novelraw Chapter 199 : Must Not Be Greedy
Chapter 199 : Must Not Be Greedy
Chapter 199: Must Not Be Greedy
When Ji Yuan saw this line of words, he did not make any exaggerated move such as sharply sucking in a breath of cold air, but his heart did instinctively tighten.
He had waited bitterly for so long.
He had tried many methods but failed to activate and open the 【Spirit Vein】, and yet now, it just so easily opened like this?
Although the process was arduous and tortuous, fortunately, it finally succeeded.
“Hoo——”
Ji Yuan let out a long sigh of relief, and then summoned the Panel.
【Spirit Vein: lv1 (Upgradeable)】
【Effect 1: Within one mile radius, Spiritual Energy concentration +50%.】
【Effect 2: Produces 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones daily.】
【Upgrade Condition: 10 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. (Fulfilled)】
Ji Yuan swept his eyes across the Panel.
His delight grew even more.
Not only was this upgrade condition simple, but a Level 1 【Spirit Vein】 actually already had two effects.
With this, what else did he need? A bicycle?
To be safe, Ji Yuan did not hesitate and immediately chose to upgrade.
What if he failed to fully develop the Level 1 【Spirit Vein】 now, and the effect disappeared, leaving him unable to upgrade anymore?
As 10 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones turned into ashes in Ji Yuan’s hand, before his eyes, this stone wall… grew out 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.
They really sprouted out at a speed visible to the naked eye.
This, then, was today’s harvest.
Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones a day—he only needed 100 days to replenish the cost of upgrading the 【Spirit Vein】.
After 100 days, it would all be pure profit.
Although it looked like a long time, compared to the endless road of cultivation, such time was nothing.
Sometimes, even a single closed-door cultivation could last several years.
Ji Yuan summoned the Liushuang Flying Sword, took the 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones from the stone wall, and put them into his Storage Pouch.
This was produced by his own 【Spirit Vein】 building, so naturally there would not be any formation restrictions.
If so, then what about the Spirit Vein before his eyes?
Ji Yuan’s heart moved slightly, his Divine Sense penetrated into it, and he discovered that not only had the surface Spirit Stones not been taken, but even the ones inside… had not been mined!
Xuan Weizi had only consumed a portion of this Spirit Vein, yet did not even think of taking the Spirit Stones inside—why was that?
He didn’t even want free Spirit Stones?!
Ji Yuan couldn’t figure it out, nor did he rush to take the Spirit Stones inside. He first looked back at the Panel.
【Spirit Vein: lv2 (Not Upgradeable)】
【Effect 1: Within two miles radius, Spiritual Energy concentration +100%.】
【Effect 2: Produces 10 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and 100 Low-Grade Spirit Stones daily.】
【Upgrade Condition: 10 High-Grade Spirit Stones, 100 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, 1000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. (Unfulfilled)】
This…
This 【Spirit Vein】 really was tied to Spirit Stones—it wanted nothing else, only Spirit Stones endlessly.
Its output too—other than Spirit Stones, there was nothing.
Ji Yuan clicked his tongue a few times, marveling inwardly.
As for Effect 1, in comparison, the 【Cave Dwelling】’s Spiritual Energy enhancement seemed a bit lacking.
But the good news was that the two effects could stack, forming a 1＋1＞2 outcome.
Effect 2 had to be considered together with the upgrade conditions.
At present, the only thing Ji Yuan lacked was 10 High-Grade Spirit Stones. He had only 6, but exchanging for 4 more was merely a matter of 400 or so Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.
For him, that was not difficult.
Oh right—since the Panel had split separately, he also needed to exchange for 1000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, which was even simpler.
As long as he could upgrade, it was fine.
Ji Yuan put away the Panel, planning to, in a few days after the mining was done, go to a nearby city to exchange, then upgrade the 【Spirit Vein】 first, so that he could collect his daily basic supply.
After figuring this out, Ji Yuan’s gaze once again landed on the intercepted segment of the Spirit Vein before him.
This matter, how should it be dealt with?
That was the problem.
If dealt with, he had to handle not only this portion of the Spirit Vein, but also the two corpses in his Storage Pouch.
As for Zhi Yun’s corpse, Ji Yuan had carefully investigated on the way back.
He found the place where Zhi Yun had died, but the corpse was gone—likely Dan Xia and the other had already destroyed it.
If he handled it, there were really only two options.
One was to handle it himself.
The other was to let the sect handle it.
If he handled it himself, then the matter of the Spirit Vein had to be hidden. As for the deaths of Xuan Weizi and Dan Xia… he could claim that he had stumbled upon them killing Zhi Yun, and they tried to silence him, only to be counter-killed by him in turn.
The advantage of this option was that he could hide this portion of the Spirit Vein, as well as that unknown black thread mass.
The downside was having to face the sect’s, or even the three sects’, investigations.
Moreover, that black thread mass in his hands… Ji Yuan found it extremely strange.
Before dying, Dan Xia had said that this black thread mass was something given to Xuan Weizi by a senior. From this, it seemed certain that there was someone behind Xuan Weizi, perhaps even a vast organization.
What could be confirmed was that this black thread mass was definitely something valuable.
When Xuan Weizi’s death was discovered, they would most likely send people to investigate… another trouble.
If it were handled by the sect, then naturally, everything would be handed over. He would reveal the entire matter, hand over the black thread mass, and wash his hands clean.
The advantage was that he would be safe in the future. Even if anything happened, it would not trace back to him.
Even if it did, the black thread mass had already been handed over.
The chance of the other side targeting him again would be much smaller.
The downside of this option was losing this small portion of the Spirit Vein.
But Ji Yuan turned the thought around.
Could this really be considered losing?
‘I’ll just take all the Spirit Stones inside now, hand over an empty shell, and in the end, all the accounts can be pushed onto Xuan Weizi and Dan Xia.’
‘When the higher-ups ask where the Spirit Stones went, I’ll say Xuan Weizi and Dan Xia took them. And when asked why they weren’t in their Storage Pouches, I’ll say they absorbed them.’
After all, the living and the dead couldn’t reconcile accounts. Even if they could… those two had already turned into Yin Souls, embracing each other within his Thousand Souls Banner.
So the only downside of this choice was losing this small portion of the Spirit Vein in the future.
To be honest, Ji Yuan really did not lack this bit of Spirit Stones, especially now that the 【Spirit Vein】 building had already been activated—he needed them even less.
After weighing it all, Ji Yuan had made his decision.
Report it, confiscate it.
But even in reporting, there was a method. First of all, he had to ensure his own invincibility.
In this regard, Ji Yuan already had an idea.
If someone could secretly steal Spirit Veins, once this matter was exposed, even the Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong would be shaken.
One part of the foundation upon which Immortal Sects maintained their rule relied on Spirit Veins.
Without Spirit Veins and Spirit Stones as resources, who would still want to join an Immortal Sect?
Thus, Xuan Weizi’s actions were no different from digging up the roots of the Six Immortal Sects.
‘It’s a pity Master had to escort Senior Sister to her breakthrough. Otherwise, if she came here, I wouldn’t have to worry at all.’
‘As things stand, I can only let Sect Master Martial Uncle come. But… according to Second Senior Brother Yun Qianzai, his strength is not great. To be safe, I must have him bring Elder Li Gang as well—Elder Li will definitely be able to protect me.’
‘At that time, with two Golden Core Elders from Water Dragon Sect here, if something still went wrong, then it would mean Heaven itself wanted me dead.’
After sorting out the causes and effects, and devising a countermeasure, Ji Yuan began to act.
He first sent his Divine Sense into the intercepted Spirit Vein, roughly estimating.
‘Though small, this piece of Spirit Vein still contains over 400 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and over 1500 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Damn, Spirit Veins are truly fierce. One day, I must have a Spirit Vein of my own, and place the 【Spirit Vein】 building effect upon it!’
Ji Yuan’s obsession with Spirit Veins grew even stronger.
He looked at this segment of the Spirit Vein. To take everything was definitely not possible—he had to at least leave some behind.
Then just leave… 11 middle-grade Spirit Stones plus 154 low-grade Spirit Stones.
With both odd and even numbers, it was easier to gain people’s trust.
When digging out the Spirit Stones, Ji Yuan no longer used his flying sword, but instead urged the Black Thread Ball, directly binding the Spirit Stones out with those thread ends.
After toiling for half a day, looking at the freshly unearthed Spirit Stones in the Storage Pouch, Ji Yuan finally felt satisfied.
‘Right, there are also those Spirit Stones in Xuan Weizi’s and Dan Xia’s Storage Pouches, best not to waste them either.’
‘When Real Person Xuan Shui and the others come over, these two Storage Pouches will surely need to be handed in. If I don’t take them now, it’d be a waste.’
Thus Ji Yuan collected the Spirit Stones from the two Storage Pouches, though of course he didn’t take them all, leaving behind a small portion as cover.
As for the other Spiritual Artifacts, and that Talisman Treasure in Xuan Weizi’s Storage Pouch… Ji Yuan truly wanted that thing!
But thinking that once Real Person Xuan Shui arrived, Medicine King Valley would definitely send a Golden Core Real Person, and perhaps even Xuan Weizi’s master would show up…
Taking it would only cause trouble. After some thought, Ji Yuan decided to give it up.
Rather than take Xuan Weizi’s Talisman Treasure, it would be better to ask Real Person Xuan Shui for one after returning. With such great merit this time, asking for a Talisman Treasure shouldn’t be too much, right?
After making sure everything was properly packed and checking over it several times, ensuring nothing was missed, Ji Yuan finally stepped out of the mine cave.
A while later.
He returned to Liu Yuan’s side, calm in expression.
The carefree Liu Immortal sized Ji Yuan up and down with a glance, then asked with a smile: “Brother Ji, how come you returned so quickly? Isn’t there still one more day before this ends?”
“Isn’t it because I missed Brother Liu?”
Ji Yuan chuckled, rubbing his hands together.
Across from them, Dan Chengzi, the duty cultivator from Medicine King Valley, heard these words, lifted his head in astonishment, then silently walked into the mine cave.
If Xuan Weizi weren’t absent, he would probably have tried to slip away entirely.
Once he left, the smile faded from Ji Yuan’s face.
Seeing this, Liu Yuan knew Ji Yuan had something to say.
“Brother Liu, you can contact Senior Sister Rou, right?” Ji Yuan asked via Divine Sense transmission.
“I can. What do you want me to tell her?”
“Tell her to contact Sect Master Martial Uncle as fast as possible, and let him bring Martial Uncle Li Gang over. Just say something major has happened with the spirit vein… at least two Martial Uncles must come.”
Hearing this, Liu Yuan’s face immediately changed.
Ji Yuan continued with caution: “Tell her to act carefully. Don’t let Madam Meiru and Guizhen find out yet. And tell her not to come to us first—she should only come when we’re leaving after this descent is over.”
“No time to ask questions. Quickly!”
“Alright!”
Liu Yuan didn’t ask further, instead letting his Divine Sense enter the Storage Pouch to send a message to Rou Yi.
Moments later, Liu Yuan received a reply.
“Senior Sister has already gone to inform Sect Master Martial Uncle. She didn’t alarm Madam Meiru and Guizhen. Brother Ji, what exactly has happened? Can you at least tell me?”
To summon two Golden Core Real Persons at once was no small matter. With such a major event happening right before his eyes, Liu Yuan was truly curious.
“Telling Brother Liu is fine, but please prepare yourself, and don’t reveal anything. Otherwise, Dan Chengzi might notice.”
Ji Yuan did not know whether Dan Chengzi was Xuan Weizi’s accomplice, nor whether Guizhen and Madam Meiru were involved, so until the Golden Core Real Persons arrived, he had to be cautious.
“Brother Ji can rest assured.”
With Liu Yuan’s assurance, Ji Yuan then transmitted: “Zhi Yun is dead.”
“What?!”
Liu Yuan was stunned. “Another one died?”
“Xuan Weizi and Dan Xia are also dead,” Ji Yuan said flatly.
“Huh?”
Liu Yuan nearly jumped up in shock.
Only six of them had gone down to the mine together, and now three were dead—half of them gone. How could this continue?!
What the hell kind of game was this?!
Ji Yuan remained calm as ever, while Liu Yuan quickly collected himself, restraining his expression.
Even so, his transmitted voice grew quieter: “Brother Ji… you killed them?”
“I killed two. Zhi Yun was killed by Xuan Weizi and Dan Xia.”
Ji Yuan told the truth without any concealment.
Leaning back against the stone wall, Liu Yuan muttered: “To drive Brother Ji to the point of killing, this matter must not be simple, right?”
Among all the people Liu Yuan knew, in terms of caution, Ji Yuan was absolutely number one.
For him to be forced to kill two people here in the spirit vein—it suddenly made sense why calling for two Golden Core Real Persons was necessary.
“They had a method to erode the spirit vein and directly steal the Spirit Stones within it.”
Ji Yuan spoke in a calm tone about the most shocking matter.
So much so that Liu Yuan was dumbfounded in place.
If Ji Yuan hadn’t transmitted this directly into his mind, he would have thought he’d misheard.
Eroding the spirit vein, stealing Spirit Stones.
Could humans even do such a thing?
Not just them—even after racking his memory of historical records, Liu Yuan had never heard of such a thing.
It took him a long moment to calm down and accept the fact.
He didn’t ask whether Ji Yuan was telling the truth. With the Sect Master being summoned, it was obviously real.
“If this spreads, the Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong will likely have to re-investigate all their spirit veins.”
“Most likely. And since this involves three sects, our Sect Master must come first to secure the advantage.”
“Indeed, Brother Ji’s foresight is thorough.”
“……”
After that, both of them fell silent.
Ji Yuan was considering whether the plan was watertight.
Liu Yuan was pondering just what method could possibly steal Spirit Stones from a spirit vein.
A day passed quickly.
When it was time to return, Dan Chengzi waited and waited, but Xuan Weizi never came back. He dared not go look, so he just kept sending Messaging Talismans, but received no reply. Finally, helpless, he asked Ji Yuan:
“Brother Wuyou, while patrolling in the depths of the spirit vein, did you happen to see my Senior Brother Xuan Wei?”
When out cultivating, one naturally couldn’t say “cultivating”—that was taboo. Saying “patrolling” was much better.
See him? How could Ji Yuan not have seen him—he was lying peacefully in his Storage Pouch right now…
Ji Yuan neither nodded nor shook his head, only saying:
“Don’t worry about that now. Let’s first get everyone out.”
Dan Chengzi noticed not only that Xuan Weizi hadn’t returned, but that even the two disciples from Joy Palace hadn’t returned either.
Looking again at Island Lord Wuyou’s reaction, Dan Chengzi realized something major had happened.
But by now, he could only nod in agreement.
“Alright.”
Over an hour later, Ji Yuan and the other two herded the miners out of the spirit vein like cattle.
Outside, Rou Yi was already waiting.
Not only she—Madam Meiru of Joy Palace, dressed flamboyantly, and the white-robed Guizhen of Medicine King Valley were also present.
As soon as Ji Yuan came out, Rou Yi’s voice sounded in his mind: “The moment I stepped out, those two followed me. I feared I couldn’t act freely inside, so I waited here instead.”
“Junior Brother Ji, what happened, that two Martial Uncles had to come?”
Ji Yuan transmitted back: “Senior Sister will know shortly.”
He wasn’t in a rush to explain, since Guizhen and Madam Meiru had already noticed something wrong.
Guizhen stepped forward to Dan Chengzi, asking nervously: “Where is Xuan Weizi, why have you come up alone?”
Madam Meiru spoke out directly: “And our two Joy Palace disciples—why are they gone as well?!”
Seeing this, Rou Yi first sent a message to summon Island Lord Yun Miao and Island Lord Zhu Ying, then moved to shield Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan behind her.
Ji Yuan transmitted a few words to Rou Yi.
Then Rou Yi stepped forward, saying in a deep voice: “This matter is of utmost importance. The two of you should immediately summon your sect’s Golden Core Elders.”
“Daoist Friend Rou, what do you mean by this? To even alarm the elders—don’t tell me it was you who killed the missing ones?!”
Guizhen shouted.
Rou Yi cast him a faint glance. “I have already sent word to our Sect Master Real Person.”
“As I said, this matter is of utmost importance. It is beyond your ability to handle. I’ve said my piece—act wisely.”
With that, Rou Yi waved her sleeve and summoned her flying boat, taking Ji Yuan and Liu Yuan away.
Guizhen wanted to stop them, but seeing that Madam Meiru showed no intention to act, he had no choice but to give up.
“What does Madam say?”
Guizhen asked the beautiful woman beside him in a deep tone.
Madam Meiru ignored him, turning instead to Dan Chengzi. “Tell us, what exactly happened underground?”
Guizhen also turned to his junior brother, urging: “Quickly, speak!”
“I… I don’t know either.”
Dan Chengzi spread his hands helplessly.
“Then tell us truthfully everything you do know.”
“Mm. After descending this time, I was on duty as usual. Senior Brother Xuan Wei and Daoist Friend Dan Xia went… went patrolling.”
Guizhen waved impatiently. “Patrolling? More like seeking pleasure. And then?”
“Then, not long after, Daoist Friend Zhi Yun went as well. But once she left… she never came back.”
“Oh right—going along to patrol was also Daoist Friend Wuyou from the Water Dragon Sect.”
“Island Lord Wuyou?”
Madam Meiru caught the key point.
Guizhen’s eyes narrowed. “In my view, it was most likely that Island Lord Wuyou struck them down. What do you say, Madam?”
“I say, we’d better notify our sects first. Otherwise, when the Golden Core Real Persons of the Water Dragon Sect arrive, we’ll be completely on the back foot.”
With those words, Madam Meiru turned and drifted away.
Guizhen, realizing something, cursed: “Damn it! When Rou Yi excused herself to leave yesterday, it must have been to send a message. Damn, that woman tricked us!”
At that thought, he hurried away as well.