Chapter 890: Mining Ore

Wang Qingshan moved swiftly, while the injured man in the green shirt was much slower in his escape.

A sharp, ear-splitting sound ripped through the air, as a streak of crimson light shot directly towards the man in the green shirt.

Trailing behind the crimson light was a massive streak of green sword energy.

The man in the green shirt's face paled instantly. He hastily waved the green feather fan in his hand, conjuring a furious gale that swept outwards. Next, he slapped a green jade pendant at his waist, intricately carved with a miniature green eagle. A clear bird cry echoed as a beam of green light shot forth, transforming into a colossal green eagle that lunged at the approaching green sword energy.

With a resounding boom, a clap of thunder erupted as the green giant eagle collided with the green sword energy. The eagle was sent flying backward but quickly recovered and lunged at the sword energy once more.

A series of dull clangs, like metal striking metal, filled the air as the green giant eagle repeatedly clashed with the green sword energy, steadily diminishing in size.

Seizing this opportunity, the man in the green shirt significantly increased his escape speed.

Just then, a massive green net descended from the sky, engulfing the man in the green shirt and rapidly tightening around him.

An ear-shattering roar erupted as the green giant eagle was sliced in half by the colossal sword energy, and the green jade pendant at the man's waist also shattered.

The green sword energy then swiftly sped straight towards the man in the green shirt.

"Fellow Cultivator, spare my life!" the man in the green shirt pleaded desperately, half-dead with fear. "It was all Madam Zhao of Yunhai Sect who instigated us. Our Black Flame Palace has no recent grievances or past enmities with your Wang family, so why would we target you? If you kill me, our Black Flame Palace will not let this matter rest!"

Wang Qingshan made a sword gesture, and the colossal sword energy abruptly halted, hovering barely a foot away from the man in the green shirt.

"Hmph, you killed members of my Wang family," Wang Qingshan retorted. "How do you propose to settle this debt?"

Seeing the immense sword energy halt, the man in the green shirt secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly plastered on a smile and said, "Fellow Cultivator Wang, I am willing to offer compensation. The price is negotiable; it's not good for either of us to completely fall out. What do you say?"

Had he known the Wang family possessed such a formidable sword cultivator, he would never have dared to provoke them.

Wang Qingshan wore a thoughtful expression, pondering for a moment before asking in a deep voice, "Yunhai Sect has been quite peaceable these past years. Fellow Cultivator Zhao wouldn't have the audacity to incite your Black Flame Palace. Do you take me for a fool? Tell me the truth, or I will kill you instantly."

"Fellow Cultivator Wang, it truly was Fellow Cultivator Zhao who incited us, I…"

The man in the green shirt looked troubled. Before he could finish his sentence, the colossal sword energy flared brightly, poised to pierce through his body.

The man in the green shirt's face paled as he hastily interjected, "No, no, Fellow Cultivator Wang, let's discuss this properly."

"You have only one chance. Cherish it carefully, as I will not grant you another."

Wang Qingshan's expression remained cold, his gaze icy.

"I can tell you the truth, but you must swear an oath by your inner demon that you won't kill me. If you don't agree, then go ahead and strike!"

Wang Qingshan frowned, then after a moment's thought, he immediately swore an oath by his inner demon. "As long as you truthfully reveal everything, I will spare your life this time."

The man in the green shirt chuckled bitterly to himself before revealing, "Beneath Golden Sheep Island lies a third-tier metal ore vein. We're not sure of its exact type, but we discovered it by chance in an ancient text. That vein was originally a reserve mine for an immortal cultivation sect, left untouched underground. However, that sect met with a sudden catastrophic demise, and the metal mine became forgotten. Had we not found that ancient text, we wouldn't have discovered it either."

Wang Qingshan nodded. "Leave your storage orb and begone!" he commanded. "If you offend again, I will surely kill you."

The man in the green shirt looked greatly relieved. He thanked Wang Qingshan, left his natal magic treasure, and tossed the storage orb to him. Wang Qingshan then retracted the large green net and allowed the man in the green shirt to flee.

Wang Qingshan put away the storage orb and flew back along his original path. By the time he returned to Silver Snake Island, Wang Qingling and Wang Qiuming had both arrived.

The young woman in the green dress had been frozen solid by the Ice Wind Flood Dragon, transformed into an ice sculpture. Her magic treasures were confiscated, and she was currently imprisoned at Punishment Peak.

Punishment Peak was protected by dozens of restrictions, including ten sets of high-grade third-tier formations personally arranged by Ye Lin. Without her magic treasures and with Ye Haitang personally guarding her, the young woman in the green dress would find it nearly impossible to escape.

"Seventh Brother," Wang Qingling reported, "I've questioned her. There's a metal mine under Golden Sheep Island, but it's located so deep underground that Foundation Establishment cultivators can't detect it."

Wang Qingling said with a smile, confident that her two-tier Earth Dragon Earthworm, skilled in earth escape techniques, would be able to handle it.

"Tenth Sister, you and Qiuming are to organize the clansmen to mine that metal ore vein. I will remain here to guard the family. Additionally, Qiuhong should send someone to the Black Flame Palace to demand a ransom of five portions of Core Formation spiritual materials."

Each portion of Core Formation spiritual materials was valued at three to four hundred thousand spirit stones, but simply possessing that amount did not guarantee one could acquire them.

Wang Qingling nodded. "No problem," she assured him. "I'll take care of this."

Wang Qiuhong organized a group of clansmen to accompany Wang Qingling to Golden Sheep Island.

Wang Qingling released her Earth Dragon Earthworm. Thanks to her diligent nurturing, it had grown to a length of five to six zhang, with a waist as thick as a water bucket, and distinct dragon horns on its head.

"Everyone, climb aboard!" Wang Qingling instructed. "The Earth Dragon Earthworm can burrow very deep."

Wang Qingling and Wang Qiuming leaped onto the Earth Dragon Earthworm's back, followed by twenty clansmen carrying their mining tools.

The Earth Dragon Earthworm let out a deafening roar, its body glowing with a bright yellow light, before burrowing into the earth and disappearing from sight.

Wang Qiuming was secretly astonished by the Earth Dragon Earthworm's remarkable speed underground.

"Aunt," Wang Qiuming commented, "this spiritual insect's earth escape technique is truly impressive. Once it reaches the third-tier, I doubt even Core Formation cultivators using earth escape techniques could keep up with it."

Wang Qiuming spoke with a tone of envy.

Wang Qingling smiled sweetly, then stated proudly, "Naturally. The Earth Dragon Earthworm possesses the bloodline of an earth-attribute true dragon."

A quarter of an hour later, the Earth Dragon Earthworm suddenly stopped, letting out a strange roar from its mouth.

"It must have encountered the metal ore vein," Wang Qingling mused. "No wonder our family never discovered it before. It's so deep, Foundation Establishment cultivators simply can't dive to this depth."

As Wang Qingling spoke, she conjured a yellow command flag. It flew from her hand, circled the area, and instantly created a thick yellow light barrier, forming a space over ten zhang in size.

Wang Qiuhong directed the clansmen to begin digging. Soon, they discovered a pale blue ore on the surface. Upon identification, it was confirmed to be Cold Moon Stone, an ice-attribute crafting material often used in refining ice-attribute magic treasures and for setting up ice-attribute formations.

"It's a Cold Moon Stone ore vein!" Wang Qingling exclaimed. "I wonder how large the reserves are."

Wang Qingling's face lit up with joy as she directed the clansmen to begin mining.

Mining ore underground was quite troublesome; earth-attribute formations were needed to prevent tunnel collapses. However, the Wang family was well-prepared, so this challenge didn't deter them.

Over the years, Ye Haitang had helped the family train several second-tier formation masters, who were perfectly capable of setting up second-tier formations.

After the formations were set, Wang Qingling left with the Earth Dragon Earthworm. She organized the clansmen to excavate a direct passage to the ore vein, which would facilitate the mining of Cold Moon Stone. Simultaneously, they dispatched someone to inform Ye Haitang to come to Golden Sheep Island and set up third-tier formations.

With a third-tier metal mine, Golden Sheep Island's importance quickly soared. Besides establishing third-tier formations, the island's spiritual vein also needed to be upgraded to accommodate Core Formation cultivators stationed there.

Wang Qiuhong dedicated a significant workforce, and soon, a long bluestone staircase was constructed, providing direct access from the surface to the ore vein.