Rise of the Wang Clan: Starting with a Portable Farm

Chapter 196: Who is Mining the Spirit Stone Vein?

The Spirit Stones used by cultivators did not come out of the ground in neat, uniform rectangles. In nature, they were raw ore—large, irregular chunks of crystal embedded in rock.

The breathing of Wang Hao’s group grew heavy.

“A Spirit Stone vein?”

In the cultivation world, the value of rare metals fluctuated, but Spirit Stones were the universal currency. A mine like this was essentially a license to print money.

Wang Hao’s heart raced. He smashed another rock against the wall, revealing the crystalline structure inside. He examined it closely. Confirmed. Most of the ore radiated a faint green hue—Wood Attribute Spirit Stones—but about twenty percent sparkled with other elemental colors.

The total reserves were unknown, but just from a cursory glance, there were dozens of Low-Grade raw ores exposed in this small cavern alone. Once processed, these rocks would be worth nearly a hundred Spirit Stones.

If Wang Hao simply smashed his way along the vein, he could potentially harvest thousands of Spirit Stones a day.

Of course, mining wasn’t that simple. The rock encasing the ore was incredibly dense, requiring at least a Tier 2 Magical Artifact to shatter efficiently.

However, cultivators had tools for this. Specialized mining picks could pry the raw stone from the bedrock, and even Tier 1 artifacts could do the job, albeit slowly. Mortal laborers, if equipped with the right tools and supervised by cultivators, could also do the heavy lifting. Without mortal labor, cultivators would work themselves to death trying to extract every stone.

“We’re rich!” Wang Wenjiang whispered, his eyes wide. “The family is going to prosper!”

“But… doesn’t the Qingyuan Sect prohibit vassal families from mining Spirit Stone veins?” Wang Wuxiang countered, his brow furrowed in worry. “If we don’t report this, we’ll end up like the Shen family of Wolf Mountain. Once discovered, it’s instant annihilation!”

“Hmph! Reporting it gets us what? A single Foundation Establishment Pill?” Wang Wenjiang scoffed. “Even a micro-vein holds hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones. You want to trade a mountain of gold for a single pill? I say we keep it. The Qingyuan Sect has sealed its mountain gates. If we’re careful, who will ever know?”

After the initial euphoria, the reality of the situation set in. They looked to Wang Hao for a decision.

Wang Hao was deep in thought.

Control over Spirit Stone veins was the prerogative of Golden Core sects. By controlling the supply of currency, a sect could manipulate the local economy like a central bank. Whether they mined it or hoarded it, they won.

The Leizhou Peninsula was a relatively undeveloped frontier. Thousands of years ago, the Qingyuan region was wild and untamed. Even today, few major veins had been discovered. The Qingyuan Sect controlled only four: one medium and three small mines.

A small vein typically held between one and three million Spirit Stones. A medium vein could hold up to ten million. On paper, the Qingyuan Sect was incredibly wealthy.

But wealth in the ground was different from wealth in hand. Without mobilizing massive armies of mortal laborers, extracting that wealth took centuries. A medium mine might only yield a few tens of thousands of stones per year.

Still, resources were the foundation of power.

The Blazing Heaven Sect and the Infinite Palace controlled more mines, but they lacked the Qingyuan Sect’s consolidated power. Resources mattered, but people mattered more.

Wang Hao wanted this mine.

If Wang Guang’an successfully formed his Golden Core, the Wang Clan would have the strength to hold this territory openly. If he failed, Wang Hao was confident he could reach the Golden Core stage himself within a few decades. Until then, secrecy was key.

This area was desolate. Few cultivators passed through, and fewer still burrowed underground. If the Two-Tailed Scorpion hadn’t dragged them down here, this vein might have remained hidden for another thousand years.

“Stop arguing,” Wang Hao said, his voice cutting through the debate. “If the Heavens offer a gift and you refuse it, you invite disaster. We found this vein. There is no reason to hand it over to anyone else.”

Wang Wenjiang and Wang Wenzhu grinned. Wang Wuxiang looked anxious but nodded slowly.

“Think about it,” Wang Hao continued. “What restricts a family’s growth besides population?”

“Resources,” Wang Wenjiang answered immediately. “Without resources, we can’t train new disciples.”

“Exactly. This mine is critical for the Wang Clan’s future. Furthermore, Spirit Stone deposits usually sit atop Spirit Veins. Judging by the Qi leaking from the walls, there’s likely a Tier 2 High-Grade—or even Tier 3—Spirit Vein down here.”

Wang Hao placed his hand against the cold stone, feeling the pulse of energy beneath. “This is worth the gamble.”

He turned to the group, his expression serious. “We return to the family immediately. Remember: not a word of this leaves your lips. Do not brag to other clansmen. This secret stays with us.”

The juniors nodded solemnly, understanding the stakes.

Just as they moved to collect the scorpion carcass, Wang Hao froze.

Habitually, he had opened his System Map to check for nearby Demon Beasts.

What he saw stopped his heart.

Not far from their position, the darkness of the underground map was pierced by a dense network of tunnels.

Mining tunnels.

Wang Hao’s blood ran cold. The Wang Clan wasn’t the first to find this vein.

“Stop!” Wang Hao whispered sharply. “Don’t move. Don’t make a sound.”

The group froze instantly, tension flooding the cavern. They exchanged glances, realizing the implication. Someone was already here.

Who?

If it were the Qingyuan Sect, the area would be a restricted zone, heavily guarded and marked. It had to be a rogue operation.

Of the six families in Falling Phoenix Valley, only the Liu and Tang families remained. It was almost certainly one of them.

Wang Hao sent a mental transmission: “Stay here. I’m going to investigate.”

Before they could respond, his figure blurred and merged into the stone wall using an Earth Escape technique.

Moments later, he emerged into a man-made tunnel. The chisel marks on the walls confirmed his fears. This claim had been staked.

If this were an iron or copper mine, Wang Hao might have walked away. But a Spirit Stone vein? That was the foundation of a Golden Core family. He wouldn’t give it up without a fight.

Suppressing his aura to the absolute limit, Wang Hao crept deeper into the mine.

He reached a junction where five tunnels branched off into the darkness. He chose the one that looked the freshest. The tunnel wasn’t pitch black; phosphorescent ores embedded in the walls cast a dim, multi-colored glow, illuminating the path.

The System Map showed terrain and beasts, but it didn’t show cultivators. He had to rely on his own senses.

He didn’t have to go far.

He stopped.

Ahead, his Divine Sense picked up the distinct auras of over a dozen cultivators… and the heavy, labored breathing of hundreds of mortals.