Chapter 348: The Struggle for Resources

Yan Buji has always planned before acting, and the changes of the Dragon People will not affect his plan.

On the contrary, one could say that the better Wang Chao and his group perform, the fewer troubles he will have.

Since troubles arise from all sides, if Wang Chao and his group can resolve them in advance and set the Dragon People on the right track, then he only needs to deal with Wang Chao and his group.

Before that, he still needs to further boost his strength.

Since he began his seclusion, a full three years have passed.

During that period, many events occurred among the Dragon People; Wang Man came to see Yan Buji several times, but Yan Buji, sealed in his seclusion, gave no response.

When Yan Buji reverse‑engineered the Dao‑martial techniques he had previously acquired, he finally discovered a body‑refining profound skill suited to him.

"Immovable Technique."

Yan Buji steadied his mind and began cultivation.

Ordinary body‑refining martial arts often require prolonged forging of the flesh to succeed; Yan Buji already possessed the foundations of Dragon‑chant Golden Bell Shield and Tiger‑roar Iron Cloth Garment, so this Immovable Technique borrows the exquisite elements of those two arts, blends them with his reverse‑engineered profound skill, and creates a new body‑refining profound skill!

Mountains roar, seas surge, yet remain immovable.

There is also the notion that fate is woven like a tapestry, implying a rock‑solid immovability, and the idea is sound, but the cultivation of the Immovable Technique proves rather difficult.

For a full two years, Yan Buji was stuck in the crucial internal organ refinement.

True Essence permeates the organs like a stream, but the pace is far too slow, and he has no other means.

The essence of the Immovable Technique lies in meticulously refining internal and external defenses, so the inward‑to‑outward approach is correct; otherwise one would be like a person clad in iron skin, easily sustaining internal injuries when struck by gravity.

Once the water‑grinding phase passes, the external refinement becomes much simpler.

After four years, Yan Buji finally mastered the Immovable Technique; it was the only time he cultivated a Martial Dao Profound Skill so slowly, but it was also his first attempt at creating a profound skill himself, and succeeding is not a loss.

With the Immovable Technique integrated into his profound‑skill system, Yan Buji's strength rose again.

Next came the cultivation of the soul.

At this step, Yan Buji had no good reference method; although he possessed the Resonance Chapter of Magical Cultivation, it is impossible to forge the soul through that chapter, because the Resonance Chapter is only a Foundation Establishment Stage technique.

The soul pertains to the Core Formation Stage and above; no matter how profound a Foundation Establishment Stage technique is, it cannot directly provide a method for its cultivation.

However, the method for refining spiritual awareness gave Yan Buji great inspiration.

As his Martial Dao path repeatedly broke realms and his power surged, Yan Buji opened his eyes.

"Cannot rush."

The cultivation path shuns haste and shortcuts; it requires a balanced rhythm, and forcing oneself to break through the Golden Core Stage too quickly is unrealistic.

Having been in seclusion for years and still unaware of the outside situation, Yan Buji intends to go out for a walk.

Leaving his residence, Yan Buji noticed fewer Dragon People gambling nearby; most Dragon People were clad in armor and bearing weapons, hurrying through the Ten‑Thousand Dragon Palace, their business unknown.

Yan Buji looked around and asked, "Do you know where Wang Man is?"

"Wang Man? You... he is in that casino over there."

"Thanks."

A few Dragon People, seeing Yan Buji leave, whispered, "Isn't that the one from a few years ago..."

"Right, I thought it was him; he seems to have finished his seclusion?"

"Such a strong aura, he must already be at the Core Formation Stage, right?"

"But why is he out now? I heard he was the guy who previously refined the Grain‑Avoiding Pill for us!"

"Whoa, can we ask him for some Grain‑Avoiding Pill? I still can't forget its taste!"

Years later, the Grain‑Avoiding Pills Yan Buji forged had long been exhausted, and the Grain‑Avoiding Pills within the Dragon People are far less enticing than the old ones.

However, the Dragon People have improved greatly; after Wang Chao and his group set the rules, most Dragon People gradually developed the habit of independently cultivating and venturing out to hunt.

Coupled with the spreading Dragon People reproductive secret method, the entire Dragon People have increased by over a thousand in just a few years!

When Yan Buji arrived at the casino and saw Wang Man, who had regained Golden Core strength, he smiled, "How have you been lately?"

"You've emerged? Congratulations! You've become stronger." Wang Man sensed Yan Buji's formidable aura and was startled.

In just a few short years, to leap from the Foundation Establishment Stage to near the later Core Formation Stage is truly remarkable.

"He must be cultivating Martial Dao, right? Such a rapid breakthrough?"

Wang Man looked at Yan Buji and said, "You finally emerged; during this time Wang Chao and his group have almost transformed the entire Dragon People."

"I've seen it; what about the specifics?"

Wang Man thought for a moment and began from the very start.

The biggest problem of the Dragon People is combating the tide of laziness; essentially, it is about stimulating them into action.

With the Grain‑Avoiding Pill 'Jade Before the Pearl', Wang Chao and others seemed to have also devised methods to spur the Dragon People into activity; after the Dragon People got used to daily cultivation and hunting, those methods were gradually withdrawn.

Moreover, to ensure the Dragon People's combat power, any Dragon Person who reaches the Foundation Establishment Stage must undergo trials at the Dead Volcano mouth.

Internally, the reward system is generous. Resources for cultivation before the Foundation Establishment Stage are handled entirely by Wang Chao's group; after that stage, one must venture out to find them, though completing the tasks they assign also yields rewards.

These include Spiritual Material, spiritual awareness, and even the ability to exchange for Accumulation Devices!

"So, Long Batian is still an artificer?" Yan Buji asked curiously.

"Indeed, precisely because there are abundant First‑Tier Accumulation Devices, the Dead Volcano mouth isn't that dangerous for the current Dragon People. But the resources are limited, so they likely plan to venture deeper to seek more resources," Wang Man frowned.

"If we don't act, the resources will be under their control, and we fear....."

Yan Buji smiled, "I know where the resources are; if you have time, bring some people and come with me for a trip."

"Huh?" Wang Man was stunned, "Aren't you in seclusion? How could that be....."

"Remember, it's not only they who wish the Dragon People to improve," Yan Buji said with a smile.

Yan Buji's words were ambiguous, leaving Wang Man uncertain about who else might be assisting him.

"Then may I ask what the resources are?"

"One Spiritual Stone vein, and two Mystic Heavy Water veins."

"Is... that really true?!"

Of course, as long as we control the Spiritual Stone mine, cultivation is not a problem; as long as we have the Xuanzhong Water Vein, raising Spiritual Material and Spiritual Herb is also not a problem. Since there is no problem with cultivation, why would they contend with us?

Indeed! As long as we release the news, we can definitely....

No, this matter must be taken slowly. That place is not safe, and if they happen to learn the location, we might not be able to endure it. Once I break through the Golden Core stage, everything will be easy to discuss. Yan Buji said lightly.