Chapter 5154 — Mining Again
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
"Have no fear. According to the Primordial Alliance's records, there is a spirit ore site on the seabed of this archipelago. Mining it will not be easy, but I trust it will not defeat you. So beginning tomorrow, every person present must labor without exception at the undersea spirit ore site to mine spirit jade. Otherwise you forfeit the right to take part in the Primordial Trial. Understood?" Xin Yi'an declared in a ringing voice.
"Elder Xin, if I may ask—must all the spirit jade we mine be turned over to the authorities?" someone asked, raising a hand. This was the question on nearly every disciple's mind. Even setting the Primordial Trial aside, the undersea spirit ore site alone was no small temptation; if the jade they mined could be kept for themselves, most would surely not slack off.
"Not so. Out of consideration for everyone's enthusiasm—so long as the spirit jade mined on a given day exceeds one piece, the surplus belongs to the individual who mined it," Xin Yi'an said with a smile. Rough as the rule sounded at first hearing, as though riddled with loopholes, it was after all only a stopgap measure; it would suffice to rouse everyone's energy, and the jade ultimately gathered, he trusted, would not be small.
Sure enough, at these words every eye in the crowd lit up. Exceed one piece and the rest was yours—that condition did not sound harsh in the least; it was rather stirring.
Still, a handful frowned. Many of them stood at the very threshold of breakthrough, and to go undersea mining at such a time was sheer waste—mining might yield nothing at all, and a day of hard labor could well come to naught.
"Naturally, to look after everyone's cultivation, the undersea mining will be divided into two groups, rotating every three days. If someone's turn comes and they would rather not go, they may pay a single piece of spirit jade to be excused one shift. Does anyone object?" Xin Yi'an asked.
Heads shook all around. The arrangement was already considerate enough; any further objection would be hard to justify—and to abstain altogether meant forfeiting the right to join the Primordial Trial, a risk no one dared take.
"Hold on!" At this, Xue Jianming suddenly stepped forward and cast a malicious glance at Wei Zhao and the others. "Since everyone is going, shouldn't these people go too?"
"In name they are not disciples of the Primordial Alliance, nor has anyone said they must take part in the Primordial Trial. Naturally they need not go," Xin Yi'an said, shaking his head.
Qiu Lingshan, Wu Chengtian and the rest stood at the very gate of breaking through to Foundation Establishment; of course they would not go undersea mining—and moreover, as Xin Yi'an had said, to this point they had no intention of joining the Primordial Trial. This undersea mining was nothing to do with them.
"Nothing to do with them? How can it be nothing to do with them? They occupy the island's cultivation resources for nothing, and when it comes time to put in some effort they don't lift a finger. I'm afraid such conduct won't convince anyone," Xue Jianming snorted coldly.
"But—" Xin Yi'an still wanted to argue, but the other Primordial sect disciples had already begun muttering among themselves. They themselves must toil at mining, while Qiu Lingshan and the others alone went free and easy—it truly rankled.
Just then Wei Zhao stopped Xin Yi'an. Under the gaze of all present he walked slowly to face Xue Jianming and said mildly, "You want all of us to go mining, do you?"
"It is only right and proper!" Xue Jianming declared, with the confidence of righteousness.
"Very well. What you say is quite reasonable." Wei Zhao nodded, then suddenly tossed out a great chest. When it was opened, it promptly blinded every last dog's eye in the place—it was packed full of spirit jade!
"This... this..." Xue Jianming and the others were struck dumb, unable for a long while to utter a single word.