Chapter Ten: The Essence of the Earth!
Page (1/3)
In a luxurious single suite, besides the bed, there were tables, chairs, and a wine cabinet.
The table was already laden with food and drink, dishes none of them had ever tasted before.
Processed heart of a terrestrial beast, jelly-like aquatic creatures from alien worlds, premium beef from interstellar farms, and verdant vegetables rich in spiritual energy from the Plant Stars.
“Everyone, take a seat,” Yang Xuan called, retrieving a bottle of Galaxy Grand Spirit and pouring drinks for them.
The three sat down; Tang Yu and Zhang Jing were a bit nervous, their bodies taut.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” Jiang Taichu expressed his gratitude, somewhat overwhelmed, adding, “Director Yang, these dishes are far too fine for us; isn’t it a waste?”
This spread was equivalent to his monthly salary.
“To entertain distinguished guests is never a waste.”
Yang Xuan smiled slightly. “Allow me to toast the three of you first.”
With that, he raised his glass and drank it in one gulp.
Jiang Taichu and the others hurriedly raised their glasses and drank as well.
The drink entered smoothly, then a fiery sensation ignited within the stomach, followed by a pure energy nourishing their internal organs and limbs.
Spiritual wine!
Galaxy Grand Spirit was the best-selling spiritual wine, rumored to originate from the workshop of the legendary mech [Sword Immortal of the Lotus].
It was said that when the [Sword Immortal of the Lotus] drank, a single stroke of his sword drew a galaxy across the sky, hence the name Galaxy Grand Spirit.
Of course, what they drank was only the ordinary version; the true premium Galaxy Grand Spirit would be beyond their endurance.
“Try the food. This is the konjac aquatic from the Xuanbing Star, exceptionally refreshing and cool to the core,” Yang Xuan said, inviting them.
Following his suggestion, the three used their spoons to scoop a piece and tasted it. Indeed, it was icy and refreshing.
The burning in their stomachs eased as well.
Yang Xuan did not offer more wine, letting them drink at their own pace, knowing their cultivation was insufficient to handle much. Two cups were their limit.
Tang Yu and Zhang Jing, heads down, focused on their meal.
Jiang Taichu ate, pondering what purpose Yang Xuan had in mind.
Perhaps he suspected Jiang had a way to find the gem?
That was likely the only skill that would catch his eye.
When the meal was nearly finished, Yang Xuan turned his gaze to Tang Yu and Zhang Jing, who had already put down their chopsticks. “Have you two had enough?”
“We’re full, thank you, Director Yang.” The two didn’t catch any hidden meaning in his words and remained seated.
Jiang Taichu smiled lightly. “You two go ahead. Director Yang and I have business to discuss.”
Upon hearing this, the two quickly stood. “We won’t disturb you then; we’ll head back to sleep.”
Yang Xuan smiled, satisfied, and glanced at Jiang Taichu. “I won’t beat around the bush. With your luck, I’d like to ask a favor.”
“Director Yang, just say the word. I’m just a worker; it’s all the same wherever I work,” Jiang Taichu replied with a gentle smile.
Page (2/3)
“I’d like to borrow your holiday time to accompany me somewhere,” Yang Xuan said thoughtfully. “It might take a day.”
“Is it dangerous?” Jiang Taichu inquired.
“No, it’s on Earth Star No. 1,” Yang Xuan replied.
“No. 1? That’s a star over fifteen hundred years old. Are there still resources left?” Jiang Taichu frowned.
The Yang family’s Earth Company initially contracted an earth star, which they named No. 1.
With this star, the Yangs rapidly expanded, soon contracting twenty-five earth stars in succession.
Because of the first star, in their pursuit of development, they practiced reckless exploitation, nearly draining No. 1 of its resources.
“All these years, our company has invested heavily. No. 1 star has revived,” Yang Xuan smiled. “A star isn’t so easily depleted; its energy gradually recovers.”
“Are there many treasures?” Jiang Taichu’s eyes lit up.
“How many, no one knows. It’s been nearly a century since anyone harvested resources there; instead, we’ve been investing.”
Yang Xuan paused, then said, “This time, any resources found will earn double rewards from the company.”
“That good?” Jiang Taichu was surprised.
Though Earth Company processes and sells those resources at dozens or even hundreds of times their value, they’ve never offered double rewards.
“Yes. This time, you don’t need to collect the resources, just mark them. I’ll see to your reward,” Yang Xuan said.
“With only two days, I’m afraid we won’t explore much territory,” Jiang Taichu considered.
Yang Xuan replied, “You won’t be alone; the areas are divided among several people. Later, I’ll request overtime, and everyone will go.
I’m telling you so you can prepare; when the time comes, you’ll get a good area.”
“Then I’ll wait for Director Yang’s notice and let my family know, so they won’t be worried,” Jiang Taichu said.
Yang Xuan nodded. “Of course. It’s settled, then. If you find good resources and I’m rewarded above, I won’t forget you.”
With the matter agreed upon, Jiang Taichu took his leave.
Returning to his room, the energy within his body hadn’t fully dissipated and continued to nourish him.
He sat cross-legged to cultivate, refining the internal energy. His internal training progress increased by two percent!
One meal brought more progress than a single pill.
He then continued with mech training.
The night passed. Early the next day, he started work.
He patrolled mountain after mountain, studying the earth meridian patterns.
Mountains without resources typically had thin, chaotic meridian patterns.
The better the resources, the thicker and more orderly the meridian patterns.
Page (3/3)
Basically, as soon as he glimpsed a meridian pattern, he could determine whether there were treasures.
Searching until noon, he came upon a tall tower ahead, surrounded by countless pipes plunging into the ground, beyond the reach of radar.
That was a meridian extraction device, capable of condensing scattered meridian energy, equipped with a [Particle Shield] to block radar, and even a [Heavenly Particle Shield].
Arriving here signified they had completed a tenth of their task.
Returning to the rest point for lunch, he wandered through Tang Yu and Zhang Jing’s areas in the afternoon but found nothing.
He took a pill to cultivate and continued training with mechs and firearms.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was mid-month.
Ten days had passed, and apart from the initial success, there had been no gains.
Well ahead of the others, Jiang Taichu strolled aimlessly one afternoon when suddenly, a thick earth meridian pattern appeared before him.
However, as he surveyed the entire mountain, he frowned.
He saw no treasures!
“This mountain’s meridian patterns are thick, with many intersections, but no treasures. Could they have been harvested?” Jiang Taichu frowned. “But Earth Star No. 10 hasn’t yielded treasures in a long time.”
After a brief consideration, he entered the mountain, checking each intersection.
There were indeed traces of minerals having been taken, but it had been a long time.
He searched all the way to the foot of the mountain, yet found no sign of treasures.
“Looks like I’m too late… Wait, it seems the underground is promising.”
He closely examined the meridian patterns, noticing their flow converged in one direction, extending deep underground.
In other words, there was another intersection below.
“It can’t be… Will I run into a terrestrial beast?” Jiang Taichu muttered, gripping his twin pistols and slipping underground.
Even if there was a beast, he was confident he could escape.
Following the meridian patterns downward, though he couldn’t see them underground, he could deduce their path.
He descended about three hundred meters when a surge of pure earth meridian energy rushed toward him.
Droplets of golden liquid, like cat’s eye gemstones, appeared before his eyes.
Earth Marrow!
Jiang Taichu’s expression changed in shock, instinctively wanting to shut off his particle radar, but he forced himself to resist.