Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

Chapter 553 Hundred Rivers Mining Array

Baihe Prefecture is located south of Shui Prefecture. To travel from Liang Prefecture, one must bypass the Jueling Zone on the western edge of Shui Prefecture and fly southeast along the southern foothills of the mountain range.

As the light streaked across the border of Shuizhou, the concentration of spiritual energy suddenly dropped. The effects of the severed spiritual energy in Shuizhou were particularly noticeable at the border, significantly increasing the spiritual energy consumption of the light. Li Yuan accelerated his speed to cross this section, and the concentration of spiritual energy only returned to normal after entering the territory of Baihezhou.

The terrain of Baihe Prefecture is completely different from that of Liang Prefecture.

Vast, rolling hills and low mountains cover most of the state, their bare, dark brown rock layers exposed and sparsely vegetated. Occasionally, a few mine pits can be seen scattered among the mountains, surrounded by simple shacks and ore transport roads, with a few monks moving about in the mines.

It is rich in mineral resources, but its geographical location is remote.

To the north lies the watery region, devoid of spiritual energy. While some areas to the east connect to the sea, a massive mountain range blocks this connection, its spiritual veins hindering any potential passage. To the west lie mountains infested with demonic beasts, frequently lurking with second- and even third-tier creatures. Besieged on three sides, Baihe Prefecture's supplies can only be transported through a narrow passage to the southwest.

It is remote and isolated, but it is not lacking in minerals.

Li Yuan landed on the outskirts of a valley according to the coordinates provided by the cultivator surnamed Lu.

Two Foundation Establishment stage cultivators were on duty at the entrance of the valley. Upon seeing the light descend, one of them stepped forward and bowed.

"Could it be Senior Li from the Tianyue Sect? Clan Chief Lu is already waiting in the valley."

"lead the way."

After walking about half a mile along a stone path carved out of the valley, the view suddenly opened up.

The valley has been widened by human intervention, creating an open space about 100 zhang square. In the center of the space stands a three-story stone building, surrounded by more than ten stone houses and warehouses.

This is a medium-sized mine site.

The cultivator surnamed Lu walked out of the stone building, followed by a male cultivator in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm with an aged appearance.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you've arrived." The cultivator surnamed Lu cupped his hands and then stepped aside to introduce him, "This is my father, Fellow Daoist Lu Yang, the patriarch of the Lu family."

Lu Yang was not tall, with a thin face and a short, graying beard. His spiritual energy fluctuations, typical of someone in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, were calm and restrained. His eyes were bright, and he scrutinized Li Yuan with a critical gaze.

"I have long admired you. My son said that Fellow Daoist Li is a respected elder of the Tianyue Sect and has extremely high attainments in array formations. I have met you today and you are indeed a promising young man."

"You're too kind, Chief Lu."

2

After a few pleasantries, we got straight to the point.

Lu Yang took out a roll of blueprints from his storage bag and unfolded it on the table on the first floor of the stone building.

"The blueprints for the mineral vein production enhancement formation are here. Our family purchased the blueprints from an old formation master in Baihe Prefecture. The quality is acceptable, but we do not have a formation master with sufficient skill to set them up."

Li Yuan bent down to look at the blueprints.

The design concept of the blueprints is similar to the mineral enhancement arrays previously deployed in the sea area, but there are significant differences in the details.

The core structure also stimulates the condensation speed of spirit ore in the vein through the array of spiritual energy circuits, but the direction of the spiritual energy circuits is more complex and the number of nodes is greater.

"The blueprints are fine, we can start laying the fabric." Li Yuan straightened up. "How long will it take to prepare the materials?"

"All the materials are ready." Lu Yang pointed to the warehouse behind the stone building. "Only one matching magical artifact is still being crafted, and our family's craftsmen are working hard to finish it."

"What kind of magical artifact?"

"The core hub of the formation requires a special ore-guiding artifact to direct the concentrated energy of the spiritual ore in the vein into the formation's circuits. The specifications are marked on the blueprints, and our craftsmen will build it according to those specifications."

Li Yuan nodded.

"Then let's wait until the magical artifacts arrive before we begin."

Lu Yang arranged for someone to lead Li Yuan to a guest room at the camp to rest, and delivered a complete list of all the materials and items needed for setting up the formation to the room.

Li Yuan spent half a day checking the materials one by one and confirming that they were correct by comparing them with the requirements on the drawings.

The following morning, Lu Yang's son, Lu Ping, knocked on the door and came in, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"Fellow Daoist Li, there's a problem with the magic artifact."

"What's wrong?"

"The craftsman failed to forge it. The core component of the ore-guiding artifact exploded during the quenching process, rendering the material unusable. There are only two sets of spare materials left, and the craftsman said he's not very confident and wants to try again but is afraid it will explode again."

Li Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"Let me see the blueprints for the ritual implements."

Lu Ping paused for a moment, then took out a jade slip from his storage bag and handed it over.

Li Yuan probed in with his divine sense.

The crafting method for the ore-guiding artifact is not complicated, reaching the level of a low-grade third-tier item. The core difficulty lies in the quenching process. The main material of the artifact is a type of ore unique to Baihe Prefecture, which contains highly active spirit ore particles. If the temperature control is slightly off during quenching, it will cause a chain reaction of the particles, causing the entire material to shatter.

"I'll build it."

Lu Ping's expression changed from embarrassment to surprise.

"Fellow Daoist Li can also refine weapons?"

"Send over the spare materials."

Lu Ping didn't ask any further questions and turned to go out to make arrangements.

Half an hour later, all the materials for the two mineral-guiding artifacts were delivered to the room, and Li Yuan was invited to the weapon-refining room.

Li Yuan laid out the materials. The main material was a fist-sized piece of dark gray ore with scattered silver spots on its surface, and spirit ore particles irregularly distributed inside. The auxiliary materials were several common refining spirit metals and stabilizers.

The fire in the stove was lit.

With the Blazing Sun Flame Technique activated, the output frequency of fire-type spiritual energy was precisely controlled within the quenching temperature window marked on the blueprint. The technique of simultaneously injecting spiritual energy and shaping the ore during the minor completion stage of weapon crafting came into play here. Under the guidance of spiritual energy, the ore slowly melted, and the temperature changes were compressed to an extremely small range.

The smelting process then enters the quenching stage.

This is the crucial step that led to the craftsman's failure. The activity of the spirit ore particles increases dramatically at high temperatures, and the slightest mistake can trigger a chain reaction.

The activity of the particles gradually increases during the heating process, but is always kept below the critical value.

The quenching process is complete, and the magical weapon is formed.

A palm-sized, grayish-white disc with fine, intricate spiritual grooves on its surface, and a solidified silver spiritual ore crystal embedded in its center. The artifact's spiritual energy fluctuations are stable, indicating it meets quality standards.

Li Yuan picked up the magical artifact.

The moment the finger touched the surface of the magical artifact, a white-grade fluctuation emanated from it.

[Equipable item detected: Mineral Guide]

[Equipment Attribute Preview: Mining Resonance (White)]

[Effect: When within the range of a mineral vein, the accuracy of sensing the distribution of spirit ore is greatly improved.]

Li Yuan looked at the remaining materials, crafted another magical artifact, and then placed the artifact on the table.

White entries are made permanent.

[Mining Resonance (White) has become a permanent entry]

A scene flashed into his mind. A miner-cultivator held a similar spiritual artifact against the mine wall. The silver crystals on the surface of the artifact resonated with the spiritual ore particles inside the mine wall, and the distribution and direction of the spiritual ore in the vein appeared in the miner's perception like veins.

The frame is brief, and the gain is extremely small.

When Lu Ping came to collect the magical artifact, his expression changed from anticipation to shock upon seeing the finished product on the table.

"Is it finished?"

"Take it."

Lu Ping picked up the magical artifact and examined it carefully for a moment. He injected spiritual energy into it to test its quality, and his expression became increasingly surprised.

"The quality is better than the batch our craftsmen successfully made before." He looked at Li Yuan, "Fellow Daoist Li's skill in weapon crafting is quite high."

"It's usable, but it'll do."

Less than half an hour after Lu Ping took the magical artifact away, Lu Yang arrived in person.

"Fellow Daoist Li, I heard from my son that you are not only a formation master, but also a weapon refiner?"

"Make some of them."

Lu Yang sat down opposite Li Yuan.

"If I may be so bold as to ask, Fellow Daoist Li, would you be interested in taking on some long-term weapon-refining orders?"

"What type?"

"Our Lu family mainly engages in mining and producing magical artifacts, but the skill level of the family's artifact refiners is limited. We cannot make third-tier magical artifacts, and the success rate of second-tier high-grade artifacts is also low. If Fellow Daoist Li is willing to cooperate, we will provide the raw ore. After you refine high-level magical artifacts, you can sell them to us at the market price."

Li Yuan considered it for a moment.

Baihe Prefecture is rich in mineral resources, and the price of raw materials is much lower than in inland markets. With a minor mastery level of weapon crafting, the success rate of producing second-tier high-grade or even third-tier low-grade magical artifacts is not low. The profit margin from purchasing ore, crafting magical artifacts, and selling them at market price is considerable.

More importantly, Baihe Prefecture has a wide variety of minerals, including many rare minerals that are difficult to obtain inland.

"You can try it first."

Lu Yang's face lit up with joy.

"Very well. Tonight, I will host a banquet to welcome Fellow Daoist Li, and we will discuss this in detail during the meal."

That evening, on the second floor of the stone building at the Lu family's residence.

The banquet wasn't extravagant, but it was substantial. The quality of the spiritual wine and food was decent, and several core members of the Lu family were present. Besides Lu Yang and Lu Ping, there was also a female cultivator at the early Golden Core stage who was the Lu family's second elder, as well as three family stewards at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation turned to business.

"I've thought of a cooperation model," Lu Yang said, raising his wine glass. "The simplest way is for us to supply Fellow Daoist Li with raw ore at 30% below market price. After you refine it into magical artifacts, we will buy it back at market price."

Li Yuan nodded.

With a 30% discount on raw materials and the repurchase of ritual implements at market price, the profit is sufficient.

Lu Yang took out a jade slip from his storage bag and pushed it over. "It's the recipe for a magical artifact made from a mineral that's a specialty of Baihe Prefecture. You can't buy it anywhere else."

Li Yuan took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.

The blueprints describe the crafting method for a second-tier superior-grade mineral exploration compass, whose core function is to enhance the accuracy of sensing the distribution of underground mineral veins. The minerals used in the crafting method are all special products of Baihe Prefecture, and are indeed difficult to obtain inland.

"In addition, the first batch of ore can be delivered today," Lu Ping added from the side. "I've selected several of the highest quality ones; you can take them after you've inspected them."

"OK."

After the banquet, Li Yuan went with Lu Ping to the warehouse to select a batch of ore.

The selection included several commonly used refining spirit metals and two uncommon special minerals, totaling a considerable amount. The price was settled according to the agreed discount. Li Yuan stored the ore into his personal space.

The deployment will be put on hold for now, and will continue after the ore delivery and subsequent arrangements are clarified.

Back in his room, Li Yuan looked at the newly acquired blueprints for the magical artifact once more.

The production method is not complicated, but the several special minerals used in Baihe Prefecture are indeed unique. If this cooperative channel is maintained, the long-term benefits will not only be the profits from spirit stones, but also a stable supply of scarce minerals.

Put the drawings away and close your eyes to rest.