Chapter Sixteen: Wang Li Is a Treasure (I)

Dugu Yin harbored a deep resentment for those powerful figures who disregarded decorum, such as Master Liuguang. As a mere cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage, he had come to Chunyang Monastery on a mission to foster “exchange” between the two sects. Typically, the elders would turn a blind eye to such activities, rarely concerning themselves with the spies of other sects who operated within their territory.

Every sect possessed its own secrets, but no one would ever conceal true secrets within the mountain gates themselves; those were always hidden away in secluded paradises. Everything within the gates was meant for outsiders to see. So long as the foundations of the sect remained unshaken, it was customary to ignore the presence of visitors from other sects. If anyone called attention to such matters, it would only betray their own pettiness.

After all, every sect dispatched its own agents, and none could claim innocence.

Yet Master Liuguang had personally intervened to apprehend him, blatantly breaking this unspoken code.

The task Dugu Yin received was simply to escort the future Saintess’s Dao companion back to the Pavilion of the Five Elements. The methods may have been less than honorable, but it hardly crossed any boundaries—the target was merely a registered disciple. If he were poached, so be it. Thus, Dugu Yin could not understand why Master Liuguang would stoop to act against him, nor why Master Tianmu, who could have handled the matter openly, was being so cautious and secretive.

Master Liuguang provided no explanation, nor did he truly trouble Dugu Yin. He simply sealed Dugu Yin’s cultivation, sent word to the Pavilion of the Five Elements, and requested Master Tianmu come to Chunyang Monastery to retrieve him.

While Dugu Yin was confined in the Hall of Reflection, awaiting his sect leader, Master Liuguang convened a council of elders.

Within the mountain gates of Chunyang Monastery, the inner and outer courts were divided, and four halls, three pavilions, and two chambers each fulfilled distinct roles to maintain the daily affairs of the sect.

At the summons of the sect leader, the heads of the halls and pavilions dared not delay, assembling promptly in the Grand Hall.

The heads of the various halls and pavilions were: Elder Mishan of the Hall of Transmission, Elder Xiuye of the Hall of Reflection, Elder Muqing of the Hall of Trials, Head Steward Shen Chengtou of the Spirit Beast Hall, Elder Xiuqing of the Logistics Pavilion, Elder Sage Calculator of the Affairs Pavilion, Elder Qinglian of the Saint’s Medical Hall, Elder Xu Qingzi of the Alchemy Hall, and Liu Wanjin, temporarily overseeing the Scripture Repository.

The nine greeted one another before turning their eyes to Master Liuguang.

Seeing that all were present, Master Liuguang spoke directly: “You should all know by now that our sect has obtained an artifact capable of preserving the original texts of cultivation methods indefinitely. There’s no need to elaborate. If you have questions, consult Junior Brother Liu privately. I have summoned you here today because the old woman Tianmu from the Pavilion of the Five Elements seeks to poach our Chunyang’s talents—their target is Wang Li, who presented us with the method for preserving cultivation texts. What do you all think? How should we respond?”

The matter of Wang Li and the phonograph could not be kept secret, nor was there any need to—once a disciple began cultivating with the newly transcribed methods, the entire sect would know. The only reason it had not been shared previously was due to certain inconvenient considerations. Now that the Pavilion of the Five Elements had made their intentions clear, Master Liuguang decided to lay the matter out in the open, ensuring the elders were mentally prepared.

The elders exchanged glances, their gazes converging on Liu Wanjin.

They understood that since the sect leader had openly addressed the issue, he must already have a plan. This meeting was more about notification than true discussion. To voice an opinion contrary to the leader’s would only be awkward. Only someone like Liu Wanjin, with his particular temperament, could keep the meeting from falling into awkward silence.

As expected, Liu Wanjin, undeterred by any disparities in status or power, was first to speak.

“Sect Leader, the preservation of cultivation methods is the foundation of our sect, determining its strength and standing. In my opinion, both the preservation method and Wang Li himself should remain within Chunyang Monastery!”

“Oh? Elaborate, Junior Brother,” said Master Liuguang. “Affairs of the sect are never trivial. Let us hear your thoughts so all might offer their suggestions.”

“Yes, as you command, Sect Leader!” The others nodded and responded, casting looks of understanding toward Master Liuguang.

He gave a slight nod, evidently pleased.

Liu Wanjin, seemingly oblivious to the reactions of others, continued: “The method Wang Li gifted us is truly miraculous—not only can it preserve cultivation texts indefinitely, it lowers the requirement for transcribing from the Nascent Soul stage to the Golden Core stage. I have tested it myself: a single small card can record all techniques below Earth Grade.

“The Scripture Repository currently holds over 7,900 manuals below Earth Grade, of which 5,220 are originals. Each year, maintaining these texts consumes spirit stones equivalent to seven hundred supreme-grade stones, not to mention the significant time required of Nascent Soul or higher cultivators to preserve their efficacy—this labor costs even more than the spirit stones.

“Earth and Heaven Grade methods are preserved using image-capturing artifacts, whose annual consumption of treasures is incalculable.

“I have here the expenditure records for the last thousand years. Over that period, the resources spent on preserving cultivation methods could have nurtured at least one Earth Immortal and three Tribulation Crossing experts. Senior Brother Sage Calculator from the Affairs Pavilion can confirm these expenses.”

Thus addressed, Sage Calculator agreed, “Junior Brother Liu speaks truly. Each year, the Affairs Pavilion allocates more resources to the Scripture Repository than to the entire outer sect, and even then, it’s often not enough. Overruns are commonplace.”

“If not for your remarks, I would never have realized the scale of this expenditure.”

“Hiss… Is the cost of the Scripture Repository really so staggering? If so, then the method for preserving cultivation arts is indeed priceless!”

“No wonder Junior Sister Chu Xuan is always lamenting poverty—she’s truly destitute…”

“This won’t do; feeding such a gold-devouring beast will eventually lead to ruin!”

The elders, hearing of the Scripture Repository’s consumption, could no longer remain indifferent.

Though the council was largely a formality, they were deeply invested in sect matters, especially since their own halls’ interests were at stake. To remain silent now would mean suffering losses in silence.

They had long known the Scripture Repository was a voracious consumer, but never imagined the true extent of its cost.

Chunyang Monastery was indeed wealthy, but resources were finite. Every extra share the repository consumed meant less for the other halls.

No wonder their attitudes shifted so quickly.

Master Liuguang said, “Calm yourselves. Is there not now a solution? Junior Brother Liu, tell us—how much can be saved using Wang Li’s method?”

Liu Wanjin replied, “The artifact Wang Li presented for recording cultivation methods is costly, requiring three thousand supreme-grade spirit stones, as well as materials such as Purple-Gold Divine Copper, Void Stone, Heavenly Machine Divine Wood, and one special divine material that has become nearly extinct within the cultivation world—only the Pavilion of the Five Elements retains any of it.”

At the mention of the phonograph’s cost, the elders were once again unsettled.

“Junior Brother Liu, the cost of forging such an artifact could train dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators. Can we afford it?”

“Never mind the spirit stones and treasures—this special divine material you mentioned, is it the Five-Element Divine Thunder Crystal? If I recall, it came from a meteorite, is exceedingly rare, and can increase the success rate of tribulation crossing. The tribulation array in our sect’s secret realm is founded upon it, and the Affairs Pavilion has none in reserve. Don’t tell me the artifact requires the very Thunder Crystal that forms the core of our tribulation array?”