"I’ve said all I can, work hard."
With those final words, Lu Ping severed the communication and drifted away.
Liu Shiyao was left standing alone in her place, her mind replaying Lu Ping’s words, unable to calm down for a long time.
"This senior knows my name and is familiar with Senior Sister Lu, he must be an ancestor of the sect..."
Muttering to herself, Liu Shiyao gathered her spirits, having a more precise guess about Lu Ping’s identity.
"I understand, senior."
Since Lu Ping did not wish to reveal his identity, Liu Shiyao decided not to inquire further.
The gentle breeze blew; the lake’s surface glistened with light, birds frolicking in Yanyang Lake, with several spirit fish joyously swimming in the water.
Liu Shiyao stood alone for a long while, pondering, originally intending to find Lu Xuelian to inform her about upgrading her beast taming mastery.
But such an extraordinary matter, she didn’t know how to breach the subject or explain it.
It’s best to keep it a secret for now; tell no one.
Back at the Back Mountain Forbidden Area, Lu Ping opened another reward.
The [Two-Star - Resource Optimization].
The direction for using this needed some consideration.
Lu Ping opened the sect resources for inspection.
[Resources: Cyan Lotus Mountain Spiritual Vein (Tier Two), Small Mist Concealment Sword Array (Tier Two), Medicine Field Eight Mu (Tier One), Spirit Field Twenty-five Mu (Tier Two), Two Shophouses in the Marketplace, Spiritual Peach Tree (Tier One), Cyan-tailed Spirit Fish (Tier One), Cyan Jade Bamboo (Tier One), Fire Source Stone Vein (Tier Two), White Jade Bee (Tier One), Spirit Void Vine (Tier Two), Cyan Plum Tree (Tier Two), Nine-Curves Reishi (Tier Two), Cloud Stepping Beast (Tier Two), Little Cold Mountain Spirit Vein (Tier Two), Three-eyed Spirit Fish (Tier Two)].
Browsing through these sect resources, Lu Ping contemplated and decided to use the [Two-Star - Resource Optimization] on the Fire Source Stone Vein.
The Fire Source Stone Vein can bring substantial benefits to the sect.
Moreover, some of the Fire Spirit Stones produced from the ore vein have fallen into Lu Changfeng’s hands.
Fire Source Stones, being fire attribute ore veins, are immensely beneficial to cultivators focusing on fire attribute techniques or spirit root cultivators with fire spirit roots.
Since Lu Changfeng achieved Foundation Establishment Stage, using the Fire Source Stones for cultivation, he has touched upon the threshold of Second-Layer Foundation Establishment.
Once the optimization of the Fire Source Stone Vein succeeds, enhancing it to Tier Two Middle Grade, the fire attribute spiritual qi contained within the Fire Source Stones will be more intense, further increasing Lu Changfeng’s cultivation speed.
No hesitation is needed, this is certainly the first target to enhance.
Choosing the Fire Source Stone Vein as the optimization target, the optimization process began.
[Fire Source Stone Vein Optimizing...]
[Fire Source Stone Vein Optimization Successful, Vein Tier Raised to Tier Two High-Grade]
Upon successful optimization, a resource detail information displayed immediately.
[Fire Source Stone Vein: Tier Two High-Grade Ore Vein]
[Estimated Revenue: 50,020 Spirit Stones/year (complete mastery, starting a stable phase, sustainable mining for twenty-five years)]
This optimization upgrade successfully elevated the Fire Source Stone Vein from Tier Two Middle Grade to Tier Two High-Grade.
Estimated revenue increased from the original 35,460 Spirit Stones per year to 50,020 Spirit Stones per year.
The tier elevation of Fire Source Stones has increased its price, bringing more spirit stone revenue to the sect.
Moreover, the mining period of the vein has extended, allowing for more Fire Source Stones to be produced.
Upon completing the optimization of the Fire Source Stone Vein, a dialogue box popped up the same day.
[A few fire spirits have been born within the Fire Source Stone Vein, please clear them promptly]
It wasn’t the first time that the optimization of resources led to the birth of creatures; Lu Ping was long accustomed to handling such situations.
After communicating with Second Elder, Lu Changfeng proceeded to the Fire Source Stone Vein to clear out the group of fire spirits.
The strength of these fire spirits, apart from one reaching First-Layer Foundation Establishment, all others were at the Qi Cultivation Stage.
The Foundation Establishment Fire Spirit’s size was similar to an average human, a semi-human creature engulfed in flames, bright yellow in color.
Such fire spirits, resembling Fire Source Spirit Monsters in appearance, had lower halves composed of piled stones, lacking distinct legs.
Their movement speed was slow.
Lu Changfeng controlled his Flying Sword to head to the Cyan Mountain Range, descending upon the Fire Source Stone Vein. Upon arrival, he saw many mortals running out of the ore vein, visibly anxious, occasionally glancing back.
Li Daoxuan guarded one side of the ore vein entrance, directing the evacuation of mortals, with a serious expression.
Seeing Lu Changfeng arrive, Li Daoxuan’s expression brightened.
Before greetings could be exchanged, Lu Changfeng spoke first.
"Li Daoxuan, I’m ordered by the sect to clear the fire spirits born in the ore vein."
Ordered by the sect to clear the fire spirits born in the ore vein?
Li Daoxuan murmured inwardly, visibly surprised.
The birth of fire spirits within the ore vein was something he hadn’t yet reported to the sect.
Yet, the Second Elder was already aware and arrived here.
The sect’s information on the ore vein was surprisingly keen?
"Manage these mortals well; I’ll deal with the fire spirits in the vein!"
Lu Changfeng declared, his eyes shining brightly.
Relying on Fire Source Stones for cultivation daily had significantly advanced his cultivation progress.
The Fire Source Stone resource was vital to both the sect and himself.
Problems arising here must be resolved swiftly.
Despite the internal doubts of Lu Changfeng’s rapid arrival, Li Daoxuan refrained from questioning.
"Greetings, Second Elder!"
Li Daoxuan immediately saluted.
"Indeed, the situation inside the ore vein spawned several creatures similar to fire spirits..."
"Mm, no need for more words; I’m aware."
Lu Changfeng nodded slightly, eyes fixed on the ore vein’s entrance, watching mortal miners continuously evacuating without asking about the situation inside. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝※𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖※𝕟𝕖𝕥
Before arriving, his father already briefed him thoroughly.
Utilizing the Flying Sword, he entered the ore vein’s entrance.
Lu Changfeng instructed, unwilling to delay further, seeking to promptly address the fire spirits.
Li Daoxuan, hearing the command, dared not delay and led Lu Changfeng into the ore vein passages.
Due to regular ore mining, numerous tunnels had been carved inside the Fire Source Stone Vein.
These tunnels spread in all directions, crisscrossing, causing unfamiliar entrants to easily become disoriented.
Although cultivators possessed divine senses, allowing them to survey the tunnel’s internal layout through divine sense exploration, it still required some surveying time.
It was more straightforward to have Li Daoxuan lead the way.
Following Li Daoxuan through twists and turns, deep into the ore vein, several mortals fled in panic one after another.
Upon seeing Li Daoxuan and Lu Changfeng, they instinctively glanced and some addressed them as Immortal Masters.
Others, merely concentrated on running away.
Inside the mine, Lu Changfeng and Li Daoxuan soon found traces of the fire spirits.