Chapter 406.
From the first day of the Lunar New Year to the fifteenth day of the first month, Wang Duan spent his time in the Xu family.
He had cultivated his “Vegetarian Yin Returning True Harmony Secret Method” to the Proficient level and had brought Xu Xinlan to the door.
For half a month, Wang Chen’s days could be described as only being envious of lovebirds.
His cultivation didn’t fall behind because of this, as Xu Xinlan gave him all of the five elemental essences from the Xu Clan’s secret stash.
It was enough for Wang Chen to break through the third level of the Violet Mansion!
During this half-month, Wang Chen had also enjoyed all of Xu Xinlan’s gentle and small-minded, considerate pestering.
If it was anyone else with a weaker will, I’m afraid that he would have indulged in it and had his fighting spirit and desire for the Dao eroded.
But Wang Chen kept his heart.
Because he had always been clear about where his own Dao lay!
The day after spending the Lantern Festival with Xu Xinlan, Wang Chen rushed to the Xu Family’s mine with Uncle Zhong.
There were a total of two mines in the Xu Family, all of which were in the deep mountains five hundred miles away from Wan Ling City, and the two of them shared a flying boat, arriving at their destination in only half an hour.
This mine that secretly produced the Essence of Five Elements was not large in scale, with only a hundred or so miners plus a dozen or so supervisors and stewards.
Uncle Zhong rode the flying boat and landed directly in the middle of the mine.
He usually came over here every other day to patrol the area and knew the situation like the back of his hand, and first introduced Wang Chen to the mine’s stewards and the relevant situation.
On the bright side, this small mine mainly produced black ironstone, as well as a few accompanying Xuan iron.
After the two types of ores were smelted, they were then sent to the workshops in Wan Ling City to be used to make household items, weapons and armor, and so on.
Due to the average quality of the ores, the Xu Family did not have much of a heritage in forging and refining weapons, so the profits were quite meager.
In terms of this mine alone, it would be difficult to cause others to covet it.
But other than a few people, no one knew that such an inconspicuous mine actually contained the Essence of Five Elements!
Uncle Zhong also told the stewards and supervisors about Wang Chen’s identity and origin.
After reaping a wave of sincere respect, Wang Chen and Uncle Zhong left the mine.
However, the two didn’t go far at all, and flew out a few dozen miles before turning back again.
This time Zhong Bo landed in a deserted and uninhabited mountain forest, and then walked a dozen miles of mountainous terrain before finally sneaking into a secret hole in the ground to the depths of the underground.
After traveling through the long secret tunnel for half an incense stick of time, the front suddenly opened up.
An underground cave was clearly presented in front of the two of them.
The moment he stepped into the cave, Wang Chen felt the Five Elements Essence Qi that filled the surrounding space!
This place was no less than a cave dedicated to Purple Mansion cultivators for him.
A huge stalactite pillar hung down from the roof of the cave, the tip of the pillar was only three feet from the ground, and below it lay a round basin carved out of jade.
A thin layer of liquid accumulated inside the jade basin.
Wang Chen could tell at a glance that this layer of liquid was none other than the Essence of Five Elements!
“I come to collect it once a month.”
Uncle Zhong said with a sigh, “It’s like being a thief, sneaking around not daring to see anyone at all.”
The discovery of this underground cave was purely accidental, when a demonic beast sneaked into the mine and injured the miners, the mine’s overseers and stewards were unable to solve the problem, so they reported to the Xu family for help.
After Uncle Zhong rushed over, he went deep into the mine to kill the demonic beast, and as a result, the mine tunnel collapsed during the fierce battle, thus exposing the cave.
He found the Essence of Five Elements inside.
Uncle Zhong knew the value of the Essence of Five Elements, and after he got out of the trap, he announced that he had wiped out the demonic beasts, and then had this mine tunnel completely closed.
He himself quietly dug out another secret passage that led straight to the cave.
This cave could produce at least a kilogram of Five Elements Essence every month, and although it was not of a high grade, its value was also very impressive.
After discussing it with Xu Xinlan, he took out about three taels and used it to recruit Purple Mansion cultivators to protect the Xu family.
The others were all stored away, not daring to divulge half of it.
As for the origin of the Essence of Five Elements, he only said that it was procured in the outer regions.
It was also trembling with fear to cover it up in such a way!
Wang Dust understood: “A piker is not guilty of harboring a sin.”
Uncle Zhong looked at Wang Dust with rather complicated eyes, “Supervisor, I’ll leave this place to you from now on.”
Xu Xinlan’s relationship with Wang Chen could be hidden from others, but not from him, the Xu family’s old housekeeper.
As Xu Xinlan had said, Uncle Zhong had always treated her as his daughter.
Now that she had followed Wang Chen without a name, and had even poured in treasures, how could his heart not have half a thought?
But Uncle Zhong also knew very well that this was the best choice for Xu Xinlan.
His big day was coming, and he could no longer protect Xu Xinlan for several years.
“The old man only hopes that the superior will treat the young lady well.”
With these two words, Uncle Zhong spoke humbly, as he did not have any backbone that could make Wang Chen scornful.
“Don’t worry.”
Wang Dust nodded and said, “I will take the responsibility.”
“Many thanks, superior.”
Uncle Zhong took a step back and respectfully bowed to Wang Dust.
Wang Dust looked at the loyal old housekeeper and suddenly asked, “Uncle Zhong, how many times have you failed to break your orifices?”
Uncle Zhong froze and subconsciously replied, “Once.”
Wang Chen pondered, “Then there is still one more chance.”
It was not uncommon for a cultivator with perfect qi cultivation to break his orifices and open his mansion, and it was not uncommon for ninety-nine percent of them to fail.
After some cultivators failed to break their orifices, they would continue to work hard and try to rush through again.
Under normal circumstances, the difficulty of breaking the orifices for the second time is more than the first time, and the number of people who can succeed is even less.
And unless one was exceptionally gifted, or with the help of elixirs, after two failures, there was basically no third time.
Most of the cultivators, in the case of the origin has not been damaged, once failed to Cheng will try again.
Only after two unsuccessful attempts would they completely die.
Uncle Zhong smiled bitterly, “My first failure injured my origin, and I’ll be old by the time I make up for it.”
The older a cultivator was, the lower the probability of success in breaking the orifices and opening the mansion.
It was also the more dangerous!
Wang Chen’s gaze flickered as he asked, “If I give you a top-grade Orifice Breaking Pill, would you be willing to try again?”
“Huh?”
Uncle Zhong was confused, his head buzzing.
He had gotten rid of the idea of breaking his orifices and opening his mansion a long time ago, thinking that it would be great to be able to live the rest of his life in peace.
In his old age, he had even less thoughts.
But now that Wang Chen had said this, Uncle Zhong suddenly realized that in the deepest part of his heart, there was still a desire lurking.
Once he succeeded in breaking his orifices and opening his house, his lifespan immediately doubled.
Then, if one could not die, who would be willing to wait for death?
He opened his mouth, but realized that he could not speak at all.
Wang Chen smiled and said, “Uncle Zhong, you don’t need to tell me the answer now, go back and think about it, and as long as you are willing, I will give you back a top grade Orifice Breaking Pill in exchange!”
A top-grade Orifice Breaking Pill was something that could be exchanged for Hoon Points.
Wang Chen happened to have this amount of hun points!
But the prerequisite was that Zhong Bo had the courage and fighting spirit to break the cauldron and live to the death.
Otherwise it would be for nothing!