175: Chapter 175 Could it be...?

The War Beast Association, although not as powerful as the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, is definitely a local powerhouse in the Great Xia Imperial Capital.

Its President is a mighty powerhouse at the Late Stage Quasi-Emperor rank!

Even he would not dare to offend them easily.

"General Zhao, you have misunderstood."

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming forced a smile.

"It was just a misunderstanding earlier."

"Since Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing is here, I will not disturb you any further."

"Farewell."

After speaking, he turned and walked away quickly.

Seeing this, Zhou Hao hurriedly followed.

The two of them left looking dejected.

Inside the restaurant, there was complete silence.

Everyone looked at Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing with awe.

The Vice President of the War Beast Association, a Quasi-Emperor powerhouse!

This was a truly important figure!

"Elder Bai, what do you think..."

Commander Zhao Tieshan looked at Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing and asked for instructions.

"I will send someone to handle this place. Do you need me to arrange accommodation?"

"No need."

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing shook his head.

"We will stay here."

"You send people to clean this place up. Also, do not let word of today's events get out."

"Yes!"

Commander Zhao Tieshan acknowledged the order.

He immediately arranged for manpower to clean the restaurant and appease the diners.

At the same time, he sealed off information and forbade anyone from discussing today's events.

Soon, the restaurant returned to normal.

The manager came over personally to arrange the best rooms for Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing and Xia Youchu.

Ling Tian was arranged to stay in the open space in the back courtyard of the restaurant.

It was large enough to accommodate him.

...

Inside the room.

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing, Xia Youchu, and Commander Zhao Tieshan sat opposite each other.

"Elder Bai, you returned this time, is it for..."

Commander Zhao Tieshan asked tentatively.

"Two things."

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing said.

"First, to take Ling Tian to see the Human Emperor."

"Second, to return to the association headquarters to give Ling Tian a physical examination."

"A physical examination?"

Commander Zhao Tieshan was stunned.

He looked at Ling Tian's huge figure outside the window.

"Does this War Beast... have any problems?"

"There are no problems."

Quasi-Emperor Bai Jing shook his head.

"It's just that this kid's growth rate is too fast, and I am incredibly eager to see why."

"I want to use the association's equipment to give him a comprehensive examination."

Commander Zhao Tieshan was puzzled.

Growth rate is too fast? How fast?

To actually make Elder Bai value him so much?

"Elder Bai, can you reveal something?"

Commander Zhao Tieshan asked cautiously.

"In a couple of days, you will know."

Although Commander Zhao Tieshan was puzzled, he did not ask any further.

...

Meanwhile.

Outside the city, in the Black Wind Mountain Range.

The head of the Zhou Family, Zhou Tianxiong, was leading a group of clansmen to accompany Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming to inspect the mineral vein.

"Vice Pavilion Master Situ, look, this is that yao jing mineral vein."

Zhou Tianxiong pointed to a huge mine cave ahead, his face full of pride.

Deep in the mine cave, reddish Yao Jing Ore could be faintly seen, emitting rich energy fluctuations.

"Not bad."

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming nodded.

"The reserves of this mineral vein are indeed very large."

"If it can be fully mined, the Zhou Family will not have to worry for the next hundred years."

Zhou Tianxiong laughed heartily.

"This is all thanks to your blessing, Vice Pavilion Master Situ!"

"If it weren't for you using the secret techniques of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion to help us locate it, we would never have discovered this mineral vein."

"Once the mineral vein is mined, the Zhou Family will definitely reward you heavily!"

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming waved his hand.

"Heavy rewards are unnecessary."

"As long as Family Head Zhou remembers what you promised me, that will suffice."

"That is only natural!"

Zhou Tianxiong said hurriedly.

"Vice Pavilion Master, rest assured, once the mineral vein is mined, the Zhou Family will definitely support the development of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion in Great Xia with all our might!"

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming nodded with satisfaction.

He came to Great Xia this time to expand the influence of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

The Zhou Family was the partner he had chosen.

"Alright, since there are no problems with the mineral vein, let us begin."

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming said.

"I will set up the Formation now and begin mining."

"Thank you for your hard work, Vice Pavilion Master!"

Zhou Tianxiong said respectfully.

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming did not say anything more.

He took out several Formation Flags and began to set up the Formation.

However.

Just as he was about to activate the Formation.

Suddenly.

From deep within the mine cave, a strange sound came.

Crackle... crackle...

It sounded like... the sound of something shattering?

"Hmm?"

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming frowned.

He stopped his actions and looked deep into the mine cave.

Zhou Tianxiong also heard the sound, and his expression changed.

"What is going on?"

He looked at the clansmen beside him.

"Is there someone in the mine cave?"

"Reporting to the Family Head, no."

A clansman said hurriedly.

"We have been sending people to guard it, not even a mouse can get in."

"Then this sound..."

Zhou Tianxiong did not finish his sentence.

From deep within the mine cave, a loud noise suddenly erupted.

Boom—!!!

Immediately after.

The entire mine cave began to shake violently!

"Not good! The mine cave is about to collapse!"

Someone exclaimed.

"Retreat quickly!"

Zhou Tianxiong's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly led his people to retreat.

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming also furrowed his brows and flew backward.

However.

The anticipated collapse did not occur.

The shaking only lasted a few seconds before it stopped.

But from deep within the mine cave, there came a... hollow echo?

It was as if... the inside was empty?

"What is going on?"

Zhou Tianxiong was uncertain and suspicious.

He looked at Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming.

"Vice Pavilion Master Situ, this..."

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming's expression was grave.

He raised his hand and waved.

A gust of wind whipped up, blowing away the dust inside the mine cave.

Then.

Everyone saw a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

Deep in the mine cave.

The place that should have been filled with Yao Jing Ore...

Was empty.

Completely and utterly empty.

Not to mention Yao Jing Ore, not even a single rock was left.

Only a huge, incomparably large hollow space remained.

The inner wall of the hollow was as smooth as a mirror, as if it had been... licked by something.

"This... how is this possible?!"

Zhou Tianxiong screamed.

He rushed into the mine cave like a madman.

However.

No matter how he searched, he could not find a single piece of Yao Jing Ore.

The entire mineral vein seemed to have disappeared into thin air.

"No! No!!!"

Zhou Tianxiong slumped to the ground, his face deathly pale.

The Zhou Family's hope, the Zhou Family's future...

Gone.

All gone.

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming's face was also livid.

He walked to the front of the hollow and examined it carefully.

Soon, he discovered something wrong.

On the inner wall of the hollow, there was a trace of Dragon Might?

And traces of gnawing?

Could it be...

A ridiculous thought flashed through Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming's mind.

Could this mineral vein have been eaten by something?!

"Investigate!"

Zhou Tianxiong suddenly jumped up and roared hoarsely.

"Investigate for me! Who exactly did this?!"

"I will tear him into ten thousand pieces!!!"

The Zhou Family clansmen looked at each other, and no one dared to speak.

Investigate?

How to investigate?

The mineral vein was guarded so strictly that not even a fly could fly in.

Yet overnight, the entire mineral vein was gone.

This was simply not something human power could accomplish!

Unless...

It was a ghost?

"Could it be... done by a Yao Beast?"

"Yao Beast?"

Zhou Tianxiong was stunned.

"What kind of Yao Beast could sneak into the mine cave silently and eat the entire mineral vein?"

"This..."

That clansman could not answer.

Indeed.

A Yao Beast capable of sneaking into the mine cave silently must possess powerful strength.

But a Yao Beast capable of eating an entire mineral vein...

What level would that have to be?

At the very least, it would have to be Peak Yuanhuang Rank, or even Quasi-Emperor!

But how would a Yao Beast of this level come here?

And specifically eat a mineral vein?

"No..."

Vice Pavilion Master Situ Ming suddenly spoke.

He stared at the marks on the inner wall of the hollow, a gleam of light flashing in his eyes.

"These marks... are from Dragon claws!"

"And, there is also the Qi of the Dragon Clan!"

"Furthermore, judging by the freshness of the marks, they should have been left in the last few days."

The last few days?

Zhou Tianxiong's heart stirred.

He remembered the War Beast he encountered today at the Drunken Immortal Tower.

That 350-meter-tall giant beast that looked like a Dragon but was not.

Could it be that...

Zhou Tianxiong's face turned ghastly pale.