https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-96-Spirit-Eyes-Planted-Gazing-Through-the-Earth-s-Veins/12831595/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-98-The-Master-of-Spirit-Plants-the-Perfect-Fasting-Powder/12831597/
Chapter 97: The Spirit Vein and the Raw Spirit Stones
Chapter 97: The Spirit Vein and the Raw Spirit Stones
Deep beneath the Slanted Moon Valley, there was actually a place so rich in spiritual energy?
Luo Chen was surprised, but then it seemed he realized something.
However, he didn’t rush to explore it immediately.
Instead, he went out and showed his face to Gu Caiyi and the others, indicating that he was fine.
He knew very well that if anything had truly gone wrong, Uncle Mi Shuhua would definitely come to check on him.
At that point, his discoveries would likely be exposed.
By evening, most of the alchemists in the Alchemy Hall had left, and the potions they had refined that day were securely stored in the potion room.
Luo Chen greeted Gu Caiyi, telling her he would be returning home late tonight as he planned to try refining the Jade Marrow Pills.
Gu Caiyi had no objections.
Currently, the refinement of Jade Marrow Pills was primarily handled by Luo Chen.
The other apprentices and furnace workers were only learning some of the techniques he had taught them.
Once most of the alchemists had left, leaving only a guard squad, Luo Chen returned to the stone house.
"Let me see if that first-tier spirit vein branch really exists down there!"
Lifting the stone slab, Luo Chen descended into the underground mine.
Choosing a tunnel that extended downward, he released a small puppet and followed it step by step.
"Blocked?"
"This path doesn’t lead through, let’s try another tunnel."
"The direction seems to be off."
"It looks like I’ll need to use some means!"
After being blocked again at the end of a sealed tunnel, Luo Chen realized that the place he was looking for hadn’t been discovered yet.
Therefore, there were no direct tunnels leading to it.
In the past, he would have needed to use a magical tool to clear a path, digging bit by bit.
But now, he had another method.
The Mountain Splitting Palm!
Surging spiritual energy flowed through his meridians.
With one palm strike on the ground, a dull thud echoed.
Large chunks of rock exploded outward, and Luo Chen didn’t bother to dodge, letting the debris hit him.
With the protection of his mid-grade magical robe’s defensive aura, the rocks fell harmlessly.
"It seems quite deep!"
He sighed and continued the process.
One palm strike, another, and another!
Occasionally, he would encounter some unmined Star Silver ore, which he would cut away with difficulty using his Jade Green Blade magical tool.
In the process, his proficiency with the Mountain Splitting Palm increased steadily.
"Still, it’s a secular martial art, and the utilization of spiritual energy is somewhat crude."
"But that’s also good; it doesn’t consume as much spiritual energy."
Luo Chen glanced at his attribute panel, satisfied to see the increasing proficiency of the Mountain Splitting Palm.
After about an hour, Luo Chen had to stop.
"Damn, how deep is this!"
"I won’t be able to break through today, I’ll continue tomorrow!"
If he delayed any longer, he would be home too late.
Zhou Yuanli and Liu Qiang, his bodyguards, were still waiting for him in the Slanted Moon Valley.
Luo Chen stopped, turned around, and left the narrow tunnel.
Before leaving, he used a large boulder to block the tunnel.
...
"Did Luo Chen come to the headquarters to see me today?"
Mi Shuhua had just finished a conversation with a new Foundation Establishment cultivator who had moved in when he heard Mi Junping’s report.
He was quite curious.
"What did that kid want?"
Mi Junping disliked Luo Chen; the benefits he had received from the clan were too many.
Moreover, he always seemed unsatisfied.
Compared to the benefits he had received, the value he had brought to the Mountain Breaker Gang and the Mi family was far from enough.
"Tsk, what could he want? Probably to ask for more benefits. That guy is insatiable!"
Seeing his daughter’s attitude, Mi Shuhua frowned.
His daughter was still too petty.
She only cared about short-term gains and couldn’t see the long-term benefits.
Compared to what he was currently investing, the value Luo Chen could bring in the future was immeasurable!
Mi Junping, on the other hand, had lost control early on and had a relationship with a cultivator, even having a child.
As a result, despite his full support, she had no chance of advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage.
This forced Mi Shuhua to use the hard-earned Foundation Establishment Pill as a reward.
The second generation of the Mi family was lacking!
Fortunately, there were a few promising children in the third generation.
After some thought, Mi Shuhua said, "Has Milly returned home? Call her over, I have something to ask."
Mi Junping didn’t like her daughter much.
It was because of that man and this daughter that she had no chance of advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage.
But under her Foundation Establishment father’s gaze, she had no choice but to fetch Milly.
Soon, Mi Shuhua learned most of what Luo Chen had done in the Alchemy Hall that day.
Promoting an old cultivator to head the furnace team? Kind-hearted?
The team leader had gone out with Luo Chen, and it was said that Luo Chen had asked about cultivation issues, indicating he was facing some difficulties.
Hmm, so that’s why he came to see me.
"In the afternoon, Hall Master Luo successfully refined a batch of Jade Marrow Pills," Milly said softly.
"He indeed has a talent for alchemy, far surpassing the second and third generations of our Mi family."
Mi Shuhua sighed.
"The refinement process seemed to have some issues, and Hall Master Luo’s eyes were bleeding."
When he heard this, Mi Shuhua couldn’t sit still.
"What happened?"
His urgent and concerned expression was genuine.
Milly pursed her lips, feeling a pang of sadness.
Her grandfather had never been this concerned about her.
She managed to say, "Hall Master Luo said it was because he had been using the Spirit Eye Technique too much recently."
Mi Shuhua paced the room, his brow furrowed.
This was indeed a problem.
The Spirit Eye Technique, though simple, was actually quite dangerous among low-level spells.
It was said that in the sect, elders would advise disciples not to use it frequently.
Secondly, it could easily harm his eyes.
He had been too hasty!
Luo Chen was still just a Sixth Stage Qi Refinement child. Making him refine elixirs every day would indeed be detrimental.
Previously, he had thought Mi Junping was being petty, but now he realized he had been shortsighted himself.
Who cultivated an alchemist in less than a decade or a century?
After some thought, Mi Shuhua took out a jade bottle from his storage bag.
"Mi Li, give this to Luo Chen tomorrow and tell him to drop a bit in his eyes after each elixir refinement."
Mi Junping was taken aback when she saw the bottle and blurted out, "Father, this is the Luminous Pearl Elixir you got from the auction. Why give it to that boy?"
Mi Shuhua glanced at her coldly. "This elixir doesn’t help much with cultivation. It’s useless to me, so why can’t I give it to him?"
Mi Junping was speechless, muttering that it would cost a lot of spirit stones.
Sighing, Mi Shuhua couldn’t help but chide her.
"Junping, be more generous. People have already told me you’re too harsh on the cultivators in the sect. You always reduce or withhold their rewards."
"Father, those wandering cultivators don’t deserve it—"
"If you keep this up, the Mi family will lose the support of the Broken Mountain Sect."
"But with you, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, why does it matter if we lose their support?"
"How long do you think I have left?"
Mi Junping covered her mouth, a terrifying thought crossing her mind.
Could her father’s lifespan be running out?
Mi Shuhua shook his head, not wanting to explain further, and gestured for them to leave.
Mi Li led her dazed mother away, clutching the jade bottle.
Under the moonlight, she glanced back at her father’s courtyard, a sense of panic rising in her heart.
Recently, the Mi family, as a local Foundation Establishment family, had been at the height of their power, controlling the Broken Mountain Sect.
Their daily comings and goings were like a grand procession, filled with prosperity and vitality.
But if Mi Shuhua were to fall, what would happen to the entire family?
She didn’t dare think about it.
...
"From the Sect Leader?"
Before starting the elixir refinement, Luo Chen curiously took the jade bottle.
He shook it, hearing the gentle ripple of liquid inside.
Mi Li whispered, "This is the Luminous Pearl Elixir. After each refinement, you can drop a bit in your eyes to alleviate eye strain."
Luminous Pearl Elixir!
Hearing the name, Luo Chen froze.
This was a valuable elixir!
The Green Origin Elixir Manual mentioned this spiritual medicine.
It had excellent auxiliary effects for low-ranking alchemists.
But ordinary alchemists rarely had the means to buy it.
The reason was simple: this elixir came from the Jade Cauldron Domain’s premier sect, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect!
As a sword cultivator sect, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect was known for its combat prowess, not its elixirs.
But as a major sect, they couldn’t be dependent on others for everything.
They had their own alchemists, specifically trained to serve the sect.
The Luminous Pearl Elixir was one of their creations.
Or rather, it was a weaker version of the Clarity Elixir!
Sword cultivators used sword pills in battle, controlled primarily by their divine sense.
However, some enemies required the use of senses as well.
Thus, the alchemists of the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect developed the Clarity Elixir.
Long-term use would grant sword cultivators incredible changes in their vision—seeing through illusions and discerning the ethereal.
The Clarity Elixir was a top-tier elixir, usually reserved for Foundation Establishment disciples and Golden Core elders.
But an elixir that only served internal needs would lose much of its value.
So, the Jade Cauldron alchemists modified the ingredients and created a weaker version, the Luminous Pearl Elixir.
This elixir was supplied to internal disciples and sold externally.
While the market was limited, the spirit stones earned helped offset the costs of producing the Clarity Elixir.
The Luminous Pearl Elixir had little effect on high-ranking cultivators but was highly beneficial for Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Occasional use could alleviate eye strain.
Long-term use could help cultivators easily distinguish between Yin Qi, turbid Qi, and other impurities.
This was due to one of its main ingredients, the Smoke Pearl, cultivated from the rare Yin Beast, the Smoke Shell.
This is why it was called the Luminous Pearl Elixir.
Some array masters frequently purchased this elixir in bulk.
Holding the jade bottle, Luo Chen was overjoyed.
He didn’t really have eye strain.
Ever since he perfected the Spirit Eye Technique, that issue had been resolved.
The bleeding eyes yesterday were a result of the technique advancing to the Master level, which had a profound impact on his eyes.
But he wouldn’t refuse such a valuable gift.
After all, it was a heartfelt offering from Mi Shuhua!
"I didn’t even ask, and he just gave it to me."
"Why didn’t I have such a good boss in my previous life?"
After a moment of reflection, Luo Chen happily put away the bottle.
He decided to use it when he had the chance, as the book said it was beneficial for alchemists.
"What are you all standing around for? Start the fire and refine the elixirs!"
Luo Chen shouted at the group.
Everyone sprang into action, with Gu Caiyi directing the apprentices to transport the ingredients to the elixir rooms.
Qu Hancheng, the new head of the Fire Team, assigned six fire workers to each elixir room.
Two cultivators were responsible for monitoring the fire, ensuring that if one had issues, the other could take over.
And Luo Chen would circulate among them, ensuring everything went smoothly.
...
After dinner, Luo Chen sat in his room.
He first examined the bottle, confirming it had no issues with his extensive knowledge of elixirs, and then dropped a bit into each eye.
Blinking, he felt a cool sensation.
"Feels refreshing."
"Other than that, there doesn’t seem to be any immediate change."
"This eye drop is famous, but it doesn’t have an instant effect."
Luo Chen pouted and put the medicine bottle away.
Uncle Mi had given it to him with good intentions, so he might as well use it whenever he needed it!
This single bottle should last him a month.
After stowing the bottle, Luo Chen rubbed his hands and crawled into the mine shaft.
Time to continue his Gold Miner game!
Dig!
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Since he was deep underground, the noise from his Mountain-Breaking Palm wouldn't reach the Crescent Moon Valley.
Especially since he had blocked off the narrow mine shaft, making it even safer.
An hour later, Luo Chen straightened up.
"Damn, that's deep!"
"But it's almost through. I'll continue tonight!"
In the afternoon, Luo Chen focused intently on refining elixirs.
He had to show some results to Uncle Mi, who had given him so much help!
Otherwise, if Uncle Mi didn't see any progress and got discouraged, he might shut down the elixir hall. Where would Luo Chen go to benefit from the resources then?
It had to be said, he had gotten used to having a team of assistants.
The idea of going back to handling the herbs, controlling the fire, and refining elixirs all by himself was not appealing.
And even if he managed to refine some elixirs, he would still have to bottle them and sell them himself.
Just thinking about it made him feel overwhelmed. Why go through all that trouble when things were so much easier now?
...
"Finally, it's almost through!"
Before he knew it, it was already deep into the night.
He had told the two bodyguards that he would stay in the elixir hall tonight, so no one would disturb him.
Luo Chen took a deep breath and, with his Mountain-Breaking Palm now at the proficient level, struck down.
A surge of spiritual energy formed a faintly blue, translucent palm print, which then pressed down.
Puff!
The last layer of rock shattered like an eggshell.
Almost simultaneously, a dense surge of spiritual energy erupted.
Luo Chen was startled, but his already activated robe moved on its own, ready to protect him from any danger.
Everything was fine.
Luo Chen landed at the bottom of the mine and looked around. He found himself in a cave about two meters in diameter.
It was cramped, but it was more than enough for him.
His eyes brightened as he scanned the area.
"Spirit Stones!"
On the cave floor, there was a cluster of translucent, crystalline rocks, shimmering with silver specks.
These were clearly the raw form of spirit stones.
Actually, calling them spirit stones was incorrect.
More accurately, they were raw spirit stone ores!
In the world of cultivation, the spirit stones used were almost uniform in size, shape, and the amount of spiritual energy they contained.
It was said that spirit stones originated from spirit veins.
Large sects that controlled these veins would mine the raw ores and use their unique techniques to cut them into standardized spirit stones.
These spirit stones would then be used as currency in the cultivation world, allowing cultivators to purchase resources from others.
The spiritual energy inside these stones was often impure and violent, making it impossible for ordinary cultivators to absorb directly. They could only use them as currency for trade.
Only cultivators from major sects, who had the techniques to refine the spiritual energy, could extract the pure energy and use it for cultivation, even if they were not near a spirit vein.
Luo Chen didn't have these techniques, so the spirit stones he earned could only be used to buy expensive Qi-nourishing elixirs.
But now, things were different!
In front of him was a natural spirit vein!
The raw spirit stone ores from a natural spirit vein emitted spiritual energy that could be absorbed directly.
This was why major sects established their headquarters on spirit veins of various ranks.
Luo Chen now owned one of these veins.
Although it was small, just a minor branch of the first-rank spirit vein in the Great River Town, it didn't need to support many cultivators!
"Indeed, my guess was right!"
Luo Chen took a deep breath, feeling the spiritual energy in his body become more active.
The spiritual energy he had consumed using the Mountain-Breaking Palm earlier seemed to have recovered significantly.
"This place isn't large, and the amount of raw spirit stone ore isn't much."
"But it's enough to support my cultivation for a while!"
Luo Chen had no intention of mining the raw spirit stone ore and selling it.
First, he didn't have the techniques to standardize the spirit stones.
Even if he sold them to the Jade Summit Sword Sect for a large sum of spirit stones, he would still need to buy elixirs for cultivation.
This back-and-forth would result in a significant markup, all of which would go to unscrupulous merchants.
Second, the natural raw spirit stone ore acted like a small spirit-gathering array, naturally attracting and concentrating the spiritual energy from the surrounding environment.
Major sects built their headquarters on spirit veins because, as long as the veins were not over-exploited, they could regenerate spirit stones over time.
Leaving this large block of raw spirit stone ore would not only allow him to absorb the surrounding spiritual energy but also draw some from the vein's source.
"Uncle Mi's resources have been overused recently, so I can take a break from that."
"But there's no harm in benefiting from the Jade Summit Sword Sect's spirit vein."
Thinking this, Luo Chen felt a sense of satisfaction.
But he quickly shook his head.
What was he thinking about "benefiting" from resources?
This was clearly his rightful share.
After all, he had paid rent in the inner city but hadn't truly enjoyed the first-rank spirit vein.
The spiritual energy had been diverted by the major shops and the Jade Summit Sword Sect using arrays.
What was left for ordinary residents like Luo Chen was just a fraction.
The spiritual energy concentration in this cave was what truly belonged to a first-rank spirit vein!
With this realization, Luo Chen felt no moral constraints, not that he ever had.
"Let's see how much spiritual energy I can gain by cultivating the Everlasting Qi Art in this place!"
He sat cross-legged, his hands and feet pointing towards the sky, and his tongue touching the roof of his mouth.
The Master-level Everlasting Qi Art began to circulate.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
