Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

The core area of ​​the back mountain of Cangyun Mountain.

Lin Zhao and Yan Chiheng passed through the last barrier of the market, and the view suddenly opened up before them.

This is a mine shaft that slopes downwards into the ground, with moonstone embedded in the walls to illuminate the winding stone steps.

The two ventured deeper into the mine, passing through the three layers of restrictions once again—each layer requiring Lin Zhao's guardian token to pass through.

After walking for about several miles, Yan Chiheng suddenly stopped and looked around.

On the stone walls on both sides of the mine, traces of mining can still be faintly seen, but most of them have dried up, leaving only some small fragments of spirit stones embedded in the rock crevices, emitting a faint spiritual light.

"This second-tier spirit stone mine in the sect looks abandoned to me," Yan Chiheng said, touching the stone wall. "There aren't many spirit stones here."

Lin Zhao nodded: "You're right, this mine is semi-abandoned."

As he walked, he explained, "This used to be a third-tier spirit stone mine of the sect. It was mined for hundreds of years and was basically all gone."

However, given its foundation as a third-tier spirit mine, the sect sent a Core Formation cultivator to set up a special third-tier formation, allowing it to continue producing spirit stones—mainly mid-grade spirit stones, and occasionally even high-grade spirit stones.

Yan Chiheng's eyes lit up: "High-grade spirit stones? Those are the hard currency of Core Formation cultivators! A lot of them can be exchanged for third-tier spirit items, or even directly for Core Formation resources!"

Lin Zhao glanced at him: "It's a pity we can't get it."

Why?

"This formation was personally set up by a Core Formation cultivator from the sect. It is integrated with the entire spiritual vein. Even a true Core Formation cultivator might not be able to break through it."

Even if it were possible, the moment the formation is broken, it will destroy both the attacker and the spirit mine. Normally, without a guardian token, it's impossible to enter this core area.

Yan Chiheng clicked his tongue and said with some regret, "That Core Formation cultivator must be practicing a fire-attribute technique. He has such a bad temper."

The two continued deeper into the mine, and after walking several more miles, the mine suddenly opened up.

Before us was a massive cave, thousands of feet in diameter, with a dome tens of feet high. The cave walls were inlaid with countless fluorescent stones, making it as bright as day.

In the center of the cave is a five-zhang-high altar, made entirely of green jade, with intricate runes carved on its surface.

The altar is in operation.

Beams of spiritual light, visible to the naked eye, surged from the ground, converging along the runes to the top of the altar; these were mid-grade spirit stones.

The spirit stones accumulated, forming a small heap that emitted a soft, milky-white light.

"Is this the core of the formation?" Yan Chiheng leaned closer to examine it.

Lin Zhao nodded, took out the bronze token used to guard the altar, and waved it at the altar.

A crack immediately appeared at the top of the altar, and the pile of mid-grade spirit stones turned into a stream of light and was sucked into the token.

"One of the duties of the garrison commander is to collect mid-grade spirit stones regularly."

Lin Zhao waved the token. "This thing is also a special storage artifact, specifically for storing spirit stones. The amount produced is counted and reported by the town guard. As long as it's not too excessive, the sect won't hold it against you."

Yan Chiheng chuckled: "Then wouldn't it be possible to pocket some?"

Lin Zhao shook his head: "It's not that simple. Xu Chuan works in the Qiankun Hall, and he secretly told me that the sect actually knows exactly how many mid-grade spirit stones this place produces each year."

This is the default fee allocated to the town's guardians for operating the market, but if it exceeds a certain threshold, the sect will calculate the principal and interest together.

The last garrison commander was only able to be easily taken down because he was tempted by high-grade spirit stones.

He paused, then looked deeper into the altar—where an even more dazzling light shone, protected by a pale golden shimmer.

Dozens of fist-sized spirit stones could be vaguely seen floating within, emanating a chilling spiritual energy fluctuation.

"The high-grade spirit stones are over there," Lin Zhao pointed. "They're protected by an array, so I can't move them at all. Every so often, the Qiankun Palace will send someone to collect them."

Yan Chiheng stared at the dozens of high-grade spirit stones, his eyes filled with longing: "What a pity, I can see them but can't touch them."

Lin Zhao smiled and said, "What's there to regret? At least we've secured the position of garrison commander. We can slowly accumulate cultivation resources before reaching the Core Formation stage using mid-grade spirit stones. Besides..."

He paused, deliberately drawing out the sound.

Yan Chiheng urged him, "And what else? Speak quickly!"

"In addition to contribution points, guarding the town also grants an extra high-grade spirit stone per year."

Lin Zhao said slowly, "Over time, you can gradually accumulate it, but as for someone... as an ordinary disciple stationed in this market, they don't have this privilege."

Yan Chiheng's eyes widened: "That's not fair! Why?!"

The two wrestled and played around in the mine for a while, until Yan Chiheng finally conceded, "Alright, alright, you're amazing! How about this, I can come here to cultivate often from now on? The spiritual energy concentration here is almost comparable to a third-tier spiritual vein!"

Lin Zhao nodded: "Okay, but you have to help me with the work."

"What kind of work?"

Lin Zhao didn't answer immediately, but instead took something out of her storage bag.

A black pool, about three zhang square, appeared out of thin air and landed steadily on the empty ground in the corner.

The pool was carved from a single piece of black jade, with densely engraved runes along its edges, gleaming with a dark luster under the moonstone.

The pool was empty, with only a thin layer of spiritual liquid at the bottom.

However, the pool itself exuded a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation—the aura of a magical artifact, though somewhat weak, it was still terrifying.

Yan Chiheng's eyes widened: "This is... a third-tier magic weapon?"

"It used to be." Lin Zhao patted the pool wall. "Now it's fallen to the level of a quasi-magic weapon. It hasn't been maintained for three hundred years, and the array patterns inside the magic weapon are cracked."

He briefly recounted the story of the ancient hermit's cave, and Yan Chiheng clicked his tongue in amazement: "Impressive! You quietly acquired a near-magic weapon. If it's repaired, it'll be a genuine third-tier magic weapon!"

Lin Zhao nodded: "That's why I brought it here. This mine has a formation that gathers spiritual energy, so it's rich in spiritual power and can be slowly nurtured and repaired."

He paused, looked at Yan Chiheng, and a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes: "However, I have an idea."

"explain."

"This Spirit Gathering Pool was originally designed to gather spiritual energy from heaven and earth and condense spiritual liquid, but now it has fallen, and the array patterns are damaged..."

Lin Zhao slowly said, "What do you think about turning it into a 'Thunder Gathering Pool'?"

Yan Chiheng was stunned.

He stared at the black pool of water, his gaze gradually turning serious: "Are you... preparing for the Core Formation Tribulation?"

Lin Zhao nodded.

"The heavenly lightning that strikes the Core Formation stage is no joke."

His voice was calm, but Yan Chiheng could hear the seriousness in it. "We are definitely not content with ordinary Golden Core formation, but the more we gain, the more we have to pay. The Heavenly Tribulation of a high-grade Golden Core can lead to death and annihilation if we are not careful."

He gazed at the Spirit Gathering Pool with a profound look in his eyes: "If one could refine a Thunder Gathering Pool of the Dharma Treasure level, one could use the power of thunder to cleanse oneself, tempering one's physical body, soul, and magical power."

When facing tribulation in the future, perhaps it can be used to weaken some of the heavenly lightning—and thus increase the chances of successfully forming the core.