Chapter 629: Spiritual Treasure Distribution

Banners fluttered and formations were orderly, the column stretching for miles from head to tail.

A warship followed slowly in the sky, the cold glint of its crossbow arrows an unnerving, intimidating sight from the ground.

Along the way, they encountered a few groups of Loose Cultivators. Upon seeing a force of this scale, they all hastily moved aside, staying completely out of sight to avoid disaster.

Even when they passed Core Formation Level Sects whose members might have wanted to inquire about their purpose, a single glance at the three maple leaves on the banners was enough for them to secure their gates and avoid causing trouble.

Only a few foolish Tribulation Cultivators tried to spy on their movements from behind. They were instantly pierced by magical crossbow bolts from the warship, impaling them deep into the ground.

Their Defense Spiritual Artifacts and Protective Techniques were utterly useless, as fragile as paper, leaving only ten-foot-long arrow shafts swaying slightly in the wind.

After this example was made, it was unclear whether the other Tribulation Cultivators had given up or simply fled farther away. In any case, not a trace of them could be seen for dozens of miles.

“At the next Elder Council meeting, I’m definitely putting large warships on the agenda. It doesn’t matter if we build them ourselves or buy them at the Zengguang Immortal City auction. Otherwise, we’re a dignified Nascent Soul Major Sect, yet our armies still have to march on foot. It’s beneath our station. Besides, when we have urgent missions, we simply won’t have the time.”

This particular warship was pure silver. It could carry eight hundred Cultivators, was armed with twelve War Magical Artifacts, and was equipped with a Gathering Spirit Array, a Divine Light Array, an Iron Wood Array, a Rejuvenation Array, and more. Its purchase had cost a full 2,400,000 Spirit Stones.

In the Council Hall, four people were seated, two on each side. The Female Cultivator who had just spoken had an icy expression, and even her minimalist Daoist Robe couldn’t conceal her remarkably long, straight legs.

“Senior Sister Longx, large warships cost millions of Spirit Stones. That’s enough to develop a Tier Three Spirit Vein. Black Mountain still has so many undeveloped Spirit Veins that could support at least five thousand more disciples.”

The Cultivator who spoke in rebuttal had a mature-looking face and appeared much older than the icy Female Cultivator.

“Besides, your Law Enforcement Hall was allocated ten Wind Shuttles. Is that not enough for you? Brother Qi, Junior Sister Ma, tell me, does that not make sense?”

“A Wind Shuttle can only carry a hundred people, and its speed is barely on par with a Flying Spiritual Artifact. Patrolling Black Mountain is the most they can handle. The Ancestor has summoned us to Central Province, and we’ll surely be stationed here from now on. How could a single Silver Dragon possibly be enough?”

The icy Female Cultivator’s brow furrowed. This man had always been at odds with her, making it a point to oppose her on every issue.

The crucial point was that according to Sect regulations, as long as a Nascent Soul Ancestor was alive, their status as Core Formation True Men was not as absolute as it once had been, when their word was law.

Although their status was far above that of the Foundation Establishment Elders, in a council vote, they each counted for just one vote among the thirty-six Elders.

They could only mobilize the resources under their command and exert their personal influence to sway the other Elders.

“Then let’s wait for the Ancestor’s Decree. If the Ancestor decides this, he will surely have his reasons, viewing things from a higher perspective. We, of course, must obey.”

This mature-faced Core Formation True Man, sitting stiffly upright, secretly glanced at the man and woman across from him. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw they showed no reaction.

After deducting necessary expenses like Array maintenance and disciple stipends, the Qingfeng Sect’s annual discretionary budget was around three to four million Spirit Stones.

This was only possible because the yields from several Spirit Stone Ore Veins had increased in recent years, and various other revenues had stabilized. Decades ago, such a sum would have been unimaginable.

But every one of the Five Halls and Thirteen Chambers coveted this three to four million Spirit Stone budget. It was a zero-sum game; if one got more, another got less.

To compete for allocations of Spirit Stones, even the Core Formation True Men had to roll up their sleeves and join the fray—if not for themselves, then for the disciples they represented.

“Brother Qi, I never imagined the Tribulation Cultivators in Central Province were so rampant. No wonder Master’s letter urged us to come quickly and to bring plenty of disciples.”

Upon receiving the message from her master, Ma Ruoxi immediately convened a meeting of the Elder Council to announce the Decree from Ancestor Bai.

The very next day, the entire Qingfeng Sect mobilized at top speed, drafting Elite Disciples from every department with a sense of urgency that far surpassed the previous reclamation wars.

This led the Cultivation Families under their jurisdiction to inquire whether the Upper Sect was about to launch another reclamation war.

The last time, when they attacked the Ghost Spirit Sect and conquered Hejian County, the Sect’s strength had been insufficient, forcing them to bring in all the Cultivation Families and Loose Cultivators to share in the spoils.

But the Qingfeng Sect of today was a different beast entirely, especially when the prize was a province as bountiful and resource-rich as Central Province.

Ma Ruoxi, Qi Yue, Longx Longx, and Lian Liangpu—four Core Formation True Men—led the expedition, commanding over sixty Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than three thousand Qi Refining Disciples. After making swift preparations, they set out for Central Province.

Behind them, Lu Songx, as the Elder leading the second wave, was still assembling another expeditionary force.

In the past century, Foundation Establishment Cultivators had been emerging in the Qingfeng Sect like mushrooms after a rain, one after another.

The entire Sect now had over two hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators in total.

However, their territory had grown vast, and many locations required Foundation Establishment Cultivators to stand guard. A considerable number were also in closed-door cultivation.

As a result, the second contingent would have to depart later, once the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had time to finalize the roster.

The main bottleneck was the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for Qi Refining Disciples, since the Qingfeng Sect had absorbed so much new blood, drafting several thousand more was no issue at all.

“When the Upper Sect loses its virtue, its subjects lose their loyalty… I traveled through Central Province once. It was peaceful and prosperous then, a picture of harmony. Ancestor Bai is urging us on because he fears that if the Tribulation Cultivators are allowed to continue their rampage, Central Province will be nothing but a barren ruin by the time we take over.”

Qi Yue’s expression was full of emotion. That past experience of having to live under another’s roof had made his personality far more magnanimous, and he had learned to be considerate of others’ viewpoints. He turned his head to speak.

“Large warships are incredibly expensive; even the No-Life Sect has only a few. Junior Sister Longx, perhaps you could consider purchasing a batch of Flying Spirit Beasts from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect? I’ve heard there’s a kind of Ray Beast with a docile nature. Their flight speed isn’t too slow, and since they’re only Tier One Peak, their price shouldn’t be too steep. If that’s not feasible, Tier Two Flying Camels are also an option. They’re said to tread on white clouds and can rival the speed of a Top-Grade Flying Spiritual Artifact.”