North Mountain, Fire Crystal Mine

Over the next two days, the atmosphere at White Deer Academy grew somewhat tense.

Although Tan Tong and the others continued their martial arts training in an orderly fashion each day, everyone knew one thing for certain: the Xu and Yang families had been beaten, and whether it was for the sake of their reputations or some other reason, they would definitely retaliate. It was only a matter of time.

Even the dean, Wang Fugui, and the others stayed at the academy, waiting for the storm to arrive.

Only Shen Zhou didn't take it seriously. He still ate when it was time to eat, slept when it was time to sleep, and cultivated when it was time to cultivate.

What's more, with the help of Daily Enlightenment, he mastered the first layer of the Golden Body Art, the Bark Realm, on the very next day.

The Bark Realm meant that one's skin became as tough as thousand-year-old tree bark, significantly increasing one's defensive power.

After that came the Stone Skin Realm, the Bronze Skin Realm, and finally the Golden Body Realm.

The technique had four layers, and each one greatly enhanced the body's defenses.

After waiting for two days, they hadn't heard from the Xu and Yang families. Instead, someone from the Qin Family arrived.

Qin Mingyue's younger brother, Qin Mingshu, came to the academy and delivered a message to Shen Zhou. "The Xu Family has announced that this year's negotiations over the Fire Crystal Mine's shares in the north of the city will be held early.

"Five days from now, at the northern mine, the Xu and Qin families will settle their scores all at once!

"Grand-aunt said you could decide for yourself whether to go, Master. The family can handle things even if you don't. She said not to feel pressured."

Though he said this, Qin Mingshu watched Shen Zhou nervously the whole time.

Ever since Shen Zhou had made a scene at the Qin Family last time, the Qin Family members hadn't thought much of him.

But later, Grand-aunt came out of seclusion and conveyed a decision to the family: from that day forward, Shen Zhou would be the Qin Family's head.

When they first heard the news, the Qin Family members had all thought Grand-aunt had gone mad. How could she make an outsider their family head?

But then the clan leader, Qin Yuanshan, emerged from seclusion as well. After talking with Grand-aunt for an entire night, he also approved of the decision.

From then on, no matter what the other members of the family thought, Shen Zhou's position as head of the Qin Family was set in stone.

Now that relations between the Xu and Qin families had soured once more, these negotiations were of great significance. They might even determine whether the Qin Family could continue to hold its place in Flying Bird City.

Shen Zhou held the Qin Family Divine Weapon, and Qin Mingshu naturally hoped he would go and lend the family his support, while also cutting the Xu Family down to size.

As for Shen Zhou...

He had already drawn a line between himself and the Qin Family. No matter what Old Madam Qin had in mind, as long as he didn't agree and stopped concerning himself with the Qin Family's affairs, there was nothing the family could do about it.

But this time, he was the one who had caused the trouble. Sitting back and leaving the Qin Family to face it alone wasn't Shen Zhou's style.

Besides, the Xu Family was nothing much to him. It really wasn't any trouble at all.

So, after a moment's silence, Shen Zhou made his decision. "I'll go!"

Three days later, at the Fire Crystal Mine north of the city.

At the foot of the mountain stood a town of modest size.

Most of the people who lived here were miners working at the mine. They needed to buy daily necessities in their spare time, so vendors came to do business.

Over time, the place had gradually become a town.

The streets were lined with all kinds of little trinkets, while the snacks filled the air with mouthwatering aromas.

Shen Zhou, the Three Little Ones, and Dongfang Hongyu had come to the mine early to familiarize themselves with the area. Now, as they walked through the market, all five had their hands full of food, their mouths slick with grease as they reveled in the moment.

Looking back at the towering mountain range behind them, A Dai couldn't help asking, "What's Fire Crystal good for? Why are the Xu and Qin families both fighting over it?"

Shen Zhou and San Mazi shook their heads. They weren't too sure either.

Just then, the stout-looking Dongfang Hongyu puffed out his chest and spoke up. "I know. Fire Crystal is a rare mineral that contains fire-attributed essence. If martial artists can absorb and refine it, it greatly benefits their cultivation.

"And if you mix the crystal into weapons, it can make them harder and more resilient, allowing martial artists to wield them with greater ease.

"That makes these mines extremely valuable. Even the Five Great Families have very few of them.

"My family has three in East Continent!"

At first, Shen Zhou and the others had nodded along to Dongfang Hongyu's explanation, looking at the chubby boy in a new light. But when they heard his last sentence, their expressions darkened.

They couldn't help feeling that his last sentence was the real point he'd wanted to make.

As they continued strolling, Shen Zhou and the others suddenly noticed many more martial artists in the market. Some carried sabers and swords, while others had fierce auras; they didn't look like miners at all.

Later, they learned from an old man at a roadside stall that the negotiations between the Xu and Qin families were open to the public this time. After hearing about it, the Wu, Chu, Lin, and Yang families had also come to join in the excitement.

Shen Zhou's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression playful. "The Five Great Families have all gathered here. Looks like they're up to something!"

That evening, Shen Zhou and the others returned to an inn in town.

Old Man Ji, Li Taohua, and Tan Tong were there too, but they had come separately from Shen Zhou to avoid attracting attention.

When the group met upstairs, Shen Zhou said helplessly, "Old man, you didn't have to come this time. I can handle it just fine."

Old Man Ji took a puff from his pipe and snorted. "You can handle it? Kid, don't get cocky. We went out for a look just now, too. Apart from the Xu Family, the other four families have come as well. Do you think they're here just to watch the show? They're here for you!"

Shen Zhou fell silent.

Besides, he had already guessed as much during the day.

Ever since his identity as the Qin Family Sword Drawer had been exposed a few days ago—and he'd displayed his might by beating people from the Xu and Yang families—he'd made the hit list of all the great families.

For the Five Great Families...

The fact that he'd beaten people from two of the great families didn't matter.

Nor did it matter whether he was the husband of Flying Bird City's number-one beauty.

What mattered was whether, after drawing the Qin Family's Taixuan Sword, he would truly lead the Qin Family to rise again, just as the Qin Family's prophecy foretold. That was what mattered most.

By now, the five great families of Flying Bird City had secured their power and taken root.

If the Qin Family were to rise again, who would that threaten? Whom would they push down?

The answer was obvious.

None of the Five Great Families were willing to be replaced.

After hearing Old Man Ji's words, A Dai frowned. "So, apart from the Xu Family, the others have come to see how strong Boss Zhou is?"

Old Man Ji blew out a ring of smoke and said slowly, "What do you think? Which of the Five Great Families is easy to deal with? If they see Shen with the Qin Family's Taixuan Sword this time and find that he truly has the strength to threaten the Five Great Families, do you think they'll just let him and the Qin Family keep growing?

"Once that happens, you might be able to deal with one Heaven's Firmament Realm expert, but could you deal with five? Or even more?"

Old Man Ji had hit the nail on the head.

The Three Little Ones immediately began to worry about Shen Zhou.

But Shen Zhou didn't care at all. With a confident look on his face, he said, "So what if there are five Heaven's Firmament Realm experts? I haven't even tried yet. Who can say for sure that I can't handle them?"

Old Man Ji's eyes nearly rolled right up into his head. He retorted irritably, "You really have gotten carried away, haven't you? You've barely got a bit of ability, and now you think you're invincible?"

Shen Zhou said, "Old Man Ji, do you really not know whether I'm all puffed up or genuinely strong? How about we spar again..."

"Ahem..."

Old Man Ji immediately started coughing and refused to respond.

Thinking back to their last sparring match, the corners of Old Man Ji's mouth twitched. "Damn it, something as heaven-defying as the Taixuan Sword shouldn't even exist. It's just plain unreasonable!"

Li Taohua and the others couldn't help laughing.

While they were discussing the matter, a loud commotion suddenly rose from outside the room.

Dongfang Hongyu's love of gossip remained unchanged. His eyes lit up, and he dashed outside. "I'll go take a look!"

Shen Zhou and the Three Little Ones were curious too, so they followed right behind him.

Downstairs in the inn.

A group of young martial artists had found the innkeeper as soon as they arrived. They tossed him a bag of silver and ordered, "Innkeeper, we're taking over this inn for the next few days. Hurry up and kick everyone else out. We're moving in right now."

At those words, the other guests downstairs spoke up before the innkeeper could even respond.

"Why should we? We got here first. What gives you the right to kick us out?"

"Exactly! Who are you to act so arrogantly?"

"Is there no justice anymore? How can anyone act like this..."

The young martial artists were led by a man of about twenty-one or twenty-two. He carried a sword and wore a headband. He looked both cold and aloof.

Hearing the complaints around him, he lifted the corner of his mouth and stepped forward, full of arrogance. "I'm Lin Fang of the Lin Family. If anyone has a problem with that, step forward!"

As soon as he said this, the room fell silent.

Someone whispered, "The Lin Family? Which Lin Family? Could it be the Lin Family of the Five Great Families?"

Another person whispered back, "Who else would it be?"

"The Lin Family acts way too domineeringly."

"Ah... What can you do? They're a great family. We can't afford to offend them. Let's hurry up and leave..."

The crowd downstairs, which had been making such a fuss moments earlier, fell silent and could only accept their bad luck and leave.

The innkeeper kept apologizing, then went upstairs and explained the situation to the guests in each room, one by one.

When he reached Shen Zhou and the others, Dongfang Hongyu and the rest had just heard the commotion and come out to see what was happening.

The innkeeper quickly explained and told them why he had come. The moment Dongfang Hongyu heard they were being kicked out, he immediately took offense. "What the hell? Kick us out? Why? So what if you're a great family? My Dongfang Clan is a wealthy clan in East Continent, but do I go around acting like a big shot?"

"Uh..."

Shen Zhou and the others had come out just then too. After hearing the whole story, they showed no intention of leaving. Instead, they looked eager to see how things would unfold.

They had already beaten people from the Xu and Yang families, so Shen Zhou didn't care about adding some Lin Family to the list.

Downstairs, Lin Fang was accustomed to throwing his weight around on account of being a member of the Lin Family. When he saw that people upstairs dared to slight the Lin Family, he strode upstairs.

Once he stood in front of Dongfang Hongyu, Shen Zhou, and the others, he noticed that their auras weren't particularly strong and concluded they weren't much to speak of.

Lin Fang immediately became even more brazen. "You little nobodies dare to stand against the Lin Family? You really don't know when to quit. I'll give you one more chance. Are you leaving or not?"

But as soon as he finished speaking, Dongfang Hongyu's temper exploded. He raised his hand and threw a cannon punch at Lin Fang, cursing, "What the hell are you acting so tough for?"