Chapter 706: Mine Area

After finishing instructing the disciples, Yan Buji went to the sect's main hall to look for He Yun.

Many things had happened in the secret realm before; even if Yan Buji didn't want to inquire further, he would surely find out soon.

This idea came from the fact that Sect Master He Yun often talked with him about more high-level topics.

"Hall Master Yan?"

"\"Greetings, Sect Master. \" Yan Buji said, clasping his fists."

He Yun nodded and smiled: "\"It seems your cultivation has been going well lately. \""

"\"Thank you for your concern, Sect Master. I came this time to ask.... \""

"\"I don't know what's going on with the patriarch either. \" He Yun didn't let Yan Buji finish, shaking his head directly: \"Moreover, the matters concerning the patriarch and Jianfan Fairy are not for us to know. But you can rest assured—if someone doesn't want you to do something, naturally someone else will want you to do it. \""

Yan Buji's face looked strange: \"Sect Master, I didn't come to ask about this.... \""

"\"Ah? Then what do you want to ask? \""

"\"Regarding the Youming Jie trade, I've noticed some problems with the sect's recent resource sales, so I want to discuss it with you, Sect Master. \""

"\"A problem? \" He Yun looked at Yan Buji strangely: \"What problem? \""

"\"The problem lies in the trade between the sect and the Merchant Guild. \" Yan Buji said: \"The total inflow of Youming Jie spiritual materials into the market hasn't changed, but our sect's income seems to have decreased a lot compared to before. Sect Master, are you aware of this? \""

"\"Really? \" He Yun frowned: \"How do you know? \""

"\"It can be seen from the sect's recent expenditure items and the conversion of contribution points; the conversion method is roughly like this.... \" Yan Buji related what he had heard inside the sect, then made a basic calculation."

"\"If there were no other expenses, the value of contribution points within the sect should be stabilizing, but I've heard lately that contribution points are becoming less and less valuable. \" Yan Buji said anxiously."

He Yun fell silent, not saying much more.

Seeing He Yun like that, Yan Buji instinctively thought he believed Yan Buji wanted to attack Li Wan Hua, who oversees the Foreign Trade Hall, and said: \"Sect Master, could it be that the sect has other matters.... \""

"\"Indeed there is, though I didn't expect it to affect the disciples so much. \" He Yun waved his hands, and a scroll suddenly appeared in his hand."

"\"Take a look. \""

"\"May I ask, Sect Master, what is this scroll? \""

"\"Although our sect has recently finished reconstruction, aside from normal operations there are many places that need funding; thus relying solely on the Youming Jie trade is not enough. \""

Yan Buji thought carefully, took the scroll and examined it closely. The content shocked him greatly, and he hurriedly asked:

"\"Sect Master, is what's written here true? \""

"\"Correct, it has been investigated. \""

"\"But I, your subordinate, have a question; please Sect Master, clarify it. \" Yan Buji said."

"\"Speak. \""

Yan Buji clasped his fists and said: \"Sect Master, as far as I know, the initial investment of resources for mining a vein is indeed huge, let alone this auction-style vein resource; even if there really is ore inside, who can determine how much ore is actually there? \""

The scroll in Yan Buji's hand turned out to be an auction invitation for mining resource information, and judging by its level it was quite high—certainly not something a cultivator of Yan Buji's standing should know.

However, since He Yun was willing to mention this to him, he must also have his considerations.

"\"Because this is a semi-public auction, the invitees don't know how much resource each auction point holds, so we need a highly skilled geomancer to go to the site and observe before we can know. \" He Yun said."

"\"Sect Master, you also understand geomancy? \" Yan Buji exclaimed."

Although most cultivators have some understanding of yin-yang and the eight trigrams, cultivation-related matters often cannot be calculated using simple five-element eight-trigram theory; experts in this profound field are hard to find, because few specialize in studying this esotericism, most focusing on their own cultivation.

Such geomancer cultivators are very rare, with little transmission; only major sects and clans might be able to gather some geomantic inheritance, but no one would delve deeply into research.

He Yun shook his head: \"I only know a little, but I indeed hired a geomancer to take a look; after confirming there were no problems, I used the sect's resources to prepare to bid on and mine a vein. \""

Yan Buji hesitated a bit; truly speaking, investing in mineral resources is certainly extremely risky, but the profits are definitely substantial.

"\"Since the Sect Master has already made preparations, there's nothing more to say. \" Yan Buji smiled."

"\"What do you think needs attention when mining a vein? \""

"\"This.... \" Yan Buji thought: \"The main points are estimating the ore reserves and recruiting miners, as well as subsequent refining and smelting, etc.; opening the market is actually a later matter. \""

He Yun nodded: \"If that's the case, once the vein is purchased, you will be in charge of this then, how about that? \""

"\"I am willing to serve the Sect Master! \""

Yan Buji didn't feel this task was particularly arduous; on the contrary, if managed well, it could also be a considerable fortune."

But the premise is that if the sect's initial investment fails to yield long-term returns, it could end up losing big."

Just after leaving the sect's main hall, Yan Buji saw several people walking over."

"\"Hall Master Yan! \""

Yan Buji looked at them, raised his eyebrows: \"Hall Master Zhou, what are you.... \""

Zhou Wan'an and the others exchanged glances, smiling: \"Hall Master Yan, I already knew. \""

"\"Huh? \""

"\"What do you know? \""

"\"Stop pretending, Hall Master Yan; didn't the Sect Master say he's preparing to purchase a vein? And you just went to the main hall—doesn't that mean the Sect Master intends to entrust this to you? \" Zhou Wan'an laughed."

"\"Your news is truly well-informed. \" Yan Buji laughed; he had only just heard from the Sect Master about this, yet these people, with their dog-like sniffing, came up on their own."

Zhou Wan'an laughed, lowering his voice: \"Hall Master Yan, find a place to chat? \""

"\"Sure. \""

After all, the people who first cooperated with me were them; now developing the vein is too much for me alone, so having some help wouldn't be bad."

Soon, Yan Buji was invited to a small courtyard in the Transmitting Skills Hall, where a group of hall masters surrounded him, gazing at him intently."

Zhou Wan'an asked first: \"Hall Master Yan, did the Sect Master tell you about this mining area? \""

"\"Indeed he did; the Sect Master intends to bid on a vein, but since it hasn't been purchased yet, nothing can be said for sure. \" Yan Buji smiled."

"\"Eh. \" Zhou Wan'an waved his hand: \"Since the Sect Master has this idea, he will surely secure it. Hall Master Yan, what are your thoughts? \""

"\"emmm\""

"\"These people are trying to pump me for information? \""

Yan Buji laughed and said: "The Sect Master actually intends to let me handle this matter, but...."

"But what?" Zhou Wan'an asked anxiously.

"What does this have to do with you all? Aren't the sect's internal affairs enough to keep everyone busy?" Yan Buji laughed.