Qingtu Mountain.
This was a relatively remote area on the Cangyu Main Island, not only seldom visited but also unmarked on any public maps.
On the surface, it appeared to be just a primitive region of tall mountains, dense forests, and rampant Fierce Beasts, but in reality, it was the treasure trove of the Cangyu Islands.
One of the largest Spirit Stone Veins in the Chixue Sea Region was located deep inside the mountains here.
Furthermore, about ten percent of the Spirit Stones produced here annually were Middle grade Spirit Stones.
The output from this Spirit Stone Vein accounted for nearly thirty percent of the Cangyu Islands’ annual revenue.
If anything were to happen here, the consequences for the upper echelons of the Cangyu Islands would be exceptionally severe.
Therefore, Gu Binglong placed extre importance on this location, stationing two True Pill Cultivators and six Pseudo Core Cultivators here year-round, with even Golden Core Masters occasionally visiting for inspections.
Moreover, a separate Third Grade Protective Array was established here. This ensured that even in the event of an external attack, it could hold out long enough for reinforcents from the Sect to arrive.
However, after several hundred years, the location of the Spirit Stone Vein was no longer an absolute secret, to the point that even rival powers had heard of it.
The Longevity Hall had organized attacks on this place more than once in the past, but their efforts yielded little result due to the formidable defenses.
But today, things seed to be different.
Deep within the mountain, past several strict defensive lines, in a cavern over thirty zhang wide, Pseudo Core Elder Su Ti was tallying this month’s accounts.
Although it was a cavern, the interior was decorated with the utmost extravagance. There were large White Jade Wall Bricks and Purple Gold Corridor Pillars carved with dragon and phoenix cloud patterns. The magnificent do was studded with various Gemstones and Luminous Pearls. In a corner, a Golden Furnace burned Top Grade Incense, and beneath an exquisite carpet lay a small-scale Gathering Spirit Array.
Of course, nurous beautiful, fair-skinned young won in revealing attire stood quietly to the side, ready to attend to Elder Su’s every need.
As a Pseudo Core Cultivator, he was entitled to luxurious treatnt befitting his status, no matter where he was. The temporary cave residences of the two True Pill Elders were even more extravagant than his.
Of course, the True Pill Cultivators didn’t concern themselves with routine matters. Their only tasks were to guard against surprise attacks, cultivate, and enjoy themselves.
"...The number of Middle grade Spirit Stones produced this month has dropped again. What’s going on?"
After a long mont, Elder Su Ti closed the Jade Scroll Account Book in his hands and asked, displeased.
A Steward standing to the side quickly bowed and explained cautiously:
"Elder, I was just about to report this to you. The Middle Grade Spirit Stone Raw Ore in the vein is indeed running low. So mining sites have even been depleted and had to be abandoned..."
Although this Spirit Stone Vein was massive, it had been mined for several hundred years. Resource depletion was an inevitable outco.
Elder Su Ti had been stationed here for over twenty years, so he naturally knew that the output of Middle grade Spirit Stones had been decreasing year by year. Now, it had beco almost unsustainable.
Even the Low Grade Spirit Stone Raw Ore contained more and more impurities, making the refining and purification process more complex and driving up production costs.
This was a normal occurrence. Over ti, even the largest veins would one day be mined to exhaustion.
For example, a Celestial Fire Copper Vein in the territory of Lu Hua Palace, hidden deep underground and stretching for thousands of miles, had been completely depleted in just over two thousand years, even though the Sect had deliberately controlled the mining rate.
"Forget it. I’ll report this to the Sect Leader next ti."
Su Ti sighed, knowing he couldn’t bla his subordinates for this matter.
Every month, a batch of the hundreds of thousands of mortal laborers in the mining area would die from overwork. Even so of the slave Cultivators were occasionally worked to death.
But the monthly output of Spirit Stones continued its inevitable decline.
’If my assessnt is correct,’ he thought, ’then in another twenty or thirty years, this large Spirit Stone Vein will be completely exhausted. We won’t even be able to dig up Spiritual Sand.’
’At that point, the Cangyu Islands’ finances will be crippled. I’m afraid we’ll be powerless to maintain our current sphere of influence and various interests.’
’The only way to cover the Sect’s financial shortfall would be to find another large Spirit Stone Vein in another territory, but that’s practically impossible.’
Now, Su Ti understood why the Sect Leader was so anxious. He was willing to gamble the Sect’s future and drag other powers into a conflict with the Ling Family because there was simply no better option.
Only by destroying the Longevity Hall, only by destroying the Ling Family of the Feiyu Sea Region, could they plunder enough territory and resources to ensure the Sect’s long-term stability and developnt.
"...Elder, the guards outside just reported that this month’s supply convoy has arrived. They are waiting for you to inspect it!"
Another Steward entered, bowed, and reported.
"Understood."
Su Ti glanced at him, set down the Jade Scroll Account Book, and rose from behind his desk.
’The Sect sends over a batch of supplies every month,’ he mused, ’especially tens of thousands of able-bodied young miners. They’re all consumables—when one batch dies, another must be sent to replace them.’
’In the eyes of the higher-ups, mortal subjects aren’t seen as people, just pure tools of production.’
Su Ti flicked his sleeve and strode out of the cavern, a retinue of attendants and followers close behind.
Passing through several defensive lines and the shimring barrier of the Protective Array, Elder Su Ti, surrounded by his entourage, arrived outside the mining area. There, he saw more than a dozen large Tianzhou Skyboats already landed in the plaza.
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