"Hello, Director Li."
Hearing Li Yuanchao's slightly authoritative yet deeply reassuring Mandarin,
Lu Li felt much more at ease, his nervousness easing somewhat.
Before he could speak, an urgent voice suddenly cut in.
"Comrade Lu! Hello! I'm Wang Zhiwen. Have you cultivated the cultivation method you sent back last time?"
"How were the results?!"
Wang Zhiwen sounded nervous, his voice trembling noticeably. He was even somewhat careless of proper etiquette.
Everyone else's hearts rose into their throats.
Li Yuanchao pressed him with even greater concern.
"Comrade Lu Li, did the cultivation method have some effect on you?!"
"That's right, Comrade Lu. Nothing's happened to you, has it?!"
Both Wang Zhiwen's and Li Yuanchao's voices tightened.
They were terrified something had happened to Lu Li.
If it had, they truly could not escape the blame.
Hearing the concern in their voices, Lu Li felt warmth in his heart.
He hurriedly replied, "Director Li, Elder Wang, don't worry. I'm fine."
"The Five Elements Instruction improved by the nation works extremely well!"
"The actual cultivation results matched your theoretical predictions perfectly. I've now successfully broken through to the Qi Refining Second Layer!"
As soon as he said that,
the jade pendant fell silent.
Then, cheers erupted like a mountain roaring and a sea surging.
"It worked!"
"It really worked!"
"I knew it. I knew it!"
"I never expected this, never!"
"Hahahaha! In that case, using scientific and technological methods to study immortal cultivation civilization is entirely feasible!"
"..."
The entire underground central control hall was in an uproar.
The research team members under Group 749 cheered in unison, rubbing their fists and palms.
Wang Zhiwen and Li Yuanchao were even more excited.
Being able to help Lu Li in a tangible way not only resolved his predicament, but also meant...
The nation's methods could play a major role in dealing with immortal cultivation civilization.
Wang Zhiwen gripped the voice transmission device tightly.
He was just about to say something when the jade pendant flashed.
A somewhat ancient-looking book was transmitted onto the metal table.
"Elder Wang, these are my insights from cultivating the improved method."
"I don't know whether they'll be useful for the nation's research."
"Useful! They're incredibly useful!"
"Quick! Someone come here! Archive this document and upload it!"
Wang Zhiwen's face lit up when he saw the somewhat ancient-looking book.
He had been about to ask Lu Li for his cultivation insights, and that experience was immensely valuable to them.
It could point them in the right direction for making improvements and optimizations and continuing their research into immortal cultivation civilization.
It would not be an exaggeration to call it the nation's most precious secret at present.
Soon, several people dressed like clerks put on white gloves and carefully approached the jade pendant.
They placed the ancient-looking book on a metal tray and took it away to archive and upload.
"Good, good, good! Comrade Lu, ever since we tried to improve the Five Elements Instruction last time, we've run into numerous hurdles and bottlenecks."
"Now that we have your cultivation insights, I reckon we'll soon be able to crack quite a few more problems!"
Wang Zhiwen sounded so excited that he wished he could dive straight into the laboratory.
But a moment later, something else occurred to him, and he hurriedly called out to Lu Li.
"Right! Comrade Lu, could we ask you to send back another batch of azure gold spirit ore samples?"
"Don't worry, we'll never waste your materials."
"Judging by our experimental progress, we may soon be able to purify the azure gold spirit ore!"
"Hm?!"
Hearing Wang Zhiwen, Lu Li was slightly taken aback.
He had been about to ask how things were going with the spirit ore he had sent back last time.
He hadn't expected there to actually be progress, by the looks of it.
Without further delay, he took another ten pieces of spirit ore from the jade pendant's space.
Buzz!
Spirit light flickered.
The next second,
a large armful of spirit ore was transmitted back into the hall.
Meanwhile, the strategic team members had been conducting a strategic analysis based on the information Lu Li had just provided.
A mere few minutes later, a strategic analysis report, precise down to the day, was freshly completed.
It was delivered into Li Yuanchao's hands.
"Comrade Lu Li, Bureau 749's strategic team members have conducted a detailed analysis of your current situation."
"I'll give you a brief overview. You can also take the full report back with you."
"At present, based on the information you provided, your situation in the Azure Pool Sect's menial disciples' area has completely opened up."
"Bai Sheng's suspicions have been greatly allayed, and your cultivation speed has risen significantly."
"However, you absolutely must not rush to advance to the outer sect. You need to hold steady for at least six months. Only then can you minimize your risks in the Azure Pool Sect."
As Li Yuanchao spoke concisely, he gestured for someone beside him to place the full report next to the jade pendant.
That way, Lu Li could take it back and consult it in detail.
It had to be said that the strategic team members were undoubtedly brilliant.
Their analysis of Lu Li's circumstances was spot-on.
They had considered numerous scenarios.
For example, according to the information Lu Li had provided about the people and customs of the immortal cultivation world, menial disciples took an average of 3-24 months to progress from joining the sect to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
Taking the middle figure of 10 months as a baseline, each month faster would increase the destabilizing factors by 10%.
The probability of receiving favor and scrutiny would increase by 5%.
For Lu Li, who required absolute security, this was extremely dangerous.
Lu Li had joined the sect a little over three months ago. If he could lie low for another six months before advancing to the outer sect, that would make it just ten months.
That speed was neither fast nor slow.
It minimized destabilizing factors without leaving a negative impression such as "unfit for any important task."
It would not be an exaggeration to call it the optimal timing.
What a precise deduction.
They calculated such precise figures using only the information I provided.
This will undoubtedly help me avoid quite a few risks in advance!
Looking at Bureau 749's strategic analysis report, Lu Li was surprised.
And this was only a small portion of the analysis.
As for the information he had sent back about the Azure Pool Sect's outer sect,
the strategic team had conducted a more detailed assessment.
"Comrade Lu Li, according to the strategic team's analysis, the estimated mortality rate for menial disciples is >50%. Outer sect disciples are protected by sect rules, and their mortality rate drops sharply to <5%."
"They also have independent residences, which will provide an absolutely essential physical barrier for your communications with the nation and your secret cultivation."
"Once you successfully enter the outer sect, you'll have a legitimate status and the space to make reasonable use of more of the technological support transmitted by the nation."
Li Yuanchao stated the final central point.
Lu Li's advancement to the outer sect was a matter of considerable importance to both Group 749 and Great Xia.
It would mark Great Xia's first real glimpse of what a transcendent civilization looked like.
"I understand, Director Li."
"I'll be careful in the meantime."
"By the way, could I trouble you to send me a few more batteries for the mining drill?"
Listening to Li Yuanchao, Lu Li gripped the jade pendant.
He looked over the mine walls around him.
He had a long time to cultivate anyway.
He might as well build up a good stockpile of spirit ore first.
If the nation really could efficiently purify spirit ore in the future...