Chapter 33: Inspecting the Spirit Mine

Meng Kan cast an eager glance at Li Qing.

Talking to a smart person was simple.

After a few exchanges, both sides had expressed their attitudes very clearly.

"In that case, I shall not disturb your fellow Daoist's quiet cultivation any longer," Meng Kan said with a smile, cupping his hands.

"Safe travels, fellow Daoist."

Li Qing stood up with a smile.

"One more thing."

Meng Kan's footsteps paused slightly.

"If you are unsatisfied with the women from earlier today, I can arrange for several beautiful maidens for you here," Meng Kan said in a low, smiling voice.

What had happened earlier today led others to assume that Li Qing found the women there to be "unclean."

"That won't be necessary. Thank you for your kindness, fellow Daoist..."

Li Qing waved his hand with a smile.

"Then, if you have any needs, feel free to speak up at any time."

After a few words of pleasantries, Meng Kan's figure vanished.

Returning to his courtyard, Li Qing glanced at the spirit stones on the table and swept them into his storage bag.

"I truly didn't expect that this tiny White Jade Island would yield such significant profits," Li Qing thought to himself.

Since Meng Kan had presented him with so many spirit stones, he believed Jiao Yujian would certainly have even more. He estimated the total would not be less than two hundred low-grade spirit stones.

The spirit ore they collected for this mission, when converted to spirit stones, amounted to only about five thousand low-grade spirit stones. This suggested that Wen Jade mining had likely involved some underhanded dealings behind the scenes.

***

The next morning, the sun shone brightly.

Combined with the wisps of mist rising from the surrounding sea, the entire White Jade Island was enveloped. At this moment, the whole island shimmered with radiant light, looking like a massive piece of jade.

Several figures had already appeared in front of the pavilions on White Jade Island.

Today, the task for Li Qing and Jiao Yujian was to verify the mining status within the ore veins.

"Everyone, let us talk as we walk."

Meng Kan led the way, explaining the situation of the ore veins to Li Qing and Jiao Yujian along the way.

There were a total of five ore veins on White Jade Island, named Mine No. 1 through Mine No. 5. Currently, the mining efforts were primarily concentrated in Mine No. 1. Behind the main vein, there was a new mine that was just being prepared for excavation.

Jiao Yujian took the lead, with Meng Kan and the others following behind, while Li Qing walked to one side.

"Senior Brother Jiao is already in the late stage of Qi Refinement. It seems reaching the Foundation Establishment stage is just around the corner."

Meng Kan took the opportunity to flatter Jiao Yujian from the side.

"Junior Brother, do not joke. After the late stage of Qi Refinement, every step forward is extremely treacherous. The realm of Foundation Establishment is not as simple as one might imagine."

Hearing Meng Kan's flattery, Jiao Yujian appeared quite pleased. Until one reached the Foundation Establishment realm, they were merely bottom-tier cultivators. With his aptitude, he only appeared to have the hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.

Li Qing observed the group from behind. It seemed the disciples stationed here yesterday had already bribed Jiao Yujian. The tone of their conversation had clearly become more casual. Even the habitually grim Jiao Yujian occasionally responded with a gentle expression.

Before long, they arrived at Mine No. 1, the first site to be inspected.

A massive cavern had been hollowed out of the white jade-like mountains. Faint light could be seen inside the mine, where many bead-like objects were embedded, emitting a soft glow. At the entrance, many miners were present; it looked like a shift change. Most of these miners were young, robust mortal men, many of whom appeared to possess some secular martial arts skills.

"Immortal Masters!"

Seeing Li Qing and the others appear, the people around them hurriedly knelt to pay their respects. After kneeling respectfully, the crowd of miners lowered their heads, not daring to look at them.

Faced with such a scene, the group appeared extremely casual, seemingly accustomed to being bowed to by the laborers. On this island, Meng Kan and his companions were high and mighty Immortal Masters who could easily decide the life or death of anyone. Even if every miner on White Jade Island were to die, no one would dare cause trouble for Meng Kan and his group; it would simply require more effort to transport a new batch of mortals.

Ignoring the kneeling crowd, Meng Kan and the others walked briskly inside. Upon reaching the front of Mine No. 1, they came to a halt.

"Senior Brother Jiao, here is the ledger for Mine No. 1."

Meng Kan took out a blue ledger and presented it respectfully to Jiao Yujian. Jiao Yujian took it casually and skimmed through it.

"In the past year, Mine No. 1 has extracted a total of over three thousand two hundred catties of Wen Jade. The length of the excavation is over two thousand six hundred zhang..."

Meng Kan explained the general situation from the side. After listening, Jiao Yujian nodded slightly.

"I will go check the progress of the excavation myself."

With that, Jiao Yujian walked into the mine alone. Meng Kan and the others waited in place, and Li Qing simply did not follow. Since this was a sect mission led by Jiao Yujian, he saw no need to waste his energy. There was no need for Meng Kan's group to follow him either; the inspection was a mandatory sect requirement, and even if both sides had an unspoken understanding, they had to go through the motions.

Li Qing moved a few steps inward, observing the uneven jade walls around him. Ordinarily, ore mines usually descend over a hundred zhang into the ground, and the atmosphere below should be damp and cold. However, due to the unique properties of Wen Jade, the surrounding air was exceptionally dry and fresh. The flow of air felt like early spring.

"It seems Wen Jade truly lives up to its reputation; it would be very suitable for construction," Li Qing thought. However, he mused that using Wen Jade to build grand halls was something only large sects could afford; even if small factions went bankrupt, they wouldn't have the capacity.

*Whoosh.*

After about half an hour, Jiao Yujian's figure appeared before the group as he flew out in a streak of light. In reality, the mine was not a single tunnel running straight through; the main passage branched out into several directions, making the inspection more complex than it appeared.

"Senior Brother Jiao, does the situation inside match the records in the ledger?"

Seeing Jiao Yujian emerge, Meng Kan hurried forward to meet him, while the other three watched Jiao Yujian with slight nervousness. Although Jiao Yujian had taken their spirit stones, they could not help but feel anxious.

Seeing their expressions, a smile played at the corners of Jiao Yujian's mouth.

"Inspection complete. It matches the records in the ledger."

As Jiao Yujian spoke, the weight finally lifted from the group's hearts.

"Good, good, good! Senior Brother Jiao, you have worked hard this time."

"Once this matter is concluded, we must treat you to a proper feast."

At this point, Meng Kan suddenly noticed Li Qing to the side and continued smiling, "And of course, we will make excellent arrangements for Fellow Daoist Li as well."

Seeing Meng Kan's smiling face, Jiao Yujian cut to the chase: "Let us hurry and inspect the remaining mines one by one."

"Senior Brother Jiao is right. Let us head to the next mine immediately."

The group then hurried toward the remaining mines.