Chapter 574
The mechanical arm, equipped with an excavator bucket, precisely sliced through the mountain rock, lifting large chunks of stone mixed with spiritual ore. These were sent into the mining ship through two doors at the bottom.
“Next is the ore separation. Want to take a look on board?”
Seeing the experiment go smoothly, Madam Xuanhua couldn’t help but smile a little.
Old Han felt increasingly curious and followed everyone onto the ship, stepping into the cabin.
“On this Shenxiao mining ship, aside from the storage room, this is the ore refining and separation chamber.”
Old Han listened, somewhat confused.
He watched as a freshly excavated chunk of rock was secured inside the separation chamber, where another mechanical arm with a metal nozzle suddenly spewed flames.
Old Han was taken aback, exclaiming, “This Tianlei Xuan Tie is extremely volatile! If it weren’t for someone skilled in refining tools, it could easily explode when smelted!”
What puzzled him, however, was that the members of Jiushan Sect seemed unconcerned. Even Zhao Jingfan, who had come to watch, was merely peering through the window, looking completely unafraid of an explosion.
Even more awkwardly, the rock slowly melted away, leaving only a pool of azure liquid.
As the flames extinguished, the purple-blue droplets gradually solidified, transforming into a lump of Xuan Tie.
“...”
Old Han stood by the window, at a loss for words.
It was Madam Xuanhua who explained, “Actually, you’re right, Old Han. The smelting technique is something I designed...”
Old Han was momentarily stunned, his heart racing with shock as he exclaimed, “Are you saying that this Shenxiao mining ship can not only explore mines comparable to an ordinary Yuanying cultivator but can also replicate the refining techniques of a Yuanying cultivator?”
Madam Xuanhua nodded gently, smiling, “It just requires careful design of various parameters in advance.”
Old Han was silent for a moment, probing with his spiritual sense, and discovered the ship’s capabilities: “Five Foundation Establishment cultivators and ten Qi Refining cultivators... is all it takes to operate such a ship?”
“Pretty much.”
“Pretty much means...”
“Actually, at the very limit, three Foundation Establishment cultivators would suffice...” Madam Xuanhua explained, “Having a few extra people is just to prevent accidents.”
Old Han fell silent immediately.
He calculated the efficiency of the mining ship in his mind: “So you’re saying... this ship can match the mining output of a Yuanying cultivator?”
“Well... I’m not sure.”
“Hmm?”
Madam Xuanhua sighed, “Yuanying cultivators don’t mine, after all...”
Of course...
Who would be willing to send a Yuanying cultivator to mine?
Old Han fell silent, his expression dazed, and then he heard Zheng Fa advising Madam Xuanhua, “Set aside some of this Tianlei Xuan Tie for storage, and see if the other part can be transformed into different spiritual materials...”
Transform...
He understood those two words, but... he felt he didn’t quite grasp their meaning.
Spiritual materials can be transformed into one another?
With the efficiency of this Shenxiao mining ship, combined with that transformation method, would Jiushan Sect really be limited in their supply of spiritual materials?
What was Haori Mountain trying to achieve by spending so many spirit stones to rally so many dissenting cultivators against Zheng Fa?
Old Han suddenly raised his eyes and exchanged a glance with Xie Qingxue...
With this method, did the few smuggling channels of the Wushuang Society still matter?
He stared blankly at the Shenxiao mining ship, feeling as if this cold steel behemoth had ground Haori Mountain’s schemes and his own little thoughts into dust.
---
**Chapter 424: Out of Line, Stealing My Credit**
If the Shenxiao mining ship had left Old Han and Xie Qingxue somewhat speechless, then the spiritual material transformation factory on Tiangong Island completely revealed the depth of Jiushan Sect’s resources.
“According to the plan, the current supply of spiritual materials is primarily focused on the needs of the Jindan disciples...” Sister Zhang didn’t even need to check the accounts as she reported to Zheng Fa, “Next, it’s for the construction of Tiangong Island and the manufacturing of the Shenxiao flying ships.”
“Although there are still some gaps, the operation of the Shenxiao mining ship should help alleviate that.”
Zheng Fa listened, nodding slowly, and then asked, “What about the costs?”
“The Shenxiao mining ship has significantly reduced our costs for gathering spiritual materials compared to the outside world.”
“But for spiritual material transformation, synthesizing spiritual materials requires spiritual energy and cultivators. Compared to natural spiritual materials, we only have a slight advantage with certain high-grade materials. Overall, the costs are still a bit higher.”
Zheng Fa could hear the helplessness in Sister Zhang’s tone.
He wasn’t as optimistic as Old Han; Haori Mountain’s tactics still had a considerable impact on Jiushan Sect.
Initially, in the first fifty-year plan, the idea for Jiushan Sect’s supply of spiritual materials was primarily based on natural materials, with the technology for spiritual material transformation intended only for the manufacture of precious materials.
The reason was simple: cost.
Some spiritual materials that were abundant in the Xuanwei Realm were actually not expensive, and transforming them into synthesized materials was not very cost-effective.
But now, there was no other choice.
Due to Haori Mountain’s blockade, Zheng Fa and the others quickly adjusted their plans, striving to ensure Jiushan Sect’s development was not hindered despite trade restrictions.
Seeing the two frowning, Old Han couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t it irrelevant whether the costs are high or low? Haori Mountain has spent so much to deal with you, and you can still guarantee the supply of spiritual materials... their schemes have turned into a joke...”
“I think it’s them who should be worried,” he added.
Hearing Old Han say this, Zheng Fa looked up and saw that Xie Qingxue also had a puzzled expression.
Chuckling, he replied, “But Old Han, being able to barely supply spiritual materials isn’t enough for us in Jiushan Sect.”
According to the First Fifty-Year Plan, if Jiushan Sect wanted to achieve preliminary industrialization, the consumption of spiritual materials would far exceed that of ordinary sects.
Establishing an industrial system itself requires a high level of capital investment.
Educated personnel, cheap raw materials, refined technology, manufacturing plants, and machinery—all of these require substantial, long-term investment.
That’s why Zheng Fa wanted to integrate the Bai Xian Alliance and control its resources.
To put it bluntly, the small sects in the Bai Xian Alliance were merely the cost of Jiushan Realm’s industrialization—even for potential dissenting cultivators within the alliance, he had long anticipated.
If it weren’t for the Bai Xian Alliance needing to grow rapidly in a short time, he wouldn’t have been so aggressive.
To be honest, the impact of the Chongxuan Sect on their plans was much greater than what Old Han realized.
Old Han was stunned, remaining silent for a long time.
It wasn’t until they returned to the guesthouse that he said to Xie Qingxue, “Zheng Fa... his ambitions are far greater than we imagined.”
“Hmm?”
Xie Qingxue looked at the old man, knowing him well enough to understand that despite his sharp tongue, he had a keen insight into people due to having heard many secrets.
She couldn’t help but wonder why he suddenly made such a remark.
“To be fair, if I were to inadvertently thwart Haori Mountain’s schemes... I wouldn’t be as calm as Zheng Fa.”
“But he’s not only unsatisfied; he seems to care little about Haori Mountain!”
“What he cares about is whether Jiushan Sect’s development is being restricted,” Old Han said softly.
Xie Qingxue slowly nodded, clearly understanding his implication—this indicated that Zheng Fa had extreme confidence in Jiushan Sect’s future, believing that as long as Jiushan Sect was given time to develop, they would not fear Haori Mountain.
“Do you know what I heard the disciples on Tiangong Island saying?”
“What did they say?”
“They said that in the future, they would sail the Shenxiao warships to attack Haori Mountain... and it was said by a few Foundation Establishment disciples.”
Xie Qingxue was momentarily stunned.
In her heart, she thought these Foundation Establishment disciples were being a bit too boastful...
What kind of strength did Haori Mountain possess? How could they be underestimated by a few Foundation Establishment disciples?
But on the other hand, she exchanged a glance with Old Han, both harboring a question in their minds:
Did the Foundation Establishment disciples of Tianhe Sect have such ambition?
Recalling the current somewhat dispirited state of Tianhe Sect, they both fell silent.
But was this really a problem for Tianhe Sect?
Let alone Foundation Establishment, had any cultivator outside the five sects ever had such lofty aspirations?
Clearly, they were disciples of Jiushan Realm... it was too out of character!
It was Old Han who broke the silence:
“Then there are the mining ships, the Shenxiao warships, and even this spiritual material transformation factory... they’re probably not just being baselessly arrogant.”
At this point, Old Han suddenly said, “I plan to apply to Zheng Fa to go to Tiangong Pavilion.”
Xie Qingxue nodded lightly.
She knew Old Han still held that thought—seeking to repay kindness.
Now, with the role of the Wushuang Society in spiritual materials diminished, they could only think of ways to create more “favor” through refining tools.
“I think, if nothing else, I should do more for Jiushan Sect. Otherwise, in the future, don’t even think about getting Zheng Fa to help the sect leader; that brat Yan Wushuang will still need Jiushan Sect’s protection,” Old Han said softly.
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