Before long, Lin Dayong brought the four Outer Disciples stationed at the mine to the wooden cabin. After Liu Yu's group of five exchanged pleasantries with Su Ding's group, they began the handover.
Although it was called a handover, the transfer between the two Inner Disciples was what truly mattered.
Wu Chang, Zhou Guibo, and the other Outer Disciples asked their predecessors about the mine's finer details, such as the power and consumption of its formation, precautions for maintaining it, and whether the mortal miners were "well-behaved."
Su Ding handed over a thin ledger recording the output of cold iron ore, followed by the token that controlled the mine's formation. Finally, he tossed over a small yellow cloth bag.
This was a Superior-grade Storage Bag issued by the sect specifically for storing cold iron ore. Its interior was a full three times larger than Liu Yu's Middle-grade Storage Bag.
After handing over the three items, Su Ding fell silent, his gaze complicated and his expression somewhat forlorn. He realized that he would be leaving this comfortable place today.
At that thought, he suddenly yawned, covering his mouth with one hand as a wave of fatigue washed over him. It seemed that last night's one dragon and two phoenixes had drained him too much, leaving him rather short on energy.
Liu Yu took the three items, glanced at Su Ding's dispirited appearance, and began carefully reviewing the ledger.
Cultivators had astonishing memories. Reading ten lines at a glance, he moved through it swiftly, turning a page almost every breath. Before long, he finished the thin booklet, then opened the communal Storage Bag and checked this month's ore against the accounts for discrepancies.
A sweep of Liu Yu's divine sense revealed that virtually nothing was missing; the quantities more or less matched. Based on the daily output recorded in the ledger, maintaining this pace would make the monthly quota no problem.
He passed the token to Wu Chang and told them to activate the mine's formation and check for problems.
"Yes, Senior Brother Liu."
Wu Chang accepted the token, and the others cupped their hands and answered in unison. Having received a stern warning just before coming here, they were all exceedingly obedient.
Liu Yu nodded inwardly, quite satisfied with the effect of his warning. He then instructed Lin Dayong to lead him and Su Ding around the mine to familiarize him with the surroundings.
Naturally, none of them had any interest in taking a tour down the mine shafts. Even the mine overseer rarely ventured into such dark, filthy places, let alone them.
They cared nothing for the environment or conditions inside the shafts. What mattered to them was that enough cold iron ore was extracted each month.
In truth, Liu Yu attached little importance to the few spirit stones offered as payment for this assignment. With the Immortal Mansion in hand, he could earn them back simply by refining a few bottles of pills. He had come here to avoid the Spirit Stone Mine War. If he had not feared being recalled by the sect for failing to deliver the monthly quota, he could simply have sent Wu Chang and the others to handle the handover.
As they made a circuit of the mine, Lin Dayong attended to their every need, explaining its circumstances to the two of them. Of course, he directed most of his words toward Liu Yu.
His twenty years of experience as the mine's overseer had taught him that, among the immortal masters stationed here, the one dressed in white was the one who called the shots. As long as he satisfied that immortal master, his own position would remain secure.
After completing the circuit, they returned to the wooden cabin. By then, Wu Chang and the others had activated and tested the formation without finding any problems. When Liu Yu looked their way, they all nodded to indicate that nothing was amiss.
With that confirmation, Liu Yu relaxed inwardly. His smile grew a little more sincere as he addressed Su Ding:
"I have no further questions, so the handover of the Cold Iron Ore Vein is now complete. You've managed the mine very well these past few years, Senior Brother Su. It seems I've picked up quite a bargain."
"I still have my duties to attend to, so please forgive me for not seeing you farther off. If I run into you at the sect after I return, I'll certainly treat you to a few fine drinks at the Heavenly Fragrance Tower!"
In these extraordinary circumstances, securing this assignment had taken considerable effort. If Su Ding and his companions tried any tricks during the handover, Liu Yu would not mind giving the order to seize them outright.
After all, they were merely a handful of ordinary disciples who had been sidelined here, with mediocre cultivation and no backing. Had they possessed any real ability, they would not have been assigned to guard a place with such sparse spiritual energy during peacetime.
Their situation was entirely different from Liu Yu's group coming here during wartime. Leaving Liu Yu aside, even Wu Chang, Zhou Guibo, and the other two might not think much of them.
Of course, completing the handover without incident was best. If that proved impossible, he believed Wu Chang and the others would certainly have no objection to taking action.
Seeing that Senior Brother Liu had already begun sending the guests off, Wu Chang and the other three also cupped their fists and bade farewell to Su Ding's group.
"With this matter settled, we should return to the sect. May your kind words come true, Junior Brother Liu. We'll meet at the Heavenly Fragrance Tower. Farewell!"
Su Ding sighed softly, smiling bitterly, but still cupped his hands to Liu Yu and each of the others in turn.
The four Outer Disciples behind him also wore heavy expressions. Knowing what awaited them upon returning to the sect, they were decidedly pessimistic.
Whatever thoughts Su Ding and his companions harbored-whether they lamented fate's injustice or complained about the sect-in the end, they could only take out their magical artifacts and disappear into the horizon as streaks of faint light.
Liu Yu withdrew his gaze. His smile faded, and his expression returned to calm.
His eyes were as still as water. His dark pupils swept over the others, his gaze seeming to carry a faint pressure that weighed on their hearts. None dared meet his eyes.
He was now the cultivator with the highest cultivation and greatest strength at the mine, naturally granting him the highest standing and the greatest say.
"From now on, you'll be stationed at the mine. If enemy cultivators attack, activate the formation immediately to hold them off, and send me word through a Voice-Transmitting Talisman."
"The four of you will form two teams. Junior Brother Wu and Junior Sister Sun will be one team, and Junior Brother Zhou and Junior Brother Xie the other. Rotate every seven days and patrol the area around the mine. You must ensure that extraction at the Cold Iron Ore Vein proceeds normally, without interference."
Liu Yu first addressed Wu Chang, Zhou Guibo, Xie Huaxiong, and Sun Ju, assigning their duties and teams in just a few sentences. His tone allowed no argument.
As for whether he would come to their aid after receiving word, that would depend on the attackers' strength. If the enemy cultivators were too powerful and the others could not hold out for long, there would be nothing more to discuss. He could only send word to the sect requesting reinforcements. He would never stake his life on an assignment.
"Yes!"
Wu Chang answered loudly without a change in expression. He had already made his choice.
Damned bootlicker!
Zhou Guibo and the other two cursed inwardly. Having seen Liu Yu's Superior-grade Magical Artifact, and with Wu Chang on relatively close terms with this Senior Brother Liu, the three exchanged glances and had no choice but to bow their heads. They could only cup their fists and accept his orders.
Seeing that his junior Outer Disciples all obeyed his commands, Liu Yu nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Lin Dayong:
"Steward Lin, all I ask is that the mine produce enough ore each day. Record the daily output in a ledger and give it to whichever of my junior disciples are on duty. If you lack workers or encounter any difficulties, just speak to City Lord Chai. He'll help you resolve them."
"Do this well, and you won't go unrewarded. I might even grant you a pill to prolong your life. But if you fail, I won't mind replacing the mine's steward. You'd best watch that head of yours!"
Thank you to Chenghai Muzi, True Lord Xuanyi, Wind Flowers Snow and Moon | Holy Spirit, Golden Frieza, An Unforgotten Thought, Mu Xixi, Yan Zhe, Wandering Through Cultivation, 20200909100001407, May the World Treat You Gently pi, The Cottage Chasing the Stars, Yuehua Qinglan, Big Black Pine, Mu Yuyan, Love Left and the Wind Stilled, Radish Coconut, Star Grass and Cloud-Time Rain, Undying & Legend, There Is Samadhi Within, Breaking Through the Encirclement, Leaping Through a Dream, Fifty Becomes Wood, Likes Reading Cultivation Farming Stories, Mortal Fan Zining, Harry Zhao Dawei, and all the other readers for your recommendation votes!
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