9: Lapis lazuli, flaming bronze

"Body Refining Cultivation Technique? Our Family doesn't have any. Body Refining consumes a considerable amount of resources, even more than Qi Refining," Li Pengcheng explained.

Generally, Cultivators only choose one between Qi Refining and Body Refining, especially those with limited Family wealth, who try every means to improve their Cultivation.

If they were to spend resources on Body Refining, it might affect their Qi Refining progress.

Li Feixian asked about Body Refining because the Cultivation Technique he practiced had a hint of Body Refining effects, though not as potent as a specialized Body Refining Cultivation Technique.

After all, the Golden Crow Haori Scripture was passed down from the original Golden Crow Bloodline. Golden Crows are Yao Beasts, inherently needing to maintain their powerful Physical Body.

The two of them finished processing the seven Yao Beast corpses here, collecting all useful items.

"Although Cultivators cannot consume this flesh and blood, it can be used to feed Yao Beasts. After we thoroughly investigate this place, we'll contact the Family and have someone bring this flesh and blood back.

A few months ago, your father, several Uncles, and Uncle hunted Yao Beasts and brought back a young savage ox cub, which is now being raised in the Family.

If we use this disgusting stuff to feed the savage ox, it can accelerate its growth," Li Pengcheng said thoughtfully, looking at the separated Yao Beast meat on the ground with a hint of regret.

"Let's go, let's go inside and see what the situation is like within this Spirit Gold Mine." A Spirit Gold Mine, for the current Flying Peng Mountain Li Family, was like a timely rain after a long drought, playing a crucial role.

"Grandpa, how will this type of Spirit Gold Mine be mined then? Will it require Cultivators?" Li Feixian asked as they walked towards the cave where the Metal Beasts lived.

If it required Cultivators for mining, the only Cultivators available in the Family right now were a few elders; the rest were still too young, and their strength was not high.

"That depends on what kind of Spirit Gold Mine it is. If its Rank is High Grade One, it would indeed require Cultivators to mine.

But if it's just Low Grade One or Medium Grade One Spirit Gold, Mortals will suffice," Li Pengcheng explained.

In recent years, the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family had already started recruiting Mortals from an Immortal City tens of thousands of miles away to increase the Family's population.

Although these people were not of the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family's Bloodline, through several generations of Legacy, marriage, and marrying into the Family, their descendants could acquire the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family's Bloodline.

This method could rapidly increase the number of Mortals in the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family.

A Foundation Establishment Immortal Family like the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family typically needed over a hundred thousand Mortals to ensure a relatively stable birth rate of Cultivators.

Basically, in the Cultivation World, a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator in a Cultivation Family represents a population of one hundred thousand. It can only be more than this; if it's less, the Family can easily struggle with future generations.

For the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family to have one hundred thousand Mortals, relying on the original hundred-plus Flying Peng Mountain Li Family Mortals, it would take one to two hundred years.

Only through this method could the Family's Mortal population be increased to one hundred thousand within a century.

Getting back to the main topic, Li Pengcheng activated his magic power and led Li Feixian into the Metal Beast's cave.

"First, let's search inside the cave. Where Yao Beasts live, it's possible they've left behind some spiritual objects. Since they were near this Spirit Gold Mine, there should be some Spirit Gold they've collected here," Li Pengcheng said expectantly, looking around the cave.

Upon entering, the two discovered that the caves in the rock wall were interconnected. From the outside, they appeared as separate caves, but inside, there were passages wide enough for Metal Beasts to pass through.

Li Pengcheng's Divine Sense, being that of a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, was the most sensitive and meticulous, and he quickly detected spiritual energy fluctuations from a certain location inside.

He led Li Feixian over, and in a corner, they saw several pieces of Spirit Gold of various colors, three of which were azure and two reddish.

"High Grade One azure gold, High Grade One Flame Copper," Li Feixian exclaimed in surprise, looking at the pieces of Spirit Gold.

"Grandpa, could this possibly be a High Grade One Spirit Gold Mine?" Li Feixian asked excitedly, looking at his grandfather.

If it was a High Grade One Spirit Gold Mine, its value would be two to three times higher than the previously estimated Medium Grade One.

"Hard to say. The Rank of azure gold and Flame Copper is difficult to determine. These pieces might have attained their current quality through the Metal Beasts' prolonged licking, which gradually reduced the Impurities within them," Li Pengcheng said uncertainly.

Metal Beasts have a characteristic ability to lick Spirit Gold, improving its quality, though this process is quite slow.

If these pieces achieved their current quality due to the Metal Beasts, then it wouldn't have much to do with the Spirit Gold Mine inside.

"I had forgotten that Metal Beasts possess this ability," Li Feixian said with a hint of disappointment.

"There's no need to be disheartened. We should be able to confirm by now that the Spirit Gold within this mine is likely one of these two types, or perhaps it's a mixed mine," Li Pengcheng said with relief.

Li Pengcheng placed the Spirit Gold into his Storage Pouch and said with a smile to Li Feixian, "After we return, all these items will be yours. You can either exchange them for Family contributions or use them yourself."

"No, Grandpa, you discovered this place. I'm already doing very well with the income from hunting Yao Beasts. How could I possibly take these Spirit Gold? They should belong to the Family," Li Feixian hastily refused.

He knew his grandfather cared for him and wanted to give him more benefits, but Li Feixian absolutely could not accept; he felt truly undeserving.

"What's wrong with that? You are the hope of the Family, so you naturally deserve better benefits," Li Pengcheng said as a matter of course.

"Grandpa, you cannot violate the Family's rules because of me. Although the Family doesn't have many people right now, the Family rules were established long ago, and I believe we should act according to them.

Only when everyone is devoted to the Family can the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family become stronger. If everyone acts selfishly, the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family's future development will inevitably be severely limited," Li Feixian said solemnly.

"I was being shortsighted. You are right. Now that we are the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family, we should prioritize the Family. I was still stuck in my old Loose Cultivator mindset," Li Pengcheng said with a sigh.

"The glory of one generation might help the Family for a hundred years, a thousand years, or at most ten thousand years, but for a hundred thousand years, a million years, these probably won't rely on the power of a single person," Li Feixian continued.

In the Cultivation World, a Legacy lasting a hundred years is simple; even a thousand years is commonplace. Only a Family with strong cohesion can ensure its Legacy continues enduringly.

"When your generation grows up, the Family will indeed need to strictly implement the Family rules to ensure its continuation.

However, indulge me this one time. You also said that for a hundred, a thousand years, perhaps one person is enough. I see you as that person for the Flying Peng Mountain Li Family.

Take all these things; consider them my expectations for you," Li Pengcheng said, persuading him after his emotional reflection.

After some thought, Li Feixian agreed. There was no need to argue back and forth over this matter.

"Then this grandson thanks Grandpa," Li Feixian said, bowing in thanks.

Afterward, the two continued to explore the Spirit Gold Mine.

"According to the Metal Beasts' habits, their dwelling places should lead to the edge of the mine or deep within it.

This is the cave where Medium Grade One Metal Beasts live; there must be a passage leading to the mine here," Li Pengcheng explained things Li Feixian had never learned before.

Li Feixian had initially wanted to search for it, thinking such a passage would be hidden, but Li Pengcheng directly led Li Feixian further inside.

They arrived at the entrance of a very deep, dark cave.

"How foolish. Metal Beasts are so large, how could they possibly hide the entrance passage?" Li Feixian felt foolish about his earlier thought.