White Stone was all jagged rock, with little grass or woodland.
As one of the few mining mountains in Green Peaks, White Stone had rich deposits. A century of mining by the abbey had yet to exhaust them, and several new veins had even been discovered recently. It was an important source of income for the sect.
Beside a stream at the foot of the mountain, Wang Xiwei was leading an old man with graying hair and beard on a survey of the earth veins.
Jiang Chiyu usually stooped a little, but now he stood straight as he followed his master, looking rather spirited.
The stream rose underground, near the Fire Vein in the molten earth, and felt warm to the touch. Wang Xiwei stopped and quietly studied a materials yard not far away.
Many disciples were cutting into the mountain, laying roads, and channeling earthflame. The middle-aged man overseeing them was Qi Xiuli, the very man who had discovered the Earthflame Noon-Origin Tree years ago. He had been made a steward of White Stone afterward and had worked diligently ever since.
"How has the Treasure Tree been lately?"
Wang Xiwei turned, his gaze drifting underground as though he could see through the formation to the Treasure Tree coursing with flowing fire.
"It has shown some unusual changes lately. Its radiance is gradually drawing inward, the lava on its trunk is cooling and hardening, and its earthflame is slowly subsiding. But its vitality is growing stronger, as though it were undergoing a transformation."
Jiang Chiyu answered softly, uncertainty on his face. He did not know whether this was good or bad.
"White Stone is the oldest mountain in Green Peaks. It stood here long before our abbey moved in. The Blood-Burying Demon Sect occupied this place back then and did