C13 Carnelian Spirit Gathering Pool

Upon arriving at a vast cavern, they were greeted by the sight of a towering red stone column at its center. A crystal the size of a fist was embedded within the semi-translucent pillar.

Lee Gaoyuan's eyes grew wide as he exclaimed, "This is Carnelian!"

Lee Mo replied with a smile, "Exactly. Carnelian is a rare and valuable gem, not your average jade. It's classified as a spiritual treasure. It boasts the unique ability to enhance the wearer's Vital Energy and blood, as well as strengthen their physique. And the effects of chalcedony are a thousand times greater. This piece of Carnelian is sufficiently large for the both of us."

"Then let's get to digging!" Lee Gaoyuan said, his excitement palpable as he hoisted his steel shovel.

They put in a lot of effort and finally managed to extract the Carnelian.

After splitting it, Lee Gaoyuan held his piece of Carnelian tightly, entranced by the rich Vital Energy it radiated, and he couldn't help but exclaim at its profound mystery.

Lee Gaoyuan was ecstatic, but Lee Mo was much more serene. In his imperial treasury, even several large chunks of eighth-grade Carnelian were not a rarity.

He was well aware of the effects of Carnelian.

With this gem, he was confident he could reach the late period of the Qi Condensation Stage before even beginning at the academy. For Lee Gaoyuan, with some additional effort, there was a possibility of advancing to the late period of the Monolith Stage.

Out of the blue, Lee Gaoyuan proposed, "Lee Mo, what if we secretly took this Blood Jade Ore out to sell? Couldn't we make a fortune?"

Lee Mo calmly replied, "Mining veins without permission is punishable by death. Moreover, level two Blood Jade Ore is quite rare. Selling raw ore would easily arouse suspicion. If we're going to sell Blood Jade Ore, we need to refine it into Blood Jade first, maybe even carve it. That way, it won't raise any eyebrows."

"So, are you suggesting we build a big furnace here to smelt the ore?" Lee Gaoyuan pondered.

Lee Mo shook his head, "That's too troublesome and time-consuming. There's a far simpler method."

"What's that?" Lee Gaoyuan asked, intrigued.

Lee Mo explained, "It becomes feasible when I reach the status of a Profound Level Alchemist, capable of wielding Mystic Fire to refine pills. Mystic Fire has the power to melt ore. Then, we can refine the ore right in our own home. It'll be on a small scale, so it won't attract attention. However, it's a lengthy process. With that same effort, I could produce a supreme grade pill that would be much more valuable."

Lee Gaoyuan's face fell with disappointment, only to light up with excitement moments later. "Does that mean you're on the verge of becoming a Profound Level Alchemist, Lee Mo?"

Lee Mo offered a slight smile and replied, "We'll talk about that once I've advanced a few more levels in my cultivation."

Lee Gaoyuan was not one to be greedy; the Carnelian was an enormous surprise, and he was thoroughly satisfied. His suggestion to sell the Blood Jade Mine had been casual, and he nodded in agreement with Lee Mo's response.

After securing the Carnelian, Lee Mo was ready to leave when he suddenly detected a faint, enticing fragrance.

"Is this scent coming from the Icy Frond?" Lee Mo's eyes lit up. After determining the source of the aroma, he quickly made his way there.

Their exploration brought them to an underground cavern, revealing two pools of water, one noticeably larger than the other. The water was shallow, barely reaching their ankles, yet it sparkled like jade. Above them, a massive stalactite hung from the ceiling, a single droplet of water suspended on its tip, defying gravity.

Near the pool's edge, a cluster of vibrant green plants grew, each barely taller than two fingers, with leaves that resembled delicate snowflakes—a beautiful sight indeed.

"This is definitely the Icy Frond," Lee Mo said with a knowing smile, then turned his attention back to the pools. "Now I understand."

"What have you figured out?" Lee Gaoyuan asked, his curiosity aroused.

Lee Mo elaborated, "The reason for the repeated collapses in this area is the existence of these two pools."

"Two pools?" Lee Gaoyuan was confused.

"These are no ordinary pools," Lee Mo continued. "Have you noticed that the droplet from the stalactite hasn't fallen since we arrived? That's because it's not just any groundwater; it's spiritual water, formed by the condensation of the essence of heaven and earth. It takes a full year for a single drop to form."

"A whole year for just one drop? You're not joking, are you, Lee Mo? How many years would it take to fill this entire pool?" Lee Gaoyuan asked, incredulous.

Lee Mo went on to explain, "This is known as the Spirit Gathering Pool, and it takes at least several hundred years to accumulate. Normally, the spiritual water draws the essence from the earth's layers without any collapse. However, the construction above the mine caused geological instability and the leakage of spiritual energy. When combined with the power of the spiritual water, that's what led to the collapse."

"What's the source of all this knowledge? It sounds incredibly mystical!" Lee Gaoyuan said, his skepticism apparent.

Lee Mo chuckled and replied, "Finding this Spirit Gathering Pool is truly a divine gift."

"Does this pool possess any special qualities?" Lee Gaoyuan asked, his curiosity clearly piqued.

With a knowing smile, Lee Mo responded, "I'll teach you the Breathing Technique now. Once you're seated in this vast pool and apply the technique, you'll be able to draw in the spiritual energy that's been enriched with a century's essence. It will enable you to break through to the Monolith Stage in no time."

"Really?" Lee Gaoyuan's spirits lifted.

"When have I ever lied to you?" Lee Mo said calmly, then went on to instruct him in the Breathing Technique.

The chance to advance to the Monolith Stage simply by sitting in the pool was an opportunity Lee Gaoyuan couldn't miss. Despite the mystical nature of it all, his trust in Lee Mo was absolute.

Once Lee Gaoyuan settled into the pool, Lee Mo entered a smaller one and sat cross-legged. He silently initiated the Breathing Technique, and the water began to bubble, emitting a dense mist.

This mist was the essence of heaven and earth, encapsulated within the pool. As the Breathing Technique was employed, the mist flowed into Lee Mo's body through his slightly parted lips.

Time flowed silently as they both sat immersed in the pool, motionless as stones.

After several hours, Lee Gaoyuan exclaimed in astonishment, "By the heavens, I've actually made a breakthrough!"

He shouted again, this time with excitement, "Lee Mo, you've made a breakthrough as well, and you've advanced by two whole levels!"

Lee Mo gently opened his eyes, feeling the Vital Energy within him surge with newfound strength. He realized that his cultivation had indeed made an impressive leap, advancing from the Middle Period of the Qi Condensation Stage straight to the Early Period of the Monolith Stage.

A sense of joy washed over him. Even with the aid of Carnelian, such a breakthrough would normally take months to achieve. Yet, here he was, having ascended two levels in his cultivation thanks to the Spirit Gathering Pool.

Lee Gaoyuan, his face radiant with excitement, emerged from the pool. "Lee Mo, can we stay in the pool a bit longer? Do you think we could advance even further?"

Lee Mo couldn't help but chuckle. "It's not that simple. We've already depleted over half of the pool's essence, which is why we were able to advance so quickly. If we were to enter the Spirit Gathering Pool now, the effect would be negligible. It's best to let it replenish its energy for the benefit of future users."

Lee Gaoyuan, satisfied with the explanation, then asked, "So, the Spirit Gathering Pool won't cause a collapse in the mine?"

Shaking his head, Lee Mo replied, "No, the amount of essence the Spirit Gathering Pool absorbs is related to how long it has existed. Now that we've extracted its energy, it has returned to a state it was in several decades ago. The mine should be safe for at least the next hundred years."

Relieved, Lee Gaoyuan expressed his contentment. "That's reassuring. Otherwise, the discovery of the Blood Jade Mine would have been for naught."

After meticulously gathering the Icy Frond, Lee Mo left the area.

By the time they returned to the city, it was early the next morning. Carrying a sack full of materials, they made their way to Lee's Drugstore.

Upon their arrival, Lee Mo caught sight of a familiar figure. It was Su Yan, the attractive young girl choosing herbs at the counter. Dressed in a green gown, she looked as beautiful as a fairy, even though she was only around fourteen or fifteen years old.

He approached the counter and greeted her with a friendly smile. "Miss Su, what a coincidence."

"When did you get to know such a beautiful girl?" Lee Gaoyuan, having never seen such a lovely young woman, was utterly astounded. He nudged Lee Mo with his elbow and asked in amazement.

However, Su Yan simply glanced at Lee Mo, her expression slightly furrowed, and remained silent.

Lee Mo noticed her lack of fondness for him, yet he maintained a smile. Glancing at the prescription in her hand, he commented, "That's the recipe for the Full Moon Pill. Crafting this pill is a bit more challenging than the Stellar Pill."

"A bit more challenging?" Su Yan's beautiful eyes widened in indignation.

She had no desire to interact with this rude and arrogant youth, but his words ignited her fury, prompting her to glare at him fiercely.

"The difficulty of crafting the Full Moon Pill is significantly greater than that of the Stellar Pill. The difference is not minor. From the sound of it, are you implying you can produce a supreme grade Full Moon Pill?" Su Yan asked coldly, her voice laced with sarcasm.

"Of course, it's not a difficult task for me," Lee Mo replied, his smile unwavering.

Su Yan clenched her teeth and scoffed, "I can't tell if you're naive or just brash. To utter such claims... You're lucky we're outside Lee's Drugstore. Had you said this at the Temple of Alchemy, you'd be the butt of everyone's jokes!"

Visibly upset, Su Yan's anger somehow made her look even more attractive.

Lee Mo chuckled and proposed nonchalantly, "Miss Su, it appears you doubt my abilities. Why don't we settle this with a competition?"

"You're challenging me to a pill refining contest? I don't have time for that!" Su Yan retorted, her lovely face turning frosty as she flatly refused him.

The smile on Lee Mo's face deepened as he teased, "What's the matter? Are you scared because I produced a supreme grade pill last time?"

"What?" Su Yan's eyebrows shot up, her gaze piercing as she stared at Lee Mo. She declared deliberately, "I haven't even settled our previous dispute, and here you are causing trouble again. Fine, since you're inviting disgrace, I'll take you up on that challenge!"

"Miss Su, you may be a lady, but you certainly don't shy away from a challenge. Very well, you can choose the pill we'll refine," Lee Mo said, still smiling.

Su Yan's anger reached new heights, and with a frosty tone, she declared, "Then let's refine the Full Moon Pill!"