One field artillery blast directly frightened away all the great sect powerhouses with designs on the vein.

Mainly those who came were all at Emperor level. That explosive force and killing power were simply too great—they didn’t have the guts to force their way forward.

Without those in the way, Jun Changxiao deployed even more disciples to begin mining. Batch after batch of pristine natural spirit stones were transported out and loaded into his spatial ring.

Standing at the outermost perimeter, the lower-level sect and faction martial artists could only watch with eager eyes.

Even first-rate sects had suffered losses and left. How could they still be here?

Did they really think they could get lucky and pick up bargains?

With Jun Changxiao’s style of making even wandering cultivators pay money when entering the Death Valley, how could he leave even the slightest thing for others to scavenge?

Actually, they weren’t waiting to scavenge scraps—they were waiting to see what the next move would be from the great sects that had left.

Especially Haoguang Sacred Sect.

Their own elder had been blasted unconscious. Setting aside the spirit stone vein, could they really swallow this insult?

And there was the second-rate Aoshi Sacred Sect—how could they just watch as an entire spirit stone vein was dug out by the fifth-rate Eternal Sect?

Just wait.

There would definitely be a spectacular show!

Perhaps before long, powerhouses even higher than Emperor level would appear!

At that time.

Would Eternal Sect obediently submit, or would they fight hard?

Jun Changxiao also knew the several great sects wouldn’t let this go, so he ordered disciples to seize the time and dig out the spirit stones.

To this end, he didn’t hesitate to have Little Demon Immortal transform into Magic Ridge Black Eagle form to go to the sect and summon the Lanxiang excavation specialist—Wild Boar Peppa!

“Hurry down.”

Jun Changxiao held the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, his entire body emanating terrifying aura, as if transformed into a demon god.

“Snort snort!”

Wild Boar Peppa drilled into the mine tunnel at the speed of reincarnation, joining the disciples in digging spirit stones.

To be precise.

It was digging while everyone watched.

Because after this guy released earth-element spiritual energy, it rapidly decomposed soil and minerals. Spirit stones flew out one after another, so fast that disciples couldn’t even get a hand in.

“My heavens!”

Li Fei stared wide-eyed and said: “This digs way too fast!”

Not just fast.

Incredibly fast!

In just half an hour, the natural spirit stones dug out were enough to match what thousands of disciples could dig in an entire day!

Those disciples who cultivated the Five Elements Heaven-Viewing Formula and comprehended earth-element attributes were thoroughly ashamed, because they had also tried, but their digging speed couldn’t compare at all to Wild Boar Peppa.

The attributes humans condensed through acquired means or martial arts couldn’t be compared to beasts born with them.

Unfortunately, after becoming Jun Changxiao’s contract beast, Wild Boar Peppa’s attributes had been stimulated to the extreme, but its role was plowing fields and construction. Now it had unlocked a new skill—mining!

“Whoosh!”

“Whoosh!”

An hour later, Wild Boar Peppa had dug out two hundred thousand pieces. At this speed, digging for a day and night would yield millions of natural spirit stones!

“Awesome awesome awesome!”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes grew fervent.

This kind of resource that helped disciples improve their strength faster—forget millions, even hundreds of billions, he wouldn’t think it too much.

“Hm?”

Just then, Jun Changxiao’s gaze looked toward the distance. Three beams of light came speeding from hundreds of miles away. Under the heavy momentum they released, even space violently shook.

“Half-Step Martial Saints?” Five Extremes Evil Saint said.

The Grand Elder of Extreme Cold Palace’s expression turned grave.

These three Half-Step Martial Saints, judging from their heavy auras, were definitely stronger than him!

Actually, the Grand Elder of Extreme Cold Palace’s breakthrough to Half-Step Martial Saint couldn’t be separated from his own effort and talent, but the key was still luck. Because looking across the continent’s fourth-rate sects, martial artists who could reach this level were extremely few.

And because the breakthrough came through fortuitous circumstances, his strength couldn’t compare to the top Half-Step Martial Saints from first and second-rate sects.

“As expected, still unwilling to give up.” Jun Changxiao shook his head.

He could guess that these three Half-Step Martial Saints flying over must be related to Haoguang Sacred Sect and Aoshi Sacred Sect.

“A bit troublesome now.” Zhen Dejun’s brow furrowed slightly.

With his current thunder formations, he could only blast Emperor levels. To blast Half-Step Martial Saints, unless they merged into the central area.

However, any powerhouse with a bit of brain wouldn’t charge in. Moreover, with their strength, if not directly breaking the formations, they could just fly over.

“Be on guard.”

Jun Changxiao said coldly.

“Whoosh!”

Little Dragon lying on the rocks stood up, its eyes erupting with intense battle intent. Its smooth skin became increasingly crimson, and faintly one could see an additional scale on its neck.

Little Demon Immortal stood before her master, hands waving back and forth.

Spirit Cat flew around like a ball, little stars spinning above its head.

Even so, it enjoyed the pain with pleasure.

The two contract beasts had entered battle mode. Xiao Zuiji standing atop the mountain had one foot on the field artillery, hoisting the rocket launcher onto his shoulder.

Jun Changxiao said: “Activate special effects mode.”

“Yes!”

Xiao Zuiji’s spiritual sense merged with the rocket launcher, establishing some kind of connection.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three light points immediately appeared in the sight, the crosshairs constantly swaying, frequently switching targets, as if waiting for the user to lock on.

The magic-modified 8x scope’s auto-aim and see-through functions could only be activated by Jun Changxiao, but the god-modified rocket launcher’s special effects could be activated by any Eternal Sect disciple.

Emphasis on this point.

Eternal Sect disciples.

Half-Step Martial Saints had initially mastered spatial power and had extremely strong perception. Simply relying on rocket launcher bombardment might not necessarily hit them. Activating the [Precision Strike] special effect was still necessary.

…

Whoosh—

Around the valley’s perimeter, streams of powerful pressure emanated, causing the faces of those lower-level sect and faction martial artists who hadn’t left to all change drastically!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the space outside the thunder formations shook.

Three imposing elders appeared as if out of thin air. Two wore identical clothing, one wore gray robes.

“They’re here, they’re here!”

From their clothing, the various martial artists immediately realized these were definitely powerhouses from Haoguang Sacred Sect and Aoshi Sacred Sect. Judging from the oppressive aura they emanated, their strength absolutely surpassed Emperor level!

Then they were—Half-Step Martial Saints!

My heavens!

This kind of quasi-top-tier powerhouse on the Xingyun Continent—three had arrived at once!

“Still came…” Ma Yunteng’s mouth twitched.

Wang Donglin said gravely: “Though Sect Master Jun has powerful divine abilities that can raise his cultivation, the Half-Step Martial Saints of first and second-rate sects are incomparable to fourth-rate sects!”

Shangguan Fanghua shook her head: “If he had adopted Elder Aoshi Sacred Sect’s suggestion and given them tens of thousands of spirit stones, how would three Half-Step Martial Saints have been alarmed?”

“Jun Changxiao.”

Just then, a Half-Step Martial Saint from Haoguang Sacred Sect said in a deep voice: “You injured our sect’s elder. Your courage is quite something.”

His words carried pressure, shaking the thunder formations in the valley violently.

Zhen Dejun’s brow immediately furrowed.

The Half-Step Martial Saints of great sects were indeed formidable. The momentum carried in their speech could shake the formations he deployed. If they actually fought, detonation would probably be very difficult.

“Cut the nonsense.”

Jun Changxiao standing on the boulder reached out, hooking his index finger: “Come at me!”

—