239: Chapter 239 Invitation

Hearing this, Yin Gu raised an eyebrow.

"What? Does joining Fellow Daoist Savage Stone's team mean one can dig more immortal essence stones every day?"

"Exactly!"

Boss Huang spoke with certainty, explaining in a low voice:

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know, but this immortal essence stone mine has areas with high and low concentrations. The mining tunnels occupied by Fellow Daoist Savage Stone and his group were identified after years of exploration as high-yield areas with better quality Ore."

"Those of us who join have to hand over sixty percent of our harvest, but since we're mining in rich areas, the remaining portion is still more than what one could get by working themselves to death in the barren areas. At the very least... it's enough to exchange for the daily required yun xian pill."

He pointed at the miasma dissipating from his body, proving the truth of his words.

Hearing this, a hint of surprise and interest flickered in Yin Gu's eyes at just the right moment, but it quickly turned into hesitation:

"I see... but if it's such a good deal, why haven't those people joined?"

Following Yin Gu's gaze, Boss Huang looked at the Loose Cultivators who were separate from the two major groups.

"Those Cultivators had originally joined, but over the years, they couldn't hold on anymore. They exhausted their mental strength and began to lose themselves to despair, so they were kicked out of the team."

"Thank you for clarifying, Boss Huang."

A look of relief appeared on Yin Gu's face at the right time:

"It seems joining a team isn't a permanent solution either."

Boss Huang sighed:

"Indeed. That's why you must show your value as soon as possible and establish a foothold before you can think about the future."

The struggle on Yin Gu's face intensified as if he were weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he gritted his teeth and cupped his hands toward Boss Huang:

"I appreciate you thinking highly of me, Boss Huang, but... this matter concerns our very lives. Please allow me to discuss it with my two companions and give you an answer tomorrow. How does that sound?"

Boss Huang nodded understandingly:

"Of course, of course. Then I will wait here at this time tomorrow for your good news, Fellow Daoist."

Boss Huang watched them return to the mine tunnel, chuckling inwardly.

He naturally had his own selfish motives. If Yin Gu and the others joined, ten percent of the sixty percent they handed over would go to him... Upon returning to the Buddhist Kingdom Space, Yin Gu immediately approached Su Mo and recounted everything Boss Huang had said in detail.

"A place with a higher concentration of immortal essence stones..."

The corners of Su Mo's mouth curled up slightly.

Although the immortal essence stones they were currently mining were not few, they were barely enough for their cultivation. To improve quickly, they indeed needed more immortal essence stones.

After hearing Yin Gu's account, he couldn't help but feel a bit curious about Savage Stone and that scholar-like Cultivator.

To be the leader of a team and have so many followers, they must have some skill.

Su Mo's fingertips lightly tapped his knee as a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Su Mo was quite tolerant of such talent. He didn't plan to turn him into a rigid Incarnation, but rather intended to give him a chance to submit.

After telling Yin Gu and the others his plan, he entered his cultivation state once more.

He was just a sliver away from completing his second tempering; he couldn't afford to be lax.

Su Mo always felt that the nine Immortal Qi temperings were meant to completely transform his "mortal body" from the Lower Realm into one that perfectly harmonized with the Yuanguang Realm.

Each tempering represented taking a step closer to the Foundation of this realm's natives.

Only by completing it nine times could he truly establish a foothold in this realm... The next day, Yin Gu and the others followed the crowd out of the mine tunnel as usual.

However, this time, to avoid suspicion, they used five immortal essence stones to exchange for one yun xian pill.

After taking it, Yin Gu couldn't help but curl his lip.

The Immortal Qi in this yun xian pill was incredibly thin and carried an indescribable taste of pill dregs, like a discarded waste pill from Alchemy.

Before long, Boss Huang approached with a fervent smile, his gaze scanning their faces.

"Fellow Daoists, have you made up your minds?"

Yin Gu chuckled:

"We have. We've discussed it for a day, and joining the team is indeed a way forward."

"However, Boss Huang, could you introduce us to Fellow Daoist Savage Stone before we join? We want to express our intentions in person and hear the rules from the leader himself to avoid any misunderstandings in the future."

Boss Huang pondered for a moment before readily agreeing:

"That's no problem at all! Leader Savage Stone appreciates straightforward men the most! It's great that you have this intention. Follow me."

Led by Boss Huang, the three of them passed through the bustling crowd and arrived at the core area where Savage Stone's team gathered.

Savage Stone was sitting cross-legged on a high rock, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing. His aura was significantly stronger than that of the other Cultivators.

Hearing footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning as it swept over Yin Gu and the others.

"Leader, these are some newly arrived Fellow Daoists."

Boss Huang hurriedly stepped forward to introduce them:

"They wish to join us and have come to pay their respects to the leader."

Savage Stone looked the three of them up and down, his expression calm and unreadable.

Yin Gu was the first to break the ice, speaking with a smile:

"Fellow Daoist Savage Stone, we meet again."

They had met once before when they first entered the mine and had exchanged a few words.

"Mhm. You know the rules for joining us, right? Hand over sixty percent of the mined immortal essence stones. Follow orders, and no infighting."

Savage Stone paused, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes before he returned to his normal expression.

His gaze swept over them once more, lingering on Yin Gu for a brief moment.

"Since someone introduced you and you're willing to follow the rules, then stay."

Savage Stone waved his hand, seemingly uninterested in further conversation, and closed his eyes again.

A moment later, all the miners returned to the mine tunnels.

Savage Stone, who should have returned to the rich mining area on the east side, instead came to an empty tunnel.

He looked around and spoke indifferently:

"Come out."

At his words, Yin Gu and the others stepped out from the shadows with smiles:

"Fellow Daoist Savage Stone is truly bold and skilled!"

Savage Stone turned around, showing little surprise, but his eyes were sharp as he stared at Yin Gu:

"Enough nonsense. What is the method you mentioned via voice transmission for absorbing immortal essence stones here? And how can you prove what you said is true?"

Yin Gu pulled back his smile, and the aura he had been concealing suddenly erupted:

"Does this prove it?"

The companions beside him immediately released their auras as well.

Savage Stone's pupils constricted, and for the first time, a look of disbelief appeared on his face:

"You... your cultivation... how is this possible?!"

Yin Gu and the others' cultivation had faintly caught up to his, yet they had only been at this immortal essence stone mine for a few days!

He, Savage Stone, had been here for over a hundred years, only reaching this level by relying on the trace of Immortal Qi in the yun xian pills.

The only explanation was that the people before him truly possessed a method to safely absorb immortal essence stones here!