“Thud!”
The Haoguang Sacred Sect elder fell swaying like a kite with its string cut into the forest outside the thunder formations. The summoned Five Elements Universe Shield fell with him, shattering into pieces upon hitting the ground.
“…”
Outside the thunder formations fell silent.
All the martial artists widened their eyes, even subconsciously rubbing them to confirm they weren’t seeing things!
No mistake.
That peak Wuhuang had indeed been blasted down, blasted until covered in wounds, blasted unconscious on the spot, and that treasure infinitely close to Saint-grade had also shattered.
The few martial artists who had just been shocked by the treasure wore expressions of exquisite complexity.
The world’s greatest tragedy was probably this: we common folk were working hard to show shock, the atmosphere hadn’t even been properly built up, and the performer had already completed their curtain call.
The Emperor-level powerhouses present felt a chill rise up their backs.
They were certain that the Haoguang Sacred Sect elder had ended up in such a state because he was blasted by that beam of light!
Just what kind of thing was that, able to ignore treasures, ignore realm differences, and blast a peak Wuhuang so miserably!
“Elder He!”
Several Haoguang Sacred Sect powerhouses flew over and lifted up He Chunsheng.
Though injured and unconscious, he wasn’t in serious danger.
Fortunately, he had cautiously activated his defensive treasure. Otherwise, he definitely couldn’t have withstood the rocket launcher’s bombardment—at minimum he’d be severely wounded.
“Sigh.”
The Zilin Demon King shook its head.
It deeply sympathized with the Haoguang Sacred Sect elder, because it had not only personally experienced the taste of being bombarded by cannons, but had once endured it daily for a period of time.
“Those who dare cross the thunder pool without permission—this is your fate.”
Jun Changxiao’s voice emerged, though very calm, it carrieddeterrence力!
The powerhouses from various sects who hadn’t wanted to charge forward became even more well-behaved after witnessing the Haoguang Sacred Sect elder being blasted down, standing obediently in place.
Though they desperately wanted to enter the valley to search for the spirit stone vein, the massive commotion that had just erupted repeatedly soothed their agitated blood.
Stay calm.
Must stay calm!
…
“This feels much better.”
Seeing no one dared approach, Jun Changxiao’s lips curved into a smile.
He didn’t want to be enemies with the entire world. He just wanted to occupy the spirit stone vein to develop the sect. If the various sects could know when to retreat, that would absolutely be a happy outcome for all.
“Whoosh!”
Inside the valley, the ground continued cracking, gradually gathering into the most natural spiritual energy revival formation.
Recalling back then at Tiegu Mountain, when he manipulated the isolation formation to hold for seven days to avoid detection by outsiders, Sect Master Jun had the urge to shed tears.
“Sect Master.”
Li Qingyang said in a low voice: “Before long, this place will become a feng shui treasure land.”
“Mm.”
Jun Changxiao responded with a sound.
He only cared about the spirit stone vein and had no interest in the mountain forest that would become a feng shui treasure land, so his gaze remained locked on the cracking ground.
After continuing for some time, the ground cracking gradually stopped. Jun Changxiao immediately announced: “Dig out the vein.”
“Yes!”
Li Qingyang led his fellow disciples charging into the valley. Whether using shovels or sharp blades, they began digging. Because their strength was all considerable, their digging speed was incredibly fast.
The powerhouses from various sects outside could see clearly through their spiritual sense, and the thought of charging over grew increasingly strong.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Elder Ye said in a deep voice: “Are you really going to monopolize the spirit stone vein?”
“Correct.” Jun Changxiao said.
Elder Ye said: “No room for negotiation at all?”
From his clenched fists, one could see he was constantly working hard to control his emotions.
The other sect powerhouses were the same. As Li Qingyang and others dug deeper and deeper, that strong impulse was almost impossible to suppress.
“This is what our Eternal Sect discovered, and we have the ability to mine it. Why should we still negotiate with you?” Jun Changxiao said.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Elder Ye, forcibly suppressing his impulse, said: “Those who see it have a share. Our Aoshi Sacred Sect isn’t greedy either—we just want thirty… fifty thousand spirit stones. What do you think?”
He had also realized that Eternal Sect was determined to occupy the vein today. He could only take a step back and get a share of the pie.
“Ha ha ha!”
Jun Changxiao threw his head back and laughed loudly, saying: “This elder, this Sect Master must ask—when your Aoshi Sacred Sect discovered veins in the past, did you ever take out the mined ore to share with others?”
“No!”
“You people from great sects who think so highly of yourselves, so sanctimonious, talk constantly about how heavenly treasures are naturally ownerless, yet each one wants to claim them, each one thinks they deserve to obtain them!”
“Why should the good things go to you!”
“Why should we lower-level sects endure the contempt from you great sects?”
“Why should… Ptui!”
Sect Master Jun’s emotions were somewhat agitated, especially when saying the word ‘why’—because he emphasized his tone, spittle immediately flew everywhere.
Zhen Dejun wiped his face and stepped back two paces to avoid being accidentally hit by the sect master again.
Elder Ye fell silent.
Those martial artists standing farthest away, however, felt their blood boil hearing this.
If they weren’t just here to watch the excitement, they probably couldn’t control their emotions and would loudly shout: “That’s right, why!”
Easy to answer.
Because of greater strength!
But today, Eternal Sect occupied the valley and made you afraid to cross the thunder pool even half a step. Why should they have to share the ore? You great sects with your upper and lower lips—everything you say is reasonable when you open and close them?
“Old fellow!”
Jun Changxiao pointed at Elder Ye and said coldly: “This Sect Master will say this clearly today: anyone who dares cross the thunder pool even half a step must bear painful consequences.”
“Too arrogant!”
An Emperor-level powerhouse shouted loudly: “Everyone, this is just a fifth-rate sect. If we unite, can’t we break through the thunder formations and deal with them?”
“Right!”
Someone supported this.
The Eternal Sect disciples dug deeper and deeper, and the vein would appear soon.
At this time, the first and second-rate sect powerhouses really couldn’t suppress the urge to charge over!
He Chunsheng was still too impulsive. If he could have endured until now, he could have easily rallied everyone to rise up in rebellion.
Elder Ye said in a deep voice: “Jun Changxiao, if your Eternal Sect wants to monopolize the spirit stone vein, we absolutely won’t agree. If you insist on going your own way, you must also be prepared to pay a painful price!”
“Whoosh!”
As he spoke, his cultivation burst forth from his entire body.
The three Wuhuangs who came with him also released their realms!
The Haoguang Sacred Sect and other high-level sect powerhouses also unleashed their cultivation without reservation. For a time, the space outside the thunder formations gathered with terrifying spiritual energy fields.
“Everyone!”
Elder Ye roared angrily: “Follow me and charge over!”
“Whoosh!”
Explosive spiritual energy was released again.
Jun Changxiao lowered his head, rubbed his fingers together, flames rose up, igniting the cigar hanging from his mouth. He took a deep drag and said: “Open fire.”
“Boom—”
A deafening explosion rang out!
“Rumble!”
A mushroom cloud rose in the area outside the thunder formations. The entire ground shook violently. The outermost faction martial artists were shocked to the point of horror, covering their ringing ears and retreating wildly backward.
Soon, the smoke dispersed.
Viewed from above, that originally empty mountain forest had been blasted into a huge deep crater, and even the edge areas were left barren!
Elder Ye and the others who had prepared to charge the formations had eyes bulging round and round, ears standing straight up.
“Whoosh!”
Jun Changxiao exhaled a smoke ring and said: “Come if you’re not afraid of death.”
“Sect Master Jun!”
An Emperor-level powerhouse forcibly suppressed the horror rising in his heart, cupped his hands and said: “Pardon the intrusion, we take our leave!”
“Taking our leave!”
“Taking our leave!”
Many second and third-rate sect Emperor-level powerhouses left one after another, faster than when they arrived!
“Gulp!”
Elder Ye swallowed saliva and quickly left with his three companions. Before leaving, he glanced at the deep crater blasted nearby, the shock in his heart growing even stronger!
One cannon blast, though deliberately fired into empty space, still intimidated the masses. The various great sects with ideas and impulses all fled.
The spirit stone vein was certainly important, but life was more important. Moreover, with that kind of destructive power just now, if it landed in the crowd, it wouldn’t kill just one person but a whole bunch!
…
“Sect Master!”
“The vein has been dug out!”
“Take it all, don’t leave a single piece.”
“Yes!”
“Sect Master, this vein is quite large. We probably can’t finish digging in one or two days!”
“Notify the sect to send more disciples over to help.”
“Yes!”
The martial artists watching the excitement who had no designs on the spirit stone vein heard the dialogue between Jun Changxiao and his disciples from within the valley, their eyes filled with nothing but envy.
—