Silver Star Mountain Range

In Ice City, Chu Xinghe has been quite busy these past few days.

Chu Xinghe had basically inspected all the industries in the entire Ice City.

However, the gains were not significant...

There's basically no need to look at anyone connected to Vast Heaven Chamber of Commerce; they're all making a fortune, and it's just annoying to look at them.

The other industries were also making a fortune. Seeing how much money these industries were raking in, Chu Xinghe didn't dare to offer any advice. After all, he knew perfectly well how his previous suggestions had turned out so badly.

On this day, just as Chu Xinghe was contemplating whether to end his inspection tour and return to the sect to offer elective courses to everyone for a good workout, Ma Liang suddenly arrived.

Upon seeing Ma Liang, Chu Xinghe didn't say much, but told Ma Liang to pack up and prepare to leave.

But when Senior Brother Xinghe Ma Liang to leave, he called out, "Senior Brother Xinghe, you can't go!"

Chu Xinghe: "???"

Can't leave? What kind of scheme are you plotting now? You can't feel at ease unless you betray Senior Brother Xinghe for a day, can you?

Just as Chu Xinghe was speechless, Ma Liang brought news that Chu Xinghe had not expected.

Ice City is located in the Northern Territory, almost at the northernmost edge of the Blazing Sun Continent; further north lies the Sea of Mist.

The area where Ice City is located borders Snow City, where the Cloud Firmament Sect is located.

Although they are said to be on the border, there is actually a mountain range called Silver Star between the two forces.

This Silver Star Mountain Range is no ordinary mountain range; it's a mineral vein.

This area is primarily a source of Silver Star Ore.

Chu Xinghe knew about this Silver Star Ore; it was a material needed for both weapon forging and medicine refining. Although it wasn't particularly rare, its high demand made it quite valuable.

However, the Silver Star Mountain Range is quite interesting.

In the beginning, the Vast Heaven Sect and the Cloud Firmament Sect were separated by the Silver Star Mountain Range, which neither side paid much attention to.

But just a century ago, a huge amount of Silver Star Ore was suddenly discovered in the Silver Star Mountain Range, hence the name of the mountains.

But here's the problem: this is the dividing line, so whose property does it belong to?

When faced with interests at stake, neither party would willingly claim ownership of the other's assets.

Therefore, the Silver Star Mountain Range have always been in an undefined area.

Over the years, the Vast Heaven Sect has been mining Silver Star Ore from the east, while the Cloud Firmament Sect has been mining it from the west. They have managed to maintain a harmonious relationship by not interfering with each other.

But about two years ago, legend has it that a mysterious ghost passage was suddenly unearthed in the Silver Star Mountain Range, from which countless vengeful ghosts emerged and quickly took over the Silver Star Mountain Range.

The Cloud Firmament Sect evacuated everyone almost immediately.

Faced with the vengeful ghost, the Vast Heaven Sect had no choice but to retreat first, considering the safety of its members.

After the matter was reported to the sect, Vast Heaven Sect sent elders to kill the evil spirits and try to find the excavated ghost passage to block it. However, there were too many evil spirits in the Silver Star Mountain Range, and no matter how many they killed, they could not be killed. There were even rumors of Ghost Emperors.

Finally, it was said that the Grand Elder had come in person to kill the Ghost Emperor, but as soon as the Grand Elder arrived, the Ghost Emperor went into hiding...

The Grand Elder had no choice but to leave, so for the past two years, the Silver Star Mountain Range have become a dead zone, unable to be mined despite the existence of Silver Star Ore.

The Grand Elder initially took this matter quite seriously, even suspecting that the Cloud Firmament Sect was behind it. However, with Chu Xinghe making a fortune for the sect, the Vast Heaven Sect has become incredibly wealthy in the past two years.

The Grand Elder couldn't care less about the small Silver Star Ore.

After hearing Ma Liang's description, Chu Xinghe immediately summoned Deacon Yang.

Deacon Yang's statement was similar to Ma Liang's.

"So, Deacon Yang, do you think it's related to the Cloud Firmament Sect?" Chu Xinghe asked Deacon Yang directly.

Deacon Yang, naturally, didn't hold back when facing Xinghe, and spoke directly, "Although there is no concrete evidence, there are rumors that the Cloud Firmament Sect's sales of Silver Star Ore have not decreased in the past two years, but have actually increased."

"It must be the Cloud Firmament Sect's doing! Senior Brother Xinghe, let's go and attack!"

Ma Liang cannot bear to hear the words "Cloud Firmament Sect". If it is related to the Cloud Firmament Sect, Ma Liang will definitely be the first to charge into battle.

At any other time, Chu Xinghe would definitely have ignored this matter.

After all, this is a loss for the sect. Although that little bit of Silver Star Ore isn't worth much, every little bit helps, right?

However, since it involved the Cloud Firmament Sect, Chu Xinghe felt that he couldn't ignore this matter!

After all, there are many ways to cause losses to a sect besides turning a blind eye. I, Chu Xinghe, have countless ideas for causing losses to a sect. Although I have failed many times, just tell me how many ideas I have!

Without much discussion, Chu Xinghe took Ma Liang and An Lan directly to the Silver Star Mountain Range.

Originally, Deacon Yang was worried and planned to go along, but when An Lan appeared and asked whether he didn't trust him or Ma Liang's Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation, Deacon Yang fell silent.

The strongest person in the entire Ice City is myself, a Martial Venerable... but what is An Lan's cultivation level? What is Ma Liang's level?

With the two of them there, if I go along and something really happens, should I protect Xinghe or should Xinghe protect me?

Although he didn't go, Deacon Yang still instructed Xinghe that even if he discovered something, he must not act rashly, as it concerned the Cloud Firmament Sect.

Regardless of whether the Cloud Firmament Sect is on good terms with the Vast Heaven Sect, morally speaking, the Cloud Firmament Sect is ranked third among the Ten Great Sects. Both are prestigious and righteous sects, and some things must be done according to the rules.

Of course, Deacon Yang was mainly giving Ma Liang these instructions.

After all, Steward Xinghe Deacon Yang to get things done; only Ma Liang might be impulsive.

The Silver Star Mountain Range were not far from Ice City. The three of them arrived at the Silver Star Mountain Range and saw from afar that the entire Silver Star Mountain Range were shrouded in a gray mist.

This mist seemed to be composed of some kind of evil force, which was quite similar to Ma Liang's Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation.

The three did not linger and went directly into the mist of the Silver Star Mountain Range.

The moment they stepped into the mist, countless ghostly figures appeared all around them and pounced on them.

"Senior Brother Xinghe, leave it to me!" Ma Liang activated the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation. In an instant, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation enveloped countless ghosts and demons. Ma Liang urged the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation to absorb all of these ghosts and demons into it.

After all, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation is composed of countless vengeful ghosts, and taking all these ghosts into the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation enhance it.

But when Ma Liang activated the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation and commanded the Ghost Emperor to collect all these vengeful ghosts, something strange happened.

These ghosts showed no fear whatsoever in the face of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation. Not only were they not taken away by Ma Liang's Ten Thousand Ghosts Grand Formation, but they even rushed towards Ma Liang's Ghost Emperor!

This scene completely baffled Ma Liang.

It's important to understand that even vengeful spirits have a strict hierarchy; weaker vengeful spirits simply wouldn't dare to attack a powerful one.

But isn't it a bit too absurd that these seemingly weak ghosts would charge at the Ghost Emperor at the slightest provocation?

What? Don't ghosts from other places follow the rules?

Just as Ma Liang was dumbfounded, Chu Xinghe's hand flashed with light, Evil Repeller the Evil Repeller Spirit, carrying divine light, instantly enveloped the surroundings, but these ghosts seemed not to have seen the Evil Repeller at all and continued to charge!

This scene left Ma Liang completely bewildered.

"Senior Brother Xinghe... something's not right with these ghosts!"

To Ma Liang's words, Chu Xinghe thought, "Do you even need to tell me that?"

My Evil Repeller have all appeared... What kind of ghosts and Evil Repeller?

Even if you really are a ghost from out of town, I can understand if you don't follow our local hierarchy, but damn it, you can't be completely unafraid of exorcising Evil Repeller, can you?

An Lan didn't give these ghosts a chance to get any closer. In an instant, a flash of light appeared, and all the ghosts were torn to shreds by the blade.

However, while An Lan's blade was fast enough, no matter how fast An Lan was, the ghosts all around seemed to have a real passage, endlessly rushing towards this side, making it impossible to kill them all!

"Let's retreat first!" Chu Xinghe didn't continue the fight and chose to retreat directly.

Once the three of them stepped out of the fog-shrouded area, all the ghosts and demons retreated, showing no intention of leaving the fog at all.

Although he didn't know what it was, Chu Xinghe was certain that it was definitely not a ghost, but some kind of strange thing.

"Let's go check out the Cloud Firmament Sect..." Chu Xinghe gave the order, and the three of them crossed the Silver Star Mountain Range and arrived at the Cloud Firmament Sect's territory.

But no sooner had they entered the territory of the Cloud Firmament Sect than a voice came from afar.

"So it's Xinghe. It's been many days since we last met at the Millennial Grand Sacrifice..." Accompanied by this voice, a person dressed in the robes of an elder of the Cloud Firmament Sect came from afar.

Chu Xinghe recognized the man; he was Xie Songlin, the Enforcement Elder of the Cloud Firmament Sect, whose status was second only to that old man Ling Su, and he was also one of the top 100 experts on the Heavenly Dao Ranking.

Xinghe greets Elder Xie.

"Hehe... What brings Xinghe to our Cloud Firmament Sect's territory today? I happen to be here, so how about I treat you to a proper meal?"

"Elder Xie, you are too kind. I have come today because of the Silver Star Mountain Range. May I ask if Elder Xie is aware of the situation regarding the Silver Star Mountain Range?"

"Xinghe, you've come to the right person. The Silver Star Mountain Range were indeed one of the areas I was responsible for, but that was two years ago. In the past two years, since the sudden appearance of the vengeful ghost, our Cloud Firmament Sect has abandoned this place."

"Really? Elder Xie, your Cloud Firmament Sect has already abandoned the Silver Star Mountain Range, yet you can still sell so much Silver Star Ore every year. That's truly remarkable." Ma Liang said with a smirk.

"You must be Ma Liang... You're so young, yet you have quite the temper. What business is it of yours how many Silver Star Ore my Cloud Firmament Sect sells?"

"Ma Liang, shut up... Elder Xie don't be offended. Xinghe is here mainly to ask if our Cloud Firmament Sect still intends to take this Silver Star Ore. If so, let's join forces to wipe out all the ghosts here."

"Hehe... Xinghe, you don't know this, but our Cloud Firmament Sect isn't as wealthy as your Vast Heaven Sect. This Silver Star Ore is really important to us. That's why we've been sending people to try and get rid of these ghosts for the past two years. But these ghosts are almost endless. No matter how many we kill, they will just regenerate. So, Xinghe, your idea is simply impossible to succeed."

After hearing this, Chu Xinghe looked at Elder Xie with a melancholy expression. "I see... So Elder Xie, you don't plan to take the Silver Star Mountain Range?"

"It's not that we don't want them, it's that we can't take them... What? Does your Vast Heaven Sect intend to eliminate these ghosts and demons?" Xie Songlin asked suspiciously.

"You don't want it anymore, is that it? That makes things easier. Just as Elder Xie said, our Vast Heaven Sect plans to try and clear it out. If we succeed, the Silver Star Mountain Range will be ours! Farewell!"

Upon hearing Chu Xinghe's words, Xie Songlin smiled and nodded, indicating that Vast Heaven Sect should do as they pleased. If the mine could be cleared out, then the Silver Star Ore would belong to the Vast Heaven Sect.

Watching Chu Xinghe walk away, Xie Songlin revealed a strange smile.

Clean up the Silver Star Mountain Range?

Hmph! It's not that I, Xie Songlin, look down on your Vast Heaven Sect, but your Vast Heaven Sect is just wasting its own time! Even if you send Martial Emperor, you will never be able to wipe out these "ghosts"!

Even if you, Chu Xinghe, are incredibly capable, it's useless, because those "ghosts" are simply endless...