While controlling four veins, including a high-grade third-rank Wood Element Vein and two mid-grade third-rank veins, the Chen Clan had become one of the wealthiest among Purple Mansion clans.
With this level of resources, the Chen Clan could acquire a Five Element Crystal approximately every twenty years, not including additional acquisitions from external sources.
Such wealth would tempt even other Purple Mansion clans. If it weren't for Elian's formidable reputation and the support of Jiang Linglong, most would not hesitate to act rashly against the Chen Clan.
"We indeed don't have enough manpower," said the Patriarch.
"But we can always find help."
Elian nodded calmly.
"Precisely."
The Patriarch's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood Elian's idea. Smiling, he said, "Wei Xuyuan is a close friend of yours, trustworthy, and a perfect candidate for the task."
"Indeed."
That very afternoon, Elian flew from Lingyuan Mountain on his Fiery Void Sword and headed toward Tian'e Mountain in Yang Region. By the next day, he arrived at the mountain gate and found Wei Xuyuan.
"I've come to ask for your help," Elian said directly after their brief greeting.
He explained his proposal to Wei Xuyuan: to have him oversee Lingyuan Mountain in exchange for an annual stipend of 5,000 spirit stones.
Wei Xuyuan immediately declined, firmly saying, "Helping you guard Lingyuan Mountain is already a great benefit to me. How could I accept a stipend for it?"
Since breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm, Wei Xuyuan had faced significant challenges. Tian'e Mountain's upper-grade second-rank spiritual vein was insufficient to sustain his cultivation needs. His family's Foundation Establishment cultivators had moved to the other five spiritual veins, but the lack of spiritual energy still hindered his progress.
To rent a third-rank spiritual spring cave, he would need at least 2,000 spirit stones annually. Cultivating directly with spirit stones would cost even more—around 5,000 spirit stones per year.
With a third-rank spiritual vein now available, this was a golden opportunity for Wei Xuyuan.
However, Elian shook his head and insisted, "You will be guarding the Chen Clan's resources. I cannot let you do so without proper compensation. Moreover, this arrangement will help alleviate your family's financial burden."
Wei Xuyuan fell silent. His clan was struggling to pay his stipend, and taking up this role might allow him to support his family better and help Tian'e Mountain's spiritual vein advance to a lower-grade third rank sooner.
He had over 200 years of lifespan remaining, and with no realistic hope of breaking through to Golden Core, it seemed wiser to accumulate wealth for his family's future.
Finally, he nodded.
"Rest assured, as long as I live, I will guard Lingyuan Mountain with my life."
Hearing this, Elian felt relieved.
With the overseer for Lingyuan Mountain secured, he could focus on other matters. Rebuilding Lingyuan Mountain, accepting the Fire Element Vein, and establishing the Lingyuan Market would be complex tasks, but the clan elders would handle those details, sparing Elian much effort.
Returning to Pingyang City with the Patriarch, Elian finally took a break from his recent hectic schedule.
In the grand hall of Pingyang City, Elian smiled and remarked, "Although I didn't acquire the Fire Crystals at the trade conference, the gains were still satisfactory."
"I've gathered the Blazing Flame Liquid you needed and even acquired a Crystal of Blazing Flame."
The Patriarch's face lit up with joy as he carefully stored the Blazing Flame Liquid, then turned to Elian with a reminder, "I'll need about five more years to reach the peak of the Purple Mansion third level. The Creation Cloud Pills can wait a bit longer, as forging this life-bound array treasure will slow my cultivation."
Elian brewed a cup of tea for the Patriarch, smiling as he said, "While it may slow your cultivation at the fourth level, it will accelerate your breakthrough to mid-stage Purple Mansion."
The Patriarch's Whiteblade Star Orbs was a life-bound array treasure, and once forged, it would significantly slow his cultivation. As a dual-spiritual root cultivator, he could usually break through a level every 30 years. With spiritual peaches increasing his speed threefold, he needed only 10 years per level.
However, after crafting the Whiteblade Star Pearl, Elian estimated it would take the Patriarch 14 or 15 years to break through a level, comparable to Elian's own pace of 18 years per level.
After parting ways with the Patriarch, Elian flew to Tianxu Mountain.
There, he found Jiang Linglong and couldn't help but ask, "How was Yan Mingxu, with his strength, able to escape from you?"
"He has some talent," Jiang Linglong replied calmly.
"He survived two of my strikes."
Elian was momentarily speechless.
He quickly realized that when Jiang Linglong had caught up with Yan Mingxu, he was already near the Chu Kingdom's borders. The pursuit was too brief for Jiang Linglong to do more than deliver three strikes.
The first destroyed three of Yan Mingxu's demonic treasures, which he barely dodged with all his might. The second nearly killed him, but he escaped by sacrificing a Blood Demon Avatar using the Blood Demon Rebirth Technique. The third was blocked by the Demon Lair's leader, the late-stage Golden Core demon Bloodcloak Elder.
Jiang Linglong then faced two Golden Core demons in battle, but before long, Celestial Sky Sword Sect's Master Zhang arrived, wielding the demon-vanquishing treasure, the Sky Sword.
"The Sky Sword is a demon-refining treasure. Its strike severely injured Bloodcloak Elder," Jiang Linglong said.
"Unfortunately, the Demon Lair's environment is too unique. Even with Master Zhang's help, we couldn't penetrate their defenses."
Although she spoke calmly, Elian could imagine the brutal battle that had taken place.
With a somber expression, he asked, "What is the origin of this Demon Lair? How has it survived so long under the Ji Clan's watch?"
Jiang Linglong's gaze flickered with a trace of worry, quickly masked. "Some things cannot yet be revealed to you. But I can tell you that the Eastern Wilderness is filled with demonic forces like the Demon Lair."
She refrained from elaborating, worried that the truth would shake Elian's Dao Heart. As a Purple Mansion cultivator, he wasn't ready to shoulder such knowledge. Knowing more would only burden him unnecessarily.
Seeing her reluctance, Elian changed the topic. He retrieved the Formless Gold and the Formless Sword's forging method, smiling as he said, "I wish to craft this sword, and I will need your help."
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D