Chapter 1433: Cooperative Mining

A massive valley, surrounded on all sides by mountains, echoed with intermittent, deafening roars from inside a huge cave. The ground quaked and shook violently.

The stone walls on either side of the cave faintly reflected a purple light, seemingly from some type of ore.

Two streaks of light shot out from the cave. However, before they flew far, they stopped, revealing themselves to be two disciples of the Ouyang family.

Their faces were blackened, and they showed expressions of pain, clutching their throats.

Soon after, their eyes dulled, and they fell to the ground.

Two enormous green spiders crawled out of the cave. Their fangs were exposed, and green venom dripped onto the ground, instantly corroding pits. They looked ferocious and terrifying.

Each spider sprayed a thin strand of silk, which coiled around the two corpses, dragging them into the cave.

In a certain overgrown, open forest, a pond about ten zhang wide lay in the center. Two pale golden lotus flowers grew in the pond, shimmering with a faint crystalline light as they swayed in the breeze.

On the ground near the pond lay several large black toads.

A refined-looking Sun Moon Palace disciple cautiously approached the pond. As soon as he got within three zhang of it, two black lights shot out. The disciple swayed and quickly retreated. The moment he landed, two black thorny vines, covered in sharp barbs, suddenly emerged from the ground, coiling around his feet.

His protective spiritual light flickered wildly, threatening to shatter at any moment.

With two muffled thuds, two bloody holes appeared on the Sun Moon Palace disciple's chest, and his body collapsed. The black thorny vines tightened around the corpse, dragging it underground until it vanished.

The bodies of the black toads were also dragged underground and disappeared, as if they had never existed.

While other cultivators encountered danger, Ye Haitang also found herself in trouble.

She stood outside a narrow valley, her gaze fixed on it. The valley floor was covered with fist-sized white stones; not a blade of grass grew, making it look desolate.

According to the map, there was something valuable in this valley. However, Ye Haitang discovered a fourth-tier demonic beast, and she was no match for it.

Should she send the tree demon to distract the fourth-tier demonic beast? That would be too risky. If the tree demon couldn't hold the beast, and it returned, Ye Haitang would be in deep trouble.

"Who's hiding stealthily there? Come out!" Ye Haitang suddenly looked towards a clearing and shouted loudly.

The ground swelled into a mound, and a dignified young man in a green robe emerged from underground. Beside him was a colossal beast, entirely golden, resembling a Tibetan Mastiff. The young man in green was Zhao Shou from Myriad Beasts Island.

"Please don't misunderstand, Immortal Ye," the young man in green explained sincerely. "I am Zhao Shou, and I mean no harm. Some time ago, I even paid my respects to True Monarch Taihao. Our Uncle-Master Gongsun is acquainted with your uncle."

Gongsun Yang had instructed Zhao Shou that if conditions allowed, he could cooperate with members of the Wang family.

"Since my uncle knows Senior Gongsun, why were you hiding?" Ye Haitang said, frowning with a hint of displeasure. "Myriad Beasts Island is, after all, one of the Ten Great Sects of the South Sea."

Zhao Shou gave a wry smile and explained, "I've been here all along. If I had malicious intentions, I wouldn't have shown myself voluntarily."

He made it clear that he had revealed himself willingly, not because Ye Haitang discovered him.

Ye Haitang's expression softened. "So, you know there's a fourth-tier demonic beast in the valley? And you know what's inside?" she asked.

"There's a Geng Metal ore vein in the valley," Zhao Shou proposed sincerely. "Geng Metal ore is already rare in the East Glimmer Realm. My Metal-Eating Beast accidentally tracked it here, but it's guarded by a fourth-tier Gold-Devouring Beast. Immortal Ye, if you could lure it away, I'll extract the Geng Metal ore. Once we succeed, we'll split it equally. Geng Metal ore is very difficult to extract; even with a magic treasure, it's hard to break off a single piece. But I have my Metal-Eating Beast, which makes extraction relatively easier."

Ye Haitang pondered for a moment and agreed. If Zhao Shou was telling the truth, this was indeed the best approach. If he was lying, at worst, she would have wasted her time.

"I'll first set up a formation; it should be able to trap the fourth-tier Gold-Devouring Beast," Ye Haitang said, then turned and rushed into the nearby dense forest.

Half a quarter-hour later, Ye Haitang returned. Zhao Shou handed her a green sandalwood stick about an inch long and said, "This is our Myriad Beasts Island's special Demonic Lure Incense. Once lit, the fourth-tier demonic beast will pursue you. Extinguish the incense as soon as you reach your destination, otherwise, it might attract other demonic beasts."

Ye Haitang nodded in thanks and stepped into the valley.

The valley interior was desolate, with the ground entirely covered in grayish-white stones. At its far end was a huge cave, large enough to comfortably accommodate five people walking abreast.

She set up a formation outside the valley before lighting the Demonic Lure Incense. She stood at the cave entrance, looking nervous.

Not long after, a strange beast roar suddenly sounded. Ye Haitang's beautiful face changed, and she transformed into a streak of black light, flying towards the dense forest.

A golden light shot out from the cave. However, before it flew far, thick yellow ropes suddenly flew up from the ground, forming a giant yellow net that enveloped the golden light.

The golden light was, surprisingly, a shimmering golden exotic beast. The beast had the head of a tiger, the body of a leopard, a pair of pale golden fleshy wings on its back, and golden eyes.

The Gold-Devouring Beast's body glowed with golden light. It fiercely flapped its wings, and its sharp quills cut through the yellow net. It then pursued.

Ye Haitang landed in a clearing, surrounded by trees over a hundred zhang tall. She quickly extinguished the Demonic Lure Incense.

At that moment, the Gold-Devouring Beast was overhead. It opened its mouth, and a golden ball of light flew out, striking towards Ye Haitang.

Ye Haitang transformed into an afterimage, dodging the golden ball of light.

*Boom!* After a tremendous crash, a giant pit, over ten zhang wide, appeared in the ground.

Thick black tree roots emerged from underground, coiling around the Gold-Devouring Beast's limbs and pulling it towards the ground.

The Gold-Devouring Beast's wings flapped continuously, and its sharp quills cut through the black tree roots. However, there were too many black roots, and the Gold-Devouring Beast uncontrollably plummeted towards the ground.

The nearby large trees moved rapidly. Thick yellow earth spears emerged from underground, and thick black tree roots also burst forth, coiling around the Gold-Devouring Beast.

The yellow earth spears struck the Gold-Devouring Beast's body, producing a series of dull 'ding' sounds.

The Gold-Devouring Beast let out an angry roar. It opened its mouth and spat out a jet of crimson-golden flames, which struck the black tree roots, instantly turning them to ash.

Ye Haitang held a pale green octagonal formation plate in her hand, continuously casting incantations into it. The formation plate emitted a series of piercing screeches.

Countless yellow mists surged from underground, enveloping an area of over ten miles in circumference.

Ye Haitang knew clearly that a few third-tier formations wouldn't be able to trap a fourth-tier Gold-Devouring Beast for long.

Less than half a quarter-hour later, Zhao Shou flew over from a distance and told Ye Haitang, "Immortal Ye, we succeeded! I got a few pieces of Geng Metal ore. Let's hurry! Use the Demonic Lure Incense to distract the Gold-Devouring Beast."

Ye Haitang nodded. Since Zhao Shou hadn't run away selfishly, they could continue to cooperate.

The ground shook violently, and tiny cracks appeared on the formation plate in Ye Haitang's hand.

Ye Haitang lit the Demonic Lure Incense and threw it far away. Both she and Zhao Shou glowed with yellow light on their bodies, then drilled into the ground and disappeared.

*Boom!* After a deafening crash, the Gold-Devouring Beast broke free. It sniffed the air a few times with its nose and then flew towards the location of the Demonic Lure Incense.