Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit-Chapter 57: Zhangg 38: Where there are benefits, corruption thrives!

Chapter 57: Zhangg 38: Where there are benefits, corruption thrives!

Several days passed.

Another ten days.

On this day.

As usual, Chen Jichuan transformed into Deng Ai, the sixth-ranked figure in the Heavenly Gang Series of the White Jade City Yann Building, and went to see Sheng Dayang.

"Sir."

"Wusheng Sect has had major movements recently. The Sect Leader and Elders have personally mobilized all fourth-grade and above masters in the sect, as well as all Abnormal People, to enter the Black Prison and mine."

"I’m in the first batch. I’ll be heading in the day after tomorrow."

Sheng Dayang got straight to the point.

There was some anxiety in his heart.

He had heard that the Black Prison was dark and devoid of sunlight, damp and cold, completely like a cage. Inside, tens of thousands of mine slaves were imprisoned, working tirelessly every day to extract ore, with all of Wusheng Sect’s Iron-repellent Ore coming from their labor.

This wasn’t what frightened him.

The frightening part was that this time, they were going to the "Spirit Mountain" within the Black Prison.

According to insiders, the Spirit Mountain was a death zone. Over the past six months, 1,500 mine slaves had been sent in, and now nearly all were dead, each meeting a gruesome end.

Such comments sparked unrest.

Hearts grew uneasy.

Fortunately, the Vice Sect Leader and Elders were personally leading the charge, and the rewards were generous: for every spirit stone mined, five taels of silver would be given. Even if no stones were mined, two months inside would still earn a supplement of twenty taels of silver.

In recent years.

The annual income of the common folk in counties like Yongfeng and Muhua had often been less than ten taels of silver.

The reward from Wusheng Sect was already exceedingly high.

Generous rewards.

Only then did the sect’s fourth-grade masters settle down slightly.

Still, unease was inevitable.

Sheng Dayang was no exception.

"Black Prison."

"Spirit Mountain."

Chen Jichuan listened, his thoughts stirring.

He had spent six years in the Black Prison, gaining some understanding of the place. Upon hearing this news, he immediately grasped the key points.

Yet—

"Why is Wusheng Sect digging for spirit stones in such an ostentatious manner at this time?"

Chen Jichuan looked towards Sheng Dayang and asked.

"I wouldn’t know, sir."

Sheng Dayang shook his head. "There are rumors in the sect claiming that Third Elder Cao Zheng has figured out a method to refine spirit stones, which is why there’s such urgency to open up the mines."

"Refine spirit stones?"

Chen Jichuan didn’t know whether the rumor was true or false, but his heart tightened regardless.

A rumor rarely emerges without reason.

No matter what.

Spirit stones are valuable, beneficial to cultivation. If Wusheng Sect acquires them in large quantities, it definitely wouldn’t be a good thing.

However.

The current Chen Jichuan had no way to stop it.

"Let’s observe for now."

"But we can’t watch idly."

Chen Jichuan’s thoughts shifted as he entered the Great Yann World, quietly calculating for six minutes.

Then he exited.

On the outside, only an instant had passed.

Sheng Dayang was completely unaware as Chen Jichuan, acting nonchalant, ordered, "Monitor this matter closely and report every detail to me. This time, I’ll count it as thirty merit points for you."

Thirty merit points!

Sheng Dayang’s face lit up with joy.

Ever since he had gained a foothold within Wusheng Sect, the intelligence he had gathered had become increasingly detailed and crucial. Over the past month, he had accumulated a total of twenty-two merit points.

This time, he instantly surpassed fifty.

"Fifty-two merit points."

"I can exchange them for the ’Five Poison Chasing Sand Palm,’ or ten Small Rejuvenation Pills, or five Qi Boosting Pills. Or I could keep saving them to reach a hundred and trade for a Second Grade Iron Lotus Seed?"

Sheng Dayang hesitated.

With more merit points, he could exchange for better items.

Originally, he had planned

to save fifty merit points and exchange them for the ’Five Poison Chasing Sand Palm.’ But a month ago, he received a First Grade Iron Lotus Seed, and in just a few days, he had mastered the first level of the ’Divine Pouncing Saber.’ Though his inner breath was slightly lacking, he had decidedly reached the second layer.

Naturally, he now greatly anticipated the Second Grade Iron Lotus Seed.

Should he keep saving?

Or use the points immediately?

After momentary hesitation, Sheng Dayang gritted his teeth and said, "I’ll take the ’Five Poison Chasing Sand Palm!’"

...

"Wise choice."

Chen Jichuan nodded in approval.

Sheng Dayang, armed with the Blood Burning Skill, could most effectively train in Chen’s Seventy-two Skills.

In contrast, cultivating internal methods like the ’Divine Pouncing Saber’ was labor-intensive and time-consuming; not to mention the future, even just before reaching Level 4 or Level 5, external skills and hardening techniques were undoubtedly the most cost-effective.

Mastering the ’Five Poison Chasing Sand Palm’ to Fifth or even Sixth Grade first, then earning merit for rapid internal improvement, would be the smartest strategy.

The secret manual was passed down.

Sheng Dayang grinned ear to ear.

Chen Jichuan turned to him and, benefiting from a four-hundredfold time differential, had completed his calculations and deliberations. He then said aloud, "The experts in the Earth Evil Series of White Jade City have a sizable demand for spirit stones. Since you’re entering the Black Prison, why not find ways to connect with some insiders and smuggle spirit stones out?"

"This—"

Sheng Dayang’s smile froze on his face, hesitating as he said, "Wusheng Sect’s Spirit Mountain is guarded by the Vice Sect Leader and Elders, and the Black Prison’s gates are watched by the Wusheng Army and Black Armored Army. Smuggling spirit stones out may be nearly impossible."

Wusheng Sect places significant importance on spirit stones.

Furthermore, this time, the operation was personally led by the Vice Sect Leader and Elders.

Any small actions, once discovered, could lead to dire consequences. Who would dare take the risk?

"It all boils down to benefits."

"You just need to quietly network."

"Wusheng Sect offers five taels of silver for each spirit stone, I’ll give—

Twenty taels per spirit stone for silver.

Six Small Rejuvenation Pills or three Qi Boosting Pills per spirit stone for medicine.

For martial arts, White Jade City has over a thousand low-level techniques available to choose from.

If you want Iron Lotus Seeds, that’s doable too."

Chen Jichuan couldn’t deal with Wusheng Sect for now and didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.

But there are plenty of ways to disrupt them without exposing oneself.

Like this plan.

Not only could it cause Wusheng Sect to lose spirit stones, but he could also accumulate enough Source Power for enhancing himself.

Hurting the enemy while benefiting himself—it was a win-win.

As for risk?

"Where there are people, there are relationships; where there’s profit, there’s corruption." freёwebnoѵel.com

Chen Jichuan refused to believe that all fourth-grade disciples of Wusheng Sect would turn a blind eye to a price difference of fifteen taels silver per spirit stone!

"This—"

Sheng Dayang’s face betrayed hesitation.

Seeing this, Chen Jichuan smirked, saying, "You don’t have to smuggle spirit stones yourself. Everything brought out from the Black Prison counts as your share. Each spirit stone will earn you five merit points."

For spirit stones.

Chen Jichuan wasn’t even concerned about disrupting "market prices."

This way.

The cost for him to obtain one spirit stone skyrocketed to twenty taels of silver plus five merit points. In terms of medicine, its equivalent value would be twenty merit points.

It was double the original acquisition price given to Sheng Dayang.

But to Chen Jichuan, merit points were like RMB to a central bank—

freely issued.

Moreover, this particular "bank" had no regulatory body and didn’t need to worry about short-term inflation.

Practically unchecked.

"Five merit points."

"If ten spirit stones were smuggled out, then wouldn’t that—"

Money moves hearts.

Merit points are even more precious than money. Sheng Dayang, eager to become a master and eventually attain Immortal Dao for eternal life, had a nine-year-old son to support as well. His hunger for merit points was insatiable.

Ultimately, unable to resist the temptation.

Sheng Dayang steeled himself, raised his head, and said to "Deng Ai," "I’ll try!"

...