In the afternoon, Yaoguang met with the artifact refiners of the institute. When they first saw him, a stir went through the crowd. However, those displeased voices were silenced the moment he manifested his primordial psyche form... Even though everyone could see that this primordial psyche was somewhat faint, there was no denying that it was a primordial psyche.

In the current environment of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, psyche cultivators carried the most weight. With this display, the difficulty of requesting funding from superiors would decrease by more than just one level; anyone would give at least a little bit of face to a future great cultivator who would certainly reach the Primordial Psyche Realm. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

After gaining the approval of all the refiners, Yaoguang instructed them to focus on the research and development of aesthetic flying swords, while he threw himself into the development of the Purple Firmament series and the Immortal Shadow 60 series.

One month later, the Immortal Shadow 60 series flying sword was finalized. Compared to the original Immortal Shadow 50 series, the new Immortal Shadow 60 not only saw its spiritual energy consumption drop to 91, but its maximum flight speed also increased to 510 meters per second. Although its offensive capabilities had declined, refined artifact-level flying swords were mostly used for practice, much like small trainer aircraft; they were rarely sent onto a real battlefield.

Furthermore, the stability coefficient of the Immortal Shadow 60 had improved significantly compared to its predecessor, greatly reducing the possibility of danger in complex environments. Combined with its excellent protection, balance, and operating systems, the sword was much easier to handle, making it suitable for all ages. Even sword cultivators at the fifth or sixth realm of qi refinement could summon the sword and soar straight into the blue sky.

***

The headquarters of the Immortal Shadow Institute was located in Nine Heavens City. It was a towering, vertical peak shaped like a greatsword. The peak had been created after the chief of the institute invited a great spell cultivator who had mastered the Mountain-Moving Technique to collect and solidify rocks from a thousand kilometers away, forge them, and then relocate the mountain to Nine Heavens City after laying down array arts.

Although it was a mountain moved from elsewhere, it was covered in clusters of flowers and surrounded by greenery. Antique buildings were dotted along its base, perfectly illustrating the harmony between man and nature. By now, the peak had become a famous landmark in Nine Heavens City.

On an open-air platform spanning thousands of square meters at the summit, high-tier refiners, high-tier cultivators, and high-tier martial artists were gathered together, raising their glasses to celebrate the launch of the Immortal Shadow 60 series.

As the outside consultant who deserved the most credit, Yaoguang had also been invited, allowing him to encounter the upper social circles of the Nine Heavens Domain, even if just briefly.

Yaoguang was accompanied by Qin Yadong, a special-level professor, as well as Yun Lai, the chief artifact-refinement master of the Immortal Shadow Artifact Refinement Institute. Knowing that Yaoguang was unfamiliar with the local circles, Qin Yadong constantly introduced the influential figures present.

"That one is the city lord of Nine Heavens City. He is one of the most outstanding true disciples of our Nine Cauldrons Sect, a figure who has established his Dao Foundation. After transitioning to civil service, he served as the deputy city lord and was promoted to city lord three years ago."

"Beside the city lord is a presiding elder from the main sect. He is not just any minor elder, but an elder of the main sect who sits on the Council of Elders. He oversees all appointments related to the Nine Cauldrons Sect within the jurisdiction of Nine Heavens City."

"That man is Zhao He, the hall master of a side branch's Warfare Hall. He is one of the top three sword cultivators in the entire Nine Heavens Domain. His Nine Heavens Streaming Light Sword Art is perfected to a supernatural degree. It is said that when he erupts with full power, his flying sword’s maximum speed can reach a hundred times the speed of sound."

Qin Yadong introduced them one by one. When he mentioned that Zhao He’s sword speed reached a hundred times the speed of sound, Yaoguang could not help but glance at him.

That single look seemed to be sensed by the hall master of the Warfare Hall. He smiled at Yaoguang, quickly greeted Qin Yi nearby, and walked straight toward him.

"This must be Chief Yaoguang, the man we have to thank for the optimization of the Immortal Shadow 60," Zhao He said with a smile. "Because of my patrols in the East Sea, I wasn't able to meet you immediately. I felt quite regretful about it, but I'm glad to finally meet you in person."

"Hall Master Zhao," Yaoguang greeted him in return.

After they exchanged pleasantries, Zhao He pointed to the side. "Let's go over there to talk."

Yaoguang was unsure of the reason, but seeing Qin Yi signaling to him from the side, he nodded.

"Master Yun Lai, please join us as well." As they spoke, the group moved to an area shimmering with light. This area was divided by booths, and every scratch on the floor acted as part of a mid-sized sound-insulating array. Conversations inside could not travel beyond certain marked lines, making it the best kind of private area for confidential exchanges that wouldn't arouse suspicion.

Once they were seated, Zhao He said with admiration, "Chief Yaoguang’s work on optimizing the Immortal Shadow 60 series has reached the world's top standards. Even the Great Sun Sword Sect, or the Infinite Star Palace and the Immortal Alliance, would not dare claim they could achieve what you have with an eighth-tier flying sword."

"You flatter me. I can only show off with refined-artifact-level swords. I am of no use when it comes to mid- or high-end spirit-artifact-level flying swords."

"Chief Yaoguang is too modest." Zhao He shook his head and then continued, "You must have heard about the Xuanming Sect seizing our Nine Cauldrons Sect's Posuo Island, right?"

Yaoguang nodded.

"To handle that situation, we deployed twenty-four sword cultivators and sixteen spell cultivators to patrol Posuo Island, with over a hundred body cultivators stationed on Longquan Island to ensure total security." Zhao He’s tone grew slightly solemn. "Even so, the two sects almost came to blows."

Yaoguang knew that the sword, body, and spell cultivators mentioned by Zhao He were, without exception, all great cultivators. Hundreds of great cultivators in a standoff; the danger of the situation was easy to imagine.

"But in the end, we chose restraint," Zhao He said deeply. "The Xuanming Sect is nothing, but on the East Sea's islands, there are also cultivators from the Great Sun Sword Sect and the Great Yue Dynasty. Especially..." He paused for a moment. "Behind the Xuanming Sect, there seems to be some influence of the Infinite Star Palace."

The Infinite Star Palace?! At those words, not only did a native artifact-refinement master like Yun Lai react, but even Yaoguang’s expression changed slightly.

The Infinite Star Palace was one of the most powerful forces in the current Great Cangwu World!

Sixteen years earlier, the Infinite Star Palace had annihilated the Quicksand Sect, which boasted six thousand star lords, sweeping over them like an unstoppable tide. That had forced the dissolution of the Northern Alliance led by the Thousand-Beast Sect, and since then, no single sect in the world had been able to contend with them.

It was that very battle that served as a brutal wake-up call for the Nine Cauldrons Sect. They realized the vital importance of the synergy between sword cultivators and psyche cultivators in high-intensity assaults. They recognized that the world had entered an era of multi-directional, multi-professional coordinated warfare. Without the strength to counter enemy sword cultivators, no matter how many body cultivators one possessed, they were nothing more than sitting ducks. They would be eliminated from hundreds or even thousands of kilometers away without ever laying eyes on their opponents.

After all, the Quicksand Sect was quite similar to the Nine Cauldrons Sect; both belonged to the category of sects that believed their sheer number of body cultivators justified a narrow focus on expanding that particular strength. Setting aside the Golden Core ancestor who presided outside the great world to oversee the big picture, the Nine Cauldrons Sect of sixteen years ago was not significantly stronger than the Quicksand Sect. If the Infinite Star Palace could wipe out a great sect like that in a single month, the fate of the Nine Cauldrons Sect would likely have been no different at the time.

"Why would the Infinite Star Palace turn its gaze toward the East Sea's islands? Aren't they busy suppressing the Northern Alliance led by the Thousand-Beast Sect?" Yun Lai could not help but ask.

"They are likely positioning their chess pieces," Zhao He said with a cold laugh. "Among the current Ten Great Immortal Sects, the Northern Alliance has already collapsed. The Immortal Alliance, the Lunar Sect, and the Dharma Heaven Pavilion have all joined the feast to carve up the remains of the North. Meanwhile, the Golden Temple is a business partner of the Infinite Star Palace. Among the remaining four Great Immortal Sects, the only one that poses a threat is our Nine Cauldrons Sect."

The remaining Pill Sect, God-Fiend Hall, and Yang Psyche Sect had already become history, vanishing even more completely than the Artifact Sect.

"Is the Infinite Star Palace planning to unify the Great Cangwu World?" Yun Lai's heart grew heavy.

"Haven't they been working toward that goal ever since the war ended?" Zhao He said, answering Yun Lai's question with another one.

The original Artifact Sect was also a member of the Northern Alliance, but following its downfall, the newly established Nine Cauldrons Sect did not associate with them. However, they couldn't be sure that the Infinite Star Palace saw it that way. In any case, by setting up a pawn like the Xuanming Sect to oppose the Nine Cauldrons Sect, they had nothing to lose.

"Just because of the Infinite Star Palace, are we simply going to endure the matter of Posuo Island?" Qin Yadong, standing nearby, could not resist asking.

"Of course not." Zhao He smiled. "If great cultivators take action, it will cause the conflict to escalate, potentially leading to an all-out war between the two sects. We naturally do not fear the Xuanming Sect itself, but we must guard against wolves like the Infinite Star Palace, the Great Sun Sword Sect, the Star Sea Sect, the Ancient Immortal Sect, and the Great Yue Dynasty. Therefore, it is best to keep the intensity of the combat within an appropriate range."

"By controlling the intensity of the conflict, you mean..."

"Limit it to the scope of high-tier cultivators." Zhao He nodded. "The Xuanming Sect knows they are merely pawns of the Infinite Star Palace, so they also don't dare completely burn their bridges with us. Otherwise... While the Infinite Star Palace might support them, we could easily annihilate the Xuanming Sect before the Infinite Star Palace finishes carving up the North and manages to free up its hands."

The group found this reasoning sound. The Nine Cauldrons Sect might be unable to do anything against the Infinite Star Palace, and it might even be at a disadvantage against a large-scale sect like the Great Sun Sword Sect, but if they truly committed to action, crushing the Xuanming Sect would not be a difficult task.

"The East Sea is mostly made up of open water and scattered clusters of islands. It is difficult for body cultivators to display their strength there, and even spell cultivators are quite restricted. Furthermore, this kind of conflict is all about efficiency; one must strike the target and retreat far away instantly. There is no room for hesitation. Therefore, sword cultivators, with their superior damage and assault capabilities, are the most suitable!" Zhao He explained.

"Psyche cultivators for detection, and sword cultivators for the sudden strike," Yun Lai added.

The battle in which the Infinite Star Palace annihilated the Quicksand Sect in one month had already made the world realize the true combined tactics of psyche, sword, spell, and body cultivators.

"However, the biggest problem currently is that the East Sea is too vast, spanning 150,000 kilometers," Zhao He said with a sigh. "This battle is destined to last for a significant amount of time. If we have sword cultivators patrolling an area of that size long-term, the required amount of spirit stones every year would be astronomical."

He continued with a grave expression, "Although Posuo Island is our territory and is essentially priceless, the sect must consider whether it is truly worth investing a hundred thousand, or possibly even hundreds of thousands, spirit stones for this battle."

"Hall Master Zhao, you're saying...?" Lai Yun asked.

"We need a new type of flying sword!" Zhao He stated directly. "A spirit artifact that combines high speed with low energy consumption!"

He paused for a moment before adding, "Word from the main branch says that if anyone can design a flying sword that meets these requirements, the main branch will not only provide a private reward of no less than one thousand spirit stones but will also place an order of at least three thousand flying swords."