War was a gold-devouring beast, consuming resources and treasures without limit.
Yet at the same time, it was also the greatest source of wealth.
Everything needed for a sect's development could be obtained through it.
Nie Yingzhi and the elders of the Incense Accumulation Sect clearly understood this well. While preparing for war at Li Ling's command, they did not neglect to rake in fortunes, adding much-needed revenue to the entire sect.
At this time, many unorthodox sects were doing the same.
They possessed the skills needed for production and manufacturing, and could settle down to work on matters beyond cultivation and advancement. Thus, they received vast numbers of orders from the great immortal sects.
Artifact refining, pill refining, talisman drawing, the hundred crafts of creation, and the arts of the side paths-all benefited.
"This is essentially about mobilizing cultivators' strength to the fullest extent. Whether they cultivate the Spell Dao or any other path, anyone who can be put to use must be mobilized.
"Naturally, wealth and resources flow toward them as well.
"Only at a time like this can unorthodox sects enjoy an unprecedented rise in status."
Watching the sect's operations, Li Ling gained a measure of insight.
"Compared with them, our sect not only has a larger scale and greater production capacity, but also one uniquely favorable advantage: a wealthy patron in the Heavenly Court.
"Only a power like the Heavenly Court can swallow all our output like a bottomless pit, without our having to consider other factors."
With a great war breaking out between the immortal and demonic paths, the Incense Accumulation Sect would surely welcome a new round of opportunities for development. Seizing those opportunities would be the key to its rise.
Time flowed onward, and nearly forty years soon passed.
Two full generations