He strode out of the grotto mansion, cupped his hands, and said:

"Disciple pays respect to Ancestor, pays respect to Daoist Master Meng."

Daoist Master Zhengyang smiled and said:

"Ji An, Daoist Master Meng is a third-tier Array Grandmaster, here to enhance the Spirit Vein grade of Red Flame Peak.

Lead us around and point out the various Spirit Vein nodes."

"Then let’s start with this Cold Pool, please follow me."

Ji An took out the Water-Resistant Bead and led the two into the Cold Pool.

In the following time, the three of them surveyed all the Spirit Vein nodes of Red Flame Peak, except for the Magma Pool where the Phoenix Wood resides.

Meng Yonghua was quite surprised by the appearance of the Soul Nourishing Wood and Pure Water Lotus. Middle Continent Cultivators have always looked down on people from Western Continent, believing that the sect’s foundation here lags far behind Central Continent.

However, a Golden Core Power with Treasure Plants is not considered weak even in Central Continent, he thought to himself:

’No wonder they want to cultivate the Spirit Vein here to tier three. Given time, if the tier of Treasure Plants is elevated, it will continuously generate tier three resources, thoroughly solidifying the Golden Core Inheritance.’

As the three walked out of the underground cavern, the setting sun slanted across the horizon, dyeing the earth with a blood-red hue.

Meng Yonghua nodded slightly and said steadily:

"There are two plans, I’ll explain them both to see how you should choose."

He handled many Magic Arrays for cultivating Spirit Veins, and was well-experienced.

Daoist Master Zhengyang smiled, "You’ve been busy all day, let’s go to the lounge, drink tea, and talk, otherwise it’s not proper hospitality."

Ji An extended his arm and said, "Daoist Master, please come this way."

The three arrived at the lounge, where maidservants brought snacks and dried fruit, and brewed Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea, its subtle fragrance floating.

Meng Yonghua tasted a small piece of Honey Osmanthus Cake, nodded with satisfaction, and said:

"The first plan is to cultivate this entire area into tier three. The advantage is it saves on array materials, but the downside is that it consumes a significant amount of resources and is quite time-consuming."

"The second plan is to divide this Spirit Vein, centering on the mountain peak, isolating the inner region from the outer layer, prioritizing the cultivation of the inner region, which includes both Treasure Plants.

This way, the resources consumed to cultivate the Spirit Vein will be considerably reduced, and since the region size is drastically smaller, the time required is comparatively short, estimated to complete in about sixty years.

Once completed, the isolated regions will be released piece by piece. However, the total array materials needed will be almost double that of the first plan.

Elevating the entire region to tier three will take a longer time, but the benefit is it creates a better growth environment for the Treasure Plants early on."

Daoist Master Zhengyang pondered, weighing the pros and cons, knowing that once a decision is made, it cannot be changed.

"Friend, can you estimate the resource consumption for both plans? It doesn’t need to be precise, just a reference for me."

If both plans require a long time to prepare materials, he will choose the first one.

If the materials for the second plan can be gathered in a short time, he’ll choose the second one.

"Of course, the structure of the Main Spiritual Vein here is very typical, resembling an umbrella, making resource estimation easy with little error."

Meng Yonghua readily agreed, then took out clean paper and a charcoal pencil from the Grotto Void Stone, and leaned over the coffee table to start calculating.

He always carries these things because they could be needed at any time.

A moment later, he handed over two sheets filled with tiny script.

Daoist Master Zhengyang took them and glanced through them, saying:

"Friend, allow me to ponder over this for a night, I will reply to you tomorrow."

"No rush, take your time to consider."

Meng Yonghua finished drinking his tea, ate another piece of cake, and stood up, saying:

"It’s getting late, I must return to the Immortal City, farewell."

Daoist Master Zhengyang tried to persuade him to stay but failed, "I’ll escort you to the Teleportation Array."

He then transmitted a message to Ji An:

"Send a Communication Golden Sword to Zhang Zizhao, tell him to wait for me at Treasure Pavilion on Sunrise Peak and to bring the Diligence Hall’s materials inventory list."

Ji An nodded slightly and after the two left, sent out a Communication Golden Sword.

...

Daoist Master Zhengyang escorted Meng Yonghua to the Teleportation Array, then rode on a cloud back to Sunrise Peak.

The yellow Auspicious Cloud landed halfway up the mountain, he entered the Treasure Pavilion and found Zhang Zizhao had already arrived, nodding with satisfaction.

He placed the sheets on the desk and said:

"These are the resources needed to enhance Red Flame Peak. There are two plans, compare them, and see if it’s possible to gather enough for one plan in a short time."

"Ancestor, please wait," Jia Yu and Zhang Zizhao each took a sheet, then took out Jade Slips recording inventory information to start comparing.

A while later, Jia Yu and Zhang Zizhao swapped sheets and continued the comparison.

After about a quarter hour, Jia Yu was the first to speak:

"When the sect was cultivating the Main Spiritual Vein, there was about ten percent surplus of various high-tier resources, what’s needed for the core region plan can be gathered now.

However, if adopting the strategy of overall cultivation, we’re lacking approximately fifty percent of resources."

The Spirit Vein area of Red Flame Peak is not large, only occupying one percent of the Main Spiritual Vein, just cultivating the core region is much smaller and easily satisfied.

Zhang Zizhao also spoke:

"Ancestor, you had instructed previously that Diligence Hall has been storing major sects’ low-tier resources for Spirit Vein cultivation.

If adopting only the core region plan, the current inventory is sufficient for five years.

If adopting the overall cultivation plan, most resources are inadequate."

Daoist Master Zhengyang pondered for a moment and asked:

"If adopting the overall cultivation plan, can the related resources be gathered within half a year?"

Jia Yu contemplated and said:

"Some tier three resources need to be purchased, they may not be available."

Zhang Zizhao shook his head, "Cultivating Spirit Veins is a long-term resource-consuming process, even if the resources needed for the first stage could be gathered quickly, there’s no guarantee that subsequent resources will follow.

Unless the sect decides to implement the policy during Main Spiritual Vein cultivation, then the prices of various Spiritual Objects in Western Continent would soar again.

Ancestor, I advise against doing so, it would affect the order in Western Continent."

Daoist Master Zhengyang said solemnly:

"Then we’ll take the plan of only cultivating the core region of Red Flame Peak, tomorrow I’ll go to Cyan Cloud Immortal City to inform Daoist Master Meng of our decision."

"Wise choice, Ancestor."

The next afternoon, Ji An received a Communication Golden Sword from Daoist Master Zhengyang.

’The sect decided to adopt the plan of only cultivating the core region, three months from now, various Array Banners and Discs will be refined, and a magic array will be set up at Red Flame Peak.’

Ji An exhaled in relief, this plan was also what he hoped for, as the area of the core region is only a quarter of the total area.

If they adopted the overall cultivation plan, it might take over two hundred years. By the time the tier three Spirit Vein is cultivated, he’d be almost four hundred years old, it’s unbearable.

...

Sunrise Peak, Wuji Hall.

Han Yan stepped into the hall, cupped her hands, and said:

"Pay respects to Ancestor, what do you wish to instruct me?"

"Sit down and let’s talk."

Daoist Master Zhengyang furrowed his brows tightly and asked solemnly:

"If we obtain the Gold Core Pill formula, do you have the confidence to authenticate it?"

He had discussed with Master Yuxiao, who also agreed on the decision to head for Central Continent.

It’s not just the Gold Core Pill the sect lacks, but various knowledge transmissions as well. These things are not as tightly sealed in Central Continent, and the price is much lower.

Taking some tier three resources and top-grade Spirit Stone reserves from the Treasure Pavilion to Central Continent for a big shopping spree could save a lot of resources.

Han Yan was taken aback and whispered, "Disciple cannot guarantee, but I can derive a reference conclusion through analysis of the medicinal properties."

If the sect obtains the Gold Core Pill formula, it means they can begin cultivating related Spirit Medicine.

Once that’s done, as long as a capable alchemist can refine the Gold Core Pill, its cost will significantly decrease.

It’s a question of who fits this role, who else but her among the sect?

"I’m planning to follow a Merchant Flying Ship to Central Continent shortly, you’ll accompany me. Then, you pick some legacies related to alchemy."

Daoist Master Zhengyang chuckled lightly, "Agricultural Hall is growing stronger; the development of Dan Ding Institute must keep up."

As the sect’s High-tier Spirit Farmers increased, the Spirit Medicine cultivated wasn’t meant to be sold as raw material due to insufficient profit margins; refining them into Pills can multiply the profit. Why not do it?

Han Yan was overjoyed, "I obey!"