Chapter 34: Yulin Mine

Fire Lord returned to the Peak Master Pavilion. Inside, Zhen Nantian, Lin Po, along with four three-star Soul Immortal disciples, were already waiting there. As soon as Fire Lord entered, he glanced at everyone and said with a smile, “Fat guy, you’re really capable—getting the sect leader’s approval so quickly. Great, let’s head to Fangyang Star together.”
Zhen Nantian forced a smile. Lin Po and the other four disciples were shocked by Fire Lord’s casual use of “fat guy” for Zhen Nantian, as if it were entirely appropriate, leaving them speechless.
Zhen Nantian stepped forward first and called out, “Alright, let’s all set off for Fangyang Star.” Fire Lord followed with a faint smile, and then Lin Po and the other four disciples also left the Peak Master Pavilion.
On Juehuo Peak, a starship appeared, carrying Fire Lord and six others. It immediately created a beam of light and soared into the sky.
On the main peak of Tongzhou Hall, Yun Zhouzi, who was in his cultivation room, opened his eyes and said with a faint smile, “This Fire Lord has a mysterious background. Since he volunteers to go to Fangyang Star, he must be confident. I’ll use him to strengthen Tongzhou Hall’s power.” Then, Yun Zhouzi closed his eyes and continued cultivating.
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Zhu Bao went to Yuanxing Sect and easily struck a business deal with Yu Linzi. Full of enthusiasm, he returned to the Hai Feng Mountain Range, to Zhu family’s stronghold.
Zhu Bao arrived at Yangxing Hall, the core of Zhu family’s stronghold. Most of the Zhu family members who had gone to various factions on the Xiyang Continent had returned and were discussing matters in Yangxing Hall.
“Everyone, I’m back,” Zhu Bao called out loudly as he reached the front of the hall.
Whoosh.
Upon hearing Zhu Bao’s voice, all the Zhu family members in Yangxing Hall rushed out to greet him. They all knew Zhu Bao had taken on the most difficult task—after all, Yuanxing Sect had maintained neutrality for tens of thousands of years, and it wasn’t someone like Zhu Bao, a mid-tier Soul Immortal, who could persuade them.
Eight people emerged, all Soul Immortals, with concerned expressions on their faces.
“Elder Zhu Yu, Zhu Jun, Zhu Qing, Zhu Ming, Zhu Yuan, Zhu Long, Zhu Shun, Zhu Qiao—I’ve been to Yuanxing Sect and struck a business deal with them. They’re willing to do business with our Zhu family in the future,” Zhu Bao said with a smile as he looked at the eight of them.
Sure enough, upon hearing his words, the eight people happily surrounded him, their eyes filled with admiration.

Yuan Xingzong is the most difficult faction to persuade, yet it also has the widest network of connections. Once allied with Yuan Xingzong, it would be easy to win over other smaller factions given Yuan Xingzong’s relationships with them. Therefore, as soon as the eight heard Zhu Bao’s words, they realized that the Zhu family’s stronghold on Fangyang Star was likely to stabilize, and a branch of the Zhu family could be established there. “Well, Zhu Bao has made significant contributions and deserves our celebration. Let’s all enter Yangxing Hall,” said the leader, Zhu Yu, with a smile. The nine immediately entered Yangxing Hall and took their seats one after another. Zhu Yu sat on the dragon-tiger leather chair, glanced at the eight, and said with a smile, “This time, twenty members of our Zhu family will head in twenty different directions to establish connections with various factions. Except for Zhu Xiao, who was followed by the Yuwen family’s Soul Immortals and forced to return to the stronghold, the other nineteen have reached the headquarters of the factions they were assigned to. Although those smaller factions are afraid of retaliation from Huang Yuanzong, Shixing Lake, and the Yuwen family because of our new arrival, they dare not be too close to us or agree to do business with us. Yet we can see that they are actually interested in forming an alliance; they just lack a powerful faction to back them up, so they hesitate to speak out. This time, Zhu Bao has already persuaded Yuan Xingzong. With Yuan Xingzong’s influence and the support of our ancestors, I believe those smaller factions will ally with our Zhu family.” Zhu Bao and the other eight immediately smiled in understanding. Those smaller factions understood the benefits of forming an alliance but hesitated because they lacked the protection of powerful Earth Immortals. If they allied themselves, they would be wiped out by the three major factions, which was why they had always avoided it. Zhu Li, the ancestor of the Zhu family, was a genuine Earth Immortal, who could ensure that those three major factions wouldn’t dare confront the alliance head-on. Zhu Bao glanced around and asked in confusion, “Where is Zhu Xiao? Why isn’t he here in Yangxing Hall?” The Zhu family had sent ten Soul Immortals, but only nine were present in Yangxing Hall—Zhu Xiao was the one missing. As soon as these words were spoken, Zhu Yu and the other eight let out loud laughter. Zhu Bao looked at them in confusion, puzzled.

“Zhu Bao, you have no idea. When the twenty of us went in different directions, Zhu Xiao was followed by the Soul Immortals from the Yuwen family and had to return to the base. After the eight of us came back, each of us shared our findings, but only Zhu Xiao had nothing to say, which made him very frustrated. In anger, he went straight to Yangguang City, claiming to gather information, but actually to avoid being frustrated by you again,” Zhu Yu explained happily.

Zhu Bao forced a smile.

Just as the laughter faded, the nine people’s immortal senses suddenly detected Zhu Xiao’s presence as he flew back to the base. The nine were about to fly out to greet him when Zhu Xiao sent a message through his immortal sense: “Everyone, no need to come out. I have some important news to share.”

The nine sat back down.

Zhu Xiao immediately entered the Yangxing Hall, gave the nine a serious look, and said, “Everyone, the Huoxia Merchant Alliance in Yangguang City has recently received shocking news. Tongzhou Hall has discovered a deposit of Yulin ore in the Lanlin Mountains on Fangyang Star and has registered it with the Huoxia Merchant Alliance.”

“What!”

Zhu Yu, Zhu Bao, and the other nine stood up immediately, shocked by the news.

Yulin ore was the material used to craft immortal artifacts at the Earth Soul Immortal level, and it was extremely expensive. Now that Tongzhou Hall had claimed it, they could accumulate endless wealth by selling it, amounting to as much as what the Zhu family earned through hard work across four planets.

Tongzhou Hall and the Zhu family were rivals on Zhu Yan Star. If Tongzhou Hall benefited, it meant the Zhu family would suffer.

The ten Soul Immortals of the Zhu family stood silently in the Yangxing Hall, at a loss for words.

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The Lanlin Mountains were also located on the Xiyang Continent, in its eastern part. It was a desolate area with chaotic spiritual energy, and few cultivators lived there.

Huo Zun, Zhen Nantian, Lin Po, along with four three-star Earth Soul Immortal disciples—seven in total—transferred from Zhu Yan Star to Yangguang City and immediately registered the Yulin ore deposits in the Huoxia Merchant Alliance, turning them into Tongzhou Hall’s property.

In the immortal realm, whoever discovers unclaimed mineral deposits owns them. Of course, the registration must be done through the Huoxia Merchant Alliance.

As for Huo Zun registering the Yulin ore deposits as soon as he arrived in Yangguang City, it was all thanks to the information provided by Qu Yi.

Qu Yi’s four avatars—Gold Venerable, Wood Venerable, Water Venerable, and Earth Venerable—after killing Yuwen Chuanpeng, obtained the jade slips he had hidden. They learned that Yuwen Chuanpeng had discovered a deposit of Yulin ore but hadn’t told the Yuwen family, intending to use it as leverage in future elections for clan leader to ensure his own victory. With Yuwen Chuanpeng dead, the Yulin ore fell into Qu Yi’s hands, who then passed it on to his avatar, Fire Venerable.

At that time, Fire Venerable, Zhen Nantian, Lin Po, and five others checked into an inn called “Love Endures Forever” in Yangguang City.

As soon as Fire Venerable entered his room, Zhen Nantian rushed in, shaking his large head and his big belly before staring at Fire Venerable. “Fire Venerable, tell me—how did you get news about this Yulin ore? Have you ever been to Fangyang Star?” Zhen Nantian asked, puzzled.

Undoubtedly, Yulin ore was material for immortal artifacts at the Earth Soul Immortal level. Selling it would bring a huge fortune, instantly elevating Tongzhou Hall’s strength by a significant margin. Zhen Nantian couldn’t understand how Fire Venerable, who had started as a One-Star Human Soul Immortal and had always been with Tongzhou Hall, could suddenly have knowledge of Yulin ore upon arriving on Fangyang Star and even generously offer it to Tongzhou Hall.

Fire Venerable smiled, sat down, and looked at Zhen Nantian, saying, “Fatty, I’m from Fangyang Star. I reached the Human Immortal realm in the Lanlin Mountains, where I discovered the Yulin ore.”

Of course, Fire Venerable wouldn’t reveal the truth to Zhen Nantian and made up a random excuse.

Only then did Zhen Nantian sigh in relief, finally understanding why Fire Venerable knew about the Yulin ore. Thinking he now understood Fire Venerable’s background, he sat down more relaxedly. “Fire Venerable, you’re truly a blessing to our Tongzhou Hall! Our artifact refinement efficiency has increased dozens of times, and now we’ve got Yulin ore too. It will be hard not to grow stronger from now on,” Zhen Nantian said excitedly, envisioning a bright future.

Fire Venerable merely smiled faintly and slowly said, “Fatty, next, you need to announce a message: Tongzhou Hall is looking for business partners to help us sell the Yulin ore to other planets.”

Zhen Nantian’s relieved expression turned to surprise again as he stared at Fire Venerable, his belly trembling unintentionally. “Fire Venerable, are you sure? We can sell the Yulin ore on our own—why share some of the profits with others?” Zhen Nantian exclaimed in disbelief.

Yulin Mine can be sold directly to the most powerful commercial alliance in the Huoxia Star Region, the Huoxia Merchant Alliance, at a fair price.
Huo Zun smiled faintly at Zhen Nantian, shook his head, and said, “Fat guy, this is Fangyang Star. If Tongzhou Hall wants to establish a firm foothold here, you need to build good relationships with other forces—of course, you’ll have to give some gifts as a token of goodwill.”
Upon hearing this, Zhen Nantian fell silent for a moment before suddenly looking at Huo Zun with gleaming eyes and saying, “Huo Zun, it seems you really know a lot. As you said, our Tongzhou Hall is still weak at the moment and can’t challenge the interests of the major forces in Xiyang Continent right now.”
Huo Zun nodded with a smile.