The Modern Martial Immortal

The cultivation method Yaoguang chose to hand over to the Nine Cauldrons Sect was called the Primordial Creation Art. It originated from an organization known as the Creation Group.

Compared to the Heavenly Dao Sword Will he had chosen for himself, which came from the Heavenly Dao Sect, the Primordial Creation Art was neutral and balanced, possessing extremely high compatibility and stability. Aside from having somewhat high requirements for comprehension and aptitude, it was almost a perfect immortal cultivation method.

Of course, it was merely an immortal cultivation method. Those who cultivated it were not adept at combat, as the Primordial Creation Art leaned toward preserving health and longevity. But that suited the somewhat extreme cultivation system of the Great Cangwu World perfectly, and it was especially suitable for Li Hanqiu.

After obtaining this method, which began at the Foundation Building Realm and pointed directly toward the Void-Piercing Realm, Li Hanqiu directly entered seclusion to study it. As for the responsibility of teaching others the new cultivation method, it fell, to a certain extent, upon Yaoguang.

The pilot project for the new cultivation method would be conducted by the Nine Heavens Domain’s branch. Yaoguang took the lead, with Zhao Siliang and Zhu Yanyu assisting him.

Thus, following his positions as deputy hall master of the Artifact Refinement Hall and the Profound Array Hall, Yaoguang also acquired the titles of honorary sect master of the Nine Heavens Domain branch and honorary deputy hall master of the Inheritance Hall.

Originally, Li Hanqiu had intended to promote Yaoguang to hall master. He had even planned to transfer Zhao Siliang to the main sect as a deputy hall master of another hall to make way for Yaoguang and facilitate his work. But Yaoguang refused.

Being promoted to full hall master held little meaning for Yaoguang. The reform of cultivation methods required someone to oversee its steady advancement, and Zhao Siliang was an excellent candidate.

Whenever something arose, he could already speak directly with Li Qingshan and Li Hanqiu. It could be said that his importance no longer lay beneath Li Qingshan’s. Furthermore, as a Dharma Form cultivator, the boost he provided to the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s combat strength was immense. If a life-or-death crisis truly came, Li Qingshan would likely sacrifice himself to ensure Yaoguang’s survival. Therefore, becoming a hall master would only mean having an additional title with no real value.

Not only did Li Qingshan and Li Hanqiu understand this, but the other hall masters also recognized Yaoguang’s importance to the Nine Cauldrons Sect. Nobody would genuinely treat him as merely a deputy hall master. Thus, Yaoguang was happy to avoid having to deal with trivial matters.

***

Within just one month, the Nine Cauldrons Sect sent over the first batch of cultivators. Among them were thirty thousand high-tier cultivators specializing in qi refinement, body refinement, and psyche refinement. There were also one thousand cultivators at the Foundation Building Realm, Star Lord Realm, and Primordial Psyche Realm, with cultivation stages ranging from the early to the late realm.

Yet after their arrival, Yaoguang did not appear immediately. He did not begin teaching them the cultivation method either. Instead, he quietly observed them through the Void Psychic World. He also secretly monitored the communications of all cultivators, identifying anyone who was working for other sects.

After several months, the results proved remarkable. Among the thirty thousand high-tier cultivators, over six hundred were spies. And there were also forty among the great cultivators. Additionally, Yaoguang found that there were over one hundred spies hidden among the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s great cultivators, as he had monitored more than just those who had been sent over for training.

After their information was delivered to Li Qingshan, he quickly instructed He Xifeng and Jiang Zhouyue to jointly handle the matter in secret. Only a small number were left alive for control purposes, to play along and turn the scheme back on their enemies.

***

Yaoguang returned for a rare visit to the Purple Firmament Institute. Taking the opportunity, Su Yaoyu reported on the institute’s income and expenditures over the past period.

”According to your instructions, this year the Purple Firmament Institute distributed a total of 8,643,504 spirit stones in wages and bonuses... among which salary payments amounted to...” she read the figures aloud.

Yaoguang listened patiently. Although he could have swept through the data with a single scan of his psychic thought far more efficiently than her verbal report, listening patiently was a form of respect for her work.

When she finished a segment of her report, he smiled and remarked, ”When you recite financial data now, your voice no longer trembles.”

Su Yaoyu did not joke in response. She replied seriously, ”Anyone mentioning figures in the millions or tens of millions of spirit stones would inevitably react that way. After all, ordinary people who cannot cultivate psychic consciousness might not accumulate enough wealth in their lifetime to purchase even a single spirit stone.”

Yaoguang did not deny this. He had once been a low-level cultivator himself. When he first bought a Heavenly Being Pill, he had borrowed spirit stones from Zong Yan.

At that time, he had already been a high-tier cultivator. Within the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s territory, he had already been considered an elite cultivator. Yet even then, producing thirty spirit stones had been difficult. One could imagine how hard it was for low-tier cultivators. However...

When the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s internal spirit stone output increases in the future, we should reduce the exchange ratio between standard currency and spirit stones. That way, more people can access spirit stones and cultivate with them. Yaoguang thought.

Suddenly, Lei Yun entered from outside and said softly, ”Young master, they have arrived.”

”Let them in,” Yaoguang replied.

Soon, Lin Xia, Leng Jun, Su Yaoxue, Kong Xuan, Yue Xingzhou, and Su Hua entered the courtyard. Over the past two years, under the personal guidance of great cultivators and with each having consumed numerous spirit stones, every one of them had stepped into the domain of high-tier cultivators. Lin Xia, with the highest cultivation among them, had reached the ninth realm of qi refinement.

”Family Head.” Seeing Yaoguang, they all bowed.

Yaoguang nodded. His gaze lingered briefly on Su Yaoxue. When he had first met her and seen her fighting others, he had not formed a particularly good impression. But now, that impression had begun to change.

This young girl possessed remarkable self-discipline. Although she had only a middle-grade spirit root, she cultivated with extreme diligence. In terms of sheer effort alone, even within the Nine Heavens Domain’s branch of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, she ranked among the most outstanding. Compared to Su Yaoyu, who worked just as hard yet consistently fell short in performance, Su Yaoxue had already achieved the very best within the limits of her ability.

But given Yaoguang’s current status, he could easily find hundreds of peers more outstanding than her. Middle-grade spirit root aptitude was just too low.

After a moment, he said, ”The Nine Heavens Domain’s branch has established a new cultivation institute. Publicly, it claims to focus on experimental methods and appears to have little promise, but the treatment it offers is the best among all institutes. I have added all your names to the list.”

”We will follow your arrangements,” Lin Xia and the others said.

”This is the cultivation method the institute will teach you, the Primordial Creation Art. I will transmit it to you now. Make sure to focus.” As they concentrated, Yaoguang divided his psychic thought into six streams and quickly transmitted the information into their minds.

It was the Primordial Creation Art. However...

”The version I have given you is slightly different from the one the new institute will teach. I adjusted it according to your cultivation progress and your individual aptitudes...” Yaoguang paused.

That was precisely why he had made a special trip back. To tailor the method to each of them, he had searched through a vast ocean of information for an entire day.

What was his manpower cost now? Even if he did nothing and merely collected income from his existing enterprises, he would earn over a hundred thousand spirit stones per day! If that amount were to be entirely invested in Lin Xia, it would be enough to push her to the level of a great cultivator within one or two years. That alone demonstrated how much he valued them. Naturally, he did not voice these thoughts.

”Family Head, these methods...” After briefly digesting the information, Lin Xia revealed a hint of surprise and involuntarily looked toward Yaoguang.

”I told you, this is a new cultivation direction. Compared to the extreme cultivation path of the Great Cangwu World, it holds far greater promise,” Yaoguang said.

After all, ever since the cultivators in Cangwu had taken that extreme path, nobody had been able to reach Golden Core.

”If you distinguish yourselves in cultivating these methods, I promise you a better future,” Yaoguang said.

Lin Xia, Leng Jun, Su Yaoxue, and the others felt their hearts stir. They solemnly responded, ”Yes.”

”You may go.” Yaoguang waved his hand.

They immediately withdrew. At the side, Su Yaoyu noticed that Su Yaoxue seemed ready to leave as well. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something. Yet considering how busy Yaoguang was and how many affairs he handled daily, she ultimately refrained.

Not long after they left, Lei Yun approached again and whispered something into Yaoguang’s ear. He considered briefly before saying, ”Let her in.”

Lei Yun nodded. Soon, Su Yaoshuang walked in, looking somewhat restrained. She was dressed in formal attire.

Yaoguang glanced at her, slightly surprised. In his memory, this younger sister had always paid great attention to her appearance and styling. Seeing her with only light makeup and wearing professional attire was quite rare. Still, when he saw her, he said, ”You want to interview me?”

”I know this may take some of your time, but... I only want to ask a few questions about the Purple Firmament flying sword. If it is inconvenient for you to answer, or if you prefer not to appear on camera, we can skip those parts. A written interview is fine as well,” Su Yaoshuang said quickly.

At first, she seemed restrained and nervous, but as she continued, her expression gradually steadied. Her speech became smoother. It was as if she had truly assumed the role of a reporter interviewing an important figure.

Yaoguang nodded slightly. ”Go ahead.”

At those words, Su Yaoshuang sighed in relief. Her eyes brightened almost instantly. ”Deputy Hall Master Yaoguang, may I ask you to tell us about the Purple Firmament Type 15 export model? It is said that the Nine Cauldrons Sect relied on the standard model to defeat the Great Sun Sword Sect in the East Sea. Many media outlets from the Great Sun Sword Sect even referred to it as the ‘peerless divine sword of the Nine Cauldrons.’ What are its actual performance capabilities?”

”Certainly.” Yaoguang cooperatively explained the flying sword’s performance specifications.

At the side, Su Yaoyu watched the scene unfold, her eyes filled with a gentle smile.

My second younger sister has shown promising talent in cultivation. My third younger brother needs no mention. He is the pride of the entire family. My fourth younger sister seems to have found something she genuinely enjoys. As for the fifth... Thinking of the messages she constantly posts on her social feed, I still feel a bit helpless. Still, no matter what, our family continues moving in a better direction, even with our parents gone. That’s good enough.