Yaoguang was taken aback. "Deputy hall master?!"

After all, Xu Qiexing wasn’t referring to a side branch’s deputy hall master, but the main branch’s. The position almost rivaled that of a domain-lord-level existence. Moreover, two halls at once? With such an exalted status, the cost of manpower tied to him would likely increase again.

He immediately waved his hand. "Hall Master Xu, Hall Master Gao, this is so unnecessary. I’m simply doing what I should as a sect member. Besides, didn’t we agree on a 30% share of the profits from the improved arrays? I am already satisfied as it is. Any more than that would be greedy. Human desire is insatiable. Please withdraw this decision."

Then, he turned to Tang Fenghua. "Go inform the sect master, I didn’t help for the sake of promotion or rewards. If people see me getting promoted repeatedly after a little success, who would still focus on researching new technology?"

Xu Qiexing and Gao Shenghan turned solemn. They had never expected Yaoguang to possess such a high level of awareness. Even the position of deputy hall master failed to move him. They found his loftiness touching.

In fact, thanks to countless people like him, the nearly collapsed Artifact Sect was rebuilt into the Nine-Cauldron Sect in just eighty years.

The two even saw the shadow of Li Hanqiu in Yaoguang. Both worked quietly, making contributions to the sect without fanfare. The only difference was that Li Hanqiu provided military security, while Yaoguang was leading the entire sect to rapidly overtake others in production and economics. Their sect could never allow such a heroic figure to be taken for granted.

Xu Qiexing said solemnly, "We know that you don’t care about position and external titles, but when anyone makes contributions to the sect, the sect must respond accordingly. We must be clear about rewards and punishments, keeping channels for advancement open.

"This is the foundation for a sect to grow and prosper. If we can’t even reward merit, how are we supposed to establish trust among all of our members, allowing them to focus on their work?"

Yaoguang understood Xu Qiexing’s meaning. It was the moral of the story of Zigong redeeming a compatriot. If he refused rewards in order to preserve his ideals, then what about others in the future? Wouldn’t they be forced to follow his example to avoid being branded as fame-seeking hypocrites?[1]

However, Yaoguang’s refusal had nothing to do with loftiness. After a long pause, he said, "Due to my circumstances, I have to keep a low profile...”

Liang Qiu smiled. "Worry not, we have handled this matter discreetly. Otherwise, with the tremendous merit you’ve earned, one of us hall masters would probably have had to step down and make way."

Yaoguang felt somewhat wistful. When he had first learned about the Nine-Cauldron Sect, Zong Yan had told him that high positions were occupied by gifted ones. At first, he thought that was just promotional rhetoric. He never expected the sect to genuinely implement the system.

It made him wonder. They were already granting him such a position after he had only improved the level 5 spirit-gathering array and shown he could improve a level 6 one.

What would happen if he improved a level 7 spirit-gathering array? Would he become a hall master and a deputy sect master? Then wouldn’t setting up level 8 or even level 9 arrays force Li Qingshan to abdicate?

Of course, as the sect founder, Li Qingshan’s prestige and standing were far beyond what any hall master or deputy sect master could compare to. If Yaoguang truly wished to replace him, even everyone’s support and the status of a level 9 array caster probably wouldn’t be enough.

Still, judging from their attitude in handling these matters, the Nine-Cauldron Sect left him with a fairly good impression. Besides, fame and status were not things that would disappear simply because he refused them. Once the Nine-Cauldron Sect offered him such treatment, it meant his weight within the sect had risen.

In the end, Yaoguang nodded. "I will humbly accept it.”

"Good."

Everyone smiled.

Immediately afterward, Xu Qiexing and Gao Shenghan conducted a brief promotion ceremony for Yaoguang. His title was changed from chief of the Purple Firmament Institute and the Sea Guardian Institute to deputy master of the Artifact Refinement Hall and the Profound Array Hall.

"Congratulations, Hall Master Yaoguang."

"Such a rate of advancement is unprecedented. From a branch-level institute chief to sect-level, then leading two key institutes, and now deputy hall master of two main sect halls..."

"It is well deserved. The faster the promotion, the more it proves your excellence, Hall Master Yaoguang."

Everyone spoke in succession, and Yaoguang also responded modestly.

After the procedural matters were mostly completed, Liang Qiu stepped forward and produced two items: a piece of calligraphy personally written by Li Qingshan and a palm-sized array disk. Within the disk was a pigeon-egg-sized star compressed countless times over.

At the side, Zhao Siliang seemed to realize something and exclaimed, "Is that the Stellar Soul?!"

Liang Qiu smiled. "Yes, this is indeed the spirit treasure, the Stellar Soul."

Yaoguang exclaimed, "A spirit treasure?!"

He did not know much about the Stellar Soul, but those words alone were enough for him to understand how precious this item was. Three hundred years ago, every spirit treasure was considered a foundational existence, capable of oppressing an entire sect. It was one of the most important elements for strengthening a sect’s foundation.

The value of any spirit treasure usually started at 10 million spirit stones. Some powerful ones were priced at one or even several hundred million. Moreover, before the spirit-gathering array had been improved, the average annual spirit stone output of the Ten Great Immortal Sects had been only around 150 million. After deducting cultivation expenses and daily consumption, a sect’s disposable spirit stones amounted to at most 30 to 50 million.

At the same time, modern spirit treasures were mostly first-generation items. Under the impact of third- and fourth-generation high-grade treasured artifacts, their value had declined somewhat. Nevertheless, they were still firmly in the 10-million-spirit-stone bracket. And now, Liang Qiu was taking out such a supreme treasure.

The man explained, "The Stellar Soul has two primary functions. When refined by a body cultivator into themselves, it can greatly accelerate the condensation progress of the god-fiend body.

"The strength of a body cultivator comes from their compatibility with the stellar force field. Said compatibility increases with time. This was why some body cultivators stayed in one place for years to better understand the surrounding stellar force field. Under such an augmentation, not even the full strike of sword cultivators of the same realm can shake that stellar force field in the slightest."

He looked at the Stellar Soul. "This spirit treasure can help the body cultivator enter that state of compatibility quickly."

Yaoguang’s eyes lit up. "Quickly enter a stellar force field state?"

This kind of ability could greatly enhance the safety of any star lord.

"Appointing you as deputy master is not enough to express our gratitude for your contributions. Therefore, we have decided to give this spirit treasure to you. I hope you will like it," Liang Qiu said.

This time, Yaoguang did not refuse at all. He accepted the spirit treasure with a broad smile. "I like it very much. Extremely so."

Considering that his Refiner branch progress had surpassed 80%, and that he was likely not far from being able to refine spirit treasures himself, he used this opportunity to lay some groundwork.

"Nice timing. Lately, I’ve been trying to make a breakthrough in the path of artifact refinement. I need to study some extremely high-level items. This spirit treasure isn’t a flying sword, but the path is ultimately interconnected in all its transformations."

The others exchanged glances and could not help but exclaim inwardly, “He didn’t care about power and status, denying promotions after promotions. Yet when faced with a spirit treasure that can benefit his skills, he is visibly delighted. With such passion for the path of artifact refinement, it's no wonder he has achieved such astonishing accomplishments at such a young age!”

Gao Shenghan stepped forward. "Next time, I will bring my people to learn the improved level 5 spirit-gathering array from you. Several of them, myself included, are somewhat proficient in the level 6 spirit-gathering array. I hope we can have a thorough exchange with you.”

Yaoguang glanced at him. "Of course."

Even the arrival of the Profound Array Hall’s master was timely. Yaoguang could take this opportunity to introduce the level 6 spirit-gathering array. As for the level 7 spirit-gathering array, he would have to hold off for a while.

The Nine-Cauldron Sect had no array casters capable of setting up a level 7 spirit-gathering array. Even if he introduced it, he would have to set it up himself. Unlike artifact refinement, array setup was often an immense and exceedingly complex undertaking, especially a level 7 one. It’d probably take him three to five years to set it up.

It would be better to wait until these people had become proficient in setting up the improved level 6 spirit-gathering array, then guide them to break through. Once their level rose, it would not be too late to introduce the level 7 spirit-gathering array.

Afterward, with You Qianshan acting as host, Yaoguang and the hall masters enjoyed a generous feast together. That night, Yaoguang returned to his residence once more.

Instead of studying the Stellar Soul, the first thing he did was peer at the ancient tree within himself. Looking at the massive amount of experience accumulated on the Merchant branch, a smile appeared on his face.

Very good. The manpower cost has increased, but fortunately, it is only a deputy hall master position, so the increase is not too excessive. The boost brought by a spirit treasure...

His gaze swept across the four branches of Array Caster, Refiner, Martial Dao, and Psyche Dao. It was time to make a choice.

1. The story of Zigong redeeming a compatriot is a story told by Confucius. In short, it tells the story of Zigong, who rescued a compatriot and refused rewards. This made others ashamed to accept it, which reduced the number of people rescuing their fellow citizens. ☜