Yao Chen's P.O.V

After Li Xiao left, Yao Chen paced in a stressed manner around what he liked to call ‘little abode’. He knew that the house he was living on was nothing more than sticks and stones but he still considered that after so many years struggling there and training he had developed some sort of bond. Untill he had enough money to fix the shack he would have to sleep outside.

“That damn Li Xiao, when he entered the sect four years ago he was just a rich noble from a mortal family that wanted to dabble in cultivation for boosting his position and image in his clan. I, on the other hand, have been training towards a goal and I do not need distractions like him.”

Having vented his frustrations, Yao Chen harrumphed and turned towards his door, walking the rocky path towards the Quest hall.

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Arriving at the Quest hall of the Heavenly Fire’s Sect, he went straight towards the bulletin announcement board where he could see a bunch of quests lined around. Even if the Sect was filled with intolerable people it still beat living in the mortal world where the ‘normal’ people with no talent towards cultivation lived.

‘Sigh, if this wasn’t the only male sect around the Qian empire, I would have left already in search of a better sect with true cultivators.’

Nodding his head in helplessness Yao selected one of the easiest quests that most of the students used to complete the monthly instalment to the sect.

“What, something interesting there?”

Even before turning around Yao knew who it was, so with a smile, he cupped his hands and performed a friendly bow toward the white-haired old man that managed the Quest hall, while whispering he said.

“Yao Chen greets Sect hall master.”

Nodding, in turn, the old man beckoned Yao to come closer with his wrinkled hand while darting his eyes and making sure no inner sect disciples eavesdropped on their conversation.

“Come here Xiao Chen, we haven’t talked in a while.’

Walking towards the Elder, Yao Chen remained respectful as he truly admired the old man.

“Elder, the tip about the midnight moon herb was very useful. I ended up meeting my quota and even sold the rest in the apothecary hall.”

What he didn’t say was that he still regretted having lent the extra money to Li Xiao Nu.

Not every person in the sect acted in a haughty and hostile manner and the prime example was Elder Ming. This Elder just like Li Xiao had been a noble that wanted to become a cultivator and after he completed the final obligatory exam at twenty-five, return to his clan. Unfortunately, fate had other plans and his clan was exterminated by one of the five major powers in the Qian empire.

While still in his twenties and realizing he couldn't avenge his clan due to the lack of power he strived to become a pillar of the Sect and live comfortably as a Hall leader.

“I’m glad my tip made you some profit, but this time I have something even better Xiao Chen. Put that quest down and come with me to have some tea while I explain to you the new path I encountered in the azure mountain next to the dragon forest.”

“If Elder says it’s a good path, then I put my trust in Elder.”

As they walked towards the familiar door that leads directly to the Elders own house he saw that the old man was slouching even more than normal. If he trusted the rumors going around the sect, then the old man was way past the two hundred year mark.

Waking inside the spacious room, Yao was always surprised to see the only decoration that old Ming had was in his walls, as so he gazed at the old and new alike caligraphy paintings the old man himself had painted.

“The place I told you about is a bit far from the sect and you will take a while to return, but before a week you should be able to gain a small fortune collecting Azure crystals.”

Snapping out of his daydreaming Yao looked at the old man and said.

“Azure crystals, Elder Ming, are you sure?” Quickly sitting in front of Ming in the worn out tea table, he waited for the old man to say something but the only reply that came was the rambunctious laugh of an old fox.

“So now you’re interested in what I have to say?” With a wave of the hand, the old fox made a tea set appear while with another wave steam was visible from the cups.

“Please Elder, do not play with my emotions.”

“Well, the other day while I accompanied one of the Sect leaders in a hunt, I had to excuse myself from the gathered party so I could do my business. As I was searching a remote corner of the forest for a privet location I saw a good spot and headed there.”

Nodding enthusiastically Yao Chen absorbed every word the old man said because it was this same old man that had given him the status of being the best outer Sect disciple. He would sometimes ask of Yao to search for material or even gift him good locations for the completion of quests.

Elder Ming was too old to be running around doing any sort of quests so everytime he had been walking arround the forest he sent diferent disciples to the best locations he could find with his small divine sense. Of course, he didn’t this out of the kindness of his heart but to split the loot 40/50 giving him enough to spend on ink and rice paper for his painting hobby or even buy minor body healing pill for when his body ached.

“Seeing a shrub that was attached to the azure mountain located in the outter forest I uzipped my-“

“Elder! Elder, please focus on the location.”

Yao Chen said as he displayed a wary smile.

“Oh right, well anyways I was pulling my pants up when I noticed that the shrub had been covering a hole on the mountain. I’m not as adventurous as I once were, but I still gathered some courage and entered the small cavity. As you know, all azure crystals are gathered in that big mountain, but the people who control the mining are our own Heavenly Fire’s sect and the Yue sect.”

Sighing, the old man took a sip to drown his bitter feelings and continued the story. “Somehow the cave was not as dark as I would have expected so I kept going, when I reached the end what I saw took my breath away, in all my years of cultivation I had never seen an azure minor dragon’s den but that hole led to one. The minor azure dragons feed themselves in the energy the azure stone releases, so if you find one the most probable outcome is to find azure stones!”

At this point in the boring story of the old man, Yao was very interested. If he could get his hands in some azure stones and sell them to the old man he could get the Dantian cleansing pills that he much so needed after cultivating in some very strange and harmful techniques.

Clasping his palms together with a greedy look on his face he asked Old Ming.

“Elder…where exactly is the cave located?”