“The Refining Hall’s benefits are incredible. I have to join!”
“The Sect Master truly values the hall. Its fortunes are about to change.”
“Its assessments look like those at the Battle Tower. The Refining Hall really may rise now.”
“Whatever the assessment is, I will pass it and get in!”
The disciples gathered around the noticeboard were flushed with excitement. Those who had already wanted to join were more determined than ever, and even onlookers began to consider it.
Standing behind Sun Yi, Elder Ye Luo read the announcement and grew worried. “Sect Master, how many resources will these rewards cost?”
Sun Yi smiled. “You have seen what the Microwave Detector can do. If we use it well, a great deal of material will come into the sect from the Myriad Demon Forest. Can Elder Yan and the few refiners with him process it all?”
“Should we sell those raw materials to other sects at low prices instead? Selling raw materials is the least profitable option. We need our own core techniques and products to earn much more.”
“That means training a large number of capable refiners. Without good benefits, why would they spend time improving their craft?”
“Please ask Elder Han Yun to move all the refining books from the Scripture Library to the Refining Hall. Once matters here are settled, I will turn to the other halls of miscellaneous arts.”
“You can let word spread now that I intend to support all of them. Their benefits will be no worse than the Refining Hall’s. I will prepare announcements for each hall, and you can have them posted there.”
As a Golden Core cultivator, Ye Luo could contact Han Yun from here. Sun Yi’s cultivation was too low to do the same, so he had to ask Ye Luo for help. This chapter is updated first at novelping . com.
He really needed to develop the walkie-talkie soon. But there were books to read, cultivation to pursue, and sect affairs to manage. There was too little time.
“I have other work to do, Elder Ye Luo. Let me know when Elder Han Yun is ready.”
“Go ahead. I will arrange what you asked as soon as I can.”
Sun Yi nodded and flew back to the Scripture Library, soon returning to his cultivation room.
“Welcome back, Sect Master.” Er Gouzi cupped his hands respectfully. Sun Yi had first assigned him to help organize the point system for resources in the Internal Affairs Hall. Afterward, he had brought Er Gouzi to cultivate at his side.
Er Gouzi’s cultivation had been too low even to fly, making him slow at carrying out tasks. Sun Yi had decided to train him. He was now at the peak of the fourth level of Qi Refining and close to the fifth. His manner toward Sun Yi had grown much less casual, though Sun Yi did not mind so long as he worked for him.
“Keep cultivating. Tell me if you need anything,” Sun Yi said.
“Thank you, Sect Master.”
Sun Yi looked at Luo An, who was meditating nearby. Six months at Sun Yi’s side had benefited him greatly. He had reached the great completion of Foundation Establishment, though his cultivation had yet to stabilize fully.
“Luo An, do you know the Split Spirit Technique?” Sun Yi asked, knowing Luo An could hear him even while cultivating.
“I want to read it. Please fetch it for me.”
“But—”
“I am the Sect Master. Surely I may read the sect’s texts? Do not worry. I only want to study it, not rush into practicing it.”
Remembering Sun Yi’s position, Luo An agreed and left. Sun Yi still had to work out the benefits for the other halls and the Refining Hall’s assessments.
Meanwhile, news of the Refining Hall’s announcement swept through the sect. It was brief, but its contents were startling.
First, Sun Yi would encourage artifact refining. Disciples who passed the hall’s entrance assessment could register as novice refiners.
They could then take the first-rank refiner assessment, worth ten points. Nearly a thousand first-rank refiners already belonged to the Qingyun Sect and could pass it easily.
A first-rank refiner who passed the second-rank assessment would receive one hundred points. A second-rank refiner who passed the third-rank assessment would receive one thousand. A third-rank refiner who passed the fourth-rank assessment would receive ten thousand. Like the Battle Tower, more difficult assessments brought larger rewards.
Registered second-rank refiners would also receive a minimum of ten points a year, third-rank refiners one hundred, and fourth-rank refiners one thousand.
The hall would reward research and innovation as well. A unique refining technique, spiritual artifact, or other device, once recognized by the hall, could qualify for a Sect Contribution Award.
The awards had six grades: fifth, fourth, third, second, first, and special. They paid ten, one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand, and five hundred thousand points respectively.
A unique technique or method of making a device would belong jointly to its creator and the sect. Anyone using it would pay points to both until the creator died, after which the technique would belong to the sect alone. Sun Yi knew his patent system had flaws, but it was better than none.