North Mountain, Fire Crystal Mine

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

Although Tan Tong and the others still trained methodically every day, everyone understood one thing clearly: since the Xu and Yang families' people had been beaten, whether for reputation or anything else, they would definitely retaliate—it was only a matter of time.

Even the principal Wang Fugui and the others stayed put in the academy, quietly awaiting the storm's arrival.

Only Shen Zhou took it lightly, still eating when he should eat, sleeping when he should sleep, and cultivating when he should cultivate.

And with the help of 'Daily Enlightenment', he mastered the first layer of the 'Golden Body Art'—the Bark Realm—by the second day.

The so-called Bark Realm meant his skin would become as tough as thousand-year-old tree bark, significantly boosting his defense.

Next came the 'Stone Skin Realm', then the 'Bronze Skin Realm', and finally the 'Golden Body Realm'.

The art had four layers, each greatly enhancing the body's defensive power.

After waiting two days, it wasn't the Xu or Yang families that came, but the Qin family.

Qin Mingyue's younger brother, Qin Mingshu, found his way to the academy and delivered a message to Shen Zhou: "The Xu family has announced that this year's northern city 'Fire Crystal' mine share negotiations have been moved up.

Five days from now, at the northern city mine, the Xu and Qin families' accounts will be settled together!

The Ancestral Aunt said you can decide whether to go or not yourself—the family can handle it on their end, so don't feel pressured."

Though he said that, Qin Mingshu kept watching Shen Zhou nervously.

Ever since Shen Zhou had made a scene at the Qin estate last time, the Qin family had held no goodwill toward him.

But later, the Ancestral Aunt came out of seclusion and conveyed a decision to the family: from now on, Shen Zhou would be the Qin Family Head.

When they first heard the news, the Qin family thought the Ancestral Aunt had lost her mind—how could she let an outsider be the family head?

But afterward, Patriarch Qin Yuanshan emerged from his closed-door cultivation, and after a night of discussion with the Ancestral Aunt, he too accepted the decision.

From then on, regardless of what others in the family thought, Shen Zhou being the Qin Family Head was set in stone.

Now, with relations between the Xu and Qin families strained again, this negotiation carried immense significance—it could even determine whether the Qin family could continue to stand in Flying Bird City.

Shen Zhou held the Qin Family Divine Weapon, so Qin Mingshu naturally hoped Shen Zhou would come to bolster the Qin family's presence and, at the same time, cut down the Xu family's arrogance.

As for Shen Zhou...

He had already cut ties with the Qin family. No matter what that Old Madam Qin was planning, as long as he didn't accept it and stopped meddling in Qin family affairs, they couldn't force him.

But this time, the trouble was his doing. If he sat back and let the Qin family face it alone, that wasn't Shen Zhou's style.

Besides, to him, the Xu family was nothing special—it really wasn't that big a deal.

So after a moment of silence, Shen Zhou gave his answer: "I'll go."

Three days later, at the northern city Fire Crystal Mine.

At the foot of the mountain sat a modest-sized market town.

Most of the people living here were miners working the mine; in their spare time, they needed to buy daily necessities, so vendors came to do business.

Over time, it gradually turned into a market town.

The market was filled with all kinds of trinkets and the fragrant aroma of various snacks.

Shen Zhou, the Three Little Ones, and Dongfang Hongyu had come early to familiarize themselves with the mine. Now, walking through the market, the five of them had their hands full of food, eating until their mouths were greasy and they were too delighted to think of home.

Looking back at the tall, sprawling mine behind them, A Dai couldn't help asking: "What's the Fire Crystal mine good for? Why are the Xu and Qin families fighting over it?"

Shen Zhou and San Mazi shook their heads—they didn't know either.

Just then, the seemingly simple-minded Dongfang Hongyu puffed out his chest and spoke up: "I know this one. Fire Crystal is a rare ore containing fire-attribute essence. If a martial artist absorbs and refines it, it greatly benefits their cultivation.

Plus, if you mix this crystal into weapons, it makes them harder and more flexible, letting martial artists wield them with greater ease.

That's why this kind of mine is extremely valuable—even the Five Great Families can't easily come by them.

My family has three of them in the East Continent!"

At first, hearing Dongfang Hongyu's explanation, Shen Zhou and the others nodded along, gaining a bit of respect for the chubby kid. But at that last line, their faces darkened.

They had a feeling that last part was the real point Dongfang Pangpang wanted to make.

As they continued strolling, Shen Zhou and his group suddenly noticed many martial artists in the market—some with rings and swords, others with fierce auras, nothing like miners.

Later, they learned from an old man at a roadside stall that this negotiation between the Xu and Qin families was public. The other four families—Wu, Chu, Lin, and Yang—had caught wind of it and come to join the excitement.

Shen Zhou's eyes narrowed slightly as he said with amusement: "The Five Great Families all gathering? They're looking for trouble."

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

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

Meeting upstairs, Shen Zhou said helplessly: "Old man, you all didn't really need to come this time. I can handle it."

Old Man Ji took a puff from his pipe and snorted coldly: "You can handle it? Kid, don't be overconfident. We took a walk outside just now—this time, besides the Xu family, the other four families have shown up too. You think they're here just to watch the fun? They're here for you, kid!"

Shen Zhou fell silent.

He had actually guessed this during the day.

Ever since a few days ago, when his identity as the Qin Family Sword Drawer was exposed and he made a show of power by beating the Xu and Yang families' people, he had landed on the major families' 'top-priority list'.

For the Five Great Families.

The fact that he had beaten up members of two families was unimportant.

Whether or not he was the husband of Flying Bird City's number one beauty was also unimportant.

What mattered was whether pulling the Qin Family's Taixuan Sword would truly fulfill the prophecy circulating among them and lead the Qin Family to rise again—that was the crux of it.

Now, the power of the Five Great Families in Flying Bird City was firmly established and deeply rooted.

If the Qin Family were to rise again, who would be threatened? Who would be pushed out by the Qin Family?

The answer was obvious.

None of the Five Great Families wanted to be replaced.

After listening to Old Man Ji, A Dai frowned and said, "So, aside from the Xu Family, everyone else who came is here to test the waters with Big Brother Zhou?"

Old Man Ji blew out a smoke ring and said slowly, "What do you think? Which of the Five Great Families is easy to deal with? If they see that Shen kid holding the Qin Family's Taixuan Sword and actually possessing the strength to threaten the five families, do you think they'll just let Shen and the Qin Family continue to develop?"

"By then, can you handle one 'Heavenly Firmament'? Can you handle five 'Heavenly Firmaments'? Or even more?"

Old Man Ji hit the nail on the head.

The Three Little Ones immediately grew worried for Shen Zhou.

But Shen Zhou couldn't care less. He said confidently, "So what if there are five Heavenly Firmaments? No one's tried it yet. Who's to say I definitely can't handle it?"

Hearing this, Old Man Ji nearly rolled his eyes into the back of his head. He retorted irritably, "I think you're really getting cocky. Just because you've got a little ability, you think you're invincible?"

Shen Zhou said, "Old Man Ji, do you really not know whether I'm just cocky or actually strong? How about we spar again..."

"Cough, cough..."

Old Man Ji immediately started coughing and didn't take the bait.

Recalling their last sparring session, Old Man Ji couldn't help twitching at the corner of his mouth. "This damn Taixuan Sword shouldn't even exist. It's completely unreasonable!"

Li Taohua and the others couldn't help but laugh.

Just as they were discussing, a sudden commotion broke out outside.

Dongfang Hongyu, never one to miss out on gossip, lit up and ran out. "I'll go check it out!"

Shen Zhou and the Three Little Ones, also curious, followed him out the door.

Downstairs in the inn.

A group of young martial artists had just entered and found the innkeeper. They tossed a pouch of silver and ordered, "Boss, we're booking this inn for the next few days. Kick everyone else out. We want to check in now."

As soon as he said this, before the innkeeper could respond, the other guests downstairs objected.

"On what grounds? We were here first. Why should we be kicked out?"

"Yeah, who do you think you are, acting so arrogant?"

"Is there no sense of fairness here? How can people be like this..."

The leader of the young martial artists was a man in his early twenties, carrying a sword with a headband tied around his forehead. He looked both cold and aloof.

Hearing the complaints around him, he curled his lip, stepped forward, and said arrogantly, "I am Lin Fang of the Lin Family. Anyone who disagrees, step forward!"

At these words, the room fell silent.

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

Another person replied quietly, "Who else would it be?"

"This Lin Family is way too overbearing."

"Sigh... nothing we can do. They're a noble family. We can't afford to mess with them. Let's just leave..."

The crowd that had been noisy just moments before quickly quieted down and resignedly left, counting themselves unlucky.

The innkeeper kept apologizing and went upstairs to explain the situation to each guest room one by one.

When he reached Shen Zhou's room, Dongfang Hongyu and the others had just come out to see what the commotion was about.

The innkeeper quickly explained the situation. When Dongfang Pangpang heard they were being kicked out, he immediately got upset. "What the hell? Kick us out? On what grounds? So what if they're a noble family? The Dongfang Family is a major power in the East Continent, but am I acting arrogant?"

"Uh..."

Shen Zhou and the others had just come out as well. After hearing the full story, they showed no intention of leaving. Instead, they looked intrigued.

Since they had already beaten up people from the Xu and Yang families, Shen Zhou didn't care about adding another Lin Family to the list.

Downstairs, Lin Fang, used to throwing his weight around as a member of the Lin Family, saw that someone upstairs dared to defy them. He strode upstairs.

When he reached Dongfang Hongyu, Shen Zhou, and the others, he sensed that their qi and blood weren't particularly strong and immediately judged them to be weak.

Lin Fang grew even more brazen. "A few small fries like you dare to go against the Lin Family? You really don't know when you're dead. I'll give you one more chance. Are you leaving or not?"

But before he could finish, Dongfang Pangpang's temper exploded. He threw a punch straight at him and cursed, "Who the hell do you think you're acting tough for?!"

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