Yunzhou lay in eastern Yue Kingdom. Its territory was only middling in size compared with the kingdom's other provinces, but its economy was no less prosperous than those of the larger provinces, for it was renowned for its abundant mineral deposits.
Scattered across Yunzhou were scores, even hundreds, of mines of varying sizes producing copper, iron, zinc, manganese, and other minerals.
These mineral resources, along with the refining, metallurgy, transportation, service, and other industries they supported, provided a livelihood for countless mortals.
What those mortals did not know, however, was that besides ordinary minerals, Yunzhou also possessed deposits of spiritual materials and spirit stones useful to cultivators.
The Jinchang Ore Vein lay amid a range of barren mountains in eastern Yunzhou, only a few hundred li from the nearest stretch of the border between Yue Kingdom and Jiang Kingdom.
The Jinchang Spirit Stone Mine was also the largest spirit stone deposit in Yunzhou, yielding several hundred thousand spirit stones each year. It belonged jointly to the Seven Sects of Yue Kingdom, though the Qingxu Sect held the largest share.
Since Yunzhou fell within the Qingxu Sect's sphere of influence, its geographical advantage had allowed it to discover and mine the deposit first.
Once the other six sects learned of it, however, they all demanded a share of the spoils. The Qingxu Sect had no choice. An arm could not wrestle down a thigh, and it could only agree. Still, after arguing its case vigorously, it secured the largest share of the spirit stones, which offered some consolation.
At that moment, near the Jinchang Spirit Stone Mine, a streak of azure light appeared in the distant sky and shot toward the area at tremendous speed!
A moment later, the azure light faded, revealing an azure canoe in midair! It was twenty