"Recommend distancing yourself immediately and remaining vigilant!"
Ten large, bright red characters met Lu Li's eyes.
This was the paper copy of the strategic analysis report he had just picked up.
The call had already ended.
Holding the strategic analysis report, Lu Li was somewhat dazed.
He had originally only suspected that something was off about Ye Chenfeng.
But after the country had analyzed and described the information he provided,
it had actually... all but confirmed his suspicions!
"Looks just like an autistic child holding imaginary conversations..."
"An entity called a 'grandpa'..."
"He really is the 'protagonist'!"
"This..."
Lu Li was speechless. He did not know what to say.
The country's capabilities were beyond question.
Although no final verdict had been reached,
a probability of 75% was practically solid proof. Add his own suspicions to that,
and it was essentially fact.
"Luckily... I haven't spent much time with him."
"He also entered the outer sect a few months before me... with his talent,"
"the two of us probably won't cross paths again..."
Somewhat reassured, Lu Li continued leafing through the strategic analysis report.
This strategic report, drawn up by Great Xia's foremost think tank, could be called seamless.
From the limited information available, they had worked out the safest, most reliable plan.
Whatever else one might say, in a sense, this think tank alone counted as a golden finger.
"It's only because this is a cultivation world... if this were some ancient dynasty..."
"I reckon I could take on all the strategists in the world bundled together."
The more Lu Li read, the more reassured he felt, and he was immensely satisfied.
Although he was not strong yet and had little equipment,
according to the Battle Command Department's plan, as long as he kept an eye on the missions posted by the General Affairs Hall
and picked the safest ones, he could get through safely.
Afterward, he would accumulate Spirit Stones and contribution points, learn the hundred cultivation arts when he had time, and advance his cultivation.
He would send cultivation resources back, combining them with research backed by the strength of all Great Xia.
Ten years later... becoming invincible within Qi Refinement was not impossible!
"Invincible within Qi Refinement in ten years might be a little weak in a novel..."
"But in a real cultivation world, that would already be legendary."
"As for Foundation Establishment... the Battle Command Department recommends that I establish my foundation at forty-eight..."
"Establishing my foundation then would, first, give me the most stable foundation and the highest success rate, and second... put me right on the average..."
"Not bad, not bad."
Lu Li had great faith in the Battle Command Department's analysis.
It had already been verified in the menial disciples' district.
The change in Bai Sheng's attitude toward him had been very clear...
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Lu Li continued turning the pages of the strategic analysis report.
Apart from precautions, the entire analysis report
also listed his immediate priorities and specific goals in detail...
"Taking safe missions to protect myself is the top priority."
"Learning as many of the hundred cultivation arts as possible... is the specific goal."
"Great Xia's technological methods should be an enormous help to me in these arts."
After finishing the analysis report, Lu Li's gaze was drawn to the little blue-green bottle beside him.
This little bottle had been forged using Azure Gold Ore slag as its material.
It could seal spirit liquid perfectly, preventing any leakage.
In a sense, this object... was a product of 'artifact refining.'
"Great Xia knows absolutely nothing about the cultivation world's artifact-refining techniques."
"Yet technological methods alone produced a little bottle rich in spiritual essence... even if that was because they used a spiritual material..."
"But if I could learn artifact refining, then send its secrets back to Blue Star... supplemented by technological methods, couldn't we accomplish even more?"
After carefully considering it, Lu Li had made up his mind.
The strategic analysis report had already stated that the hundred cultivation arts would be extremely helpful in advancing his cultivation and opening up new prospects.
They were his specific near-term goal.
Since that was the case, he might as well try learning artifact refining first.
"Other people refine artifacts alone at most, with a few apprentices helping..."
"When I refine artifacts... behind me stands the nation with the greatest industrial output on a technological planet, known as the industrial Cthulhu."
"They don't call it the infrastructure maniac for nothing. I reckon as long as I can master some artifact-refining methods..."
"With Great Xia's capabilities, who knows what they might build!"
Thinking of Great Xia's terrifying production capacity, Lu Li could not help feeling his mouth go dry and his spirits surge.
He already could not wait to see what sparks would fly when modern industry collided with cultivation artifact refining.
At that thought, Lu Li raised his hand and picked up a little blue-green bottle beside him.
"Now... let's see how effective this spirit liquid purified through industrial methods is!"
As the thought stirred, Lu Li curled his finger.
With a pop, he flicked the bottle open.
The instant its stopper flew off,
an exceptionally pure, rich trace of Spiritual Power wafted out.
Merely smelling it invigorated him.
Lu Li's eyes lit up. Not daring to delay, he hurriedly tipped it into his palm.
A mass of rich spirit liquid gleaming blue and gold shone brilliantly,
illuminating his expectant face.
"This Azure Gold Spirit Liquid was purified from spirit ore, so it can't be taken internally... only applied externally."
"Apparently... only a Foundation Establishment True Person can purify spirit liquid."
"By that reckoning, I more or less have a True Person working for me behind the scenes..."
He shook his head with a soft laugh.
The Five Elements Instruction was already circulating.
"Hum!"
The mass of Azure Gold Spirit Liquid pooled in Lu Li's palm was absorbed completely through his skin in the blink of an eye.
An immensely rich stream of Spiritual Power bearing the sharp quality of metal appeared within his meridians.
"Boom!"
The powerful metallic quality stabbed at Lu Li, making him frown involuntarily.
Yet he did not dare stop, afraid of wasting it.
He forcibly refined it.
Time trickled by.
Only after roughly several hours
was that powerful Spiritual Power completely condensed and absorbed.
"Whew... what a treasure!"
He let out a deep breath, as though relaxing.
Lu Li opened his eyes.
The depths of his eyes were filled with joy.
"This Azure Gold Spirit Liquid is potent. Just this one portion is worth a month of bitter cultivation."
"It's rather uncomfortable, but the increase in my cultivation is real."
"Once I've absorbed all ten bottles... even if I can't break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, I should be close."
With a slight stir of his mind,
he sensed the modest increase in Law Power within his Dantian.
Lu Li was immensely satisfied and did not rest.
He put away the empty little bottle.
Then he picked up two more little blue-green bottles containing Azure Gold Spirit Liquid in succession.
He poured them into his palm one after another.
And began cultivating.
"Hum!"
"Hum! Hum! Hum!"
As his Cultivation Method circulated, the spirit liquid was absorbed once more.
Lu Li's presence steadily grew stronger, little by little...