115: Cold Pool Spirit Mine

Hearing Gao De ask about other Third-Tier Yao Beasts in the vicinity, Green Edge and Iron Pincer's expressions grew more serious.

Green Edge raised his tail and pointed toward the north of the water pool. A complex light flashed in his snake-like pupils, containing both wariness and a hard-to-conceal longing.

"Reporting to Master, in the deep water area to the north, there resides a big fellow. It's a Black Water Xuan Chi, and it's said that a not-so-weak trace of Chi Dragon bloodline flows within its body."

Green Edge's voice carried a hint of raspiness. "Its strength is great, a cut above both me and this iron lump, already reaching the Third Order Mid-Stage. However, it seems to have a lazy temperament, usually only active near its deep-water nest. As long as one doesn't actively intrude into its territory, it generally won't come out to cause trouble."

As he spoke, Green Edge seemed to realize that the longing for dragon blood in his tone was too obvious. He quickly added, "Master, please be the judge; your subordinate is simply speaking the truth and has no other intentions! My life is now in Master's hands; I would never dare to have any improper thoughts!"

He felt the more pure and oppressive dragon might emanating from Gao De, fearing he might cause a misunderstanding.

Gao De naturally understood that for any Yao Beast with a snake or fish Bloodline, the desire for higher-level dragon blood was an instinct carved into their very bones.

He didn't get angry because of this, only asking indifferently, "What is its specific strength? In what way is it stronger than the two of you?"

This time, Iron Pincer answered in a muffled voice, "That Black Loach is thick-skinned and tough, and its strength is even greater than mine! Moreover, it can control a large area of water, forming undercurrent vortexes that are very effective at trapping enemies. The Long Worm and I ran into it once before and didn't gain any advantage. However..." He paused and looked at Gao De with some certainty, "It's definitely not as powerful as you, Master! Your Bloodline pressure is much purer and more domineering than its!"

Gao De nodded slightly, having formed a preliminary judgment of that Black Water Xuan Chi.

A Third Order Mid-Stage with a Chi Dragon bloodline, skilled in water control and strength—it was a neighbor that needed to be taken seriously, but for now, it didn't seem to be the type to actively cause trouble.

As long as he didn't actively invade, they could coexist peacefully for the time being. Perhaps... in the future when his strength was sufficient, this Xuan Chi itself would be a good 'resource.'

Having understood his potential competitor, Gao De turned the conversation toward resources. "Since you have lived here for hundreds of years, are there any other special spiritual lands or blessed lands nearby besides what you mentioned before? For example, valleys with particularly dense Spiritual Qi, or areas with peculiar environments that might nurture special spiritual items?"

Hearing this, the Two Demons both tried hard to recall.

After a moment, Green Edge seemed to remember something and said, "Now that Master mentions it, I do recall a place. About a hundred miles northwest of our water pool, there is a 'Cold Mist Valley' shrouded in thick fog."

"It's bone-chillingly cold there year-round. Deep in the valley is a Cold Pool with piercingly cold water, but the Spiritual Qi is exceptionally pure and dense, which seems to be of great benefit for cultivating water and ice-attribute Cultivation Techniques. However, a group of 'Ice Crystal Poison Toads' resides there; their poison is fierce, and they are numerous and quite troublesome. I went to explore once before, suffered a small loss, and didn't go deeper."

Iron Pincer also chimed in, "And to the east, near the edge of that old fellow Black Bone Crocodile King's territory, there's an outcropping of an underwater 'Warm Jade Ore Vein.' The water there is warm, and one can occasionally pick up some decent quality Warm Jade, which is somewhat effective for nourishing the Physical Body."

"However, because it's too close to that old crocodile, we didn't dare to go often. We could only occasionally steal some scraps to decorate our nests."

Gao De listened carefully, noting down each piece of information.

The Cold Mist Cold Pool and the Warm Jade Ore Vein were both good resource points. Although they each had risks and limitations, their value was clearly a level higher than ordinary sunken yin ironwood.

"Very well. This King has noted these places." Gao De's gaze swept over the Two Demons. "The primary task right now is to first mine the sunken yin ironwood, while also investigating the background of the monkey and bee swarms. As for the Cold Mist Valley and the Warm Jade Ore Vein, we will consider them further after we have integrated our current forces."

In his heart, he had already outlined a blueprint for gradual expansion into the surrounding areas, using the current water pool as a base.

The outskirts of this Yunmeng Marsh were far richer in resources than imagined; the key lay in how to methodically transform them into his own strength.

And that Black Water Xuan Chi with the Chi Dragon bloodline, as well as those powerful Fourth-Tier Demon Kings further away, were both potential threats and possible stepping stones for the future.

His path to dragon transformation seemed to have found a good starting point here in Yunmeng Marsh... Under Green Edge's guidance, Gao De and his party left the water pool area and headed deep into the Vast Wild Mountain Forest at the edge of the Great Marsh.

Spanning a hundred miles, they entered a vast valley shrouded in light mist.

The vegetation in the valley was exceptionally lush, with many old trees gnarled and vigorous, their massive roots exposed on the surface like dragons and snakes. Beneath their feet were layers upon layers of fallen leaves that had accumulated for untold years, soft and damp.

Here, ancient trees reached for the sky, vines intertwined, and bizarre rocks stood in jagged formations. The thick piles of fallen leaves emitted an aura of decay intertwined with rebirth, and the faint sounds of insects and animal roars could be heard, filled with primitive vitality and danger.

As soon as they entered the valley, a distinct chill rushed toward them, and the water Spiritual Qi in the air became exceptionally active and pure.

From a distance, one could see a pool of water tightly enveloped in thick white cold mist deep in the valley—it was exactly the Cold Pool Green Edge had mentioned.

Gao De didn't head to the Cold Pool immediately; his attention was first drawn to the ground beneath his feet.

He crouched down and pinched a handful of soil from beneath the thick layer of fallen leaves. Rubbing it between his fingers, he saw some fine powder shimmering with a faint light mixed in the soil—Spirit Stone fragments!

His heart stirred, and his powerful Divine Thought immediately spread out like mercury covering the ground, enveloping the surrounding rock walls and the earth below.

Earth, stone, and various physical objects naturally blocked and interfered with Divine Sense.

The surface of the valley had long been dug into pits and hollows by various Yao Beasts. Clearly, many creatures had instinctively sensed the extraordinary nature of this place and tried to find the source of this escaping Spiritual Qi.

However, Gao De's Divine Thought far exceeded that of an ordinary Third Order Cultivator. Even under the dual suppression of the Yunmeng Marsh mist and the earth's ley lines, it still stubbornly probed deep into the ground.

Sure enough! In his Divine Sense perception, starting from less than a zhang deep and extending to the hundred-zhang area he could currently clearly sense, a large number of Spirit Stones were scattered throughout the earth and rock beneath this valley!

These Spirit Stones were not a concentrated ore vein; they seemed more like they had been shattered by some immense force and then randomly scattered here, only to be covered layer by layer by countless years of dust and geological changes.

They varied in size, most being only the size of a bean or a knuckle. All Five Elements attributes were present, with single-attribute and mixed-attribute stones existing together, dotting the hundred-zhang deep strata like stars.

Starting from a depth of a hundred zhang, the earth and stone structure became exceptionally tight and solid, making it difficult for Divine Sense to penetrate. Clearly, the core of the ore vein or the geological structure had changed, but the scattered Spirit Stones in just these hundred zhang of shallow layers were already extremely numerous!

"Truly a treasure land!" Gao De was delighted.

Although mining them would be more troublesome than a concentrated vein, they were widely distributed and shallowly buried. For someone like him who possessed a large number of low-level Demon Soldiers, it was perfectly suited for large-scale excavation.

Just then, a noisy "croak" came from the direction of the Cold Pool.

Dozens of toads, icy blue all over with white bumps on their backs, darted out from the thick fog. The large ones were the size of a millstone, while the small ones were as big as a bowl—they were exactly that group of Ice Crystal Poison Toads.

Sensing the aura of the outsiders, especially the faint dragon might on Gao De, they became restless. They puffed out their cheeks and let out warning cries, and the bumps on some of the toads' backs had already begun to secrete venom that shimmered with a cold light.

However, when Gao De deliberately released a trace of a Third Order flood dragon's pressure mixed with the Dragon Qi of the Purple Heaven Dragon Transformation Art, that terrifying aura belonging to a top-tier predator was like ice water poured over their heads, instantly causing this group of toads—the highest of which were only Second Order—to freeze on the spot!

The fear in their Bloodlines overwhelmed everything. They no longer cared about guarding their territory and let out terrified cries, scrambling in all directions to flee, ducking into the grass and rock crevices. In a few moments, they had vanished without a trace.

"Pathetic." Iron Pincer waved his giant pincers, somewhat disdainful.

Gao De gave a calm command, "The threat here has been removed. Iron Pincer, return to the water pool immediately and dispatch all the members of your tribe who are good at digging and have great strength to come here! This King will establish a mine here to excavate these Spirit Stones!"

"Yes! Master! I'll go right away!" Hearing this, Iron Pincer accepted the order excitedly, his massive body turning as he rushed quickly toward the nest.

Gao De then said to Green Edge, "You are responsible for keeping watch here, clearing any remaining poison toads, and monitoring the valley entrance to prevent interference from other Yao Beasts or Cultivators attracted by the Spiritual Qi."

"Your subordinate obeys!" Green Edge also immediately took the order, his snake body slithering as he began to patrol the valley.

Gao De walked to the edge of the Cold Pool, feeling the pure icy Spiritual Qi within it, and began to calculate in his mind.

This Cold Pool was also a good thing. Not only could it assist in cultivating water and ice-attribute Cultivation Techniques, but it could also perhaps be used to nurture certain special spiritual plants or serve as an aid for future Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

Looking at the valley that would soon become a scene of bustling activity, Gao De nodded with satisfaction.

This unexpected discovery of a Spirit Stone ore vein greatly supplemented his forces' resource reserves.

The excavated Spirit Stones, whether used for his own cultivation, rewards for his subordinates, or as hard currency for future trade, were all crucial.

His Yunmeng Marsh base plan became even more solid because of the appearance of this ore vein.