The system will not comment on Li Xingkong's choices; it respects Li Xingkong's own decisions in all matters unless he asks for them.
In fact, it looked down on several of Li Xingkong's ideas.
Li Xingkong's idea is indeed excellent from an ordinary person's perspective: using existing materials to assist in cultivation and increase speed.
The advantage is that it's convenient and easy to get started, but the disadvantage is that it costs money, which inevitably distracts him from increasing his income.
If Li Xingkong were a person without principles, then with his current resources, making money would be a piece of cake.
However, he was clearly not that kind of person. Even though he possessed abilities far beyond those of ordinary people, he was unwilling to impose these abilities on others for his own benefit, especially since those others were his fellow countrymen.
Therefore, if Li Xingkong wants to make money, he will inevitably have to spend a lot of time in related industries and even deal with many people.
Dealing with people is the most time-consuming aspect. No matter what industry you're in, if you want to get in, you either need to have massive capital to pave the way, or you really have to slowly build connections and take care of all sorts of people.
Li Xingkong had a deep understanding of this, after all, if his high school classmates went out all night, they would have to offer cigarettes to the gatekeeper every day.
From the system's perspective, Li Xingkong could only be said to have made the best use of resources around him.
However, he still lacked the mindset of a cultivator, or rather, his application of knowledge was insufficient.
In the simplest terms, since he already understands the process of Bone Tempering, he must have learned the principles of Bone Tempering and the methods to complete Bone Tempering.
With the method, he could prepare materials that better suited his needs himself.
Instead of finding substitutes from existing materials.
This may be due to the influence of modern societal thinking on him. When he encounters something he needs, his first reaction is to buy it or find out if it's available for sale, rather than considering whether he can make it himself.
"We can easily create a Bone Tempering material that's more suitable for you ourselves; that would be much more convenient."
The system offered its opinion.
Li Xingkong seemed to have suddenly had a breakthrough, as if he had been enlightened.
"Yes, I can easily make the materials myself."
Instead of spending time and manpower building logistics channels, setting up companies to acquire equipment and materials, and requiring a large number of personnel, it is obviously more convenient to manufacture it yourself.
The system's words gave Li Xingkong a better direction, and he immediately decided to do as the system suggested.
This system notification also gave Li Xingkong more inspiration.
I have the knowledge I possess that allows me to do much more; it was my previous narrow-mindedness that was the problem.
Since it was better to make the materials himself, and it also provided systematic inspiration, Li Xingkong began to think about a material preparation plan.
First, we will verify the preparation technology according to the most modern preparation scheme, then build an industrial machine tool to produce the preparation equipment, and then proceed with the preparation of the materials.
This is a solution for modern large-scale industrial production. Its advantage is that as long as the technology is mastered and the equipment is developed, it can be mass-produced at a low cost, requiring only manpower and materials.
Li Xingkong's first thought was this method, but he didn't rush to make a decision. Inspired by what he had just learned, he decided to consider other methods from the perspective of cultivating immortality.
After much deliberation, he actually found a material preparation scheme that was more in line with the cultivation system.
Those are spiritual plants.
Regardless of the cultivation civilization, spiritual plants are indispensable, playing a significant supporting role in all aspects of cultivation.
It can be said that the material I want is actually a type of spiritual plant, which is used to assist in cultivation.
Spiritual plants, on the other hand, are likely found everywhere in a world with Spiritual Qi. Even weeds in desolate mountains and wilderness can absorb and release Spiritual Qi, which, over time, undergoes mutations and eventually transforms into various materials that can aid in cultivation.
However, naturally occurring spiritual plants obviously do not exist on Earth Star, so Li Xingkong's idea was to artificially cultivate a kind of spiritual plant.
The fruit produced by this spiritual plant will have an auxiliary effect on cultivation.
Although it sounds complicated, for Li Xingkong, the two methods are not much different in difficulty.
Industrial preparation is a widely used method in modern society, with readily available procedures that can be copied.
Cultivating spiritual plants was knowledge provided by the system, and with the aid of Spiritual Qi, it wasn't difficult for Li Xingkong.
Although Spiritual Qi is not abundant right now, he doesn't have high requirements for spiritual plants. He doesn't need to create spiritual herbs that can only survive with Spiritual Qi. He only needs to create plants that can help Body Tempering and produce the materials he needs. As long as he cultivates them well, these spiritual plants can thrive even without Spiritual Qi energy. They may not be considered spiritual plants, but they can be called precious medicines.
Li Xingkong a plan and presented both plans to the system.
It's possible to promote both simultaneously, but it's unnecessary. Li Xingkong will definitely choose one to work on first.
"In my current opinion, the advantages of industrial preparation far outweigh those of using spiritual plants. Putting everything else aside, the sheer scale of production alone is already very cost-effective."
Li Xingkong thought to himself.
"Then why is it that industrial production methods are rarely seen in cultivation civilizations? Whether it's alchemy, weapon crafting, or traditional materials, it seems like there's no industrial system for them."
He reviewed many trivial matters about civilization that the system had told him before, but it seemed that the system hadn't mentioned this aspect much.
The system fell silent for once, but after a short while, it asked a question first.
"You think modern industrialization is great because it allows for mass production at low cost, but there's a problem I wonder if you've considered."
"There are so many modern industrial chains, but who controls the technology in all of them?"
Li Xingkong thought about it. Although the industrial chain was in place and materials could be manufactured, many core technologies were in the hands of individuals or companies. Even if you participated in the entire material production process, you couldn't learn all the technologies.
"You mean, monopoly?"
Li Xingkong understood what the system was trying to say.
Although modern industrial manufacturing has become more convenient, the technology is ultimately monopolized by a few.
While it may seem convenient, the entire system is undoubtedly controlled by these individuals.
Many civilizations have followed this path in the past, but unfortunately, none of them lasted long.
The system continued.
"Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are necessities for everyone, and there are all sorts of similar substitutes available for these aspects. If you don't sell steamed buns today, I can make dumplings tomorrow, and it will work just the same."
"But cultivation resources are different. I control the Body Tempering technology, so I directly monopolize the entire upstream and downstream. If you want to create new or similar technologies, they will inevitably be hindered and controlled by me."
"Just like your current lithography machines and aircraft carriers, countries with the technology can blindly defend against countries without it."
"Cultivation of immortality is a struggle for the Great Dao, and this kind of control is even more brutal. Many civilizations that have just embarked on the path of cultivation, due to monopolies, have naturally stratified their people, dividing them into different classes and creating noble families. They have chained themselves up. How can a civilization go far?"
Putting everything else aside, let's take you as an example.
The system gave an example.
"Now that you can prepare Bone Tempering materials, will you sell them to everyone?"
Li Xingkong naturally shook his head. Now that he had absolute control over the production of Bone Tempering materials, anyone who wanted to buy them would have to beg him, and it would depend on whether he was in a good mood or not.
"Yes, everyone thinks that way, which makes the monopoly even deeper."
The system let out a soft sigh.
Li Xingkong pondered for a while, and realized that this was indeed the case.
Even I can't resist this temptation, let alone others.
Perhaps only a true Sage could resist such temptation, but he is far from deserving the title of Sage.
"So rather than letting technology be monopolized by a few, it's better to let nature monopolize it."
After comparing the two options, Li Xingkong concluded that the study of spiritual plants had an advantage: since the heavens have no consciousness, they would never hold anything back.