“I obtained some underground vein maps near our private mine through special channels and discovered that not far from our mine lies a vein owned by the City Lord’s Mansion. It’s said to be a vein with the potential for top-grade ore deposits, so precious that even the City Lord’s Mansion has been reluctant to exploit it, preserving it until now,” Wuyou said slowly.
“What does that mean? Are you saying the rare ores we found actually belong to the City Lord’s Mansion?” The young demon youth was visibly shocked, though still somewhat skeptical.
“Exactly. I’ve thought it through carefully. The private mine we’ve been secretly exploiting is at best adjacent to a mid-grade vein. Even under the most optimistic scenario, it couldn’t possibly yield such an astronomical amount of top-grade ores. Most likely, during our mining, we deviated from the original vein’s path and accidentally tapped into the City Lord’s Mansion’s top-grade vein. Such instances of multiple veins converging in one place have happened before. We’ve just been lucky to mine undetected by the City Lord’s Mansion’s guards for so long,” Wuyou explained gravely.
This time, even the other demon men and women paled.
Undoubtedly, the City Lord’s Mansion, backed by the Blue Waterfall Lake’s Sacred Ancestor, was the most powerful force in the entire region. Other factions, even with their own backers, wouldn’t dare openly oppose it.
For beings like them, mere Void Refinement or Spirit Transformation cultivators, provoking such a formidable force they once revered would spell certain doom.
Even the delicate-faced demon woman lost all reluctance, her expression turning to sheer terror.
“So, don’t harbor any illusions. Escaping Blue Waterfall Lake with our lives intact would be the best outcome. That’s why I’m selling these ores only to outsiders at such a low price. The astronomical sum from this sale might just be our lifeline. Of course, if we manage to escape safely, the proceeds will be shared among us,” Wuyou said, having clearly thought everything through.
Hearing this, the other demons regained some composure and nodded in agreement.
As for tomorrow’s transaction, they weren’t overly concerned. Since the deal was clandestine and not conducted in the wilderness, neither party would dare scheme against the other, lest they attract unwanted attention and suffer together.
Still, Wuyou prepared contingency measures and meticulously instructed his subordinates, who complied without objection before dispersing in groups.
…
Meanwhile, Han Li rode a beast-drawn carriage straight toward the eastern city gate. Hours later, the carriage exited the city and followed a gravel road for a long stretch before arriving at a lush forest near the shore.
As the carriage halted, Han Li alighted gracefully and surveyed the forest. At its edge, a winding path led into the depths of the tranquil woods.
His gaze settled on a towering tree beside the path, where an inconspicuous yellow wooden plaque was nailed. On it, three elegantly written ancient characters in faint black ink read: “Guangyuan Zhai.”
Han Li murmured the words with a faint smile and strode confidently down the forest path.
After advancing about thirty or forty yards and rounding a few bends, the entrance vanished from sight. Suddenly, a tall, gray-robed elder appeared ahead.
The elder had a ruddy complexion and narrow eyes. He leaned against a tree, engrossed in a silver-bound ancient book, nodding and swaying as he read.
Han Li’s glance noted the elder was merely a Spirit Transformation cultivator. Frowning slightly, he continued forward, releasing a hint of his Void Refinement aura as he passed without a backward glance.
The elder remained absorbed in his book, seemingly oblivious. Only when Han Li’s figure disappeared around the bend did the elder look up, his face beaded with cold sweat.
“Such formidable spiritual pressure—no ordinary Void Refinement cultivator. I must inform the others not to intercept him. This one is worthy of entering Guangyuan Zhai,” the elder muttered, tracing swift symbols on the book’s cover. Faint black runes flashed and vanished into the silver binding before he exhaled deeply and disappeared in a burst of green light.
…
A short while later, Han Li arrived at a five-story pavilion at the forest’s heart. The structure, carved from creamy white wood, bore a yellowish hue, indicating its antiquity.
A green-robed maiden waited quietly before the pavilion. She appeared fifteen or sixteen, with delicate features and a maid’s attire. Spotting Han Li, she approached calmly and bowed.
“Xier greets you, Senior. Please follow me. My mistress awaits your esteemed presence upstairs.”
“Your mistress? I hadn’t expected the master of Guangyuan Zhai to be a fairy. Very well, lead the way,” Han Li replied, following her inside.
Upon entering, a sudden chill nearly made him shiver, but his circulating mana quickly dispelled it. A sweep of his spiritual sense revealed faint restrictive fluctuations in the air—a formidable array that even gave him pause.
The first floor held only simple furniture and a few ancient paintings. Han Li’s eyes lingered on the nearest painting—a rusted, incomplete bronze mirror rendered vividly. The other three depicted a gleaming blue sword, a golden spear, and a black token.
“Has Senior noticed something? If so, your ability to comprehend the mysteries of the Four Symbols Diagram in such a short time would rank you among the top hundred of our guests,” Xier said in surprise.
“Only the top hundred?” Han Li responded indifferently.
“Senior, don’t underestimate this ranking. Most are Void Refinement experts like yourself, while the rest are renowned figures of slightly lesser cultivation,” Xier hastily explained.
“Top hundred? Heh. If outsiders mistake these for a mere Four Symbols Array, they’ll inevitably perish trapped within. The true killer lies in the hidden secondary array. How many of your guests have seen through that?” Han Li sneered.
“Senior’s vision is peerless! Fewer than ten have discerned the false array, most being Demon Venerables. By our rules, you may proceed directly to meet my mistress on the third floor,” Xier replied, wide-eyed.
“Good. I’m eager to meet the master of Guangyuan Zhai, said to be omnipotent in Blue Waterfall Lake,” Han Li agreed.
Under Xier’s guidance, Han Li ascended to the second floor, adorned with colorful flowerpots of exotic spiritual plants. A gray-haired but youthful-looking demon woman stood among them, watering a crimson plant from a jade vial.
“Aunt Zhu, this Senior is today’s guest. He recognized the secondary restriction below, so I’m taking him directly to the mistress,” Xier said respectfully.
“Oh? To see through the second array is remarkable indeed. Hmm… you’ve concealed part of your cultivation, haven’t you?” The woman, initially calm, studied Han Li and stiffened slightly.
Han Li had already identified her as a peak late-stage Demon Venerable. Meeting her gaze, he replied after a pause, “I hadn’t expected to encounter someone of your standing here. Rest assured, my concealment is merely for convenience.”
“I believe you. At our level, it’s unwise to appear openly often. Since you’re here, I’ll escort you to the mistress. Xier, you may leave,” the woman said, regaining her composure.
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