Duu Lang once again vigilantly sensed the surroundings, making sure there was no presence of any living being, before descending to take a closer look. Hidden within the lush grass was a dark passageway.
His heart instantly relaxed, it seed this place hadn't been discovered yet.
Judging this was easy, for if such a Spirit Jade Vein had truly been found, the entrance would certainly have so kind of camouflage, to avoid being noticed by others.
While not everyone was adept at the Array Path, capable of setting up camouflaging arrays, cultivators at the Divine Sea Realm still had so simple ans of concealnt.
Since there were no traces of concealnt at the entrance, it indicated that this place had not been discovered.
This was undoubtedly good news for him, otherwise, he would have to contend with soone—an outco he least wanted to face. As the saying goes, "the family knows its own affairs", his foundation might not be poor, but it still pales in comparison to those prodigies from top domains; encountering one might truly be a losing battle.
Casually, he strolled into the cave entrance, setting up a simple concealnt to obscure the existence of the entrance, and continued to venture further down.
However, he hadn't traveled far before halting, his brow furrowing. He initially thought that no one had discovered this place but found upon entering that soone had already beaten him to it. Spirit force fluctuations emanated from ahead in the passage, soone was evidently mining Spirit Jade.
This was truly bad news!
Yet, upon closer sensing, his curiosity piqued. Judging by the spirit force fluctuations exuded by the other party, this person was rely at Divine Sea Level 8!
Was soone at Divine Sea Level 8 participating in the Divine Sea contention? Duu Lang couldn't believe it. Sensing more closely, the opponent was indeed only at Divine Sea Level 8!
This was truly strange. What domain's mighty figure would be so audacious to bring such a person to partake in this grand event? Was the domain they resided in truly lacking talents, or did this person possess so extraordinary capability?
But even if there was sothing exceptional about this person, the disparity in cultivation could not be ignored. Normal domains wouldn't let soone at Level 8 co here.
From this perspective, it's more likely that their domain lacks talents, much like his own!
The stellar space is vast, and domains are countless. So, like the Nine Provinces, are in the throes of burgeoning growth, while others, like Duu Lang's domain, are on the path of decline, with spirit force withering.
Domains, like living beings, have a lifespan; it's just that, comparatively, the life span of a domain is imasurably long, spanning tens or even hundreds of millions of years...
Upon this contemplation, Duu Lang couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie, being in the sa plight. Perhaps there was no need for them to trouble each other?
The situation was neither good nor bad for him.
Soone had beaten him to it, but the other party was only at Divine Sea Level 8, leaving him with two choices: engage in a battle with the other party, where the winner stays and the loser dies, or leave him alone and go their separate ways.
Though there was only one passage leading into the vein, there were multiple branching tunnels inside. He only needed to choose another branch tunnel; as long as the other party harbored no ill intent, they wouldn't interfere with each other.
With this thought, Duu Lang made up his mind.
Not bothering to conceal his presence, he headed straight toward the direction of the stranger, yet keeping the necessary vigilance.
Unexpectedly, the other party seed rather slow to react, only turning hurriedly to look at him when he neared.
The passage was dim, but it did not hinder the Divine Sea Realm's observation. Duu Lang saw a young man, roughly twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with a typical combat cultivator's attire.
"Young fellow, what's going on with you? People say n die for wealth, and birds die for food. Spirit Jades are good, but you shouldn't relax your vigilance."
In Duu Lang's eyes, this fellow looked like a greenhorn just stepping out into the world. Not even bothering to conceal the entrance was one thing, but for soone to walk in and him still being oblivious?
Lucky it was he who arrived; if it had been soone else, they could have cornered him here. Then he truly would have no one to call for, and would perhaps be dood to perish here.
Of course, Duu Lang also considered whether the other party was nonchalant because of reliance, but even the prodigies from top-notch domains wouldn't act in such a way. Confidence and arrogance are completely different concepts.
Furthermore, the prodigies from top-tier domains wouldn't co to the Taichu Realm to collect Spirit Jades. Their ho world produces Spirit Jades; why would they waste ti here?
They might casually gather so spirit flowers and rare herbs unavailable elsewhere, but they definitely wouldn't put much effort into Spirit Jades.
Lu Ye nodded at the other party in acknowledgnt: "I appreciate the advice, Fellow Daoist. I'm from a small place and haven't seen much of the world, often acting carelessly. Thank you for the pointers."
Duu Lang was very satisfied with his attitude, fearing only those who don't appreciate kind advice. Thus, it seed this person wasn't difficult to get along with.
Cultivators from small places are generally easy to get along with, just like Duu Lang. Only those guys from the elite regions look down on everyone, as if they walk with their noses in the air.
"I've camouflaged the entrance a bit, so unless soone deliberately checks, they shouldn't find it. Since there's an opportunity in front of us now, let's cherish it well. Even if you can't get into the top hundred in the Divine Sea Contest, gaining so spirit jade isn't bad," Duu Lang said, turning to leave.
He had no intention of having a deep conversation with others. He just ca to see Lu Ye, greet him, and inform him that he was also here to mine spirit jade. After this, they would go their separate ways, and they might never et again, so there was no need for a deep friendship.
After a few steps, Duu Lang said again, "Oh, this place can only last for about twenty more days. When the Taichu Realm shrinks its boundaries for the third ti, this location will be excluded."
Lu Ye understood imdiately, as it aligned with what he had thought before. He didn't think he could stay there forever, so he nodded, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for informing !"
Watching Duu Lang's departing back, Lu Ye's expression remained calm.
Duu Lang thought he acted carelessly, leaving the entrance uncovered. In fact, it was deliberate. If anyone thought they could ambush him there, they'd be in for a surprise.
Even if things turned dire, he could still escape through the Teleportation Array he had previously set up outside.
He certainly wouldn't let himself be trapped here.
Lu Ye noticed Duu Lang's presence as soon as he arrived, initially thinking he was here to cause trouble. However, Duu Lang had no intention of fighting.
Although he was a Level 9 cultivator and Lu Ye was a Level 8, Duu Lang did not attack first but instead offered a friendly reminder. Lu Ye was not one to confuse right with wrong.
In the Divine Sea Contest, getting rewards was indeed important for final ranking, but Lu Ye wasn't a person who killed indiscriminately. He didn't believe everyone he t should be slain; that was his principle for living, otherwise, he'd beco nothing more than a callous walrus.
Quickly, Lu Ye sensed the flow of spirit force in a mining passageway nearby, clearly showing that the other party was mining spirit jade.
Lu Ye gave it so thought and walked over there.
He wanted to see how others mined spirit jade, hoping he could learn sothing to improve his efficiency.
Duu Lang noticed his arrival and cautiously watched him.
Lu Ye cupped his hands in salute: "I hope you don't mind, Fellow Daoist. It's my first ti seeing a spirit jade vein, and I'm quite clumsy with mining, so I thought I'd co to learn." Read full story at Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
Duu Lang understood his intention and laughed heartily: "To be honest, this is my first ti seeing a spirit jade vein too. Mining spirit jade isn't about tricks; it's painstaking work. However, you can use so special thods. As you've seen, this is my preparation."
Lu Ye did see it. The spirit jade vein in front of Duu Lang was crawling with countless insects that looked like ants but had wings. They covered the vein, constantly making gnawing sounds.
Duu Lang explained: "These are jade-eating ants, used specifically for mining spirit jade. They eat away the binding substances between the jades but can't bite through the hard surface, making them perfect for this place."
Lu Ye understood. The man had co prepared, unlike him who discovered this place by chance and was mining for the first ti, which was inevitably a bit rushed.
Watching closely, the sound of gnawing continued from the swarm of jade-eating ants, and soon so spirit jades loosened from the vein and fell away.
All Duu Lang needed to do was collect them.
Lu Ye was extrely envious of such mining efficiency compared to his own ti-consuming efforts.
Seeing his expression, Duu Lang understood what Lu Ye was thinking. But since his main purpose in coming to the Taichu Realm was to mine spirit jade, he didn't feel like sharing, even if he understood Lu Ye's thoughts.
Besides, they had no real friendship, only this chance encounter here to recognize each other.
After observing for a while, Lu Ye cupped his fists: "Sorry for disturbing you, Fellow Daoist."
Envy is one thing, but he couldn't replicate it. He couldn't just watch here forever. He'd have to go back and mine slowly. Although his clumsy thod was inefficient, it was still better than Jian Guhong and others searching in the stellar space. One shouldn't be greedy and never satisfied.
Seeing him leave looking sowhat forlorn, Duu Lang sighed and gritted his teeth: "Fellow Taoist, hold on. I'll give you so jade-eating ants to use."
All pitiful people; even with treasure mountains before them, they're powerless. Helping a bit costs nothing but so spirit jade, and according to his plan, the remaining ti would be enough for him to mine the needed spirit jade, barring any unforeseen events.
With that, he went forward, used his technique to gather a batch of jade-eating ants, just about one-tenth of the total, and stored them in sothing similar to a spirit beast sack before tossing it to Lu Ye from a distance.
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