Chapter 320: Exorbitant Prices

Blood River Gate!
It was considered one of the top three local player gangs in Baokang. Initially, they managed to obtain one of the crystal mines by outmaneuvering many powerful rival gangs. This was possible because they gave up on the medicinal herbs in Shenlongjia and avoided competing for rare metal mines, thus securing control of one of the crystal mine levels.
This should have been a golden period for Blood River Gate’s development, a great opportunity to rise among the major gangs in the martial world…
However, due to the extreme scarcity and value of the Colorful Minerals in the early stages, Blood River Gate didn’t dare invest all their funds. They only aimed to firmly hold onto this precious resource and grow gradually.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned…
Less than two days after taking control—just as they had recouped their costs—they heard news that the second level of the crystal mine had been raided. Blood River Gate’s leader, “Blood River Nine Heavens,” immediately gathered a large group of fighters from nearby training sites and rushed into the crystal mine.
But tragedy struck!
Although the hundreds of fighters who arrived gradually demonstrated Blood River Gate’s strength, blocking off the entire crystal mine, they could only stand helplessly at the entrance to the secret chamber.
To enter the second level, eight Colorful Minerals were required!
Moreover, there were strict limits on the number of people who could enter at once, as the chamber was very small, holding only thirteen or fourteen people. This was why Blood River Gate couldn’t provide adequate protection for the second level…
“Damn it!”
Standing outside the secret chamber, Blood River Nine Heavens was furious at the five empty slots:
“It took two days to gather just three Colorful Minerals. Go buy more right now!”
“Boss, we don’t have any money.”
“Today, someone has driven up the price of Colorful Minerals several times over. One now costs 500,000 silver taels. Spending that amount could buy several fine top-tier weapons…”
“Are you idiot? Weapons? Are weapons more important than the second level of the crystal mine?!” Blood River Nine Heavens grew angrier the more he listened. Why had the price of Colorful Minerals risen? It was because more people realized the importance of the second level. If they didn’t regain control soon, Blood River Gate would be even more at a disadvantage…
“Hurry! Gather money and buy them from the first level. 500,000 silver taels each—cash payment immediately!”
Blood River Nine Heavens wasn’t so rigid as to insist on slow fundraising.
But it seemed the news had leaked…
Blood River Gate’s urgent need for Colorful Minerals prompted miners in the various caves of the first level to raise prices. A few who had Colorful Minerals held their prices firm, refusing to sell unless offered 600,000 silver taels!

Even with both force and trickery, the Blood River Gate couldn’t take it down and had no choice but to compromise… Yet even after compromising, they still failed to get what they wanted. The miners, all experienced veterans of the mines, unanimously said that trading in the mines was extremely unsafe and that trading had to be done back in the city. This enraged the Blood River Gate members to the point of foaming at the mouth, but they were powerless to argue—after all, killing any of them on the spot would yield half of their money, and many would surely be willing to take such risks. After the Blood River Gate finally spent three million to deliver the colorful minerals, fourteen of its strongest fighters led by Blood River Nine Heavens rushed into the second level of the crystal mine… In less than five minutes, the Blood River Gate members were as furious as if their ancestral graves had been desecrated. They roared at the newly activated secret chamber. The miners in the adjacent hall all understood that it must be Blood River Nine Heavens who hadn’t killed the people inside but instead had doomed himself, which was why the Blood River Gate members were so angry and agitated. They didn’t dare to discuss or mock them and instead continued digging in silence! Sure enough! The large group blocking the first level retreated after more than an hour of futile shouting… leaving only a small group to guard the nearest passage. … News spread quickly throughout Baokang County and Shenlongjia that the third-largest gang there, the Blood River Gate, had been provoked by experts—dozens of experts at the Mysterious Realm level and dozens of miners had all been killed by Lei Zhan and Xiao Bei. Players, eager for chaos, rushed to spread the news, with some even claiming to have seen it with their own eyes—only two people had fought the whole time, while those who followed Lei Zhan into the second level of the crystal mine focused on mining. Even when attacked by others, they handled it effortlessly, showing remarkable skills. Soon… various rumors and guesses from players filled the streets: “Lei Zhan must have come prepared.” “With over a dozen experts at the Mysterious Realm level, it won’t take a day or two to seize the resources. It seems the Blood River Gate has lost this time—its resource points have been taken, and Lei Zhan’s group definitely won’t leave anytime soon.” “…I wonder if Kai Xin is inside.” “Hmm, the three of them never separate.” “The Blood River Gate would never dare attack Kai Xin…” In Baokang County, other gangs were also on high alert. Ever since they learned from the leader of the Blood River Gate that those occupying the second level of the crystal mine were Lei Zhan and Xiao Bei, along with others of great cultivation, they sensed a strong undercurrent from this unusual detail! “Acting so openly, they probably plan to settle down in Baokang…”

“If it’s these two, they’re not easy to deal with. After all, they’re happy brothers. Last time, for the sake of Yao Shi Wanneng, who isn’t exactly close to them, they destroyed the Five Poisons Sect. Who would dare touch Lei Zhan and Xiao Bei…”
“Sigh!”
The leaders of several local gangs and sects were extremely troubled.
“It’s Blood River Nine Heavens’ bad luck to be used as a tool to establish dominance.”
Although their local gangs had also formed an alliance to resist the powerful forces invading Baokang County, such as Yipin Hall, Lingxiao Palace, and Xiyi Gate, they felt utterly helpless against experts like Kai Xin, who had the ability and courage to destroy entire gangs single-handedly without any worries.
“Bastards!”
After seeking help for hours with no result, Blood River Nine Heavens flew into a rage at his headquarters: “A bunch of bastards! You all spoke beautifully about standing together through thick and thin, but as soon as something happened to me, you all hid and watched—Hmph! I wonder how long you can stay carefree. Can a single crystal mine satisfy their desires?”
In fact, Blood River Nine Heavens had already gathered quite a bit of information. Many disciples from Caiyi Gate had followed Lei Zhan into Baokang. Recently, these unfamiliar faces had frequently appeared in areas where medicinal materials were found and in various mines. What shocked him even more was that all of them were experts with advanced martial arts skills, each wielding powerful weapons—essentially the elite of a large gang.
The people in Baokang County hadn’t yet become anxious because those forces hadn’t touched their interests. But once fighting started, even the strongest local gang, “Jade Fox Palace,” might not be able to withstand such power!