After the path was cut off

Despite his lingering doubts, Li Wangxiang still held a sliver of hope for this mysterious and unpredictable master of what appeared to be a celestial artifact.

So he withdrew from his sea of ​​consciousness and took out all the assets he could still use from his sleeves, laying them out one by one on the table.

Xuan Li then conjured a faint phantom image, which hovered not far above his head.

Storage containers are extremely rare on Ziwei Star. The space between heaven and earth in this realm is stable, and it is difficult for anyone other than a Golden Core cultivator to carve out a space large enough to hold objects. Therefore, if a cultivator wants to store their personal belongings, they can mostly only cultivate techniques like "hidden universe in a sleeve." Li Wangxiang has never liked unorthodox methods, but he has ultimately learned such minor methods of everyday storage.

Xuan Li's mirror light swept across the table one by one. At first, it was relatively calm, but the more he looked, the more silent he became.

It swept through the pills first.

All the ordinary pills were gone, and only three spirit pills remained, none of which were related to healing or prolonging life. Xuan Li thought for a moment and realized that when this person's foundation was shattered and his life was about to be lost, he had probably swallowed almost everything edible.

Let's look at the talismans next.

All the magic talismans were gone, but there were still nine spirit talismans left, all of high quality. However, the quantity was still too small. Xuan Li thought for a moment and remembered that Li Wangxiang had apparently used one of the [Jade Universe Returning Heaven Talisman] to frighten Du Heng. Such spirit talismans were difficult to draw, and with Li Wangxiang's foundation now shattered, using one meant one less was truly lost; from now on, he would mostly have to save them as a life-saving trump card.

There are three magical artifacts, all of which have an old aura. They are obviously old objects that have been with me since I started practicing Qi, and I am reluctant to throw them away. They may not actually be of much use.

The magical artifacts are somewhat more presentable.

A seventh-grade spirit sword, a fifth-grade spirit robe, and a third-grade long shuttle for transportation.

As for spirit stones—

On the table were three small boxes, each about the size of a palm. As soon as the lids were opened, the luster of second-tier spirit stones shone out. Each box contained one thousand stones, and the three boxes were neatly arranged, totaling three thousand second-tier spirit stones.

Besides these, there are only a few scattered Taoist books, miscellaneous records, and cultivation notes.

That's it.

Jingguang paused on the table for a moment, and Xuanli finally couldn't hold back and spoke.

"Is this all you have?"

Li Wangxiang paused slightly when asked the question.

"almost."

Xuan Li was unsure whether this was a lot or a little in the Ziwei Star, so he turned the mirror light to one of the miscellaneous books.

The book cover had four characters written on it: "Miscellaneous Records of Cultivation".

There's no need to open the book and read it carefully; the mirror's light only needs to sweep across it once, and all the contents of the book are reflected into its consciousness.

After reading it, Xuan Li was speechless for a moment.

In its original imagination, Li Wangxiang was at least one of the most outstanding young people on Ziwei Star. True disciple, Daoist prodigy, Golden Core seed—none of these titles sounded like those of a poor person.

However, after comparing the common knowledge of cultivation recorded in "Miscellaneous Records of Cultivation", it was discovered that this so-called Daoist was actually quite poor.

Putting everything else aside, those three thousand second-tier spirit stones may seem like a lot at first glance, but according to the calculation in "Miscellaneous Records of Cultivation," they are only a respectable fortune for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The source of the Ziwei Star Spirit Stone is nothing more than two types.

Firstly, these are byproducts that cultivators nurture during their cultivation. Qi Refining cultivators may obtain a hundred or so Tier 1 spirit stones a year, or as few as one or two; Foundation Establishment cultivators are similar, except they obtain Tier 2 spirit stones instead.

Secondly, there is the spiritual vein.

A first-tier spiritual vein can produce hundreds to tens of thousands of first-tier spiritual stones per year; the same applies to second-tier spiritual veins, except that they only produce second-tier spiritual stones. Slight differences in quality and size can result in vastly different yields.

As for spirit stones of tier three and above—

The book "Miscellaneous Records of Cultivation" didn't even mention it.

Xuan Li glanced at the three boxes of second-tier spirit stones, then at the scattered items on Li Wangxiang's table, and finally couldn't help but say:

"What exactly have you been cultivating all these years?"

"He's supposed to be a true disciple, and this is all he has?"

Li Wangxiang sensed the disdain in its words, but he wasn't angry. He simply said calmly:

"Over the years, I have been single-mindedly pursuing the Dao, only thinking about first attaining the Golden Elixir. I have never paid much attention to anything else."

Xuan Li was still somewhat puzzled:

"Since you are so willing to protect mortals, why don't you think about leaving something for them?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wangxiang remained silent for a moment before speaking:

"If I achieve the Golden Elixir, all laws will be at peace."

"Furthermore, spiritual energy is locked up in Zhongzhou, and evil cultivators run rampant. My elder brothers are all mortals, and even the few nephews and nieces with spiritual apertures are only at the Qi Refining stage. Giving them good things would not protect them, but rather hasten their death."

At this point, he couldn't help but think of that sealed immortal skill again.

That immortal cultivation technique was originally immense; if it could truly be converted into resources, it would likely be enough to empty most of the sect's treasury. It was precisely for this reason that his path was blocked just before he was about to use it.

"I originally possessed a magical skill under my name," Li Wangxiang said, "but the Mirror Master probably knows that it was sealed away when I really needed to use it."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Li didn't even bother to flash the mirror anymore.

With such meager resources, you still want to bring your family and establish a celestial sect in the Abyss of Corruption?

But on second thought, it had to admit that there was some truth to it.

If Li Wangxiang had kept these trivial accounts on his mind every day, he might not have been able to muster the willpower to pursue gold all these years.

Now that the path to immortality has been abruptly cut off, we have no choice but to sit down and carefully manage these resources, and even have to calculate the expenses for relocating our clan, settling them down, and establishing our sect.

The difference is quite significant.

Seeing Xuan Li's silence, Li Wangxiang also fell silent for a moment.

In fact, if these things were only for his own cultivation, it would not be considered a shortage of resources.

But once it involves relocating clans, establishing families, managing sacred sites, and settling ordinary people—

This meager amount of money immediately became insufficient.

Renting a silver-backed ray costs money, escorting it along the way costs money, and building houses, setting up formations, and clearing the land to dispel miasma at Cloud Hidden Lake all cost money. Not to mention that if a conflict were to break out in the Rotten Water Abyss, the supplies and losses alone would be enough to devour most of these three boxes of spirit stones.

He wasn't entirely without options.

According to past practice, those who leave the sect can go to the General Affairs Hall to receive a batch of starting supplies; if that's not enough, they can also sell some of their secret techniques, magical artifacts, and old formations.

However you calculate it, it's far from being well-off.

While Li Wangxiang was still silently calculating in his mind, Xuan Li had already turned the mirror light to the remaining Taoist books and miscellaneous scrolls.

It read the first few volumes of Taoist books, alchemical manuals, and talisman records with little interest. Until the very end, its gaze suddenly stopped on a general outline of artifacts.

The page contained a passage:

"The sacrificial vessel embodies the essence of a sect and absorbs the fortune of countless generations. Incense is burned like fuel to infuse the vessel. It observes the changes of the clouds in the heavens above and explores the breath of the earth's veins below. With the vessel in place, immortal mountains are formed, sacred lands appear, and the sect is eternally secure."

Xuan Li fell silent.

Incense offerings, fortune, spirit, and ritual vessels.

These words sound so familiar.

In its remaining memory, this was clearly a method of nurturing a high-ranking artifact, albeit an unorthodox one. Disciples, mortal followers, and even the very fortune of the sect all became fuel for the artifact. While it might not necessarily harm lives, and could even benefit its followers in return, ultimately it was using the masses and all things to nurture an artifact.

It finally spoke:

"This ritual object...is it quite common?"

Li Wangxiang said:

"Anyone who establishes a celestial sect must set up a sacrificial vessel to monitor the four directions, regulate the earth's veins, and control the incense offerings. Without a sacrificial vessel, relying solely on human effort to manage a sacred site often yields half the results with twice the effort."

Xuan Li was stunned.

Is that all the benefits?

Should we allow such "evil" practices to spread openly and brazenly throughout the realm?

A perfectly healthy person, instead of cultivating and nourishing themselves, chooses to give away a wisp of their true spirit and a bit of their fortune to work for an object.

Are the humans on Ziwei Star all stupid?

It should have thought it absurd.

But in a flash, another dangerous yet almost delightful thought suddenly arose.

Since making other objects is also a form of work—

Why can't we give it a job?

The Xuanli Mirror suddenly shone brightly.

"Wonderful!"

"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!"

"If the sacrificial vessel can truly be erected, my methods that affect the soul will not have to be applied only to you."

"Your disciples, followers, relatives... can all take over."

"With my control over the divine soul, I will borrow the incense offerings of a sect, unite the spirits of the four directions, and gather the fortune of a region—"

"There is great potential here."

It spoke faster and faster, and even the moonlight on the mirror seemed to jump a little.

"Li Wangxiang".

"I've thought of a brilliant use for it; your chances of establishing a foothold are now slim."