Chương 29: The Mystic Iron Alliance

"What do you mean?" A flicker of doubt rose in Yang Jing's heart. The Hu family, on the verge of annihilation? Impossible. The Hu family was still a formidable force. Just then, Yang Jing received a message. His gaze fell upon Zhang Lixian, who had just returned.

"Heh. So the Zhang family has produced a worthy heir. I agree to the terms." A bright, satisfied smile spread across Yang Jing's face. Zhang Lixian and Zhang Chongwen both knew the real reason behind the Zhang-Hu war would eventually leak out. That was why, when Zhang Lixian led his people away, Zhang Chongwen had immediately contacted the Miao family. Of course, the Miao family was also interested in the Mystic Iron Mine. As Hu family cultivators kept dying, panic set in within the clan.

They had no choice but to notify the Yang family, hoping to secure their help in claiming a share of the Mystic Iron Vein. Yang Jing had tried to help. But the Hu family's way of doing things was simply unbearable. Targeting mortals… what had they been thinking? And to make matters worse, they hadn't even cleaned up their mess properly. With allies like that, Yang Jing was at his wit's end. The Hu family had allies, sure, but so did the Zhang family. The Zhang family's declaration of war was entirely justified.

What Yang Jing hadn't expected, though, was just how badly the Hu family would lose. Most of their cultivators were dead or wounded. Every cultivator in the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm was injured. They were already in the wrong, and now their strength was shattered. What right did they have? What qualifications? To still demand a share of the Mystic Iron Mine?

"Good. Patriarch Yang has agreed."

"The Zhang family discovered the Mystic Iron vein, so they take forty percent. Our two families take thirty percent each. Each family will send one mid stage and one late stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator to guard it. Any objections?" Miao Tianghong finished speaking and turned his gaze to Zhang Chongwen and Yang Jing.

"None."

"None." Both men were very satisfied with Miao Tianghong's proposal.

"Then let's gather the resources quickly. Each family will contribute Spirit Stones to nurture the spirit vein up to tier 1, upper grade and to set up a protective formation."

"Then we'll hire rogue cultivators and begin mining." Miao Tianghong added. Neither of the other two raised any objections. Once the three families reached an agreement, their junior members would handle the specifics. Meanwhile, Yang Jing turned his gaze to Zhang Lixian. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"The Hu family has already paid a heavy price. I hope you'll keep the conflict in check. Langya County needs peace." Zhang Lixian understood the hidden meaning behind Yang Jing's words.

"Understood." His expression remained very calm. The Hu family was now half dead. As time passed, the Zhang family would only grow stronger. They could settle the score eventually. For now, the most important thing was to manage the miniature Mystic Iron Mine properly. Zhang Chongwen stayed silent. After all, the Zhang family's strength couldn't compare to the Yang or Miao families.

The reason they got a forty percent share was because they had discovered the mine first and had suffered significant losses themselves. Of course, the Zhang family also had to contribute forty percent of the resources needed to nurture the spirit vein and set up the formation. With access to Mystic Iron ore, the Zhang family's artifact forging business would flourish. As for the Hu family, they were left with devastating losses and absolutely nothing.

Later, once the mine was exhausted, the spirit vein could be sold off or converted into spirit fields. Then it would be a matter of which of the three families wanted it. News of the miniature Mystic Iron Mine had already spread. But with the Miao, Yang, and Zhang families mining it together, the remaining Qi Refining Realm families could only watch with envy and frustration. The three Foundation Establishment families in Langya County had no choice but to back down.

After all, it was just a miniature mine, not worth offending three major Qi Refining Realm families over. Mining operations at the Mystic Iron vein gradually moved forward. And from his battle with the Hu family, Zhang Huaijin had acquired four storage pouches! With his powerful soul, it didn't take him long to wipe away the original owners' marks.

"Five tier 1, upper grade spirit artifacts, dozens of talismans, a few bottles of pills. And four tier 1, lower grade spirit artifacts. Not bad." Zhang Huaijin looked over his spoils, knowing the haul wasn't enormous. After this battle, the Hu family was devastated. From now on, they could only turtle up on their own spirit vein. It was no less than they deserved. Zhang Huaijin kept the talismans for himself and turned the rest into the family treasury in exchange for merit points.

For the current Zhang Huaijin, they were of little use. Once he had settled in, Zhang Huaijin announced he was going into seclusion. He was going to break through to the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm. For others, reaching the late stage was a significant bottleneck. But now, the Realm-Breaking Pearl within his body had long since accumulated all the energy it needed. It was full to bursting. He could shatter the bottleneck and step into the late stage with a single thought.

But he still had to consider his family's reaction. After the battle with the Hu family, Zhang Huaijin had gained a reputation, attracting the attention of other families. Zhang Huaijin converted all his merit points into Spirit Stones. Then he traded for materials to forge tier 1, upper grade spirit artifacts. Five sets' worth. He gave the remaining Spirit Stones to Zhang Hong, asking him to exchange them all for Snow Spirit Pills in Langya County. Snow Spirit Pills were Tier 1, upper grade pills.

They could assist late stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators in their training and help polish their cultivation. Once the pills were in hand, Zhang Huaijin went into seclusion. The Zhang family returned to normal operations. The miniature Mystic Iron Mine produced a considerable amount of tier 1 Mystic Iron every day. The three families transported their respective shares back home.

Less than a day into his seclusion, Zhang Huaijin consumed the power of the Realm-Breaking Pearl, shattered the bottleneck, and advanced directly to the seventh layer of the Qi Refining Realm! Then, he began to polish his new realm while simultaneously learning to forge tier 1, upper grade spirit artifacts. Time flowed like water, fleeting as a snap of the fingers. Three years later, Zhang Huaijin emerged from seclusion. He had absorbed all the Snow Spirit Pills he'd acquired.

Every month, he had swallowed a pill, continuously refining his spiritual power. In the first year of his seclusion, he successfully forged an tier 1, upper grade Blue Bamboo Sword, becoming a tier 1, upper grade artifact forger. For three years, he constantly polished his cultivation, refining his power each time he forged a spirit artifact. He also cleansed the pill toxins left behind in his body from all the pills he'd taken, ensuring his foundation remained untainted.

Now, after three years of relentless honing, Zhang Huaijin's cultivation had reached the peak of the seventh layer of the Qi Refining Realm. And now, it was time to come out. The Realm-Breaking Pearl, after three years of constantly absorbing ambient spiritual energy, had stored up a certain amount of power again. But compared to devouring spirit beast flesh, this method of gathering energy was painfully slow.

After emerging from seclusion, Zhang Huaijin planned to hunt spirit beasts to recharge the Realm-Breaking Pearl. That way, when he reached the Perfection stage of the Qi Refining Realm, he could advance directly to Foundation Establishment Realm without needing a Foundation Establishment Pill. Then, the Zhang family would have its own Foundation Establishment cultivator. That year, Zhang Huaijin turned twenty one years old.