Chapter Nine, Superior Xuan Iron

The extracted ore can be transported back to the furnace in the Smelting Hall through a short-distance teleportation array, from the depths of the mine several hundred miles underground.

This process has been ongoing for over three thousand years. Indeed, this short-distance teleportation array, the Qiankun Furnace, and the mechanisms below known as the Mountain Opening Beasts were all established by the founding ancestor of the Floating Cloud Sect over three thousand years ago. They are outdated relics.

This is how one can prolong life and maintain the vitality of the body

A cultivator at the Transformation stage normally possesses a lifespan of three thousand years. However, after the dissipation of spiritual energy, if there is no replenishment of spiritual energy, they can live at most for a little over three hundred years, and at most up to five hundred years.

This Qiankun furnace operates automatically, capable of performing preliminary smelting and decomposition of ores. The residue will be transported back underground to fill abandoned mines, while the essence will condense into rough black iron ingots. These ingots will then be refined by Jiang Mu and his disciples using magical powers until they are formed into inferior, medium, and even superior black iron.

However, this matter needs to be kept confidential from the senior brother

Having spoken, Jiang Mu rose with the wind and soon arrived at the Qingxi Courtyard. At this time, the disciples had also completed their morning practice. Cheng Banjin and two other registered disciples on duty had already prepared the spiritual tea and breakfast.

Only within the eyes is there a color of helplessness

If that is the case

The rich spiritual energy condenses into a rare spiritual mist in the mortal world, wandering between mountains and rivers. At this moment, whether it is flowers, grass, trees, or flying birds and running beasts, all benefit greatly

Rising to his feet, he gazed at the teleportation array within the Refining Hall. Beneath the Refining Hall lay the Xuan Iron ore vein, but cultivators did not need to personally enter the mine to extract the ore, nor did they require the labor of mortals, much less the secret imprisonment and capture of other cultivators to serve as mining slaves, for such practices were far too primitive.

After a long time, Jiang Mu dispersed the spiritual mist, revealing his form. At this moment, he could no longer conceal his demeanor; every gesture and movement exuded a subtle aura of the Dao.

Then—

Looking at the piece of mysterious iron in his hand, which subtly surpassed the quality of top-grade materials, Jiang Mu felt a sense of emotion. Such quality, if taken to the market for auction, could sell for over a hundred spirit stones for just one piece, while low-grade mysterious iron typically sells for only three to five spirit stones.

This speed is at least twice as fast as in the previous life

After having breakfast, Jiang Mu explained some key points of cultivation to his registered disciples and then took them to the back mountain to refine dark iron, which was also a routine task. By refining dark iron, the disciples could better master the manipulation of magical power

They utilize mechanical mountain-opening beasts, powered by spirit stones. Each mechanical mountain-opening beast can operate continuously, day and night, extracting tens of thousands of jin of ore daily. A single spirit stone can last for a month, and with a replenishment once, it can be left unattended for several years

As for the legendary Void Refinement Realm, Jiang Mu has never seen it and is not very familiar with it

Therefore, after handing over the affairs of the sect, he should seize the time to refine more mysterious iron, as this material is extremely important even in the end of the Dharma age

Only Jiang Mu will conduct research and attempt to innovate and update

I have cultivated until this moment at midnight, and it has only been three hours, yet it is equivalent to the arduous practice of three days in the past. Unfortunately, I only have ten years; how cruel fate is.

This ... ...

At such times, Jiang Mu would personally take charge, and today is no exception

Among them, the inferior grade and medium grade Xuan iron are sold, while the superior grade Xuan iron is for personal use

In the previous generation, apart from the peculiar sect leader Jiang Mu, who had a penchant for tempering dark iron, none of the successive sect leaders or elders of the sect were fond of engaging in such activities. Therefore, no one thought to make a change, as long as it was functional.

Therefore, his relationship with his disciples is exceptionally good

After dinner, there will be evening classes. Once the evening classes are over, except for those on duty in rotation, everyone can go rest. This cycle repeats, and it is that simple

After two hours, only Jiang Mu could still hold on. In his previous life, as long as there were no other matters, he could refine ten pieces of medium-grade Xuan iron every day, and he could refine one piece of high-grade Xuan iron approximately every three days

There are no specific standards; the process can be concluded once the magical power is exhausted, regardless of how much mysterious iron is refined

The morning light is faint, and the red sun rises for the first time

This is also the reason why every cultivation sect has a large number of spiritual herb and spiritual rice fields within their mountain gates, nurturing a multitude of rare birds, exotic beasts, and spiritual fish

Smelting dark iron is extremely mana-intensive. This year, the newly initiated disciples are here merely to experience the atmosphere of collective labor, after which they can roam the mountains and fields catching butterflies under the guidance of Cheng Banjin, roll and tumble in the soft grass, climb trees to touch birds, or fish in the river

Moreover, the above must absolutely not be acted upon, and it should not consume any magical power; otherwise, it will be even less.

In those years, Jiang Mu also came through in this way

Within two to three years, this will be their happiest time

However, nowadays, he has established the Guardian Hall, the Steward Hall, and the Training Hall, and he no longer needs to personally handle every matter.

Cultivators refine their inner power, nurture their spirit, and strengthen their meridians. They also enhance their muscles, bones, and internal organs, as well as their blood and marrow. Due to their exceptionally strong physique, they need to supplement their diet with various foods and elixirs that contain spiritual energy

Inside the Melting Hall, Jiang Mu sat cross-legged, forming hand seals and circulating his inner techniques to draw in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to restore his magical power. In a moment, the spiritual energy within his meridians surged like a dragon, pouring into the golden elixir, which swiftly transformed into pure magical power. Within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, all the magical power he had previously expended was completely restored

For example, a cultivator at the Golden Core stage, in an environment rich in spiritual energy and without any external or internal injuries, can attain a lifespan of five hundred years. However, once the spiritual energy dissipates and there is a prolonged absence of spiritual energy replenishment, they can only extend their life by a little over one hundred years at most

From this, it can be understood that with the changes of the times, one must look forward

In the previous life, it seemed that after two more years, with the absence of the gold-devouring beast, Master Brother Yao Cheng, Jiang Mu finally replaced the Qian Kun Furnace, the Mountain Opening Beast, and the teleportation array of the Xuan Iron ore vein. The result was a doubling of production, and the quality of the smelted Xuan Iron significantly improved, even reaching a level close to that of top-grade Xuan Iron

A Yuan Ying realm can normally attain a lifespan of a thousand years, but after the spiritual energy dissipates, if there is no replenishment of spiritual energy, one can live at most for a little over two hundred years

As for the registered disciples who have already spent ten years in the sect, as well as the direct disciples, they are all required to contribute without exception

In conclusion, cultivating immortality has become a dead end

Jiang Mu sat cross-legged on the flying small boat, practicing his techniques to absorb and exhale spiritual energy. Due to a fifty percent increase in the speed of converting his magical power, his daily cultivation practice attracted a large amount of spiritual mist, enveloping his entire being and covering an area of several hundred zhang. From a distance, it resembled a blue dragon drawing water, creating a magnificent spectacle

He stored the black iron into the reserve jade talisman and stepped out of the smelting hall. Outside, many disciples had already left on their own. This was a rare free time during the day. The Qi Refining disciples could meditate to restore their spiritual power, while the Foundation Establishment disciples could craft some magical tools, talismans, or do nothing at all, as they pleased

Today, Jiang Mu did not make any deliberate effort; he simply felt that his magical control was even more refined than in his previous life. In three hours, he did not manage to smelt a single piece of inferior-grade Xuan iron, but instead, he successfully smelted a piece of superior-grade Xuan iron

To cultivate a foundational realm cultivator requires an expenditure sufficient to meet the needs of hundreds of mortals for a lifetime

After enduring numerous hardships and starting over, if he still cannot achieve twice the result with half the effort, then he is truly beyond redemption

Thus, in just one hour, most of the registered disciples completed their refining, and only those whose cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment stage could persist.

After much contemplation, he felt that it should be greatly related to his current disposition. Although he had also experienced trials in his previous life, before encountering great calamities, he truly seemed to be foolishly cultivating immortality.

Jiang Mu also needs to eat, although mortals believe that cultivators can sustain themselves on wind and dew and can practice fasting, this is actually a misconception.

According to Jiang Mu's past habits, he would typically spend three days refining dark iron, two days mining jade, and then three days descending the mountain for short-term training, during which he would generally lead the entire process

Jiang Mu turned his head and glanced at a thatched cottage several miles to the south, which was the place of cultivation for his senior brother, Yao Cheng

Jiang Mu sensed that he still had 30% of his magical power left, which surprised him greatly

After a moment of contemplation, he turned around and re-entered the Smelting Hall. Over the past few months, he has been unable to execute any significant plans, as he must not undermine the determination of the Senior Brother to break through to the Nascent Soul stage

When the aura tide erupts and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth disappears, it truly severs the root of the cultivator's defiance against the heavens