Chapter 36 It's impossible to keep a low profile even if I want to!
"3708 points."
After the Elder finished checking, he reported this number.
"500 more points?"
Ji Fuyao immediately calculated the difference.
The reward for the mission she had just completed was 180 points. But now, the total had increased by 680 points.
"Lu Bai found a mine?"
Ji Fuyao guessed what happened after a moment's thought.
Only two Disciples from Chixiao Peak were doing missions; if it wasn't her, it was Lu Bai.
"That's right! A Medium Grade grey scale iron!" the Elder replied.
Ji Fuyao found it hard to calm down!
Although finding mines offered the chance of getting rich overnight, in reality, it wasn't that easy. Otherwise, who would work so hard doing missions? Everyone would have already swarmed the Jialan Sand Land.
Ji Fuyao didn't have high hopes for Lu Bai; compared to those who spent years there, he had no advantage in any aspect.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would wander for a while, gain nothing, and then return disheartened.
However!
An unexpected event did occur!
Lu Bai actually found something, and it only took him a few days.
Why?
Ji Fuyao racked her brain but couldn't understand. She could only attribute it to Luck; it was as if Heaven itself was forcing food into his mouth, with no logic to it!
Junior Brother is only at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, yet in this short time, he has already gained 550 contribution points. While I, at Foundation Establishment Peak, have only gained a little over three hundred points.
No!
I cannot be suppressed by him!
Ji Fuyao's competitive spirit was ignited, and she turned and walked towards the mission reception window; she intended to increase her workload.
...
"Dig, dig, dig in the big, big sand!" Lu Bai sang as he dug down.
Now, his Storage Pouch was already filled with various minerals, all of which were not worth turning in and were kept for Swallowing Skill Cultivation.
In three days, besides that grey scale iron, he hadn't found any other big hauls.
To be honest, Lu Bai wasn't very satisfied!
He had thought that with the help of Swallowing Skill, he would immediately reach the Peak of his life. Who knew, after all this effort, he could only earn a paltry sum.
It seems!
Whether there's a harvest doesn't depend on how you cast your net, but on whether there are fish in the river.
Ding!
Lu Bai dug up a sapphire.
Sea Jade!
Another one of these tasteless, yet regrettable, useless items!
Did Senior Brother Wang hold something back from me? Is the area he pointed to not actually the well-rested zone?
Lu Bai didn't want to maliciously speculate about others, but there really wasn't much here.
How about going to the adjacent area to check?
Lu Bai pondered for a moment, then flew west.
Upon entering a new area, Lu Bai felt it wasn't much different from before, and the things he dug up were all small items.
At this point, he could no longer distinguish between the resting zone and the well-rested zone.
Who cares!
I'll just search everywhere!
A well-rested zone might not have goods. And a resting zone might not necessarily be without goods.
...
Suck!
Hmm?
Just as Lu Bai was probing as usual, he suddenly felt an astonishing surge of energy from underground.
His spirit immediately jolted!
This reaction was even stronger than when he discovered the grey scale iron. Could it be a big haul?
Lu Bai first looked around, confirming that no one was nearby, before taking out his tools and quickly digging down.
He chiseled and chiseled!
He kept chiseling until water gurgled out, and then he felt the touch of a hard object.
Lu Bai pushed the muddy water aside and saw a golden gleam.
Earth Spirit Gold?
I'm rich! I'm rich!
This was one of the dozens of special products of Jialan Sand Land, worth a fortune!
Lu Bai dared not delay; he had to quickly put it into his spatial ring, otherwise, if someone passed by, it would be troublesome.
Puff, puff, puff!
Lu Bai used his fastest speed to clear away all the surrounding mud.
So big!
When the 'Earth Spirit Gold' revealed its full form, Lu Bai frowned. It was so big; his ring might not be able to hold it.
Let's try!
Buzz!
Sure enough! It wouldn't fit!
Lu Bai's mind spun, and he pulled out his magic sword. Bang, bang, bang! He began furiously hacking at a corner of the Earth Spirit Gold.
The Earth Spirit Gold was very hard, and the magic sword developed nicks from the cutting.
But Lu Bai felt no pain; compared to thousands of contribution points, a magic sword was nothing!
Bang!
Finally, Lu Bai chopped off a corner.
Whoosh!
The Earth Spirit Gold disappeared, barely fitting into the ring.
Lu Bai didn't stop. He picked up the chopped-off corner and swiftly flew into the distance. After numerous twists and turns, a full two hours later, he dared to stop and hide in a corner.
Only then did he allow himself to be joyful!
Haha!
With this chunk, even if he had no further gains, he would be satisfied.
Lu Bai began to ponder what to do next.
His Storage Pouch and ring were already full. If he continued searching, even if he found something, there would be no place to put it.
Thus, he could only return to the stronghold to settle his accounts.
However, before that, Lu Bai wanted to swallow all the miscellaneous bits and pieces to see if he could advance to the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation.
Let's start with this small piece of 'Earth Spirit Gold'!
Actually, some minerals are suitable for Swallowing, while others are more cost-effective to sell, but Lu Bai was too lazy to bother, so he decided to swallow them all.
Streams of energy flowed into his body.
A quarter of an hour later, the small piece of 'Earth Spirit Gold' lost its luster.
Lu Bai laid out all the items from his Storage Pouch in front of him, swallowing one piece after taking another.
Unconsciously, two hours passed!
Boom!
The explosive primal energy blew away all the concealment Lu Bai was hiding in, and the minerals on the ground turned into powder. Just as he was about to finish absorbing, he achieved a Breakthrough to the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation.
Although this level of Cultivation was still insignificant, it was important to remember that three months ago, he was still in the Body Tempering stage. Such a speed of progress, even the most top-tier Prodigy in the Eastern Region, would not dare to claim to be faster than him.
...
Jialan Sand Land, Xuanqing Sect Stronghold.
Lu Bai was preparing to find Senior Brother, but after inquiring, he learned that he had gone with Hang Qingyue to search for mines.
After a brief thought, Lu Bai decided to settle his accounts after Senior Brother returned. Without a strong expert to back him up, he was afraid of being cheated.
Five days later.
Lin Mu, Hang Qingyue, and Wang Dong, along with other Qiuyue Peak Disciples, returned. Everyone's face was filled with disappointment, indicating they had gained nothing.
Lu Bai heard the commotion and walked out.
"Senior Brother!"
He pulled Lin Mu aside, told him about the 'Earth Spirit Gold', and asked him to accompany him to settle the accounts.
"You found a large piece of Earth Spirit Gold?" Lin Mu exclaimed.
From a distance, Hang Qingyue, Wang Dong, and others immediately cast surprised glances. Then, they walked towards them.
Lu Bai frowned!
He had intended to quietly go to Pei to settle the accounts, but Senior Brother's shout made it clear that his wish would not be granted.
"Junior Brother Lu really found Earth Spirit Gold?" Hang Qingyue asked with a smile.
"Mm!" Lu Bai could only nod.
"Congratulations!"
"Luck, just Luck!"
At this moment, Wang Dong interjected: "First he finds grey scale iron, and then he finds Earth Spirit Gold. This isn't something simple Luck can achieve. How about we go to the Settlement Hall together? Let us also see for ourselves!"
"Exactly!"
"Let's go, let's see!" the Qiuyue Peak Disciples shouted in unison.
"Then let's go!" Lin Mu decided for Lu Bai.
Lu Bai opened his mouth, seemingly unable to find any reason to refuse.
Over a dozen people headed towards the Settlement Hall, creating a grand commotion that immediately attracted many eyes.
Before long, more and more people followed to watch the excitement.
Lu Bai gave a bitter smile.
It's really impossible to
keep a low profile!