Discussion

"You and that temperament—"

Seeing Shi Zhen urging him on, Wu Guangquan shook his head. Not bothering with pleasantries, he went straight to the point. "A few days ago, Jadegreen Cliff sent people to approach us. They invited Wusheng Sect to merge into Jadegreen Cliff. After I refused, they said they wanted to trade grain for the Hate-Iron and Spirit Stones produced by Black Prison."

Jadegreen Cliff.

It was a major sect in Linghe Commandery, neighboring Shian Commandery. According to intelligence gathered by Wusheng Sect spies, Jadegreen Cliff had recently conquered all of Cross Mountain and Linghe Commanderies.

Its power was immense.

It was far beyond what a tiny Wusheng Sect could compare to.

It was only because Shian Commandery's terrain was unusual—

To the north and west, the Li River stretched across the land, its waterways crisscrossing everywhere.

To the east and south, mountain paths cut off passage, the roads rugged and treacherous.

This made it difficult for Jadegreen Cliff's army to march into Shian Commandery. On top of that, Jadegreen Cliff had been plagued by internal turmoil and constant conflict before, leaving it with no spare hands.

That was why the Li River Gang, Wusheng Sect, and Golden Sun Sect had been given room to survive.

"Jadegreen Cliff is far away, over mountains and roads."

"And Ironleaf Island watches covetously from the south. When two tigers fight, one is bound to be wounded. In my view, we can trade with Jadegreen Cliff and avoid relying too heavily on Golden Sun Sect."

First Elder Chu Sanyang spoke.

Chu Sanyang looked to be around fifty, the oldest person present. He wore a sleeveless fitted shirt that exposed his strong, powerful arms.

He looked fierce.

Yet his temperament was the gentlest of them all.

Because he possessed the Fire Control Altered Ability and had once been a blacksmith, capable of forging superior weapons sharp enough to cut a hair blown against their edge, people called him the Iron-Arm Blacksmith.

Within Wusheng Sect, he oversaw the weapon workshop.

Though his strength was inferior to that of the other elders, his position was vital, and he sat firmly as First Elder.

"Uncle Chu is right."

Third Elder Ghostface Cao Zheng also nodded in agreement, but immediately added, "We have plenty of Hate-Iron. Selling it to Golden Sun Sect or Jadegreen Cliff makes little difference. But Spirit Stones are useful when worn on the body, aiding inner cultivation as well as Altered Humans and Altered Abilities. I do not agree with selling the Spirit Stones to Jadegreen Cliff."

Cao Zheng managed the Altered Human Bureau and specialized in researching Altered Humans. He had also conducted considerable research into the strange Spirit Stones.

Even though their present understanding of Spirit Stones remained extremely limited.

Cao Zheng still thought highly of their potential.

He was unwilling to sell them cheaply.

"There are few Spirit Stones in the sect, and plenty of traitors. It is not strange that Jadegreen Cliff knows we have Spirit Stones."

"But why did they specifically demand Spirit Stones in the trade?"

Second Elder Lü Qing was rough-looking, with a large, prominent nose. On closer inspection, one could see that Lü Qing's nose occasionally twitched unconsciously.

It looked somewhat strange.

But no one present found it unusual.

Hearing this, Cao Zheng raised his brows. "Could Jadegreen Cliff have figured out the true use of Spirit Stones?"

"No way, right?"

The others froze.

Then they turned toward Wu Guangquan at the head of the room.

They saw Wu Guangquan gesture toward Vajra Chen Shengji beside him.

The latter was solidly built and towering, like a mountain. With a snort, he said, "Elder Cao guessed correctly. Jadegreen Cliff has already worked out how to use Spirit Stones. This time, they came specifically for them. At first, they tried to swindle me, wanting to exchange grain for them. But I thought Spirit Stones were unusual and insisted on striking that condition out. Jadegreen Cliff had no choice then but to propose exchanging the secret method for refining Spirit Stones for fifty percent of the Spirit Stone output from Black Prison. The first batch must be delivered within one month, and there must be no fewer than fifty stones."

Within Wusheng Sect.

Below Sect Master Wu Guangquan were two deputy sect masters. One was Skyshaking Cannon He Mingli, while the other was Vajra Chen Shengji.

Though the latter's build was intimidating, his thoughts were clear, and he was utterly loyal to Wu Guangquan.

Therefore.

Transactions with Golden Sun Sect and negotiations with Jadegreen Cliff had always been handled by Chen Shengji.

"So it really is!"

Cao Zheng's expression brightened. He hurriedly said, "Then what are we waiting for? We must get that secret method immediately!"

Beside him.

Shi Zhen could not sit still either. He barked impatiently, "Elder Cao is right. Wearing Spirit Stones helps with inner cultivation and Altered Abilities. If they can be refined directly, perhaps I can break through into the Innate Realm too!"

Mu Junxiong, Lü Qing, and the others also had their eyes light up.

Hearing this, Wu Guangquan exchanged looks with Chen Shengji and He Mingli, then could not help giving Cao Zheng and the others a bitter smile. "I want to trade too. But the first batch of five hundred mining slaves was wiped out by deaths and injuries in three months, and they only dug up seventeen Spirit Stones in total. The second batch of a thousand mining slaves has been mining for four months and is nearly dead as well. They have dug up forty-six Spirit Stones altogether. Each of you received two of those Spirit Stones, and there are not even fifty left."

If they agreed to Jadegreen Cliff's terms.

Not only would Wusheng Sect have to hand over all the Spirit Stones in its stores, it would also have to keep sending mining slaves to work the mines in the future.

The problem was.

There were now fewer than ten thousand mining slaves in Black Prison.

Using human lives to fill that pit and dig for Spirit Stones was unrealistic.

After all, Hate-Iron was Wusheng Sect's pillar industry.

If all the mining slaves died.

Who would mine the Yantie Ore?!

But by the same logic.

If no one mined Spirit Stones, what meaning was there in obtaining the secret method?

After hearing Wu Guangquan's words, Cao Zheng and the others calmed down. That was indeed the case. In the end, the problem they faced was still manpower.

Without people.

Everything was empty talk.

"Actually."

"There is a way."

After laying out the problem and seeing everyone lost in thought, Wu Guangquan spoke again.

"What way?"

Shi Zhen hurriedly pressed him.

Wu Guangquan looked at Cao Zheng as he said, "Elder Cao is responsible for researching Spirit Mountain and Spirit Stones, so you should know this. As long as a person stays on Spirit Mountain and does not enter the caves, they will not be affected or develop mutations. Even if they enter the caves, as long as their inner cultivation has reached the fourth level, or they are an Altered Human, they will be fine."

The fourth level of inner cultivation.

Or an Altered Human.

For the former, inner breath transformed into inner force, greatly strengthening the body. With inner force protecting them as well, they would not develop mutations even after remaining in the caves for a long time.

The latter was even simpler.

Altered Humans were born from mutations in the first place. Once they successfully awakened, it was as if they had gained an "antibody," so naturally they would no longer be affected.

Like Chen Shaohe back then.

After awakening the Fire Control Altered Ability, all the mutation symptoms on his body vanished, never to recur.

"Exactly!"

Cao Zheng guessed Wu Guangquan's plan and said excitedly, "The sect has captured Li River Gang prisoners, while the Altered Human Bureau has Altered Humans. Several months ago, I brought over thirty Li River Gang martial artists ranging from First Rank to Fourth Rank and confined them in the caves of Spirit Mountain. So far, the First Rank, Second Rank, and Third Rank ones have all shown symptoms, with some dead and injured. Only the three Fourth Rank ones have yet to develop any problems."

With that said.

Everyone present guessed Wu Guangquan's intentions.

Second Elder Lü Qing was the first to speak. "In that case, we should transfer disciples of Fourth Rank and above from the sect into Black Prison to mine."

"Black Prison is dark and damp, with fog that never disperses all year round."

"And they would be going to Spirit Mountain."

"I'm afraid—"

First Elder Chu Sanyang's brows knotted, his expression grave.

This was also what Wu Guangquan worried about.

The conditions in Black Prison truly were terrible.

Those Wusheng Sect disciples had worked hard to reach Fourth Rank so that they would no longer need to go to Black Prison.

Now, with an order issued in the morning and changed by evening, they would be forced in again—forced to go to Spirit Mountain, where fifteen hundred people had died in barely half a year. It would likely breed resentment and panic, causing people to become divided.

Fourth Rank disciples were the backbone of Wusheng Sect.

One misstep could very easily lead to a grave mistake.

However.

Wu Guangquan had already considered this. The reason he had summoned both deputy sect masters and all the elders was to sound them out in advance and unify their position. "I plan to have Shengji and Mingli take turns guarding Spirit Mountain. The elders will also divide into five shifts and take turns leading people inside. With some reward measures added, I believe we can dispel their dissatisfaction."

The deputy sect masters and elders would lead by example.

Together with rewards.

It should reduce the impact to the smallest possible degree.

The only question was—

Were these high-ranking elders, accustomed to wealth and glory, truly willing to suffer in Black Prison?

"I have no problem with it."

First Elder Chu Sanyang, who had raised the concern earlier, was the first to state his position. "What hardship have I not endured before? Black Prison merely has worse surroundings. As long as you do not make me mine personally, it is fine. If we obtain enough Spirit Stones and refine them, I might even have a chance to reach the Innate Realm. Wouldn't it be wonderful to live past a hundred years old then?!"

With Chu Sanyang taking the lead.

"I have no problem with it."

"I agree too."

His words set Lü Qing, Cao Zheng, and the others' hearts aflame. They had originally felt somewhat trapped, hesitant and unwilling, but now they overcame it all.

They nodded in agreement.

Seeing that the tide had been set, Mu Junxiong—who was deeply unwilling and worried that spending too long in Black Prison would harm his skin—could only swallow his words and gloomily go along with everyone else.

Wednesday. Please give some recommendation votes.

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