Chapter 319: Proceeding Step by Step, Clearing the Way

It had been two days since he arrived in Baokang. During these two days, he had managed to build a decent rapport with the brothers from the Colorful Robes Sect. They had successively surveyed the medicinal herb areas, metal mines, crystal mines in Shenlongjia, as well as the situation of various gangs in Baokang County. Only after investigating did he realize just how dangerous this place really was!
His original plan to quickly intimidate the local factions and establish a foothold in Baokang had vanished without a trace.
Because…
In Shenlongjia, wherever there were medicinal herbs in the peripheral areas, there were blood-sucking grasses everywhere, extremely annoying. There were also towering blood-sucking trees that silently led people to their deaths, making them truly terrifying. Yet, in such a perilous place, battles raged every day. Whenever valuable medicinal herbs were discovered, battles involving at least a hundred people would break out, sometimes even more!
Lei Zhan didn’t want to get involved in such large-scale battles. His gang still didn’t even have a proper name, and with few members, participating in such fights meant certain death—without even knowing how he would die.
As for the mines…
The situation there wasn’t much better either.
All major factions had claimed their own territories!
Each gang occupied certain mine halls. Although things had seemed peaceful along the way, once you stepped into an unclaimed area, you would immediately understand what it meant to be the target of everyone’s wrath. Soon, someone would come to cause you trouble…
At the metal mines, even smaller gangs couldn’t get in—those areas were purely the domain of the larger factions, with no one else allowed to interfere.
The crystal mines were slightly better since there were several of them!
But still…
It was only after multiple investigations with the higher-ups from the Colorful Robes Sect that Lei Zhan decided to use these crystal mines as his first battle to gain fame and establish his authority!
…
“You’re seeking death!”
Seeing their companion get flung far away by Lei Zhan’s slap, the people nearby flew into rage. Without hesitation, they drew their swords!
Although Lei Zhan’s side had more people, most of them were inexperienced, and their gang’s insignia was unfamiliar—not among the factions they needed to be cautious of. Their usual arrogant attitude burst forth as they activated their combat realms and charged at Lei Zhan.
It was as if someone had brought him a hot pillow right when he needed it most.
Lei Zhan was struggling to figure out how to start killing to establish his authority, when the opponents recklessly came at him. What else could he do? He didn’t even bother activating his protective realm and charged head-on.
Xiao Bei chuckled and rushed out from behind Lei Zhan, along with two zombies clad in black one-piece cloaks. After some time of cultivation, their bodies had become pitch black and shiny, like metal.
The three of them screamed as they were hit and rolled away, their chests covered in dark purple claw marks!

It was effortless to trample over six people. Lei Zhan and his group entered the secret chamber, placing the colorful minerals they had purchased from the market into the grooves in the walls.
Boom!
The secret chamber closed. Then, the front door opened, and a dazzling light blinded everyone…
“Wow!”
“Tsk tsk, this is truly crystal mineral?!”, the group stared in shock at the fully crystallized mine cave, uttering deep exclamations.
The first level of the crystal mine cave involved digging for crystal stones from ordinary soil; but on the second level, everything was ordinary crystal stone—anyone could dig up one. No wonder the chance of finding top-quality crystals was high. Some gangs even spent thousands of silver coins on colorful minerals to gain control of the second level’s crystals.
“Who are you people!”
“Who allowed you to come in!!”
The opening of the secret chamber alarmed the group already inside. Dozens of miners stopped working and turned around, shouting angrily.
Lei Zhan didn’t even bother to say another word to these miners who made mining their full-time job!
Glancing at the only thing that seemed out of place in the mine cave—the fearsome and imposing “Stone King”—who was chasing a Mystic Realm expert around the second level of the cave, he abruptly ordered, “Kill them!”
The members of the Colorful Robes Sect’s group turned cold-faced and rushed forward without hesitation.
Seeing those murderous figures approaching, the miners panicked:
“Stop!”
“Do you know who we are?! We’re from the Blood River Sect! One of the top gangs in Bao Kang County. If you attack us, do you still want to survive?” The person who had attracted the Stone King’s attention was also furious.
Ah!!
A scream marked the beginning of the slaughter.
No explanations!
Lei Zhan stood quietly, watching the last miner of the Blood River Sect be beheaded. From start to finish, his face remained expressionless!
Since he had chosen the path of gangs, there were certain things he had to do. Groups like these, lacking sufficient strength, dared to try to control the entire second level of the crystal mine. Even if he hadn’t intervened, they would have been replaced by other forces sooner or later. Lei Zhan merely hastened the Blood River Sect’s doom.
“Poor wretches.”
While collecting loot, finding nothing, he grumbled in frustration—due to his low cultivation level, he was easy to rob. Miners usually didn’t carry much silver with them. Aside from two unlucky guys who had a few low-grade crystal minerals, there was no loot at all.
His gaze shifted, and everyone’s eyes turned to the player who was still fleeing from the Stone King’s pursuit…

The latter had long been enraged by the actions of Lei Zhan’s group, but he dared not slacken even a bit, for his task was to lure the Stone King into constant movement, thereby giving his gang members a chance to safely mine higher-grade crystal ores. Although all the miners were dead, he still wouldn’t stop, because if he did, he would surely be killed by the Stone King, whose strength far surpassed that of those in the Life and Death Realm! At the thought of losing his realm after death, he held back and refused to perish with them.
“What to do? Should we kill this guy too?”
“Kill him! It’s not right to have people from rival gangs do our work…” Lei Zhan gave the order to silence him without hesitation, then said, “Xiao Bei, prepare to have your zombies lure the Stone King. The people from the Blood River Sect should be on their way already. The two of us will guard the entrance, ready to fight at any moment…”
“Okay!”
Whoosh!
A cold arrow from afar knocked down a disciple of the Blood River Sect. The Stone King immediately closed the distance and smashed his diamond-like fist hard against the man’s back.
Boom!
The man spat blood and crashed into the wall, only to be stepped on to death by the pursuing Stone King. After eliminating the target, the Stone King turned his gaze and strode fiercely toward Lei Zhan…
Whoosh!
A zombie rushed forward, imitating the disciple of the Blood River Sect. After drawing the Stone King’s attention, it started leading him around the mine shafts.
“Get to work!” Lei Zhan ordered everyone.
Although those who came here were all high-ranking members of the Colorful Robes Sect, they had already investigated and learned that Lei Zhan and Xiao Bei were on Happy’s side and extremely strong. Therefore, they obeyed Lei Zhan’s commands without question. Hearing this, they took out iron picks from theirDing!
Clang!
They took out iron picks from their **Qiankun bags** and headed in different directions. bags and headed in different directions.
Ding!
Clang!
Ding-dang-ding-dang…
A few of them began to dig intermittently. Since this was a high-grade mining area, maybe a few digs might yield something.