Of course, it wasn’t actually gold, but a Spirit Stone Lode. There was a very high chance of finding such a lode near any Spirit Vein, but there was always that chance that it would be too deep in the earth, or it had already been unearthed in the past. Fortunately, they ran into no such complications. Instead, the issue was far easier to solve. The Spirit Stone Lode was located in the area of the poison miasma, a few hundred feet under the surface.

It was basically impossible to reach in the past. Despite how it looked, the poison miasma was not a gas. It was a sort of energy and that energy was not limited to only the surface. The miasma actually created a full sphere of coverage around Icefire Valley, and even those attempting to tunnel under the ground would be faced with the vicious poison seeping into their bodies.

With this new discovery, Sage decided to carefully modify the formations that distributed the poisonous miasma. With some very delicate calculations he shifted the center of the poisonous miasma formation so that it excluded the Spirit Stone Lode. He would have liked to move it further to provide a bigger safe zone, but he could only move it until Duo Tan’s burial chamber was at the edge of the poisonous area. As the source of the miasma, it had to remain within the affected zone.

It wasn’t a perfect solution as half of the lode was still in the area affected by the miasma, but it created enough of a safe area for a proper defensive structure to be created and also to allow for safe living areas for miners. On the downside, it meant the miners would have to constantly consume antidotes in order to reach the later half of the mine, but that wouldn’t become a problem for a decade. Mining was a delicate operation, especially Spirit Stones. They were filled with energy and if improperly handled they could shatter and release their energy. If the walls suddenly collapsed it was highly likely for whole tunnels to shatter. Not only might many lose their lives, but valuable Spirit Stones would be lost in the process. More valuable than gold, yet as fragile as glass.

Because of the delicacy of the operation, it was usually left to weaker individuals. Powerful Cultivators wouldn’t want to waste years of time slowly and carefully mining Spirit Stones. Only those with powers perfectly suited to such activities would waste their time on such an activity. Sage could think of a few ways to expedite such mining, but it was far simpler to just leave it all up to the Mount Song Sword Sect. He was already getting a cut of the proceeds, so why waste any more effort?

I’ll help them out later when they reach the poisonous miasma again. I could breed something with the Fire Bellied Cobra line that can live in the miasma and give them Human Seals. That would make it simple.

With the new miasma in place, Sage’s obligation was fulfilled. He only stayed to help find the Spirit Stones as he had a vested interest. If he left before they found the Spirit Stone Lode he would be losing out on possible revenue. He was especially glad to have remained behind since he would have had to come back to move the miasma anyway. That, or they would have spent a fortune on antidotes to get any mining done.

Sage left Icefire Valley for a second time and returned to the Mount Song Sword Sect in the same manner as before. He didn’t care if anyone in the wilderness spotted his giant spider body as only another Nascent Soul would have the guts to try and take him on. Usually when hunting Demonic Beasts, humans preferred to properly scout strong beasts. Once they knew the strengths and weaknesses of a beast, as well as the peculiarities of its territory, they could use their intellect to get the upper hand. Foolhardy fellows usually didn’t survive to a high rank, with the exception of a few notably heroic geniuses that is, but they were prone to being killed off by other humans plotting behind their backs.

Usually only the strong and cunning survived long enough to reach a high rank in this world.

Sage returned to the Tiankong Clan with much less fanfare this time. His absence was much shorter and without as much uncertainty as the last time. They threw a celebratory dinner, but with less wildness this time. The next day, Wan Ling had returned from her latest business trip and despite his protests that she should rest, they were gathered at the head of a large table along with the top members of the new Tiankong Clan. The majority of them were well known to Sage, as they consisted of Ruanfu, Elder Manji, Jiyao, Juzui, Baozhai, Tujiu, Songji, a dozen of King’s Wives, and a half-dozen of their children. Without the hundreds of years of maturation in the Inner World, these other children were merely the most gifted teenagers, considered to be future talents and only at this meeting to ‘gain experience’. The real decision makers were Ruanfu and King’s many Wives, especially the three who had run the Inner World for so long.

“We’ve brought you all together to discuss an important issue. We need to discuss the level of involvement between the Prosperity Company, the Tiankong Clan, and the Lang Clan.”

Wan Ling began the discussion with a direct declaration of the issue at hand. She smiled softly at all those gathered, letting her gaze move from one person to the next until she’d given everyone a chance to be seen, “We are all a part of these three groups to some extent, but it is time to create clear distinctions. As we saw last time, there are those who go to greath lengths to harm Lang Sheng. As those close to him, if we do not establish any clear boundaries, we will also become targets. There are many innocent workers and children who should not be thrust into such danger needlessly.”

There was an immediate clamor in the room. Jiyao, Tujiu and Baozhai being the loudest as they started cursing up a storm, “We are no cowards! We would never abandon our friends, let alone our family!”

Sage stepped in and raised his hand, “It’s alright, please calm down. Wan Ling isn’t speaking out of turn. I asked her to lead this discussion. Please don’t misunderstand, without your help when I was in need, I would certainly be dead right now.”

He put his hand on Jiyao and Baozhai’s shoulders as the two feisty half-siblings were ready to speak out again, “Its okay. You’ve done enough. From here on out, it's going to be even more dangerous than it was in the past. I know if I asked you, you would go into secluded training for a thousand years to fight by my side, but I can’t ask you to do that. If you wish to get strong, I won’t stop you, in fact I’ll help you. I just won’t let you do it for me. King was my friend, and I need you all to fulfill his dream. His dream of a great and flourishing clan. He wanted his offspring to fill the skies. I’m counting on you all to make that dream come true.”

Wan Ling nodded, “I will be the official representative of the Prosperity Company. Lang Sheng represents the Lang Clan, and Ruanfu shall speak for the Tiankong Clan.”

Many of the younger ones in the Tiankong Clan blinked and then shot their eyes to Ruanfu. The woman in question clenched her fist. Her knuckles created an audible cracking sound and she flipped her snowy white hair back over her shoulder, “Fine. I suppose you wish for there to be no formal ties between the Tiankong and Lang Clan?”