Chapter 33: Xiaobai? Why are you here?
Qingye Market.
It is one of the largest markets on the outskirts of Jialan Sand Land, close to Xuan Province.
As Lu Bai landed, a Cultivator with a mustache approached him, mysteriously asking, "Fellow Daoist, do you want a plate?"
Lu Bai was stunned. Do they sell these in the Cultivation world too?
"What types are there?" he asked casually, pretending to be unconcerned.
The mustached man felt a bit confused. Aren't Xunjin Plates all the same?
No!
He suddenly remembered there was a special kind that could even locate ore deposits buried deep in underground springs. But that kind of Xunjin Plate was extremely expensive, held by large Sects, and impossible to sell in a place like this.
The mustached man felt Lu Bai was teasing him, so he said impatiently, "Only the standard model!"
"Then forget it, I like Advanced ones," Lu Bai said, then walked towards the market.
The mustached man curled his lips, secretly cursing him as a show-off. Even if there were such a thing, could you afford it?
...
The market was bustling, with over a dozen streets crisscrossing, and shops everywhere.
In the center, there was a concentrated area of stalls, like a farmers' market.
That was also where information spread.
Lu Bai strolled for half an hour and managed to inquire about everything related to finding ore.
First, he bought a pictorial guide.
It detailed all the abundant resources found in Jialan Sand Land.
Lu Bai combined this with the actual items at the stalls, not aiming to memorize everything, but at least to get familiar with them so he could recognize them when he encountered them.
Second, he spent ten Spirit Stones to ask the owner of the pictorial guide how everyone found ore.
The owner said there were three methods.
One, Gold Gazing Art.
This was a theory that had slowly formed over tens of thousands of years, incredibly profound. Even those without talent, no matter how diligently they studied, might not even get started.
Therefore, most people simply used the 'Xunjin Plate' refined by artificers for simple applications.
Hearing the words 'Xunjin Plate', Lu Bai suddenly understood.
So, the guy selling plates was selling this thing!
Two, Water, Wood, and Earth Cultivation Techniques.
Most mineral deposits are buried in the earth, a small portion in water, and the most bizarre kind grows on trees. Those with these three elemental Cultivation Techniques would have an advantage.
Three, Treasure-Hunting Spirit Beasts.
Spirit Beasts belong to the Yao Race, only tamed by the Human Race. Some possess innate skills that can serve special purposes. Treasure hunting is one of them.
Lu Bai frowned after listening.
He didn't possess any of these three!
"Besides these, are there any other methods?"
"Of course there are!"
"What are they?" Lu Bai's eyes lit up.
"I don't know!" The owner spread his hands. "If I knew, I'd have been rich long ago."
"Heh, you're truly humorous!"
...
Lu Bai casually went to a stall, picked up a dark, lumpy iron chunk, and examined it repeatedly.
"Are you buying or not?" The owner grew impatient.
"What is this used for?"
"Artifact Refining!"
"Oh! I felt it was full of energy, and thought it was for Cultivation!"
"This one is for Cultivation." The owner handed Lu Bai a crystal that looked like white sugar.
Lu Bai took it and sensed it, feeling it was even less effective than the previous one.
His heart stirred, and he activated his 'Swallowing Skill'.
Hiss! Hiss!
Waves of energy came from both hands simultaneously, but the iron lump was clearly superior.
Then, Lu Bai deactivated the Swallowing Skill, only absorbing normally.
The result surprised him greatly!
He couldn't absorb anything from the iron lump.
Although he could absorb from the other piece, it wasn't much, only slightly better than a Spirit Stone.
What did this indicate?
It indicated that even if a non-Cultivation type of ore contained abundant energy, it couldn't be used by others.
However!
That was for others.
Lu Bai was different; he possessed the 'Swallowing Skill'. As long as there was energy, he could absorb it.
Thinking of this, his heart was filled with excitement.
"I'll take this ugly thing."
Next, Lu Bai searched stall by stall. He took all items that were rich in energy and inexpensive.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
After absorbing everything, Lu Bai's Cultivation reached the Peak of Qi Layer Four.
He couldn't wait to absorb more.
But he only had a hundred Spirit Stones left, which basically couldn't buy anything.
Forget it! I'll go find it myself!
Originally, he thought finding ore only earned contribution points, and only by hunting demons and swallowing demon cores could he Cultivate. Now, it was great; finding ore could do both, which was truly wonderful!
...
"Fellow Daoist, do you still have plates?"
Lu Bai returned to the market entrance, found the mustached Cultivator, and asked, rubbing his hands.
The mustached man turned his head and looked.
He said indifferently, "Don't you prefer Advanced ones?"
"Uh!" Lu Bai was slightly embarrassed. He rubbed his nose and said, "I'm used to eating abalone and sea cucumber, but occasionally tasting fungus and tofu isn't bad either."
"Fifty Spirit Stones, no bargaining!"
Of course, the mustached man wouldn't turn away business.
"Here!"
Lu Bai paid generously, then took the Xunjin Plate and examined it carefully.
"How do I use it?"
"See this water column in the middle? If you encounter an ore deposit, it will rise. The richer the reserves and the higher the value, the higher it will rise."
"It's that simple?"
"Otherwise?"
Lu Bai felt that fifty Spirit Stones were likely wasted.
This thing looked like nothing but an intelligence tax.
If it were truly useful, the ore deposits in Jialan Sand Land would have been dug dry long ago if people just wandered around with it.
...
Behind the market was the entrance to Jialan Sand Land.
Lu Bai bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt, rubbing it. It felt sandier than ordinary dirt.
The terrain here was mostly hills and plains, and the vegetation was not very lush, possibly related to constant digging over the years.
He randomly chose a direction and flew inward.
Along the way, he encountered many Cultivators, all holding a Xunjin Plate, trying it here and there.
Lu Bai also pulled his out.
The water column remained motionless!
Although he had been flying for a long time, this area was still the outer region, long since thoroughly explored, so there couldn't be any ore deposits left.
Lu Bai continued to go deeper.
Two days later, he still found nothing. In fact, the water column of the Xunjin Plate hadn't moved once.
This made him a bit disheartened!
Huh? What is that place?
Lu Bai suddenly saw a cluster of buildings from high in the sky.
Were there people permanently stationed inside the sand land too?
Lu Bai flew towards the buildings.
Upon arriving, he saw a large flag fluttering in the wind, with the characters 'Xuanqing' written on it.
Oh! So it's the main base of my Xuanqing Sect!
Lu Bai knew the Sect had such a stronghold, but he didn't know its exact location. He hadn't expected to stumble upon it by accident.
Then I'll go in and take a look! Maybe I can get some useful information.
There were identity checks at the entrance. Lu Bai handed over his identity token and was immediately allowed to pass.
He entered, and before he could even look around, he heard a voice.
"Xiao Bai? Why are you her
e?"