Chapter 685 - 346: Plot to Seize the Spirit Vein; Establishing New Rules

Chapter 685: Chapter 346: Plot to Seize the Spirit Vein; Establishing New Rules

"Like you just said, both the first and second methods can be accomplished using an Array within an Array."

"First, we custom-order a Tier Six or even Tier Seven composite Defense and Shielding Array. Once we find the Spirit Vein, we’ll use a Mole Beast to dig to a nearby position, deploy the Tier Six Array, and seal the Spirit Vein."

"After that, you can go inside and set up a Spatial Array or use an Earth Treasure to extract the Spirit Vein. While it’s being extracted, set up a Teleportation Array and have Puppets ready as a backup plan. Once you succeed, immediately retrieve the Spatial Array and the Tier Six Array, then escape through the Teleportation Array. At the same time, have the Puppets detonate the Teleportation Array to prevent pursuit."

After speaking, Luo Dingran looked at Cheng Zongyang. "Sir, although there are risks, this method is the optimal solution right now. After all, breaking a Tier Six composite Array won’t be that easy for them. Not unless they have a Magical Treasure or something that can break an Array directly."

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly after listening.

’This method is similar to what I was just thinking. An Array within an Array... It’s like giving myself an extra layer of skin for protection and to buy time.’

But he also knew that a Tier Six composite Array would cost one hundred to two hundred thousand Points, and a Tier Seven one would be even more expensive.

The two types of Arrays together would cost seven or eight hundred thousand Points!

But compared to an Earth Treasure, that was an absolute bargain.

The only difference was that a Spatial Array had a limited number of uses, while an Earth Treasure did not. As long as the Spirit Vein within the Earth Treasure was depleted, it could be recovered and used again.

Therefore, from a long-term perspective, if he wanted to seize all the Spirit Veins in the Cultivation Immortality Realm, buying an Earth Treasure to use with a Tier Six Array was the best option.

He could even collect small Spirit Veins without it being a losing proposition.

This meant he needed a minimum of two million two hundred thousand Points!

Cheng Zongyang pulled up his Attribute Interface. He only had about a hundred thousand Points. This was mainly because he had spent a hundred thousand on upgrading his Cultivation Technique.

"Has the Black Death Secret Manual stopped selling?" Cheng Zongyang closed the interface and looked at Luo Dingran.

"The price is high, and it’s only the Upper Volume. We’ve gotten a lot of comments from people trying to haggle. If we lower the price, I’m afraid the first buyer will come to hate us." Luo Dingran chuckled at the end.

The first person bought it for a million Points, while later buyers could get it for just a few hundred thousand. Wouldn’t he be filled with hatred?

But the lack of the Lower Volume was the real reason the Secret Scripture was hard to sell. He had also posted a request for the Lower Volume of the Black Death Secret Manual in the ’wanted’ section, but there was no news.

Luo Dingran continued, "Sir, I believe that this type of Cultivation Technique focuses on self-preservation, so its owner is unlikely to sell it casually. Once it spreads, it’s like revealing the weaknesses of one’s own Cultivation to everyone. That’s why some people have even left messages telling me not to sell it."

Cheng Zongyang nodded. He agreed with this line of reasoning.

’No one wants their Cultivation Technique to become common knowledge, with its weaknesses known by all.’

That was why unimportant Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques were copied and sold in large numbers, often at low prices. But important ones were rarely sold. Even if someone did sell one, they would never sell the one they personally cultivated.

’Opening a second passage requires three million Points. Seizing the Spirit Veins of the Cultivation Immortality Realm requires at least two million two hundred thousand. That’s five million two hundred thousand right there. Then there are the costs for various future sacrifices, the Points I need to reserve for myself, the Points needed for setting rules... I’ll need at least six million.’

Selling a single Earth Treasure Water Spirit Pearl could net him five million, but those things were incredibly rare finds, not something one could actively seek out. It was impossible to sell it. ’Unless my people in territory number two can help me find more later on.’

He had Luo Dingran make a note of this matter. It wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a short time anyway.

It would be three years until his next trip over there, so he could afford to wait.

Afterwards, Cheng Zongyang brought up the matter of the composite Spiritual Object Array, and Luo Dingran said he would inquire about purchasing one and check the prices.

With his business concluded, Cheng Zongyang went to the Realm of Dominator.

"Ring Spirit! I want to establish the eighth rule," Cheng Zongyang called out immediately.

[Host, please speak.] the Ring Spirit responded.

"Establish the eighth rule in the main manual. It will be called [Rankings]," Cheng Zongyang said. "The content will be divided into the [Wealth Chart], [Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal Level Chart], [Prodigy Power Rankings], [Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Chart], and so on."

"The Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Chart, in particular, can list the important items we need in ranked order. It will also provide prices, and the general direction and approximate location where the materials might appear. This will help motivate them and also speed up the search for things like Soul Crystals and Five Elements Spirit Pearls."

After a few moments of silence, the Ring Spirit replied: [That is possible.]

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly.

’The Wealth Chart will, of course, rank people by their Spirit Stones and Points. They can use an alias or their real name, but they can’t be anonymous. Placement on the chart will be automatic.’

’The Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal Level Chart, as the name implies, will rank the level of their Spirit Seals. This will let everyone know who has a higher level. Although it doesn’t take many Spirit Stones to level up, its main purpose is to satisfy some people’s vanity.’

’The Prodigy Power Rankings will rank the strength of individuals within the Realm of Ten Thousand Races across every cultivation Realm. It will cover everything from the Lower Three Grades, Middle Third Grades, and Upper Three Grades of Martial Artists, all the way to Innate, Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core Realm, and so on.’

’This will help stimulate the competitive and combative spirit of people at different cultivation levels.’

’Of course, I will also create rankings for the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Immortality, such as Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Arrays, Talismans, Puppets, Beast Taming, Spirit Weaving, Celestial Secret, Earth Phase, Daoist Physician, Pharmacist, Soul, and so on.’

’I will add a third room to the earthen huts—a room with a verification function. Anyone who meets the requirements can get certified. Hmm, and they’ll just have to pay a few Spirit Stones.’

’The goals are, one, to provoke people’s pride and vanity, and two, to earn more Spirit Stones.’

’Of course, I could also add a [Beauty Chart], [Spirit Beast Chart], [Magical Artifact Rankings], [Power Comprehensive Rankings], and [Arena Rankings].’

Cheng Zongyang first listed them all out, then started to sort, add, and subtract. For example, the Arena Rankings could be integrated into the Prodigy Power Rankings.

’Set up a combat arena in the safe zone, charge a fee for duels, and determine winners and losers. If anyone gets injured, they can use the healing beds. This would be another channel for reclaiming Points.’

’As a knock-on effect, to climb the rankings, they’ll have to improve their strength. To improve their strength, they’ll have to sacrifice more items in exchange for Magical Treasures, Elixirs, Cultivation Techniques, and so on...’

Therefore, he needed to organize all of this carefully.

After all, once a rule was established, if there was a mistake, it could only be abolished, not modified. At ten thousand Points per rule, he couldn’t afford to be wasteful.

「One and a half hours later」, Cheng Zongyang finalized his plan.

There would be nine charts in total.

[Wealth Chart], [Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal Level Chart], [Prodigy Power Rankings],

[Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures Chart], [Beauty Chart], [Spirit Beast Chart],

[Magical Artifact Rankings], [Power Comprehensive Rankings], [Cultivation Immortality Hundred Arts Chart].

The establishment of these charts, which would only display the top 100, was intended to stimulate people’s competitive spirit and vanity, while also creating more channels for him to reclaim Spirit Stones, Points, and sacrifices.

Of course, to further spur their competitive drive, at the end of each month, the top ten would receive a reward of 100 to 1,000 Points. The top three would each receive an additional one to three [Town Recall Talismans].

This item could only be requested from the Jade Stone Market, and each one was worth 100 Points.

He would not offer this item for exchange publicly; it could only be obtained through the chart rewards.

Killing many birds with one stone!

This method—truly the work of an Old Dog Coin!

Once the rule was finalized, it was synchronously updated in the manual in everyone’s possession.

At the same time, everyone in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races heard the notification about the rule update and quickly took out their manuals to inspect them.

When everyone flipped to the end, they discovered that a seventh section—Rankings—had truly appeared. They all stopped what they were doing and began to read carefully.

The appearance of the various charts did indeed ignite a desire in most people to get on the lists.

Besides the rewards for the top ten and life-saving items like the Town Recall Talisman, the main thing was that it was a chance to show off!

A chance to become famous!

For a moment, a huge number of people began checking which charts they might be able to get on.

At that same moment, in an open area in the center of the safe zone, a massive arena covering roughly ten acres rose from the ground. The arena was divided into ten smaller rings.

—Two small rings each for the five Realms: the Lower Three Grades, Middle Third Grades, and Upper Three Grades of Martial Arts, as well as Innate and Qi Cultivation.

It wouldn’t be too late to make changes later, after he allowed those at Foundation Establishment and above to participate.

At the same time the arena appeared, a new room was added to all the earthen huts.

Inside the room was a separate space. Upon entering, it would transform into the required certification space for the desired chart, based on the user’s needs.

For example, for the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Immortality, after paying one Spirit Stone to enter, a person would select the corresponding skill. The space would then transform into the appropriate environment.

If one chose Alchemy, it would become an Alchemy Room containing illusory Spirit Medicines, an Alchemy Tripod, flames, and more, all nearly indistinguishable from the real things.

One simply had to refine the required Elixir within three attempts. Upon success, their name would appear on the chart, and everyone’s manual would be updated at the same time.

The ranking would be determined by the number of successful attempts, refinement speed, quantity of Elixirs produced, and Elixir quality. The higher the stats, the higher the rank.

Failure meant being ejected from the space.

And so, once everyone understood the new rules, they were all eager to get started.