Returning Home

"No man is a sage; who can be without fault? Changsheng, making a mistake is no great matter as long as you correct it. To know one's error and amend it—there is no virtue greater. The Lineage is currently spending more than it earns, and everyone has selfish desires. But at such a difficult time, if everyone looks out only for themselves, the Lineage will sooner or later be finished," Wang Yaojing instructed meaningfully.

The Wang Family was truly too poor. They might not even be able to provide every person with a Spirit Tool. At a time like this, they naturally had to put away their selfish desires. Having selfish desires was normal, but they could not be indulged. Those who rendered merit would receive rewards from the Lineage.

Wang Changsheng bowed deeply to Wang Yaojing and said, "Fifth Uncle-Grandfather's teachings, this grandson will certainly keep them firmly in his heart."

Wang Yaojing was quite satisfied with Wang Changsheng's attitude and asked about his daily cultivation.

Wang Changsheng answered each question without concealing anything.

"Fifth Uncle-Grandfather, some time ago, this grandson discovered a stretch of Spirit Vein, but had not yet had the chance to report it."

The Spirit Vein was tiny, so small it could be ignored. It was of no use for Wang Changsheng to keep it, so reporting it to the Lineage in exchange for some Cultivation Resources was not bad either.

"What? Where is the Spirit Vein? How large is it?" Wang Yaojing's expression changed slightly, and he appeared somewhat excited.

"It is in a valley near Wang Family Town. It is a Tier 1 Spirit Vein. This grandson discovered that stretch of Spirit Vein by chance. It is only two zhang in size, and its spiritual qi is thin. It is not worth sending people to guard it."

Wang Yaojing was somewhat disappointed. He smiled slightly at Wang Changsheng and said, "No matter what, it is still a stretch of Spirit Vein. Perhaps there are other Spirit Veins nearby. It seems we must send people to thoroughly inspect the territory under our control and see whether there are any other discoveries. This Spirit Vein counts as another merit for you."

"That's right. If not for Changsheng this time, we might not have discovered that there was a Profound Gold Mine here. Once we finish surveying the scale of the Mystic Gold Mine, we should thoroughly inspect the area near Green Stone Town as well. Since there is a Profound Gold Mine here, perhaps we may discover other Metal Ore Veins too," Wang Mingzhong agreed with Wang Yaojing's suggestion.

A quarter of an hour later, a tall, thin Yellow-Shirted Youth emerged from the Cave. He bowed to Wang Changsheng and the other two, then said, "Ninth Uncle-Grandfather, Seventh Great-Grandfather, Fifth Great-Grandfather, this grandson has conducted a preliminary survey. This is a small Profound Gold Mine. According to our calculations, if ten cultivators mine it at once and extraction is handled properly, they can mine two to three thousand jin of Mystic Gold Ore per day. Generally speaking, one hundred jin of Mystic Gold Ore can be refined into one or two taels of Profound Gold. By this calculation, the Mystic Gold Ore mined each day can yield two to three jin of Profound Gold. It will likely only be enough to mine for three or four years."

"Two or three jin of Profound Gold per day!" Wang Yaojing's tone was somewhat grave.

One jin of Profound Gold was worth thirty Spirit Stones on the market. Two jin of Profound Gold meant sixty Spirit Stones a day, or twenty-one thousand nine hundred Spirit Stones a year.

As a Clan Elder of the Wang Family, Wang Yaojing had a fairly clear understanding of the Lineage's finances.

One had to know that after a full year of effort by several hundred clansmen, the Wang Family could not earn even ten thousand Spirit Stones. Yet this Profound Gold Mine alone could create more than twenty thousand Spirit Stones in profit for the Wang Family each year. With this Profound Gold Mine, the Wang Family's pressing crisis would surely be resolved.

"It can be mined for three or four years!" Wang Mingzhong was extremely excited.

Wang Yaojing took a deep breath, stroked his beard, and asked, "Mingzhong, I recall that you have a Tier 2 Low Grade Paper Crane Talisman. Its flying speed rivals that of a low-grade Flying Mystic Tool. Do you still have it?"

"I do! Fifth Uncle, do you want me to return and report to Third Brother?"

"Excellent. Return to the clan immediately and tell Mingyuan the scale of the Profound Gold Mine. Have Mingyuan send thirty more Qi Refining Stage cultivators to guard this place and mine Mystic Gold Ore. Qinglin, Changsheng, you will return with Mingzhong and report the course of events to Mingyuan."

Wang Mingzhong hastily nodded in acknowledgment and agreed.

Upon hearing this, Wang Changsheng was greatly delighted. However, when he thought of his father, he hesitated slightly before asking, "Fifth Uncle-Grandfather, is it appropriate for me to return to the clan now? After all, I am Peaceful County's Celestial Master and must remain there to oversee it. I think Seventh Uncle and Qinglin can return instead, so that I need not suffer Father's rebuke."

Wang Mingyuan was strict with himself and even stricter with Wang Changsheng.

"I am the one telling you to return. If anything happens, I will bear it. The post of Celestial Master will temporarily be filled by someone else. I am not sending you back to play, but to report the situation. You have stayed in Peaceful County for three years and are familiar with the circumstances. Moreover, you discovered this Profound Gold Mine, so it is perfectly reasonable for you to return and make the report. This is official business. Your father will not rebuke you."

"Yes, Changsheng, this is official business. If Third Brother rebukes you, I will be the first to refuse to stand for it," Wang Mingzhong echoed.

Hearing this, Wang Changsheng felt a weight lift from his heart and nodded in agreement.

To be honest, after being away from home for three years, he also wanted to return and take a look.

Wang Mingzhong slapped the Storage Pouch at his waist, and a Green Light flew out. It was astonishingly an Azure Paper Crane the size of a palm.

"Grow."

Wang Mingzhong gave a low shout and struck the Azure Paper Crane with a Hand Seal.

The Azure Paper Crane let out a clear bird cry. With a flap of its wings, it swelled to two zhang in size. Countless azure runes lit up across its surface, its spiritual radiance dazzling.

Talisman Soldiers were products born from the combination of Artifact Refining Art and Talisman Art. Strictly speaking, the Paper Crane Talisman was a type of Flying Talisman Soldier. Different Talisman Soldiers had different flight speeds and different numbers of inscribed runes. Talisman Soldiers shared one common trait: they were expensive. Even a First Grade Lower Rank Talisman Soldier cost three hundred Spirit Stones apiece.

Where there were advantages, there were disadvantages. Flying Talisman Soldiers required only a little spiritual power to operate and did not consume much spiritual power, but their flight speed was fixed and could not be increased by infusing more spiritual power. Flying Spirit Tools or Flying Mystic Tools, however, could be accelerated by pouring in a large amount of spiritual power. If enough spiritual power was infused, a low-grade Flying Spirit Tool could fly as fast as a mid-grade Flying Spirit Tool.

Wang Mingzhong was one of the Wang Family's key cultivators. If resources had been sufficient, Wang Mingzhong would have been given priority in Foundation Establishment. However, the Lineage was now facing difficulties, and the cultivation resources allocated to him were not plentiful. Wang Mingzhong had no choice but to work outside, allowing the talented members of the Chang Generation and Qing Generation to cultivate peacefully on Azure Lotus Mountain.

Worried that Wang Mingzhong might encounter danger, Wang Yaozong had bestowed upon him a Tier 2 Low Grade Flying Talisman Soldier for protection.

"Get on. Although it is a Tier 2 Low Grade Flying Talisman Soldier, its speed rivals that of a low-grade Flying Mystic Tool. We should be able to return to Azure Lotus Mountain in less than an hour."

Wang Mingzhong jumped aboard first, with Wang Changsheng and Wang Qinglin following close behind.

"Fifth Uncle, I'm taking them back. I'll leave this place to you."

The Azure Paper Crane gave a clear cry, flapped its wings, and shot into the sky.

The Paper Crane Talisman flew extremely fast. Qing Feng howled past, blowing Wang Changsheng's hair into disarray.

"By the way, Seventh Uncle, have my father and mother been well lately?" Wang Changsheng asked eagerly after steadying himself.

"Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law have both been quite well. Third Brother is still the same as ever, spending most of his time in the study handling clan affairs. Third Sister-in-law and Elder Sister-in-law, along with the other female relatives, have recently been busy picking Spirit Mulberry Leaves. I do not know the details, but you will find out once you return. Since you have finally come back, stay a few extra days. No one will say anything about it."

Wang Changsheng nodded. At the thought of seeing his parents shortly, his heart blossomed with joy.