Qi Family, Ba Dong Town

After about two days of travel, Zheng Yi arrived near the Black Refined Iron Ore Vein.

It truly was a desolate place. There was only one mine underground and a single damaged, ungraded spirit vein, leaving the spiritual energy here exceedingly thin.

No wonder Inner Sect Disciples were unwilling to come here to guard it. Compared to the Soul Devouring Sect's inner sect, this place was simply a wilderness of barren mountains and foul waters.

Never mind living comfortably—if one stayed here too long, even cultivation would likely be affected.

Just as Zheng Yi was heading toward the Black Refined Iron Ore Vein, several of the Qi Family's people in power were discussing him inside the hall of the town's leading family in the only settlement within a hundred li.

"Isn't the Soul Devouring Sect in the midst of a great war with the Hundred Beasts Sect? How do they still have the leisure to send an Inner Sect Disciple to guard the ore vein?"

Qi Yuanshang, the Qi Family's third elder, grumbled.

"I heard the Soul Devouring Sect has just acquired mining rights to a large, high-quality Purple Copper Mine. Yet they still refuse to let go of a mere Black Refined Iron Ore Vein. They truly are stingy."

"How about we do as we did last time? Just stuff him with enough benefits and have him put on a show."

"I don't think that's appropriate!"

"The Soul Devouring Sect's Inner Sect Disciples are greedy by nature. Demon sects like theirs have always scraped the bone and sucked the marrow. Unless they strip us clean, they will never stop."

"The Inner Sect Disciple who left only last time drained away resources my Qi Family had accumulated over three whole years. If it happens again, it will surely wound our sinews and bones, posing a great threat to our plans moving forward..."

Qi Yuanming, the Qi Family's second elder, said indignantly.

"According to the intelligence I received, the Inner Sect Disciple sent to guard this place is merely a brat who luckily broke through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage and has only recently become an Inner Sect Disciple."

"A mere Qi Refining Stage Four cultivator wants to keep our Qi Family in check? Isn't that looking down on us too much?"

"We should first show the soldiers, then show courtesy. Give him a warning first and let him learn his place."

"He may take benefits, but our Qi Family remains the true emperor presiding over the Black Refined Iron Mine in Ba Dong Town."

The Qi Family had operated in Ba Dong Town for a hundred years. Once, it had been a great family with several Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators, even possessing a sliver of hope of becoming a Foundation Establishment Realm family.

Unfortunately, an internal conflict more than a decade ago brought all of that to an abrupt end.

At the height of the Qi Family's prosperity, it had only needed to pay a portion of its profits as tribute to the Soul Devouring Sect.

But after the Qi Family declined, the Soul Devouring Sect sent people to guard this ore vein and seized control of it from the Qi Family, leaving the cultivation family unable to develop any further.

The current heads of the Qi Family were the three men present. The eldest, Qi Yuanming, was at Qi Refining Stage Six and served as the clan chief and principal authority.

The Qi Family's second and third elders assisted the clan chief and controlled the family businesses.

Because the area was remote, spiritual energy was scarce, and there were few local specialties, the sole Black Refined Iron Ore Vein accounted for more than half of the family's Spirit Stone income.

In the past, the Qi Family had been a Qi Refining Late Stage family, and the Soul Devouring Sect had not pressed them too hard. But now, every few years, the Soul Devouring Sect sent an Inner Sect Disciple to guard the place. Besides extracting huge profits for the sect, those Inner Sect Disciples also took what they could and made demands at every turn.

This directly hindered the Qi Family's development. As the local tyrant and entrenched power of Ba Dong Town, the Qi Family naturally gave a very unwelcome reception to the Soul Devouring Sect's Inner Sect Disciples sent to guard the mine.

"After all, he is an Inner Sect Disciple of a superior sect. We cannot afford to offend him."

"Let us first see what sort of person he is, then make our plans."

"Besides, losing some profits is a small matter..."

"The most important thing is that he must absolutely not be allowed to enter the deepest part of the Black Refined Iron Ore Vein..."

"What lies there is the Qi Family's hope of rising again. There can be no mistake..."

At last, Clan Chief Qi Yuanzong's gaze turned gloomy. With one word, he settled the matter and made the decision.

"Judging by the time, that disciple of the superior sect should be arriving soon. Second Brother, Third Brother, come with me to receive him."

Just as Zheng Yi entered the valley, several figures suddenly appeared ahead of him. Waves of terrifying pressure surged forth, and the middle-aged man in the lead called out in a booming voice.

"An envoy from the superior sect has arrived. This Qi has brought the clan members to welcome you."

Zheng Yi planted his feet and watched the figures rapidly approach, an inexplicable sneer appearing in the depths of his eyes.

They claimed to be here to welcome him, but every one of them had released their aura and came surging forward. They were plainly trying to overwhelm him with their momentum; this did not feel like a welcome at all.

It was more like they were giving him a warning, telling him to know when to advance and when to retreat.

Not even trying to conceal it from the start? Then they cannot blame me.

Zheng Yi sneered inwardly, though his face revealed no expression. Holding the Inner Sect Disciple Token, he replied in a loud voice.

"Zheng Yi, Inner Sect Disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect, has come under the sect's orders to guard the Black Refined Iron Ore Vein in Ba Dong Town."

The Qi Family members moved quickly. Once they arrived before him and saw Zheng Yi's face clearly, then sensed that he possessed only the aura of Qi Refining Stage Four, they exchanged glances, and the smiles on their faces grew even brighter.

"It seems the battle for the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone mine between the Soul Devouring Sect and the Hundred Beasts Sect has reached a fever pitch..."

"They actually sent a mere Qi Refining Stage Four disciple to guard the Ba Dong Town ore vein. Their strength has declined severely..."

By past custom, sect disciples received strict training and lacked neither aptitude, resources, magical artifacts, nor inheritances. At the same cultivation level, their combat strength was far greater than that of ordinary Rogue Cultivators or cultivators from Qi Refining families.

Thus, to completely suppress the entire Ba Dong Town Mine, the sect would normally send Inner Sect Disciples at Qi Refining Stage Five or Six.

With such strength and sect inheritance, even the Qi Family's three brothers found them troublesome to deal with. They could only play along superficially and satisfy their demands as much as possible.

Yet the intelligence sent back this time had actually been true. The Soul Devouring Sect had really sent only a newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple at Qi Refining Stage Four.

And judging from that young face, he did not seem difficult to handle. Their plan to continue occupying the ore vein, along with their deeper arrangements afterward, suddenly no longer seemed so difficult.

"Haha, a disciple of the superior sect truly cuts a fine figure!"

Qi Yuanzong smiled broadly and said, "You have come from afar, disciple of the superior sect. The Qi Family has prepared a simple meal. We hope you will honor us with your presence."

As the local entrenched power, the Qi Family was the strongest Qi Refining family within a hundred li of the Ba Dong Town Mine.

Any Soul Devouring Sect disciple who came here and wished to fully control the ore vein, with orders carried out from top to bottom, would need to maintain a good relationship with the Qi Family.

However, Zheng Yi's purpose in coming here had never been simple. He had no time to waste on idle family chatter with them, and merely said calmly.

"You are too courteous, Clan Chief Qi. Zheng will be stationed here for quite some time."

"There is no need to prepare a banquet. Since we are here, let us go take a look at the ore vein instead."

"This is a task assigned by the sect. If anything goes wrong, Zheng will be left unable to bear the consequences!"

The moment these words came out, Qi Yuanzong froze. Could this newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect be some greenhorn?

Did he not know that if he failed to build a good relationship with the Qi Family, then even as a disciple of a superior sect, he would likely find himself unable to take a single step in the Ba Dong Town Mine?