Chen Ze had just finished the meal Zhao Ling'er made when he sensed Chen Fan calling for him.
"Hm? Has Doppelganger Chen Fan developed telepathy? I'd only just finished eating, and he already knew to come back and clean up."
With a thought from Chen Ze, Doppelganger Chen Fan was released from Myriad Things Space.
"Master, there is big news."
"Mm, no rush. Clean this up first."
"Huh?"
Chen Fan looked toward the table Chen Ze had just finished eating at.
There were still scraps from Chen Ze's meal scattered across it.
Chen Fan felt miserable. Every time Chen Ze finished eating, he would definitely call him back to wash the dishes. Today, he had happened to walk right into it.
Zhao Ling'er, however, had already grown used to Chen Ze's way of doing things and could not help covering her mouth as she laughed softly.
Left with no choice, Chen Fan could only wash the dishes first. The major news he had just learned could only be put aside for the moment.
Before long, Chen Fan finished washing the dishes and came to the recliner where Chen Ze was lying.
"Master."
"What major news?"
"The Ye Family has taken over all of Shopkeeper Tong's businesses."
"Mm, that was foreseeable. Shopkeeper Tong and the Ye Family were partners. With Shopkeeper Tong gone, it was only natural for the Ye Family to step in and take over his businesses."
"But how was that big news?" Chen Ze asked doubtfully.
"Master, I wasn't finished yet."
Hearing Doppelganger Chen Fan say that, Chen Ze could not help rolling his eyes at him.
Doppelganger Chen Fan continued, "Originally, Shopkeeper Tong's businesses had drawn several other Lineages in Wannan City into a scramble."
But once the Ye Family appeared, the other Lineages immediately pulled back. Even the City Lord's Mansion had tacitly accepted the Ye Family's actions.
That did pique Chen Ze's interest. "The Ye Family's influence has grown this great? It is understandable that those Lineages cannot compare, but the City Lord's Mansion's attitude is rather strange."
Since when had the Dagan Dynasty allowed cultivators to run wild with impunity?
It seemed this city lord had some problems as well.
"Fine, I know all this already. Keep investigating."
"Yes."
Doppelganger Chen Fan left the residence.
"Ling'er, the Ye Family has already begun moving. They will probably make their move at the Mysterious Iron Ore Mine soon."
In Shopkeeper Tong's memories, he still had subordinates at the Mysterious Iron Ore Mine. The Ye Family would likely clear those people out as well.
But that was fine. It would not hinder Zhao Yun from infiltrating the place, and our plan could begin.
"Master, we are still short on quite a few Spirit Stones. Without enough Doppelgangers, that plan will be difficult to carry out all at once."
"That is true. We really cannot do without Spirit Stones. But the next Doppelganger alone will require four hundred Spirit Stones, and there is no telling how many Spirit Stones more Doppelgangers will need."
If we do not have more Doppelgangers, Zhao Yun will have to bear the burden alone for now.
A thousand miles away, Zhao Yun felt an itch in his nose and wanted to sneeze.
"Come, let us see how the spirit herbs are growing. In a few more days, another batch should be ripe."
As he spoke, Chen Ze's consciousness brought Zhao Ling'er into Myriad Things Space.
The instant they entered Myriad Things Space, Chen Ze was stunned by the sight of the Spirit Field.
"Weren't these spirit herbs supposed to need several more days before they matured?"
Chen Ze could clearly sense that even the youngest spirit herbs in the Spirit Field had at least ten years of growth.
He remembered that the newest spirit herbs had not even been planted for four days. How had they suddenly all matured? "Could it be...?"
An idea surfaced in Chen Ze's mind.
"Could it be that upgrading Myriad Things Space not only increased the number of Spirit Fields, but also increased their time acceleration?"
"Ling'er, quickly collect all the mature spirit herbs. Those several thirty-year spirit herbs can be harvested too. Remember to save the seeds and sow them directly."
"Yes, Master."
Zhao Ling'er answered and began picking the spirit herbs.
Chen Ze simply watched. By his calculations, the Spirit Field's time acceleration should have doubled this time.
It had previously been five hundred times. Now, it should have reached one thousand times.
"Spending one thousand Points to upgrade Myriad Things Space was not a loss at all!"
Just when he was dozing off, someone had delivered a pillow. He had been short of Spirit Stones, and now the spirit herbs had matured. Chen Ze was overjoyed. His plan could be brought forward.
Before long, Zhao Ling'er had harvested all the mature spirit herbs and planted the new Spirit Herb Seeds.
Fifteen ten-year spirit herbs and five thirty-year spirit herbs.
Chen Ze immediately brought Zhao Ling'er and the spirit herbs to Myriad Things Shop.
"Recycle all these spirit herbs."
The spirit herbs Chen Ze brought vanished.
A moment later, the Green-robed Woman spoke.
"Fifteen ten-year spirit herbs recycled for a total of six hundred Points. Five thirty-year spirit herbs recycled for a total of one thousand Points."
Chen Ze was very satisfied with the price. He added, "Recycle this Short Blade while you are at it."
"One Low-grade Yellow Tier Short Blade, fifty Points."
"Mm, not bad. Another one thousand six hundred and fifty Points. Adding the Spirit Stones left from last time, I have a little over two thousand. Buying three Doppelgangers will not be a problem."
"Now, all that remains is to wait for Zhao Yun."
Another day passed, and Zhao Yun, a thousand miles away, was finally discovered.
Several figures rushed at Zhao Yun's location at tremendous speed. They were the Ye Family guards at the Mysterious Iron Ore Mine.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"I am just a Rogue Cultivator passing by. My spiritual energy has been exhausted, so I rested here for a while. I will leave right away," Zhao Yun said, pretending to be helpless.
Zhao Yun had already seen that the three people before him were all at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
Although their cultivation was higher than his, their combat strength might not necessarily surpass his.
However, following Chen Ze's instructions, Zhao Yun had never intended to fight.
The three Ye Family guards exchanged glances, silently passing information between themselves.
This Mysterious Iron Ore Mine was the Ye Family's secret. If it were exposed, it would bring no small amount of trouble to the Lineage.
The three quickly made their decision.
One of them called out, "Wait. Since you have come here, there is no reason to let you leave. Blame yourself for coming to the wrong place."
Zhao Yun looked at the three guards. "I was only passing through. I saw nothing and had no intention of disturbing you. But if you think your higher cultivation lets you kill me, it will not be so easy."
As he spoke, Zhao Yun assumed a stance. Naturally, he could not use the Roaming Dragon Spear, or the whole act would have been for nothing.
One guard smiled mockingly. "I did not expect you to have some backbone. But we never said we were going to kill you. We simply cannot let you leave for now. You still have your uses."
"What do you mean?" Zhao Yun asked doubtfully.
"Exactly what it sounds like. Do you think a Qi Refining Third Layer like you has any chance against three Qi Refining Seventh Layers?"
Zhao Yun shook his head. "No chance or not, I still have to give it a try."
"Forget it. We will not waste words with you. There are two paths. Choose one yourself. First, surrender obediently and come with us. Mine for us for ten years, and then we will set you free. Second, we beat you up, throw you into the Mine Tunnel, and you mine for the rest of your life."
"Make me choose, is that it? I choose neither." With that, Zhao Yun was about to burst into action.
The three guards had long been prepared. The moment Zhao Yun moved—
They launched their attacks and blasted Zhao Yun to the ground.
Zhao Yun felt nothing from the three strikes. He was only a Doppelganger to begin with, and he did not feel pain.
But following Chen Ze's orders, he still had to pretend he had fainted.
Looking at Zhao Yun, who had been knocked unconscious in an instant, the guards mocked him.
"We gave you a choice just now, but you would not choose. Now, we can only choose for you."
"Heh heh, just obediently mine in the Mine for the rest of your life!"
Before you continue