88: Chapter 41 Plotting Against Elder Xiao_2 88: Chapter 41 Plotting Against Elder Xiao_2 Xiaoyue directly asked:
“The twelve Magic Artifacts you’ve contributed to the sect may seem quite primitive to a master refiner, but the method of using Magic Artifacts to refine other Magic Artifacts is indeed eye-opening.”
“When I came here, I did some calculations.
According to how much the sect values this…,”
Li Ping’an said with a smile, “This is called an assembly line.”
“An interesting name indeed.”
Xiaoyue’s phoenix eyes sparkled slightly as she quickly said:
“Given the sect’s progress, such an assembly line can expand to more than twenty sets within half a month.
Thereafter, with incremental increases each month, it is estimated it could earn the sect several hundred thousand Spirit Stones annually.
“This is still just considering the current standard of Artifact Refining, and also limited by the number of our Wanyun Sect’s shops and the circulation speed of the Magic Artifacts.”
“But if we can improve this method and mass-produce higher-quality Magic Artifacts, even top-tier Magic Artifacts, the Spirit Stones the sect can earn will be quite substantial.”
Li Ping’an just looked at Xiaoyue without speaking.
Xiaoyue asked again, “I have three points of doubt, can you answer them for me?”
“First,” Xiaoyue said, “these twelve Magic Artifacts themselves are not difficult to replicate.
Once the sect expands the number of these Magic Artifact sets, I estimate that other sects will imitate us within three to four years.
How do we deal with that?”
“There is no solution, nor need for concern,”
“Wanyun Sect is not known for Artifact Refining.
In my opinion, the most important aspect of these twelve Magic Artifacts my father made is that they introduce this method of Artifact Refining, this idea, into the cultivation world.
“You have managed Wanyun Sect’s town industries for many years and surely understand this.
Once a certain Elixir Pill becomes highly sought-after, a large number of similar Elixir Pills will appear on the market.
The sources for these products are approximately thirty percent from various sects and seventy percent from the numerous Loose Cultivators or cultivation families.”
“As for Artifact Refining, it is somewhat similar.”
“Father has reviewed some of the sect’s accounts.
The cost of a common-grade flying sword is about twenty low-grade Spirit Stones, and the selling price is about thirty to thirty-two low-grade Spirit Stones.
Given the manpower needed to refine Magic Artifacts, the profit isn’t much.”
“But Wanyun Sect owns three mortal Immortal Dynasties and over a hundred Spirit Mines.
From mining Treasured Materials to selling finished products, we don’t need to buy externally.
What’s the cost of the entire process?”
Xiaoyue’s phoenix eyes darted around as she quickly replied, “If we only count the monthly manpower expenditure, it shouldn’t be much.”
Li Ping’an said with a smile, “I have done the calculations.
Assuming one assembly line needs six cultivators taking turns working and adding the cost of materials produced internally, this assembly line can reduce the cost of a common-grade flying sword to seven low-grade Spirit Stones.
Could we then sell our flying swords for only fifteen low-grade Spirit Stones?
That earns us three to five times more than selling the ore directly.”
Xiaoyue overturned her delicate hand, and a glittering small abacus appeared in her palm.
She quickly moved the beads, her head bowed.
She suddenly looked up and said, “It’s six and a half low-grade Spirit Stones!”
“And it’s not just flying swords,” Li Ping’an said earnestly, “if we can supply a large quantity of low-priced flying swords.
As long as we keep a tight grip on product quality, we can have an impact on the current Artifact Refining market.”
Xiaoyue said with a smile, “Truly a mortal businessman with grand prospects!
This can be very profitable!”
Li Ping’an asked with a smile, “Doesn’t the elder have two more doubts?”
“With your explanation, my second doubt has vanished.”
“My third doubt is, why did you present these methods with Magic Artifacts in front of those Sect Leaders?
Now, we can’t even keep it a secret, and we have to share the profits with others.”
Go ask the Sect Leader!
The Sect Leader told him to bring it out directly!
At that point, the atmosphere was already set; what could he do?
But Li Ping’an’s thoughts shifted, and with a serious face, he bowed slightly to one side and sighed, “It’s all father’s arrangement after all.”
“Father said that if we only pursue small profits, it won’t benefit us in the long run.”
Li Ping’an said earnestly:
“Father also said that Wanyun Sect’s power cannot expand outward in a short time.
However, we can unite some declining friendly sects around Wanyun Sect to form a moat to protect it.
“Not only that, father mentioned that later we should select only a few Magic Artifacts with high consumption for assembly line production.
We must not monopolize all Magic Artifact channels.
“Loose Cultivators who rely on Artifact Refining for their livelihood are numerous.
If we go to extremes, Wanyun Sect might not have problems in the next few years, but if we encounter any misfortune, I fear we might face a situation where everyone turns against us.
“These are just father’s considerations.”
Xiaoyue contemplated this and couldn’t help but reveal a slight smile at the corner of her mouth.
She said softly, “Uncle Dazhi’s magnanimity and foresight truly impress me…
He’s not just about drinking and causing trouble every day.”
“That’s how my father is.”
Li Ping’an said with a smile:
“When he’s not busy, he enjoys traveling and making friends, drinking, and having fun.
But when there’s serious business, he’s reliable.
He’s also gentle and tolerant with people.
Now he intentionally presents himself as portly, but if he were to change his physique, he’d certainly be dashing as well.
“Moreover, Elder Xiaoyue.”
Xiaoyue asked, “What is it?”
Li Ping’an said with a smile, “Even though Vice Sect Leader Moyi challenges my father at every turn, father has never considered Vice Sect Leader Moyi an opponent, an enemy.
Father says, after all, we are all a part of Wanyun Sect, and what’s so-called power and influence are just passing clouds compared to the pursuit of Longevity Dao Fruit.”
Xiaoyue smiled without saying a word, not continuing the conversation.
Li Ping’an spoke softly, “Does Elder Xiaoyue know that father will next suggest to the sect to establish ‘Castcloud Hall’ under Miaoyun Hall, specializing in this kind of Artifact Refining business?”
Xiaoyue’s smiling deepened, and she said softly, “Are you trying to make me no longer follow the Vice Sect Leader’s orders?”
“Then do you know, Vice Sect Leader Moyi can have me return to the mountain for cultivation at any time?”