There are never enough Spirit Stone to spend.
It wasn't enough during Qi Refinement, it wasn't enough during Foundation Establishment, and now it's even less enough for Golden Core.
Despite the Dao Academy's annual surplus of several hundred thousand, it's simply not enough for Lu Li to use.
However, as the Dao Academy develops rapidly, its future benefits will certainly be even greater.
A thought flickered in Lu Li's mind, and he waved his hand to remove the light barrier in front of him.
Ready to begin cultivation.
As the sect leader, his cultivation level naturally couldn't be lacking.
" Primordial Beginning, activate the cultivation environment, concentration... level three, I suppose."
The command was switched, and a detached, mechanical synthesized voice responded quickly.
"Yes, Master. We are setting up your cultivation environment. Please wait."
"Initiating call, please wait..."
"Invocation complete!"
Buzz!
The moment the mechanical sound faded, runes flashed on the cliff walls surrounding the underground palace.
The Spirit Gathering Formation were all awakened.
Thousands upon thousands of Spirit Stone shimmered around the cliff face, transforming into billowing Spiritual Qi that surged toward Lu Li.
Lu Li's cultivation progressed so quickly, thanks not only to the benefits of the Cultivation Method but also to the effects of the Spirit Stone.
Each time he cultivates, various spirit-gathering arrays are activated, and the newly developed Spirit Stone atomization Spirit Machinery are also activated.
With a whoosh, thousands of Spirit Stone transformed into the most efficient and concentrated Spiritual Qi to nourish Lu Li.
This is why his cultivation progressed so rapidly.
With his eyes slightly closed, Lu Li focused on his cultivation, no longer distracted.
Using the cultivation environment is like burning Spirit Stone; not a single second can be wasted.
The Third-Tier Five Elements Creation Instruction was activated.
Like a whale swallowing a tsunami, it frantically absorbs the Spiritual Power of the surrounding air.
Inside the Dantian, the golden pill, several times larger than a regular jujube or plum, spun incessantly.
The dazzling flames of the Core Fire burned fiercely, nourishing the fish-shaped jade pendant above the Dantian.
Lu Li was focused on his cultivation, and the Dao Academy was developing in an orderly and well-organized manner under his guidance.
Xu Xiong took Lu Li's edict and didn't dare to delay, his movements swift and decisive.
When they reappeared, they were already in the Inner Courtyard's General Affairs Hall.
Several disciples on duty saw Xu Xiong in his gold-embroidered blue robe from afar, their faces filled with shock, and they quickly went to greet him.
"Greetings, Elder Xu!"
The two inner court disciples, both at the Qi Refinement Realm, spoke respectfully.
At the Beyond Heaven Dao Academy, clothing did not follow the old system.
The outer court disciples all wore white robes, while the outer court supervisors wore white robes with silver threads.
The inner court disciples wore copper-threaded blue robes, the inner court supervisors wore silver-threaded blue robes, and the inner court elders wore gold-threaded blue robes.
As the sect leader, Lu Li should have been wearing a purple robe, but he didn't want the trouble and had only worn a blue robe for many years.
"Yes, is Elder Chen Ke here? I need to discuss something with him."
Xu Xiong inquired about the disciples on duty.
The Elder Chen Ke he mentioned was the only Foundation Establishment cultivator promoted from outside the inner academy in all these years.
It's quite a coincidence.
This Chen Ke was not originally a cultivator from the Litian Blessed Land.
He was Rogue Cultivator from elsewhere who was forced to flee here due to Lineage conflicts.
It just so happened that the Litian been established and its gates were wide open, and I entered by fortuitous opportunity.
This person's cultivation level is only at the Foundation Establishment, but his character is truly excellent. As his name suggests, he adheres to rules and regulations, and is rigid and meticulous.
They are among the few available personnel at the Beyond Heaven Dao Academy.
" Elder Xu, please wait a moment. Elder Chen happens to be giving a Dharma lesson to the inner court disciples today."
"It will probably take another hour for them to arrive."
Upon hearing the reason, Xu Xiong didn't say much, nodded, found a chair, and sat down to wait quietly.
The inner academy has a shortage of teachers; including Changming, Changye, and Yuanhao, all five elders have teaching positions.
Although Chen Ke was in charge of the general affairs of the inner court, he also served as the instructor of the Hundred Arts and Laws.
This is not surprising.
Xu Xiong sat quietly in the General Affairs Hall, waiting.
During this time, many disciples came to take care of miscellaneous tasks.
In addition to the assessment, there are special mission rewards at the Beyond Heaven Dao Academy.
Disciples can post messages to each other, and the academy will also issue some related tasks.
At this moment, the tasks displayed on the jade tablet of the General Affairs Hall are scrolling in real time.
[ Sword Cultivator Who Loves Oranges: Seeking to purchase study notes for "Introduction to Weapon Forging: Spiritual Energy Circuits" (must include detailed explanations of at least three common mistakes). Reward: 10 contribution points]
[ Elder Changming Is the Most Handsome: He needs three senior brothers to assist in debugging the new Cloud and Rain Spirit Machinery Law Artifact. They must understand basic Formation Inscription and be patient. The reward is 10 contribution points per day.]
[ Pill Furnace Headshot: Seeking improved cleaning talisman design proposals (efficiency increased by 10%, cost unchanged), adoption reward: 10 contribution points]
[ Dao Academy Mission: Go to the outskirts of Rooster Crow Mountain, collect 10 catties of samples of Corrupted Bone Vine, and record the distribution of Demon Beast along the way. Danger level: Medium. Reward: 80 contribution points, one bottle of healing pills]
On a large rectangular jade disc, various flower names are displayed.
Yes, inner court disciples can issue tasks anonymously without using their real names.
The tasks themselves were all incredibly varied and bizarre.
It may be related to the Dao Academy's assessment tasks, or it may be connected to one's own cultivation.
In short, it can be seen from this mission jade disc that the atmosphere of the inner courtyard of the Litian that of the outer courtyard and even other sects.
The disciples inside the General Affairs Hall examined the jade disc.
He accepted the task without a second thought.
Just as Xu Xiong closed his eyes to wait, a slightly heavy footstep sounded from outside.
His Foundation Establishment Divine Sense was quite sharp.
Sensing that aura of kindred spirits, Xu Xiong opened his eyes.
Elder Chen.
" Elder Xu? You... were you waiting for me here?"
A monk who appeared to be around forty years old, with a thin build and a ramrod straight back, entered the hall.
The newcomer had a square face, serious features, and deep wrinkles.
Her hair was combed meticulously, without a single stray strand.
The gold-embroidered blue robe he wore didn't exude any nobility on him; instead, it resembled a sharp official's uniform.
Even the wrinkles at the corners of her clothes were deliberately smoothed out.
"Yes, Elder Chen, I have received a decree from the sect leader that a new hall needs to be established in the inner and outer courtyards. Currently, there is a shortage of manpower, so I have come here to allocate personnel."
Xu Xiong clasped his hands in a fist salute, his tone slightly gentle.
Elder Chen Ke may seem aloof, but he is actually a very serious and meticulous person.
As expected, upon hearing what Xu Xiong said, the other party did not ask any further questions and simply reached out his hand.
" Elder Xu, please present the Sect Leader's edict for your perusal."
"That's natural."
Chen Ke respectfully accepted the identity jade token given to him by Lu Li with both hands and sent his Divine Sense into it.
The information in Lu Li's handwritten edict came into view without missing a single detail.
A moment later, the other party respectfully returned the jade token and clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"What kind of disciples does Elder Xu need? I can allocate manpower and assign assessment tasks for you right away."
"Yes, naturally one must be steady and mature. The new hall concerns matters of supplies, so one must be upright and trustworthy."
"Alright! Elder Xu wait a moment!"
Upon hearing Xu Xiong's request, Chen Ke acted swiftly.
He took out his identity jade token, engraved his Divine Sense into it, and a brand new inner court assessment task was quickly issued.
[ Dao Academy Mission: Assist Elder Xu of the Inner Court in constructing the new hall, and follow orders. Completion of this mission counts as passing the monthly assessment and will also reward you with 20 contribution points.]