Chapter 116 - 113: Entering the Mine Pit
Upon hearing Fang Qingyuan’s words, Jiang Kui lifted her eyelids. After a glance at him, she spoke.
"Oh, Late-stage Qi Refining, is it? Good."
Jiang Kui’s voice was lazy and casual, showing no hint of happiness for Fang Qingyuan. Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan could only sigh.
"I was thinking of coming out to help with more things, but seeing as Senior Sister looks down on my meager cultivation level so much, I guess I’ll just go back into seclusion. I won’t come out until I reach Foundation Establishment."
Instantly, Jiang Kui shot up from her recliner, a forced smile plastered on her face.
"Ah, so Junior Brother Qingyuan has reached Late-stage Qi Refining! I was just spacing out and didn’t hear you clearly. You said you wanted to come out and help me with things? Do you really mean it?"
Seeing Jiang Kui’s eager expression, Fang Qingyuan curled his lip and said,
"That’s right, I’ve reached Late-stage Qi Refining. Did you hear me clearly this time, Senior Sister?"
Jiang Kui waved her hand, took out a teacup, and began to brew tea for Fang Qingyuan. While doing so, she said,
"You’ve come at the perfect time. That kid Zhang Yuan has been clamoring to go to the sect’s speed-racing competition. I can’t talk him out of it. You have to help me."
’The speed-racing competition held every four years is on again?’
Fang Qingyuan remembered how Yinbao had earned him a good number of Spirit Stones after participating last time. Plus, after all that training, Yinbao’s flying skills had clearly improved. He just wasn’t sure if Yinbao, having barely flown for the past three or four years, could still adapt.
’Perhaps Jiang Kui wants me to refuse to lend Yinbao to Zhang Yuan, so he won’t go and will just stay put guarding the pit.’
Thinking of this, Fang Qingyuan said hesitantly,
"Junior Brother Zhang Yuan really loves the speed-racing competition. He used to love drinking the most, but now he’s changed. He likes to drink while crazily piloting a Spirit Beast. It wouldn’t be right for us to take away his hobby like this, would it?"
Jiang Kui rolled her eyes and snapped,
"I want you to guard the mine pit! Take over for Zhang Yuan for half a year so he can go compete without any worries. He’s been guarding it for three and a half years. It’s your turn."
Hearing this, an awkward expression appeared on Fang Qingyuan’s face. ’So she wants me to go guard the mine pit.’
While he had been cultivating peacefully on the mountaintop for three years, Zhang Yuan had stayed in the mine pit for three years. Although Zhang Yuan’s Spirit Root affinity matched the mine pit, which could accelerate his cultivation, it was definitely not as comfortable as staying on the mountain.
In these three years, he had never heard Zhang Yuan complain or demand that Fang Qingyuan come and replace him. ’I have to acknowledge this kindness.’
So, Fang Qingyuan nodded, indicating his agreement. After drinking the tea Jiang Kui had brewed, he turned to leave.
But Jiang Kui grabbed him and said,
"What’s the rush? I’m not finished. That mine pit was producing a normal fifty to sixty thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones in the two years prior, but last year it was less than fifty thousand. This year is already half over, and we haven’t even hit twenty thousand. Since you’re going, take this opportunity to find out why."
After hearing this, Fang Qingyuan looked hesitant. He said in a low voice,
"That’s probably a problem with the mine itself, right? Zhang Yuan might be a bit lazy, but he wouldn’t do anything else."
Jiang Kui’s brow furrowed, and she roared,
"Was I implying anything else? You and Zhang Yuan are the only two junior brothers I can trust. If I don’t have you investigate the cause, should I go myself? Do you have any idea how busy I’ve been these past few years?"
Seeing Jiang Kui like this, Fang Qingyuan quickly tried to placate her. ’The normally cool and detached Senior Sister has become quite irritable. It seems being the master of Yuanling Mountain for the past few years hasn’t been so easy.’
A moment later, Fang Qingyuan emerged from Jiang Kui’s house looking crestfallen. He only breathed a sigh of relief once he reached the door.
After that outburst, the resentment Jiang Kui had been building up toward him over the past few years also dissipated.
Calling over a bewildered-looking Jinbao, Fang Qingyuan quickly left Jiang Kui’s house and returned to his own.
He woke up Yinbao, packed a few things casually, and then piloted Yinbao down toward the foot of the mountain. In less than a quarter of an hour, Fang Qingyuan arrived before a schoolhouse.
Listening to the clear sound of reading from within, Fang Qingyuan waited at the entrance for a while. After a bit, when the sound of class being dismissed came from inside, a swarm of children rushed out.
"Wow! What a big fish!"
"Come look! There’s a really, really big fish outside."
"And a bear! That bear looks really big too."
The children coming out were immediately captivated by Jinbao and Yinbao upon seeing Fang Qingyuan. They had only heard their parents talk about Jinbao and Yinbao, but had never seen them before.
Just then, Liu Xun and Qu Wujie also walked out from inside. They, too, were stunned for a moment when they saw Fang Qingyuan.
Because for the past few years, Fang Qingyuan had never come to this place to find them. His arrival now gave them a bad feeling.
Sure enough, the moment Fang Qingyuan spoke, Liu Xun’s heart filled with despair.
"For the next six months, I won’t be living on the mountaintop, and the Array will be closed. You’ll have to go home for your meals from now on."
As soon as Fang Qingyuan’s voice fell, Liu Xun dropped to his knees with a THUD and kowtowed.
"Sect Leader, please don’t abandon Wujie and me! If we did something wrong, please tell us. We will definitely correct it."
Staring at the tearful Liu Xun, Fang Qingyuan was completely baffled. ’How did this turn into me abandoning them?’
Just then, Qu Wujie was also pulled to the ground by Liu Xun to cry along with him. Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan slapped his forehead, feeling utterly exasperated.
Using his Spiritual Power to lift the two little ones, Fang Qingyuan explained,
"It’s not that I’m abandoning you. I have to be away for half a year on business. Without me to look after things, how would you eat on the mountaintop? It’s a good chance for you two to spend more time with your parents for the next six months and have a complete childhood."
Liu Xun didn’t understand everything Fang Qingyuan said, but he understood clearly that Fang Qingyuan wasn’t trying to drive them away.
So Liu Xun obediently nodded and stopped crying, while Qu Wujie still hadn’t figured out what had just happened.
After rushing over to inform the two kids, Fang Qingyuan took Jinbao and Yinbao and flew away from the mountain, leaving behind the astonished cries of the many children.
.....
This mine pit, fifty li outside Yuanling Mountain, wasn’t far. However, activating the Array required a considerable amount of Spirit Stones. To save on this expense, Zhang Yuan rarely returned to the mountain, using paper cranes for any communication.
This type of paper crane communication was generally used for short distances. Beyond a hundred li, the Spiritual Power attached to the crane would be insufficient.
The Array covering the mine pit was a Tier Two Lower Grade Primordial Spirit Mountain Array. Just from its name, one could tell it was very similar to the Array on Yuanling Mountain. Its main feature was its astounding defensive power, capable of drawing on the power of the earth to repel external attacks.
Fang Qingyuan arrived before the mine’s Array and sent a Spiritual Wave into it. Zhang Yuan, inside, sensed it. Seeing that it was Fang Qingyuan outside, he manipulated the Array and let him in.
As soon as Fang Qingyuan entered, Zhang Yuan asked curiously,
"Senior Brother, what are you doing here? Did something happen in the sect?"
After speaking, Zhang Yuan looked at Fang Qingyuan with some concern. Until this moment, he still thought he had to continue guarding the mine pit.
"I’m here to take your place. Junior Brother, don’t you want to go to Celestial Gate Mountain for the speed-racing competition? I brought Yinbao with me. Pack your things and you can leave in a bit."
Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s words, Zhang Yuan broke into a happy smile. He let out a cheer and hurried back to his room to pack his things.
After Zhang Yuan left, Fang Qingyuan finally had a moment to survey the mine pit.
Fang Qingyuan was currently located outside the mine entrance, in an open-air barracks area. The mine entrance itself was a hundred meters ahead, a dark maw that, from a distance, looked like the mouth of a man-eating beast.
To the side were rows of built-up sheds, housing hundreds of Shrimp Turtle Beasts.
It was currently work time, so all these Shrimp Turtle Beasts had been herded down to mine, leaving only scattered food bowls on the ground.
Fang Qingyuan levitated a food bowl over to examine it and found a layer of viscous paste inside. The ingredients seemed to be barley dregs.
Putting the food bowl down, Fang Qingyuan frowned. The outside sunlight, filtered by the Array, became very dim by the time it reached this area.
As a result, the entire environment felt oppressive and hard to bear. Only someone as carefree as Zhang Yuan could handle it. If it were anyone else, staying for a long time would probably breed Heart Demons.
A moment later, Zhang Yuan came out of his quarters and handed a token to Fang Qingyuan.
"This is the Array Token. Holding this, you can control the entire Array. Don’t worry, Senior Brother, once this Array is active, not even three or five Foundation Establishment cultivators could break in. Over there is the feed for the Shrimp Turtle Beasts. There’s a three-month supply here. If it runs out, just send a paper crane to Senior Sister, and she’ll have someone deliver more.
Also, this is the ledger for the daily Spirit Stone production; the output for each day is recorded. This is the main storeroom, where the Spirit Stones are kept. Right now, there are 3,784 stones inside. Could you see if the number matches? Also, Senior Brother, please inspect my storage pouch to see if I’ve hidden any for myself."
After Zhang Yuan’s long explanation, Fang Qingyuan checked everything one by one. When Zhang Yuan asked him to inspect his storage pouch, Fang Qingyuan did that as well.
When everything was done, Zhang Yuan let out a long sigh of relief. Only then did he notice that Fang Qingyuan had already advanced to the Late-stage of Qi Cultivation.
At this, Zhang Yuan laughed.
"Senior Brother, you’re a latecomer who’s surpassed the old guard! Four years ago, I was at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. I haven’t advanced my cultivation since, and now you’re about to catch up."
Fang Qingyuan laughed and teased,
"I’m your Senior Brother, after all. If my cultivation was always lower than yours, wouldn’t it be weird for others to see you calling me that? You should get going, or you’ll be late and won’t be able to register."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuan didn’t bother with any more small talk. He went over to Yinbao and said,
"Yinbao, old friend, whether I get to drink good wine this time, and whether you get to cuddle up with other pretty female manta rays... it’s all up to you."
Yinbao understood Zhang Yuan’s words. Its listless expression immediately turned spirited. It looked at Fang Qingyuan, and after getting his nod of approval, it couldn’t resist wanting to take flight right away.
Zhang Yuan laughed heartily, turned, and mounted Yinbao’s back. Then he said to Fang Qingyuan,
"Take care, Senior Brother! I’ll be back as soon as the speed-racing competition is over. Thanks for your hard work during this time."
Fang Qingyuan gave a slight smile and infused Spiritual Power into the token. After a long moment, the token finally shot a beam of light toward the ochre Array Spirit Shield in the sky, opening a gap to let Zhang Yuan and Yinbao out.
After Zhang Yuan left, the huge mine pit felt a little desolate. Only Jinbao was there, darting outside the sheds of the Shrimp Turtle Beasts, pawing at various things.
Seeing Jinbao like this, Fang Qingyuan called out to him and led him deeper into the cave. He needed to meet his miners first before he could analyze why the mine’s output was declining.
The mine tunnel wasn’t dark. Luminous Pearls were placed every few meters, emitting light. It wasn’t bright, but it was enough for ordinary people to see normally.
Moreover, as a Late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator, Fang Qingyuan could see clearly in the dark even without light. The current dimness only added to the quiet atmosphere.
’TAP! TAP!’
Footsteps echoed in the silent mine tunnel. The path ahead was a slope, spiraling downward in some places. After Fang Qingyuan had walked for about two to three hundred zhang, his Divine Sense finally detected a large cluster of life-auras moving up ahead.