The Best Way to Grow a Mine
Wearing the featureless mask, Jin Somyeong headed toward the Inner City while reviewing his plans.
I have no intention of staying in the Red Sun Sect for long.
Secret arts unavailable on the open market, high-quality spirit veins, and more besides—there were countless things he could gain there, but it was not a place worth lingering in. Once he had received enough help with his cultivation, secured the materials he needed for Foundation Establishment, and learned the internal details of the Red Cloud Secret Realm, he could leave at any time.
His objective had always been singular: to obtain a Foundation Establishment spiritual object from the Red Cloud Secret Realm.
For that, he needed to raise his strength as much as possible, as quickly as possible. This was not mere exaggeration. He had to throw himself forward at a dead sprint and do everything in his power, because that place was dangerous even for cultivators at the Late Stage of Qi Refining.
I’ll learn a decent cultivation art from the Red Sun Sect, focus on training until the secret realm opens, obtain a Foundation Establishment spiritual object, and then leave for another city.
Of course, obtaining a Foundation Establishment spiritual object inside the secret realm did not mean it would immediately belong to him. That would be far too naive. This world had never been so peaceful.
At the exit of the secret realm, countless experts would undoubtedly be waiting to search people and seize whatever they found. If he wanted to avoid losing everything, he would need to belong to one of the larger factions and offer up tribute just to keep even a portion of his spoils.
But I have a subspace.
If he swept the Foundation Establishment spiritual objects and every other treasure into his subspace before leaving, who would know? Naturally, no one would be able to take them from him either.
It was an advantage impossible for other cultivators—one only Jin Somyeong could obtain.
Whew.
He took a light breath and steeled himself. What remained was simple and clear: he had to employ every method available to reach a level where he could compete with Late Stage Qi Refining cultivators.
Having reaffirmed his goal, Jin Somyeong went straight to the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. He needed to find out how to leave for another city.
“Shopkeeper. Give me five Qi Condensing Pills.”
If one wanted to buy goodwill from a merchant, one spent money. Before bringing up his real business, he first ordered something he needed.
“Qi Condensing Pills are currently twenty-five Spirit Stones each. Will that be acceptable?”
When Jin Somyeong nodded grandly as if the price meant nothing to him, the branch manager’s eyes changed. Perhaps it was because he had caught the scent of Spirit Stones, subtly revealed. The shopkeeper’s waist bent even lower, and he spoke with the politeness of someone receiving a master.
“Sir, might you be planning to take these Qi Condensing Pills yourself?”
“...I am. Why?”
“You may already know this, sir, but Qi Condensing Pills are rather potent. If you take several within a short period, they will leave pill toxins in your body. I would not recommend it.”
“Pill toxins?”
“Yes. Even medicinal pills made from spiritual herbs inevitably contain minute impurities. If you consume too many, your cultivation speed may rise in the short term, but it will be harmful in the long run.”
Jin Somyeong frowned. He had already known about pill toxins. However, it was a little strange for a merchant selling the product to go out of his way to point out such a drawback.
“I was already aware of pill toxins... but I don’t know the proper interval for taking Qi Condensing Pills. How often should one take them?”
“Haha. Ideally, one Qi Condensing Pill per month.”
“A month?”
His brow furrowed on its own. His income had already leapt to ten Spirit Stones a day. With such an extraordinary income, being told to take only one Qi Condensing Pill a month was practically torture.
“Of course!”
The merchant suddenly raised his voice to seize his attention, then grinned.
“For someone as wealthy as you, sir, that would be quite inconvenient. But how many things in this world truly cannot be solved with Spirit Stones? Naturally, there is a solution.”
“...Hm?”
“The Qi Condensing Pills typically sold on the market are low-grade. And above low-grade, of course, there are middle-grade and high-grade pills. Middle-grade Qi Condensing Pills contain fewer impurities, so they can be taken more frequently.”
Only then did Jin Somyeong understand why the man had bothered to tell him about the drawback of Qi Condensing Pills. He wanted to sell him a better, more expensive product.
“Then how much are the middle-grade ones? No, the high-grade Qi Condensing Pills?”
If he was going to take them, he might as well take the best. When it came to cultivation, he had no intention of being stingy with Spirit Stones.
“Haha... Sir, I apologize, but we do not sell high-grade pills. Their production is extremely limited, and the entire supply goes to the great immortal sects.”
The branch manager lowered his head apologetically, as though embarrassed, then continued.
“But middle-grade pills are also excellent. The recommended interval is every half month, and the price is fifty Spirit Stones each!”
“Half a month... That’s certainly not bad.”
It was far better than low-grade Qi Condensing Pills. The price was somewhat steep, but with his current income, he could handle it.
“Give me three middle-grade pills.”
“Truly generous! Thank you, sir!”
The delighted shopkeeper brought out middle-grade Qi Condensing Pills packaged in fine containers, and Jin Somyeong paid the Spirit Stones without complaint.
Once the transaction was neatly concluded, the branch manager became even more courteous, bending at the waist until his back was nearly at a right angle. That was when Jin Somyeong brought up his real business.
“Shopkeeper. There’s something I’d like to ask. Would that be all right?”
“Pardon? Of course. If it is something I know, I will tell you everything.”
The power of wealth truly was formidable. It had even changed the attitude of the branch manager who had previously tried to sell him information.
“It’s nothing major. Could you tell me if there are any cities near Jeokyang Market that are good for cultivation? I happened to come here by chance, but this place is not much to my liking.”
“Ah. I see.”
Relief flashed across the shopkeeper’s face. It seemed he was reassured that the question was not difficult. He had been about to answer when he suddenly paused, tilted his head, and spoke as though he found it odd.
“Sir, the Red Cloud Secret Realm will open soon. Are you truly intent on leaving? Recently, everyone has been desperate to come here.”
“That is precisely why I want to leave. All manner of riffraff will be swarming in. With that kind of noise, how could anyone cultivate in peace?”
“True. Someone as wealthy as you, sir, would not need to cling desperately to the Red Cloud Secret Realm. You can simply cultivate at your leisure...”
The branch manager nodded as though he understood, then said,
“Two hundred li to the east, there is Yellow Wind Market. If you go south, there is...”
As the explanation continued at length, Jin Somyeong drew a map in his mind.
There are a tremendous number of places similar to Jeokyang Market. With my abilities, leaving isn’t impossible.
For nearly five full minutes, the branch manager explained the surrounding geography without stopping once before finally giving an awkward smile.
“In truth, all of those places are controlled by Foundation Establishment-level forces, so they are not much different from Jeokyang Market. If you dislike this place, it will likely be the same wherever you go. I would instead recommend going to a Golden Core-level city.”
“A Golden Core-level city?”
“Yes. Cheongdan City lies two thousand li away. It is dozens of times larger than Jeokyang Market.”
Jeokyang Market was already fairly large. Even excluding ordinary mortals, there had to be at least tens of thousands of cultivators there. Dozens of times larger than that sounded difficult to believe, but after thinking about it, it made sense.
Golden Core was the realm after Foundation Establishment. Those who reached it were true transcendents with lifespans exceeding five hundred years. Half of a millennium was an immense span of time—long enough that most nations would struggle to endure it. The thought of a single living being bearing the weight of such time made it difficult even to imagine how extraordinary they must be.
“The Honored Merchant of Cheongdan, who rules Cheongdan City, is exceptionally generous to rogue cultivators. Cheongdan City is known as a holy land for them, a place ideal for cultivation.”
A holy land for cultivation. As Jin Somyeong murmured those words to himself, his chest stirred for reasons he could not explain. He had a feeling he would go there someday.
“Shopkeeper. Does the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion sell maps as well?”
“Of course we do, but... surely you are not thinking of flying there yourself?”
Of course he was not.
Jin Somyeong could be bold at times, but unless the situation demanded it, he did not take reckless risks. A few hundred li might have been worth attempting, but two thousand li was absurd. Still, without revealing that, he asked in return.
“...Is there a problem?”
“Whew! Good thing I asked out of concern. It seems I have saved a life today.”
The branch manager, exaggerating his relief as though claiming credit, smiled as he spoke.
“Two thousand li is the straight-line distance to Cheongdan City. To actually get there, one must take a tremendous detour. There are also many dangerous zones along the way. With the strength of a Qi Refining cultivator, you would likely die midway.”
“Huh. It is that dangerous?”
“Naturally. To reach Cheongdan City, you must pass through the outer reaches of the Wild Desolation Mountains, and the mountain range is crawling with all sorts of demonic beasts. Foundation Establishment-level demonic beasts are everywhere there. It is an extremely dangerous place.”
Seeing the man shudder as if frightened by the very thought, Jin Somyeong grimaced.
One never knew what the world might bring. If the worst-case scenario occurred, he would have no choice. If he had to leave as quickly as possible, he had intended to try flying there himself, but now it seemed impossible.
“Shopkeeper. I have heard that the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion is a large merchant association connected to other regions as well. Is that correct?”
“Pardon? Yes, that is correct...”
The branch manager looked puzzled by the sudden question and the shift in tone. Jin Somyeong asked in a subtle voice,
“Then you must also have means of transport to other regions.”
“Ah, well...”
He had not thought it a particularly difficult question, yet the answer came slowly. After hesitating for some reason, the branch manager sighed and said,
“Sir, you wish to take one of our Heavenly Treasure Pavilion transport ships to Cheongdan City, don’t you? Haa... It is possible. If you pay five hundred Spirit Stones.”
“...Five hundred?”
Jin Somyeong’s expression hardened at the outrageous price gouging. Why was it so expensive? Five hundred Spirit Stones was a fortune that ordinary low-level cultivators could not even dream of possessing.
“The truth is, we have no choice either. Traveling to another city is extremely difficult and dangerous. We must be responsible for your safety, so naturally it is costly.”
The branch manager himself seemed to feel guilty. After offering excuses Jin Somyeong had not even asked for, he glanced around. Then, as if sharing gossip, he whispered quietly,
“And the most important reason is... those above do not particularly like low-level cultivators moving freely.”
“Ah.”
With that added remark, the whole situation became clear. On Earth as well, serfs and other laborers had once been prevented from leaving as they pleased. Labor itself was a kind of property.
“I understand. I will not be leaving immediately, so just give me the map for now. I’ll come find you later with the Spirit Stones.”
“Hahaha. Excellent. Just say the word whenever you wish, sir. I will arrange a place for you on a transport ship.”
Spirit Stones really were wonderful. Leaving behind the exceedingly kind shopkeeper, who had come all the way to the door to bow him out, Jin Somyeong strolled through the market.
I’ve found a retreat route. If things go wrong, I can leave.
The important matter now was finding a way to escape from directly under the nose of a Foundation Establishment old monster. Frankly, the moment he became the target of a Foundation Establishment great cultivator, he judged his chances of surviving intact to be low—but there was no harm in preparing.
If I pour Boundless Great Ability into the Flame Concealment Art, which I’ve already trained to the Skilled stage... would it work on a Foundation Establishment cultivator?
If his stealth art worked, then even a single moment of distraction might create a chance to flee. He wanted to test it, but that was impossible. There were no kindly seniors around who would conveniently cooperate with his intentions.
“Ah, forget it.”
What could not be done could not be done. He brushed away his regret and decided to be satisfied with simply doing his best.
As he wandered through the market, he looked around for items that might aid in an escape.
“Poison Smoke Bombs?”
At one shop, he found something rather useful. The cultivator sitting at the counter grinned and said,
“You’ve got a good eye. When that Poison Smoke Bomb explodes, it spreads a thick poisonous smoke across a radius of three zhang. Perfect for escaping in a dangerous moment.”
“Hm. If it’s poisonous smoke, wouldn’t it be dangerous to me as well?”
“Of course you have to take the antidote. If you inhale the poison without it, your dantian will harden solid, so handle it carefully. I’ll sell it together with the antidote for twenty Spirit Stones.”
“It disappears after one use. That is too expensive. If it’s ten Spirit Stones, I’ll buy two bundles.”
“...Thirty-five for two bundles.”
Only after a long bout of haggling was the deal finally concluded. Jin Somyeong stored the Poison Smoke Bombs in his subspace with satisfaction.
By itself, this would not work on a Foundation Establishment old monster, but if he piled up enough similar items, who could say?
His eyes gleaming, he diligently roamed the market. If something seemed useful, he bought it without hesitation.
By the time the sun set and the sky was stained with dusk, Jin Somyeong, having finished his transactions, clicked his tongue. The Spirit Stones he had worked so hard to gather were almost completely gone.
Ten Spirit Stones a day isn’t a small income, but I’ve already spent it all.
Money, it seemed, was useless no matter how much one had. The more one earned, the more one spent.
For reference, So Yo-gwang’s storage pouch, which he had obtained this time, had been completely empty, so Jin Somyeong had simply fed it to Simsangbigyeong. The man had been a pauper. It was a clear sign of just how harshly Beom Chang had treated him.
...Should I grow the mine further?
In truth, there was no need to agonize over it. If it were possible, Jin Somyeong naturally wanted to do so. But there was one problem.
The Spirit Stone mine has reached the limit of first-rank low-grade.
The information system he had created—his status window—provided that message, and he could only sigh.
Originally, the mine had been fine with only a small investment of Spirit Stones. Slowly but steadily, it had grown. But...
To grow the mine to first-rank middle-grade, 1,000 Spirit Stones are required.
Breaking through a grade was different. As if the mine were a cultivator advancing realms, certain conditions were necessary.
I have to invest a thousand Spirit Stones all at once.
To gather a thousand Spirit Stones, he would have to avoid spending a single one for one hundred days. Of course, that was not easy. Everything else aside, he could not reduce the expense of cultivation pills or cave dwelling rent.
This was an important period. He could not afford to slow his cultivation speed even slightly. If he wanted to surpass his competitors in the Red Cloud Secret Realm and obtain a Foundation Establishment spiritual object, he needed strength.
In a fight with one’s life on the line, the smallest margin decided survival or death. No one knew what result that tiny missing step might bring. If he did not want regrets, he had to do his utmost. If he missed this chance, the next secret realm would not open for another thirty years.
...No. It’s not as if there’s no way.
A decent idea suddenly occurred to him. He had a wealthy slave named Beom Chang. If he needed a thousand Spirit Stones, he could simply squeeze them out of that fellow.
He has plenty of Spirit Stones, so it should be fine. And frankly, the fact that he’s richer than his master is irritating.
With this method, he would not have to spend a hundred days painstakingly saving Spirit Stones. His cultivation would not slow either, making it the perfect solution.
Of course, Beom Chang would hate it, but that was not particularly important.