Chapter 1188: Jade and Stone Vein

Du Jiao and Lan Xueyun exchanged glances. Each woman summoned a puppet beast—a flying eagle and a golden centipede, respectively—and sent them charging towards the five Qi Refining cultivators attacking Xuan Yue Peak.

The leader of the Zhao family was Zhao Guangyi, a green-robed old man in his early sixties, who was a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator.

The Zhao and Xue families were close neighbors. However, the Zhao family was affiliated with the Lu family and boasted two Core Formation cultivators, whereas the Xue family, affiliated with the Wang family, had yet to produce any.

Over a dozen desolate islands lay on the border between the Zhao and Xue families. Lacking spiritual veins, they were left unpatrolled due to the prohibitive cost of stationing personnel.

Not long ago, a Zhao family disciple stumbled upon a jade ore vein beneath one of these desolate islands. The Zhao family swiftly dispatched personnel to occupy the small vein and began mining it covertly. However, several Xue family disciples discovered their activities, prompting the Zhao family to plan their elimination to ensure secrecy.

Xuan Yue Island, situated on the periphery of the Wang family's territory, was unlikely to have any Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there. The Zhao family believed that by eliminating the escaping Xue family disciple, they could monopolize the jade ore vein. Their worst-case scenario was to inform the Lu family if things went awry.

A jade ore vein, a third-tier refining material, could be used to forge magic treasures like alchemy and artifact refining furnaces. A small jade ore vein was valued at five to six million spirit stones. This substantial prize was worth the Zhao family's risk; even killing Wang family cultivators was acceptable, as they could always leverage the Lu family's backing.

It was common practice for powerful families to offer protection in exchange for payment. As long as the compensation was sufficient, the Lu family would never stand by and let the Wang family retaliate against the Zhao family; if anything, they might even turn the tables, a tactic not unheard of.

Justice? It didn't exist. Might made right.

A fierce glint flashed in Zhao Guangyi's eyes. With a look of reluctance, he produced a palm-sized green spherical pearl, adorned with a flame pattern, and hurled it towards Xuan Yue Peak.

*Boom!* A deafening explosion was followed by a torrent of green flames that surged forth, striking the defensive formation. As the formation's spiritual light dimmed, Zhao Guangyi and his four companions seized the opportunity to intensify their assault, successfully breaking through the barrier.

A colossal spider puppet beast charged down from the mountain, while a flying eagle puppet beast swooped down from above.

"Whoosh, whoosh" went the air as a multitude of green wind blades descended from the sky. Simultaneously, the spider puppet beast spewed a putrid purple liquid that splashed onto their protective spiritual aura, instantly causing a puff of green smoke.

"No good, they're puppet beasts! Retreat!"

Zhao Guangyi swiftly summoned a small green umbrella, which emitted a vast expanse of green light, enveloping all five of them as they retreated the way they came.

He had initially intended to contend with the Wang family cultivators, but now realized he had greatly overestimated himself.

A series of muffled thuds echoed as countless green wind blades struck the green radiance, yet the aura remained completely unharmed.

The air whizzed with arrows as several gleaming projectiles, their arrowheads flickering with runes, shot toward them.

A flash of red light signaled several red arrows striking the green radiance. They instantly exploded, erupting into a torrent of fierce flames that engulfed the figures of Zhao Guangyi and his four companions.

The flying eagle puppet beast swooped from above, the spider puppet beast charged from the front, and with a muffled sound from beneath, a centipede puppet beast burst from the ground and plunged into the sea of fire.

Following a series of muffled thuds interspersed with agonizing screams, a green and a red escape light shot out from the fiery inferno.

"Swish, swish, swish" went the air as several gleaming green arrows shot forth, piercing through the bodies within the two escape lights. The green arrows had round arrowheads that, after passing through the cultivators' bodies, bloomed into green lotus flowers.

Zhao Guangyi let out a shriek as he plummeted from the sky, landing, though not dead, on the thick canopy of a large tree. A black spider web then descended from above, enveloping him.

Of the five Qi Refining cultivators, four were killed instantly, and Zhao Guangyi was captured.

The Wang family had supplied numerous weapons to the island's stationed cultivators, including not only puppet beasts but also enchanted arrows. Zhao Guangyi and his group could only blame their ill fortune for provoking Wang Yingjie.

As the sea of fire dissipated, three Qi Refining cultivators lay lifeless in pools of blood. Their feet had been severed by sharp weapons, and each had a fist-sized bloodied hole in their chest, their eyes wide and staring.

"Madam Du, Immortal Lan," Wang Yingjie instructed, "you two handle the bodies and the captive. We must leave here quickly; Zhao family reinforcements may already be en route."

Wang Yingjie then summoned a green flying boat and departed Xuan Yue Island with Lan Xueyun and the four others.

Reporting the discovery of a genuine small jade ore vein would undoubtedly be a great merit. Wang Yingjie was so eager that he even abandoned the spirit grains on the island.

Days later, Wang Yingjie arrived at Purple Lotus Island and handed over Zhao Guangyi and Xue Pingyi to Wang Xianyang.

"Yingjie, you've done very well," Wang Xianyang praised. "I will immediately dispatch someone to report this to the family. You all may return with them!"

After commending Wang Yingjie, Wang Xianyang dispatched escorts to take Zhao Guangyi and Xue Pingyi back to Green Lotus Island to report to the family head, Wang Mengfen.

"A small jade ore vein!" Wang Mengfen exclaimed deeply. "Worth five to six million spirit stones! This fortune absolutely cannot fall into the Lu family's hands."

Wang Mengfen spoke in a low voice, recalling how the incident with Chen Xudong had caused him to lose face before Wang Changsheng upon his initial arrival in the Five Dragons Sea Region. This time, he was determined to secure the jade ore vein.

Wang Qingling had recently entered seclusion, Wang Qingqing was overseeing the market, and Wang Qingqi was not proficient in combat. Therefore, Wang Mengfen's only available options were Ye Haitang and Wang Qingqing.

He dispatched someone to the market to contact Wang Qingqing, while simultaneously taking out his communication plate to reach Ye Haitang: "Great-Aunt Haitang, the Xue family has discovered a jade ore vein. Please come to the council hall for a discussion."

"Understood, I'll be right over."

A short while later, Wang Qingqing and Ye Haitang appeared in the council hall, where Wang Mengfen recounted the entire incident.

"This small jade ore vein is worth five to six million spirit stones," Wang Mengfen explained. "If we secure it, we can refine and sell our own alchemy and artifact refining furnaces, eliminating the need to purchase them from other forces."

Wang Mengfen spoke with some excitement, noting that it was well-known that alchemy and artifact refining furnaces were difficult to craft, making magic treasure-grade versions particularly sought after.

"A jade ore vein? Excellent. Leave this matter to us."

Filled with confidence, Wang Qingqing and thirty Wang family cultivators departed Green Lotus Island, heading for the desolate island where the jade ore vein was located.

Having rendered meritorious service by rescuing Xue Pingyi, Wang Yingjie volunteered to accompany them, and Wang Qingqing did not object.

They reached their destination in under half a month.

The Zhao family had already established a formation on the island, with a vast expanse of blue mist obscuring the entire island and making the situation within unclear.

"The Small Cloud Sea Formation!" Ye Haitang exclaimed. "This formation's defensive power isn't strong; the Zhao family likely set it up in a hurry. It won't stop me."

Filled with confidence, Ye Haitang pointed out several weaknesses of the island protection formation. She then summoned a magic treasure to attack it. Wang Qingqing unleashed two third-tier giant eagle puppet beasts, while Wang Yingjie and the others employed various means, either summoning magic tools or activating talismans.