Chapter 21: Spirit Stone Mine
"This guy has significantly increased his strength."
On Xianjue Peak, Li Su once again encountered the cultivator named Bai.
Bai, the cultivator, had attended the casual cultivators' gathering many times before.
He had been coming for the past few years.
Each time they met, Bai's cultivation had noticeably improved.
This time, Bai deliberately concealed his cultivation level.
However, despite Li Su's much higher cultivation, he still noticed the clues.
Bai is probably at the seventh level of Foundation Building!
The seventh level of Foundation Building is the later stage.
Impressive.Li Su first encountered Bai twenty years ago when Bai was at the second level of Foundation Building.
Ten years ago, Bai was at the fourth or fifth level of Foundation Building.
And now, after another ten years, Bai had reached the seventh level of Foundation Building.
Is he still considered a casual cultivator?
Some core disciples in Feixian Sect don't cultivate at such a speed!
Although Li Su made much greater progress in the past twenty years, he had special advantages.
This guy couldn't possibly have the same advantages as Li Su.
How did he cultivate?
"There's something off."
Li Su became even more certain that something was wrong with Bai.
Although he suspected Bai, Li Su remained calm.
Bai deliberately concealed his aura this time, probably because he heard about Li Su reaching the later stage of Foundation Building.
"I didn't expect Brother Li to progress so rapidly. In just over twenty years, you've reached the later stage of Foundation Building. I admire you, Brother Li."
Bai took the initiative to greet Li Su.
This guy indeed knew.
It was normal.
It had been ten years already, and news of Li Su reaching the later stage of Foundation Building had long spread.
As for the peak of Foundation Building... it hadn't been revealed yet. Currently, only the Elder of the Foreign Affairs Hall in Feixian Sect knew about it.
"Brother Bai has also made great progress, hasn't he?"
Li Su replied casually.
Bai didn't catch the meaning in Li Su's words and said, "Not at all. I can only push myself a little. I can't compare to disciples of the sect who risk their lives for dozens of years to barely reach the fifth level of Foundation Building."
–
This guy thought Li Su hadn't noticed.
Li Su remained silent.
He was surrounded by many casual cultivators.
During the day, Li Su provided guidance to some of them, and at night, he retreated into his tent as usual.
Tonight's tent was spacious and round.
The number of female cultivators presenting tokens of affection to Li Su was considerable, even more than the previous two occasions.
News of Li Su reaching the later stage of Foundation Building had spread, and combined with the rumor of the royal family marrying a princess to Li Su as a concubine, his fame had undoubtedly increased.
The Foundation Building stage and the later stage of Foundation Building were distinct.
In the eyes of many, it seemed unlikely that Li Su, who achieved Foundation Building at a hundred years old, would ever reach the later stage.
But who could have anticipated Li Su's rapid progress.
The later stage of Foundation Building not only represented concrete strength but also signified potential.
Some female cultivators or cultivation families pondered:
If this trajectory continues.
What if.
What if Li Su can break through to the Golden Core stage?
Then the implications would be entirely different.
Marrying a Golden Core stage cultivator, especially one with such male allure, even as a concubine, would be appealing to many Qi Refining stage female cultivators.
Thus, Li Su's path of taking concubines became even smoother.
The next day, a piece of news circulated throughout Xianjue Peak.
"Is it true?"
"It should be true, but it's risky. If we want to take action, we need to be swift; otherwise, the three major sects will intervene."
"..."
Some casual cultivators exchanged hushed whispers.
"Elder, they said there was a fierce battle between two powerful demonic beasts in Mangcang Mountain, causing the mountain to collapse. Consequently, there should be a substantial spiritual stone mine beneath the area."
A female cultivator swiftly gathered information beside Li Su.
Surprisingly, this news pertained to a spiritual stone mine.
"Now the three major sects will likely engage in a major conflict. In the past, it took a long time to determine the allocation rights for spiritual stone mines unless they fell within the recognized territories of the three major sects."
–
There was a casual cultivator.
"The spiritual stone mine this time is unique. It's scattered, and if we enter through underground crevices and are lucky, we might find it. However, there are many demonic beasts in that area now."
"If it's a first-order demonic beast, we need to be cautious. We can handle it together. But if it's a second-order demonic beast, we can't fight it. We'll have to hide."
"..."
Many casual cultivators were intrigued by this news and started discussing it.
Some mid to late Qi Refining stage casual cultivators were already interested.
The spiritual stone resources in the territories controlled by the three major sects were mostly inaccessible to casual cultivators, making it difficult for them to obtain spiritual stones.
Now, this spiritual stone mine presented an opportunity.
Although it was risky, this mine was unique, widely scattered, and located underground.
If they could find the underground crevices to enter, they might obtain some rewards.
Li Su noticed that some casual cultivators had already left Xianjue Peak.
"Brother Li, I plan to go and have a look at Mangcang Mountain. Since you're a disciple of the sect, I won't invite you."
The cultivator surnamed Bai bid farewell to Li Su as well.
Li Su had already noticed that the casual cultivator who had accompanied this person ten years ago hadn't appeared this year.
There was definitely something suspicious about this person.
As time passed, more and more casual cultivators decided to go and explore Mangcang Mountain.
Some casual cultivators thought they would go and see if there was an opportunity. If it became dangerous, they could always leave.
"Are all of you going?"
Li Su asked a few female cultivators beside him.
"Elder, I won't go. I'll stay with the Elder," one female cultivator said.
The other female cultivators nodded in agreement.
Mangcang Mountain was too dangerous. It was a towering mountain range spanning tens of thousands of miles in the southwest.
Countless demonic beasts resided there, and although the Blackwood Forest was located in the northern part of Mangcang Mountain, it was much less dangerous than the core area.
"Let's go."
Li Su had no intention of going.
He disliked getting involved in such commotions.
It was better to return and cultivate in peace, striving to break through to the Golden Core stage as soon as possible.