"A combined total of 24 Briga and 50 Nariga. Not bad for our first day." Inala counted the money in his pouch with a smile as he stared at Wittral, "An honest day's earnings are pleasurable to count."
"Well…you're not wrong about that." Wittral patted his stomach, "But I'm famished now. It has been a day since we ate anything good. And we're both too thin."
"Yes, recovering our physical strength is our first priority." Inala nodded, 'Only then can I start aiming for that mansion.'
Currently, they were in a different city. He had to save up some money to travel to Fentan City and make plans to gain entry into Arlfarah Mansion, the place where one of the ten entrances leading to the Major Treasure of Attribute would show up.
There was plenty of work to be done, since he was delayed a lot along the way. There were only thirteen years left for the Attribute to reveal itself.
By then, he had to reach the peak of the 2-Life Stage, complete merging Sumatra Gold into his skeleton and make it compatible while both his bodies were stacked atop each other, reach the final stage of both Mystic Bone Art and Mystic Mist Art, finish comprehending the data regarding his Mystic Path—present in Gannala—and finish his own using it. Finally, he had to finish preparations to summon a Bolt of Transcendence.
This was his internal requirements. Externally, he had to prevent the reincarnates from getting into Arlfarah Mansion, ensure the Boar King remains on the run and doesn't spend much time growing his strength, figure out what the Boar King's plans were towards his Ravaged Tribe, survey the location where the Second Major Disaster starts, and finally, create an environment where Gannala could develop in her Empyrean Tusk form without issues.
Last but not least, there was the Quip Tribe, with its success affecting him both internally and externally. He had to make plans for their growth and ensure that at least a single Quip Tribesman manages to become a Clansman.
The time for that has to be perfect too, which should happen right as he obtains the Attribute. Too quick or too late, the benefits wouldn't be as much as what he desired. Hence, Inala had to completely map out the route through which a Ravaged Tribe becomes a Clan.
And if possible, he will also gear them into the type of Clan that he wants for his future plans.
As it was late into the evening, Inala and Wittral exited the city, since they didn't have permission to stay there. Instead, they had to make their way towards the closest Northern Lake and board a Geyser Cup there.
"The ferry costs 1 Briga per each." The captain of the boat said.
"That's expensive." Wittral frowned at the price.
"You can always travel on your own." The captain nonchalantly waved his hand. "All labourers travel through their Spirit Weapons. These boats are only used by those with a bit of money. So, there you have it."
"We don't have enough Prana to travel that far away. Besides, it'll be too eye-catching." Inala whispered to Wittral and paid the fare.
"I don't like this place." Wittral commented once he had gotten onto the boat, commenting in disdain as he inspected its condition, "He's charging a fortune for such a trash vessel."
The Cooter Clan's ship-building skills were top-notch. Only the ships used by the Brimgan Empire's Royalty would come anywhere close. Since Wittral was now earning a living, he calculated everything based on how much he was paid. As a result, he was grumpy about everything.
'I have a lot of work left to do.' Inala sighed mentally upon staring at Wittral's expression. Honestly, Wittral would be his trump card in gaining ownership of the Attribute. Therefore, Inala had to train Wittral to be obedient towards him. 'That's still a work in progress.'
'Thirteen years.' Inala thought and observed his various Natures, 'Let's hope my mind holds up until then.'
Just keeping three Natures active for long messed him up heavily back at the Sanrey Plains. If Inala were to actively make use of all his five Natures now, he dared not think about the consequences, especially since three of the five Natures were at the Gold Grade.
Currently, followed by Royalty, his female form's Tertiary Nature of Tangible Psychokinesis was the safest to use for prolonged durations, since it was a Silver Grade Nature and its influence was minimal at best.
Besides, he also could employ the same ability through the Minor Treasure of Tangible Psychokinesis, making it even more safer. 'Thankfully, I have enough Influence Easing Elixirs.'
That was his saving grace, the only reason he dared gamble his case with five Natures. While Inala was deep in thought, the boat arrived at its destination.
Geyser Cup of Longevity!
That was the name this place went by. All Geyser Cups were named randomly as a means of identification. The Geyser Cup of Longevity was situated close to the Southern Veins now, and hence was the first choice of stay for many labourers intending to make some wealth in the Southern Vein Cities.
"Ready…!" An old man roared as he inspected the condition of the water. He stood at the rim of the Geyser Cup and stared into the lake beyond, watching a large cylindrical container immersed in the water. Once it was full, he shouted, "And pull!"
In response to his shout, a group of cultivators used psychokinesis to lift the container full of water and place it on the ground—forming the Geyser Cup of Longevity. There were at least a thousand litres of water in the cylinder.
The old man approached it and seeped his Prana into it, patiently beginning the refinement process as he created the cylinder as his Spirit Weapons.
Two minutes later, mist began to gush out of the cylinder walls, increasing in volume before soon, it stopped spewing out any mist. Once this happened, the old man opened the cylinder and stared at the couple litres of a greenish substance inside, "We have a great haul!"
"Sweet!"
"You rock, old man!"
"Let's feast!" The group of people accompanying the old man cheered in response as they divided the greenish substance between themselves and dispersed.
"What are they doing?" Wittral asked.
"Mineral harvest." A middle-aged man seated on the edge with a strand of bamboo in his mouth muttered casually, having heard Wittral's question, "Whenever the composition of the water in the lake becomes beneficial, we harvest large sums of it. We extract the minerals from it and feed it to the plants and Pranic Beasts reared on this Geyser Cup for food and other needs."
"It's how we make a living."
"Then why not harvest more of it?" Wittral expressed his confusion, "You can make more money that way, right?"
"Puhahaha!" The middle-aged man laughed raucously in response as he stared at Wittral, trying his best to control his laughter but failing to do so. "It's apparent that you're new to this place!"
"Tch!" Wittral felt annoyed by the laughter and walked away.
"Demand and supply, my boy." The middle-aged man shouted once Wittral was a few metres away, "It's useless to refine more since the supply vastly exceeds the demand."
"That's what it means to live in a resource-rich region."