Chapter Thirty: Completing the Sect Hall Construction Task

“The construction task for the Sect Hall is complete.” The abrupt notification from the Sect Master System rang in Jiang Yan’s ears. Joy flashed across Jiang Yan’s face as he gracefully descended before the grand hall. Turning back to gaze at the newly erected building, he finally noticed that while he had been checking the sect’s information, the four wooden puppet laborers had already finished constructing the Sect Hall. Moreover, a special spot had been deliberately left at the very place where he had just been standing, designed for him to overlook the distant vistas.

His eyes lingered on the freshly built Sect Hall as a translucent information panel appeared before Jiang Yan.

Special Building: Sect Hall
Grade: First-tier
Functions: Enhances the Sect Master’s authority; within the hall, the Sect Master wields absolute power over the life and death of disciples, can amplify the sect’s spiritual energy by one percent; includes a second and third-tier small training chamber...; a first-tier Quiet Chamber for the Sect Master, upgradable.
Additional Feature: Serenity—Long-term residence in the hall’s annexed quarters can greatly improve the mental stability of cultivators attuned to the Five Elements.

Jiang Yan was overjoyed—the Sect Hall now boasted more functions than he had ever expected. The enhancement of the Sect Master’s authority meant that, within the hall, the Sect Master wielding the Sect Token could strip rebellious disciples of their spiritual power or even their lives, harnessing the hall’s might. Of course, with only a handful of disciples in Huashan as yet, this feature held little practical use for now. However, once Huashan advanced to a second or third-tier sect, the superiority of this authority would become evident.

The spiritual energy amplification was an unexpected boon. Even skilled Talisman Masters couldn’t always guarantee that their architectural blueprints would enhance the ambient spiritual energy within a building. With both the Sect Hall and the mountain gate amplifying spiritual energy, the spiritual density atop Mount Hua would increase significantly, greatly benefiting the disciples’ cultivation. Jiang Yan’s heart leapt at the thought; cultivating within the Sect Hall would be akin to riding a rocket.

The presence of a small training chamber within the hall explained why the original practice grounds could not be upgraded further. Once disciples reached the Foundation Establishment stage, the practice grounds would no longer suffice; the small training chamber would seamlessly fill this gap, providing a suitable environment for further cultivation.

The Quiet Chamber was a privilege reserved for the Sect Master. Within it lay a miniature Spirit Gathering Array, continuously channeling ambient spiritual energy into the chamber for the Sect Master’s use. Should a spiritual vein be discovered beneath the chamber, it would automatically connect, dramatically enhancing the spiritual energy within and accelerating the Sect Master’s cultivation.

Jiang Yan could hardly contain his delight. Who would have thought the Sect Hall would possess such extraordinary capabilities? The grand, towering gate showcased the sect’s prestige, while the internal training chambers and quarters offered benefits nothing short of miraculous.

“Ding. Sect Hall construction task complete. Rewards: ten spirit stones, one set of blueprints for a pill-refining room, and two Azure-robed Talisman Soldiers.”

Jiang Yan stood dumbfounded, stunned by the Sect Master System’s generosity—completing the hall’s construction had earned him two Talisman Soldiers!

Azure-robed Talisman Soldiers were first-tier constructs, but unlike ordinary talisman tokens, they were spirit tools that could be used indefinitely. Talisman tokens were single-use; once their spiritual power was expended, they were gone. In contrast, as long as spirit stones were regularly replaced, the Azure-robed Talisman Soldiers would faithfully obey commands.

Even the lowest-grade Talisman Soldier required a third-tier Talisman Master to craft. Third-tier talismans were rare enough on the market, let alone soldiers made by such experts. This underscored the rarity and value of the Azure-robed Talisman Soldiers granted by the Sect Master System.

Jiang Yan focused his mind and communicated with the Sect Master’s ring. A flash of light later, two azure-robed, cold-faced young men appeared before him. Both were of average height, dressed in blue garments with cloth-wrapped heads and black hair bound by silk crowns. Each carried a longsword on his back, arms hanging at his sides, black boots on their feet—the very image of stern and handsome young nobles.

To think they were so lifelike! Jiang Yan was truly astonished. This level of realism meant that the talisman master who crafted them had to be at least fifth-tier. Only a fifth-tier master could create talisman soldiers indistinguishable from real people, and such constructs possessed an ability ordinary ones did not—agility of thought.

Three and fourth-tier talisman soldiers could only rigidly execute commands: protect designated individuals, guard specific buildings, and allow or bar disciples based on certain tokens. If a traitor or enemy obtained such a token, the soldiers would still obey, letting them pass.

Fifth-tier talisman soldiers were different—they could distinguish between objects and comprehend simple commands, able to slay intruders even if they bore a disciple’s token.

Jiang Yan’s gaze fell on the Azure-robed Talisman Soldiers as a translucent information panel appeared:

Spirit Tool: Azure-robed Talisman Soldier
Grade: Sixth-tier, equivalent to a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining
Additional Abilities: Spiritual Sword, Manifestation

Jiang Yan’s delight deepened. These two Talisman Soldiers were as strong as ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators. Eager to test them, he commanded one to take flight. Instantly, it soared into the sky. A dazzling sword-light flashed behind it, the soldier’s sword transforming into a ray of light that hovered overhead. At Jiang Yan’s mental command, the sword shot like a meteor toward a massive green stone on the ground.

With a sharp clang, the sword pierced the boulder, leaving a gaping black hole. After circling the stone, the blade returned smoothly to its scabbard on the soldier’s back.

Jiang Yan raised his brows in satisfaction. This was merely a first-tier spiritual sword conjured by the soldier, yet it could pierce a three-meter-thick boulder without shattering it, the spiritual power focused and undispersed. This alone made the Azure-robed Talisman Soldiers the equal of ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators.

Yet he was sure their true strength did not end there. The power of a talisman soldier depended greatly on the quality of the spirit stone used as its energy source. Judging from that sword strike, these were fitted with low-grade spirit stones. If supplied with higher-grade stones, their strength would undoubtedly soar far beyond their current level. Jiang Yan felt as though the Sect Master System had gifted him two priceless treasures.

With a thought, Jiang Yan sent the two Talisman Soldiers to stand guard at the entrance of the Sect Hall. With Huashan’s protective array ruined and the formidable Tianshan Sect threatening from without, these two new soldiers were like a pair of reinforcements. Jiang Yan decided to assign one to guard the mountain gate and the other to protect the young girl Yun Ying.