Wood-Born Copper Mine

In the space of a lightning flash, the white-robed elder fell. With their strongest fighter gone and Yang Tianwang arriving to help, the other two Deng Lineage cultivators were quickly killed.

"Phew..."

After the battle ended, Yang Tianyou let out a long breath. Waves of pain came from all over his body, making him grimace.

"Good lad, you can even kill someone at the Qi Refining eighth layer now. Looks like I can call on you whenever there's an important mission from now on."

Yang Tianwang clapped Yang Tianyou hard on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

"Nineteenth Younger Brother did perform exceptionally well this time. He showed the bearing a Yang Household disciple should have."

Appreciation showed in Yang Tianxue's eyes as she gave Yang Tianyou a long look.

Faced with his brother and sister's praise, Yang Tianyou felt no embarrassment. After all, his achievement was the real thing, and he had put a great deal of effort into drawing that Golden Sword Talisman himself. He naturally deserved the praise.

Without further discussion, Yang Tianxue and her two younger brothers cleared up the chaotic battlefield, then came to the Wu Earth Yellow Apricot Tree.

All twelve fruits went into Yang Tianxue's Storage Bag, to be divided once they returned to the Yang Household. The same went for the other spoils.

"This Wu Earth Yellow Apricot Tree is a precious treasure too. What should we do? None of us knows the Spirit Plant Technique!"

Yang Tianwang folded his arms and looked up at the lush fruit tree as he spoke.

"I already explained the situation in my message to Fifth Granduncle. Knowing how he does things, he should bring one or two Spirit Plant Masters. Our most pressing task now is to find the Spirit Mine, then hold it and wait for Fifth Granduncle to arrive."

"Makes sense. Let's do as Fourth Sister says!"

Having reached an agreement, the three split up, each taking a direction and exploring with the Wu Earth Yellow Apricot Tree at the center.

Azure Wolf Fengling also helped Yang Tianyou search for the Spirit Mine. During the earlier battle, Yang Tianyou hadn't let him join because he had only just broken through to first-tier middle-grade and was too weak.

This greatly displeased Fengling. As a Purple Moon Wolf, his pride made him eager to show Yang Tianyou some results and prove that he was a useful wolf.

Time passed, and soon three incense sticks' worth of time had gone by. Yang Tianyou, who was exploring a slope with Fengling, suddenly brightened.

"Let's go, Fengling. Fifteenth Brother has already found the Spirit Mine."

With that, Yang Tianyou turned back first, with Fengling following close behind, his head hanging low.

The three soon regrouped. The Spirit Mine was about three li northwest of the Wu Earth Yellow Apricot Tree.

It was a cave, and the sound of dripping water came from within.

Yang Tianwang led the way, with Yang Tianyou and Yang Tianxue following. About fifty zhang into the cave, Yang Tianwang pointed at the pitted stone wall before them and said with a smile, "This is it!"

Hearing this, Yang Tianxue waved a delicate hand, and her Flying Sword cut a deep fissure into the wall. Faint traces of pale green metal could be seen within it.

They cut off a piece of the pale green metal and examined it for a while, then identified the Spirit Mine.

It was Wood-Born Copper, a first-tier superior-grade Spirit Material with both Metal and Wood Attributes. It was quite valuable, with one jin selling for the high price of about fifty Spirit Stones on the market.

After careful prospecting, the three found that the Wood-Born Copper Mine was probably only a miniature vein, with a small yield. If mined at full capacity, it would likely be exhausted in less than ten years.

Even so, the Spirit Mine could yield at least a thousand jin of Wood-Born Copper. That was a full fifty thousand Spirit Stones, enough to nurture a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

With such immense wealth before them, Yang Tianyou and the others grew even more vigilant.

They set up a first-tier middle-grade Concealment Array at the cave entrance, and used Wood Attribute Law Techniques to make a great mass of shrubs and various weeds grow.

Only after completing all their preparations did they breathe a sigh of relief and quietly await the arrival of the Lineage's Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

An hour later, having received a message, Yang Tianyou and the other two emerged from the cave to welcome their arriving elder: Yang Dangmo, fifth of the Dang Generation, whose cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer.

He wore red robes, and his pale face was clean-shaven. He looked about thirty, with sharply defined features and a tall, muscular build. As he strode toward them, even the air around him seemed to rise and ripple faintly.

Of course, it was no illusion. Yang Dangmo cultivated the Void-Refining Manual, one of the Yang Household's three great Foundation Establishment Cultivation Methods. His Fire Attribute Spiritual Power was fierce and domineering, burning all things.

"Greetings, Fifth Granduncle (Grandfather/Fifth Granduncle)!"

At the sight of Yang Dangmo, the three finally breathed a sigh of relief, then hurriedly cupped their fists in greeting.

"Good, good, good! I never expected you to make such a discovery on a casual trip out. Truly, heaven blesses my Yang Household!"

Yang Dangmo's face was full of smiles. He raised his right hand slightly, helping the three straighten up.

"Fourth Sister, Fifteenth Brother, Nineteenth Younger Brother, you've rendered our Yang Household a great service this time!"

The middle-aged man standing behind Yang Dangmo also spoke, his voice thick with envy.

He was Yang Tianji, the eldest of the Yang Household's Tian Generation. His cultivation was at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement, and he was also a first-tier superior-grade Spirit Plant Master.

"We were just lucky. We don't deserve your praise, Eldest Brother."

Yang Tianyou smiled as he replied.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group entered the cave.

Yang Dangmo grew even happier when he saw the Wood-Born Copper vein. Ever since the Lineage had suffered a heavy blow eight years ago, its finances had gone from bad to worse, and it urgently needed a new source of income. This windfall could hardly have come at a better time.

Not to mention that those who had earned this merit included his own grandson, Yang Tianwang, and his own grandnephew, Yang Tianyou.

Though they were all Yang Household Members, some were closer than others.

Yang Dangmo was Yang Tianwang's own grandfather, while Yang Tianyou's own grandfather, Yang Dangsheng, was Yang Dangmo's younger brother.

In fact, some indication could be seen in how the three had addressed Yang Dangmo earlier. Yang Tianyou and Yang Tianwang had both used the familiar "Grandfather," while Yang Tianxue's "Granduncle" was more formal.

In good spirits, Yang Dangmo went outside the cave.

After observing the area for a while, he found a suitable spot and tossed out an octagonal Formation Disc.

The Formation Disc landed, and an invisible ripple swept across a ten-li radius. An earth-yellow hemispherical protective barrier swiftly appeared, then vanished.

With the Formation in place, Yang Dangmo turned to Yang Tianyou and the other two. "You've rendered a great service this time, so the Lineage naturally won't shortchange you. I've already informed the household head of everything that happened. Set off for Purple Moon Mountain now. You'll naturally learn what your rewards are when the time comes."

"Yes. We'll take our leave, Grandfather!"

Their eyes bright with delight, the three saluted, then rode their Law Artifacts into the sky and departed.

Yang Dangmo watched the three juniors leave, then stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the cave entrance. His eyes were deep, and there was no telling what he was thinking.

After a long while, he sighed softly. "Forget it. Things aren't as they were eight years ago, after all. Let's yield some, then..."