After spending about two days, Zheng Yi arrived near the Black Iron Ore Vein.
Indeed, it was a desolate place, with only one mine underground and a single broken ungraded Spirit Vein, so the Spiritual Qi here was quite scarce.
No wonder Inner Sect Disciples were unwilling to come here to guard; compared to the Inner Sect of the Soul Catching Sect, this place was a barren wasteland.
Not to mention living comfortably, staying here for a long time might even affect cultivation.
As Zheng Yi headed to the Black Iron Ore Vein, in the only town within a hundred miles, in the Qi Family's hall, some family leaders were discussing him.
"Isn't the Soul Catching Sect currently in a big fight with the Hundred Beasts Sect? How do they still have the leisure to send an Inner Sect Disciple to guard the vein?"
Qi Yuan Shang, the third of the Qi Family, complained.
"I heard the Soul Catching Sect has just acquired the mining rights to a large quality purple copper mine, yet they refuse to let go of even a mere Black Iron Ore Vein. Truly stingy."
"Why not do as last time and just grease his palms enough to make him put on a show?"
"I don't think that's a good idea!"
"The Inner Sect Disciples of the Soul Catching Sect are known to be greedy without fail. Such Demon Sects always suck you dry and won't stop until they've scraped every bit clean."
"The last Inner Sect Disciple who left took away resources that took our Qi Family three years to accumulate. If it happens again, it will certainly be a serious blow and pose a great threat to our future plans..."
Qi Yuan Ming, the second of the Qi Family, said angrily.
"According to the intelligence I received, the Inner Sect Disciple sent this time is just a boy who barely broke through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation and became an Inner Sect Disciple not long ago."
"Does a mere Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation dare to control our Qi Family, as if we don't even count?"
"Show force first, then grace. Give him a warning to teach him some manners."
"Benefits can be taken, but our Qi Family is still the true overlord sitting on the Black Iron Mine in Badong Town."
Qi Family has been operating in Badong Town for over a hundred years and was once a powerful family guarded by several Late Stage Qi Cultivators, even having a chance at reaching the Foundation Establishment Clan.
But unfortunately, an internal conflict over a decade ago ended all of that abruptly.
In its heyday, the Qi Family only needed to offer a portion of their profit to the Soul Catching Sect.
But later, as the Qi Family declined, the Soul Catching Sect sent people to guard this vein, seizing the main control, stifling the Cultivation Clan's development.
The current heads of the Qi Family are the three people present, with Qi Yuan Ming, at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, as the family patriarch and person in power.
Qi Family's second and third are auxiliary patriarchs, managing the family business.
Because of its remote location and thin Spiritual Qi, with few specialties, the Black Iron Ore Vein is practically the family's main source of Spirit Stones.
In the past, as a Late Stage Qi Cultivation family, the Soul Catching Sect would not push too hard, but now, every few years, the Soul Catching Sect sends Inner Sect Disciples to guard it, not only extracting a large profit for the sect but those Inner Sect Disciples would also take advantage.
This directly hindered the development of the Qi Family, and as the local overlord of Badong Town, the Qi Family naturally was not welcoming of the Inner Sect Disciples sent by the Soul Catching Sect.
"After all, they are Inner Sect Disciples from the Upper Sect, we cannot afford to offend them."
"Let's first see what kind of person has come, then we'll make plans."
"Besides, losing some profit is a small matter..."
"Most importantly, we must absolutely not allow him to step into the deepest part of the Black Iron Ore Vein..."
"What's there holds the hope for the resurgence of the Qi Family, it must not be lost..."
Finally, the patriarch Qi Yuanzhong, with a somber look, made the decision, sealing the discussion.
"By the calculations, that Upper Sect disciple should be arriving soon. Second brother, third brother, come with me to greet him."
...
As Zheng Yi entered the valley, suddenly, a few figures appeared in front, followed by a surge of terrifying momentum, led by a mid-aged man's loud voice.
"The envoy from the Upper Sect is here, Qi greets you along with the clan members."
Zheng Yi stood still, looking at the rapidly approaching figures, an inexplicable cold smile flashing in his eyes.
They speak of welcoming you, but each exerts their momentum, pressing aggressively, not seeming like a welcome at all.
Instead, it felt more like giving him a warning, showing him his place.
"Revealing their intentions right away, huh? Then don't blame me."
With a cold smile inside, but no expression on his face, Zheng Yi held his Inner Sect Disciple Token, responding loudly.
"Zheng Yi, Inner Sect Disciple of the Soul Catching Sect, sent by the sect to guard the Black Iron Ore Vein in Badong Town."
Qi Family's figures moved swiftly, and upon seeing Zheng Yi's face up close and sensing only the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation aura, they exchanged glances with more radiant smiles on their faces.
"It seems the battle between the Soul Catching Sect and the Hundred Beasts Sect over the Middle-Grade Spirit Stone Mine has reached a fever pitch..."
"To have sent just a mere Fourth Layer Qi Cultivation disciple to guard the Badong Town Mine, the downgrade in strength is significant..."
According to past custom, sect disciples, being well-trained and lacking nothing in aptitude, resources, magical artifact inheritance, typically possess much stronger combat power in the same tier than ordinary loose cultivators or Qi Cultivation Clan cultivators.
Therefore, to completely settle the whole Badong Town Mine, the sect usually dispatched an Inner Sect Disciple of the Fifth or Sixth Qi Cultivation Layer.
Such strength would even pose some trouble for the three brothers of the Qi Family to handle, forcing them to use deceit and meet their demands as much as possible.
But this time, the intelligence turned out to be true, the Soul Catching Sect had indeed only sent a newly promoted Fourth Layer Qi Cultivation Inner Sect Disciple.
Moreover, looking at that young face, it didn't seem hard to deal with, their ambitions to continue dominating the mine and further plans seemed not so difficult to achieve after all.
"Haha, as expected, the Upper Sect disciple is indeed outstanding!"
Qi Yuanzhong, with a smiling face, said: "Upper Sect disciple, having traveled a long way, Qi Family has prepared a home-cooked meal, please honor us with your presence."
Qi Family, as the local tyrant, is the strongest Qi Cultivation clan within a hundred miles of the Badong Town Mine.
Any visiting disciple from the Soul Catching Sect needs to build a good relationship with the Qi Family to completely control the mine under them.
However, Zheng Yi's purpose here this time was not simply as such, and he didn't have time to waste on petty talks, so he said blandly.
"Patriarch Qi, you are too kind. I'll be stationed here, staying for quite some time?"
"There is no need for a banquet, it's better to go and see the vein while there's time."
"It's an order from the sect; if anything goes wrong, I won't be able to handle it!"
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuanzhong was taken aback; could it be this new Inner Sect Disciple of the Soul Catching Sect was naive?
Didn't he know that without a good relationship with the Qi Family, even as an Inner Sect disciple, he would find it hard to move an inch in the Badong Town Mine.