Cloud Iron Ore Vein, Han Family of Danyang Prefecture

Ji Haoyuan smiled and nodded.

"Not bad. You could say I gained something."

As he spoke, Ji Haoyuan gave Ji Bochang a rough account of what had happened at the trade fair.

However, he did not mention that he had improved the Profound Fire True Technique.

After all, improving a cultivation technique once or twice could still be explained away.

But if even a top-tier Golden Core Method like the Profound Fire True Technique could be easily perfected and altered, that would be far too exaggerated.

It was not that Ji Haoyuan did not trust Ji Bochang. Rather, some matters were better known by fewer people.

Ji Haoyuan promptly changed the subject and congratulated Ji Bochang instead.

"Come to think of it, I haven't yet congratulated you, Old Ancestor.

In less than three years, you advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. That is truly cause for celebration."

At the mention of this, a trace of joy could not help appearing on Ji Bochang's face.

He nodded.

"When it comes to this matter, I have you to thank, Haoyuan.

If not for the cultivation technique you gave me, it would have been almost impossible for this old man to make a breakthrough in such a short time."

As they spoke, the two began discussing cultivation.

And that discussion lasted for half a day.

As the sky gradually darkened, Ji Yunfan, the Clan Leader who had received news that the two had emerged from seclusion, immediately came to see them.

"Old Ancestor, Fifth Uncle."

Ji Yunfan promptly bowed to the two.

Ji Bochang smiled and waved a hand.

"No need for formalities, Yunfan.

By the way, what brings you here? Is there something you need?"

He knew that as the Ji Family Head, Ji Yunfan would generally not come to their Back Mountain unless something important had occurred.

Upon hearing Ji Bochang's question, Ji Yunfan's face immediately took on a grave look.

He said, "Reporting to Old Ancestor and Fifth Uncle, a few months ago, our people discovered a Cloud Iron Ore Vein in the vicinity of North Ridge Valley."

"What?"

Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang were both slightly startled upon hearing Ji Yunfan's words.

Clearly, they both understood exactly what the Cloud Iron Ore Vein Ji Yunfan spoke of represented.

Cloud Iron was a common material used to forge magic artifacts.

Logically speaking, Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang, as Foundation Establishment cultivators, should not have been surprised by such a thing.

But the issue was that behind them stood a large family.

Cloud Iron might not be of much use to them personally, but to the Ji Family, it was undoubtedly quite valuable.

More importantly, every Cloud Iron Ore Vein might yield something known as Cloud Crystal.

That was not something ordinary Cloud Iron could compare to.

It was a genuine Second Order Treasure Material, a crucial material for refining spirit artifacts and certain formations.

Although the yield of Cloud Crystal from a Cloud Iron Ore Vein would not be high, its value still could not be ignored.

Thinking of this, Ji Bochang immediately asked Ji Yunfan, "Yunfan, what is the situation over there now?

Have people been stationed there? Have the necessary formations been set up?"

Ji Bochang knew well that North Ridge Valley, which Ji Yunfan had just mentioned, lay between their Nanning Prefecture and Danyang Prefecture.

It belonged neither to Nanning Prefecture nor to Danyang Prefecture.

It could be said to be a borderland between the two prefectures.

Under such circumstances, if they discovered anything, they had to act as early as possible.

Once others noticed it, all manner of trouble would inevitably arise.

Yet after hearing Ji Bochang's question, Ji Yunfan's previously calm expression immediately darkened.

Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang were both observant people.

The moment they saw Ji Yunfan's reaction, their hearts inexplicably sank, instinctively sensing that something was wrong.

Sure enough.

Ji Yunfan said, "Reporting to Old Ancestor and Fifth Uncle, the moment we discovered that Cloud Iron Ore Vein, we immediately sent additional men to station there.

At the same time, we had Third Elder lead people there to set up the relevant formations.

But unfortunately, we were still one step too late."

At this point, Ji Yunfan could not help drawing a slight breath before continuing.

"The Han Family of Danyang Prefecture also discovered that Cloud Iron Ore Vein.

Because of this, our two families had several clashes.

There have been casualties on both sides."

"The Han Family of Danyang Prefecture?"

At the mention of that name, Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang's eyes narrowed.

Clearly, the Han Family capable of competing with the Ji Family for the Cloud Iron Ore Vein was no ordinary family. Like the Ji Family, it was an old-established Foundation Establishment Family with considerable history and reserves.

In fact, according to what Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang knew, the Han Family of Danyang Prefecture was even stronger overall and possessed deeper foundations than their Ji Family.

There seemed to be three Foundation Establishment cultivators in the family.

They were not inferior in the slightest even to the Zhang Family of Nanning Prefecture.

With such a family eyeing the Cloud Iron Ore Vein, there was naturally no chance that they would simply hand it over on a silver platter.

Thinking this, Ji Haoyuan could not help asking, "What exactly is the situation now?

Have any Foundation Establishment cultivators entered the fray on their side?"

This was a situation that deserved serious attention.

If the other side had already sent Foundation Establishment cultivators to show themselves at this time, then even if they had not entered the fray immediately, it would be enough to show the Han Family's determination to obtain the Cloud Iron Ore Vein.

But if no Foundation Establishment cultivators had appeared yet, it meant that both sides were still probing and restraining each other.

From a certain perspective, there was still a possibility for them to sit down and negotiate properly.

After all, even when cultivators fought over resources, they had to consider the matter of investment and returns.

If the price paid was truly too great, while the returns were not especially high—and there was even the possibility of suffering excessive losses—then they naturally had to deliberate carefully, weigh the gains against the losses.

Unless one side could completely crush the other.

Otherwise, under normal circumstances, neither side would go all out and drive matters to the bitter end from the very start.

Ji Yunfan had likely considered this as well, which was why he had not forcibly disturbed their seclusion while both of them were in closed-door cultivation.

"Reporting to Fifth Uncle and Old Ancestor."

Ji Yunfan weighed his words slightly before answering.

"So far, our Ji Family and the Han Family are still in a state of mutual probing and restraint.

The other side's Foundation Establishment cultivators have not yet..."

However, before his words had fully fallen, a Message Talisman suddenly flew over from the distant sky.

The Message Talisman landed in Ji Yunfan's hand.

Ji Yunfan only took one glance at it before his face turned utterly unsightly, and his pupils began contracting uncontrollably.

"Hm? Did something unexpected happen?"

Ji Haoyuan and Ji Bochang had clearly sensed something as well, and a trace of gravity appeared on their faces.