I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life - Chapter 400 - 250: Rescuing Liu Hongling
Liu Hongling felt a moment of bewilderment before her gaze became resolute.
Even though she couldn’t associate Li Jizhou with the half-demon and young noble in front of her, still, if Hong Luan’s rumors spoke of such matters, they couldn’t be false.
Moreover, this was now her only hope.
That large raw stone not only had a massive shape but also a hard shell, making the stone-solving process quite challenging. Additionally, its considerable value made the stone-solver proceed cautiously.
Not until three hours later did a corner finally peel off.
“Whoa~ Such rich Spiritual Qi!”
“Indeed, Tier Four Earth Spirit Masters are extraordinary—such rich Spiritual Qi, at the very least, it has to be Top-Grade Spirit Stone, right?”
“With a Tier Four Earth Spirit Master, at minimum, a Spirit Stone is assured, the rumors are true!”
…
As the dense Spiritual Qi leaked out, everyone in the courtyard began debating.
In Li Qingyun’s eyes, a smile appeared.
Though his father had delegated all the responsibilities of the mansion to him before retreating for cultivation and as the eldest son, he was the undeniable heir to the throne. However, he felt anxious for violating his father’s decree for his own interests.
Should this raw stone turn out highly unfavorable, he would certainly face punishment upon his father’s return from seclusion.
Sensing such intense Spiritual Qi, he exhaled a sigh of relief.
This one large raw stone, below it held at least tens of thousands of Top-Grade Spirit Stones; even if they were only Top-Grade Spirit Stones, its worth equals millions of Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, ensuring no loss.
“Thank you, Celestial Master Liu,” Li Qingyun turned and smiled faintly at Liu Hongling.
But Liu Hongling lowered her eyes and did not respond.
She merely stated that the stone’s interior contained the most concentrated Spiritual Qi. She did not guarantee anything else.
“Ah, why is the stone shell so thick?” At this moment, more of the raw stone’s shell started peeling off.
Someone with sharp eyes noticed that one-third of the bottom shell was gray-white, greatly reducing the number of Spirit Stones inside.
Li Qingyun’s smile slightly tightened.
It seemed he had been too happy too soon.
Generally, raw stone shells aren’t very thick, but within larger raw stone mines, the occurrence of thicker shells does happen.
With this, the number of Spirit Stones inside naturally decreases.
“No worries, no worries. Even with a reduction of one-third, there should still be seven to eight thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones, not a major loss!”
“Moreover, perhaps inside there’s more than just Top-Grade Spirit Stones!” Li Qingyun consoled himself.
“Oh, why is the top shell also so thick?” exclaimed the same sharp-eyed cultivator.
Moments later, another sigh caused a sinking feeling in Li Qingyun’s heart.
He unhappily glanced at the sharp-eyed spectator in the courtyard.
Originally expected to have at least ten thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones, which would have been a profit, now he was witnessing a shrink down to one-third only leaving a middle piece; even if it is Top-Grade Spirit Stone, it would be estimated at most three thousand pieces or so.
That would be a major loss.
He anxiously glanced at Liu Hongling.
But Liu Hongling still did not look at him.
He had to look at the head guard beside Liu Hongling.
“Crown Prince, she hasn’t lied; I’ve been perceiving her Divine Soul constantly,” the guard’s leader affirmed.
Li Qingyun frowned privately.
The densest Spiritual Qi seems not always to ensure profit without loss!
“Crown Prince, the smaller, the more essence. Perhaps when this raw stone condensed all its Spiritual Liquid back then, the essence formed, if a Spirit Marrow is extracted… it would be priceless treasure!” The Chief Shopkeeper perceived Li Qingyun’s worry and hurriedly offered comfort.
“Indeed, what’s concentrated is all essence! Continue solving!” Li Qingyun took a deep breath, reclaiming some confidence.
At this time, Li Jizhou had already beckoned a servant to order a pot of Spirit Tea, seated in a stone pavilion not far away, occasionally glancing at the stone-solving progress.
His focus was no longer on the stone-solving result, but rather comparing the current situation at Prince Yun’s Mansion to the several feudal domains across the Jiuli Dynasty.
Ultimately, these domains were competing with him for profit.
If he ascended the throne, eliminating the vassals must be done.
In such a cultivation world, after thousands of years of growth, the group of Vassal Kings had become too large.
“Whether to employ long-term strategies using overt plots, boiling frogs in warm water, widely granting favors to spur internal vassal king conflicts, or… Hmph, too much thought, in this monarchy where personal power is supreme, why bother with such trouble? Gongsun Dang sweeps past them all, who can resist? The Jiuli Map suppressing internal rebellion certainly wouldn’t draw out the old monsters within the Ancestral Spiritual Sea, right?” Li Jizhou shook his head, dismissing the thoughts.
But those were matters for later; right now, he was a Seventh Prince without any rights.
It was a time when rapid cultivation resources were sorely needed.
“Alas! Truly only to Top-Grade level, no divine artifacts within; what a major loss it is, fortunately, I exercised caution earlier.” At this time, the stone-solving had essentially reached a conclusion.
The final result was only one millstone-sized Spirit Stone.
The Spiritual Qi was incredibly rich, undoubtedly Top-Grade.
Inside its crystalline layers, there were fewer than three thousand.
Li Qingyun’s expression was unpleasant; his impulsive folly led to a massive loss of nearly sixty thousand Middle-Grade Spirit Stones.
The scolding from his father upon emerging from seclusion was easily imaginable.
He slightly furrowed his brows and glanced at Liu Hongling, not treating her as politely as before.
“This Crown Prince is weary, you may do as you please.” With this parting comment, Li Qingyun left on his own.
Leaving Liu Hongling’s entourage frowning slightly.
They were invited by the mansion’s chief valet mainly for Liu Hongling to inspect a piece of authentic Spirit Stone within the mansion.
Earlier today, Liu Hongling found that the Spirit Stone wasn’t particularly rich in Spiritual Qi.
Afterward, she was invited here by Crown Prince Li Qingyun.
The results seemed unsatisfactory.
However, the guard leader could not blame Liu Hongling.
Even though Liu Hongling was essentially held under soft confinement by them, he had been perceiving her Divine Soul throughout, knowing she hadn’t lied.
“Celestial Master Liu, once this matter concludes, tomorrow we return to Cangming, as brothers along the way have treated you with great respect, might you help us select a few raw stones?” Having arrived here, wouldn’t it be remiss not to seize some benefits?
The guard leader smiled at Liu Hongling.
“Fifty-fifty split!” Liu Hongling remained expressionless; she awaited such an opportunity.
“Of course!” The guard leader replied with a grin.
Immediately, the eight guards followed Liu Hongling roaming within Black Stone Workshop, sometimes pausing, sometimes communing with the Earth Spirit.
Behind her, followers grew increasingly numerous.
After all, as a Tier Four Earth Spirit Master, hardly any losses occur when gambling in the first three courtyards.
The Shopkeeper of Black Stone Workshop watched this scene, his eyes faintly twitching but recognizing they were brought by the crown prince, he could only brace himself to accompany them.
Before long, each of the eight guards purchased raw stones and gathered around the stone-solving platform.
Though they maintained caution, not loosening their guard over Liu Hongling, but the allure of stone gambling, especially knowing it was sure to win, only the extent of profit uncertain, heightened their anticipation.
Eventually, only two guards remained at Liu Hongling’s side.
Li Jizhou followed from a distance, witnessing this scene with a hint of a smile at his lips.
“Act!” Signaling to Hong Luan with a glance, Li Jizhou strided toward Liu Hongling.
