txolops Chapter 121: Omen
Chapter 121: Omen
After three days of diligent digestion through repeated cycles of energy circulation, the first Ren Water Peach finally finished refining the last wisp of spiritual energy.
The entire Ren Shui peach, except for a single peach pit, was completely devoid of any residue, not even a tiny bit of peach skin was wasted, all of which was transformed into magical power within his dantian.
Tong Bingfeng also refined the remaining four Ren Shui Pan Tao peaches one after another. With the blessing of the spiritual peaches, his cultivation took a significant step forward. Although he did not reach the mid-stage of the eighth level of Qi Refining, he was not far off.
"Five Ren Water Peaches are enough to compensate for four months of arduous cultivation. Their effects are outstanding, truly living up to their reputation. If we encounter high-quality spiritual fruits in the future, we should still make a decisive move to compete for them."
As the last wisp of spiritual energy was successfully refined, Tong Bingfeng opened his eyes and sighed with genuine emotion.
After this experience, I have gained a real understanding and awareness of the quality of some spiritual fruits that were originally sold at high prices. Even among first-grade high-quality spiritual fruits, the effects of different qualities are worlds apart.
Although in terms of sheer quantity of spiritual energy, some slightly inferior spiritual fruits, when in sufficient supply and low price, can make up for it, or even surpass it.
However, the quality of spiritual energy cannot be compensated for simply by accumulating quantity. In fact, cultivators in the Qi Refining stage who want to build their Dao foundation and become Foundation Establishment stage cultivators need a replenishment of high-quality spiritual energy.
This is also the fundamental reason why direct descendants of sects and families, who have access to a stable supply of high-quality spiritual items, have a higher success rate in advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage than ordinary rogue cultivators.
"The spirit ice mine is incredibly lucrative; by selling high-quality spirit ice, they can earn a considerable amount of spirit stones every day. But why would the Chen family relinquish control of such a treasure trove for long?"
"Although the depths of the icy region are fraught with danger, after several years of management, everything here has stabilized. The Chen family cultivators have been eagerly anticipating this lucrative position of guarding the mine, and I'm afraid the time for such a stable source of spirit stones won't last much longer."
After his brief period of seclusion ended, Tong Bingfeng observed the bustling scene outside the mine, with people coming and going, and a vague suspicion began to form in his mind.
With the Chen family's strength, figuring out the specifics of the spirit ice mine would be a piece of cake, requiring no effort at all.
In the past two years, the performance of the Lingbing Mine has been clearly known even to Cheling Pavilion.
While Tong Bingfeng and Liu Zong did make some minor contributions during their stay, in the eyes of the high-ranking cultivators of the Chen family, it was nothing more than fulfilling their basic obligations.
Once the Chen family makes its final decision, faced with such a behemoth, no matter how unwilling the two cultivators are, they will probably have no choice but to hand it over, with absolutely no room for bargaining.
"Losing the spirit ice mine is tantamount to becoming a rootless tree or a duckweed without water, a rogue cultivator once again. A person without foresight will have immediate worries. Before the Chen family makes a real decision, we must find a new foothold deep in the ice domain."
As a qualified cultivator, Tong Bingfeng secretly made up his mind, and after realizing the urgency of time, he no longer had any attachment or reluctance to give up the current stability built on the foundation of the Chen family.
However, establishing a foothold in the depths of the icy region is no easy feat. The rampant presence of demonic beasts is one factor, and the scarcity of resources is an even more significant one. But the truly decisive factor comes from the Foundation Establishment stage Chen family.
It is foreseeable that once a rare resource point appears deep within the ice zone, as long as it is within a reasonable ice zone area, the final ownership will still belong to the Chen family.
They wouldn't care at all about the difficult early stages of the independent cultivators' pioneering efforts; they would simply shoo it away like an insignificant ant.
"The Northern Frontier Ice Region is vast, and although numerous spirit islands occupy it, serving as homes for cultivators embedded in the ice region, they are still only a drop in the ocean compared to the entire ice region."
"This search for a suitable area for survival and reproduction must be conducted outside the control of the Chen family on Ice Spirit Island, so as not to benefit others."
After some comparison, Tong Bingfeng finally made a decision: even if it meant facing the potentially fatal danger posed by a second-tier demon beast, he was willing to do it.
As expected, when Tong Bingfeng was preparing various spiritual items for the next exploration, it was not uncommon to see Chen family cultivators coming to the spirit ice mine under various pretexts.
Some of them didn't even bother to hide their identities, conducting a thorough survey of the Spirit Light Mine before leaving with satisfied expressions.
Although Liu Zong was busy with the daily operations of the Spirit Ice Mine, he was not truly stupid. However, he was unable to come up with any effective countermeasures in the face of such pressure from an absolutely behemoth.
"Fellow Daoist Tong, the Chen family's blatant robbery is something we should do. Could we possibly pay a price and ask a suitable direct descendant of the Chen family to mediate or increase our share of spirit ice?"
Liu Zong spoke anxiously. During the years he had been stationed at the Spirit Ice Mine, he had earned a considerable amount of spirit stones and accumulated a substantial fortune, but he still had not been able to break through the final barrier and enter the threshold of the late stage of Qi Refining.
Moreover, thanks to the Spirit Ice Mine and the reputation of the Chen family, during their years of stationing there, they have felt unprecedented respect in welcoming and seeing off guests.
Compared to Tong Bingfeng, this spirit ice mine is obviously more important to Liu Zong. If he loses it, he will once again become a penniless rogue cultivator.
The spiritual stones and items accumulated in recent years not only fail to bring more benefits, but after losing the so-called protection of the powerful, they may even attract some trouble.
"Given the current situation, how can a mantis stop a chariot? The Spirit Ice Mine is ultimately just an external thing. Fellow Daoist, why not take this opportunity to break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, go all out, and fight to the death? For us, cultivation is the foundation, the only thing we can rely on to stand firm in the cultivation world."
Tong Bingfeng had already made up his mind and had no interest in such an action that would come at a great cost but might not yield any benefit whatsoever.
For him, before the Chen family seized control of the garrison, the most important thing was to mine more spirit ice for sale and to pocket the money in spirit stones.
"Fellow Daoist Tong is right; I have learned a great deal."
Upon hearing this, the burning passion, reluctance, and anxiety in Liu Zong's eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by his usual rationality and clarity.
Instead, there is an unprecedented firmness. Only by awakening from the seemingly lively welcoming and sending off, flattery and worship of the past can one truly understand the essence of cultivation, possess a firm Dao heart to break through bottlenecks, and have the possibility of advancing to the seventh level of Qi Refining.
"Fellow Daoist Liu, this seclusion will surely allow you to successfully advance to the seventh level of Qi Refining and step into the late stage of Qi Refining."
The two cultivators have known each other for many years, each with their own tasks and working together seamlessly. If Liu Zong could take this step, he would naturally be very happy and wholeheartedly support it.