Chapter 266: Celestial Essence Ore Vein
In the bustling streets of Celestial Lake Town, Elder Mu led Xin and Shen Daoxing to a classically elegant tavern with carved beams and painted rafters.
Shen Daoxing looked up to see a brown plaque hanging high above, engraved with the three large words: "Crane Feather Tower."
The trio entered the tavern to find it already packed. Most of the patrons were wealthy merchants, adorned with gold and silver and clad in fine silks and satins. They all seemed to be of considerable status.
Shen Daoxing and Elder Mu found an inconspicuous corner and sat down.
Xin rested their hands on the table, eyes wide with curiosity.
"This is a vital town for the Tianze Kingdom’s trade with outsiders, which is why there are so many merchants. However, for the sake of security, they never trade precious resources from the ore veins, like Wind Source Spirit Stones, out in the open."
Elder Mu explained slowly.
Shen Daoxing nodded. He had already learned as much from Elder Mu.
The primary reason the people of the Tianze Kingdom had been willing to found their nation within a perilous Forbidden Land, and why they had refused to leave for so many years, was simple: they had discovered a Celestial Essence Ore Vein. It was the largest one in the entire East Continent.
What was a Celestial Essence Ore Vein? Like the Celestial Essence Spirit Lake, it was a fount of the East Continent’s Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi—the very source of the continent’s power.
In addition to Spirit Stones, the Celestial Essence Ore Vein also contained various other rare minerals, such as Wind Source Ore. The vein was, in effect, a massive treasure trove.
This was why the Tianze Kingdom had been able to endure and prosper for centuries, despite being confined to the isolated and treacherous lands of the Celestial Lake Swamp.
Of course, how could the various powers of the East Continent not be tempted by such a massive treasure trove?
Even the barrier of the Celestial Lake Swamp, one of the five great Forbidden Lands, was not enough to stop the reach of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land.
However, the founding ancestor of the Tianze Kingdom happened to be an incredibly domineering and fiercely protective Unparalleled Great Power.
No one knew his origins or where he came from; it was as if he had appeared out of thin air. He would cut down any god or buddha who stood in his path and would never spare anyone who offended the people of his Tianze Kingdom. He was protective to a fault.
After several Holy Mountain Masters from the Celestial Profound Sacred Land suffered crushing defeats at his hands, the Sacred Land finally abandoned its designs on the Tianze Kingdom.
With even the Celestial Profound Sacred Land admitting defeat, the other powers of the East Continent naturally dared not entertain any similar notions.
Even so, the Celestial Essence Ore Vein within the Tianze Kingdom remained a giant piece of cake, and merchants from all over the East Continent vied to do business there.
The only problem was that the people of the Tianze Kingdom were extremely exclusionary; ordinary people simply couldn’t get inside.
"However, there is one exception."
Elder Mu continued slowly, "And that is the Qinyuan Festival, the day the Tianze Kingdom honors its founding ancestor. It is their most important day and their grandest celebration. During the festival, the kingdom holds a great assembly where merchants from all across the East Continent can display and sell their wares in exchange for the kingdom’s valuable resources from the ore veins.
As it happens, this year’s Qinyuan Festival is just two days away."
As he spoke, Elder Mu gestured toward the finely dressed merchants nearby. "All these people are here for this year’s Qinyuan Festival."
As the two spoke, more people continued to hurry into the tavern, and soon, every single seat was taken.
TAP TAP TAP TAP!
A flurry of hurried footsteps sounded as a young nobleman in fine brocade robes rushed in. He glanced around, only to find that there wasn’t a single empty seat in the house.
Just then, the young nobleman turned and spotted Shen Daoxing, Elder Mu, and Xin in their corner. He strode over to them.
"I am Jiang Shaohe of the Jiang Family, from Guangzong City in Daqi."
The young nobleman clasped his hands in a respectful salute before speaking. "As you can see, the tavern is full. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to join your table for a drink?"
Seeing no ill intent from the young nobleman, Shen Daoxing nodded.
"I can’t drink alcohol!" Xin piped up.
Jiang Shaohe laughed and turned to Shen Daoxing. "And how should I address you, brother? Are you also here for the Qinyuan Festival?"
Shen Daoxing and Elder Mu exchanged a glance. Then, Shen Daoxing nodded and smiled faintly. "You can call me Yang Xing."
Jiang Shaohe then turned to Elder Mu.
Elder Mu chuckled. "This old man is just a servant. You may simply call me Mu."
"Alright."
Jiang Shaohe laughed heartily. "Fate brings people together, even across a thousand miles. I’ll drink to you both."
With that, Jiang Shaohe poured himself a cup of wine, raised it, and downed it in one go.
Shen Daoxing and Elder Mu both raised their cups and drank as well.
Jiang Shaohe then looked at Shen Daoxing with interest. "Since you’re also here for the Qinyuan Festival, Yang, what sort of treasures have you brought to showcase?"
"Treasures?"
Shen Daoxing shook his head. "I haven’t prepared any treasures."
Jiang Shaohe was taken aback. "Yang, you came here without bringing anything at all?"
The other finely dressed merchants at the surrounding tables snickered.
"You came here with nothing, kid? Are you trying to make a fool of yourself? The supreme-grade Spirit Stones from the Tianze Kingdom aren’t something you can trade for with just any old trinket!"
"What kind of sheltered fool is this?"
Jiang Shaohe quickly explained, "Yang, the Qinyuan Festival isn’t something just anyone can attend. You must possess a treasure of sufficient value to gain Elder Xu’s approval! Only then can you get in. And besides that, there are only fifteen slots in total."
Shen Daoxing looked to Elder Mu.
Elder Mu nodded at him in confirmation.
Jiang Shaohe then went on to explain the details to Shen Daoxing.
Only then did Shen Daoxing understand. Most of the Spirit Stones circulating on the market were of ordinary quality, while those produced from the Tianze Kingdom’s Celestial Essence Ore Vein were of a supreme grade, containing five times the Primordial Energy of a normal Spirit Stone.
Special Spirit Stones with attributes like Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth were even more precious. The Wind Attribute Spirit Stones refined from Wind Source Ore fell into this special category.
That was why all the major merchants in the East Continent were scrambling to do business with the Tianze Kingdom.
But with only fifteen slots available for the Qinyuan Festival, the major merchants had to bring out their most precious treasures. Without an item of sufficient value, it was impossible to even get in.
After listening to Jiang Shaohe’s explanation, Shen Daoxing finally understood the situation.
"Elder Xu has arrived!"
Suddenly, someone in the tavern shouted. Shen Daoxing turned his head to see a door on the second floor slowly swing open. A white-haired, amiable-looking old man with a kind face walked out.
"Elder Xu!"
"Elder Xu!"
...
As the old man appeared, everyone in the tavern hurriedly stood, raising their cups to toast the elder on the floor above with utmost respect.
"That is Xu Hong, or Elder Xu," Elder Mu explained at Shen Daoxing’s side. "He is currently the only person in the entire East Continent who can freely enter and exit the Tianze Kingdom. He is deeply trusted by the kingdom’s ruler, and anyone who wishes to participate in the Qinyuan Festival must first gain his approval."