun Sword Sect is at a disadvantage. In such a situation, relying on ourselves to turn the tide is no longer realistic. The only option is to seek allies," Long Zechuan said calmly. "I have already sent this information regarding the North Sea inheritance to the Infinite Star Palace. Now, we wait for their decision."
Chi Songzi suddenly looked up at his sect master. Sending all this intelligence to the Infinite Star Palace... Is the sect master giving up on our dream of ruling the Heavenly Star Continent, and instead deciding to fully align with the Infinite Star Palace?
"Time is running out," Long Zechuan said with regret. "Only a little over twenty years remain. Future competition among the top sects will no longer be so gentle. If we had defeated and annexed the Nine Cauldrons Sect more than a decade ago, we might still have had a chance... But now, our strength, territory, and influence have all declined... Even the sacred son failed to form his Golden Core..."
Chi Songzi felt a surge of sorrow. Their most promising genius, the sacred son, once believed to have the greatest chance of achieving the Golden Core, had fallen just like those before him. This news was still hidden from many, but most higher-ups had already heard of this. This blow had forced their sect master to make his decision.
***
Elsewhere, Jones quickly reviewed the intelligence report sent by the Great Sun Sword Sect.
The report used detailed charts and data to depict the current strength of the Nine Cauldrons Sect and, most importantly, its growth curve!
Fifteen years ago, the growth curve had turned nearly vertical, its slope approaching ninety degrees as it shot skyward. Talent, economy, and military strength all rose explosively. In just fifteen years, they had grown to a level capable of threatening the Infinite Star Palace.
After receiving this report and comparing it with their own data, which was less detailed than the Great Sun Sword Sect's, Jones broke out in a cold sweat. He immediately reported the matter to the Palace Master, Chuan Yunhai.
Chuan Yunhai convened his advisors for three days and nights. Afterward, he met with Lin Deng, Luo Fu, and those elites of the Infinite Star Palace who possessed a stable Golden Core.
Following intense discussions, they finally realized that a new challenger was rising. They had to immediately mobilize all available power, suppressing the Nine Cauldrons Sect's growth before it could become a threat.
Not long after, a shocking announcement spread across the world. The Infinite Star Palace officially acknowledged its strategic failure on the Black Flame Continent, declaring it was withdrawing from the battle against the Black Feather Sect.
1. Fun fact: Ganjiang and Moye are both names of two famous swords in ancient China. ☜
2. The names of all the new warships come from the "nine provinces" of ancient China, with Shenzhou referring to the whole of ancient China itself. ☜
