"Can you take me there?"
"No problem!" Star nodded.
"Let's go!" Without any extra words, He Yiming stepped into the air, rising on his flying sword.
After thinking for a moment, He Yiming tied a rope to the back of Mingyue, fashioned a lasso at the other end, and threw it down.
"Tie this to your body," he said casually.
"Uh... alright." Star was caught off guard but complied.
"Ahhh!" Star let out a startled cry as He Yiming shot into the sky, dragging him behind the flying sword.
"Hold the grass! Brother Star has taken off!"
"Fuck, I want to fly too!"
"Brother Ming, take me! Let me fly with you!"
A chorus of envy followed below as the players watched the scene. Ignoring the chaos, He Yiming soared for several miles until he reached a cave.
"This is it," Star confirmed with a nod.
As soon as they stepped inside, a damp, musty odor filled He Yiming's nose. Patches of old monster fur and scattered bones littered the ground.
It was clearly a python's lair.
Not long after they went deeper, a faint light began to glow ahead.
"Light." He Yiming lifted his left hand and released a soft illumination technique.
In its glow, a large pit came into view. Spirit stones were embedded along the walls and floor, faintly glimmering.
"It really is a spirit stone vein!" He Yiming's eyes lit up. Spirit stones were the very lifeblood of cultivation.
Back at Haotian Academy, he'd spend entire days copying notes just to earn two or three stones. Yet here, they were everywhere, waiting to be mined.
Of course, He Yiming had no plans to dig them himself.
He returned to the camp beside the chariot and immediately gathered the players.
"Disciples…
Thanks to inner disciple Star's efforts, not only was a powerful late stage Spirit Vein beast defeated, but a spirit stone vein has also been discovered.
If you're not skilled in battle, head over and help excavate the spirit stones.
Each one you turn in to the sect will be rewarded!"
As he spoke, He Yiming posted a new task.
[Sect Mission: Excavating Spirit Stones
Goal: Mine 5 spirit stones and deposit them in the chariot's warehouse.
Reward: 100 Contribution Points]
The players immediately broke into excited chatter.
"Hold the grass… are we becoming miners now?"
"Five stones for 100 contribution points? This is way better than hunting beasts!"
"I-I-I'm in! Sign me up!"
Excited voices spread quickly as players began volunteering en masse.
"In addition, if you come across any spirit grass or natural treasures while exploring, submit them to the sect. I'll inspect and reward you accordingly," He Yiming added, releasing another task.
[Sect Mission: Collect Spirit Grass
Goal: Gather low grade spirit grass over one year old and deposit it in the chariot's warehouse.
Reward: 100 Contribution Points per year of age]
Another cheer erupted from the crowd.
He Yiming smiled faintly.
The Star Group had just found two stalks of spirit grass, each seven years old.
One of them, Blood Tooth Grass, was a key ingredient in the Body Forging Pill. Once his sect's own cultivated supply matured, he could begin refining. If luck was on his side, top grade pills could even be produced.
Many players, like Indomitable Bear, had already reached the fifth level of Body Forging. The highest level among them, due to those who didn't die in the Sea Race invasion, was the tenth.
To reach that peak using contribution points alone would cost more than 2000 points.
But with a single top grade Body Forging Pill? That was enough.
He Yiming planned to buy the seven year Blood Tooth Grass for 700 points. Auxiliary materials would cost another 300.
So, for a total of 1000 points, he could refine two or three pills in one batch.
And then?
He'd sell them to the players at 1000 points per pill.
Three pills, 3000 points. Minus the 1000 point cost. That was a 200 percent profit.
"Hmm… I let the players collect the grass, I buy it cheap, refine it, and sell it back at a high price…
That way, I avoid risk, save time, and earn more… almost like three birds with one stone.
Hey, I'm the Sect Master. If I don't do this, who will?"
He Yiming's face was the picture of righteousness.
"A one year old Spirit Grass is worth 100 points?"
"Fuck, I've been wasting time fighting monsters. Foraging is clearly the real moneymaker!"
"I get it now… I really do!"
The players suddenly understood. Fighting was just one path. Foraging was the key to true profit.
"And this is just the outer perimeter. Our real goal lies deeper, hundreds of miles into the Hundred Thousand Mountains.
Right now, none of you are strong enough.
Disciples, use this time. Sharpen yourselves. Grow stronger. Only then will you be able to face what lies ahead!"
He Yiming's impassioned words ignited the players once more.
They had slain forty or fifty monsters that morning, but in this massive forest, that was barely scratching the surface.
Even the furthest group, Star's team, had only ventured two miles deep.
The system mission required them to advance 100 miles in seven days. Their rewards would depend on how quickly and efficiently they could do it.
At their current pace, they might not even make it halfway. Even if they did, a low completion grade would mean weak rewards.
He Yiming knew it was time.
He needed to personally step in.