167: Chapter 167 News of the Purple Spirit Grass

Danxia Spirit Stone Mine.

Guarding Great Hall.

"How is the Spirit Stone Mine's income this year?" Li Hu stood with his hands behind his back, scanning the crowd standing below.

Overseer stepped forward quickly: "Young Lord, the income from the Danxia Spirit Stone Mine for this year has been tallied; we have harvested a total of three hundred thousand Spirit Stones."

After saying this, Overseer lowered his head, not daring to look at Li Hu at all.

"What? Only three hundred thousand?" Li Hu's eyes were filled with shock.

One must know that even with last year's Spiritual Qi fluctuations, three hundred fifty thousand were harvested.

But this year he had recruited many new miners, yet he didn't expect to have fifty thousand fewer Spirit Stones.

Overseer trembled and quickly replied: "Young Lord, the mining difficulty increased this year. Many miners only dig a few Spirit Stones a day."

Li Hu looked at Overseer and didn't speak for a long time.

Last year could be said to be an accident that caused the reduction in Spirit Stone production.

But with this situation occurring for two consecutive years, it was absolutely impossible for it to just be a natural reduction in production.

Li Hu's gaze swept over the crowd and finally landed on the Incarnation Wang Cheng: "Is there anything unusual within the mine?"

He suspected in his heart that the sudden drop in Spirit Stone production must be due to something unusual, either an internal problem or someone acting in secret.

Incarnation Wang Cheng took a step forward and said: "Reporting to the Young Lord, this past year, I have inspected the mine daily and found no abnormalities. The miners are all performing their duties, no one is slacking, no one has been found hiding Spirit Stones, nor have any traces of outside Cultivators intruding been detected."

Hearing Wang Cheng's words, Li Hu became even more puzzled.

After all, it was impossible for Spirit Stone production to decrease for no reason.

After a while, Li Hu finally spoke: "Wang Cheng, from today onwards, organize personnel to patrol the Spirit Stone Mine day and night. Every mine tunnel and every extraction point must be inspected thoroughly; no omissions are allowed. If any abnormality is found, report to me immediately without delay!"

Li Hu still trusted Wang Cheng very much.

After all, Wang Cheng was from the Blood Demon Sect and was recommended here by Manager Ma Yingjie.

"Your subordinate obeys!" Wang Cheng bowed again.

Li Hu glanced at everyone and then asked: "Last year, I asked you to collect Materials for a Lifebound Treasure. Have you found anything?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Overseer quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying: "Reporting to the Young Lord, last year in the Secret Realm, I was lucky enough to find a stalk of purple spirit grass."

Saying this, Overseer took out an exquisite jade box from his Storage Pouch. The jade box was lustrous and emitted a faint Spiritual Qi, clearly used for storing rare Spiritual Plants.

Overseer held the jade box in both hands and respectfully presented it to Li Hu.

A flash of surprise and joy crossed Li Hu's eyes as he reached out to take the jade box and slowly opened it.

Inside the jade box was a layer of snow-white spiritual down. A stalk of purple spirit grass with lustrous leaves lay quietly within, its Spiritual Qi dense, and crystal-clear dewdrops condensed on its leaves.

Seeing the purple spirit grass inside the jade box, the gloom on Li Hu's face vanished instantly, replaced by a face full of smiles: "Good! Good! Overseer, you've done well! This purple spirit grass is exactly what I urgently need. You've performed a great service this time, and you will be heavily rewarded later!"

Overseer was overjoyed and quickly bowed: "I dare not take the credit. Being able to share the Young Lord's burdens is my duty."

Qin Changsheng, far away in the depths of the Spirit Stone Mine, also heard this news.

Qin Changsheng knew clearly that purple spirit grass was an important auxiliary material for refining a Lifebound Treasure, rare and hard to come by, and was one of the special Materials he had planned to obtain.

Qin Changsheng sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness and summoned the Golden Trait Intelligence.

As the power of the trait was activated, a condensed golden Divine Thought surged out from Qin Changsheng's Sea of Consciousness, like an invisible thread, crossing mountains and distances, heading straight for the Danxia Spirit Stone Mine.

[purple spirit grass: Auxiliary material for Lifebound Treasure, holder: Li Hu!]

"It really is purple spirit grass." A hint of solemnity appeared in Qin Changsheng's eyes.

If this purple spirit grass were in the hands of Lin Hao or the others, Qin Changsheng could easily obtain this treasure.

But Li Hu was the Young Lord of the Blood Demon Sect, and his strength was very high.

Moreover, there were many experts guarding Li Hu, and his background was profound.

It was simply impossible for Qin Changsheng to snatch the purple spirit grass from Li Hu.

However, Qin Changsheng already had a plan in mind.

Li Hu had always wanted to possess Hu Nan.

Qin Changsheng could definitely work on this aspect.

When the time came, he would use Hu Nan as bait and then seize the purple spirit grass from Li Hu's hands.

...

A few days later.

Qin Changsheng and Hu Nan had returned to the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Qin Changsheng also controlled Hu Nan to walk towards the Qingyun Tower.

The Qingyun Tower was the core venue for many Cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Sect to gather and exchange ideas.

Not only Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but even those Qi Refinement Cultivators liked to gather and exchange ideas here.

Inside the pavilion, the voices were boisterous, the scent of wine and Spiritual Qi intertwined, laughter and low conversations rose and fell, creating a lively scene.

Qin Changsheng's Divine Thought was attached to Hu Nan's body, controlling his form as he slowly stepped into the Qingyun Tower.

In the lobby on the first floor, Cultivators gathered, mostly Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators exchanging pleasantries and inquiring about various cultivation resources and news of opportunities.

Just as he stepped onto the second floor, several familiar figures came into view.

They were a group of Qin Changsheng's fellow townsmen, all from Beihai Prefecture, who had entered the Heavenly Sword Sect together.

It was just that Zhang Han, Zhao Lei, and the others had always looked down on Qin Changsheng.

After Qin Changsheng reached Foundation Establishment, he rarely associated with these people.

Zhao Lei was the first to notice Hu Nan's figure. Looking up, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, and he quickly stood up and waved, his tone enthusiastic: "Isn't that Martial Uncle Hu?!"

The other fellow townsmen also looked over, warm smiles appearing on their faces as they prepared to stand up and greet Hu Nan.

However, Qin Changsheng did not stop for a moment, nor did he give any response, as he walked towards the fourth floor.

Those fellow townsmen watched the departing Hu Nan, their faces turning very ugly one by one.

But they didn't dare to complain about Hu Nan.

After all, Hu Nan was already a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

While they were still lingering at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

When Qin Changsheng pushed open the door to the private room on the fourth floor, he found that many people were already sitting there.

Even Li Hu from the Blood Demon Sect had already arrived.

Li Hu was the first to notice Hu Nan's arrival. He looked up, and his originally cold face was instantly replaced with a warm smile.

"Senior Brother Hu! We were just waiting for you!"

"Sorry, I was delayed on the way!" Hu Nan cupped his hands.

Li Hu also very enthusiastically invited Hu Nan to sit nearby.

Seeing Li Hu so enthusiastic towards Qin Changsheng, many Cultivators thought that Hu Nan and Li Hu were good friends.

Only Qin Changsheng knew very well in his heart that he and Li Hu had a grudge.

And it was a life-and-death grudge.

With Qin Changsheng sitting down, this Foundation Establishment Gathering officially began.

The waiter outside also brought in many delicacies and spiritual wine.

"Everyone, since everyone is here, why don't we take this Opportunity to exchange our cultivation insights from the past year, learn from each other, and progress together?" Jiang Lijuan stood up and said.

"Senior Sister Jiang is absolutely right!" A Foundation Establishment Cultivator was the first to agree, standing up and saying, "This past year, I've been stuck at the Bottleneck of the first level of Foundation Establishment for a long time, unable to break through. I was just thinking of asking everyone for advice."

The other Cultivators also nodded, expressions of agreement appearing on their faces. The path of immortality was inherently lonely, and exchanging cultivation insights could indeed save one from many detours, so naturally, no one wanted to miss this Opportunity.

The exchange of insights soon officially began, and Cultivators stood up one after another to share their cultivation insights from the past year.

Some spoke of the methods of spiritual energy circulation they had grasped, some shared insights on Spells, and others poured out the Bottlenecks and confusion they encountered in their cultivation, discussing with each other and expressing their own views. The atmosphere in the room gradually became lively.

Everyone chimed in, exchanging ideas happily. Some had their doubts cleared, some benefited, and the scene was very harmonious.

Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan and remained silent throughout, only nodding slightly occasionally, pretending to listen intently. Qin Changsheng would also silently note down some important insights.

It was at this moment that Lin Hao slowly stood up, his gaze passing over the crowd and landing directly on Hu Nan.

"Junior Brother Hu, how is your cultivation of that Vajra Body Refining Art you bought last year going?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the gazes of many Cultivators in the room focused on Hu Nan again, some curious, some puzzled.

After all, Hu Nan had spent fifteen thousand Spirit Stones last year to buy that Vajra Body Refining Art from Lin Hao.