Chapter 29: The Spirit Stone Mine and the Path to Core Formation

The air in the forest grew heavier as Lei made his way toward the abandoned spirit stone mine. The trees were dense, and the forest floor was covered in thick underbrush. He had been following Mao's guidance, who had once again taken the lead, fluttering around as though leading him to a treasure trove. Lei couldn't help but notice the peculiar way Mao's ears twitched as they moved deeper into the wilderness. The presence of the little monster cat never ceased to amuse him, but he knew Mao's true value was in the strategic guidance and assistance it provided.

Upon reaching the entrance to the abandoned mine, Lei was struck by the eerie silence that surrounded the area. It was almost as if the place was holding its breath. The ground around the entrance was littered with debris, and the entrance itself was barely visible through the overgrowth. It was clear no one had entered the mine in years, and the air felt stale, thick with forgotten history.

Lei inhaled deeply and then asked, "Nanospirit, begin scanning the area. Identify any hidden traps or formations."

As the nanospirit scanned the mine, Lei felt a faint hum in his mind. Information flooded in, as nanospirit picked up on all the hidden traps and alarm formations set by whoever had last used the place. The system rapidly scanned and identified the specific energies that still lingered from the original defensive formations. As they had been undisturbed for so long, the mines' protective mechanisms were now more of a forgotten relic than an active threat.

Lei felt a slight prickling sensation in his chest as he activated his body's enhanced perception. Slowly, he began deactivating the traps. He manipulated his energy with careful precision, flowing his qi into the mechanisms and redirecting them. Each time he disarmed a trap or avoided triggering an alarm, he felt a deeper understanding of the mine's layout, as if the place was slowly revealing its secrets to him.

He then turned his attention to the mine itself. His sharp eyes began scanning the cavernous space for the traces of valuable spirit stones. With his enhanced senses and nanospirit's help, it didn't take long for him to identify several pockets of unearthed large and medium spirit stones scattered throughout the abandoned mine.

"Found them," Lei murmured to himself, moving toward the spirit stones. He activated his storage rings, storing the precious resources with ease. Despite the passage of time, the stones had retained their luster, a testament to their enduring power.

As he continued his search, Lei realized that there were no signs of any significant extraction by the previous owners of the mine. No tools, no excavations, just scattered remnants of long-forgotten labor. The realization that the mine had been abandoned and left untouched for so long left Lei with a sense of intrigue. There had to be a reason why it had been abandoned, but it didn't matter now. The stones were his focus.

After collecting what he could from the mine, Lei decided to try something else. He had been experimenting with his nanospirit's abilities lately, learning to simulate techniques and craft tools with greater precision. He knew that with the right resources, he could forge powerful weapons and armor—something he could use for the upcoming challenges. With that thought in mind, Lei turned to the nanospirit and instructed, "Scan my memories. Compile all the data about blacksmithing and weapon crafting techniques you have access to, and simulate the perfect method for crafting weapons, tools, and armor."

A gentle hum resonated in Lei's mind as the nanospirit complied. Moments later, he felt a wave of knowledge flooding his consciousness. Techniques, methods, and designs filled his mind in a way that was almost overwhelming. His hands instinctively moved as the patterns and processes were etched into his very being. He could feel the rush of understanding as if he had spent years in a forge, hammering steel and shaping the perfect weapons.

"Impressive," Lei muttered, a rare grin forming on his lips. He felt as though he had gained the foundation of a new skill, one that would serve him well in the coming days.

His thoughts quickly shifted back to his primary goal—further cultivation. The resources and time he had accumulated were invaluable, but he could not afford to waste any more time. He had to raise his physical strength to its peak, to reach the Core Formation level. His body had already reached a new threshold after his intense training with various monsters, their physiques now embedded within his own. He had scanned countless specimens, learning from their movements, their forms, their strength. His body was primed for the next step.

"Nanospirit," Lei spoke again, "simulate the cultivation method and improve, aim for me to reach the peak of qi Formation. I need to break through."

With nanospirit's assistance, Lei was able to improve the cultivation method he had used until now. The energy coursed through his veins as he channeled the technique, causing his body to become more attuned to the surrounding world. However, despite his best efforts, his qi stagnated at the high qi foundation level. There was still something holding him back.

Time passed, and Lei continued his attempts to break through. His cultivation steadily increased, inching closer and closer to the peak Qi Foundation stage. Still, the breakthrough eluded him.

Frustration began to settle in, but he knew that there was no turning back now. He had come this far, and he couldn't afford to waste time. With only ten days left before his promised return to the capital, Lei's determination solidified.

"Alright, it's time to move forward," Lei muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow as he prepared to leave the abandoned spirit mine. He had to continue his journey, focusing on the bigger picture. It was time to make his way toward the capital, to meet the merchant and his family again, and to take the next step in his quest.

He packed away his belongings, gathering the spirit stones, his weapons, and the alchemical ingredients he had collected. He was ready to face the challenges ahead, no matter how difficult they might be.

As he turned to leave, he glanced one final time at the empty mine, feeling the weight of what he had just uncovered. There were more mysteries to unravel, but for now, his focus was on the journey that lay ahead.

With the weight of the world on his shoulders, Lei set off toward the capital.