Chapter 19: The Crimson Spirit Gold Mine
There had been no opportunity before. No chance to showcase his late-stage Qi Refinement strength in front of He Song.
But now, it seemed the opportunity was right in front of him.
Wei Fan, who had been itching for action since breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refinement, suddenly felt a spark of excitement.
In the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators were rare.
Even though he was only at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, he still belonged to the elite among elites, sitting at the very top of the pyramid.
Most people who met him treated him with utmost respect.
As a result, ever since advancing to late-stage Qi Refinement, Wei Fan hadn't had a single chance to showcase his strength.
But now, it seemed like that moment had arrived.
Under the eager gaze of his two companions, He Song's expression gradually turned somber.
"It's nothing much," He Song finally said, his tone heavy. "I just spent one hundred spirit stones on an Introduction To Cultivation Arts Book. It's left me feeling a bit melancholic."
He sighed deeply, his expression growing even graver.
"That was all I had… my entire savings. Who knows when I'll truly master anything?" He maintained his sorrowful look while taking the tea Meng Guan had handed him and downing it in one gulp.
The somber expression disappeared in an instant.
"Good tea!"
Unbeknownst to He Song, Wei Fan had been on the verge of leaping to his defense, itching for an opportunity to prove himself.
Everything He Song had said and done was part of a plan he had devised in advance.
Even if Wei Fan and Meng Guan hadn't teased him earlier, he would have followed the same script.
First, he'd mention buying an Introduction To Cultivation Arts Book without specifying which art.
Then, he'd claim that the hundred spirit stones were all he had, leaving him penniless and without fear of being targeted.
This way, he could achieve two goals at once:
Let people know he had purchased an Introduction To Cultivation Arts Book, so when he displayed new skills in the future, it wouldn't draw excessive attention.
Make it clear that he was currently broke, discouraging anyone from coveting the few spirit stones he had left.
From his five years of interaction with Wei Fan and Meng Guan, He Song knew that sharing something with them was as good as sharing it with the entire market.
Not because they were gossips, but because both had extensive networks.
Meng Guan, as the manager of the Spirit Herb Pavilion, was responsible for recruiting Spirit Planters and distributing spirit seeds. In the course of his duties, he had met countless cultivators, most of whom were Spirit Planters.
As for Wei Fan, being a steward of the Spirit Builder Pavilion, he interacted with almost everyone working in the market. Additionally, his passion for making friends meant his connections ran deep.
With these two individuals, He Song's story of financial ruin would likely spread across the market by the end of the day.
Of course, while the two had extensive networks, their true inner circle consisted of just the three of them. Everyone else was merely an acquaintance.
Thus, for He Song, getting them to help spread the word was a trivial matter.
"Hahaha! I thought the ladies at Phoenix Perch Pavilion were quick at changing faces, but you're even faster. I concede, Daoist He!" Meng Guan teased, winking and grinning.
He Song's meaning hadn't escaped these two veterans.
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Guan was already cracking jokes.
"I have to admit, I thought we were gearing up for a fight. Turns out it's just another one of your tricks. You're not playing fair, you rascal," Wei Fan chimed in, finally catching on.
The fiery resolve Wei Fan had earlier—ready to step in and defend his younger friend—was instantly extinguished.
He Song's two brief statements were crystal clear to Wei Fan and Meng Guan.
In summary, they could boil it down to:
He bought an Introduction To Cultivation Arts.
He's broke now.
Everything else—his expressions, actions, and quick change in demeanor—was just window dressing.
"Alright, we've got it. Don't worry," Wei Fan said with a grand wave of his hand, putting an end to any lingering concerns He Song might have. "No one would dare mess with you. And if anyone does, I'll chop off their filthy claws myself."
For someone at the late stage of Qi Refinement like Wei Fan, his words carried significant weight, especially within Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
The kind of cultivators He Song needed to guard against were mostly early or mid-stage Qi Refinement ones. With someone like Wei Fan standing behind him, He Song's safety was practically guaranteed.
Grateful, He Song cupped his hands in thanks.
Connections are meant to be used when the time is right.
If someone really decided to target him, it would be far more troublesome without such backing.
By aligning himself with a powerful protector and spreading the word discreetly, He Song ensured both his safety and anonymity—a strategy that suited his cautious nature perfectly.
After all, with his potentially infinite lifespan, He Song wanted to eliminate any and all threats to his safety.
Seeing that He Song had no other pressing matters, the three quickly shifted their conversation to more typical topics.
He Song brewed tea personally, though Wei Fan's voice soon interrupted his focus.
"You've heard about the commotion near the Immortal Market, right? The one about a vein of ore where a bunch of Foundation Establishment families were fighting tooth and nail?" Wei Fan's words piqued He Song and Meng Guan's curiosity.
"Of course! Didn't the Vast Earth Sect step in and take control of the vein? Is there more to it?" Meng Guan asked, intrigued.
He Song also looked over, eager to hear more about the situation.
"Of course there's more," Wei Fan said, smirking. "After the Vast Earth Sect took over, they found that the vein wasn't just any vein—it's a small Crimson Spirit Gold Mine."
He paused for effect, noting the confused looks on their faces, then added, "Crimson Spirit Gold is used for crafting magical artifacts. A small mine like this? Its value, in spirit stones, is at least several tens of thousands. Maybe even over a hundred thousand."
Wei Fan's words sent a shock through the room.
Meng Guan, lost in his thoughts, inadvertently plucked out several strands of his own beard without noticing.
He muttered, "Tens of thousands of spirit stones..." over and over again. The greed in his eyes practically overflowed.
For a cultivator like Meng Guan, who had been stuck at the sixth level of Qi Refinement for a long time, breaking through to the late stage required a Breakthrough Pill. However, such a pill was exorbitantly expensive, far beyond his current means.
Every time he spent spirit stones, he treated each one like treasure, squeezing every bit of value out of them.
Now, the thought of a mine worth tens of thousands—possibly even hundreds of thousands—of spirit stones so close by? It was impossible not to feel envious.
Thankfully, his rationality prevailed. Meng Guan understood all too well that something this valuable was far beyond the reach of a mere mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator like himself.
So, while he continued to mutter about the mine, he didn't dare take action.
Even He Song, steady as he was, couldn't keep his hands from trembling slightly as he poured tea.
Tens of thousands of spirit stones!
In the five years since he had transmigrated to this world, the most he had ever had at one time was just over a hundred spirit stones.
That kind of wealth? He'd have to farm for centuries to accumulate even a fraction of it!
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