When Ji Yuan saw this line of text, he didn't make any exaggerated moves like a gasp, but he instinctively flinched inside his heart.

He had been waiting for a long time.

After trying many methods and failing to activate the Spirit Vein, could it really just open up like this? So effortlessly?

Though the process was a bit arduous and winding, thankfully, it finally succeeded.

"Whew—"

Ji Yuan let out a long sigh of relief, and then summoned the panel.

[Spirit Vein: Level 1 (Upgradeable)]

[Spirit Effect 1: Spiritual Qi concentration +50% within one mile radius.]

[Spirit Effect 2: Produces 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones every day.]

[Upgrade Conditions: 10 Mid-grade Spirit Stones. (Achieved)]

Ji Yuan glanced at the panel.

Feeling even more delighted.

Not only were the upgrade conditions simple, but the level 1 Spirit Vein actually had two Spirit Effects.

With this, who needs a bicycle?

To be safe, Ji Yuan didn't hesitate and chose to upgrade immediately.

What if he couldn't develop the level 1 Spirit Vein now, and later the effects here dissipate, leaving him unable to upgrade?

As 10 Mid-grade Spirit Stones turned to ash in Ji Yuan's hands, the stone wall in front of him... grew 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones.

They genuinely sprouted out at a speed visible to the naked eye.

This was today's harvest.

Producing 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones in a day, it would only take 100 days to replenish the cost of upgrading the Spirit Vein.

After 100 days pass, it will be all net gains.

It may seem a bit long, but compared to the long journey of cultivation, this time isn't much.

Sometimes even a single retreat can last several years.

Ji Yuan summoned the Flowing Frost Flying Sword, retrieved the 10 Low-grade Spirit Stones from the stone wall, and put them into the Storage Bag.

Since it was produced by his own Spirit Vein construction, there naturally wouldn't be any Array restrictions.

If so, then what about the Spirit Vein in front of him?

Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel a stirring in his heart as his Divine Sense invaded it; the surface Spirit Stones hadn't been taken, and the inner Spirit Stones... hadn't been extracted either!

Xuanweizi manipulated this place, yet only partially consumed the Spirit Vein without thinking of extracting the Spirit Stones inside, why is that?

Why ignore free Spirit Stones?!

Ji Yuan couldn't understand, nor did he rush to take the Spirit Stones inside; first, he looked at the panel.

[Spirit Vein: Level 2 (Not Upgradeable)]

[Spirit Effect 1: Spiritual Qi concentration +100% within two miles radius.]

[Spirit Effect 2: Produces 10 Mid-grade Spirit Stones, 100 Low-grade Spirit Stones every day.]

[Upgradeable Conditions: 10 High-grade Spirit Stones, 100 Mid-grade Spirit Stones, 1000 Low-grade Spirit Stones. (Not Achieved)]

This...

This Spirit Vein is indeed all about Spirit Stones; wants nothing else, just Spirit Stones.

The production is also exclusively Spirit Stones.

Ji Yuan clicked his tongue a few times, sighing inwardly.

As for Spirit Effect 1, in comparison, the Spiritual Qi enhancement effect of the Cave Mansion seems a bit lacking.

But the good news is that the effects of the two can be stacked, creating an effect greater than 1 plus 1.

Spirit Effect 2 needs to be considered in conjunction with the upgrade condition.

Currently, the only thing Ji Yuan lacks is 10 High-grade Spirit Stones; he only has 6 at the moment, but exchanging for 4 would only be a matter of exchanging for more than 400 Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

Not difficult for him.

And since the panel can break open separately, he still needs to exchange for 1000 Low-grade Spirit Stones, which is even easier.

Good that upgrades are possible.

Ji Yuan put away the panel, planning to wait a few days until after mining is done to go to a nearby town to exchange, at which point he would first upgrade the Spirit Vein and enjoy a guaranteed daily benefit.

After figuring this matter out, Ji Yuan's gaze landed on the intercepted part of the Spirit Vein in front of him.

How should this matter be handled?

This is a problem.

If handled, he must address this part of the Spirit Vein and the two corpses in the Storage Bag.

As for Zhiyun's corpse, Ji Yuan had carefully investigated on the way back.

He found the place where Zhiyun died, but the body was gone, presumably already disposed of by Danxia and the other.

There are actually only two choices for handling.

One is to handle it himself.

Two is to let the authorities handle it.

If handled himself, the Spirit Vein matter would have to be hidden, and the deaths of Xuanweizi and Danxia... at the time, he could claim to have stumbled upon them killing Zhiyun, they tried to silence him, and he successfully retaliated.

The advantage of this choice is that he can hide this part of the Spirit Vein and keep the unknown black-thread bundle concealed.

The downside is facing inquiries from the sect, and even scrutiny from three sects.

And as for the black-thread bundle in hand... Ji Yuan finds it incredibly peculiar.

Danxia mentioned before dying that the black-thread bundle was given to Xuanweizi by a senior, indicating Xuanweizi likely has someone behind him, potentially even a powerful organization.

What's certain is that this black-thread bundle must be a good thing.

If Xuanweizi's death is discovered by them, they are likely to send people to investigate... which would be another hassle.

But what if handled by the authorities?

That would mean handing everything over to the sect, revealing everything, including the black-thread bundle, and then distancing himself from the matter.

The advantage is being safe afterward, and even if something happens, it wouldn't reach him.

Even if it did reach him, the black-thread bundle would have already been surrendered.

The likelihood of them acting against him would be significantly reduced.

The downside of this choice is losing this small part of the Spirit Vein.

But as Ji Yuan thinks again.

Is this really considered a loss?

'I could take out all the Spirit Stones from inside now and hand over an empty shell; all accounts can be settled with Xuanweizi and Danxia.'

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