NOVPUBIt can be said that once the inventory and outflow of the Spirit Mineral Department are sorted out, it’s as if the framework for the twenty-five departments has been established.
This is also why Wang Ba chose this place as his first stop.
Because the most complex place is right here.
And as Wang Ba and his group flew in, the Spirit Mineral Department didn’t make any fuss.
As a major department shoulder to shoulder with the Spirit Plant Department, the number of cultivators in the Spirit Mineral Department is second only to that of the Spirit Plant Department.
Wang Ba’s small number of people really didn’t amount to much.
However, the attire of Diwu Hall worn by Enforcer Li did attract the attention of some cultivators from the Spirit Mineral Department, and soon a deacon from the department approached hastily, yet still politely addressed them:
"May I ask if you are an enforcer from Diwu Hall? Is there something important?"
Li Yingfu did not take the initiative and instead, upon hearing the question, turned to Wang Ba.
The Spirit Mineral Department deacon was also surprised to look at Wang Ba, seemingly unexpected that a Golden Core cultivator seemed to be the core among this group.
Seeing this, Wang Ba sighed softly in his heart.
Nobody wants to be the bad guy, huh.
With that in mind, he gently raised his hand, lifting the Diwu Hall’s Right Enforcer Identity Plate gently in front of him, and said with a smile,
"Diwu Hall’s Right Enforcer, Wang Ba, following the orders of Hall Master Xi, has come to discuss urgent matters with the head of your department, may I ask where Minister Qi of your department is?"
Hearing that Wang Ba was the Right Enforcer of Diwu Hall, the Spirit Mineral Department deacon was immediately taken aback.
It seemed that he had not expected a Golden Core Realm Enforcer to be present, and one of even higher status, the Right Enforcer.
He quickly raised his hand to pay respects and said, "My apologies, Right Enforcer, please wait a moment; the minister is leading everyone in refining ores, I will immediately go to request the minister to come here."
"Oh? No need to disturb Minister Qi, can we take a look ourselves?"
Wang Ba asked, smiling and stopping him.
The Spirit Mineral Department deacon was startled once again, then promptly said:
"Certainly, this way please."
With that, he led the way ahead.
Wang Ba immediately followed.
Enforcer Li and the others also followed the two men.
Soon, under the guidance of the Spirit Mineral Department deacon, Wang Ba and his companions came to a tower-like mountainous giant furnace.
The furnace had a hole several zhang wide at the bottom.
Inside, flames blazed fiercely.
Shadowy figures hurried in and out of the opening, each one appearing extremely busy.
Wang Ba took it all in, and then looked around at his surroundings.
In a short time, he witnessed the process of cultivators mining and smelting ores.
In his heart, he was pensive.
Meanwhile, the group was led into the cave by the deacon.
Even though Wang Ba was already a Golden Core Craftsman, as soon as he walked inside, he felt a wave of heat that he found intensely hot washing over him.
People like Tao Ruyi and Zhou Lve seemed to be having a noticeably hard time.
But Enforcer Li seemed unaffected.
Wang Ba frowned slightly in his heart.
"I miscalculated; all of them are in the Foundation Establishment Realm, I should have brought a few Golden Core cultivators."
However, the treatment offered by Diwu Hall was rather unattractive, even to Golden Core craftsman.
The ones who could be attracted were the Foundation Establishment competitors.
Wang Ba simply asked everyone to wait outside, he and Li Yingfu alone followed the deacon in.
The fire flickered.
Amid vague silhouettes, Wang Ba soon saw within the depths of the flames a shirtless middle-aged man resembling Yao Wudi, his body muscular and dripping with sweat, using sheer physical strength to handle a glowing red-hot mass, flipping it continuously amid the flames.
A heat fierce enough to burn down mountains and boil seas seemed to add only sweat to this figure, with no other effect.
Wang Ba couldn’t help but be moved.
"What a formidable physique! Worthy of someone from Shenti Peak!"
He had previously learned from Enforcer Li that this Minister Qi Rulian of the Spirit Mineral Department came from Shenti Peak, and he practiced a craft to smelt ores, using his fire-resistant body to personally jump into the furnace and refine ores.
Because of the exceptional quality of spirit materials he refined, which was highly praised by various departments, he was appointed as the minister of the Spirit Mineral Department shortly after stepping into the Nascent Soul Realm.
Meanwhile, Enforcer Li whispered:
"Right Enforcer, Qi Rulian is a bit difficult to deal with; perhaps we should consider replacing someone else first?"
Wang Ba remained expressionless, gently shaking his head at Enforcer Li.
Seeing Wang Ba persisting in his approach, Li Yingfu’s eyes flashed with a hint of helplessness.
He had already tried to persuade him, but Wang Ba wouldn’t listen.
This Right Enforcer had been quite shrewd before; why was he being so stubborn now? Could it be that he misjudged him?
As he was thinking,
suddenly, the heat within the furnace sharply decreased.
The light of the fire also promptly contracted.
Wang Ba and Li Yingfu couldn’t help but instinctively look towards the depths of the flames.
The figure suddenly put together his palms, embracing the burning and dripping fireball.
"Ha!"
With a loud shout, the flames on the fireball quickly contracted, flowing like water, and rolling onto the middle-aged figure’s body.
Afterward, the dark ore hidden inside the fireball was revealed.
As the flames completely disappeared.
The surface of the ore suddenly cracked, and a dazzling metallic luster shone from the fissures.
"Success!"
"Haha! The minister is mighty!"
The surrounding crowd immediately burst into successive cries of surprise and joy.
However, the middle-aged figure simply let go of the pile of ore, allowing it to crash down with a startling noise, his face covered in dust.
He just patted his hands and then turned to walk away leisurely, casually instructing the people around him:
"You all handle this, get ready, I’ll refine the next one."
But after only a few steps, he suddenly frowned, his gaze sweeping over to Li Enforcer, who stood behind Wang Ba:
"Li Yingfu?"
Li Yingfu hurriedly revealed a smile, raising his hand to salute and said:
"Hehe, Minister Qi."
But in his heart, he felt somewhat uneasy.
Unlike ordinary Nascent Souls like him, Qi Rulian was an important cultivator in Shenti Peak, second only to Guan Ao.
Especially since Guan Ao had fallen, the position of peak master of Shenti Peak had naturally fallen onto him.
With the Immortal Ascension Elder backing him up from above.
His status was much higher than Li Yingfu’s.
Such people, though courteous in speech, would not truly care about you.
As expected.
Qi Rulian gave a slight nod, then turned to Wang Ba, his expression calm:
"You are... Wang Ba from Wanfa Peak?"
Wang Ba was startled, not expecting Qi Rulian to recognize him.
But he immediately put on a smile and saluted:
"Wang Ba, at your service, Minister Qi."
"You’re welcome. I remember you from the Assembly. You’re the Vice Minister of the Spirit Food Department, right? Hehe, what brings you to my place when you have the time?"
Qi Rulian shook off the sweat from his body with a light shake.
As he took the wide robe handed to him by a Spirit Mineral Department cultivator, he responded casually.
Though he spoke with Wang Ba, anyone could see the arrogance in his bones.
Wang Ba, however, seemed unaware and instead showed a hint of embarrassment:
"To tell you the truth, Minister Qi, I’m afraid you might laugh, but I’ve come here for a personal matter and wish to speak with you."
Upon hearing Wang Ba’s words, Qi Rulian was slightly taken aback, a rare hint of curiosity appearing on his face as he couldn’t help but look towards Wang Ba:
"A private matter? What kind of private matter could you have with me?"
Wang Ba glanced around upon hearing this.
Qi Rulian frowned slightly, but after looking at Wang Ba, he still gestured with his hand:
"It’s a bit noisy here, come on, let’s go somewhere quieter."
When Li Yingfu heard Qi Rulian’s words, he stared in surprise at Wang Ba.
But Wang Ba remained focused, following Qi Rulian without glancing elsewhere.
Nevertheless, Qi Rulian gave Li Yingfu a look and frowned:
"Enforcer Li, since it’s a private matter, shouldn’t you excuse yourself?"
Li Yingfu heard this and immediately stopped, smiling as he halted in his tracks.
He then watched as Wang Ba and Qi Rulian walked to a place not too far away.
He couldn’t quite make out what they said, but then he faintly saw Wang Ba take something out for the other to see, and the previously indifferent Qi Rulian burst into hearty laughter soon after.
The two appeared jovial talking to each other, as if they were old friends reuniting.
Li Yingfu was momentarily stunned.
"What’s going on here?"
...
In Diwu Hall.
Song Dongyang stood before the desk, looking at the files, but his mind was not on them at all.
He frequently raised his head to look outside the hall.
And at this moment, a sound transmission symbol finally flew in again.
Song Dongyang immediately flickered and eagerly took down the sound transmission symbol.
He swept his spiritual sense over it and the next moment, he was struck dumbfounded:
"Qi Rulian has actually taken Wang Ba to the Spirit Mineral Department’s storeroom voluntarily?!"
