Xu Yang waited for a moment before Guan Du emerged in a clean set of clothes. "Let’s go, Junior Brother Xu. Our job here is not just to ensure the safety of this place, but also to manage the people below us and prevent them from pulling an inside job and stealing the Profound Iron.
First, I’ll take you to the warehouse and formally hand over the Profound Iron listed in the ledgers to you."
Xu Yang put down his luggage and walked out with Guan Du. This small courtyard would be his residence from now on.
The warehouse was right next to the courtyard. When he and Guan Du came out, the Steward named Chen Yong was already waiting for them. He was also a disciple of the Purple Sun Sect, an Outer Sect Steward.
After exchanging greetings with Xu Yang, Chen Yong opened the warehouse, and a large pile of Profound Iron came into view.
Chen Yong took out a ledger and handed it to Xu Yang. "This records the amount of Profound Iron in the warehouse. Junior Brother Xu, please verify it."
Xu Yang took it and began to check it as he flipped through the pages. "How often is this Profound Iron shipped out?"
Guan Du said, "The Sect usually sends someone to transport it once every two months. The next shipment should be in about a month."
Xu Yang nodded. "Senior Brother Guan, is much Spirit Iron mined here?"
He had glanced through the ledger and found no record of Spirit Iron.
"That’s hard to say. The appearance of Spirit Iron is very random. Sometimes we find it three or four times in a month, and other times we might not find a single piece in three or four months."
After a thorough check, the quantity in the ledger matched what was in the warehouse. The three of them then left the warehouse.
Chen Yong took his leave, and Guan Du took Xu Yang on a tour of the mining site, introducing him to all the Outer Disciples stationed there.
Although he didn’t know them personally, he had seen their faces back in the Outer Sect. Many were even Dragon Ascending Disciples from his own class. There were ten people in total. Four had reached Great Achievement in Gang Qi Cultivation, while the rest were at Gang Qi Minor Achievement or the Initial Stage of Gang Qi.
"This place is too far from the Sect, the journey is difficult, and supplies are often delayed. Much of the time, all we have is rice and steamed buns; we can’t maintain a steady supply of meat. If you get a craving, Junior Brother, you can go into the surrounding mountains and hunt some beasts to satisfy it.
But don’t go too deep. Although the powerful Exotic Beasts in the area have been cleared out, they are mobile creatures. You might run into one if you’re not careful, and sometimes they just wander over."
Guan Du continued, "While we’re on garrison duty here, our main trouble comes from Exotic Beasts. Of course, we must also be wary of people, especially when Spirit Iron is found.
Some of these miners are trouble. They’re usually honest enough, but as soon as Spirit Iron appears, they’ll send word out, attracting powerful experts to come and snatch it."
The Yunling Mountain Range is a natural treasure vault, nurturing all sorts of rare and exotic treasures. The people who hunt for treasure here year-round aren’t just disciples of the Purple Sun Sect; Martial Artists and Treasure Hunters from all over come here, so you get all kinds of people.
Forget Spirit Iron—even Profound Iron can attract powerful figures.
Take Profound Iron, for example. When we buy it from the Purple Sun Sect, we Inner Sect Disciples get a discount, paying one tael of silver for one tael of Profound Iron. Outside the sect, one tael of Profound Iron sells for about one and a half taels of silver.
Several thousand, or even ten thousand, catties of Profound Iron is enough to tempt an expert at Marrow Cleansing Great Success.
"Moon Lake is so large. There must be plenty of fish inside, right? How could there be a shortage of meat?" Xu Yang asked, puzzled.
He hadn’t been near Moon Lake, but he had seen it from a distance. It was vast. The mining site and all its miners only amounted to sixty or seventy people. With a large net, the daily catch would surely be enough to feed everyone.
Guan Du said, "Junior Brother, you must never go near Moon Lake. There’s an Exotic Beast in there, a Tuo Dragon. It has an incredibly thick hide and indestructible scales. Not even a Half-Spirit Weapon can break through them.
It considers Moon Lake its territory and will attack anyone who gets close. From time to time, the beast will even come to harass the mining site, eating people and Profound Iron. It’s our biggest problem."
A look of lingering fear crossed his face; he had clearly fought the Exotic Beast from Moon Lake before.
Xu Yang was stunned. "Not even a Half-Spirit Weapon can kill it?"
Guan Du nodded. "It can’t be killed. The beast has lived for decades and often feeds on Profound Iron, so its scales are even harder than Profound Iron. It’s also cunning. The moment it gets injured, it immediately flees back into the lake. No matter how powerful your methods are, you’ll be helpless against it."
As he spoke, he took a porcelain bottle from his robes and handed it to Xu Yang. "This is Five Poison Water. It’s incredibly toxic. The Pill Masters from Medicine King Peak specially concocted it to deal with this beast.
If it comes to the mining site, just smash this on its body, and that should be enough to drive it away."
Xu Yang accepted the item with a serious expression.
Guan Du then handed him a large signal flare. "This is an enhanced signal flare. Once launched, it can be seen from ten li away in every direction. Use it only when you encounter a powerful enemy. Any Sect disciples nearby will rush to provide support.
There’s no guarantee an expert will be within ten li, but it’s a glimmer of hope."
Xu Yang nodded and asked the crucial question. "Who has the final say at the mining site? Me or Chen Yong?"
’In terms of status, I, an Inner Sect Disciple, am higher. But Chen Yong is the mine’s Steward, under the jurisdiction of Tianquan Peak, and was once an Inner Sect Disciple himself. When it comes to major issues, I need to be clear on who has the final authority—him or Chen Yong.’
"Chen Yong has the final say. We’re just guards, responsible for security and ensuring they don’t embezzle the Sect’s assets. How the mine operates is not under our control.
However, we are Inner Disciples, and our Cultivation is higher than his. Under normal circumstances, he will listen to what we say."
"Junior Brother, farewell!"
With all the necessary information conveyed, Guan Du, who had already packed his luggage, shouldered his belongings and prepared to return to the Purple Sun Sect.
Xu Yang personally escorted this Fifth Senior Brother out of the mining site before returning to his courtyard.