Chapter 12 - The Great Hunt
Two solutions to the problem of using jade slips occurred to Benton. The first, easiest answer was to simply use Sect Points to increase his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment realm. Of course, that meant either hiding that act from the kids or coming up with an explanation. It also meant that he’d have to help both of them use the slips every time they wanted to refer back to something.
Worse, it meant using up a precious resource. It was becoming obvious to him that the System was best utilized by running an actual sect with lots of outer sect members who were cultivating methods produced with wide applicability. Waiting on two disciples, no matter how talented, to advance was too slow and didn’t return enough profit to even cover for the method they’d need when reaching the next realm.
Maybe his idea to create a uniquely attuned method for each of them was a bad idea. He’d already committed to Yang Xiu’s though, and it wouldn’t do him much good to change course for Yang Ru.
Besides, those two were the hope and future of the sect. Benton needed to make each of them as powerful as possible, and the way to do that was providing them with an advantage no other sect could possibly give them, a perfectly attuned cultivation method.
No, his plan was valid. He just needed to conserve Sect Points wherever possible until he found the dozens of less talented disciples that he needed. That resolution meant that spending the points needed to increase his cultivation was a subpar idea.
His second solution was better, but it had the downside of putting him personally in danger. Spirit beast cores could be used to power treasures, formations, and all kinds of other items, including jade slips. He just needed to find a beast and kill it.
According to Su’s memories, he should have no problem doing just that, but Benton both was and very much was not the man who had taken down scores of such creatures during his lifetime. Unlike the seven men he’d just faced who had no superpowers, a spirit beast represented a true death threat.
But it also represented an opportunity.
A sect would require resources. Money. Benton had none. Spirit beast cores were valuable. At some point, utilizing Su’s memories to hunt for some made sense. Given the present need, he might as well get started.
By the time he’d finished his internal deliberation, the two kids had finished their discussion and were clearly waiting for him to turn his attention to them. He did so.
Yang Xiu didn’t look happy.
“Senior Brother Chao,” Yang Ru said, “I will take one of the pills.”