Chapter 344: The Flying Boat
"Zhan Shulong, Fang Xuan, Miao Rui have conspired with outsiders, attempting to seize the assets of our East Zhou Trading Company. I humbly request the four senior martial uncles to make a decision in favor of the disciples!" Wang Hong pleaded, bowing down.
"Ah, we are already aware of this matter. We three old fellows truly owe an apology to Wang Shizu. We have already punished the three of them, deducting ten thousand contribution points from each and ordering them to reflect on their actions in seclusion within the Abyssal Cave for a year.
At the same time, we will transfer the thirty thousand contribution points they have forfeited to compensate Wang Shizu. How does Wang Shizu feel about this?" Blue Dragon Hall Master, in a seemingly fair manner, shifted the blame onto the three individuals and imposed penalties.
Wang Hong had no choice in this matter, given that they were Core Elders of the sect and held substantial power.
"Thank you, senior martial uncles, for your decision," Wang Hong expressed his gratitude. Receiving thirty thousand contribution points wasn't bad at all; his trip wasn't entirely in vain.
"Wang Shizu, I summoned you here for another important matter," Blue Dragon Hall Master said, shifting the conversation from Zhan Shulong and the others to official business.
"I wonder what it is, please instruct me, senior uncle," Wang Hong respectfully replied.
"As you are now the vice hall master of Blue Dragon Hall, you are eligible to know about some of our strategic arrangements. Currently, the Demon Clan has launched a massive invasion, and a Beast Tide has formed on the outskirts. I presume you have heard something about it."
Wang Hong nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, I've heard rumors."
"Now, as the vice hall master of Blue Dragon Hall, you are qualified to be informed about our strategy to counter this threat." Blue Dragon Hall Master proceeded to provide Wang Hong with a brief overview of the situation, including the Beast Tide formed by the convergence of the West Zhou Demon Realm and the East Sea Demon Clan, which posed a formidable threat.If not handled properly, it could lead to the downfall of the entire Qingxu Sect. To address this crisis, the sect had mobilized a vast amount of resources, including the cultivation of over five hundred Foundation Building cultivators through the use of Foundation Establishment Pills alone. Other resources were also being deployed.
The centuries-old accumulation of the sect's resources was truly formidable. After extensive discussions among the sect's high-ranking members, they decided that both defense and offense must be simultaneous. Passive defense alone would eventually lead to the sect's defeat.
Currently, the sect had organized all cultivators within its sphere of influence into three defensive lines. These three lines, centered around Qingxu Sect, formed concentric circles.
The outermost layer consisted of Treasure Hunters who had been subjugated and newly recruited cultivators.
The second layer was composed of Qingxu Sect's cultivators and the previously established local forces, including those like Liao Yang whom Wang Hong had encountered before.
The innermost layer was made up entirely of Qingxu Sect's disciples.
Additionally, the sect had assembled a group of elite forces, led by Golden Core cultivators, who would pilot large Flying Boats beyond the first defensive line to seek opportunities to slay Demonic Beasts. This strategy aimed to maximize the number of Demonic Beasts killed and reduce their overall strength.
The key to victory in this battle lay in both defense and weakening the Demonic Beasts continuously.
Wang Hong's assigned task was to lead his subordinates to the first defensive line as mobile support. On the surface, it appeared to be a support mission, but the primary role was to supervise and command.
In the first defensive line, most of the cultivators were forcefully deployed, and only a few were genuinely willing to fight. Especially among the Foundation Building cultivators, Treasure Hunters made up the majority. These individuals had a reputation for hiding during battles and causing trouble afterward, essentially acting as opportunists.
Therefore, the first defensive line required someone trustworthy to supervise it. Considering Wang Hong's past performance and the apparent mismatch between him and the Treasure Hunters, assigning him to oversee a region was a suitable decision.
"May I ask, senior martial uncles, if we are heading to oversee the defense, could the sect provide two well-performing Flying Boats? While I do have an old Flying Boat, it's too antiquated and unreliable. I'm afraid it might hinder our efforts. Additionally, I've been facing a shortage of Spirit Stones lately. Could the senior uncles allocate some for me?" Wang Hong requested.
If he was expected to work without receiving personnel support and with the sect allocating so many resources, it was only fair that he received some resources as well.
"At present, we don't have enough Flying Boats. I'll provide you with one medium-sized Flying Boat. Additionally, I'll allocate three million low-grade Spirit Stones and fifty mid-grade Spirit Stones," Blue Dragon Hall Master replied after a brief moment of hesitation.
Wang Hong hadn't expected Blue Dragon Hall Master to agree so readily. He wished he had asked for more resources earlier.
"Now that the resources are allocated to you, we hope you can stay stationed at the first defensive line for a month, assisting in the construction of the second and third defensive lines in the rear to buy us more time. Simultaneously, you can contribute by slaying more Demonic Beasts to relieve the pressure on the subsequent defense," Blue Dragon Hall Master added.
Blue Dragon Hall Master handed Wang Hong a Jade Scroll, which he could use to collect resources from the sect's storage. The sect's storage facility was also located on the Heavenly Authority Peak, with a Golden Core Elder stationed there year-round. However, a Foundation Building cultivator was responsible for daily tasks such as handling entries and exits, as Golden Core Elders considered these trivial matters beneath them.
After Wang Hong handed the Jade Scroll to a slightly overweight middle-aged cultivator, he discreetly gave the man two mid-grade Spirit Stones. He knew that there must be more than one medium-sized Flying Boat in the storage, and their qualities might differ.
The middle-aged man happily accepted the mid-grade Spirit Stones and, after searching for about fifteen minutes in the storage, handed Wang Hong a meticulously crafted medium-sized Flying Boat, as well as a large Storage Bag filled with Spirit Stones.
"This is the only medium-sized Flying Boat in the storage equipped with Spirit Energy Cannons. Its size is slightly larger than the others," the middle-aged man explained.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Wang Hong gratefully accepted the Flying Boat and Storage Bag. Spending those two mid-grade Spirit Stones was definitely worth it.
After receiving the Flying Boat and Spirit Stones, Wang Hong returned to his cave mansion. Over the years, Chen Nian had been taking care of his cave mansion diligently, ensuring that all spiritual objects were well-maintained.
Chen Nian had already reached the later stages of Qi Cultivation, but the lack of Foundation Establishment Pills had prevented him from advancing to Foundation Building. Qingxu Sect had tens of thousands of Qi Cultivation disciples, and those who could enter the sect had reasonably good aptitudes. There were many like Chen Nian who faced the same predicament.
"Chen Nian, you've been taking care of my cave mansion diligently all these years. I have a Foundation Establishment Pill here; consider it a reward for you," Wang Hong said, handing a pill bottle to Chen Nian.
Chen Nian accepted the pill bottle with gratitude, bowing in appreciation. He never expected that his role in maintaining Wang Hong's cave mansion would lead to him receiving a Foundation Establishment Pill.
For other Qi Cultivation cultivators, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill required entering a secret realm and risking their lives.
"You stay here and work on your Foundation Building while I go out to participate in the battle," Wang Hong instructed before leaving the cave mansion. After he had gone some distance away, Chen Nian still found it a bit unbelievable.
Quietly, he opened the pill bottle and took a peek inside, causing him to gasp in astonishment. Inside the bottle was a mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, an item that couldn't be obtained with contribution points even within the sect.
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