After refining the Insect-Controlling Jar, all that was left was to gather enough sand insects to start mining the mineral veins.
Sand insects usually build their nests underground and spend most of their time burrowing through the earth.
Deep EarthSpirit General, who was skilled in Earth Escapement, was the best candidate to search for sand monsters underground.
Meng Zhang handed the Insect-Controlling Jar to him and asked him to take a tour of the surroundings to collect as many sand insects as possible.
On the other side of Singing Sand City, Li Shengqi used the Li family's shop at Flying Swan Building as collateral to buy enough talismans, which he entrusted to the commercial convoy of Flying Swan Building to be delivered to Li Zhan.
Now, both Li Shengqi and Li Zhan had passed away, leaving the Li family completely shattered. Even though Flying Swan Building was still influential, it could not collect debts from the deceased.
Flying Swan Building had no interest in the Li family's shop and decided to openly transfer ownership in exchange for spirit stones.
Thanks to the three-year exemption from Twin Success Valley and the subsidies from Meng Zhang over the past two years, Taiyi Sect had managed to accumulate some savings.
Meng Zhang personally put in some effort and took over the shop that Flying Swan Building was transferring.
Zhang Zhanlin, who was saved by Li Xuan and brought back to Taiyi Sect, had recovered from his injuries after a period of rest.
After expressing his desire to join Taiyi Sect, he underwent an assessment by Meng Zhang and successfully became an entry disciple of the next generation in Taiyi Sect.
Zhang Zhanlin's aptitude had never been outstanding, and the use of life-saving secret techniques had severely damaged his vitality.
Even after his injuries had healed, it was difficult for him to make significant progress on the path of cultivation.
After Taiyi Sect took over a shop in Singing Sand City, Zhang Zhanlin, who had no interest in cultivation, volunteered to manage the store in the market.
Having spent many years in Singing Sand City and working at the Li family's shop, he was not only familiar with the surroundings but also had rich experience in running a business.
Therefore, after some consideration, Meng Zhang appointed him as the store manager of the shop.
Currently, Taiyi Sect had no special products or fixed trade routes. Meng Zhang searched through the sect's treasury and handed a pile of miscellaneous items that were temporarily not in use to Zhang Zhanlin as the capital for running the shop.
Scarlet copper, which had been refined, and spirit grain produced from the sect's spirit field were also sold in small quantities in the shop.
Especially the small amount of scarlet copper sold was inconspicuous, and it could be said that the shop purchased it for its own use. Selling it in the store not only provided an additional channel for shipments but also yielded higher profits compared to selling to Shi Weiming and others.
Zhang Zhanlin had good judgment and a keen business sense, allowing him to engage in some profitable buy-and-sell trades.
Meng Zhang did not expect this shop to earn a significant amount of spirit stones; as long as it could sustain itself, he would be satisfied.
The primary purpose of opening this shop was to establish a channel for Taiyi Sect to connect with the outside world and gather various information from the Cultivation World.
As Taiyi Sect's first external outpost, on the day the small shop opened, Sect Master Meng Zhang and General Affairs Elder Tian Zhen personally attended the grand opening in Singing Sand City.
After the battle at Forest Mountain School, Meng Zhang had gained some reputation in the surrounding area. Many cultivation forces had shops or bases in Singing Sand City.
On the day of the grand opening, representatives from these forces either arrived personally or sent congratulatory gifts.
Guests from Forest Mountain School, Qiaoshou Sect, and others were particularly warm and enthusiastic.
Lao Bulu, who had a friendship with Meng Zhang, also took the time to come over.
Since the formation of the First Rank spirit vein in Sweetwater Oasis, the oasis had been rapidly expanding in size.
According to the estimation of Deep EarthSpirit General, Sweetwater Oasis's area would at least double in size, and the expansion would gradually slow down.
In the coming decades, as long as the spiritual energy of the spirit vein was not excessively depleted or damaged, Sweetwater Oasis would continue to expand slowly into the surrounding area.
With the increase in area, Sweetwater Oasis could naturally accommodate more mortals.
Meng Zhang also gradually purchased mortals from Lao Bulu to increase the population of Sweetwater Oasis.
However, the newly expanded oasis couldn't be cultivated into farmland immediately. To support these mortals and meet their basic needs, a large quantity of supplies, including food, had to be purchased from outside. This created a lucrative business for Lao Bulu.
Amidst the sound of firecrackers, Duo Duo General Store officially opened.
The name "Duo Duo General Store" was suggested by Meng Zhang. He hoped that one day, Duo Duo General Store would expand throughout the entire Endless Sea of Sand.
Duo Duo General Store would maintain regular contact with the sect and send back various information from the outside world.
In addition to managing Duo Duo General Store, Zhang Zhanlin took over Li Xuan's network and channels, expanding his influence.
After returning to Taiyi Sect, Meng Zhang dedicated most of his time and energy to cultivation. Besides cultivating the fundamental Dual Cultivation technique, the "Sun-Moon Wheel Turning Sutra," he spent a lot of time practicing various spells and sword techniques.
This peaceful life didn't last long before it was interrupted once again.
Deep EarthSpirit General, who went out to capture sand insects, brought back important news.
While tracking a sand insect, the insect got lost and ended up entering a concealed cultivator's cave.
As soon as the sand insect entered the vicinity of the cave, it was killed by the defensive Formation.
Deep EarthSpirit General didn't rush in but observed the surroundings carefully.
As a Geomancer, Deep EarthSpirit General was proficient in geomancy.
After a careful observation, he had a clear understanding of the situation around the cave.
The cultivator's cave was located underground, and beneath it was a hidden First Rank spirit vein.
The protective Formation of the cultivator's cave relied on this First Rank spirit vein.
Having a spirit vein constantly providing spiritual energy, the defensive strength of the Formation was formidable.
Moreover, Deep EarthSpirit General also noticed the existence of some malicious traps around the cave.
If anyone inadvertently triggered these traps, their fate would undoubtedly be tragic.
With Deep EarthSpirit General's strength and experience, he could slowly explore and spend more time and energy to break the Formation and safely enter the cultivator's cave.
However, at this moment, he noticed some cultivators searching the nearby ground.
They were searching in many places and were gradually getting closer to the cave.
Based on Deep EarthSpirit General's experience, these cultivators probably obtained the information about this cultivator's cave from some channel, but the information was not detailed enough. They only had a rough direction.
However, at their current speed, it was only a matter of time before they found the cave.
With his strength alone, Deep EarthSpirit General had no confidence in breaking the protective Formation and safely entering the cultivator's cave before these cultivators arrived.
Thus, he had to return with this information and seek help from Meng Zhang, the Sect Master.
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