Cooperation Between the Two Families

Wu Yun and Lin Dong continued investigating Ironwood Manor, gradually searching deeper inside.

Along the way, they dug up another four or five Yang Yuan Stones.

Wu Yun marked each of those spots.

He discovered that when those marks were connected, they formed a straight line.

It was indeed a mineral vein.

Before long, Lin Dong reached the deeper area.

"There's danger ahead!"

Wu Yun warned him.

Going any farther would bring them close to the wilderness forest. Though it was still within Ironwood Manor's territory, the Lei Family had never developed it before.

Ahead lay a small mountain valley, where two powerful Demon Beasts resided.

Black Iron Demonic Leopards!

They were Demon Beasts comparable to the Heavenly Origin Stage.

"Big Brother, the Yanggang Qi underground extends all the way from here in that direction."

Lin Dong pointed toward the valley.

In other words, the Yang Yuan Stone Mine had to pass through the Black Iron Demonic Leopards' valley... Wu Yun frowned slightly. "It seems that if we want the Yang Yuan Stone Mine, we have no choice but to deal with these two Demon Beasts."

"Come on. Let's head back first and tell my master about this."

"Yang Yuan Stone Mine!"

Luo Cheng shot to his feet from his chair in shock.

Wu Yun said, "That's right, Master. Yang Yuan Stones rarely appear one at a time, and we've already dug up eight of them. I deliberately marked the locations, and they were all found in the same direction. If we keep digging in that direction, there will definitely be more Yang Yuan Stones deeper down."

"Ironwood Manor used to be a volcanic region long ago, which happens to meet the conditions for Yang Yuan Stones to form. It isn't impossible for there to be a Yang Yuan Stone Mine here," Luo Tong added excitedly.

"Let's go take a look together!"

Luo Cheng was extremely excited, but he would not be at ease until he saw it with his own eyes.

The four of them headed to Ironwood Manor once again.

On the way, Wu Yun stopped Luo Cheng. "Master, we have Lin Dong to thank for discovering the Yang Yuan Stones. If there really is a mine, should we cooperate with the Lin Family?"

"That is indeed a question." Luo Cheng fell into thought.

"Master, I suggest cooperating with the Lin Family. Ironwood Manor is too large. If there truly is a mine, from mining and transport to selling it, it will be difficult for us to ensure the secret does not leak. So even if we persuade Lin Dong to keep quiet, the Lei and Xie Families will find out sooner or later. When that happens, they certainly won't be willing to let our Mad Blade Martial Arts School monopolize the mine. They will definitely try to seize it. Cooperating with the Lin Family is our only choice. Since we have to cooperate eventually, we might as well invite them now and show our sincerity."

Wu Yun plainly laid out the pros and cons.

In the original story, after the Lin Family obtained the mine, they ran into a string of troubles and repeatedly sought help from the Mad Blade Martial Arts School.

Luo Cheng looked at Wu Yun in obvious surprise. He had never expected his disciple, who usually acted like a carefree wastrel, to possess such far-reaching insight.

"Yun'er, you've truly made me see you in a new light. You've matured greatly during this time. It seems I should thank that old dog Lei Bao after all."

Luo Cheng believed Wu Yun had begun to mature after taking Lei Bao's palm strike.

"You flatter me, Master. I'm merely thinking about the future of our Mad Blade Martial Arts School."

"Ironwood Manor and the Silkworm Workshop were won together with the Lin Family. Strictly speaking, the Lin Family already has a share in this place. Cooperation is only proper."

Though Luo Cheng was bold and straightforward by nature, he was meticulous in his thinking and understood the importance of working with the Lin Family.

"Also, Master, Lin Dong was able to discover the mine, so he is clearly no ordinary person. He has something special about him. I've spent time with him and understand him well. I believe Lin Dong's future will be limitless. If we do him a favor this time, it may prove to be a good thing in the future."

"Mm, I'll remember that." Luo Cheng nodded.

Even without Wu Yun saying so, he could see that Lin Dong was extraordinary.

They soon arrived at Ironwood Manor and continued digging at the spots Wu Yun had marked.

Before long.

"Clang!"

Luo Cheng dug with all his strength for more than five meters, and at last, a sound rang out.

"There really are Yang Yuan Stones! There really are!"

Holding a red stone, he shouted excitedly.

"Master, in that direction lies the Black Iron Demonic Leopards' lair. If we want to mine here, we must deal with those two Demon Beasts."

The matter was already clear!

Naturally, Luo Cheng had no reason to hesitate any longer.

"If they stand in the way of the Yang Yuan Stone Mine, then they must die."

"This matter must remain secret. It cannot be spread outside."

"Lin Dong, please invite your grandfather here."

"Understood, Martial Hall Master Luo!"

When Lin Zhentian arrived.

Luo Cheng first thanked him for Lin Dong's contribution. It was thanks to Lin Dong that they had discovered the Yang Yuan Stones. Then, he proposed cooperating with the Lin Family and sharing the Yang Yuan Stone Mine.

After that, the two of them joined forces and killed the two Black Iron Demonic Leopards.

Both were at the peak of the Heavenly Origin Stage and not far from the Core Formation Stage. Dealing with Black Iron Demonic Leopards at the middle Heavenly Origin Stage was effortless for them.

"Awoo! Awoo! Awoo!"

Xiao Yan suddenly charged toward the two Black Iron Demonic Leopards, dug the Demonic Cores out of their corpses, and swallowed them in one gulp.

Bai Yun remained obediently at Wu Yun's side and did not compete with her little brother for food.

"What a little rascal."

Seeing Xiao Yan eat both Demonic Cores, Lin Dong felt too embarrassed to scold him.

"He doesn't even know to share some with his sister!"

Wu Yun said, "It's fine. Xiao Yan is Bai Yun's little brother, so it's only right for her to yield to him a little. Besides, Bai Yun has no need for these Demonic Cores right now."

Demonic Cores were often greatly beneficial to the growth of Demon Beasts, but not every Demon Beast dared consume them recklessly.

Bai Yun had only just fused with the White Tiger Bloodline and had yet to fully adapt to its powerful bloodline energy. At this time, she truly could not absorb any excess energy.

This was especially true of Demonic Cores from other Demon Beasts, which contained a portion of those Demon Beasts' bloodline power.

Before Bai Yun could perfectly control the White Tiger Bloodline, absorbing other bloodline power would only weaken it.

As long as she mastered her own bloodline power, awakened her bloodline talents, and absorbed the inheritance within her bloodline, she would be able to grow stronger rapidly.

But Xiao Yan was different. Xiao Yan possessed a Mutated Bloodline and needed to absorb more, different Demonic Cores to stimulate further bloodline mutation.

"Thank you, Big Brother!"

Lin Dong said emotionally.

Just like Xiao Yan and Bai Yun, he was also Wu Yun's little brother. By doing this today, Wu Yun was yielding the benefits to him as well.

Lin Dong understood very clearly that if not for Wu Yun, the Mad Blade Martial Arts School might not have been willing to share the Yang Yuan Stone Mine with the Lin Family.

Next, the two families discussed the details of their cooperation.

The Mad Blade Martial Arts School had been the one to invite the Lin Family into this matter, so no matter how large a share they gave the Lin Family, the Lin Family would only be deeply grateful.

Lin Zhentian was not someone who would push his luck, either.

In the end, they agreed to develop the mine together. The Mad Blade Martial Arts School would take sixty percent, while the Lin Family would take forty percent.

That was because the Lin Family had already obtained a Silkworm Workshop on their own.

Forty percent could be said to be a highly sincere offer to the Lin Family.

Thus, the cooperation proceeded very pleasantly.

While everyone mined the vein, Wu Yun and Lin Dong took the two tigers into the mountain forest behind Ironwood Manor to hunt Demon Beasts and train the little tiger.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

The first batch of Yang Yuan Stones was produced, and the two families discussed taking them to Flame City to trade.

This time, both Wu Yun and Lin Dong suggested going to Flame City as well.

Wu Yun had been looking forward to it for a long time. He could check in again!