Chapter 79: The Heavy Weapon Sect's Atrocities

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Shen Mo took stock of the treasures in his storage ring and nodded with satisfaction.

He had collected many more treasures, leaving only half to reach his goal of forty-five items.

As for the treasures needed to repair his body, he was still searching.

Some of these treasures were found through his own opportunities, while others were taken by intercepting the opportunities of Xiao Fan and Liu Yunxuan.

He glanced at his own status panel.

[Recent Opportunity: Three days later, while out treasure hunting, feeling thirsty, you rest by Baishui Spring in the Qingcang Mountains. A bird-like demonic beast suddenly dies above you and falls in front of you. Upon dissecting its corpse, you find a piece of Wood Essence in its belly.]

Shen Mo felt a burst of joy.

Wood Essence was a top-grade Xuan-level treasure, a heartwood that could only be condensed in spirit trees over five hundred years old.

It could serve as the wood foundation for condensing his golden core.

"Time to go out and continue treasure hunting. I need to condense this Flame Prison Golden Core as soon as possible."

Shen Mo stretched lazily and pushed the door open.

He walked down the mountain path.

Along the way, regardless of what the disciples or deacons were doing, or their cultivation level, they would immediately stop, salute him, and address him as the Young Sect Master.

He also encountered a few outer and inner elders who didn't put on any airs, respectfully addressing him as the Young Sect Master.

Shen Mo nodded slightly to each of them in return.

"Hmm, why is Elder Li in such a hurry?" Shen Mo noticed some familiar figures.

Elder Li, seeing Shen Mo, smiled broadly, "Young Sect Master, it's good news! We took back the Thunder Crystal Mine five days ago! I'm just about to lead some people over to guard it!"

Behind her were three Core Formation stage inner elders and several powerful disciples.

Leading the group were Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Xiao Fan.

The disciples following them were at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.

These disciples also saluted Shen Mo, not daring to show any disrespect.

Shen Mo's gaze swept over Xiao Fan.

[Name: Xiao Fan.]

[Cultivation Level: Major Accomplishment Foundation Establishment Realm.]

[Fate: Child of Luck, Graceful Immortal Appearance, Reincarnation of a Great Power, Narrow Escape, Fiery Battle Physique.]

[Destiny: He will stop at Nascent Soul Minor Achievement and become the Hall Master of the Burning Heaven Hall, titled Immortal Chi Feng. While searching for herbs, he will inadvertently stumble into a natural maze, get trapped for thirty years, and die from exhaustion.]

[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, while accompanying the team to guard the Thunder Crystal Mine, he will chase a demonic beast into the third tunnel at night. At the deepest part, he will find two Thunder Essences and a low-grade Earth-level defensive martial skill, "Four-Directional Profound Gate."]

[Recent Opportunity 2: Five days later, while cultivating at the Thunder Crystal Mine, he will go out to enjoy the moonlight and inadvertently discover an inner elder of the Heavy Weapon Sect sneaking into the mine. Following him, he will find the elder opening a hidden tunnel in the deepest part of the sixth tunnel to excavate buried treasures but will get heavily injured by the formation and flee in panic. He will enter the hidden tunnel and obtain a fifth-level Thunder Toad Demon Crystal and the "Heavy Weapon Crystal Refining Technique."]

[Recent Opportunity 3: Ten days later, while clearing demonic beasts near the Thunder Crystal Mine, he will encounter an inner elder of the Heavy Weapon Sect leading disciples to attack a mining team from Qingshan City. He will have to flee immediately and, during the escape, will encounter a wolf pack led by a Wolf King. The two sides will fight, allowing him to escape. After escaping, he will find a piece of Red Blood Copper and six third-level demon crystals in the wolf pack's nest.]

[Recent Opportunity 4: A month later, on Liu Yuanfeng's orders, he will go to Qingshan City to secretly meet Ouyang Qian, the daughter of the Deputy Sect Master of the Divine Sword Sect. She will give him six bottles of Great Stabilizing Pills, which will help him reach the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.]

He nodded with satisfaction, looking at Xiao Fan with appreciation.

The "weed" was still thriving as always.

Time to harvest it again!

Xiao Fan felt a chill from Shen Mo's gaze but could only smile and bow, addressing him as the Young Sect Master.

Shen Mo didn't continue to stare at Xiao Fan; he didn't want to scare his "weed."

He turned to Elder Li and smiled, "The speed at which we reclaimed the Thunder Crystal Mine was faster than I expected. The Thunderfire Sect had no reaction?"

He thought Murong Yue would gather more strength and prepare thoroughly before making a sudden move.

Elder Li laughed heartily, "Your analysis was spot on. After we sent the Thunderfire Sect's outer elder back, the Thunderfire Sect could only swallow their pride."

"They even praised us for driving away the domineering Heavy Weapon Sect."

Shen Mo also laughed.

Zhao Ting and the others were quite surprised.

It seemed Shen Mo had a part in planning the reclamation of the Thunder Crystal Mine?

"Elder Li, I'm interested in Thunder Crystals and would like to go to the mine to guard it. Is that possible?" Shen Mo asked with a smile.

"Of course. The Sect Master and the others have already set up protective formations at the mine, so it's very safe." Elder Li nodded with a smile.

Shen Mo joined the group.

At first, Zhao Ting, Luo Shengnan, and Zhao Rou were somewhat worried, fearing that Shen Mo's elevated status would make him distant from them.

However, Shen Mo's demeanor and behavior remained as usual, not showing any signs of being high and mighty.

This reassured the three of them.

With laughter and conversation, the group set off towards the Thunder Crystal Mine.

Qingxuan Sect's mountain gate was located on the southern slope of the Qingcang Mountains.

The Thunder Crystal Mine, however, was situated on the eastern slope of the Qingcang Mountains.

Further east lay the Heavy Weapon Sect.

Because the Thunder Crystal Mine was far from Qingxuan Sect but close to the Heavy Weapon Sect, it was necessary to station four inner elders and a group of disciples to guard it.

Otherwise, the Heavy Weapon Sect would take back the mine the day after it was captured.

Elder Li led Shen Mo and the others along the southern mountain path of the Qingcang Mountains.

Qingxuan Sect had a significant influence in the vicinity of the Qingcang Mountains.

After all, when Qingxuan Sect was at its peak, it had encompassed the entire Qingcang Mountains within its territory.

In comparison, the influence of Feishuang Sect, Heavy Weapon Sect, and Lingxi Sect was much smaller.

Along the way, they encountered many rogue cultivators, but upon seeing that they were from Qingxuan Sect, these cultivators immediately showed respect, not daring to be disrespectful.

After traveling for over an hour, the group arrived at the Thunder Crystal Mine without any surprises.

The mine was located at the foot of the mountain.

At the entrance, a wall over 20 feet high, made from the surrounding mountain rocks, enclosed a large area outside the cave.

Within this area, many stone houses and watchtowers had been constructed.

Disciples constantly observed the surroundings from the watchtower tops.

Elder Li stood at the gate and shouted, "I'm here, and the Young Sect Master is here too. Time to switch shifts!"

The gate quickly opened.

Two elders came out to greet them.

Shen Mo noticed the obvious fatigue on their faces.

Clearly, they had been guarding the mine day and night for several days, resulting in extreme exhaustion.

"Finally... Young Sect Master," the lead elder, with dark circles under his eyes, weakly saluted Shen Mo.

The Young Sect Master held a position second only to the Sect Master.

Even though Shen Mo's cultivation level was not yet on par with theirs, the hierarchy must be respected.

The address was not to be taken lightly.

Shen Mo nodded, "We're here to switch shifts. You can rest and return to the mountain gate."

"Alright," the two elders sighed in relief.

Elder Li and the elders and disciples she brought quickly took over the work in the mine.

"What? Not enough miners?" Shen Mo was about to tour the mine when he heard Elder Li's astonished voice nearby.

The elder with dark circles sighed repeatedly, "Yes, the sixty or so miners brought by the deacon from Gufeng City were attacked by the Heavy Weapon Sect on the way. Many were killed, and some scattered. Only twelve made it to the mine."

His voice was filled with resentment as he spoke, clearly furious at the Heavy Weapon Sect's atrocious actions.

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