"That is indeed the case."
Yuan thought it over and felt the same.
But unlike the unchanging certainty of one plus one equaling two, social sciences were often far too unpredictable. Even if the odds of that happening were slim, they still had to guard against it.
Alliances existed in this world.
If they suddenly drove the divine lords of the Myriad Races Alliance into a corner, those lords might well throw caution to the wind.
For now, though, they should be safe.
"Jinliu, how is the Immortal Sect's economy?"
Yuan asked.
"Terrible."
"The economy is in a depression, on the verge of collapse. Companies are shutting down in droves, workers are losing their jobs, and most schools have halted every lesson that consumes spirit stones or spiritual energy... Everything has ground to a standstill."
Jinliu said gravely, "In the past century, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators born in the Immortal Sect has been less than one ten-thousandth of the previous century's. Even graduates of Big Dipper University and Clearwind University have had trouble reaching Foundation Establishment, let alone students at ordinary schools."
"The Immortal Sect Citizens born in this generation have all had their Dao Paths delayed."
"The one fortunate thing is that we prepared in advance, and food has remained plentiful. Society hasn't descended into chaos, with smashing, looting, arson, or riots. Research and production have merely been put on hold. Everything is still there."
"With enough funding, we can restart it all."
Every coin the Immortal Sect had was going into a war for its survival. It was living on borrowed money, and everyone was broke.
Jiang Ding, for instance, had bought a huge amount of the Immortal Sect's Ancient God Domain war bonds. Nearly all his money was tied up in them, leaving him with