Plans and Skilled Talent
At the sight of the mountain gate's lv4 spiritual effect, Li Yunjing's eyes lit up.
It would work in conjunction with the sect-protecting formation. That was a good thing.
The mountain gate's upgrade requirement was simple, too.
All it needed was a sect-protecting formation.
Once the Sect Grand Hall was upgraded to lv4, it would generate a sect-protecting formation.
That meant the mountain gate could be upgraded immediately after the Sect Grand Hall.
He walked through the mountain gate and followed the steps into Serene Valley.
After he returned to the Luozhen Sect,
The five disciples were sparring in the training ground.
Lü Hong had taken Mo Xuan's place, instructing the other four.
Lü Hong had been an Early Qi Refining cultivator before joining the Luozhen Sect.
He had spent some time out in the world and had experience fighting with Law Techniques.
The other four were all fledglings.
Now that Mo Xuan was in seclusion, only Lü Hong could instruct them.
Li Yunjing had no time to spare for that.
After greeting the five disciples,
Li Yunjing planned to upgrade the training ground.
He took out fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones and five jin of refined iron.
Li Yunjing silently willed it to upgrade.
The training ground rose from lv0 to lv1.
[Training ground (lv1)] [Lv2 spiritual effects: Law Technique proficiency accumulation speed +25%; comprehension temporarily +8% during sparring.] [Upgrade requirements: Hundred-refined copper × 8 jin, heart-enlightening stone × 1, Low-Grade Spirit Stones × 30.]
After the upgrade, Li Yunjing prepared to leave and upgrade the other buildings.
Just then, Lü Hong jumped down from the training platform and walked over to him.
"Sect Master."
Lü Hong bowed to Li Yunjing.
"Yes? Is something the matter?" Li Yunjing was puzzled.
Lü Hong nodded respectfully.
"Reporting to Sect Master, when I was a Rogue Cultivator, I learned to draw talismans, and my skills were quite good.
I can draw mid-grade, first-rank spirit talismans."
"Oh? I couldn't tell you were a skilled craftsman too. Why didn't you say so before?"
Li Yunjing's eyes widened slightly.
Lü Hong felt helpless. "Reporting to Sect Master, I saw that the Luozhen Sect lacked the conditions for drawing talismans, so I kept it to myself.
But now that I have seen Sect Master reach Foundation Establishment, it is only a matter of time before the Luozhen Sect grows stronger.
I also want to do my part, so I boldly ask Sect Master for something.
I would like to build a talisman chamber. I hope Sect Master will agree."
Hearing this, Li Yunjing burst out laughing.
"All right, I approve."
Lü Hong's eyes widened, and he jerked his head up to look at Li Yunjing.
He hadn't expected Li Yunjing to agree so readily.
Lü Hong had originally thought he would have to do a good deal of persuading.
After all, although drawing talismans didn't consume as much as refining pills or crafting artifacts,
The expense still couldn't be underestimated.
Take pill refining: out of ten attempts,
One success was enough to count as a beginner.
The other nine failures were counted as losses.
And an Alchemist spent considerable time progressing from beginner to mastery.
Likewise, the losses would be considerable.
To make a profit out of ten attempts, at least three had to succeed.
Only then could the losses from the other seven be recouped.
The same went for drawing talismans.
It was just that the materials used for talismans weren't as expensive as spirit medicines.
Generally speaking, unless a sect had deep reserves, it was all but impossible for it to support a talisman master.
It cost too much.
But Lü Hong didn't know what Li Yunjing was thinking.
Once the talisman chamber was built, Li Yunjing wouldn't be afraid of losing money at all.
Given enough time, Li Yunjing could earn back every bit of money he lost.
"I'll contact craftsmen to build the talisman chamber. Wait patiently." Li Yunjing patted Lü Hong on the shoulder.
He had just turned to leave.
Suddenly, Li Yunjing turned back around.
"Oh, right. Tell the other four to visit the Scripture Repository when they have time and look at the basic pill-refining manual, the basic artifact-crafting manual, and the like.
Have them try practicing and see if they have any talent in those areas.
If they do, remember to report it promptly.
Find time to teach the other four your talisman-drawing skills too, and see if any of them have a talent for it."
Lü Hong nodded in agreement,
And Li Yunjing entered Luozhen Hall.
Inside Luozhen Hall, Li Yunjing pondered.
The Luozhen Sect was in urgent need of versatile talent.
Artifact crafting, pill refining, talisman drawing, and even formation setting-
He needed to find people to carry them all on.
A proper sect needed at least an Alchemist, an artifact crafter, a talisman master, and a formation master.
Only then could it meet some of the sect's needs.
Otherwise, if they wanted pills, Law Artifacts, and the like, they would have to buy them.
That was no small expense.
Unless they had a mine, it wasn't worth it.
But training an Alchemist, an artifact crafter, or the like
Was no easy task.
Ordinary sects couldn't afford to support them either.
If they couldn't train their own, they could only hire outsiders.
But outsiders were, in the end, not people they had trained themselves.
Who knew if they might sell them out?
Li Yunjing didn't need to worry about that drawback.
As long as the sect buildings were there,
It would be much easier for the Luozhen Sect to train Alchemists, artifact crafters, and the like
Than it was for other sects.
Li Yunjing's only concern at present was a shortage of people.
Besides common craftspeople like Alchemists and artifact crafters,
There were also less common professions, such as spirit plant growers and brewers.
Li Yunjing planned to train a batch of them as well.
I'll have to find a chance to recruit more people later, Li Yunjing thought.
Putting aside his stray thoughts, Li Yunjing took out the materials for upgrading the Sect Grand Hall.
Twelve pieces of iron essence, one piece of jade marrow, and a formation diagram for a first-rank defensive formation.
He silently willed the upgrade, and Luozhen Hall soon rose from lv3 to lv4.
[Sect Grand Hall (lv4)] [Lv5 spiritual effects: monthly Spiritual Qi production increased to 60 units; disciples' success rate when breaking through minor realms +50%; Spiritual Qi conversion rate +40% when the sect master cultivates here. Can automatically trigger a group buff once per month, increasing cultivation speed by 30% and reducing the chance of encountering a bottleneck by 30%. Generates a sect-protecting formation capable of resisting cultivators up to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. One member of the Luozhen Sect can be selected to enter a state of sudden enlightenment for ten breaths. This effect can be used once per year.] [Upgrade requirements: Heavenly Gang stone × 1, Dao-enlightening stone × 3, sect prosperity reaches fifteen.]
"Hiss!"
Seeing the lv5 spiritual effects, Li Yunjing drew a sharp breath.
The lv5 Sect Grand Hall could actually select a Luozhen Sect cultivator to enter a state of sudden enlightenment.
Wasn't that effect a little heaven-defying?
After all, once someone entered a state of sudden enlightenment,
Even a pig could rival a heaven's chosen during that time.
"It's a pity it doesn't last long, and the effect can only be used once a year." Li Yunjing sighed.
But it didn't matter. If he kept upgrading it, those two limitations would improve sooner or later.
Li Yunjing walked out of Luozhen Hall and upgraded every building that was due for one.
[Spirit Field (lv3)] [Lv4 spiritual effects: crop growth cycle reduction increased to 60%; when absorbing and cultivating wood- or earth-attribute Cultivation Methods within ten zhang, Spiritual Qi absorption speed +50%. Automatically eliminates first-rank pests; +40% chance of beneficial mutations in spirit plants. Produces one drop of condensed spring dew every seven days. +10% chance for crops to automatically rise by one grade.] [Upgrade requirements: second-rank earth milk essence × 1 bottle; set up a second-rank Spirit Gathering Formation.]
[Alchemy Chamber (lv2)] [Lv3 spiritual effects: pill-refining success rate +40%; pill-refining experience accumulation +40%; chance of refining superior-quality pills +30%. +10% chance for pills to automatically rise by one grade.] [Upgrade requirements: second-rank earth core fire crystal × 3 pieces, second-rank temperature-control formation disk × 1]
[Scripture Repository (lv3)] [Lv4 spiritual effects: speed of comprehending Cultivation Methods +18%; +30% chance to automatically correct misunderstandings while studying in the Scripture Repository. +10% chance to complete an incomplete Cultivation Method. Divine Sense consumption while comprehending Cultivation Methods -20%.] [Upgrade requirements: second-rank soul-nourishing wood × 10 pieces, second-rank Spirit-Calming Incense × 5 sticks, Low-Grade Spirit Stones × 100]
[Cultivation chamber (lv2)] [Lv3 spiritual effects: Spiritual Qi concentration +40%; cultivation speed +40% and risk of Qi Deviation -25% when cultivating here. An empowerment can be triggered once every ten days; cultivation +5%.] [Upgrade requirements: first-rank Soul-Calming Jade × 1, first-rank Heart-Clearing Condensed Dew × 3 drops, Low-Grade Spirit Stones × 60]
[Medicine garden (lv2)] [Lv3 spiritual effects: spirit medicine maturation time reduced by 45%; +25% chance for ordinary spirit medicines to reach superior quality. A buff is triggered once every seven days, adding one year to the medicinal age of all mature spirit medicines. Produces one drop of moonlight spirit dew every fifteen days.] [Upgrade requirements: first-rank moonlight grass juice × 3 bottles, Low-Grade Spirit Stones × 40]
[Disciple quarters (lv1)] [Lv2 spiritual effects: recovery speed while resting +20%; cultivation speed while meditating +20% +10% chance to clear negative statuses during deep rest] [Upgrade requirements: agarwood spirit wood × 15 pieces, first-rank brocade × 10 bolts, Low-Grade Spirit Stones × 20]