The primordial psyche cultivators returned to their bodies. Yaoguang immediately rose to his feet and offered a fist-and-palm salute toward the others. "Thank you very much, everyone."

"Please don't be so polite with us. This is what we should have done. To receive such a top-tier array art in exchange for nothing is truly a tremendous blessing for us."

"Deputy Hall Master Yaoguang, are you alright? Do you need to recuperate?"

"There is no need for thanks. You just endured a tremendous amount of Purple Firmament Divine Lightning. You should go and rest first. Moreover, this experience will help you when you face further lightning tribulations and temper your body with them."

"Indeed. When we channeled our primordial psyche power into you and your primordial psyche underwent tempering by the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning, we gained unique insights as well. If we do this a few more times, perhaps we can attempt to draw down even more Purple Firmament Divine Lightning to temper our own primordial psyches. Because of that alone, your help to us is immeasurable, Deputy Hall Master."

Listening to their description of the Heavenly Dao Sovereign state, Yaoguang felt slightly surprised, yet also thought it was natural.

Heavenly Dao Formlessness and Heavenly Dao Sovereign had been the core arts of the Heavenly Dao Sect. Their function had never been as simple as merely concentrating the power of multiple primordial psyches.

Their true profundity lay in allowing all primordial psyche power to stack, so that each participant could experience a higher level of the Primordial Psyche Realm and its cultivation through the shared perception.

"For the time being, you should practice more. Whenever one of you needs to draw Purple Firmament Divine Lightning for tempering, the others can join in and experience it as well. After several rounds, you will naturally grow proficient. It will also greatly enhance your psychic thought," Yaoguang said.

Murong Tianguang nodded. "That’s why I said earlier that receiving such a top-tier array art for nothing is an immense blessing for us primordial psyche cultivators."

"Once you’ve mastered it, you can teach it to other primordial psyche cultivators and assist them in crossing the Blazing Solar Lightning and Purple Firmament Divine Lightning."

At these words, Murong Tianguang froze. His pupils widened. "Deputy Hall Master Yaoguang, you mean... this top-tier array art can be passed on to others beyond the twenty-three of us?"

"It can," Yaoguang replied. After a brief pause, he added, "But before you teach it to anyone, inform me first."

He needed to ensure those people were trustworthy.

"Of course," Murong Tianguang answered solemnly. "I will report this matter to the sect master at once. Deputy Hall Master Yaoguang, your array art is just as valuable as the improved spirit-gathering array."

"Consider it my modest contribution to the sect," Yaoguang said.

Murong Tianguang nodded, committing the matter to memory. Soon, Yaoguang bade farewell to the twenty-three primordial psyche cultivators and returned to his residence. Having shared in the experience of his crossing of the Purple Firmament Divine Lightning, the cultivators had each gained insight and returned to their respective dwellings to enter seclusion.

Every primordial psyche cultivator who had survived Purple Firmament Divine Lightning was a major figure who would normally be guarding an entire region. They each had countless affairs to handle and could not linger long at Sky Patrol Research Institute No. 3. Very quickly, the institute gradually grew quiet.

***

Within the Void Psychic World, Li Qingshan asked expectantly, "How did it go?"

"I succeeded." Yaoguang smiled faintly. For matters everyone already knew about, there was no need to conceal anything further.

"Good! Excellent!" Li Qingshan’s eyes shone with joy. "Who would have thought... Who would have thought that our Nine Cauldrons Sect would also produce a Dharma Form cultivator? We have become the fourth force in this world to possess a Dharma Form cultivator! This is truly wonderful!"

"How is the perfected master?" Yaoguang asked instead.

In the later stage of the Purple Firmament Lightning Tribulation, he had already brushed against the chaotic void and naturally sensed the clash that had occurred in that region.

"My martial uncle..." At the mention of Li Hanqiu, Li Qingshan’s elation softened slightly.

Before he could speak, Li Hanqiu himself appeared within the Void Psychic World, smiling broadly. "I’m very well. Better than ever. To witness the birth of a Dharma Form cultivator within the Nine Cauldrons Sect is the happiest moment I’ve experienced in all these years!"

Yaoguang looked at the Golden Core perfected master and pondered briefly. He refrained from speaking meaningless words. His next branch was the Qi Dao. Once he elevated its level, he would certainly obtain the proper method for forming a Golden Core. Then, he could attempt to stabilize Li Hanqiu’s Golden Core state.

"I believe the situation of the Nine Cauldrons Sect will only continue to improve. In another ten or twenty years, we might be able to contend for the status of hegemon against the Thousand-Beast Sect, the Immortal Alliance, and the Infinite Star Palace," Yaoguang said.

"We believe that as well." Li Hanqiu nodded, then looked straight at Yaoguang. "Focus on your cultivation. If you need anything, feel free to tell us."

"I understand." Yaoguang nodded. "Next, I will need a batch of pills used for qi refinement."

He added, "Spend what must be spent. There’s no need to be polite."

"We certainly won’t be polite." Li Qingshan laughed. "You are the wealthiest man in the Nine Cauldrons Sect. It would not be an exaggeration to say your wealth rivals the sect itself."

"You intend to cultivate all three paths simultaneously?" Li Hanqiu asked.

"Yes!" Yaoguang nodded. "Cultivating all three paths truly represents the future. Focusing on only one will cause my path to grow narrower the higher I climb."

He paused slightly. "Personally, I believe the three paths should already be cultivated together at the great cultivator tier, within the Foundation Building Realm, to truly lay a solid foundation for forming a Golden Core in the future."

"To build a solid foundation at the Foundation Building Realm..." Li Hanqiu sighed. "We know the foundation must be laid well at that stage. But those with the aptitude to cultivate multiple paths simultaneously are exceedingly rare."

"Perhaps development simply hasn’t reached the required stage yet." Yaoguang thought of the Heavenly Spirit Root.

Since such rare natural treasures existed, it proved they could be cultivated under specific environmental conditions. They could even be refined into medicinal pills. It was only that the development of the Great Cangwu World had been distorted.

Before the invasion of the Lunar Fiend Empire, the strongest experts in the Great Cangwu World had reached the Nascent Soul Realm. Yet, in terms of combat power, they had not even matched the current Golden Core Realm.

Back then, the Great Cangwu World had not yet reached the point where cultivating all three paths simultaneously was necessary, but the invasion had forced their experts to focus on pursuing the extreme, combat-focused Golden Core path.

Although the Lunar Fiend Empire’s invasion had accelerated the development of combat power, that focus had caused the other aspects to lag behind, creating a massive disparity.

"Your pills will be delivered shortly," Li Qingshan said, glancing at Yaoguang. "You’re in a rapid growth phase right now. If necessary, you can set aside matters at the Sky Patrol Research Institute for the time being."

"It’s fine. I have time." As Yaoguang spoke, he seemed to recall something. "Speaking of Sky Patrol Warships, after more than a year of research, we’ve completed the design of our first warship. Its performance has reached the standard of a third-generation Sky Patrol Warship! The only issue is that we haven't had the time to optimize the design, so the cost will be relatively high. But once we personally oversee the construction of one, many of the technologies that for now exist only on paper will be optimized."

"You’ve finished designing a Sky Patrol Warship? And its specs reach third-generation standards?" Li Qingshan looked astonished.

"Don’t underestimate the efficiency of a Dharma Form cultivator," Li Hanqiu said with a laugh. "If we’re going to build it, then build it. What’s the estimated cost?"

"About 30 million spirit stones," Yaoguang answered.

Li Hanqiu’s smile stiffened slightly. "30 million?! Although the Nine Cauldrons Sect’s annual spirit stone production has already surpassed 100 million, 30 million is still an astronomical figure. After all, spirit stones are consumed in countless areas."

"I’ll pay this fee for now. When the sect has enough spirit stones, you can reimburse me," Yaoguang said.

Li Hanqiu and Li Qingshan exchanged glances. "That... is indeed a solution."

Neither of them doubted Yaoguang’s ability to produce 30 million spirit stones.

"Then we’ll rely on you to front the cost."

"The sect owes you yet another favor." The two spoke sincerely.

"We’re all members of the Nine Cauldrons Sect. There’s no need to draw such clear distinctions," Yaoguang replied. "If you truly feel bad about it, help promote external sales of the Purple Firmament Type 13. The more flying swords we sell, the more additional revenue the sect will earn."

"We’re just worried you’ll be overwhelmed," Li Qingshan said.

"I'm almost done teaching others the improved spirit-gathering array. In a few more months at most, Hall Master Gao Shenghan and the others will graduate successfully. Once that is settled, I can focus on producing Purple Firmament flying swords for external sale and crafting the Sky Patrol Warship," Yaoguang said.

The two nodded. After discussing several more details, Yaoguang withdrew from the Void Psychic World.

Over the next month, he focused on consolidating his Dharma Form Realm. Each day, he seemed to discover entirely new applications of his Dharma Form.

Knowing that he would inevitably confront the Dharma Form cultivators of the Infinite Star Palace, the Thousand-Beast Sect, and the Immortal Alliance, he selected two additional secret techniques on top of Heavenly Dao Formlessness and Heavenly Dao Sovereign. One was called Heaven Shatterer, and the other was called Suppressor of Mountains and Rivers. One for offense, one for defense.

When cultivated to their limits, the former could tear apart a grotto-heaven formed from the True Spirit, while the latter possessed the ability to suppress a grotto-heaven. These were secret arts that would still retain significant power even upon reaching the Void-Piercing Realm.

He studied and adapted to them. Meanwhile, his psychic thought continuously roamed within the Void Psychic World. He even managed to probe the outer edges of the Void Psychic Worlds established by the Dharma Form cultivators of the Thousand-Beast Sect, the Immortal Alliance, and the Infinite Star Palace.

Thanks to the subtlety of Heavenly Dao Formlessness, the three immortal sects’ Dharma Form cultivators couldn't sense his presence at all.

After circling their Void Psychic Worlds and observing carefully, Yaoguang became certain that—if he wished to—he could use Heaven Shatterer to destroy their Void Psychic Worlds extremely quickly.

I knew it. I knew that once I achieved the Dharma Form, I would become the strongest Dharma Form cultivator in the Great Cangwu World. And now... it seems I was indeed right. Yaoguang reflected inwardly. We are all Dharma Form cultivators, yet compared to the three sects’ Dharma Forms... mine feels as though it belongs to an entirely different generation.

Although he possessed the ability to shatter the Void Psychic Worlds created by the three sects’ Dharma Form cultivators, he obviously could not act rashly. Li Hanqiu could not withstand the combined fury of all the Golden Core cultivators from the Thousand-Beast Sect, the Immortal Alliance, and the Infinite Star Palace.

Once done looking, Yaoguang withdrew. As he continued to adapt to the abilities of the Dharma Form realm, a new branch finally sprouted from the ancient tree. As expected, it was the Qi Dao branch.