CHAPTER 156: CHAPTER 156: ORE VEIN SPIRIT

Using the [Two-star - Resource Optimization], the upgrade of the Fire Source Stone Vein was successful, and it was raised from Tier One Top-Grade to Tier Two Lower Grade in one fell swoop. These 100 Reputation points were well spent!

From now on, the resource of the Fire Source Stone Vein will not only increase annual income by more than 700 Spirit Stones per year.

Moreover, the ore vein output has also increased, allowing for an additional eight years of mining, totaling twenty years!

All things considered, it can bring the Cyan Mountain Sect 358,000 Spirit Stones in revenue!

Lu Ping couldn’t stop grinning.

Thinking back to four years ago, the Cyan Mountain Sect was so impoverished that it couldn’t even pay disciple stipends.

Now, just the ore vein alone can bring in more than seventeen thousand Spirit Stones a year.

Adding in the revenues from the Sect’s Spirit Fields, Medicinal Gardens, and other resources.

The Cyan Mountain Sect’s annual revenue has reached over twenty thousand Spirit Stones!

And among these, the Celestial Spirit Fruit Tree and the Golden Silk Silkworm haven’t been counted.

As for whether anything troublesome like Spirit Monsters have emerged after the ore vein optimization, we’ll have to wait and see, paying attention.

Lu Yuanshan is overseeing the ore vein over there, so nothing untoward will happen.

During this waiting and observation period, Lu Ping continued to redeem items from the Mall.

The final two-star item is [Two-star - Beast Tamer Upgrade].

The effect is to increase the beast taming mastery of a Beast Tamer in the Sect by one tier.

The effect is the same as the Alchemist Upgrade and Artifact Refiner Upgrade.

Currently, there is only one Beast Tamer in the Cyan Mountain Sect.

Lu Xuelian, at the Tier One Lower Grade level, shoulders the responsibility of tending to the Cyan-tailed Spirit Fish and the White Jade Bee, which is quite exhausting.

Though Liiu Shiyao is assisting Lu Xuelian and can alleviate some of her worries, she still hasn’t stepped into the threshold of a Beast Tamer and barely counts as half-baked.

While the [Two-star - Beast Tamer Upgrade] could indeed be applied to Liiu Shiyao to allow her to enter the rank of Tier One Lower-Grade Beast Tamer, Lu Ping found it impractical.

One Tier One Middle-Grade Beast Tamer is far more beneficial than two Tier One Lower-Grade Beast Tamers.

Thus, it was directly applied to Lu Xuelian.

Its redemption price is 100 Reputation points, and Lu Ping immediately redeemed it and used it on Lu Xuelian.

Within moments, the effect was complete.

Yanyang Lake.

Upon sensing her Beast Tamer level’s improvement, about to elevate rapidly to Tier One Middle Grade, Lu Xuelian was both surprised and secretly thrilled for quite a while.

"I seem to... have received some formidable inheritance?"

Lu Xuelian touched her head, recalling the sudden influx of Beast Tamer knowledge in her mind, not knowing how to describe this anomaly, what it was, or where it came from.

"What exactly is going on?"

"I was merely feeding the fish, doing nothing else."

"You are quite composed."

At this time, Lu Ping’s voice sounded in Lu Xuelian’s mind.

"Just a slight enhancement to your beast taming mastery, it’s of no harm to you."

"Eh? How do you know?"

Upon hearing Lu Ping’s voice resonating in her mind, Lu Xuelian instinctively retorted without even pondering who the Communication Bearer was.

I made it so for you, how could I not know?

Currently, Lu Ping was already hovering beside Lu Xuelian, observing the demeanor and expression of this little girl.

After triggering the effect of the [Two-star - Beast Tamer Upgrade], Lu Ping decided it was best to take a trip to Lu Xuelian’s place to pay attention.

Otherwise, the little girl might be quite bewildered.

Not understanding why she received the influx of Beast Tamer knowledge, and why she suddenly upgraded to Tier One Middle Grade.

After speaking, seeing that Lu Xuelian was quite composed, Lu Ping didn’t say anything more and prepared to leave.

At this moment, Lu Xuelian looked around in all directions and, not finding Lu Ping’s figure, replied to the communication.

"Is it... Was it your doing, Senior?"

Lu Xuelian wasn’t foolish, guessing that the enhancement of her beast taming mastery must be Lu Ping’s handiwork, she asked to confirm.

"Yes."

Lu Ping nodded, without any intention to disclose his identity.

"Just know that it was my assistance, don’t ask about others."

"Cultivate well and take good care of the Cyan-tailed Spirit Fish and the White Jade Bee. In the Cyan Mountain Sect, you’re the only Beast Tamer."

After finishing, Lu Ping disconnected the communication and floated away, leaving Lu Xuelian standing alone, again gazing around.

"Senior... Senior..."

Trying to communicate again, questioning the identity of Lu Ping.

Wondering why she was granted this boon.

Unexpectedly, the communication track in her mind disappeared.

"Senior... Can you hear me? Are you still nearby?"

Without a communication path, Lu Xuelian had no choice but to lightly call out a few times, checking if Lu Ping was still nearby.

Lu Ping heard Lu Xuelian’s call but didn’t respond, returning to the cave mansion in the back mountain alone.

Seeing no response, Lu Xuelian thought over and decided to seek out Lu Yuanshan to inquire about this matter.

But upon learning that Lu Yuanshan had already gone to the Fire Source Stone Vein and was not within the Sect, she instead went to find Elder Zhiwei.

She informed Elder Zhiwei about her sudden enhancement in beast taming knowledge.

It might be some senior from the Sect, she asked Elder Zhiwei if she might know the situation.

After listening, Elder Zhiwei fell into contemplation.

But soon, recalling the sudden enhancement of her own artifact refining mastery long ago and thinking of the many miraculous methods Lu Ping had displayed, she guessed at what happened.

"Xuelian, keep this matter quiet, it’s certainly beneficial to you, it won’t harm you."

"Then... Why did that senior help me?"

"I think it’s because you’re worthy of receiving this blessing; the Sect’s future needs you."

"Perhaps... Maybe so. The senior had said I was the only Beast Tamer in the Sect, admonishing me to cultivate well and take good care of the Cyan-tailed Spirit Fish and the White Jade Bee..."

"Then it has to be right."

Upon hearing this, Elder Zhiwei became even more certain that it was her father who intervened to help Lu Xuelian.

Such tone, just like back when he instructed her to cultivate the Taiyi Celestial Ruins Sword Technique, couldn’t be wrong.

"Just do as you’re told; this might happen again in the future, so don’t be surprised then, remain composed."

The conversation ended.

Though Lu Xuelian didn’t find out who exactly intervened.

Nevertheless, she felt much more at ease, no longer paranoid, pondering why she was bestowed this favor, or if it might bring adverse results.

Judging from Elder Zhiwei’s response, this matter likely has ties to the Sect.

Receiving such support, in the future, she needs to strive hard and repay the Sect well.

Four days passed in the blink of an eye.

At noon this day, a system alert popped up.

[A Tier One Spirit Monster appears at the Fire Source Stone Vein, the mortals mining the vein were injured by the Spirit Monster, fleeing in panic]

Upon seeing the system alert, Lu Ping’s gaze sharpened, and he immediately established communication with Lu Yuanshan.

"Yuanshan, prepare for battle!"