The second exploration point is Phoenix Feather Mountain, north of Fengtou Mountain.
With Golden Tiger accompanying him, the journey to Phoenix Feather Mountain was a bit faster. Along the way, they encountered some Spirit Beasts with powerful Auras, but seeing Golden Tiger's resentful demeanor, and knowing they were just passing through, these Spirit Beasts turned a blind eye and allowed them to proceed.
Three days later, Phoenix Feather Mountain was reached.
Phoenix Feather Mountain is a pitch-black range of hills. The trees on the hills had no leaves and were also black.
Although the hills were not high, upon arriving, Golden Tiger, who was usually calm and seemingly fearless, began to take small, hesitant steps, unwilling to go further up.
Standing at the foot of the mountain, Qian Duoduo extended his Spiritual Awareness into the hills, but it was blocked by intense heat within five hundred feet, unable to penetrate further.
Liu Boli emerged from the Golden Toad, gazing at the black mountains. "This place is not simple."
He observed for a long time, then stepped on a rock beneath his feet. "Where spirit fire is born, there must be stubborn iron. There might be an Ore vein down here."
"What kind of iron would 'stubborn iron' be?" Hearing about a potential Ore vein underground, Qian Duoduo immediately became excited.
Since departing from the Zhu Family castle, Qian Duoduo had collected over a hundred types of Spirit Ore, but had yet to discover an Ore vein.
If he could discover an Ore vein, the sect's reward would probably make Qian Duoduo so rich that he'd be troubled about how to spend his money...
Liu Boli shook his head. "That's impossible to tell."
He pointed to a depression on the left. "Dig down from here and see what you can find."
This was going to be like working as a miner. Qian Duoduo scratched his head and took out a silver sword from the Golden Toad. This silver sword was a prize from the Outer Sect's minor competition, an artisan artifact. He had tried it a few times and felt it was too light, not as handy as the Golden Rooster Sword. For mining this time, he would use it.
Seeing Liu Boli arrange work for Qian Duoduo, Golden Tiger obediently retreated about ten zhang, found a good spot, and lay down to rest.
"Puff, puff, puff..." The silver sword rose and fell, and blocks of stone were chiseled away, revealing a tunnel in the depression that extended diagonally downwards.
However, all that came out was stubborn stone, not stubborn iron.
He went in with hope and came out with disappointment. Qian Duoduo chiseled for half a quarter of an hour. "Stop," Liu Boli suddenly called out.
The crouching Golden Tiger had already stood up, staring towards the hills.
Only then did Qian Duoduo notice that three Fire Spirit Crows had flown onto the black trees at the edge of the hills at some unknown time. The crows were the size of eagles, with flaming black embers emanating from their crimson beaks, identical to the depictions in the Spirit Birds scroll.
These three Fire Spirit Crows had Auras slightly weaker than Golden Tiger's; they should be at the Condensing Qi Stage Level Eight cultivation.
However, there were three of them. Together, they were no weaker than Golden Tiger.
"Let me spar with them." Putting away the silver sword and taking out the Golden Rooster Sword, Qian Duoduo formed a hand seal and pointed, sending a ray of sword light towards the Fire Spirit Crows.
The Fire Spirit Crows showed no panic. The one in the middle spat out a stream of black fire towards the Golden Rooster Sword, blocking it.
Golden Tiger took half a step forward and let out a low growl, as if to say, "You can't do it, let me."
"No rush, no rush," Qian Duoduo quickly said. Opportunities to fight against Condensing Qi Stage Level Eight opponents were rare; he might as well let them abuse him a few more times.
The Golden Rooster Sword attacked continuously, and each time, one Fire Spirit Crow spat fire to repel it.
The Fire Spirit Crows' attention was actually focused on Golden Tiger. As for Liu Boli, who did not release his Aura, he was ignored by them.
And Qian Duoduo, in their eyes, was merely a weak and annoying Cultivator.
The Golden Rooster Sword's blade grew hotter and hotter, becoming difficult to control.
Qian Duoduo retreated two steps, and Golden Tiger stepped forward, letting out a fierce roar. The tiger's roar created a shockwave that visibly surged towards the Fire Spirit Crows on the trees.
The three Fire Spirit Crows spread their wings to dodge, flying to another black tree. They pecked at the tree a few times with their beaks, and the black fire around their beaks flared up again.
Golden Tiger pounced forward, rushing up the hill to close the distance with the Fire Spirit Crows.
The Fire Spirit Crows spat from their red beaks, and three streams of black fire shot towards Golden Tiger.
Golden Tiger swept his tail, deflecting all the black fire back.
Golden Tiger shook his head. Although he didn't look back, Qian Duoduo knew he was showing off to him—"Look at me, Golden Tiger, one against three, effortlessly."
The Fire Spirit Crows flapped their wings, forming a 'pin' character on the tree, and spat black fire at Golden Tiger. Golden Tiger was unhurried, sometimes using his claws, sometimes his tail, and sometimes roaring, not only blocking all attacks but also forcing the Fire Spirit Crows to retreat dozens of zhang.
"Caw, caw..." The Fire Spirit Crows let out several strange cries.
"Little Golden Tiger, come back," Liu Boli called softly.
Golden Tiger initially walked back slowly, then made a few quick dashes, leaping out of the hills and crouching behind Liu Boli.
Qian Duoduo saw a large group of Fire Spirit Crows, about a hundred of them, appear behind Golden Tiger!
The strange cries just now were the Fire Spirit Crows calling their companions from the hills.
If Golden Tiger were surrounded by these hundred Fire Spirit Crows, he would be in big trouble; one crow, one mouthful of black fire, and he could be roasted immediately.
The Fire Spirit Crows surged out of the hills with menacing Aura, the black fire from their red beaks forming a continuous net in the air like raindrops in a downpour, as if an exploding giant furnace was smashing down.
A wave of heat rushed to his face, and Qian Duoduo immediately broke out in a sweat.
Liu Boli simply waved his hand, and the black fire, like a waterfall, drifted back into the hills, falling into the soil and disappearing.
The flock of Fire Spirit Crows scattered, squawking strangely and desperately flapping their wings, fleeing back into the hills.
They came arrogantly and left in a panic.
Golden Tiger let out a loud roar, as if shouting—"Come on, burn me, roast me!"
"This Golden Tiger is quite dramatic," Qian Duoduo thought, amused.
With the Fire Spirit Crows defeated, Liu Boli waved his hand. "Keep digging."
Golden Tiger this time helped Qian Duoduo, using his claws to push the excavated stones aside.
"Ding," a strange sound.
"It's a find!" Qian Duoduo picked up the Ore he had just dug up. The Ore was silvery-white, light in hand, yet extraordinarily strong.
"Ming Iron!" he exclaimed. The spirit mine scroll recorded that Ming Iron was an excellent Material for making war chariots and one of the important strategic resources in the Immortal Cultivation World.
Liu Boli, standing by, shook his head. "Too bad, it's just a small mine, not much 'meat'."
Qian Duoduo's Spiritual Awareness plunged into the cave. The Ming Iron Ore inside was at least the size of three houses.
"This is still considered 'no meat'?" Qian Duoduo swallowed, his heart pounding as if he were being roasted by Fire Spirit Crows. The silver sword quickly became a silver thread, cutting the Ming Iron Ore inside into small pieces, then he manipulated it with Spiritual Qi, bringing it out of the cave...
After all the Ore in the tunnel was dug out, he further chiseled three feet of stone, and only after confirming there was truly no more 'meat' did he reluctantly give up his miner identity.
After his savings business and establishing a manor, Qian Duoduo discovered a third way to make money: excavating Spirit Ore.
This business was simple, brutal, and fast!
Panting, Qian Duoduo lay spread-eagled amidst the Ming Iron Ore, asking Liu Boli, "How much can these sell for?"
"If sold directly, three hundred thousand."
"Three hundred thousand? That's not much worse than first place in the minor competition, that's great. Hmm, 'sold directly,' is there a way not to sell directly?"
"These are Ores. If refined into Ming Iron and then sold, it would be at least nine hundred thousand."
"Nine hundred thousand!" Qian Duoduo was stunned, touching the cool Ming Iron Ore, seemingly hearing the beautiful clinking sound of gold coins.
Mining requires Artifact Refining, and Artifact Refining is even more violent than mining.
After thinking for a moment, Qian Duoduo gripped the Ore tightly. "Elder Liu, I think with my current status as one of Wanjin Pavilion's three pillar heads, I can embark on a career as an Artifact Refiner, starting with refining Ming Iron Ore!"
Liu Boli laughed aloud. "To refine Ore, do you have a cauldron?" Qian Duoduo was finally about to take the first step in Artifact Refining. Liu Boli had finally waited for his initiative request. When one decides to do something themselves, it's hard to stop.
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