Danwu Refining Spirit

Chapter Sixty-Nine: First Arrival in the Southern Wilderness

In the Tianyun Continent, all cultivation is based on Yuan Power. While absorbing the Yuan Qi of heaven and earth to transform into Yuan Power is the safest method, it is ultimately too slow. Therefore, Yuan Stones have become the most sought-after cultivation resource.

Of course, the effects of various pills that aid cultivation should not be underestimated, but due to limitations in refining techniques, they are still somewhat inferior to spirit stones.

Yuan Stones are mined from underground veins and are formed over countless years by the condensation of primordial energy. To distinguish them from other minerals, these veins that produce Yuan Stones have a special name: Spirit Veins.

Spiritual veins are not inexhaustible. In fact, the formation of a spiritual vein requires many conditions, and time is always the greatest enemy of its formation.

Control of any spiritual vein is extremely precious to cultivators. It can be said that the history of cultivation on the Tianyun Continent is a bloody history of the struggle for spiritual veins.

Those super-powerful clans are alright; they control the vast majority of the spiritual veins on the continent, and these veins far surpass the smaller ones in both quantity and quality. In their eyes, the smaller spiritual veins are like chicken bones—dispensable.

Imagine if a lot of manpower and resources were spent, and the output of the stolen spiritual veins was not even enough for the clansmen to cultivate for a month, what use would it be? In that case, it would be more worthwhile to directly absorb the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

However, for the many small families on the mainland, a spiritual vein, no matter how much it contains, is a fortune that people fight tooth and nail for.

Perhaps it's just a few hundred more spirit stones, but the clan might gain an extra martial artist, and with each additional martial artist, these small clans gain a bit more power.

Therefore, heads can be severed, blood can flow, but the spiritual vein must never be lost. This is the consensus among the countless small forces on the Tianyun Continent.

However, spiritual veins are sometimes exhausted, and once a spirit stone is used, there is one less available, so there is never enough.

The spiritual veins are dried up, and the elemental stones are all gone. What should we do then? Follow the old ways of the Tianyun Continent: rob them!

However, over the years, many smaller forces have discovered another problem: there are always stronger opponents. No matter how powerful you are, there will always be someone more powerful than you, and you simply cannot compete with others.

Especially during the plundering process, you never know when you might snatch something from a powerful force with strong backing, not to mention directly infringing on the interests of a super-powerful clan.

Overnight, everyone was wiped out, from the clan chief down to the gatekeeper's dog—the list of the unfortunate is endless.

There's no way out! It's better not to rob directly; slower development is still better than being wiped out. Many smaller factions and families began to focus on pioneering new lands.

The Southern Wilderness has recently become the most popular reclaiming site.

In the beginning, someone accidentally discovered a small spiritual vein while hunting wild beasts. Later, the news was leaked for some unknown reason and spread like wildfire, quickly becoming known to everyone.

When a new spiritual vein appeared in the Southern Wilderness, the major super families naturally couldn't let it go and sent people to investigate, but in the end they all returned disappointed.

Although there are many spiritual veins, the reserves of each one are too small to be of any value to these powerful clans, and are not worth their mining.

However, smaller families and forces do not see it that way. These newly discovered, small spiritual veins without clear ownership are their favorites.

Whoever discovers it first gets to keep it, and whoever is stronger gets more. The pioneering wave finally reached its climax and became unstoppable.

The Southern Wilderness is no longer a desolate wasteland. Due to the large number of pioneering forces, a small town of considerable size has developed to the north of the southern wilderness.

Of course, the city wall is not as magnificent as that of a typical city; it is more like a huge market town, as can be seen from the town's name, Tiannan Town.

It is said that wherever there are people, there is a world of intrigue, and Tiannan Town is no exception.

Not only are various forces, large and small, stationed here, but also all sorts of merchants provide various supplies and services to the pioneering teams.

There are also thieves who make a living by stealing, robbers who live by robbing, and assassins, bodyguards, and even mercenaries who specialize in solving all kinds of troubles for people.

However, these scoundrels never acted in Tiannan Town, for one simple reason: Tiannan Town was under the jurisdiction of the authorities.

The town of Tiannan is managed by the Heng family, an old and powerful clan on the Tianyun Continent. Located near the Southern Wilderness, the Heng family wields immense power, having a hand in virtually every business in the southern part of the continent.

Just like the pioneering wave that occurred in the Southern Wilderness, although the Heng family did not directly join, they had a better way, which was to establish Tiannan Town.

All pioneering teams that come to the Southern Wilderness will receive protection from the Heng family after entering Tiannan Town. However, when leaving the Southern Wilderness, these teams that entered Tiannan Town must pay a fee.

The fee is one-tenth, meaning that 10% of the proceeds from mining spiritual veins in the Southern Wilderness must be given to the Heng family.

This is quite remarkable, considering that hundreds of pioneering teams have come to the Southern Wilderness, and more are constantly arriving. The Heng family, on the other hand, doesn't have to contribute anything; they simply sent a martial arts master to oversee the area, along with an accountant and a few servants.

This is blatant extortion, yet no one dares to say a word against it.

Hengshan, a martial arts master from the Heng family, said that once you join the pioneering team in Tiannan Town, all past grievances must be temporarily set aside. Here, the Heng family will guarantee the absolute safety of every team.

Safety is of utmost importance. Giving up even 10% of the proceeds is better than working hard to mine spirit stones only to wake up one morning to find them all gone, or even losing your head.

Therefore, over 90% of the teams that came to explore the land would station themselves in Tiannan Town.

As for outside Tiannan Town, the Heng family doesn't care whether people fight to the death or steal openly or secretly.

In the words of martial arts master Yokoyama, the Yoko family came here to make money, not to be your babysitters.

When Xiao Chong and the Situ family arrived in the Southern Wilderness, they naturally planned to stay in Tiannan Town. Although they would have to hand over 10% of their earnings before leaving, this would save them a lot of trouble.

People come here to make money, not to fight or cause trouble.

After disembarking from the cloud boat, Xiao Chong and Situ Mingyue walked in front, with the others following behind them. The miners from both families responsible for mining the spiritual veins remained on their respective cloud boats, as did Situ Jiannan.

Situ Mingyue has now become the leader of the Situ family. Since being defeated by Xiao Chong's sword, Situ Jiannan has become a cultivation fanatic. He never shows his face except for cultivation, like a timid wife who never leaves the house.

The group hadn't walked far when suddenly a group of people surrounded them, each holding a wooden sign with various words like "guide," "tourist," "know-it-all," and "pioneer guide" written on it.

"Honored guest, would you like me to show you the way? I have been in the Southern Wilderness for many days and there is no place I cannot find."

"Sir, would you like to eat? Our restaurant offers fair prices, honest service, a wide variety of dishes, and complimentary drinks. We can also offer a discount if you have a large group."

"I have a detailed map of the Southern Wilderness here, and it's very cheap. Would you like a copy?"

"Would you like to stay at our hotel? Our environment is elegant and comfortable, and we guarantee your satisfaction. We also offer a variety of services; if you can think of it, we can do it."

Upon seeing the arrival of strangers, a group of people swarmed around them, desperately trying to sell themselves.

Who are these people? They all look like those odd jobs you used to do at the renovation market in my past life! And that uncle who spoke last, your expression was so lewd, and your tone was so mysterious, were you trying to imply something to me? But I'm not that kind of person!

Xiao Chong parted the crowd and pulled over a seemingly honest-looking child holding a signpost, asking, "Do you know where the administrator of Tiannan Town lives?"

The child obediently replied, "Are you asking about Mayor Hengshan? Yes, of course I know him. He lives in the mayor's mansion. I'll take you there."

Town mayor? That title sounds so familiar, it's like I've suddenly returned to my rural hometown.

Xiao Chong said with amusement, "Then lead the way."

"Alright! I'll give you one tael of silver." The child agreed, but didn't move. Instead, he looked at Xiao Chong with a grin, rubbing his two fingers together incessantly.

Why do I have to pay first? I was fooled by his honest appearance. Xiao Chong gave a wry smile, took a small piece of silver from the fat man, and handed it to the child.

"Please follow me." The child weighed the silver in his hand and felt that it was more than one tael. He then smiled broadly and led Xiao Chong and the others away.

Before long, the group arrived at a large mansion. The child pointed to the mansion and said, "This is the town mayor's residence, where Mayor Hengshan usually works. I won't go in."

"Thank you, young man." Xiao Chong waved to the child and entered the courtyard with Situ Mingyue and the others.

Yokoyama is a young man who looks very capable. He is only in his early twenties, but he has already reached the level of a martial arts master.

This is the advantage of being born into a super family; whether it's cultivation resources or the inheritance of cultivation techniques, they have a significant innate advantage compared to small families.

Hengshan was quite welcoming to the team that came to the Southern Wilderness to explore the spiritual veins, and did not show any disdain.

The reason is simple: these teams had to pay an exorbitant fee before leaving, as they were bringing wealth to the Heng family.

After ascertaining the purpose of Xiao Chong and Situ Mingyue's visit, Hengshan immediately instructed the accountant to register them and allocated a piece of land for each family, issuing them a stationing permit.

When they learned that the Xiao family and the Situ family both came from Feiyue City, they specially arranged for their residences to be located next to each other.

Xiao Chong asked a few more questions about the rules of Tiannan Town, then bid farewell to Hengshan and left the town mayor's mansion.

The child who had led the way didn't leave; he was still standing at the entrance of the town mayor's mansion. When he saw Xiao Chong come out, he surrounded him again.

"Is there anything else? I think I've already paid for the guide, haven't I?" Xiao Chong asked the child.

"I can take you to the base, and I can also tell you about the surrounding area." The child smiled shyly, but his eyes remained fixed on the fat man's money pouch.