Three days later.
Lin Ye opened his eyes. A bell mounted outside the cultivation chamber was ringing—someone was summoning him.
"Hm?"
A trace of irritation flashed through Lin Ye's eyes.
In these three days, his qi sea had indeed expanded significantly. But breaking into the Star River Realm still required a certain level of accumulation.
Before entering seclusion, he had made it clear: unless it was something that truly could not be handled, no one was allowed to disturb him.
He pushed open the door of the cultivation chamber.
Outside stood the tower-guarding elder and Deputy Sect Master Wen Lang.
The moment Lin Ye saw them, he knew something serious had happened.
"What is it?"
Lin Ye asked.
"Reporting to Sect Master: three days ago, one of our spirit-stone mines clashed with the Fire Cauldron Sect. The Fire Cauldron Sect, allied with the Azure Thunder Sword Sect, attempted to seize the mine by force. They brought many experts and severely injured both the Grand Elder and the Second Elder."
Two Heavenly Phenomenon Realm experts—both injured?
And judging from Wen Lang's tense expression, the wounds were likely serious.
"Daring to seize my mine? Take me there."
His cultivation speed had been too slow lately, and cultivating inside the Fenglei Mystic Qi Tower had made Lin Ye's temperament slightly more violent—perhaps also an effect of the Nine Revolutions Shura Art.
A few days without bloodshed made his hands itch.
Wen Lang and the others were delighted.
If Lin Ye was willing to act, then the situation would immediately turn around.
The Azure Thunder Sword Sect had sent four Heavenly Phenomenon Realm experts—and none were weak.
They had appeared suddenly and caught Fenglei Xuanzong off guard.
Fortunately, the Grand Elder and Second Elder had recently advanced in cultivation and fled quickly, barely escaping death.
Everyone had assumed that sending two Heavenly Phenomenon Realm experts would be enough to control the situation.
No one expected the enemy lineup to be that overwhelming.
Wen Lang swiftly led Lin Ye to the main plaza.
Several majestic Wind-Thunder Eagles were already waiting.
The Wind-Thunder Eagle was smaller than the Wind-Riding Bird, but faster, stronger, and capable of combat.
Its battle power was comparable to the Iron-Tailed Golden Eagle from Golden Dragon City—slightly stronger, in fact, because the Iron-Tailed Golden Eagle bloodline was impure.
The Wind-Thunder Eagle, however, possessed an exceptionally pure bloodline.
Fenglei Xuanzong had even taken its name from these eagles.
There were only eight Wind-Thunder Eagles in the sect.
Only peak masters or higher were allowed to mobilize them.
On the main plaza, five Wind-Thunder Eagles were fully prepared.
Three peak masters at Earth-Transformation Eighth Stage.
One elder at Earth-Transformation Seventh Stage.
In yesterday's clash, aside from the Grand Elder and Second Elder, many others had also been wounded.
This time, only five people were going—but with Lin Ye present, it should not be a problem.
After witnessing Lin Ye's Star River Realm combat strength, there was nothing to fear—unless the opponent could also produce a Star River Realm existence.
Given the Azure Thunder Sword Sect's temperament, if they truly had a Star River Realm expert, they would never keep it quiet.
"Peak Master Leng Ruo, you will lead the way."
Listening Mystery Peak Master Leng Ruo.
Technically, Lin Ye had once been a disciple of Listening Mystery Peak, though he had rarely met Leng Ruo.
Leng Ruo nodded.
Looking at Lin Ye, she felt an indescribable emotion.
She never imagined that beneath her own cultivation peak, such a terrifying powerhouse had been hiding.
The five Wind-Thunder Eagles flapped their wings and launched.
"Boom!"
If these Wind-Thunder Eagles formed a mounted guard force like the Golden Eagle Guard, that spectacle would be truly magnificent.
"This journey is nearly four hundred li. With the Wind-Thunder Eagle's speed, we can arrive in an hour and a half."
Leng Ruo spoke to Lin Ye.
Lin Ye nodded, then closed his eyes to cultivate on the eagle's back.
The four people behind him watched quietly.
Lin Ye was young, but his strength was monstrous, and his methods were cold and exact.
Even the entire upper leadership of Fenglei Xuanzong had shown not the slightest dissatisfaction when Lin Ye declared he would take the sect.
They only felt a cautious fear.
Because Lin Ye's strength was too great.
And because once he decided someone had to die, he never stopped until the person was dead.
Fenglei Xuanzong Spirit-Stone Mine
The mining camp had already been wrecked.
The Fenglei Xuanzong flag had been cut down and replaced by the banners of the Fire Cauldron Sect and the Azure Thunder Sword Sect.
The defenders who failed to escape had been captured.
In defeat, you became a prisoner.
The Azure Thunder Sword Sect made no attempt at politeness—those left behind were all detained.
Only a few had managed to flee and report back.
The camp was now filled with Fire Cauldron Sect and Azure Thunder Sword Sect disciples, positioned in defensive rotations.
"I thought Fenglei Xuanzong had some kind of divine power. Turns out they're nothing but useless trash!"
Inside the command tent, six figures sat drinking and laughing.
"Song Wuque ran fast. If he had been a half-step slower, I would have cut off his hand!"
"Elder Duan's Azure Thunder Sword Art is enough to dominate the entire Fenglei Riverlands. No one alive can match it."
A middle-aged man in an alchemist's robe raised his cup to flatter Elder Duan.
Five sat below, while a young man in purple sat in the highest seat.
"Elder Duan's Azure Thunder Sword Art has reached the sixth layer. Even my father cannot compare. He once said Elder Duan's Pure Thunder Mystic Qi is perfectly suited for it!"
The purple-robed youth had sharp features and an unmistakably sinister aura in his eyes.
He was the Azure Thunder Sword Sect's Young Sect Master.
Shen Jun.
Within the territories controlled by the Azure Thunder Sword Sect, he was hailed as the number one genius.
From childhood he mastered multiple sword arts.
And at the age of ten, he had already cultivated the sect's strongest technique—Azure Gang Wild Thunder Force—three years earlier than the current sect master.
This conflict over the mine was clearly meant to pave Shen Jun's path and establish him as the future successor.
Four Heavenly Phenomenon Realm elders had been dispatched with him.
What could possibly go wrong?
The alchemist-robed man was the Fire Cauldron Sect's Deputy Sect Master.
Ge Chun.
A third-grade alchemist capable of refining third-grade pills.
This alliance between Fire Cauldron Sect and Azure Thunder Sword Sect was a union of strength.
Hearing Shen Jun's words, Ge Chun nodded repeatedly, feeling relieved.
This time, Fire Cauldron Sect had chosen the correct side.
With Azure Thunder Sword Sect support, taking this mine meant massive future profit.
Once the mine was secured, the alliance could rise as the strongest force in the entire Fenglei Riverlands.
"You praise me too much. My skill before the sect master is always nothing but a joke."
Duan Yan answered calmly.
Even though he had drunk quite a bit, he was not foolish.
Azure Thunder Sword Sect was expanding rapidly, and the current leadership was also testing whether old ministers like him could still be trusted.
If he grew arrogant, he might return only to be discarded.
The world was never kind.
A single misstep could lead to ruin—unless you were strong enough to crush everything.
Shen Jun seemed satisfied.
"Once we secure the vein and our reinforcements arrive, we will march directly on Fenglei Xuanzong. A useless chicken-coop sect dares pretend it belongs in the same breath as Azure Thunder Sword Sect?"
The group applauded loudly.
They had long despised the existence of these rival sects.
Best to conquer them all and seize every resource in the region.
"On the Myriad Rivers Continent, countless ships compete. Fenglei Riverlands is only a starting point. Our goal is to seize the Upper River Lands!"
The Myriad Rivers Continent was broadly divided into Upper River, Middle River, and Lower River.
Fenglei Riverlands belonged to the Lower River region.
If one could establish dominance and move into Middle River or even Upper River, cultivation resources would become vastly richer, and spiritual qi would be far more concentrated.
A true ambition could not be trapped by the present—it required a wider world.
"Exactly! Azure Thunder Sword Sect cannot remain in this backwater!"
Duan Yan and the others slammed their cups in solemn oath.
Clang!
At that moment, the camp alarm bell rang.
The group smirked with disdain.
"Looks like those Fenglei Xuanzong trash have returned."
The Counterattack
Five enormous Wind-Thunder Eagles hovered in the air above the camp, staring down at what had once been their own territory.
Seeing the enemy banners fluttering, anger rose in everyone's brows.
Below, Azure Thunder Sword Sect and Fire Cauldron Sect disciples drew bows and loaded heavy crossbows.
"What are you waiting for? Kill."
Lin Ye spoke.
He had no intention of negotiating.
Lin Ye urged his Wind-Thunder Eagle into a dive and fired the Gale-Breaking Crossbow repeatedly.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
Five Fire Cauldron Sect members were instantly pierced through.
Leng Ruo and the others hesitated for not even a breath.
"Kill!"