Xuantian 1: Ancient Xuandongtian

Chapter 284 Forgetting the Past and Cherishing the Present
When the lioness saw that her waiting had been in vain, she raised another of her cubs as a young lion.

1. Mining Problems
"Senior Song, I'm very tired lately, could I ask for two days off?"

Sheng Sheng looked distressed.

"It can't be approved."

Song Zhong sighed and said, "Xu Bo is dead, and Dan Bing is missing."

Two major gaps have appeared in our mine.

Furthermore, Liu Hu and I also have to devote our energy to maintaining our relationship with the Falcon Gang, so where would we find manpower to mobilize?

Are you suggesting we promote ordinary miners to work for us?

Should we look for someone among the children in the back hill?

Sheng Sheng immediately disagreed, saying, "No way! A cultivator is a cultivator, no matter how low their cultivation level is, they are still a cultivator."

No matter how busy or how tightly things are running,

Nor can ordinary people be promoted.

First of all, their cognitive level is on a completely different dimension from ours. We think about immortality, while they think about gold and silver treasures.

They're not even on the same path.
Using it recklessly will inevitably lead to disaster.

As for the kids on the back hill, forget about them.

First of all, he is too young.

Secondly, that's Lord Soul Reaper's private property; it's definitely not appropriate for us to discuss it beforehand.

Sheng Sheng said quickly.

"That's right. I don't believe he's buying cultivation techniques, attacking spirit stones, and renovating dormitories for these children just to be a great philanthropist."

That's simply impossible.

"Then what was his motivation?"

"I'm guessing he must be a direct descendant of a certain family, but he lost power because of something and was kicked out. Then he accumulated strength and will go back to regain his dignity."

Song Zhong reasoned and analyzed.

"Huh? Even with someone this strong, his family doesn't want him? Just how strong must his family be?"

Sheng Sheng asked.

"You're oversimplifying things. This isn't a matter of strength or weakness."

Smaller families might be able to anchor resources and succession order based on strength, but for medium-sized immortal families and above, the future resource allocation and inheritance order are definitely determined from birth.

They will never overturn the clan policy established long ago just because you are exceptionally talented.

Because the Lesser Immortals need to be enterprising, while the Middle Immortals need to be enterprising while maintaining stability. Stability is one thing, and enterprising is another.

As for large immortal clans, those with tens of thousands of spirit pills as their foundation, stability is absolutely paramount.

Sheng Sheng then asked, "What is the Immortal Clan? What's the difference between them and sects? I've never heard of them before."

"It's normal that you haven't heard of the Immortal Clan. Let me put it this way: the Immortal Clan is a high-quality small group, and it's a private right."

Sects are large, equal groups with public authority.

"Oh, I understand, I understand."

Sheng Sheng replied.

He added, "Then what about our work? Are we just going to tough it out like this? Or should we report it?"

“If you can’t hold on any longer, go and report it, but I think with his eyesight, he can figure it out himself.”

"…good…"

Sheng Sheng was about to answer when he was interrupted by a voice.

"Mr. Song is truly a genius; he even managed to figure out that I would notice it myself."

Then, a young man emerged from the shadows.

Wearing a blue feather swallow robe, with embroidery of blazing sun and white clouds embroidered on the chest, collar, and cuffs, it was none other than Mu Hanchan.

Sheng Sheng first noticed the tall figure, then recognized the face, and immediately bowed, saying, "Lord Ku Ling Envoy!"

"No need for such formalities!"

With one hand behind her back and the other casually waved, Mu Hanchan asked, "You've been having a lot of trouble lately, haven't you? I'm sure you've had a tough time."

Sheng Sheng thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, a little, but if there's really no other way, I can hold on a little longer, but I really can't take it any longer."

"okay, I get it."

He then tossed a spirit stone to Sheng Sheng.
He said, "I won't let anyone work for nothing. Take this mid-grade spirit stone. After a few days, when you've recovered, cultivate properly."

"Thank you, thank you, Lord Soul Reaper!"

Sheng Sheng was extremely excited, seemingly forgetting all the hardships he had endured before.

After appeasing Sheng Sheng,
Mu Hanchan then turned to Song Zhong and asked, "Mr. Song, when I first arrived two years ago, I heard that there was a female cultivator at the lake fifty miles away from the mine, around the twelfth level of the Condensation Realm, who was also one of our managers?"

The tone, which sounded like confirmation, carried a hint of doubt.

"Yes, if you remember correctly, there is such a female cultivator. The lake she manages is called Diling Lake, and she is in charge of washing some third-grade spirit stones."

"What about the first and second grade spirit stones?"

Mu Hanchan seemed not to understand and asked.

"First and second-grade spirit stones can be used directly for cultivation, just like porridge mixed with bran. You can still eat it when you're extremely hungry, and it will even keep you alive for a short time."

However, for long-term cultivation, low-grade spirit stones are required.

Grade 3 spirit stones are like food covered in mud and sand; they must be washed clean first.

After saying that, he glanced at Sheng Sheng, who was holding a mid-grade spirit stone, and was also impressed by Mu Hanchan's generosity and magnanimity.

"Her exact location?"

“43 degrees southeast, 47 li.”

Having received the reply, Mu Hanchan immediately returned home, preparing to go early in the morning.

Before leaving, Mu Hanchan suddenly said, "Mr. Song, your deduction about the Immortal Clan is very reasonable, almost close to the truth."

But you overlooked the most important point.
That means I belong to a sect, not the immortal race.

Song Zhong watched Mu Hanchan's departing figure, opened his mouth, but said nothing.

2. Lakeside Beauty
The next morning, Mu Hanchan arrived at Diling Lake.

A light mist hung over the lake, lingering for a long time, giving it an ethereal feel while also obscuring the view.

There is a small island in the middle of the lake, which looks to be about thirty feet in size.

The island is about two hundred feet from the lake.

Mu Hanchan hesitated for a moment, then found a small boat nearby and used her spiritual power to steer it, quickly approaching the island.

Actually, it's not that he can't leap into the air and fly towards the center of the island at full speed.

It wasn't impossible to skim across the water and quickly step over. But after thinking about it, he decided against it.

"who are you?"

A young woman in charge of washing the stones asked.

The young woman was an ordinary human, with a thick waist, sloping shoulders, small eyes, and a round face, and she appeared to weigh about 150 pounds.

"I am a new manager under Mr. Song, and I need to communicate with your manager about some work-related matters."

Mu Hanchan replied.

"Oh? Then go to the other side of the lake. She's practicing her skills by the spring in the valley."

"Okay, thanks."

Mu Hanchan thanked them and then left.
I also took a look at the situation in the center of the island. The Spirit Cleansing Array, Spirit Testing Array, Spirit Dividing Array, and Spirit Merging Array were all there.

It is a complete process of cleaning the spirit stones.

"Although the people here did not report to me in person, they were not neglecting their duties."

Mu Hanchan thought to herself.

After crossing the lake, we arrived at the other side.

The environment changed dramatically in an instant, from the original yellowish-brown wood and plants to a light blue-green hue.

"What a place with abundant spiritual energy."

Mu Hanchan couldn't help but make her own assessment.

Following the winding path, Mu Hanchan slowly walked forward on the stone steps. After turning three times, she discovered a clear spring.

Beside the clear spring, a young woman sat cross-legged.

Her posture was upright and graceful, her hands were crossed in a mudra, and her expression was focused and clear.

"Huh?"

Mu Hanchan couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Since he entered the world of cultivation, he has never seen a female cultivator with such focused and standardized cultivation demeanor and rituals.

The woman was also startled. After opening her eyes, she asked, "Who is it?"

His words were neither surprised nor flustered.

"Excuse me, I'm here to help Mr. Song with some matters."

"Mr. Song? You mean Senior Song?"

The woman stood up; her figure was tall and slender, surpassing that of ordinary women.

"Yes."

"You're the new Soul Reaper, aren't you?"

The woman thought for a moment and then asked.

"what?"

Mu Hanchan was surprised again, wondering where the problem lay and how her identity had been revealed right away.
"Within the Kuling Mine, no one ever calls Song Zhong 'Senior.' Cultivators call him 'Senior,' while miners and foremen call him 'Master.'"

"Sir" is a phrase reserved for you.

"And I've heard that the newly arrived envoy from the upper sect is very young and possesses great cultivation. Judging from your appearance and aura, you must be that envoy from the upper sect, right?"

Mu Hanchan could only admit, "Yes, it was me."

"Greetings, Lord Kuling Envoy."

The woman bowed.

Mu Hanchan returned the greeting.

"I would like to ask, is there some problem with the mine?"

"The mine is short-staffed right now and needs you to go back and help."

Mu Hanchan said.

"So who will take over here?"

"There are no candidates at the moment."

Mu Hanchan frowned.

"So, are we going to give up on Diling Lake?" the woman asked again.

“Um… I think that third-grade spirit stones are really not worth much, and you are just wasting manpower here.”

"You're wrong. That's what you see, not the truth."

"Oh?"

“In the surrounding hundreds of miles, or even further, working in the mines is the only way to make a living.”

If Diling Lake is closed, many people will be idle, and a family or one person may not be able to support themselves. What will happen then?
Are you sending these mortals to fight monsters?

Mu Hanchan frowned, speechless for a moment.

From his perspective, "What does this have to do with me?"

However, he subconsciously didn't want to say those words aloud.

So he said, "Then let's go back first and discuss it with Mr. Song to see if he has any ideas."

"it is good."

So the woman went back with Mu Hanchan.

Kuling Mine.

“I have a nephew who lives three thousand miles away. If Lord Kuling is willing, I will immediately send a message to him by carrier pigeon and ask him to come and take over the supervision of Diling Lake.”

Upon hearing Mu Hanchan's question about whether there were any available manpower, Song Zhong immediately replied.

Actually, he had wanted to arrange manpower for a long time, but he had never dared to. He took this opportunity to settle his family members.

"Okay, then let's do it this way."

...

"Why do you seem a little unhappy?" the woman asked.

Mu Hanchan replied, "Because they are of no value to me."

"Not necessarily. You may think that keeping them is worthless, but without them, the ecological balance of the nearby villages will be affected. In that case, it would be better to give them a job as spirit cleaners to support them."

"You're right."

Mu Hanchan admitted it, then asked, "Fellow Daoist, what is your name?"

"My surname is Qin, and my given name is Xi."

"Oh, Qin Xi, what a lovely name."