It was the next day after Aotian's breakthrough to the Golden Core.
After waking up, he and Rihai were lying in bed, relaxing while chatting. Aotian was telling her about his advancement process.
"So you broke through to the Golden Core, and not only that, but you also created a Supreme Core?"
Rihai looked at Aotian, speechless.
She knew he had a low-quality five-element root—something that had not changed since the beginning. After all, in the rare moments of clarity during dual cultivation, she could still sense his roots through the synchronicity they reached, and she realized they were still the same.
And that was the most terrifying part.
Although she didn't understand why the sect, with its vast resources, mysterious background, and great power, didn't acquire herbs to improve their young master's roots, it didn't change the fact that he had forged a Supreme Core with the worst roots in the cultivation world.
"Well, it wasn't difficult for your man. And with the sect's techniques, soon every disciple will also forge such excellent cores," Aotian teased, his arms tightening around her delicate form as she half-leaned against him, feeling his warmth.
Rihai rolled her eyes, a soft chuckle escaping her lips, before she nestled deeper into his chest. A few strands of her fragrant hair slid gently over her shoulder.
"Supreme Cores aren't weeds that grow anywhere. Even if the sect's techniques give an incredible foundation and practically guarantee a high-quality Golden Core… it can still happen that… that the control fails and a Supreme Core isn't achieved… err… right?" as she spoke, she began to sound unsure.
In the end, she looked at Aotian in doubt, no longer certain about anything, thinking about how terrifying the sect's techniques really were.
He was amused to see her uncertain expression, even a little frightened at the thought of ten thousand disciples with Supreme Cores.
Nodding with a playful smile, Aotian explained.
"You're correct. Although the sect's techniques allow anyone to reach such a core, it's still necessary to have strong mastery of one's own technique, spend time refining the foundation, and strengthen control over spiritual energy. Otherwise, even if a high-quality core is guaranteed, a supreme core won't be. And of course, if they advance recklessly, without polishing their base and only chasing cultivation levels for speed, not even a high-quality core is guaranteed."
He explained, but his words still made Rihai's lips twitch.
Aotian was basically saying that, as long as the disciples made a well-prepared and calm breakthrough, they could probably achieve a core rarely seen in the world—almost proof of frightening cultivation talent.
And the worst part was, she couldn't deny it.
Even as he said this, he himself wasn't entirely sure all disciples could form a Supreme Golden Core.
Thinking about it, he actually realized it had been a good decision to demand so many contribution points for disciples to acquire the Golden Core techniques. Without that barrier, they might advance as soon as they obtained the technique.
With this requirement, at least they would have to spend plenty of time completing tasks to accumulate points, which would give them enough time to strengthen and refine their foundation, ensuring the quality of the cores when advancing.
The sect's techniques might border on perfection, but it still depended on the disciples making the most of what was given to them.
In the end, even if they achieved a supreme golden core, Aotian was confident it would not be as supreme as his own. After all, whether in mastery of the technique, refinement of the base, or control over energy—enhanced by the power of his avatars' minds + feedback + training—these were achievements far beyond what any disciple could attain.
…
Tian Zhu, the sect leader, sat calmly on his black throne with golden patterns, now with new armrests shaped like fierce golden dragon heads.
His aura, as oppressive as ever, seemed even heavier with his recent realm breakthrough.
Jian Huiyin, standing at the foot of the high throne's stairs, when she lifted her head to look at the leader, couldn't help but get the impression that he was even more majestic than before—his aura as suffocating as the one she remembered feeling when she first saw the ancestor Bao Wuji. But she didn't dwell on it.
Those realms were still too far from her, making her unable to truly understand changes in aura. She judged it might just be her mind playing tricks on her.
Not that she couldn't imagine the leader had advanced, but whether he had or not, she couldn't say. Perhaps he was simply releasing more aura. After all, she knew how terrifying the sect's aura-concealing techniques were.
When she saw Tian Zhu's gaze fall upon her, she dropped her thoughts, clasped her fists, and bowed.
"Sect Leader, I have come to report on the task the sect entrusted to the Bamboo Sword Sect."
She spoke with an indifferent voice and expression, slightly ethereal, yet maintaining a respectful posture, her silver hair sliding over her shoulders as she bowed.
Tian Zhu slightly raised his hand, and an invisible force followed his gesture, gently lifting Jian Huiyin from her bowed position.
"Speak," he said simply, with an indifference almost mirroring her own.
She nodded and began her report respectfully.
"First of all, we have already built the cities around the mountain, following the designs sent by the sect. The imperial examinations were also carried out in various mortal cities, and those who passed were subjected to heart tests under Elder Lie Zheng's supervision, eliminating those with dark hearts."
She explained, catching Aotian's attention, who was watching through the indifferent eyes of Tian Zhu.
He did not speak and let her continue.
"The governing body of the cities has been trained as per your request, and an army for each city has been established by recruiting soldiers from other regions. Currently, all members and their families have been allocated to their respective cities, and soon, the population from other territories will be sent by the members of the Bamboo Sword Sect to further populate the cities," she concluded, remaining calm.
Tian Zhu listened quietly and finally nodded.
"Good, I am satisfied. You may now access the Core-Tier techniques in your sword pavilion. If there is nothing else, you may leave," he replied with indifference, in a tone that mixed both reward and dismissal.
Jian Huiyin, however, did not become upset at being dismissed so simply after so much work. On the contrary, she was completely happy.
She knew that what the Bamboo Sword Sect was doing would not normally yield rewards, since the Infinite Dao Sect had already granted her sect a complete upgrade, and now they were merely repaying that debt with services.
And that service was negligible in value compared to what they had received.
More importantly, she rejoiced because, apparently, the sect leader bore no grudge for the shameless request she had made last time, even allowing her to access Core-Tier techniques she had long desired after such a small service, even if she had performed it with full focus and sincerity.
She knew how extraordinary the sect's cultivation techniques were and had always wanted one. However, until now, she could not access the Golden Core techniques necessary for her cultivation. Now, she finally could.
No longer being the leader of the Bamboo Sword Sect, having passed the position to the former grand elder, and now with the new techniques in hand, she could dedicate herself almost entirely to cultivation and to her sword path, which left her feeling light and content.
Bowing and thanking the leader again, letting a bit of her excitement slip through her cold facade, she turned, quickened her pace, and departed.
With her departure, Tian Zhu blinked calmly as he reflected on the report.
'The cities are ready to receive people. Soon, millions will be allocated to them. Who would have thought that a nobody like me would one day hold the lives and fates of millions in my hands.'
Aotian thought, feeling a bit distant from reality.
During this time, aside from cultivating, Aotian had not been idle.
He had already corrected the Feng Shui on a large scale around the sect, planning precisely for the construction of the cities and the allocation of mortals in them.
At first, he considered applying Feng Shui to an even larger area, but realized it would be too laborious and time-consuming, and pointless at the moment.
Mainly because, in the poor spiritual energy environment of the desert, he could only create a low-quality first-level Feng Shui environment — and even then, he barely managed to reach that level.
He wanted something stronger, but for that, a potent spiritual energy source was necessary to sustain the environment, something the desert lacked.
Fortunately, the Feng Shui he created allowed the region to attract more spiritual energy from the surroundings, enabling it to maintain a low-level environment. Without that, it would just be a slightly improved mortal environment.
On the downside, the spiritual energy outside the Feng Shui area decreased slightly, as it was being drawn inward.
Aotian was powerless against that. He could improve the environment, expel impurities, and attract spiritual energy from outside, but he could not create energy from nothing.
After enhancing the environment around the sect, he began the second part of the plan: creating mortal cities around it, managing them, and applying certain projects he had in mind.
At first, he wanted to govern all cities, mortal and immortal, under his control. But upon realizing the absurd number of mortal cities, he reluctantly gave up — his available workforce was high quality, but far too small in number.
That was when he came up with an ambitious plan, summarized in three steps.
'First step: create cities around the sect, in an area with enhanced Feng Shui, and fill them with people.'
'Second step: learn to manage them well, train trustworthy personnel, apply some modern ideas to improve people's lives, and test a few interesting ideas I've had.'
'Third step: create the Infinite Dao Empire, let it expand under my supervision, then encompass the entire mortal side of the world, while the Infinite Dao Sect governed the immortal side of things. All for the greater good, of course…'
A playful smile appeared on Aotian's lips as he recalled his interesting plans.