302: real gain

In front of the Immortal Cave, several Foundation Establishment Cultivators still bore injuries, as if they had just finished a battle.

Their eyes also held a trace of lingering fear and unwillingness.

However, as soon as they emerged, they saw Zhang Haoling and others directly in front of them, filling their hearts with terror.

They had been monitoring the outside with their Divine Sense, but they hadn't expected Zhang Haoling to resolve the battle so quickly and without any information.

They wanted to explain, but what greeted them was Zhang Haoling's black cloud tower and his High Grade Magic Treasure sword.

The Cultivators were already injured and hadn't expected Zhang Haoling to be so decisive. Their explanations were still forming in their throats when they were instantly engulfed by the black cloud tower and the High Grade Magic Treasure sword!

In the blink of an eye, all of them were slain, without even a chance to speak their explanations.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang!" many Foundation Establishment Cultivators questioned.

Lin Shiming and Chen Xuankong, however, remained very quiet.

From the moment Zhang Haoling affixed a spiritual talisman to his body to conceal his Divine Sense, they knew that this would not end well.

"These few people secretly took treasures, violating the alliance's creed. This warning is not excessive, is it?" Zhang Haoling said coldly.

The others immediately stopped.

They understood that speaking up now would only invite trouble.

Those newly Advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivators had also sought their own demise.

Taking treasures without the Zhang Family doing so first was a grave offense!

Not only would they die, but their Families would also likely be implicated!

No wonder the Lin Family and Chen Family hadn't moved or spoken!

"Alright, everyone, follow me into the Immortal Cave to investigate the harvest this time!"

"My Thirtieth Uncle said before that, based on the effort put in this time, everyone's gains will definitely not be small!"

Zhang Haoling put away his Storage Pouch, glanced at it, and showed a hint of doubt. There weren't many treasures inside the Storage Pouch, but he still led the way into the Immortal Cave.

The fiery red Immortal Cave was inlaid with fiery red stones.

These stones emitted a blazing fire, illuminating the entire Immortal Cave, and it seemed as if flames were burning.

This brought joy to many Foundation Establishment Families.

These fiery red stones were not ordinary items; they were Second-Order Fire Cloud Stones.

These were excellent Materials for refining good Second-Order Magic Treasure swords.

This clearly indicated a Second-Order Fire Cloud Stone mine.

It was just unknown whether there were higher-grade Fire Cloud Crystals within the Fire Cloud Stone mine.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivators would think this way, but for the Lin Family, Chen Family, and Zhang Family, these Fire Cloud Stones were merely slightly valuable stones. One must know that this was the Immortal Cave of a Purple Mansion Great Demon, so such treasures should be considered a drop in the bucket.

As they delved deeper into the Immortal Cave, pure fire-attribute Spiritual Qi rushed towards them, forcing everyone to erect spiritual shields to block the temperature.

But their hearts grew even more excited; the Immortal Cave of a Fourth-Order Purple Mansion Great Demon surely contained many treasures.

Lin Shiming's vigilance heightened, and not just his; Chen Xuankong and other seasoned Foundation Establishment Cultivators were also on high alert.

If Zhang Haoling were to kill them to silence them within the Immortal Cave, they would need to be careful.

Facing everyone's vigilance, Zhang Haoling remained silent. He continued to lead several Zhang Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators deeper inside.

In a flash, they arrived at a massive fiery red underground stone hall.

The underground stone hall was even more luminous; the fiery red stones already showed fiery crystal flowers, which were clearly the Third-Order Material of Fire Cloud Stone, Fire Cloud Crystal.

This was a treasure on par with Gintetsu Crystal; a small, fist-sized piece would cost a thousand Spirit Stones, which was cause for celebration for all the major Families.

Above the stone hall was a huge nest, clearly belonging to the Purple Mansion Great Demon, the Blazing Gryphon.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi also indicated that this Spiritual Vein was a pure Fourth-Order fire-attribute Spiritual Vein.

Such a pure Spiritual Vein was highly likely to produce flame crystals.

Fourth-Order flame crystal Materials were precious Materials for making Magic Treasures, and their value was incomparable to these Fire Cloud Crystals outside.

Everyone stepped forward and saw that a large section next to the gryphon's nest had sunken in, as if something had been forcibly dug out.

Only a small layer of red crystals was exposed.

Seeing this, how could anyone not know what had happened!

"Seal the Formation, confine the underground!" Zhang Haoling immediately shouted, his face extremely grim.

This dug-out hole was definitely newly made.

He had checked the Storage Pouch and knew that those few brainless Cultivators hadn't gotten anything.

Other Cultivators, however, had strange expressions.

No matter how they looked at it, this scene seemed like Zhang Haoling was putting on a show.

Everyone here was present, except for the few who had died, and the Cultivators of the Zhang Family.

Lin Shiming also exchanged a look with Chen Xuankong, full of questions, with great understanding.

However, the Zhang Family Cultivators took out several sets of Formations, layer upon layer, surrounding the Gryphon Immortal Cave tightly.

He wouldn't let go of any Divine Sense or clues.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, has anything unexpected happened?" Chen Xuankong also asked.

The Zhang Haoling in front of him was acting like a madman, rushing back and forth in the Immortal Cave.

This act was a bit too much!

He also felt a hint of something amiss and glanced at Lin Shiming, who also shook his head.

After a long stalemate, Zhang Haoling arranged for many Cultivators to leave, then returned to the depths of the Immortal Cave.

At this moment, his face was somewhat grim, and he looked around again, finally continuing to gaze into the depths of the Immortal Cave.

However, after a thorough search, his face remained terrifyingly gloomy.

Even with his deep cunning, the entire Fourth-Order Purple Mansion Great Demon's Immortal Cave only contained Second-Order Fire Cloud Stones and Third-Order Fire Cloud Crystals. The few remaining Spiritual Plants were merely Third-Order Spiritual Plants, and not even a hundred years old.

Yet, the Cultivators beside him had all followed him to fight against the Yao Beasts of Red Lion Ridge.

And the entire Immortal Cave had been turned upside down by him, yet no one was found.

Zhang Haoling took a deep breath. Although he had suffered a hidden loss, fortunately, the Fourth-Order fire-attribute Spiritual Vein was still there:

"Fellow Daoists, this Fourth-Order Spiritual Vein will be offered to Free Spirit Yunling. Our Zhang Family will occupy sixty percent of this Third-Order Fire Cloud Crystal mine and Fire Cloud Stone mine, and the rest will be divided among you according to the arena competition!"

Zhang Haoling's tone was extremely unfriendly.

At this moment, no one naturally had any objections. They couldn't possibly obtain the Fourth-Order Spiritual Vein, and even though a pure fire-attribute Spiritual Vein with flame crystals was indeed precious, they hadn't lost their heads.

[To be honest, I've been using Wild Fruit Reading recently to read and keep up with updates, switching sources, with many voice options, available for Android and Apple.]

And with Zhang Haoling's current tone and demeanor, they didn't dare to bargain.

Chen Xuankong also glanced at Lin Shiming. In his opinion, it was highly likely that the Zhang Family was putting on a self-directed show, simply wanting to seize the opportunity to increase their mining profits.

However, circumstances were stronger than people, and he had to submit.

After seeing Lin Shiming nod in agreement, he also nodded with a regretful expression.

The Chen Family was not like the Lin Family; if they could gain a little more profit, it was not impossible for their Chen Family to rise again!

As for the subsequent mining and guarding, the various Families of Yun Province would arrange for Cultivators to come and obtain them.

The Fourth-Order Spiritual Vein would be transplanted, and Red Lion Ridge would also become an ordinary mountain range, making the possibility of attracting a Purple Mansion Great Demon unlikely.

Next, Zhang Haoling stayed behind to transplant the Fourth-Order Spiritual Vein, while the other Cultivators, led by another Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator of the Zhang Family, continued to patrol the entire Red Lion Ridge.

However, everyone also estimated that the greatest benefit was the Fire Cloud Crystal mine, and the probability of other Heavenly and Earthly Spiritual Objects in Red Lion Ridge was not high.

As expected, they later found three fire-attribute Fourth-Order Spiritual Plants, and more than a dozen three-hundred-year-old Third-Order fire-attribute Fire Yang Ginseng, with only the Second-Order Fire Maple Trees remaining.

However, Fire Maple Trees had ornamental value but little practical value.

The Fourth-Order Spiritual Plants naturally belonged to Free Spirit Yunling.

As for the remaining spiritual ginsengs, not a single Family received one.

Some Foundation Establishment Cultivators also looked a bit displeased. Coming to Red Lion Ridge involved considerable risks, and their gains were only a small share from the Fire Cloud Crystal mine. After deducting the Lin Family's and Chen Family's shares from the forty percent, not much would be left.

Fortunately, in the end, another Spirit Stone Mine was discovered, which made everyone ecstatic.

Lin Shiming was also delighted, though not because of this Spirit Stone Mine, as the System had already prompted its discovery.

And his delight had begun as soon as he emerged from the Immortal Cave, only now naturally showing itself.

The Zhang Family Cultivators were also full of tension, immediately summoning Zhang Haogang.

They also began to set up Formations, encircling the Spirit Stone Mine... After Lin Shiming and the others left the Immortal Cave, Zhang Haoling walked up to an elderly Cultivator, his eyes filled with urgency, wanting to confirm the answer.

However, the old man slowly shook his head.

He took out a fiery red spiritual fox, which lay quietly in his hand.

The next moment, the spiritual fox suddenly climbed up and headed towards the large hole of the flame crystal.

"Patriarch, my fire spirit fox can detect precious fire-attribute Materials even through a Storage Pouch, let alone Fourth-Order flame crystal!"

The old man sighed. That Fourth-Order flame crystal had long been within their Zhang Family's grasp, and now that it had been stolen by an unknown Cultivator, they naturally felt somewhat embarrassed.

The value of a single flame crystal could not be measured by Spirit Stones!

"Hmph, they got off easy!" Zhang Haoling's eyes turned cold, and he no longer spoke.

Instead, he took out a sound transmission talisman.

Soon after his transmission, a red-robed old man entered the Immortal Cave and came before the two of them.

"Please punish Thirtieth Uncle, the flame crystal has been taken first!"

"As long as the Spiritual Vein is still here, it's fine!" Free Spirit Yunling waved his hand, his eyes sweeping over the vast and pure fire-attribute Spiritual Qi within the Immortal Cave, very satisfied.

He did not place too much importance on the Fourth-Order flame crystal.

As long as the Spiritual Vein was present, it could continuously produce them.

Moreover, his trip was not just for this Spiritual Vein and the Fourth-Order Gryphon.

He was even more concerned about whether their Zhang Family could rise in Yun Province, and one day, re-enter Jin Province!

...Outside a small Formation hut, Lin Shiming and Chen Xuankong walked out.

The distribution of the mines had ended, and Zhang Haoling's uncompromising stance made them even more helpless, further confirming that Zhang Haoling was merely a petty person, putting on a self-directed show!

In the end, he even took out the Storage Pouches of those few Cultivators, but after more than half a day, how much credibility did those Storage Pouches still have?

Yet, there was nothing they could do!

Chen Xuankong's face was full of regret.

"You could have fought for more. Your Sword Cultivator strength is no worse than your Ancestor Xian Zhi!"

"It's still thanks to Free Spirit Yunling that we could secure one and a half tenths; that's already very good!"

Lin Shiming shook his head and replied with a smile.

He naturally understood what Chen Xuankong meant; he merely wanted to use his words to fight for a larger share of the Spirit Stone Mine.

But for Lin Shiming, his thoughts on the Fire Cloud Crystal mine and the Spirit Stone Mine were not extensive.

Firstly, Red Lion Ridge was not close to Qingyun Market; even for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, a round trip would take nearly a day.

And the Lin Family already had a Gintetsu Crystal mine, so financial income was not a concern.

The Lin Family's primary focus was still Shuangmu Island.

Cultivating and developing in secret was the Lin Family's policy.

Moreover, the Zhang Family here was, after all, a Purple Mansion Cultivator. Contending for benefits with a Purple Mansion Cultivator was not a wise move.

Taking this one and a half tenths was merely to alleviate the Zhang Family's suspicions.

One must know that for this mine share, the Lin Family would have to permanently station a Foundation Establishment Cultivator here.

For the Lin Family, deciding who to send was a question worth considering.

After Chen Xuankong saw through Lin Shiming's thoughts, he said no more. The two also went their separate ways, each finding an Immortal Cave to Cultivate and recover.

Lin Shiming, however, continued to patrol the entire Red Lion Ridge.

The fiery red Fire Maple Trees still burned like the scorching sun.

The next moment, Lin Shiming bent down and picked a fifty-year-old Fire Cloud Ganoderma from under a Fire Maple Tree.

Fiery red Spiritual Qi surged, and a faint overlapping shadow of peach blossoms seemed to appear in the Void Realm.

But it quickly disappeared, precisely the peach blossom river scenery painting combined with the five-colored silkworm coffin!

Lin Shiming's expression was calm as he continued to wander.

It was as if he was still searching for the few remaining Second-Order spiritual objects.

Until dusk arrived and the sun set, the fiery red maple forest seemed to be dyed with a deeper layer of flames.

Allowing Red Lion Ridge to usher in its most beautiful moment.

Lin Shiming stopped his steps and returned to the hillside of Red Lion Ridge, finding Lin Shiyi, Lin Zelu, and others who were recovering in the Immortal Cave.

"Shiming!"

Everyone was a bit worried. They breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Lin Shiming enter.

"It's alright now!" Lin Shiming also nodded, then suddenly looked at Lin Zelu and Lin Zekong, giving them a thumbs up.

"Excellent performance!"

When slaying Yao Beasts, Lin Zelu and Lin Zekong were a bit chaotic at first, but after getting familiar with it for a while, they became more at ease. One with a dual Spiritual Root and the Heavenly Wood Spirit Planting Secret Method, plus a Second-Order High Grade Formation Master, their performance was quite commendable.

Lin Shiming naturally wouldn't be stingy with his praise.

"Thank you, Seventh Uncle, Seventh Uncle is truly amazing!" Lin Zelu and Lin Zekong also looked flattered.

And Lin Houyuan, who was nearby, joked:

"You two have really earned it; this is the first time I've seen your Seventh Uncle praise a junior!"

"Thirtieth Uncle is joking!" Lin Shiming also chuckled in return, then spoke about the Spirit Stone Mine and the Fire Cloud Crystal Mine.

Lin Shiyi also almost immediately said:

"Seventh Brother, I'll stay here!"

Lin Shiyi didn't say much, but the tone in his words was very firm!

Lin Shiming hesitated for a moment and then nodded. His second brother's love for the Family was no less than his own, and this was what Lin Shiyi believed was the best thing he could do for the Family.

And this was indeed one of the most important things for a Family.

If a Family was full of bitter Cultivators, there would be no resources.

If a Family was full of resource specialists, the Family would have no fighting power.

Each performing their duties, together Cultivating the Great Dao!

After chatting with Lin Shiyi for a while longer, Lin Shiming also excavated an Immortal Cave, set up everything, and began to investigate the true gains of this trip!