Chapter 418: Spirit Mine

It was time for the autumn hunt once again.

Marquis Yuan, mindful of old ties, chose the Qinghe Enclosure as the location.

Everything was progressing smoothly, but unfortunately, a Qinghe official went missing during the hunt.

The Annan Garrison sent men to search for them.

Who would have thought they would discover a heaven-shaking secret—a spirit mine.

This matter first reached the ears of Yuan Dingting. The Saint of War immediately dispatched officials to negotiate, only then learning that the one occupying the spirit mine was none other than the Qingwei Sect.

Thus, officials were sent to negotiate.

Soon after, the Wu Kingdom also became aware of it.

The three parties were now in a state of chaotic dispute.

Simply put, the Ten Thousand Mountains had become a complete mess!

Yet these events had absolutely nothing to do with Li Rui, an official stationed at the Qingwei Sect.

He had returned to Changqing Peak several days prior.

He appeared to have no involvement in the matter whatsoever.

"Li Laoge, those fellows from the Qingwei Sect hid it deep indeed; they actually discovered a spirit mine!"

Ning Zhongtian said, clicking his tongue.

He had already told Li Rui.

Both were cultivating in the Qingwei Sect, so naturally, they understood the importance of a spirit mine.

It would be no exaggeration to call it the foundation of a nation and a sect.

"If that person hadn't accidentally stumbled into the formation, we would still be kept in the dark."

Li Rui listened while sitting in meditation.

Accidentally?

Of course not.

After he, Yao Xue, and He Qiannian discovered the spirit mine that day, they did not choose to break in alone, but decisively chose to report it.

Only then did this autumn hunt come to be.

As for the missing person, that had all been deliberately arranged.

It was merely a pretext for fighting over the spirit mine.

Or rather, this autumn hunt was held for the sake of the spirit mine.

Why else would Marquis Yuan Dingting of Annan still be staying at the Qinghe Enclosure even after the hunt had ended? He was clearly there to provide backing.

"Fourth Brother, does Lord Zhou have any arrangements?"

Li Rui asked.

The person responsible for the spirit mine negotiations on behalf of the Yu Kingdom was none other than Zhou Dinghai.

Ning Zhongtian: "General Zhou says it is time for Li Laoge to make an appearance."

Li Rui nodded.

He was the bridge between the Yu imperial court and the Qingwei Sect; he certainly could not escape this matter.

But negotiation was still better than slaughter.

There was little danger.

Moreover, the three parties had already held several rounds of private negotiations before this.

Just as Li Rui and Ning Zhongtian were speaking, a man's loud laughter came from outside the courtyard.

"Brother Li, you truly are my good brother, my own blood brother!"

One listen, and he knew it was Sang Kong.

Sang Kong was grinning so wide his mouth was nearly reaching his ears.

He was truly in high spirits from the good news.

It was he who tipped off the Wu Kingdom about the spirit mine, but the reason he knew was due to Li Rui's guidance.

He had gained a massive merit for nothing!

Relying on this merit, he might even have a chance to be promoted to a Proper Second-Rank.

After all, that was a spirit mine!

It was said that even the Third Princess, who had married far away, was paying close attention to this matter.

There was no such thing as a sinecure at the Proper Second-Rank; those were all top-tier big shots.

How could he not be happy?

"Brother Sang."

Li Rui walked out the door and cupped his hands from a distance.

The matter of the spirit mine was too large.

It would be difficult for the Yu Kingdom alone to gain an advantage while dealing with the Qingwei Sect, but if the Wu Kingdom were also dragged in...

Even the Qingwei Sect would have no choice but to bow their heads.

This was called giving up.

Only by giving up can one gain.

It was impossible for the Yu Kingdom to swallow it alone, so it was better to settle for the next best thing.

Li Rui had also gained a massive favor from Sang Kong for nothing.

Sang Kong: "Brother Li, I heard your General Zhou is almost at the Qingwei Sect. Coincidentally, our Minister Lu has also arrived. Shall we go together?"

Li Rui nodded with a smile:

"That is exactly my intention."

On the matter of the spirit mine, the Yu and Wu Kingdoms were the firmest of allies.

The two descended the mountain.

They waited before the mountain gate for about half an hour.

Afterward, they saw a troop slowly approaching.

The person in the lead was none other than the Yu Kingdom's Commandant, Zhou Dinghai.

Besides Zhou Dinghai, there were several officials who had come from the capital.

"General Zhou."

Li Rui stepped forward to greet him.

Zhou Dinghai looked at Li Rui, his expression one of pure admiration.

Li Rui deserved the primary credit for the spirit mine matter.

"Lord Li."

The smile on Zhou Dinghai's face never faded.

After the greetings, Li Rui informed Zhou Dinghai that Minister Lu from the Wu Kingdom would also be arriving soon.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Dinghai was overjoyed.

He immediately decided to wait at the Qingwei Sect's mountain gate for Minister Lu so they could enter the Qingwei Sect together.

About two quarters of an hour later.

They saw a procession riding various spirit beasts appear among the crowd.

In the lead was an old man in black robes, riding a three-eyed black leopard spirit beast.

It was none other than the Wu Kingdom's Minister of Rites, Lu Xin.

"Lord Lu."

Zhou Dinghai cupped his hands from afar.

Seeing Zhou Dinghai, Lu Xin also revealed a smile: "General Zhou."

The two looked at each other and smiled, understanding each other's intent.

After some pleasantries.

They headed toward the main peak of the Qingwei Sect.

The site for the consultation was chosen in the side hall of the main peak.

When everyone walked into the side hall, seven or eight people were already seated inside.

Li Rui recognized most of them.

Daoist Xuanwei, the eldest disciple of True Person Qing Ding, and the second disciple, Daoist Daoist Xuan Yu, were both there. Besides them, the others were all Elders of the Qingwei Sect.

As for why True Person Qing Ding did not show his face.

Naturally, it was to leave room for maneuver.

The Qingwei Sect could not completely tear their faces off with the Yu and Wu Kingdoms.

As long as True Person Qing Ding did not appear, even if the negotiations fell through today, there would still be room to talk.

The officials of the two kingdoms sat down.

Daoist Xuanwei then spoke: "Everyone has come from afar, it must have been exhausting. We have prepared rooms; you may rest for a few days. The scenery of the Qingwei Sect is quite good."

Zhou Dinghai spoke indifferently: "Many thanks for the hospitality, Daoist Xuanwei."

Lu Xin, opposite him, did the same, cupping his hands without saying anything else.

But while the two did not speak.

Yet the civil officials beside them could not sit still, one by one.

An official from the Court of Diplomatic Reception took the lead in making trouble: "Under the vast heaven, all is the King's land; to the borders of the earth, all are the King's subjects. A spirit mine is a creation of heaven and earth; since it has appeared, it should be shared by the world."

They did not come to the Qingwei Sect for sightseeing; they were there to fight for a share of the spirit mine.

Zhou Dinghai chuckled: "My apologies, Lord Liu has a fiery temper and cannot keep things to himself."

That was what he said.

But Zhou Dinghai had absolutely no intention of stopping him.

Upon hearing this, the Wu Kingdom's civil official also immediately chimed in: "Lord Liu's words are reasonable. A spirit mine is nurtured by heaven and earth; it is a spirit mine for the people of the world."

The several Elders of the Qingwei Sect could not sit still.

You scholars!

Always talking about the people of the world.

Who doesn't know that in the end, the spirit mine will all fall into the hands of the imperial court.

A young Daoist retorted: "The Ten Thousand Mountains are the private property of our Qingwei Sect; this is proven by contract."

"Contract?"

"How come we in the Yu Kingdom have never heard of it."

The young Daoist was furious and nearly slammed the table: "How can you be so thick-skinned and shameless."

The Yu Kingdom's official from the Court of Diplomatic Reception did not blush in the slightest: "Daoist, let us stick to the facts."

Li Rui looked at his nose and his heart, having no intention of participating at all.

Not just him, Zhou Dinghai and the others were the same.

If there was talking to be done, let the people from the Court of Diplomatic Reception do it.

If one didn't know better, they would think they were local ruffians.

Great elegance is great vulgarity.

Arguing has nothing to do with realm or status.

It's all the same.

Zhou Dinghai and the others certainly could not lower their status, which is why they brought the people from the Court of Diplomatic Reception.

This is called leaving professional matters to professionals.

Still the same saying.

As long as they do not enter the fray themselves, even if the two sides start fighting, it does not count as the negotiations falling through.

The negotiations lasted for more than ten days.

Both sides were already arguing until their throats were dry.

This day.

They argued until evening, and it was time to disperse again.

Even though the arguing was fierce.

Daoist Xuanwei still invited the officials of the Yu and Wu Kingdoms to a banquet.

Just as the dishes were served and everyone was preparing to eat.

Daoist Xuanwei suddenly said out of the blue: "Gentlemen, what do you think of dividing the spirit mine into three equal parts?"

The corners of Zhou Dinghai's mouth lifted slightly:

"Agreed."

Lu Xin also chuckled: "Excellent."

The matter was settled.

Those few civil officials who had just argued until they were exhausted were all stunned.

It was over just like that?

More than ten days of wasted breath, and in the end, it was decided in a few words between the big shots.

However, their time spent these days was not entirely wasted.

It was just a necessary process.

The matter was settled.

The subsequent process became much simpler.

Changqing Peak.

Zhou Dinghai looked at Li Rui with a smile:

"The spirit mine needs someone to guard it. You are very suitable; this is also the Emperor's intention."

"By the way, in a few days, the Emperor will send an Imperial Prince to supervise. Be prepared."

Li Rui said with a smile: "The Emperor is wise."

Zhou Dinghai was in a very good mood: "Alright, if I continue to stay at the Qingwei Sect, Xuanwei might not be happy. Very well, I shall descend the mountain first."

Having said that.

Zhou Dinghai truly waved his large sleeves and descended the mountain with the officials from the Court of Diplomatic Reception, who looked like victorious roosters.

The next day.

Li Rui took the lead and brought Ning Zhongtian and the others to the location of the spirit mine.

At this time, the great formation had already been opened at one corner.

After they entered.

They saw a majestic giant peak that had been more than half hollowed out, looking exactly like a mining area from his past life.

Mining spirit stones is not something ordinary laborers can do.

At the very least, one must be in the Fetal Breath Realm and have stepped into the path of immortality to be able to mine.

Hmm... an excellent destination for unemployed students of the Han Sect Daoist Academy.

The treatment for spirit mine miners is not low.

Aside from the hardship, there are no issues.

In fact, the imperial court has already recruited a batch of miners from the five great academies, who were on the road several days ago. Counting the days, they should arrive soon.

Ning Zhongtian looked at the shocking scene before him, feeling the spiritual energy around him that was almost thick enough to be tangible.

Every pore on his body was groaning in comfort.

He grinned: "Li Laoge, you will always be my Li Laoge!"

Wei Ming and Ge Hong were also all smiles.

No other reason.

Who else but their Li Laoge Rui is now the guardian of the spirit mine.

Li Rui walked to the mountainside.

He took a spirit stone that had just been mined from the hands of the miscellaneous disciples.

The spiritual energy contained within it was far purer than the natural spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

With such spirit stones, the speed of cultivation could be increased by several times over.

No wonder it could become the hard currency of the cultivation world.

The corners of Li Rui's mouth lifted slightly.

The position of guardian of the spirit mine, the weight of its authority, is beyond doubt. He was able to obtain this position entirely because he made a great contribution in the spirit mine matter, which is why the Lord of the Dragon Court was willing to give him such an important position.

If he had even the slightest thought of hiding it from the imperial court that day and privately occupying the spirit mine.

What he would be facing now is exile, not holding an important position.

And now.

Things have become much easier.

As an official responsible for guarding the spirit mine, taking some spirit stones to check if they are fake.

This should be very reasonable, right?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 419 =====