48: Chapter 48 What's there to fear? Fortune favors the bold.

Deep in the night, within the Deep Cloud Abode on the top floor of the Yuegui Pavilion, only Li Guidai, Zhuge Yue, and Yang Qingqing remained.

Under the soft halo of the night-luminescent pearl, the jade slip left by Ye Fan lay on the table, its complex terrain map and obscure array annotations seeming to contain endless opportunities and dangers.

"Brother, is this thing really reliable? That scammer Ye Fan, he didn't dig a massive pit for us to foolishly jump into, did he?"

Yang Qingqing frowned, her pink lips pouting high. Although she had never met Ye Fan in person, after this incident, her trust in him had dropped to freezing point, perhaps even into the negative.

Li Guidai stroked his smooth chin, his eyes scanning back and forth between the jade slip and his two family members, flashing with shrewd and greedy light:

"There is definitely risk, and it is not small. But that is an entire ownerless top-grade spiritual vein! Qingqing, think about it, what does this mean? It means almost infinite pure spiritual energy!"

"It is enough to support our Li Family in rising rapidly over the next hundred years! This temptation is too great; it is worth a gamble!"

Zhuge Yue, who had been silent, extended her slender, jade-like fingers to gently brush over the natural array patterns depicted on the jade slip. A hint of imperceptible brilliance flashed in her cold, beautiful eyes as she parted her red lips, her voice ethereal and firm:

"This array... the patterns are ancient, the aura is obscure. It seems to contain the mysteries of ancient Taiyin power, which has some similarities to what I have realized recently."

Li Guidai's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had discovered a treasure. He wrapped his arm around Zhuge Yue's fragrant shoulder and said triumphantly:

"As expected! At critical moments, it is still my Yueer! Knowledgeable and well-read! It seems the key to breaking this natural array on this adventure falls on you, Madam!"

Zhuge Yue turned slightly, seemingly unaccustomed to such intimacy in front of Yang Qingqing, but she did not avoid Li Guidai's embrace. Her tone remained as calm as water, carrying a hint of imperceptible concern:

"Husband, do not get carried away. The jade slip clearly mentions that several powerful beasts with auras comparable to the Nascent Soul Stage are lurking around the spiritual vein; they are not to be trifled with. This trip is extremely dangerous; we must plan carefully and prepare thoroughly before acting."

"Don't worry! Madam, you can rest assured!"

Li Guidai patted his chest, promising solemnly, "Our Li Family never fights unprepared battles! Qingqing!"

"Here!" Yang Qingqing immediately straightened her back.

"Immediately use all resources and channels we can mobilize. Remember, do it secretly!"

"In batches, purchase high-grade defensive array disks, powerful concealment talismans, and high-damage offensive magical treasures, especially those effective against thick-skinned beasts! Money is no object, spend as much as needed!"

Li Guidai waved his hand, showing off his wealthy flair.

"Got it! Leave it to me!"

Yang Qingqing accepted the task with great enthusiasm, then lowered her voice, worriedly:

"But Brother, if we purchase these adventure supplies so openly, will it attract the attention of potential spies from the Yaoguang Sacred Land or other interested parties?"

Li Guidai chuckled, revealing a sly, fox-like expression: "That is why we must put on a good show for them: openly build the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang!"

The next day, Li Guidai announced to the public that the Li Family had officially established the "Yuegui Trading Firm"!

They primarily dealt in pills and magic tools, and ambitiously stated that to expand their commercial territory, they would find suitable locations at the border of the Eastern Region to establish branches and open new trade routes.

A few days later, he personally led Yang Qingqing and several newly recruited, sharp-looking servants, and even deliberately adopted a group of ragged slaves to form a seemingly large-scale "caravan"!

They left Ganlu Town with great fanfare and the beating of gongs and drums.

Along the way, Li Guidai's "caravan" paraded through the streets, and he even held friendly and high-profile commercial negotiations with several small cultivation families along the way.

He wanted everyone to know that he, Li Guidai, was going out to do business and make a fortune!

This action successfully attracted the attention of various forces, including potential spies from the Yaoguang Sacred Land.

Almost everyone believed that Li Guidai had tasted the sweetness of success from the Meiliu Sect and was now actively expanding his commercial influence.

However, just as Li Guidai's "caravan" was attracting all eyes and slowly moving toward the border of the Eastern Region...

Deep underground in the Yuegui Pavilion, in an absolutely secret chamber, a small, short-distance teleportation array quietly lit up with a soft glow.

The array patterns flowed, space distorted slightly, and after the light dissipated, several figures appeared.

It was none other than Li Guidai, Zhuge Yue, and... the Kuang Family father and son, who had been forcibly dragged along as manual labor, their faces full of despair!

Li Guidai had used a small trick to shed his skin; his true self had already arrived at the preset location near the target area via the secret teleportation array.

"... Lord Li, are... are we really going to look for that... that top-grade spiritual vein?"

Kuang Dalei looked at the rugged, eerie rocks around him and felt the faint, chilling demonic aura permeating the air. His legs went weak, and his voice trembled. He had overheard that there were beasts comparable to the Nascent Soul Stage in this ghost of a place!

That was a concept where crushing him would be no different from crushing an ant!

Kuang Quanshui was even more terrified, his face deathly pale as he clutched his father's sleeve, wishing he could disappear on the spot.

"Nonsense! Why else would I bring you two to these desolate mountains for sightseeing?"

Li Guidai glared at them, trying to boost his own courage: "Relax! With me and Madam here, you will be fine! ... Probably... Maybe... Perhaps?"

Upon hearing this unconfident addition, Kuang Dalei was even more terrified and said with a crying voice: "Ah? Lord Li! Don't... don't be like that! I... I am scared! I haven't even seen our Kuang Family line continue yet!"

Li Guidai touched his nose with some guilt, forcibly cheering himself up, and also trying to encourage these two cowards:

"What are you afraid of? Wealth is sought in danger! Following me, Li Guidai, when have I ever treated you badly? Let's go! Just trust me! Lead the way... uh, no, follow closely behind me!"