Chapter 362: Life-and-Death Duel

About half a month later, Guang Dongren and his party arrived at Suanma Ridge. As they approached, they encountered patrolling members of the Wang family.

The group was led by Wang Changhui, who sent a sound transmission talisman to Wang Qingshan while simultaneously approaching Guang Dongren and his party.

"Junior Wang Changhui greets Senior Guang."

Guang Dongren waved his hand and said, "Alright, you can dispense with the formalities. Take me to the Silver Gangstone mine."

Wang Changhui acknowledged and led the way.

By the time Guang Dongren arrived at the underground cave, the Wang family members had already received word, stopped mining, and put away their tools.

Guang Dongren saw the pitted stone walls and naturally knew the Wang family was mining Silver Gangstone. However, he didn't call them out, as the Hundred Spirits Sect would ultimately take the larger share.

Suddenly, he frowned and said in a deep voice, "Which fellow Daoist is present? I am Guang Dongren of the Hundred Spirits Sect."

He flew out of the underground cave and, after a few swift movements, landed on an earthen slope.

Opposite him stood dozens of cultivators, led by a beautiful middle-aged woman in her thirties. Her every move exuded an aura of authority.

"So it's Madam Zhao Xueyun of the Sword Palace," Guang Dongren said. "Madam Zhao, what brings so many people to the jurisdiction of our Hundred Spirits Sect? What is your purpose?"

Guang Dongren's expression was indifferent.

Zhao Xueyun smiled slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Guang, have you perhaps made a mistake? Suanma Ridge is territory of our Chu State. Our Sword Palace's affiliated Zhao family discovered a Silver Gangstone mine here. I should be asking you, what is your intention bringing so many people to our Chu State territory?"

Suanma Ridge's location was unique, situated at the border between the two states. It could be considered territory of either Chu or Wei.

The last time, the five sects of Wei State supported Chu State, which significantly eased relations between the two. With demonic cultivators still lurking, the Sword Palace naturally wouldn't fall out with the Hundred Spirits Sect over a small Silver Gangstone mine. However, ceding it to the Hundred Spirits Sect was also out of the question.

"That's ridiculous!" Guang Dongren retorted. "Suanma Ridge has always been under the care of the Wang family, an affiliated family of our Hundred Spirits Sect. When did it become your Chu State's territory?"

As it concerned profits worth over a million spirit stones, Guang Dongren naturally wouldn't concede.

Zhao Xueyun smiled enchantingly and said, "Fellow Daoist Guang, in front of so many juniors, let's not waste words. I propose that our two factions jointly mine this Silver Gangstone mine. Each side will send out three individuals for a deathmatch. The winner will take seventy percent, and the loser will take thirty percent."

If the winner were to completely occupy the Silver Gangstone mine, Guang Dongren might not agree. Jointly mining the Silver Gangstone mine was the most suitable solution because, this way, even if the Sword Palace lost the match, they would still gain some profit. Sacrificing the lives of their disciples for such a gain would not be considered a net loss.

Guang Dongren's expression became thoughtful. Most of the Sword Palace's disciples were sword cultivators and incredibly powerful, so the Hundred Spirits Sect's disciples might not be a match for them.

"A seventy-thirty split is too little," Guang Dongren countered. "Let's make it sixty-forty; the winner takes sixty percent, the loser forty percent. This mine was discovered by the affiliated families of both our sects. Let them each send one person for a deathmatch; there's no need for three. Cultivating a Foundation Establishment cultivator is not easy. What do you think, Madam Zhao?"

On the way there, Guang Dongren had inquired about the situation at Suanma Ridge. Wang Changping had truthfully informed him that Wang Qingshan and Wang Changyue were guarding the ridge with a high-grade Tier 2 puppet beast. While such a puppet was difficult for cultivator families to acquire, it was nothing extraordinary for cultivation sects.

Guang Dongren had his own calculations. Wang Qingshan had extensive combat experience from leading his clansmen in hunting demonic beasts, and with a high-grade Tier 2 puppet beast at his disposal, his chances of winning were very high. Even if he lost, the Hundred Spirits Sect would still receive forty percent of the profits.

Zhao Xueyun pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "No problem. However, those participating in the deathmatch cannot exceed the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment."

Two Zhao family cultivators were accompanying her, the highest cultivated among them being only at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment.

Once the Core Formation cultivators of both factions reached an agreement, the Wang family and Zhao family naturally dared not refuse.

Wang Qingshan represented the Wang family in the fight. The Zhao family sent Zhao Guanghong, who was at the third layer of Foundation Establishment. Although the Zhao family had wanted to send a fifth-layer Foundation Establishment cultivator, Guang Dongren disagreed.

They found an empty space for Wang Qingshan and Zhao Guanghong to duel.

Under the watchful eyes of all the cultivators, Wang Qingshan slowly walked forward, cupped his fists at Zhao Guanghong, and said, "I am Wang Qingshan. I ask for your guidance."

"Zhao Guanghong. Please enlighten me, fellow Daoist Wang."

Zhao Guanghong was short and stout, clad in a yellow robe.

He cultivated earth-attribute techniques and was proficient in earth-element spells.

"The match begins!"

As soon as the words fell, Wang Qingshan shrugged his right shoulder, performed a hand seal, and quietly chanted, "Unsheathe!"

A crisp sword hum echoed as five azure flying swords shot out from their sheaths. With a blur, they multiplied into hundreds of azure flying swords, all rushing to strike Zhao Guanghong.

"A sword cultivator! Is this person truly a member of the Wang family?"

Zhao Xueyun's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she spoke with a hint of doubt.

"Indeed," Guang Dongren said with a smile, a hint of triumph in his eyes. "Young friend Wang is the nephew of my nominal disciple and cultivates sword techniques. Surely, you're not trying to renege now!"

"Hmph, my word is my bond," Zhao Xueyun retorted. "I will honor my promise. However, it's still too early to say who will win or lose!"

Seeing hundreds of azure flying swords attacking, Zhao Guanghong's expression remained unchanged. He performed a hand seal, and a dazzling yellow light illuminated his body. He then stomped his right foot heavily on the ground, and a bright yellow light flowed down his leg, disappearing into the earth.

The next moment, three tall yellow earth walls appeared in front of him.

With several loud thuds, the three yellow earth walls were shattered. Seizing this opportunity, Zhao Guanghong conjured a yellow banner and planted it in front of him. A large yellow hurricane then enveloped him. As soon as the azure flying swords approached the yellow hurricane, they were immediately sent flying backward, unable to harm Zhao Guanghong.

Zhao Guanghong continuously performed hand seals, and large amounts of yellow light appeared out of thin air, transforming into over a hundred massive yellow boulders.

The hundreds of yellow boulders then rushed to smash towards Wang Qingshan.

Seeing this scene, Wang Changyue and the other Wang family members all showed expressions of nervousness.

Wang Qingshan changed his hand seal, and the hundreds of azure flying swords quickly gathered together, forming a huge azure disc that blocked in front of him.

The yellow boulders smashed onto the azure disc, creating a series of thumping sounds.

Zhao Guanghong stomped his right foot on the ground three times in quick succession. Wang Qingshan seemed to sense something, and his body drifted backward like a wisp of wind.

No sooner had he left than dozens of sharp earth spikes burst out of the ground where he had just stood.

Zhao Guanghong was proficient in earth-element spells. Judging by his casting speed, he had already reached Grand Completion, allowing him to instantly cast spells.

Wang Qingshan dared not underestimate him. He raised his right hand, and a glittering golden orb shot out. With a mechanical whirring sound, it transformed into a gigantic golden armored guard holding a massive mace.

Under Wang Qingshan's control, the golden armored guard strode towards Zhao Guanghong.

The golden armored guard was extremely fast. It quickly reached Zhao Guanghong, and its massive mace swung towards him.