Big Data Cultivation-Chapter 1822 - 1824: The Temptation of Tailings (Second Update)
Sister Hong, after learning what Director Si had done, finally agreed to include him in the next nursing list.
As for the fact that the factory only dealt with a deputy director, it’s impossible to say she wasn’t disappointed, but... isn’t it normal practice for the deputy to take the fall?
Sister Hong’s reputation on the street was ruthless, but that was because there were too many ruthless people around who would destroy the body at the slightest provocation. To reduce trouble, she had to be a bit ruthless. However, people in the official government had their own rules of conduct.
Beauty Lin was also watching Luohua’s response. In her view, such incidents could flesh out the image of Feng Jun.
After learning the results, she couldn’t help but murmur, "Has... Feng Jun’s heart softened?"
She didn’t know that Sister Hong was fully responsible for the matter. In her view, the other side only dealt with one deputy, and Feng Jun let it go lightly, which was quite lenient.
Her evaluation of Feng Jun wasn’t wrong. The current Feng Jun really had a very strong aura. While he wasn’t as ruthless as Sister Hong during his time at Hongjie, he was absolutely more ruthless now.
For one, he had witnessed too much slaughter, and his status had changed. Anyone daring to provoke him must pay an extremely heavy price. There’s no helping it; this is growth.
When Director Si came, Shangguan Shenxue also arrived. With two eyesores appearing together, Feng Jun couldn’t be bothered to pay attention anymore.
In fact, he had something more important to focus on now—the Earth Spirit had finally absorbed the Earth Veins of the Alps Mountains.
When the Earth Veins were absorbed, he specifically went to take a look and could clearly feel that the Earth Veins were weakened. But because of Xiao Huang’s modification, even though the Earth Veins were obviously weakened, there was still a faint vitality in the weakness.
Over two hundred thousand square kilometers of restored Earth Veins were indeed extraordinary.
The Earth Spirit took ten days to absorb the Earth Veins, and Feng Jun couldn’t help but marvel: professionals are still professionals, even when they’re like vampires, they are quite gentle.
Returning to Luohua afterward, he made a similar request to the Earth Spirit: Be careful when modifying the Earth Veins here, so as not to affect the existing buildings and terrain.
"That’s no problem," the Earth Spirit answered without hesitation, as it was very confident in this operation, "I mainly work downwards, so I said three months... However, I still need Spirit Stones, fifty pieces a day."
Feng Jun didn’t argue with it, "That’s ninety thousand Spirit Stones. You still owe me one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones. I won’t give you more, just that hundred and fifty thousand, and you get this place fixed up for me with tiered isolation... can you do it?"
"I really can’t do that; it requires a formation," the Earth Spirit initially refused, then added after a thought, "But if you can prepare the formation materials, I can help set up the formation."
"Heh," Feng Jun chuckled softly, then spoke after a moment of silence, "Okay, list the formation materials you need."
Upon hearing the chuckle, the Earth Spirit felt a little unnerved, "Okay, I’ll give you the list right away... Why did you just laugh?"
"I was laughing at your good luck," Feng Jun replied casually, "If you didn’t know how to set up a formation, I really would have been disappointed. Some benefits... might have gone to someone else."
The Earth Spirit was moved by these words, "What benefits?"
Feng Jun pondered for a moment and thought it wouldn’t hurt to tell it, "Like Spirit Stone tailings... Well, I’m not entirely sure, but it’s worth a try."
"Spirit Stone tailings?" The Earth Spirit’s eyes lit up. Although it was a Spiritual Body, its eyes truly shone at this moment. "Really? Um, I’m not doubting, I just... want to take a look, I’m very good at mining Spirit Stones!"
Feng Jun gave it a sideways glance, "Never let the Earth Spirit mine Spirit Stones... Do you think I don’t understand this taboo?"
"That’s a misconception!" The Earth Spirit was quite agitated, "You can ask around, for great powers above the Emergence Stage, whose Spirit Stones are not mined with the help of an Earth Spirit? Sheesh, if a Spirit Stone Mine is barren, don’t just blame the Earth Spirit... we’ve become the scapegoat."
"This was verified by a senior at the Divine Spirit Stage," Feng Jun stated flatly, "What are you trying to test me on?"
The saying "never let the Earth Spirit mine a Spirit Stone Mine" was present in the Kunhao Plane, but he indeed had asked the Yin Spirit bigwig, who said it’s best not to let an Earth Spirit near a Spirit Stone Mine as it’s truly hard to guard against.
Moreover, the bigwig impatiently said, "The formation I lent you works great, much better than an Earth Spirit."
"A great power at the Divine Spirit Stage?" The Earth Spirit was momentarily dazed. Having been on this plane for so long, it had indeed underestimated Feng Jun’s thoughts, but it wasn’t sure if this was a strategy of the other party.
Anyway, it absolutely didn’t want to be sold to a Metal Cultivator. This intentional or inadvertent test was actually a concern over its own development prospects. Hearing that the other party actually knew a great power at the Divine Spirit Stage, it couldn’t help but be startled, "Is it the one at White Pebble Beach?"
It always remembered encountering a peculiar and enormous crisis before.
"You don’t need to know that," Feng Jun answered unceremoniously, "You work hard, and I’ll consider you for the Spirit Stone tailings."
A mined-out deposit is called tailings. When a Spirit Stone Mine is exhausted, it’s not completely worthless. There’s a possibility, theoretically speaking, for overlooked Spirit Stones.
Moreover, the soil associated with the Spirit Stone Mine often contains a significant amount of Spiritual Energy. Not to mention, locations that can produce Spirit Stone Mines certainly have this and that anomaly, and in most cases, Earth vein anomalies are inevitable.
Even if the Earth vein was not anomalous before, the prolonged presence of a Spirit Stone Mine will naturally generate anomalous veins.
It’s worth noting, Feng Jun discovered the Spirit Stone Mine in the sea by following the Earth vein to sense it.
Generally speaking, the tailings of a Spirit Stone Mine have substantial utility value; for instance, converting it into Spirit Fields or Spirit Plant gardens, where the soil’s abundant Spiritual Energy can enhance land yield.
If properly managed, over time, Spirit Stone tailings can transform into Spirit Land. Of course, this demands substantial effort for maintenance, along with lengthy nurturing.
However, handing Spirit Stone tailings over to Earth Spirits for processing is a final plundering. The soil’s Spiritual Energy will be absorbed, and the Earth vein will be extracted. For most cultivators, this is a one-time deal, and not very advisable.
Just like how Earth Spirit suggested investing 3.6 million at the Alps Mountains, repairing the Earth vein for slow extraction. Cultivation should also consider sustainable development. Using tailings for Earth Spirit absorption seems somewhat wasteful.
Furthermore, tailings as a resource are generally fortuitous. Many Spirit Stone Mines remain undiscovered, numerous ones are currently being mined, but mined-out tailings have practically found their use.
Earth Spirit heard Feng Jun say earlier about rewarding good performance. Although it dare not have high expectations, it can’t help but wonder what this pauper might offer it.
It speculated various things, like perhaps mid-grade Spirit Stones—which are the most practical—or perhaps resting in a high-rank Earth vein—but that pauper probably can’t provide such service—or maybe... granting a decent location to let it rest and thrive?
Regardless, Spirit Stone tailings are evidently more valuable than mid-grade Spirit Stones, already exceeding its expectations.
So it itched for more information, "Are you pulling my leg?"
Feng Jun lit a cigarette, speaking leisurely, "I permit you to reorganize your words."
Then Earth Spirit decisively changed the topic, "My bad. I just want to know, where are these Spirit Stone tailings located... If not fully mined, I can offer some alternatives."
"I don’t need your proposals," Feng Jun answered bluntly, "Just work honestly."
Earth Spirit, indeed being clueless, asked inquisitively, "Then where exactly is this Spirit Stone Mine? It’s surely not in this plane, right?"
Feng Jun stared at it deeply, "It’s right in this plane, and not only one Spirit Stone Mine... Who knows if you’ll believe it?"
"I don’t believe it," Earth Spirit straightforwardly replied, "How could there be a Spirit Stone Mine here? Show it to me."
This fellow has been probing constantly! Feng Jun was well aware, but he understood. Everyone seeks survival, some are more direct, while others more covert—nothing more.
Thus, he candidly replied, "Do you think this plane... lacks anything worthy of awe?"
Earth Spirit blinked, "Is there? I feel besides you... there’s nothing else really, right?"
How to interpret this? It’s correctly so, yet still feels significantly like probing.
Feng Jun knew this fellow is astutely slippery, moreover the entire Earth isn’t very large. With its Golden Core Stage cultivation level, it truly wouldn’t take long for it to explore Earth entirely.
He acquainted with various indices of Earth Spirit, though no overly detailed metrics, so he’s uncertain whether deep subterranean Spirit Stone Mines would be discovered.
In any case, he didn’t want Earth Spirit to act recklessly in the Earth Realm, even if he could fully control this fellow—while he was in the mobile phone plane, he couldn’t manage this guy, but... isn’t it not a word here?
However, even with the significant deterrent of no words, he still had to consider the risk of Earth Spirit losing control. Though he’s certain he’d successfully form his Golden Core soon enough, during this time Earth’s safety remains a concern.
Thus, he smiled and said, "If you think so, feel free to roam around this plane, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you’re noticed by a powerful being in the Integration Stage, even I won’t be able to save you."
"Powerful... Powerful in the Integration Stage?" Earth Spirit thought its mind was failing, "A place like this... still has powerful beings in the Integration Stage?"
"Isn’t it strange?" Feng Jun raised an eyebrow, "There are Spirit Stone Mines, is it strange to have such powerful beings?"
"That makes sense," Earth Spirit nodded, "No wonder earlier I felt something was off... Indeed, extracting so many Earth veins, obviously is beyond the Golden Core Stage’s capability."
