Chapter 343: Sixteen Years Old, a Fortune of Hundreds of Millions of Spirit Stones

Blazing treasure-light, dazzling everywhere, no end in sight.

"First-tier spirit metal…"

Jiang Ding's eyes fell first on the spirit metals piled like mountains—first-tier spirit copper, spirit iron, spirit silver, heaped into peaks, all already refined, not raw ore.

"First-tier spirit metal—gold, silver, copper, iron, all present—roughly several hundred thousand jin, worth twenty million low-grade spirit stones, of limited use to high-tier cultivators."

"Still, I won't complain."

Jiang Ding waved his hand, and the newly upgraded storage jade pendant swept up every last bit of spirit metal, not a single hair left behind.

"First-tier spirit herbs… a vast quantity, worth over thirty million low-grade spirit stones."

"Four thousand two hundred dharma artifacts—low, mid, and high grade all present… ten million low-grade spirit stones."

"First-tier spirit wood… eight million low-grade spirit stones."

"Stash it, stash it, stash it…"

Jiang Ding's magic power poured entirely into the storage jade pendant; it took a full thirty percent of his magic power just to pack all these first-tier spirit ores piled into several great mountains of first-tier spirit materials inside.

The vast demon nation's treasury suddenly looked far emptier.

Without pausing for breath, he hurried toward the deeper reaches of the vault.

There were far fewer items here—less than one percent of the previous vault's quantity—but the spiritual light was far more dazzling; any single treasure's aura was at least ten times that of the previous vault.

"All second-tier—spirit metal, spirit herbs, spirit wood, beast hides, top-grade dharma artifacts, and so on."

"Worth… fifty million low-grade spirit stones. The quantity is much smaller, of course, but for high-tier cultivators it's far more useful than the mountains of stuff from before."

Jiang Ding's eyes lit up; without even a careful count, he packed it all up and took it away.

The final layer—he stepped inside with anticipation.

This was what was truly useful to him, not mere wealth.

Boom!

The Taiqing flying sword shot out amid a burst of air, azure sword-light weaving in all directions, the meaning of annihilation spreading, shattering the last remaining restrictive formations, which crumbled into streams of spiritual light and dispersed.

Jiang Ding held his breath and stepped into the final demon nation's vault.

Not many items—three treasures, all low-grade treasures: a flying sword, a fire-jade shield, and a fiery-red jade hairpin. Together worth over ten million low-grade spirit stones, but their trade priority is very high—low-grade spirit stones can't actually buy treasures, so this is only a reference price.

Over ten thousand kilograms of third-tier spirit metal.

"There's actually third-tier Poison Flow Silver, already refined, over a thousand kilograms."

Jiang Ding's spirit lifted: "There may be a Poison Flow Silver vein nearby, and far richer than the Lanshan spirit mine—this is just one region after all…"

"Could this world hold abundant Poison Flow Silver reserves?"

"Then it's at least a strategic-grade minor world!"

He stashed it, carefully placing it in the deepest part of the storage jade pendant, separated from the other items.

"Over two thousand kilograms of Void Crystal Copper—I'm rich."

A look of delight crossed Jiang Ding's face as he waved his hand and stashed it.

These were all crucial raw materials for the coating of Sky warships; he had traded third-tier spirit herbs and the like at the Immortal Gate, and after all that had only managed to get over three hundred kilograms—far from enough.

"It looks a bit like the Void Crystal Copper from the Jiu Tian Mi Jing… no, it's from the very same mine."

Jiang Ding's divine sense carefully scanned these Void Crystal Copper pieces, and he finally confirmed: "It must have been dug out by the Hundred Ghosts and brought to the demon nation to trade—raw souls, third-tier spirit herbs, that sort of thing."

"If he traded that much, he definitely has more."

"I'll find a chance to kill the Hundred Ghosts. His clone actually dared to threaten me, a kind and innocent young man—truly the height of evil."

The rest were relatively ordinary third-tier spirit ores—third-tier spirit copper, third-tier spirit iron, and the like.

"The main materials for three high-grade treasures can all be obtained now."

Jiang Ding Zi muttered to himself, hands moving swiftly, quickly stashing some thirty-plus third-tier spirit herbs, two third-tier beast hides, seven third-tier spell talismans, and over a hundred demon-race and human-race Gong Fa.

His divine sense spread out, carefully scanning the entire demon-race vault—only bare walls remained, not a single spirit stone left.

"Wait, that big gate is made of pretty good material—should be worth a low-grade treasure's price."

Jiang Ding recalled something, went to the entrance, and stashed the flame gate.

All the gains tallied up.

"Over one hundred sixty million low-grade spirit stones!"

"Such are the accumulated riches of the Master Tushan demon nation over the years."

"So rich."

Jiang Ding exclaimed in wonder.

"Of course, I'm talking about yours truly."

He walked out of the empty Master Tushan vault and into the equally empty demon palace. The stench of blood hit him—rubble and broken walls everywhere, sealed off by formations, with no effect on the scenes beyond the demon palace.

"Greetings, Little Martial Uncle-Grandmaster."

Han Lin, who had been sitting cross-legged wearing down the restrictions, rose and said respectfully.

"Mm."

Jiang Ding nodded.

He collected the storage bags from the surrounding demon-race maidservants, piled them into a small mountain—worth roughly seven or eight hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones—and tossed every last one to Han Lin.

"A gift for you."

"Also,"

He took out a blank jade slip, carved into it the map of the Spiritless Gobi obtained from the Liu Dao Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator's mind, and tossed it over as well: "You want to leave this Pian Xiu Xian Gao Jie? Safe travels."

"This…"

Han Lin took the storage bags and jade slip; a warm feeling welled up in his heart, and he didn't know what to say.

Since his grandfather's death, wandering the jianghu, wandering the Cultivation World, he had never felt such pure kindness—nearly a million low-grade spirit stones, handed over without a second glance.

And never covet the opportunities I obtain.

Jade Spirit True Person saw through some things, and this even stronger green-robed youth surely could as well, yet asked nothing.

Perhaps he simply looked down on it.

A peerless sword-path prodigy who slays a Jin Dan in mid Foundation Establishment — what pride he must carry; how could he possibly covet someone else's opportunity?

Han Lin gave a wry laugh in his heart, but felt far more reassured. He cupped his hands and said solemnly, "Many thanks, Little Grandmaster!"

"No need. You also served to draw some attention, so taking a share of the spoils is only right — no thanks required."

"Leave now. A late-stage Jin Dan fox demon may appear here. Don't get caught again."

Jiang Ding waved his hand.

"Yes."

Han Lin's expression tightened. He concealed his figure and left without looking back.

"Your magic power is somewhat thin and unstable. If you wish to form a Core, you would do best to change your Gong Fa, or seek methods and pills that can purify and condense magic power — otherwise you won't even pass the first hurdle of Core Formation."

"Take care of yourself."

"Thank you, Little Grandmaster!"

Han Lin's heart jolted.

This was his first brush with knowledge on the level of Core Formation, and he could not help feeling a little apprehensive, worried about his own future.

Fortunately, a Foundation Establishment cultivator's lifespan is two hundred and fifty years — there is still time.

He drew in a deep breath, and soon left the demon city, vanishing from sight.

Jiang Ding closed his eyes and took control of the Three-Turn Fire Element Array of Tushan Demon City.

Every scene within the city appeared vividly before him, imprinted into his divine soul.

The clamor of vendors, the laughter of demon children; a bear demon mother cradling her cub, a snake demon mother coiled around her eggs, a bull demon mother licking her calf; a sturdy bull demon father returning from chopping spirit-wood, buying a pill, and handing it to his young calf son.

By a pool of water, a pair of resplendently colorful, breathtakingly gorgeous male and female five-colored Kong Que danced gracefully, their affection for each other endless and tender.

At an arena, two brothers — a bear demon and a bull demon — slit their wrists, lit incense to sacrifice to the demon gods, kowtowed, and with surging emotion swore that they did not seek to be born on the same year, month, and day, but only to die on the same year, month, and day.

……

Scenes such as these — kinship, friendship, love.

The feelings could not be more real. They were no longer ignorant beasts, but a kind of intelligent race; many of the emotions between them drew one in so deeply that one nearly wept.

"But,"

Jiang Ding Zi murmured, and a wisp of killing intent spread outward.

"Why must you eat people?"

"Is my human race truly so easy to bully?"

The bear demon mother, warm and loving as she cradled her child, tore off a thigh bone of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old human — one who had just officially come of age — and fed it to her own young;

The snake demon mother, while incubating her eggs, stretched out her neck and swallowed an entire human youth whole to replenish her nourishment;

The sacrifice the bear demon and bull demon had sworn to each other as sworn brothers was nine roasted human infants, bought at great expense, their fragrance wafting through the air.

"Since that is what you believe, then all of you shall die."

"The reputation of slaying the weak — I shall bear it myself, with no need for any hypocritical concealment."

Hum!

The Three-Turn Fire Element Array began to operate. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a dozen or so kilometers gathered, converging into streaks of fire spears, fire swords, fire blades, falling with clear targets toward every non-human mark.

The firelight was bright; even in broad daylight, it could be seen clearly within dozens of kilometers.

To be continued tonight

(End of chapter)