Red Copper Mine

As he walked out of the cave, Chen Daoxuan’s mood was heavy.

In order to support his cultivation, thirteenth uncle had even given up on his own path of cultivation.

This kind of favor, from someone who was trying to attain the Dao, was truly shocking.

Chen Daoxuan had reincarnated into this life, and all he had heard was about how all cultivators were sinister and cunning, robbing and killing others for the sake of their own cultivation. He had never heard of anyone giving up their own path of cultivation for the sake of their juniors.

This kind of self-sacrificing behavior was extremely rare in this world, and even back on Earth in his previous life.

However, when he thought about Chen Xianhe’s earnest teachings over the years, Chen Daoxuan could not help but feel relieved.

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Using the wind control spell, Chen Daoxuan traveled through the mist and the clouds between the mountains like a celestial being.

He was silent the entire journey.

In about the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, a brown mountain appeared in front of Chen Daoxuan.

Compared to Chen Daoxuan and Chen Xianhe’s cave abode, this mountain was bald and looked like a hairless vulture; it was exceptionally ugly.

This was the small spirit mine owned by the Chen clan of Shuanghu Island—the red copper mine. The Red Copper mountain range was also named after this spirit mine.

As he approached the mine, Chen Daoxuan could see some mortals wearing linen shirts entering and exiting the mine. These were all Chen clansmen from Changping County.

…

In front of the red copper mine, Chen Liangyu, who was in charge of the mine, saw Chen Daoxuan flying toward them.

Before Chen Daoxuan landed, Chen Liangyu quickly stepped forward and bowed. “Greetings, Master Immortal.”

In this world, immortal cultivators were the absolute ruling class.

Therefore, even though Chen Daoxuan was only 16 years old, Chen Liangyu did not dare to take him lightly just because of his age.

“You and I are both members of the Chen clan, so there’s no need to be so polite.”

Chen Daoxuan landed in front of Chen Liangyu and raised his hand lightly.

With just a glance, Chen Daoxuan could see that Chen Liangyu’s cultivation had improved from the sixth layer of the Xiantian realm to the seventh layer of the Xiantian realm.

Although Chen Daoxuan only conducted a routine inspection of the red copper mine once a year, he still had some impression of Chen Liangyu, who was the person in charge of the mine.

However, whether it was the sixth or seventh layer of the Xiantian realm, in the eyes of cultivators, there was not much difference.

The Xiantian realm and the Qi refinement realm were not on the same level at all.

After a brief pause, Chen Daoxuan said with a smile, “I came here to check on the output of the red copper mine for this year.”

Hearing this, Chen Liangyu’s old face, which was full of smiles, immediately darkened.

He carefully said, “Master Immortal, this year’s output of red copper ore has decreased again. It’s only a little more than three… three catties.”

Sure enough, after hearing this, Chen Daoxuan frowned slightly.

The situation was even worse than what Chen Xianhe had predicted. The supply of red copper ore might already have been exhausted.

Even if they decided to mine at full capacity, they might not be able to squeeze out much more from the spirit mine.

As he pondered the matter, Chen Daoxuan took a deep breath. “Let’s go, bring me inside to take a look.”

“Master Immortal, this way please!”

Chen Liangyu bowed and made an inviting gesture. Chen Daoxuan walked toward the building where the ores were stored.

At the red copper mine, there were the three mining caves, while the miners and stewards usually lived in makeshift simple wooden houses.

Located among these simple wooden houses was a three-story building that stood out.

It was a structure built to temporarily store the mined red copper ore.

Chen Liangyu usually lived inside, ostensibly to ensure the safety of the red copper ore.

In truth, he did not want to squeeze in with the miners inside their stinky simple wooden houses.

Undoubtedly, the living and working conditions of the red copper mine were difficult, but the Chen clansmen were still willing to work here. This was not due to pressure from the Immortal Masters, but rather due to the generous remuneration offered by the clan.

The clan stipulated that anyone who was willing to voluntarily work as a miner at the red copper mine would only have to serve for three months, and that their families would be exempted from a year of tax.

Moreover, while working in the red copper mine, they would be paid one tael of silver per month.

Given such generous remuneration, employment at the red copper mine was much sought after by members of the Chen clan of Shuanghu Island. It was a well-paid role.

If one had to compare this job with his previous life, it would probably be similar to… working for a state-owned enterprise?

Walking over to the building where the red copper ore was stored, Chen Liangyu quickly took out the key to the bronze lock on the door. He then led Chen Daoxuan into the building.

After turning left and right for about the time it took to brew half a cup of tea, Chen Liangyu handed an exquisite wooden box over to Chen Daoxuan.

After that, he cupped his hands and said, “Master Immortal, the red copper ores that have been mined since last year are all in this box.”

“Okay.”

Chen Daoxuan nodded noncommittally and waved his hand lightly, causing his true energy to surge forth.

“Clack!”

The wooden box was opened, and three large pieces, and one small piece, of red copper ore lay quietly inside the wooden box.

Different from ordinary copper ores, this red ore had an indescribable aura emanating from it. Even mortals could see the peculiarity of these ores.

Spiritual essence!

This was the biggest difference between spirit ores and ordinary ores.

Generally speaking, the grade of a spirit ore was determined by the amount of spiritual essence it contained.

After checking and finding that there were no problems, Chen Daoxuan patted the storage bag on his waist and put the four pieces of red copper ores into the storage bag.

Seeing this, Chen Liangyu let out a slight sigh of relief.

Seeing his expression, Chen Daoxuan smiled slightly, and then told him in detail about thirteenth uncle’s instructions.

“What! The patriarch wants to mine the Red Copper Mine at full capacity?”

Chen Liangyu was very surprised to hear the orders of the patriarch.

However, given Chen Daoxuan’s identity, he would definitely not fake the order of the patriarch. In other words, the patriarch really intended to give up on the red copper mine.

It made sense. The profits of the red copper mine had been getting worse year by year. It was obvious that the mine had been exhausted.

Instead of mining it conservatively, it would be better to increase the intensity of the mining operations. The entire mine would be dug out and all the mineral deposits within would be completely excavated.

Thinking of this, Chen Liangyu raised his head. “Sir Immortal Master, I’m afraid that our limited manpower is insufficient to increase the mine’s output to full capacity. Moreover, the expenses of the mining operation would also increase greatly…”

Chen Daoxuan did not care about the cost Chen Liangyu mentioned at all.

It was only a small amount of silver.

Silver was still valuable in the eyes of mortals but, to cultivators, it was not much different from scrap iron.

“Don’t worry. I will instruct the county magistrate of Changping County to cooperate with you on this matter and inform you in advance so that you can make the necessary preparations.”

Hearing this, Chen Liangyu hurriedly lowered his head and nodded.

Although he agreed, Chen Liangyu’s mood was still very poor.

Fully excavating the red copper mine not only meant that the clan had given up on this spirit mine, but also meant that his role as the person in charge of the red copper mine would come to an end.

One had to know that, with his identity as the person in charge of the red copper mine, Chen Liangyu’s position in the clan was almost on par with the county magistrate of Changping County.

It could be said that, other than the high and mighty Immortal Masters of the clan, Chen Liangyu held an esteemed status.

As the person in charge of the red copper mine, Chen Liangyu managed the mining operations and personnel administration.

In addition, he could see the Immortal Master of the clan almost every year, and he would come into close contact with the Immortal Master.

Who would want to give up such a beautiful job?

However, the order of the clan leader to give up the red copper mine was absolute. How could a trifling Xiantian seventh layer clansman oppose it?