12: Chapter 12 Resource Integration, Dimensional Upgrade

The twilight of Sunset Town carried a slight autumn chill, but the lights in the Lin Family's main house shone exceptionally warm.

Lin Yue sat in the main seat, with three yellowed scrolls spread out on the long table before him.

These were the resource lists of the Zhang and Li Families and the original asset ledger of the Lin Family. The dense handwriting outlined the combined assets of the three major families of Sunset Town.

"Clan Chief, the inventory is almost complete."

Lin Zhong closed the last ledger, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue but unable to hide his excitement.

"The Low-Grade Spirit Stones in the treasuries of the Zhang and Li Families add up to over 4,300. Combined with the 6,000-plus we have left, it's a total of 10,500 Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Ten thousand five hundred..."

Lin Laosan smacked his lips, his abacus clicking rapidly.

"There are also thirty acres of their spiritual fields combined. Although the Spiritual Qi is thin, it's enough to grow mundane crops for the townspeople to eat;"

"Five shops; we earned twenty-seven Spirit Stones on the first day of opening today. There will surely be more in the future;"

"As for the mines, besides our own on the West Slope, the Zhang Family has an abandoned copper mine on the North Ridge. Perhaps it can be of use."

Lin Hu stood to the side, holding a heavy wooden box. When opened, it contained over a dozen shimmering Mid-Grade Spirit Stones:

"These were found in the secret rooms of Zhang Ba and Li Shan, fifteen Mid-Grade Spirit Stones in total. At market price, one can be exchanged for a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Lin Yue's gaze swept over the list on the table, his fingertip tapping lightly on the number '10,500'.

An abundance of Spirit Stones meant the growth of the plane could undergo an explosive leap.

He mused, "Hand the spiritual fields to Lin Zhong. Distribute them per person to the clansmen and the well-behaved surrenders. The harvested food should prioritize supplying the clansmen and the Guard Team;"

"Have Lin Laosan send people to scout the copper mine. If it's worth mining, organize a crew to clear it;"

"The shops will continue to be managed by Old Third. Remember to collect more Spiritual Plant seeds and low-tier Ores; we'll need them."

"Yes!"

Lin Zhong and Lin Laosan responded in unison.

Lin Yue looked at Lin Hu:

"Expand the Guard Team to fifty people. Select some strong individuals who haven't committed any evil from the non-kin surrenders of the Zhang and Li Families to fill the Ranks. Have the veterans in the team keep a close eye on them, and you will train them personally.

This fifteen Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, keep five for emergencies. Use the rest to provide the Guard Team with Magical Artifacts and Medicinal Pills. We must ensure their strength improves further."

"Don't worry, Clan Chief!"

Lin Hu nodded vigorously, a flash of excitement in his eyes.

Exchanging Mid-Grade Spirit Stones for Low Grade ones would yield a full thousand, enough to arm an elite squad.

After the trivial matters were arranged, everyone dispersed, leaving only Lin Yue and Lin Cang in the main house.

Lin Cang looked at him and said slowly, "How do you plan to use so many Spirit Stones?"

"Most will be invested into the 'spiritual land'."

Lin Yue had long made plans. "The blessings left by our ancestors must be carefully nurtured to flourish more and more.

I plan to invest five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones daily to make the Spiritual Qi of the spiritual land even denser, so the children of the clan can benefit more."

Lin Cang didn't doubt him; instead, he nodded in approval.

"As it should be. The spiritual land is the foundation of our Lin Family. It's worth investing however many Spirit Stones it takes."

In the dead of night, Lin Yue vanished into the plane.

Over the past few days, although he hadn't invested a large amount of Spirit Stones, the plane's Spiritual Qi concentration had slowly increased by relying on the daily absorption of spirit iron ore and Spiritual Plants.

[ruined plane (Rank: 3)]

[Spiritual Qi Concentration: 12.5 (External ordinary environment is 1)]

[spirit soil Area: 50 square meters (Including 50 square meters of low-tier spiritual fields)]

[Ore Vein Generation: companion spirit iron ore vein (15 catties per day); low-tier Spirit Stone vein (5 pieces per day)]

[Status: Stable]

He took a deep breath, took out five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Pouch, and invested them collectively into the plane's core.

The moment the Spirit Stones touched the plane's Chaos, they transformed into a torrent of pure Spiritual Qi. The entire plane seemed to be injected with a stimulant.

The Spiritual Qi concentration soared at a visible rate—12.8, 13.2, 14.5... As the Spiritual Qi continued to rise, the plane began to tremble slightly, and a denser white glow appeared at the edges of the spiritual fields.

The growth rate of the Spiritual Plants accelerated visibly, and even the phantoms of the two Ore veins became clearer.

For the next seven days, Lin Yue invested five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones daily without fail.

The changes in the plane were daily and profound:

On the fifth day

The Spiritual Qi concentration broke through 20, the spirit soil area automatically expanded to 80 square meters, the low-tier spiritual fields were synchronized, and the maturation cycle of Spiritual Plants was shortened to once a day;

On the evening of the seventh day

After Lin Yue invested the day's five hundred Spirit Stones, the plane suddenly erupted in a burst of dazzling white light, and the Spiritual Qi concentration instantly broke through the 30 mark!

[ruined plane (Rank: 4)]

[Spiritual Qi Concentration: 30 (External ordinary environment is 1)]

[spirit soil Area: 100 square meters (Including 50 square meters of mid-tier spiritual fields and 50 square meters of low-tier spiritual fields)]

[New Function: spirit spring (Can produce 10 liters of spirit spring water daily, which can accelerate Cultivator recovery and improve soil);]

[Ore Vein Upgrade: companion spirit iron ore vein (25 catties per day), low-tier Spirit Stone vein (10 pieces per day)]

[Status: Stable]

Rank 4!

Lin Yue was ecstatic.

Not only had the Spiritual Qi concentration tripled and the spirit soil expanded to 100 square meters, but he had also unlocked "mid-tier spiritual fields" and the "spirit spring"!

The qi condensing grass on the mid-tier spiritual fields now had leaves with faint golden edges, and its Spiritual Qi concentration was twice as high as those produced by the low-tier spiritual fields;

The spirit spring was located in the center of the spiritual fields. A clear spring eye was bubbling with water droplets, emitting a refreshing Spiritual Qi. Just being near it, one could feel their spiritual power recovering rapidly.

"Excellent."

Lin Yue scooped up a ladle of spirit spring water. It was sweet and crisp as it slid down his throat.

The spiritual power within his Dantian instantly became active, and the slight sense of sluggishness caused by the frequent investment of Spirit Stones over the past few days was swept away.

He walked to the edge of the Ore veins and saw that the daily output of the spirit iron ore vein had increased to 25 catties.

With the Spirit Stone vein's output doubled, his confidence grew even stronger.

Over ten thousand Spirit Stones seemed like a huge consumption—investing 3,500 over seven days, leaving just over 7,000;

But the plane's self-production capacity had significantly improved. In the long run, this was a guaranteed profitable venture.

When he exited the plane, the horizon was already showing the first light of dawn.

Lin Yue pushed open the window and happened to see Lin Hu leading the Guard Team in morning practice on the martial arts field. After several days of resource allocation,

Three guards had broken through to the Late Stage Qi Refining, and the aura on Lin Hu had become increasingly solid. Clearly, he was not far from Foundation Establishment.

Outside the courtyard walls, Lin Laosan's shops had already opened. The workers were busy unloading goods, and townspeople were coming and going in an endless stream—a scene of prosperity;

From the direction of the mine came the faint sound of chiseling stone. Although the mining team managed by Lin Zhong was mostly composed of surrenders, it was already orderly, and the daily Ore output was growing steadily.

Lin Yue stretched, feeling the daily increasing spiritual power within him and the continuous confidence brought by the plane.

Swallowing the resources of the Zhang and Li Families not only allowed the Lin Family to establish a firm foothold in Sunset Town but also enabled the plane to complete a key leap.

Next, it was time to consider the matters of Black Stone City.

He took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch. This was found in Li Shan's secret room and recorded some information about Black Stone City—

There were larger markets, stronger Cultivators, and also the high-tier Spiritual Plant seeds and Cultivation Techniques that the Lin Family needed.

"It's time to go out and take a look."

Lin Yue gripped the Jade Slip, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

Sunset Town was just the starting point. His goal was the broader world.

And the plane was his most solid backing. This secret, he would protect forever.