Chapter 260: Mysterious Ice Gold Mine Vein
Black Gold Mountain Range, cold winds howled, drifting snowflakes nearly submerging the entire mountain range, everywhere a vast expanse of white.
In the midst of this mountain range, a small city situated atop the mountains was like tree roots embedded in white earth, perched on the Black Gold Mountain Range.
The small town was established by the Beast King Sect, square and upright, with city walls built of bluestone over a zhang thick, no longer than a hundred zhang, no higher than three zhang. There were no ordinary people in the entire town, only martial artists coming and going, as well as Mountain Guard disciples.
This was a small town born for mining, with over five hundred Mountain Guard members stationed year-round, and no fewer than three thousand other martial artists and miners.
During wartime, Yao Qingqing and the others had indeed considered targeting this major mine, but before they could act, Xiang Ge and Yuan Hong had already made arrangements, activating the grand formation, which mutually supported Cold Shadow Peak as horns of an anvil.
For a time, it became a fortified position, difficult to attack and conquer.
At this moment in the city, half of the three thousand miners were selected, all martial artists at Bone Forging Realm and above became city defenders, and five hundred more Mountain Guard disciples were added, totaling over a thousand people.
Yuan Hong alone in the city, the Cloud Piercing Sparrow brought reports of progress from various places outside Cold Shadow Peak these past few days, his face revealing a smile even more brilliant than a chrysanthemum.
“In just a few short days, most of the lost territory has been reclaimed. The lands under Cold Shadow Peak’s jurisdiction are now all in a stalemate. It won’t be that easy for the Demonic Path to take them back again.”
Yuan Hong had previously been responsible for guarding Cold Shadow Peak, so he was naturally very familiar with the area.
The Demonic Sects’ assault had come suddenly, seizing many resources in one go, which was unavoidable since reinforcements were too slow.
But now, with Mountain Guard disciples and inner and outer disciples occupying various positions, sentries constant and communications uninterrupted, to seize any location would require several times the previous troop strength or combat power.
Troop strength was manageable, but if it was combat power, then it could only be Dan Qiao Realm martial artists.
But did Yuan Hong and the others fear that?
Xiang Ge was stationed at the four towns, Long Qiushui was at Cold Shadow Peak, and Su Yan was hidden, even Yuan Hong not knowing his location.
With such dispersal, as long as trouble arose at one place, anyone could rush there quickly.
Rumble
While pondering, suddenly a rumbling sound came, the grand formation was being bombarded, intense spiritual energy fluctuations continuously spreading.
Yuan Hong’s gaze turned cold, a sneer appearing on his face. He immediately flew out, looked up to the sky, his pupils instantly dilating, inevitably revealing shock.
Fully dozens of Nine Nether Boats and Flying Vulture Beasts in mid-air, with Demonic Path disciples gathered behind them, each with murderous glints in their eyes, full of greed.
“Fully activate the grand formation, release the Cloud Piercing Sparrows!”
Yuan Hong gripped his broad Mysterious Earth Sword in hand, took one step, hovering in mid-air, standing in the void.
Behind him, inner and outer disciples and Mountain Guard disciples stood on the city walls, opening the grand formation. A layer of muddy yellow protective layer enveloped the entire mining small town, including the underground Black Gold Mine vein connected as one.
He shook the Beast Taming Bag at his waist, and the Floating Mountain Ape’s towering body immediately appeared, a hundred meters tall, standing outside the city walls, bronze bell giant eyes fixed on the Nine Nether Boats.
“Yuan Hong, it’s actually you guarding here!”
From the Nine Nether Boat, Mad Blade Sect Elder Ji Wenchuan flew out, his eyes burning as if to pierce through Yuan Hong.
“So it’s you, old ghost. I thought you died in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.”
Yuan Hong’s small eyes narrowed, his words not particularly amicable.
Ji Wenchuan had history with him; back in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains seizing treasure, it was a true ‘life-and-death bond’, nearly dying at each other’s hands.
“It’s good that it’s you guarding. Today, I’ll send you on your way.”
Ji Wenchuan had no mind for further talk at this point; he directly wanted Yuan Hong dead.
His robes billowing loudly, True Intent emerged behind him, shockingly a Mad Blade Golden Ape, a hundred meters tall, eyes like fire, raising a hand to shoot out hundreds of golden light blades.
One after another golden blade auras fell on the formation, like rain hitting a lake surface, golden ripples continuously spreading. In just one clash, the grand formation was already shaking.
The Nine Nether Boats pressed forward at this time, attacks also launching from the Nine Nether Boats, like thousands of shooting stars falling.
Flying Vulture Beast wings like blades, slashing out hundred-meter air blade auras, directly crashing into the formation.
Yuan Hong’s face darkened, Beast Taming Seals continuously emerging on his body, fully four hundred Beast Taming Seals turning into chains, linking him with the Floating Mountain Ape.
“Roar”
With just a thought, the Floating Mountain Ape roared, then raised both arms high, demonic essence surging out, instantly hundreds and thousands of boulders rising from the ground, wrapped in dense demonic essence.
The Floating Mountain Ape swung its hand in attack, hundreds of boulders charging against the incoming attacks.
For a moment, the sky was like blooming fireworks, rumbling ceaselessly, spiritual energy surging, dazzling light too bright to look at directly.
“Whoosh”
At that moment, a black shadow flew in from the side, body wrapped in purple shadows, form like a cunning mountain demon, sharp claws straight for Yuan Hong’s body.
Yuan Hong’s body instantly lit up with earthy yellow light, protective layer like a mountain, Mysterious Earth Sword slashing down fiercely, clanging as it blocked the attack.
He felt a lingering fear in his heart, face ashen, fixed his gaze, and gritted his teeth: “Shameless thing from Bishan Sect.”
If not for his vast combat experience, always holding back some strength, that earlier attack would have been enough to severely injure him.
“Fuyue Peak’s body refining is unmatched, truly admirable.”
Bishan Sect’s Xiao Weizhi retreated to Mad Blade Sect’s Ji Wenchuan’s side, eyes gleaming coldly, smiling insincerely as he spoke.
If it were an ordinary Dan Qiao Realm, that sneak attack just now would have succeeded.
Ji Wenchuan sneered and chimed in: “No matter how strong, today he dies.”
Yuan Hong glared coldly: “Just you two, do you really think you’ve got me pinned?”
Ji Wenchuan laughed: “Yuan Hong, do you still think you can wait for reinforcements? The Demonic Path disciples number more than just these two thousand.”
He wasn’t some soft-hearted Righteous Path figure; since deciding on a sneak attack, he aimed to maximize benefits.
Ma Wang Town, Bai Shan Town, and the other four towns, plus several second-order spiritual veins, had all been sent attackers, feints mixed with real strikes to confuse discernment, anyway to draw the Beast King Sect’s attention.
Yuan Hong’s face sank; though they had anticipated the Demonic Path would try every means to attack them, they hadn’t expected such an all-or-nothing gamble.
If this battle failed, the diversions would also consume troop strength.
“Fellow Daoist Ji, no need for more words. We’ll eliminate him. You take the Floating Mountain Ape, I’ll take Yuan Hong. The mountain guarding formation—let the Nine Nether Boats blast it apart…”
No sooner had the words fallen than a clear, cold voice suddenly sounded.
“So, you’re convinced that my Beast King Sect has no one left?”
Ji Wenchuan and Xiao Weizhi broke out in cold sweat, turning sharply to see a vast red tide like sky-obscuring fog sweeping over.
Su Yan in mid-air, stepping through the void, his aura pressing down suffocatingly.
“You, how are you here?!”
Ji Wenchuan was greatly shocked. Su Yan’s eyes flicked over, then he suddenly waved his hand.
Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust flew out, countless Fiend Bees surging toward Ji Wenchuan.
“Stop them.”
Ji Wenchuan hurriedly ordered, Flying Vulture Beasts, Nine Nether Boats… everyone launched attacks to shoot down these insects.
Struck and shattered, turning into malevolent energy, malevolent energy spreading everywhere.
The remaining Fiend Bees, under the cover of this malevolent energy, in an instant pounced onto a Flying Vulture Beast.
Piercing screams came from the swarm, including screams from Demonic Path disciples and from Flying Vulture Beasts.
Everyone’s hearts chilled hearing it; if they looked closely, they would see those Demonic Path disciples and Flying Vulture Beasts turned to white bones almost instantly, their flesh and blood devoured clean.
Ji Wenchuan and Xiao Weizhi were terrified in their hearts, seeing the red bee swarm about to spread to other Nine Nether Boats, immediately striking to intercept.
An attack like a long river swept out, straight for the bee swarm carrying malevolent energy.
Yet before this attack reached the swarm, the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust blocked in front, its tibial scythe with malevolent energy as blade, lightly slashing to completely shatter the attack.
This strike was extremely clean and sharp, startling both Ji Wenchuan and Xiao Weizhi.
Only Su Yan knew that the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust had now reached the metamorphosis stage, its strength already surpassing ordinary third-order Calamity Beasts by several degrees; against the two, it wouldn’t fall behind.
“Kill”
Ji Wenchuan, now alarmed, had his Mad Blade Golden Ape True Intent turn into a golden saber, slashing out a hundred-zhang blade aura, its momentum splitting the heavens.
Xiao Weizhi’s mountain demon form shifted slyly, claws growing to a hundred zhang, like a mountain-crushing giant object, straight for the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust.
Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust spat malevolent energy, suddenly flapping its wings, a blood-colored tornado rising from nothing, three as walls, malevolent energy constantly sweeping, eroding everything approaching.
“Junior Brother, I’ll assist you.”
Yuan Hong saw the two locked in stalemate with the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust’s attacks, immediately flying over.
Before he arrived, the Mysterious Earth Sword had already slashed out a heaven-shaking sword intent.
Ji Wenchuan’s face darkened, raising a hand to wave out a minor banner, spinning to become a hundred meters, like a shield blocking before the sword intent.
One sword fell, booming loudly, three cracks instantly appearing on the banner.
This was a third-order spirit artifact, but under Yuan Hong’s attacks, it might not hold for long.
Yuan Hong grinned: “Let’s see how long you can hold.”
The Floating Mountain Ape strode forward, its sky-pillar-like arm already clenched into a fist, aura condensing like a mountain.
“Martial Uncle, I’ll handle this.”
Su Yan’s voice suddenly came, then countless weapons appeared in mid-air, one after another, not just sabers and swords, but also tiger head seals, Black Crystal Sabers, Three Beasts banners, and other third-order spirit artifacts.
The auras real, the momentum chilling to the heart.
Amid this sky full of weapon domain, the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth’s form flickered in and out.
“Weapons fall”
Su Yan uttered the two words “weapons fall,” instantly countless saber lights and sword shadows falling, axes chopping, seals dropping all at once.
Those Nine Nether Boats, one by one, Flying Vulture Beasts, in an instant became riddled with holes.
Damn it!
Xiao Weizhi was now panicked, facing such attacks, he immediately moved to block the weapon phantoms.
But as he went to intercept, the next moment the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust was already before him.
He was overwhelmed, still trying to block, but a squelching sound came, sharp mouthparts already piercing his body.
A terrifying suction came, his strength and true essence as if a great hole had been breached, unable to mobilize even a bit.
Looking at his qi and blood, it poured out like a flood bursting a dam, in an instant the whole person like a dried-up skeleton.
Ji Wenchuan was even more unlucky, dodging Yuan Hong’s attack, desperately holding his protective minor banner to flee.
Yet the next moment, the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth had already blocked him first.
Shadow-like flash past, the minor banner snapped, the remaining half already in the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth’s mouthparts, continuously gnawing.
Several spirit sword phantoms condensed before him, unexpectedly piercing his body, directly nailing him in mid-air.
Without the two to block, the sky full of Fiend Bees enveloped every Demonic Path disciple on the Nine Nether Boats.
Screams unending, each scream meaning one Demonic Path martial artist fallen.
Yuan Hong stood stunned in place, drawing in a cold breath: ‘Too ferocious, both fierce insects are third-order, and both have such might…’
He knew Su Yan had exceptional talent, but seeing it with his own eyes was another matter.
No wonder hearing Xiang Ge got beaten every day; if such a disciple slipped by, forget beaten.
His master could suppress him under Fuyue Peak for five hundred years.
Su Yan ignored the screams entirely; though the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust had reached a bottleneck now, every bit more qi and blood devoured would add to its foundation accumulation.
Moreover, the richer the qi and blood, the denser the malevolent energy, allowing more Fiend Bees and Blood Bees to be bred.
“Martial Uncle, are you alright?”
Su Yan came before Yuan Hong. Yuan Hong shook his head, immediately praising: “You young people strike fast, not even tired, how could you get injured.”
He changed tone, asking: “Ji Wenchuan said there are other Demonic Path disciples splitting forces to attack various places. What’s the situation?”
Su Yan smiled: “Within three hundred li radius, all scouted clean by my Blood Bees. Their every move under Blood Bee surveillance. Aside from a few stronger ones merely repelled, the rest have been exterminated.”
His trump card was the Blood Bees.
The Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust could now control far more than a hundred thousand Blood Bees, scattered one by one over the three hundred li radius, then with the Insect Consciousness Seed’s ability for remote scouting; Demonic Path traces nearly had nowhere to hide.
Of course, around Cold Shadow Peak were many snow-capped harsh lands; in such environments, Blood Bee losses were huge, but compared to the merit of one battle, this loss was negligible.
Yuan Hong’s eyes narrowed slightly: “This insect’s bloodline probably rivals fourth-order. If it metamorphoses, fifth-order bloodline isn’t impossible.”
His insight sharp, he thought: “In ancient times there was an insect called God Fiend Insect, body of malevolent energy, everywhere it passed became dead land. If you can find some shedding or origin, I reckon it can advance.”
Su Yan took interest, slightly raising his eyes, suddenly saying: “Actually, it’s already at the edge of metamorphosis, just short some materials.”
“What materials?”
Yuan Hong wanted to help, following up.
“Myriad Fiend Crystal, Soul Spirit True Silkworm, Blood Dripping Profound Crystal, Sky Abyss Ore—these four things.”
Yuan Hong’s eyebrows raised, suddenly grinning: “You’ve asked the right person.”
Su Yan showed delight: “Martial Uncle knows where these things are?”
“Know two of them.”
He held up two fingers, then said: “Nine Peaks Sect has a Sky Abyss Mine vein, third-order high-grade major mine. Sky Abyss Ore is produced there. Not cheap, but this exchange will surely include it. With your merit, enough to exchange.”
“And the other?”
“The other is on Old Devil Shi Ze.”
Su Yan showed surprise: “That Hundred Caves Witch Sect Dan Qiao Realm martial artist who attacked the city that day?”
“Right, that old devil’s tribe has generationally refined Soul Spirit True Silkworm. Even if not on him, definitely in the tribe.”
