Something Happened

"Something happened!"

After the bells rang within the sect, the cultivators at the Trade Fair all changed expression.

"Everyone, assemble in the main hall!"

As the voice transmission talisman at his waist grew hot, a majestic voice echoed in his ears. Lin Chang'an's expression changed.

"Damn it, something major has happened."

"It's only been five years since the last upheaval!"

Figures hurried toward the main hall. Along the way, Lin Chang'an's expression could not help but turn grim.

Main Hall.

By the time Lin Chang'an arrived at the main hall, dense crowds had already formed into one queue after another.

"Chang'an."

After spotting Li Han and Qi Feng, Lin Chang'an stepped forward and asked in a low voice, full of confusion, "What happened to the sect?"

"I heard that a Purple Copper Spirit Mine was discovered at Qingshan Mountain Market. The major powers nearly came to blows over ownership of the spirit mine, and now the sect is gathering manpower."

"A Purple Copper Spirit Mine!" Lin Chang'an was shocked. Yet just then, a group of cultivator disciples emerged within the main hall and took up guard positions around the area.

Zhang Qing, Elder Lu's trusted aide, strode out with his head held high. Looking at the crowd, he cupped his hands and smiled. "Everyone, line up to receive your tokens. Prepare to depart for the Market tomorrow."

"Leaving tomorrow!" Quite a few people in the crowd cried out in surprise. Wasn't this far too rushed?

Yet the sect cultivators standing guard around them all wore cold sneers, while Zhang Qing looked calmly at the crowd.

"Rest assured. Once you have settled down in the Market, your families will also be brought over."

At this point, Zhang Qing waved a hand at his subordinates and said in a deep voice, "Make a tally. For mining, priority will be given to external training cultivators, body cultivators, and cultivators in the first layer of Qi Refining. Those assisting the sect's stationed cultivators must be in the Qi Refining second layer..."

Though Zhang Qing's tone was mild, a trace of excitement shone in his eyes.

"Because of the Purple Copper Mine, the Market is expanding. The Pill Pavilion, talismans, and more all need manpower. Resources for any cultivator going to Qingshan Mountain Market will be doubled, while resources for those remaining in the sect will be halved..."

His calm tone allowed no room for doubt. Upon hearing about mining, many people in the crowd turned pale, and Lin Chang'an was secretly alarmed.

"Ye Fan, Innate Martial Artist, mining..."

"Li Han, Low-grade Spirit Root, Qi Refining first layer cultivator, mining team leader..."

"Lin Chang'an, Mid-grade Spirit Root, Qi Refining third layer alchemist. Alchemist Lin, this is your token. Once you reach the Market, you naturally will not need to mine."

Inside the main hall, figures lined up one after another to register. The difference between people was laid bare at once.

"Everyone, bring your tokens over for registration."

The sect cultivators began directing everyone coldly. After each person registered, the Dharma Plate glowing with spiritual light in the other party's hand swept across their arms.

"Brother Lin, what was that Dharma Plate shining on our arms just now?"

Holding his token, Li Han examined his arm and found nothing. He asked suspiciously.

Lin Chang'an gave the Dharma Plate in the distance a deep look. After putting his token into his storage bag, he lowered his voice. "That is a Dharma Plate for the Thread-Pulling Technique. Any cultivator marked by it can be sensed through the Dharma Plate's aura within a hundred li."

As Lin Chang'an's words fell, Li Han's expression changed dramatically.

"Within a hundred li!"

Li Han spoke in shock, while Lin Chang'an signaled with his eyes toward the Dharma Plate glowing with spiritual light in the hands of the cultivators handling registration in the distance.

"The red dots constantly appearing on the Dharma Plate are us. So, before we gain the strength to change our fate, cultivate well."

Lin Chang'an lightly patted Li Han and consoled him. "Mortal martial artists can only do ordinary mining. Qi Refining first layer cultivators become team leaders, while Qi Refining second layer cultivators serve as guards for those stationed there."

Li Han raised his head and looked at Lin Chang'an enviously. "Chang'an, at the Qi Refining third layer, you're already qualified to join the sect."

Yet Lin Chang'an gave a self-mocking smile. "You're thinking too simply. Double cultivation resources aren't so easy to obtain."

Though he had never eaten pork, he had at least heard pigs squeal; he had heard plenty about exploitation.

That night, no one slept. After registering, they returned to pack their luggage.

Before dawn, at the valley entrance.

The first light of morning spilled across the land. The dense mass of cultivators waiting at the valley entrance had arrived long ago, but the air was thick with oppression.

Yet just then, a rumble suddenly rolled across the heavens. As the formation activated, everyone stared blankly at the sight before them.

"Th-this! What is that?!"

"A ship!"

Rumble—

A massive flying boat tore through the clouds and descended from the sky. Its vast, terrifying aura made everyone's scalps go numb, as though some enormous beast had fallen from the heavens.

That terrifying pressure told everyone that this flying boat was absolutely not just for show.

Amid the visual shock, the flying boat passed through the ripples stirred by the sect formation and appeared before everyone.

This enormous flying boat was forty-four zhang and four chi long, eighteen zhang wide, and could hold a thousand people. Beneath its terrifying Mana Shield, it was clear that this was a mobile fortress capable of both attack and defense.

"Everyone, after inspection, board the ship. Within three months, your families will be arranged to head to Qingshan Market one after another."

As the flying boat hovered over the valley entrance, Zhang Qing stood at its prow and shouted at the cultivators under his command, beginning to arrange for everyone to board.

The flying boat sped through the skies. The scenery around them flashed past, and all creation seemed to lie beneath their feet, leaving countless cultivators aboard the boat stunned.

"Brother Lin, we're in the sky!"

Li Han rarely showed such excitement. Most people wore yearning expressions, but a small number looked uneasy. At that moment, he turned his head as though he had sensed something.

"Brother Lin."

Qi Feng also came over then. Lin Chang'an forced a strained smile and nodded to the two of them. They seemed to notice something as well and lowered their voices.

"Brother Lin, did you discover something?"

Facing the two of them, Lin Chang'an's lips moved, yet no sound emerged. Still, the two seemed to hear something and could not help showing shocked expressions.

The Voice Transmission Technique was a basic spell, similar to the sound-transmitting-into-the-ear technique used by mortal martial artists.

Li Han and Qi Feng no longer had the yearning looks they had worn while sitting aboard the flying boat. Their eyes were now filled with unease.

"Brother Lin, you're not joking, are you?"

Qi Feng swallowed nervously. Lin Chang'an's gaze casually swept over the sect cultivators aboard the flying boat, and he gently shook his head.

"Seize every scrap of opportunity to cultivate. Here, we can only pray for our own fortunes."

Taking a deep breath, Lin Chang'an slowly walked to the front of the flying boat. He watched the landscape race by beneath him, and a trace of determination gradually appeared in his eyes.

After Li Han and Qi Feng exchanged a glance, both looked around at the sect cultivators with numb scalps.

No wonder these sect cultivators had all been sneering. Some of them looked rather grim, apparently already anticipating what would happen next.

Thank you all, fellow Daoists, for your support.