Spirit Mine

A month later.

Inside a teahouse in the market.

Fang Yu ordered a pot of spirit tea and drank it slowly, listening to the cultivators talking in the shop.

"I never expected there to be a Spirit Stone mine in the Autumn Moon Mountain Range..."

"I heard the mine even drew the attention of the Spirit Cloud Sect's Golden Core patriarch. He went there himself to set up a grand array!"

"I got word that the Autumn Moon Mountain Market is already under construction, and they're recruiting miners. Any Spirit Stones they dig up can be split fifty-fifty with the market."

"What? A fifty-fifty split? Wouldn't that make us rich?!"

"It's not that simple. The mine has only just opened, and Demon Beasts are roaming everywhere. The Golden Core patriarch killed the third-tier Demon Beast, but there are still plenty of first- and second-tier ones. With our cultivation, going in would be courting death."

"If we only stayed on the outskirts, we should be fine, right?"

"..."

Fang Yu took a small sip of tea, feeling somewhat tempted. A fifty-fifty split really is tempting!

These days, he came to the teahouse every day to drink tea and listen to cultivators returning from the Autumn Moon Mountain Range discuss the situation there. By now, he had a fairly good grasp of it.

The matter was simple: a third-tier Demon Beast comparable to a Golden Core cultivator had appeared in the Autumn Moon Mountain Range. After the Cloud Spirit Sect's Golden Core patriarch slew it, its lair was found, and, to everyone's delight, it turned out to be a Spirit Stone mine. Construction of a market began at once, and miners were recruited to begin preliminary development.

Spirit Stone veins were the most likely places to breed Demon Beasts and spirits. What was more, a third-tier Demon Beast had already appeared there, so it wouldn't be surprising if there were another one inside. The recruited miners were being sent in to scout the way and die.

Although the Rogue Cultivators all knew the Cloud Spirit Sect was using them as cannon fodder, the terms of a fifty-fifty split were simply too tempting. The first batch of miners had reportedly dug up more than a thousand Spirit Stones in a single day, and one person had dug up ten thousand on his own. Even after a fifty-fifty split, that was more than many people earned in a lifetime.

Faced with such enormous temptation, few Rogue Cultivators could resist.

After finishing his cup of tea, Fang Yu left the teahouse and wandered through the market, looking and listening as he went.

The market was bustling. People crowded around all kinds of stalls, and the prices of once-common supplies like spirit talismans, Law Artifacts, and pills had risen by more than half. Even some shops had set up stalls outside their doors.

Fang Yu made a circuit and got a rough idea of the current prices. Then he found an empty spot and laid out the large batch of spirit talismans he had just stocked up on from the Dao of Qi Ingestion.

"Come take a look! First-Tier Middle-Grade Blazing Fire Talismans, limited supply..."

"Mid-grade Blazing Fire Talismans... Fellow Daoist, give me five..."

"I want three..."

"..."

The stall had barely opened before Fang Yu sold all the hundreds of spirit talismans he had on hand, giving him an immediate urge to go back and stock up again.

In the end, though, he held himself back. These Spirit Stones were easy to earn, but he had to know his limits. Selling too many would attract attention, which ran counter to his plan of keeping a low profile while he developed. So he wandered around the market, changed his face and presence, and, after making sure no one was following him, returned to his little courtyard to continue cultivating.

He had also planned to take the opportunity to buy some pills to improve his cultivation, but after merely asking the prices, he gave up.

During this stage of the Autumn Moon Spirit Stone mine's development, the prices of all kinds of pills had at least doubled, to say nothing of those that could improve cultivation. Every miner who dug up Spirit Stones immediately exchanged them for all kinds of resources to improve their cultivation.

So this really wasn't a good time to buy pills.

Several months later.

"Good news, good news! The Autumn Moon Mountain Market is complete, with more than ten thousand cave abodes of all sizes ready for use. Anyone willing to enter the mine and dig can now get a cave abode for free."

As soon as the news spread, cultivators in the East Spirit Mountain Market swarmed toward the newly completed Autumn Moon Mountain Market like mad.

In just a few days, the East Spirit Mountain Market became so deserted that sparrows could be caught in its streets, and it grew more desolate by the day.

Fang Yu's business, which had once earned him a thousand Spirit Stones a day, vanished all at once.

Walking through the deserted market, he began to hesitate. Should I move to the Autumn Moon Mountain Market?

Forget it. I'd better stay away for now!

After weighing it over and over, Fang Yu decided not to join the crowd. He had already earned more than enough Spirit Stones and had no trouble affording the twelve Spirit Stones in annual rent for his cave abode.

The Autumn Moon Mountain Market was now like oil poured onto a raging fire, with Bandit Cultivators emerging one after another. Cultivating there was far too dangerous; he was better off staying here.

More importantly, his ten-year agreement with Tie Chanyi was almost due, and six portions of Profound Grade materials were waiting for him. Once he forged a Profound Grade flying sword and advanced to the Dao Foundation realm, it wouldn't be too late to go develop at the Autumn Moon Mountain Market.

Flaming Mountain. Fire Cloud Cave.

Fang Yu stepped into the cave, swept his gaze around, and walked over to the desk of Deacon Han Feng, who was free at the moment.

"Deacon Han..."

Fang Yu handed over his disciple token and two Yellow Grade Flowing Flame True Fire Swords, explaining his agreement with Tie Chanyi.

"...These are the last two. I've come to collect the materials for forging the Profound Grade flying sword."

Han Feng took the flying swords, inspected them, and put them away. Then he handed the token back. "Tie Chanyi did not entrust the Profound Grade materials to Fire Cloud Cave. Go back first. I'll notify Tie Chanyi, and when she has time, she'll naturally bring the materials to you."

"I see!" Fang Yu took the token and bowed with cupped hands. "Sorry for the trouble, Deacon Han!"

Han Feng watched Fang Yu about to leave, and a sudden stirring arose in his heart. As if driven by some unseen force, he spoke:

"Very few firestone laborers in the sect manage to advance to the Dao Foundation realm. Let me congratulate you in advance. When you achieve a Dao Foundation one day, fellow cultivator, I hope you'll look after me."

Fang Yu was slightly surprised to hear this. Why is Deacon Han congratulating me today? Doesn't he always wear a cold expression?

"Thank you for your kind words, Deacon Han. If I achieve a Dao Foundation someday, I certainly won't forget the consideration you've shown me!"

Fang Yu finished speaking with a smile, only to see that Han Feng had resumed his icy expression. He promptly turned and left.

After leaving Fire Cloud Cave, he used Cloud Soaring to head back to his cave abode, all the while feeling that Han Feng's words carried a hidden meaning.

The deacon's post is an assignment within the Metal Stone Immortal Sect. Even a great Dao Foundation cultivator would find it hard to interfere with it.

I'm only a firestone laborer. Even if I do achieve a Dao Foundation, I'll only be a cultivator of the External Alchemy Technique.

I'm simply not on the same level as those Tie Household disciples who have specialized in a Dao Foundation for slaughter since childhood.

I have no power over assignments, either. At most, I'd be a mid-level senior technical specialist.

Han Feng had no need to say any of that to me. Before today, he'd never called me a "firestone laborer," a title that's obviously discriminatory.

Now that I'm about to advance to the Dao Foundation realm, he's suddenly used that title. Was he reminding me that I'm only a "firestone laborer," and that a firestone laborer isn't qualified to achieve a Dao Foundation?

Suddenly, he remembered what Han Feng had told him when they first met more than twenty years ago:

"At your age, don't bother touching any Cultivation Method other than the Crimson Firmament Profound Craft Canon!"

Now, let's assume Han Feng meant well when he warned me back then. His warning now should also be well-intentioned. In that case, what is he trying to warn me about?

If I'd listened to him back then, I probably wouldn't have cultivated the Flowing Flame True Fire Sword. I wouldn't have my current agreement with Tie Chanyi, either, and I wouldn't be forging a Profound Grade Flowing Flame True Fire Sword for her.

If there really is danger, could it come from Tie Chanyi?

Could forging a Profound Grade flying sword put me in danger?

But isn't forging a Profound Grade flying sword the "Dao attainment" I need to advance to the Dao Foundation realm?

What if Han Feng means me harm, then?

No. If he really meant me harm, there'd be no need for him to take such a roundabout approach, given his position as a deacon.

He'd have a thousand ways to deal with me, and I'd be helpless to resist.

So his warning was probably well-intentioned.

Well, whether he meant well or ill, I'll assume I may face danger soon. How should I deal with it?

Should I just run straight to the Dao of Qi Refining and never come back?

That would be a very good solution.

But then I'd be acting without knowing what was going on. What if there's no danger at all, and I'm just scaring myself? That would be one big joke.

I can flee to the Great Scarlet Heaven at any time, so there's no need to be this suspicious, seeing soldiers in every tree and bush.

But I still need to make the necessary preparations.