Chapter 139 - 127: 2.5 Years Later
Three days later, on Yuanling Mountain, Fang Qingyuan and Jiang Kui flew side-by-side, hovering a hundred meters in the air. Below them, across the vast slope stretching from the summit to the foot of the mountain, a group of mortals toiled away. Seeing the Immortal Masters above, they all stopped their work and fell to their knees in worship.
Thousand Soul Grass had been planted on this slope, and after six months of growth, the plants had sprouted massive leaves. It would not be long before they were ready for harvest.
The slope had once been overgrown, steep, and difficult to traverse. But six months ago, Fang Qingyuan and Zhang Yuan had followed the course of the Spirit Vein and used Earth Element Techniques to quarry stone and fill in the land. After many days of hard work, they had transformed it into three thousand mu of terraced, winding fields.
Fang Qingyuan and Jiang Kui were here for two reasons: first, to inspect the growth of the Thousand Soul Grass, and second, to discuss whether they should continue planting the cash crop next year.
Thousand Soul Grass was, after all, a somewhat taboo crop. Previously, when Yuanling Mountain had no Spirit Stone Vein, its expenses had far exceeded its income. But things were different now. With the much larger revenue from the Crimson Iron Ore, they could support the five or six thousand mortals on the mountain even if they did no work at all.
However, that was not what Jiang Kui wanted. She needed subjects who could contribute, not a mountain of freeloaders.
In the end, after some discussion, Fang Qingyuan and Jiang Kui decided to continue cultivating the three thousand mu of Thousand Soul Grass to provide the mortals with a livelihood. However, they would encourage planting other cash crops in the future to gradually phase out the hallucinogenic plant.
After returning to the main area of Yuanling Mountain, Fang Qingyuan no longer visited the Crimson Iron Ore mining camp. He had already negotiated the profit-sharing agreement with the sect, so there was no point in keeping watch over it.
Unless Shen Wulei’s embezzlement became too egregious, the sect wouldn’t dare to short him his share.
Fang Qingyuan now received a share of over five hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones each month. The sect had granted him a five-thousandths share—or 0.5%—and the Crimson Iron Ore mine produced one hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones monthly. Over the course of a year, this amounted to an income of more than six thousand Spirit Stones for Fang Qingyuan.
And that wasn’t including the reward from Jiang Kui. Because Fang Qingyuan had been the one to discover the mine, Jiang Kui decided to take an additional 0.5% from the 3% share allocated to Yuanling Mountain by the sect and add it to his personal cut.
In other words, Fang Qingyuan now held a full one percent share of the Crimson Iron Ore mine. Without having to lift a finger, he could collect twelve to thirteen thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones annually.
To put that in perspective, the annual stipend for a Core Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect was only a little over one thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones. Fang Qingyuan had absolutely struck it rich this time.
Moreover, this arrangement came with another benefit: the large fortune Fang Qingyuan had previously earned from his trade ventures could now be legitimized under this new source of income.
Back in Lianshui City, Fang Qingyuan had amassed a considerable number of Spirit Stones, but he never dared to reveal the full extent of his wealth to Jiang Kui because he couldn’t explain its origin. Now, with this legitimate source of income, he could spend large sums of Spirit Stones and confidently claim it was all from his mining profits.
’After a decade or so,’ Fang Qingyuan mused, ’I’ll be able to spend lavishly without arousing suspicion from those close to me, like Jiang Kui. It will also deflect the curious and probing gazes of outsiders.’
Thinking of all the benefits a single mine had brought him, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t help but glance at the goofy-looking Jinbao. ’There are still so many unexplored areas around Yuanling Mountain,’ he thought.
Jinbao sensed its master’s gaze and the mischievous intent behind it. Covering its little ears with its bear-like paws, it scurried away, as if not hearing his thoughts would make them disappear.
After Jinbao had scampered off, Fang Qingyuan chuckled. ’One mine is enough to live on for now. If I find a few more, people will think I’m getting too greedy and decide they’d be better off with me out of the picture.’
’Besides,’ he thought, ’I’ll wait until I reach Foundation Establishment. Then, Yuanling Mountain can develop the next mine. With two Foundation Establishment cultivators here, we’ll be strong enough to secure a small mine on our own.’
Having laid out these plans in his mind, Fang Qingyuan settled down to cultivate in his Quiet Chamber. Ever since his Wood Spirit Root had been elevated to a Top-grade Spirit Root, his cultivation speed had increased significantly.
Furthermore, the new Earth Tier Upper Grade cultivation technique he was practicing was far more potent than his old Cyan Wood Evergreen Formula. Combined, these two factors meant that Fang Qingyuan now only needed two and a half years to reach the Eighth-Layer Qi Cultivation. In terms of speed, his progress now rivaled, and even slightly surpassed, that of Jiang Kui in her youth.
And so, Fang Qingyuan peacefully closed his eyes and began to meditate, savoring the delightful sensation of his Spiritual Power growing stronger, little by little.
....
Three months later, as the year drew to a close, the annual Ascension Conference for newborn children was held as scheduled.
This marked Fang Qingyuan’s fifth year on Yuanling Mountain. Over those five years, dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of children had been born annually. Yet, not a single one had shown any aptitude for cultivation, much to Jiang Kui’s frustration.
Outsiders typically tested children every three years, but Jiang Kui insisted on testing them annually. Unfortunately, her high hopes only led to greater disappointment.
This year, however, was different. Among the newborns, one child possessed a Middle-grade Spirit Root.
"What is this little one’s name?"
Jiang Kui asked warmly, turning to the middle-aged couple standing beside her. The couple, seeming to understand the significance of the situation, replied with faces beaming with joy.
"Mountain Master, my daughter’s name is Jiang Wanqin. She is of your clan. Does... does my daughter have an Immortal Root? Can she become an Immortal Master?"