Big Data Cultivation

Master Yuanming's eyesight was sharp; he immediately recognized what Feng Jun had produced.

In fact, he had already heard people say that Feng Jun obtained such an item from someone in the Hunting Alliance, so he didn't bother to look closely.

Feng Jun, however, spoke with a smile, "I didn't think this was a Treasure Seeking Plate; it seems more like it could be used to find Earth Veins."

"What?" Master Yuanming frowned and reached out to grab the compass from the other party's hand.

He didn't do this intentionally; it's just that being in the Golden Core stage for so long, he's accustomed to treating minor cultivators in a certain way. He wanted to respect Feng Jun, but genuine respect isn't a habit developed in just a day or two.

Before Feng Jun could react, Sun Rongxun's body shook, blocking in front of him, while at the same time he summoned a round fan with a light call, "Please restrain yourself, Master Yuanming!"

Master Yuanming's hand paused slightly, his face full of astonishment. Then, feeling something, he turned his head to look in another direction, "It's nothing; I was just a bit surprised, I didn't mean…"

Before he could finish speaking, Qu Jianlei's body also appeared between the two, and he frowned slightly, "Hmm?"

"Just a habitual action," Master Yuanming said with an awkward smile, "Mountain Master Feng took out an unexpected item, and I subconsciously wanted to take it to have a look."

Qu Jianlei turned back to look at Feng Jun and found his expression unchanged. It was probably just a misunderstanding, but he still spoke seriously, "Let's have a proper discussion… Hey, isn't this the damaged Treasure Seeking Plate; is there any contention over this?"

Master Yuanming helplessly spread his hands, "Mountain Master Feng said it might be a Vein Seeking Plate. Didn't I want to take a look?"

"Vein Seeking Plate?" Qu Jianlei wasn't proficient in Earth Veins, but thinking about Tianyao Peak's specialty, he understood why the dispute arose.

He first looked at Feng Jun, "Are you sure it's a Vein Seeking Plate, Mountain Master Feng?"

Feng Jun frowned, but finally answered, "I don't understand the specific differences, but after some deduction, if the compass were repaired, there is a certain chance it could detect Earth Veins."

"No wonder the Master of Tianyao Peak was so agitated," Qu Jianlei nodded, speaking with a smirk, "This peak mainly focuses on Earth Veins."

Then he looked at Master Yuanming, "But Master, it's a bit inappropriate to look directly like that, isn't it?"

"Why poke your nose into this," the Master of Tianyao Peak gave him an annoyed look, "This is Mountain Master Feng's spoils, not his own heritage. I just wanted to take a look; you're thinking ill without reason."

"Spoils have been decided and are not yet distributed," Qu Jianlei spoke solemnly. As for various rules, Master Yuanming might not know more than him, "Even if you want to take a look, the Master should first get the owner's consent, right?"

"You're making a fuss over nothing!" Master Yuanming snorted, looking at Feng Jun, speaking amiably, "Mountain Master Feng, can you let me glance over that damaged Treasure Seeking Plate?"

Feng Jun had intended to discuss it with him anyway. Although Master Yuanming's reaction was a bit excessive, he had no reason to take issue. This is how things usually are in this realm; it's good enough if a person is willing to explain.

So he raised his hand and handed the Treasure Seeking Plate to Master Yuanming, "I planned to share it with Master Yuanming; you were just a bit anxious."

As he spoke, he gave Qu Jianlei an apologetic look–sorry for making you play the bad guy.

Master Qu chuckled nonchalantly, thinking to himself that often assuming the role of the bad guy is the way of things. Protect you a few more times and exert some pressure on others; you'll be safer this way—coming out only when you're in danger can ruin the mission.

Seeing the Treasure Seeking Plate, Master Yuanming immediately put aside any other thoughts; from a certain perspective, every successful cultivator actually possesses a considerable research spirit.

At first, his expression was still quite relaxed, but gradually he fell into deep thought, stretching his fingers, unconsciously sketching something in the air. Where his fingertips swept past, spiritual energy lingered long, condensing into almost tangible white mist in the air.

The white mist grew thicker until it was about to envelop him completely when Master Qu let out a light hum, "Master of Tianyao Peak!"

With this slight call, Master Yuanming's entire body jolted, awakening from his trance. Seeing the white mist in front of him, he too was momentarily stunned, then extended his right hand to absorb all the mist into his palm.

In the end, in his palm, there appeared a transparent bead the size of a longan.

Qu Jianlei shook his head with a wry smile, "Using the Breath Divination… aren't you afraid of exhausting your life force?"

Master Yuanming raised his hand, embedding that bead into his brow, then chuckled bitterly, "This Array Plate… it's immensely terrifying. I initially thought someone had developed a new technique; who would've thought it's not a product of the Kunhao Plane at all."

Qu Jianlei had been somewhat nonchalant, but hearing this, he was also taken aback, "Not a product of this plane?"

"Similar yet distinct, truly not an idea from this plane," Master Yuanming answered seriously, then lowered his head to look at the compass in his hand, starting to become a bit lost in thought again, "A brilliant idea with significant benefits…"

"Snap out of it!" Qu Jianlei didn't want him to sink back into that terrifying state, "If it's so beneficial, you must know when to stop; this is Mountain Master Feng's item."

"I understand," Master Yuanming responded nonchalantly, then cast a longing glance at the compass, "This certainly isn't Mountain Master Feng's item; it doesn't match his style… he's more adept at ingeniously utilizing worldly items."

"I say this is a trophy," Qu Jianlei huffed impatiently, "Have you seen enough?"

Master Yuanming knew his request was legitimate, but no matter how he looked at it, it wasn't enough. He then looked at Feng Jun and pitifully asked, "Can I take it and study it for two days?"

Feng Jun shook his head with a smile, "You can take a few photos. If you want to take it away… well, I'm sorry."

"Taking photos incurs a fee!" Sun Rongxun stated sternly, "No one's secrets should be lightly shared."

"Here are twenty middle-grade Spirit Stones," Master Yuanming took out a box and also took out his recently acquired iPad to take pictures of the Treasure Seeking Plate, not just photos but videos too, "I won't take advantage of you for nothing."

After finishing, he put away the iPad and looked in astonishment at the box on the table, "Middle-grade Spirit Stones… why didn't you put them away?"

Feng Jun shook his head with a smile, "They're not worth that much. For just taking photos, five hundred ordinary Spirit Stones would suffice."

"What do you know?" Master Yuanming glared at him irritably, "Do you think you have more say than me on how valuable this is?"

"Of course, I know it's valuable," Feng Jun replied leisurely, "but its value lies in the Treasure Seeking Plate itself. What can be seen with the naked eye outside is not worth much Spirit Stones."

"Oh, what do you mean by that?" Master Yuanming was somewhat bewildered.

"It's likely that more than one or two people acquired this Treasure Seeking Plate. Who realized it was an Earth Vein Plate?" Feng Jun smiled, "Analyzing just the exterior yields limited results. I'm not petty enough to fixate on this bit of revenue."

Master Yuanming blinked suspiciously and finally understood Feng Jun's meaning, but couldn't help becoming furious, "Are you underestimating Taiqing's capability to decipher and deduce?"

"I have no intention to underestimate Taiqing," Feng Jun smiled, "However, if you think taking some photos reveals everything… well, think whatever you wish."

He and the big boss pondered over the Treasure Seeking Plate for a long time.

Although the big boss was not very proficient in Earth Vein techniques, their vision and experience were unmatched. They speculated, and Feng Jun deduced, working together to roughly conjecture something.

Feng Jun did not believe that there could be another combination out there stronger than him and the big boss.

Both were tempted to destroy the Treasure Seeking Plate and violently decipher some of its mysteries at the end.

However, they both hesitated; Feng Jun was reluctant to forfeit the opportunity to transform Earth's Earth Veins, while the big boss was unwilling to forgo the chance to uncover new, powerful Earth Veins, so they didn't destroy it.

Feng Jun responded neither arrogantly nor servilely, leaving Master Yuanming stunned. After some thought, he tentatively asked, "You deduced everything from these surface details?"

"Not at all," Feng Jun shook his head, but then spoke somewhat arrogantly, "This is a broken compass, I couldn't possibly deduce everything… at least for the missing parts, I'm not sure."

Master Yuanming took a deep breath, silently reminding himself: Control your anger, you must not lose your temper.

Seeing his demeanor, Sun Rongxun couldn't help but feel a pang of compassion and gave a light cough, "Mountain Master Feng's deductions are highly praised by our Great Supreme. Master, you must not underestimate them."

"Your Great Supreme?" Yuanming looked at her in surprise, "Which Great Supreme?"

Each of the Four Great Sects has nine registered Golden Core cultivators, and many Supreme Elders might not be registered. Whether they have fallen or formed an infant and left, their own sect won't reveal it, so outsiders cannot know.

But always hiding one's weaknesses isn't a solution. Occasionally revealing strength can better deter other forces.

Yuanming was not surprised that Crimson Phoenix had a Great Supreme, he wanted to know which one it was.

"Didn't you know?" Sun Rongxun gave him another look and decisively sealed her lips, "Then just pretend I didn't say anything."

Master Yuanming thought for a moment and looked at Feng Jun again, "Are you selling this Treasure Seeking Plate?"

"Not selling!" Feng Jun shook his head decisively, "If you Taiqing cultivators liked it at the beginning, I would have parted with it then. Now that I've discovered its mysteries, I truly can't give it up."

Master Yuanming said earnestly, "Price is negotiable; we can invite Tiantong for appraisal."

"Impossible," Feng Jun shook his head, his attitude also resolute, "Do you Taiqing sell your Earth Vein Techniques? No, you don't! You've mastered so much, I've finally found a Magical Treasure that might be helpful to me, and you still want to buy it off?"

Your attitude… why so strange? Master Yuanming was a little puzzled too, "If you want to enhance a place's Earth Veins, you can discuss it with us Taiqing. You provide Spirit Stones, and we provide manpower; our cooperative relationship could solve things easily. Why insist on learning it yourself?"

Feng Jun silently gazed at the sky: Could I bring you to Earth to enhance its Earth Veins?

(Updated, summoning monthly tickets.)