Carrying Forward the Past and Opening the Future, Sea Region Strategy

The conclusion of the First Fifty-Year Plan signifies the start of the Second Fifty-Year Plan.

The Purple Tenuity Enclosure, the Heavenly Palace Hall.

Apart from Zheng Fa, all eleven Nascent Spirit Transformation from the Nine Mountains were present, along with over a hundred Nascent Soul Golden Core disciples from the sect.

The sect's elites gathered together. Many disciples looked at each other, feeling both excited and inexplicably solemn, not daring to whisper among themselves.

Because they knew that this meeting would determine the future of the Nine Mountains Sect for the next fifty years.

The atmosphere in the hall was different from that of a regular meeting because of the arrival of these disciples; there was a hidden excitement in the silence, and a sense of dignified solemnity mixed with high spirits.

The Heavenly Emperor Body sat at the head of the table, and when he looked at Uncle-Master Pang and the others, there was a smile in his eyes.

The purpose of having these disciples attend was naturally to gather opinions from everyone in the Nine Mountains Sect and identify the most pressing issues to be addressed in the next fifty years.

To be honest, those with higher cultivation levels often cannot truly understand the difficulties faced by disciples in their sect, let alone ordinary people.

Of course, for the Heavenly Emperor Body, he also has another channel for collecting public opinion—the desires of all living beings.

On the other hand, this also serves as a training ground for these disciples.

Nowadays, there aren't many power-hungry people among the higher-ups of the Nine Mountains Sect. Or rather, cultivators value cultivation more, and power is merely an aid in comparison.

Therefore, training disciples and having them take charge of various departments within the Nine Mountains Realm was not unacceptable to the elders of the Nine Mountains.

When Uncle-Master Pang and the others looked at these disciples, their eyes held mostly pride.

Many of these people were their students, and to varying degrees, they all shared a teacher-student relationship.

The elders are very pleased with how outstanding they have become.

The meeting was brief and quickly got down to business.

"Last year, our sect's total income, converted to Spirit Stone, amounted to approximately 32 million Spirit Stone."

The Nine-Chapter Calculation Spirit stood in the center of the Heavenly Palace Hall, discussing the most important topic of the meeting—the economy.

Everyone listened attentively.

The disciples present had all experienced life in the mortal realm, and almost none of them were naive about worldly affairs.

Therefore, they certainly understood that for any sect, or even any cultivator, the economy was arguably the most important issue.

Hearing Nine-Chapter Calculation Spirit's summary, many people gaped in astonishment—because the Nine Mountains Sect was indeed incredibly profitable.

The Heavenly Emperor Body remembered very clearly that when his true form first arrived at the Nine Mountains Sect, the Nine Mountains Sect's annual income was around 20,000 Spirit Stone, but less than 30,000.

Today, the annual income of the Nine Mountains Sect has increased more than a thousandfold!

Not to mention these disciples, even Uncle-Master Pang and the others looked like they didn't recognize Spirit Stone: they certainly knew the general figures, but when it came to converting them into Spirit Stone, they truly grasped the reality.

Seeing their surprised expressions, the Heavenly Emperor Body tapped the table and explained, "We don't have that many Spirit Stone. Most of our items are pills, Spirit Artifact, and spiritual materials, valued at market prices."

He thought it was normal.

To put it bluntly...

In its early days, the Nine Mountains Sect was merely one of the sects within the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

Today, the territory of the Nine Mountains Sect has expanded more than a hundredfold. With the promotion of various technologies, productivity has increased by leaps and bounds. It can even be said that it has initially moved from an agricultural society to an industrial society, creating an economic miracle that is hard for the entire Nine Mountains Sect to believe.

The joy in Uncle-Master Pang's eyes grew stronger, but what Nine-Chapter Calculation Spirit said next made them less happy.

"Regarding expenditures, our sect's total expenditure last year was thirty million Spirit Stone, detailed as follows..."

Thirty million?

Uncle-Master Pang exclaimed in surprise, his expression full of heartache.

They didn't know this data before; besides Zheng Fa, only Senior Sister Zhang in the sect was familiar with all kinds of data.

Specifically, the majority of the Nine Mountains Sect's expenditures are spent on disciple training, industrial development, and various research projects.

These three items cost approximately twenty million Spirit Stone.

Other expenditures include various public welfare expenditures and various task rewards, etc.

It can be said that they can both earn and spend.

The Heavenly Emperor Body explained, "The number of Nascent Soul disciples advancing in recent years has been much higher than usual, and the expenses have also increased."

Everyone nodded in agreement, showing their understanding.

The Nine Mountains Sect has gained so many Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and even Spirit Transformation is not due to their rapid advancement.

Every cultivator consumes resources.

Nine-Chapter Calculation Spirit continued his report, "Based on calculations, our sect's expenditures will further increase next year, and the total budget for next year should be set at over 33 million Spirit Stone."

"No..." Uncle-Master Pang finally couldn't hold back any longer, "So, what we've earned this year isn't enough to last us next year?"

Seeing the doubt on the faces of the others, the Heavenly Emperor Body explained, "The high expenditures next year are partly due to the further increase in the number of Nascent Soul Spirit Transformation within our sect."

"On the other hand, the investment in the Nine Mountains Military Academy will amount to another two million Spirit Stone."

Uncle-Master Pang muttered, "Two million?"

The Heavenly Emperor Body nodded slightly, affirming, "This relates to the main objectives of the next fifty-year plan."

"Our most important achievement in the last fifty-year plan was actually the establishment of the Nine Mountains Sect's industrial system, which strengthened our economic power." The Heavenly Emperor Body stood up, looked into the hall, and said loudly, "In the next fifty years, our focus will shift towards military affairs."

Simply put, they're drastically increasing military spending!

"Since the Nine Nether Devil Ancestor attained Xuanwei, the world has undergone tremendous changes, a transformation unseen for millions of years."

"In the next few years, or at most several decades, Golden Immortal will appear in the Xuanwei Realm. Whether these Golden Immortal are friends or foes, no one can guarantee."

"Strengthen the fighting power of the entire Nine Mountains Sect; we cannot wait until the crisis arrives, nor can we wait for the enemy to show themselves."

We must plan ahead.

The Heavenly Emperor Body's words were met with nods of agreement even from Uncle-Master Pang.

Nobody wants the tragedy of someone dying while their money is still there to happen to the Nine Mountains Sect.

The Heavenly Emperor Body smiled. It's common knowledge that to increase military spending, you need to create a formidable enemy...

For the Nine Mountains Sect, there are plenty of ready-made enemies; even Golden Immortal would have to wait in line.

"Whether it's me or Senior Sister Zhang, it will be much more difficult to improve our cultivation rapidly in a short period of time than before."

The Heavenly Emperor Body understood this very well.

He was more fortunate than Venerable Tianhe in that he possessed the fruits of Venerable Tianhe's life and the Modern World.

Unfortunately, the situation in the Xuanwei Realm developed too quickly.

Venerable Tianhe had ample time to gradually ascend to invincibility; he did not—compared to Lu Mo, compared to those Golden Immortal, he was still a baby not yet a hundred years old.

Therefore, the Nine Mountains Sect had to drastically increase its military spending.

"The main goal of my Nine Mountains Sect in the next fifty years is to enhance our combat capabilities based on the foundation laid in the previous fifty years."

"To be more specific, it's about enhancing the destructive power of the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation, ideally taking it to the next level and making it capable of killing Golden Immortal."

Uncle-Master Pang and the others nodded in agreement.

The Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation now possesses the combat power of a top-tier True Immortal, which is already quite remarkable, and it is also the most powerful technique in the Nine Mountains Realm.

Therefore, the most realistic approach to defeating Golden Immortal is to start with the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation.

"Then, we'll utilize the Divine Firmament Legion as a supplement to the Immortal-Slayer Sword Formation."

Both of these matters are old news, and the Heavenly Emperor Body only briefly mentioned them.

"As for the industrial plan, there are two main points. One is the industrial aspect; our plan is to consolidate our advantageous position in weapon crafting and Talisman Dao, and completely dominate the weapon crafting market in Vast Sun Mountain."

"Secondly, we need to increase investment in pharmacy and alchemy."

At this point, the Heavenly Emperor Body glanced at Sect Master Song of the Azure Wood Sect, then looked at Mu Qingyan.

When it comes to Dao of Alchemy, the Hundred Immortals Alliance actually developed quite early.

Pharmacy is something Mu Qingyan and her team have been researching for almost twenty years.

The achievements are actually quite significant. Whether in Dao of Alchemy or pharmacology, the Nine Mountains Sect is now much stronger than before.

But compared to the Supreme Dao, it is still far inferior.

Mu Qingyan was actually a little anxious, but Zheng Fa was quite open-minded—this industry is a long-cycle, high-investment industry.

In modern times, pharmaceutical companies tend to get stronger with age.

Not to mention the Xuanwei.

"The elixir industry serves two purposes: firstly, to accelerate the disciples' cultivation," the Heavenly Emperor Body explained, "And secondly, it's also necessary for combat."

For cultivators of the Xuanwei, elixirs are very important in their daily lives.

You could even say this stuff is much more profitable than weapon crafting.

Essentially, in the Xuanwei, elixirs are considered essential consumer goods, and people even need to take two every few days.

And Law Artifact Law Treasure...

Well, not having it doesn't hinder cultivation, does it?

When war comes, the importance of elixirs will naturally rise to another level.

Seemingly sensing the gaze of the Heavenly Emperor Body, both Sect Master Song and Mu Qingyan showed signs of pressure.

Uncle-Master Pang frowned and said, "The industry... the sect's expenses are getting higher and higher, can we sustain it?"

These are the words of a wise and experienced person.

In the last fifty years, their development of the Nine Mountains Realm of the Hundred Immortals Alliance and the utilization of trade routes can be said to have had room for improvement, but there is not much room for progress either.

Seeing that everyone remained silent, Uncle-Master Pang suddenly said, "How about we cut some other expenses?"

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone understood that there weren't many areas that could be cut—because training disciples couldn't stop, nor could industrial development.

Therefore, there are two main ways to save money:

Public welfare expenditures and task rewards.

Uncle-Master Pang meant to tighten his belt, endure hardship throughout the Nine Mountains, and develop military strength.

The disciples' expressions immediately became somewhat strange.

The Heavenly Emperor Body shook his head. "It hasn't come to that yet."

Uncle-Master Pang looked a little stunned, then saw Senior Sister Zhang stand up, take the Flying Immortal Brush, and draw two strokes in the air.

A map of the Sea Region then appeared in the hall.

The map is covered with hundreds of tiny points of light, in blue and white.

"The next growth point for our Nine Mountains Sect's income lies in the Sea Region!" Senior Sister Zhang declared loudly.

Everyone perked up and carefully examined the points of light.

"These blue dots are the locations we explored earlier, places where we can cultivate various marine spirit Spirit Plant."

"This is thanks to the research of Elder Qian, Elder Jiao, and Elder Blood River."

"It is estimated that if marine aquaculture goes smoothly, agriculture alone will bring our sect nearly one million Spirit Stone in revenue each year."

"Moreover, marine aquaculture can cultivate some rare spiritual materials. Combined with the weapon-refining capabilities of my Nine Mountains Sect, the value created each year will exceed three million Spirit Stone."

"If the Agriculture Academy makes further breakthroughs in research, these revenues will be even greater."

Whispers began to circulate within the hall.

A few million Spirit Stone seem insignificant compared to the mere 32 million mentioned earlier.

But it can already be considered a major industry.

Xiao Yuying asked, "What about the white light spot?"

"It's underwater Spirit Ore," Senior Sister Zhang explained. "The Sea Region area is vast, and the amount of Spirit Ore is actually no less than on land, it's just that mining it is difficult."

"But for my Nine Mountains Sect, with the help of machinery and magical Law Artifact like the Divine Firmament Warship, this difficulty can be completely overcome."

"According to the disciple's investigation, the total value of the seabed mineral vein is at least tens of billions of Spirit Stone, or even more."

There was not even a sound of breathing in the hall.

The figure of 10 billion Spirit Stone left everyone speechless.

Although it only represents the total reserves, there are still issues with extraction, but this is still worth 10 billion!

Aunt-Master Huang slammed his fist on the table. "The ocean must belong to my Nine Mountains Sect!"

Inside the Heavenly Palace Hall, everyone was nodding, some even with green eyes.

Only Xiao Yuying frowned and remained silent, a hint of worry in her eyes.

Senior Sister Zhang didn't finish. "Furthermore, according to my reconnaissance, the newly appeared ocean Sea Region the far north should be no smaller than the original Xuanwei Sea."

"Although we haven't sent any disciples to investigate for safety reasons, the Sea Region will undoubtedly become even more important after the changes in the world."

Everyone actually understands this.

After Xuanwei expanded, the Sea Region underwent the greatest changes. Those newly emerging cultivators who wanted to trade with Xuanwei would inevitably have to cross the ocean.

In this way, the value of Sea Region trade routes will naturally be even higher.

Even more so, the Nine Mountains Realm could use this to gain an advantage.

Trade routes are now the main source of income for the Nine Mountains Sect.

It can be said that the value of trade routes is no less than that of those rare seabed Spirit Ore, and may even be more abundant.

"Therefore, if we can firmly control and further develop the Sea Region, the income of my Nine Mountains Sect can at least double, or even more than double."

No one questioned Senior Sister Zhang's summary.

After the Heavenly Emperor Body and Senior Sister Zhang finished speaking, everyone discussed the matter further.

The Nine Mountains Sect's Second Fifty-Year Plan has only just begun to take shape.

Although there are many entries.

But the most important grand strategy still rests on the two points mentioned by the Heavenly Emperor Body:

It focuses on military applications and Sea Region development.

The rest are all details.

After everyone left with the newly released "Second Fifty-Year Plan Outline," the Old Yuan slowly walked out of the Heavenly Palace Hall and strolled over to Uncle-Master Pang's side.

"Aren't you afraid your disciples will hate you?"

Uncle-Master Pang glanced at him sideways without saying a word, seemingly not understanding what he was talking about.

The Old Yuan shook his head helplessly. "Do you really want to bear the stigma?"

Uncle-Master Pang smiled and said, "There are some things that Zheng Fa and Wuyi can't say."

He watched the disciples' retreating figures with a calm expression.

"You don't need to tell me that."

The Old Yuan had mixed feelings.

This junior brother is very clever; how could he not know that reducing the disciples' rewards would incur the wrath of the crowd?

It was intentional.

"The other elders are either outsiders or lack the qualifications," Uncle-Master Pang said softly, but his understanding was clear. "Only a few of us old folks can hold out."

Even the Old Yuan had to admit that this was true.

"If we don't bear this infamy, who will?" Uncle-Master Pang said with great insight. "Besides, didn't I not bear it?"

To put it bluntly, no one can conjure up Spirit Stone.

If the Nine Mountains Sect wants to fight against the Golden Immortal, it must increase its military investment, either by squeezing resources out of its own people or by taking them from outsiders.

Their choice was the Sea Region —although it was the territory of the Nine Mountains Sect, the Dragon Lord held a special position and was also an ally of the Nine Mountains Sect, so the two sides had gotten along fairly well in the past.

However, the Dragon Lord's thoughts are somewhat unpredictable these days.

In the distance, Xiao Yuying was flying alone in the air.

Recalling Xiao Fairy's silence during the meeting, the two exchanged a glance and sighed simultaneously.