Chapter 60
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Chapter 60: The Second Level of the Spiritual Mine
Lin Shi left. Zhou Luo casually tossed the bamboo slip booklet aside and began to clean the room.
Fortunately, the room’s original owner had been very tidy, so there was nothing demanding special cleaning.
After a simple tidy-up, Zhou Luo pulled out daily necessities and began redecorating the dwelling.
The room wasn’t large. The furnace and the cabinet storing medicinal herbs occupied more than half the space, making it feel somewhat cramped.
Roughly half an hour later, having arranged everything, he sat down on the rosewood chair and sank into contemplation.
Right now, he was unfamiliar with both people and place. He knew neither who held hostility nor who bore goodwill toward him.
The immediate priority was to gain a thorough understanding of local circumstances.
As for how to achieve this—Lin Shi seemed like a potential entry point. However, since he came from the main family, Zhou Luo couldn’t be certain he would explain everything in exhaustive detail. Even if he did, Zhou Luo still wouldn’t trust him completely.
Since Lin Shi wouldn’t suffice, it had to be someone else.
Zhou Luo thought of this place’s formation masters.
Regardless of which spiritual mine it was, formation masters remained absolutely indispensable.
Their duties included maintaining the daily operation of formations and periodically establishing new defensive arrays.
Since the Great Elder controlled the clan’s path of formations, the formation masters located here were undoubtedly aligned with him.
Having reasoned this through, Zhou Luo rose, opened the door, and stepped outside.
Beyond the room lay a massive plaza dotted with various buildings. It was impossible to discern which housed the formation masters.
Zhou Luo swept his gaze around, finally settling on two figures not far off.
Their attire marked them as likely guards of this place.
He approached them.
The chatting pair noticed Zhou Luo’s arrival and immediately ceased conversation. They straightened up, adopting airs of stern authority.
"Excuse me, where do the formation masters here reside?" Zhou Luo inquired.
One of them scrutinized him and answered gravely, "Why seek a formation master?"
"I have some matters to inquire of him," stated Zhou Luo with utmost seriousness.
"He is unavailable. If you have business, tell us," the other replied coldly.
Zhou Luo didn’t respond. Silently, he drew closer. After ensuring no one was paying attention nearby, he secretly withdrew a vial of potion from his robe and offered it.
Both guards raised their eyebrows. Sharing a knowing look, they subtly shifted a pace apart in opposite directions, providing better cover for Zhou Luo’s action.
One guard then swiftly pocketed the vial of potion, declaring in a tone brimming with righteous formality, "The formation masters of the spiritual mine all reside on the second level."
Indeed, practitioners of the four major skills were all typically assigned to the second level.
But Zhou Luo was an exception.
Intending to sever contact between him and the Great Elder’s faction, the main family had specifically relocated the previous Pill Master’s room down to the first level.
Thus, he naturally ended up occupying quarters on the first level.
Having spoken, the two men turned and promptly departed.
Zhou Luo’s eyes darkened.
This was a whole bottle of Vitality Pills. If sold entirely, they would fetch at least twenty spiritual stones. For these guards who earned only three or four spiritual stones a month, it was a small fortune.
Yet the matter ended with just a few words.
What frustrated Zhou Luo even more…
Was being stopped at the entrance when he tried to go to the second level.
As it turned out, the spiritual mine’s rules stipulated that anyone from the first level wishing to enter the second needed a permit signed by the battalion commander.
Just like that, Zhou Luo wasted a bottle of Vitality Pills without even catching a glimpse of the formation master.
Returning to his quarters, he deeply glared at the two guards chatting and laughing, committing their appearances firmly to memory.
Unable to enter the second level, Zhou Luo turned his attention entirely to pill concoction.
Although the number of pills required by the jade slip sent by his superiors was substantial, it was only taxing for a middle first-level Pill Master. For him, a top-level first-level Pill Master, it wouldn’t take so much time.
After all, a middle first-level Pill Master could only produce seven to eight beginner-level pills per furnace at most, while a top-level Pill Master could craft around twenty.
They were simply not on the same level.
Zhou Luo looked over the contents on the jade slip and found that most needed were Vitality Pills for sustenance and various healing or strength-boosting pills.
Ordinary mortals mainly worked the third level of the spiritual mine. Being mortal, they were inevitably prone to various physical ailments.
The Pill Master’s primary role was to ensure these mortals didn’t suffer casualties and to boost their efficiency.
After easily finishing one batch, Zhou Luo proceeded to the next.
At this pace, he estimated he could finish all the concoctions by evening.
Near dinnertime, Lin Shi delivered his meal.
Originally, Zhou Luo thought everyone surviving the mine relied solely on Vitality Pills. He hadn’t expected actual spiritual food.
"The mine’s provisions aren’t as good as home’s. Please bear with it," Lin Shi said apologetically as he laid out the dishes.
Zhou Luo looked at the spiritual food. Though indeed lacking, it was better tasting than pills.
Meow—
The Snow Mountain Spirit Cat, hungry for half a day, leaped into Zhou Luo’s arms.
Seeing the small white cat, Lin Shi looked surprised. "Brother Zhou, I hadn’t realized you brought a spirit beast?"
Earlier, entering the mine, Zhou Luo had concealed the Snow Mountain Spirit Cat within a spirit beast pouch, so Lin Shi hadn’t noticed.
"Just a small companion, mainly to pass the time," Zhou Luo said, picking up a slice of meat and placing it before the spirit cat.
"I have a little cat too, back home. Bet it’s probably grown into a big cat by the time I return," Lin Shi chuckled.
He then asked, "What’s its name?"
"Little White," Zhou Luo replied.
It was the name Xiao Shiya had chosen; Zhou Luo simply used it.
"Quite fitting," Lin Shi remarked. Though speaking to Zhou Luo, his eyes stayed fixed on Little White.
Clearly, he genuinely liked feline spirit beasts.
Seeing this, Zhou Luo passed Little White over, letting Lin Shi do the feeding.
Cradling Little White, Lin Shi gently stroked its fur, his expression pure delight.
"Your cat is far superior to mine," Lin Shi said enviously.
His yellow-and-white cat at home was restless and unruly, spending every day outdoors except for eating and sleeping. In contrast, the little white cat in his arms was much gentler.
Unknown to him was that spirit beasts required specialized training by beast masters. Otherwise, they remained wild and disobedient. But Little White was different. From the moment Zhou Luo acquired it, it obeyed him completely, harboring no thought of resistance.
"Mostly, it’s rather well-behaved," Zhou Luo commented.
"Indeed. Well-behaved cats always bring a sense of relaxation and joy," Lin Shi said, his eyes sparkling with fondness, his gaze toward Little White full of tenderness.
Zhou Luo hadn’t expected such a sturdy man to be a cat lover. He himself preferred dogs. They were loyal, obedient, more comforting, and less haughty than cats.
What truly surprised Zhou Luo was that for the next full half-hour, Lin Shi talked of nothing but cats. He carried the conversation almost entirely by himself, showing not a trace of weariness or boredom.
Dinner ended, and Lin Shi reluctantly set Little White down.
Then Zhou Luo suddenly asked, "Do people from the second and third levels also eat spiritual food?"
"Impossible! Only members of the Lin Family deserve spiritual food. Others merely use Vitality Pills to stave off hunger," Lin Shi blurted out.
Hearing these words, Zhou Luo became thoughtful. He asked deliberately, "Is the spiritual food brought up from the foot of the mountain?"
"Exactly. All provisions are specially allocated and transported by designated personnel. Why?" Lin Shi asked, puzzled.
"Nothing. Just curious," Zhou Luo smiled.
Lin Shi didn’t dwell on it. Gathering the dishes and utensils, reminding Zhou Luo again to focus on his pill concoction, he soon departed.
