Chapter 89

Everything unfolded just as Ji Jiuhuo had predicted, about a thousand miles away from them.

In the sky, a curtain was suspended, and on it stood four people, looking down. Suddenly, a streak of light shot up from below, revealing a burly man in armor, stepping on a giant sword. His skin was tinged with green, and he looked like a demon god in the high sky.

"Senior Brothers and Sisters," the burly man said with a joyful expression, "I have investigated, and there are a large number of essence stones underground, including many high-grade essence stones. It's a very rich essence stone vein."

"Hmm?" A long-haired man in a black robe, with blood-red Bagua patterns on the front and back, nodded and smiled, "Junior Brother Jusan, you've worked hard. I didn't expect such a vein to be hidden in the Ji family's territory. By the way, Junior Brother Jusan, did you find any signs of mining?"

The burly man shook his head.

The long-haired man in the black robe nodded in satisfaction, "The Ji family has never sold essence stones externally, so it seems they haven't discovered it yet. Junior Brothers and Sisters, please go in the four directions—east, south, west, and north—to explore and determine the size of this vein. I will investigate its depth. After the investigation, we will gather here."

"Yes, Senior Brother Ziqi," the three men and one woman, including the burly man, responded. They then each stepped on their flying magical treasures, transforming into four streaks of light and heading in the four directions.

The long-haired man in the black robe also retracted the curtain and directly plunged into the ground, disappearing upon contact.

...

After a long time.

The three men and one woman had already returned with their magical treasures.

"Senior Brother Ziqi hasn't finished investigating yet?" The man with green hair was surprised, "It seems this vein is quite deep."

"The essence stone vein we have investigated alone covers an area of over four thousand miles," the woman with green hair said solemnly, "If it's deeper... this vein will be astonishing."

Just as she finished speaking,

Whoosh!

A streak of light shot up from below and stopped, revealing Senior Brother Ziqi in the black robe.

"Senior Brother Ziqi," the three men and one woman all bowed in respect. In fact, the five of them were all Purple Mansion cultivators and peers, so there was no need for such formality. However, Senior Brother Ziqi's strength was absolutely above theirs.

"What a rich essence stone vein, over three hundred miles deep," the long-haired man in the black robe exclaimed.

"Over three hundred miles?"

"So deep?"

"We four have found that this vein covers an area of over four thousand miles, and its depth is astonishing. This essence stone vein is too...," the other three men and one woman were all shocked. Some veins are relatively shallow, and it's normal for a vein covering thousands of miles to be only a few miles deep. This one is over three hundred miles deep!

The long-haired man in the black robe said, "This essence stone vein belongs to our Snow Dragon Mountain!"

"Yes, it belongs to our Snow Dragon Mountain!"

"Such a great achievement, the sect will surely reward us heavily."

"Our opportunity has come!"

The five of them were all extremely excited. They could easily deduce the scale of this essence stone vein and understood its value, which was incredibly high. Even the peak Yuan Shen Daoists of the entire Snow Dragon Mountain would take it seriously.

"Senior Brother Ziqi," the woman with green hair frowned, "This place is close to the Ji family's Ten Thousand Sword City. According to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, this area should belong to the Ji family."

"What is the Ji family?" Senior Brother Ziqi snorted, "Does it dare to reach out for a vein that our Snow Dragon Mountain wants?"

The man with green hair nodded, "The Ji family is not a concern. This essence stone vein, our Snow Dragon Mountain will definitely take! However, we must not be careless. According to the laws of the Great Xia capital, this is the Ji family's Ten Thousand Sword City territory, and the vein should belong to the Ji family. Our Snow Dragon Mountain cannot openly violate the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty!"

"Hmm," Dong Ziqi nodded lightly.

Yes.

Even if there are ways to circumvent the laws, we absolutely cannot openly challenge the Great Xia Dynasty! Even the ancient Anpan Marquis's residence, which is almost as old as the Great Xia Dynasty, does not dare to openly challenge the Great Xia Dynasty!

"The most worrying thing now," the man with green hair frowned, "is if the Ji family sends people to collude with the Great Xia Dynasty's army and signs a transfer contract! If they directly transfer this essence stone vein to the Great Xia Dynasty, we will be helpless!"

"Junior Brother He Fang is right," the gray-clothed man with a cold face nodded, "We must be careful."

"We must be careful," the burly man said urgently, "The Ji family must understand that their strength is insufficient. As long as they transfer it to the Great Xia Dynasty, the Ji family can also get thirty percent of the benefits! With the Great Xia Dynasty as their backing, we will have no way out."

"Sign a contract?"

Dong Ziqi's eyes were deep, "Is it that easy to sign?"

The other four all looked at Dong Ziqi.

"The Great Xia Dynasty's garrison in Yanshan is in Yanshan City," Dong Ziqi said, "The general of that garrison is my friend."

"But, Senior Brother Ziqi, for such a transfer of a vein, as long as the Ji family reports it... a single general dares not suppress it. If he suppresses it forcefully, once this major matter is discovered in the future, the general will face the punishment of soul disintegration," the man with green hair said worriedly.

Dong Ziqi said, "I know, he dares not suppress it, but he can delay it as much as possible!"

"Oh?" The other four all looked at Dong Ziqi.

"You know," Dong Ziqi said, "To sign a transfer contract with the Great Xia Dynasty, first, it must be reported! Then, the higher-ups will immediately send people to the Ji family's territory to inspect. Only after the inspection confirms the existence of the vein will the contract be signed."

The other four nodded.

Indeed.

As soon as it is reported, people will be sent immediately, and the efficiency is very high.

"Once it is reported, we cannot act recklessly," Dong Ziqi said, "What we can do is to delay as much as possible with the general of the Yanshan garrison... and the people sent by the Great Xia Dynasty will also need time to reach the Ji family. This time will be enough for us to take over the Ten Thousand Sword City!"

"Take over the Ten Thousand Sword City?" The four all nodded lightly.

"Once we get the vassal order from the Ten Thousand Sword City, we will be the masters of the city. According to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, this vein will belong to us. Even if the Great Xia Dynasty sends people... because the vassal order has changed hands, the Ji family will not be able to sign the contract," Dong Ziqi said.

"Yes, take over the vassal order!"

"With the vassal order in hand, we will be the masters of the vein," their eyes all glinted with cold light.

Dong Ziqi also said in a low voice, "If the Ji family dares to resist, we will destroy them!"

"Yes," the other four all nodded, not taking the Ji family seriously at all.

"Senior Brother Ziqi, when I returned from investigating the vein's range, I found that the Ji family was a thousand miles away," the woman with green hair said.

"Let's go," Dong Ziqi snorted, "We will meet the Ji family."

...

At this time, in the sky above the essence stone vein, there were many Purple Mansion cultivators investigating, including the Tumu Clan, Bianhe Clan, Kui Clan, and Black Fire Sect, all forces in Yanshan. Only the Great Xia Dynasty's garrison in Yanshan City remained aloof and did not get involved.

"What a rich vein."

"Such an essence stone vein, it's... scary just to look at."

...

In the wilderness and forests, a group of Ji family members gathered, discussing countermeasures.

"Ji Jiuhuo!"

Suddenly, a deep voice came, causing many Ji family members to change their expressions. Ji Ning, with his powerful divine soul, was not affected by the voice and looked up. He saw a large curtain rapidly descending from the sky, and on it stood five men and women, each with extraordinary aura.

The leader exuded a cold and eerie aura, wearing a black robe with blood-red Bagua patterns.

"Dong Ziqi!" Ji Jiuhuo's expression changed slightly.

Ji Ning carefully observed the five people on the curtain, especially the leader, Dong Ziqi: "He is Dong Ziqi of the Snow Dragon Mountain's Yanshan branch?"

Dong Ziqi, renowned far and wide, is the unofficial leader of the six major forces in Yanshan!