Chapter 7: The Gemstone Pool

Regarding Midalin’s words, Li Mingxing was also somewhat puzzled. All the news he had heard previously said that there was nobody living in the oasis, so why was Midalin planning to reach it within a day? Still, Li Mingxing didn’t question her further. He believed it was best to let Midalin handle everything herself.

Feeling content, Li Mingxing leapt onto the giant elephant. Though he disliked the up-and-down motion, at least the elephant moved swiftly. Half reclining on its back, Li Mingxing mused whether, if he succeeded, he should acquire another giant elephant as his own mount. But recalling what Midalin had said—that a first-tier elephant cost between thirty and fifty thousand gold coins—he abandoned the idea. At Midalin’s current earning rate, it would take nearly half a year to amass such wealth.

This was the adventure layer where time flowed at a ratio of one to seven. Li Mingxing had no intention of staying here for half a year. His time was exceedingly limited, and he needed to expedite his task.

Just as Li Mingxing was about to drift off to sleep, the moving giant elephant suddenly halted. He immediately jumped off, scanning his surroundings. After confirming there were no enemies, he asked, “What’s happened? Why did we stop suddenly?”

Midalin also dismounted, landing beside Li Mingxing. “I ordered the team to stop. The flying carpet scouts have returned with good news.”

“Good news? What did they find?” Li Mingxing looked up at her.

“Of course! They found the pool. This time, we’re truly fortunate.” Midalin called out excitedly.

“A pool? A water pool? Are you planning to sell water in the desert?”

“Not at all. They’ve discovered a gem pool. Such pools appear randomly, each time staying in one place for five days, then disappearing for another five, before reappearing elsewhere. Whoever finds it first can take any gems from the pool and notify nearby cities to gain abundant benefits from them.” Midalin spoke with enthusiasm.

Li Mingxing was stunned, intrigued by this situation. A gem mine that wandered—such chaos, yet its five-day cycle gave it a sense of order. Like the cities floating in the sky: society was orderly, but those cities were built atop chaotic desert sands. This blend of order and chaos formed the essence of this inner world.

With this understanding, Li Mingxing believed Midalin’s words more readily. To him, the daily whirlwind might indeed be the passage into the City Lord’s tomb.

Having grasped this, Li Mingxing decided not to linger. He was determined to accelerate his progress; if he could find the elemental belt tomorrow, he certainly wouldn’t postpone until the day after.

To that end, Li Mingxing spoke firmly, “Midalin, take the flying carpets and the gems to notify others of this discovery—”

Before he finished, Midalin interrupted, “I can’t go. I’m a woman; I’m not allowed to appear in the desert.”

Li Mingxing frowned. Everything else here was fine, but this was inconvenient: women held little status. Sometimes he thought it wasn’t so bad, but at critical moments he disliked it.

Ultimately, he sent Yin Haitao instead, instructing him that if, upon returning with their city’s people, Li Mingxing was absent, he had likely entered the City Lord’s tomb. Then, Yin Haitao should try to transport as many gems as possible and secure greater benefits from the city.

If Yin Haitao could procure a powerful force, a giant elephant, or even a war elephant, Li Mingxing would not object, and would even allocate half of these gains to Yin Haitao’s personal faction.

Yin Haitao was greatly tempted by this proposal. He knew it was his opportunity to rise; if he completed the task, he could become a city lord under Li Mingxing, perhaps even ruling an inner world himself.

After dispatching Yin Haitao, Li Mingxing led his caravan toward the gem pool discovered by the flying carpets.

Upon seeing it, Li Mingxing realized that “pool” was a misnomer; it should be called a gem lake. In the midst of the desert lay a vast depression, thirty kilometers across, filled entirely with fist-sized gems.

Unlike those in the real world, these gems weren’t mere decorations—they brimmed with power.

Before Li Mingxing could speak, his dwarf cannon troops leapt out, shouting, “Rubies! Premium rubies! With these, we’ll have as much gunpowder as we want!”

He watched as the dwarves selected red gems from the sea, grinding them into powder and stuffing their gunpowder bags. Only then did Li Mingxing understand that behind his dwarves’ mighty attacks lay a burning of wealth.

Quickly, Li Mingxing responded, “What are you waiting for? Throw off everything from the elephants and load them with these gems. No, keep a third of the food; we may need it.”

Midalin was the first to object. “Sir, we can’t do that. Discarding our goods would be disrespectful to the High God.”

“How do you propose we proceed?” Li Mingxing looked at her.

“Elephants can advance by consuming gems. If we let them advance, they’ll naturally carry more.”

“That’s a good solution. You handle it.” With that, Li Mingxing dove into the gem lake himself.

Of course, Li Mingxing had another idea: if he consumed these gems, could he advance as well?

But to his disappointment, though the gems contained powerful energy, it wasn’t the kind he needed. No matter how many he swallowed, he simply spat them back out, unlike his elephant, which could absorb their power and grow ever larger.

Even his troops were using the gems to enhance their weapons. The dwarf wreckers had figured out how to channel the gem’s energy into their war hammers.

Most impressive was the Blackstone Champion, who was undergoing another advancement in the gem lake. According to him, once he fused the gem’s strength into his body, he would be immune to most impacts and magic, reaching levels he’d never dreamed possible.

As Li Mingxing sat by the gem lake, directing the loading of gems onto the ever-growing elephant, Midalin approached.

“Aren’t you tempted by such wealth?” she asked.

“Of course I’m tempted. Yet after that temptation, I feel a kind of weariness. These gems are beautiful, valuable, even powerful. But with so many, they become like pebbles by the roadside, or meaningless numbers spoken aloud.” Li Mingxing replied calmly.

Midalin listened, gazing at him intently, then suddenly knelt before him, motionless.

“What are you doing?” Li Mingxing was startled.

“Our family has a saying: whoever sees through the essence of money can control it. You’ve seen its true nature, so you can master both wealth and me, its creator.” Midalin declared.

Li Mingxing was dizzy with confusion. What was all this? He was merely lamenting his inability to use the gems, voicing a few idle complaints—how did that become seeing through the essence of money?

Still, it was good; perhaps this meant he’d won Midalin’s loyalty. As he mused, he spat out a gem and placed it before her.

Midalin smiled gently. “Sir, do you know our saying? Never gift someone a gem before the gem pool; even the most valuable thing becomes worthless here.”

“That’s no ordinary gem. You can call it Black Magic Diamond. I acquired it elsewhere. Last time, a promising recruit joined me, but I didn’t immediately give him the Black Magic Diamond, and now I still haven’t found him. I won’t miss this chance again—take it, and from now on, you’re with me.”

Midalin picked up the Black Magic Diamond, then slowly removed her veil, revealing a pale blue face to Li Mingxing.

Parting her sapphire hair from eyes as deep as the ocean, Midalin whispered, “From now on, you are my master.”