Ice City, Chu Xinghe hadn't been idle these past few days.
He had basically inspected all the industries in Ice City.
However, the gains were not significant...
Anything related to the Grand Sky Chamber of Commerce was thriving, and the more he looked, the more annoyed he became.
Other industries were also raking in money daily. Watching the major industries making money hand over fist, Chu Xinghe didn't dare to make any rash decisions. After all, he had given suggestions a few times before, and they all turned into disasters. How could he not be aware of his own track record?
On this day, as Chu Xinghe was contemplating whether to end his inspection and return to the sect to conduct some elective courses for everyone, Ma Liang suddenly came running.
Seeing Ma Liang, Chu Xinghe didn't say much and told him to pack up as they were preparing to leave.
But upon hearing that Senior Brother Xinghe was preparing to leave, Ma Liang spoke up, "Senior Brother Xinghe, we can't leave!"
Chu Xinghe: "???"
Can't leave? What kind of crazy idea do you have now? Is your heart not at ease unless you stab Senior Brother Xinghe in the back every day?Just as Chu Xinghe was speechless, Ma Liang brought news that even Chu Xinghe hadn't expected.
Ice City is located in the northern region, almost at the northernmost edge of the Blazing Sun Continent, with the Sea of Mist further north.
The area where Ice City is located borders the Snow City where the Cloud Soar Sect resides.
Though they are said to border each other, a mountain range called Silver Star lies between the two powers.
This Silver Star Mountain Range is not an ordinary mountain range but a mineral vein.
It primarily produces Silver Star Ore.
Chu Xinghe knew that Silver Star Ore was a material needed for both alchemy and artifact crafting. Although not very rare, it was valuable due to high demand.
However, the story of the Silver Star Mountain Range is quite interesting.
Initially, the Grand Sky Sect and the Cloud Soar Sect used the Silver Star Mountain Range as a boundary line, and neither side paid much attention to it.
But about a century ago, a large quantity of Silver Star Ore was discovered in the Silver Star Mountain Range, giving the range its name.
But then the problem arose: whose territory was it?
Faced with such benefits, neither sect would concede it to the other.
Thus, the Silver Star Mountain Range remained an undefined area.
Over the years, the Grand Sky Sect mined Silver Star Ore from the east, while the Cloud Soar Sect mined from the west, and they coexisted peacefully.
However, about two years ago, it was rumored that a mysterious ghostly passage was suddenly unearthed in the Silver Star Mountain Range, and countless fierce ghosts emerged from it, quickly occupying the mountain range.
The Cloud Soar Sect almost immediately evacuated everyone.
The Grand Sky Sect, facing the fierce ghosts and considering personnel safety, also had to withdraw.
After reporting the matter to the sect, the Grand Sky Sect sent elders to exterminate the fierce ghosts and find the unearthed ghostly passage to seal it. However, the number of fierce ghosts in the Silver Star Mountain Range was vast, and no matter how many were killed, they seemed endless. Rumors even mentioned the presence of a Ghost Emperor.
Eventually, it was said that the Great Elder himself came to slay the Ghost Emperor, but as soon as he arrived, the Ghost Emperor hid...
The Great Elder had no choice but to leave, and for the past two years, the Silver Star Mountain Range has become a dead zone. Despite the presence of Silver Star Ore, it cannot be mined.
Initially, the Great Elder paid attention to this matter, even suspecting the Cloud Soar Sect of foul play. However, with Chu Xinghe's contributions to the sect's wealth, the Grand Sky Sect has become incredibly rich over the past two years.
The small Silver Star Ore vein was no longer a priority for the Great Elder.
After hearing Ma Liang's account, Chu Xinghe immediately sought out Deacon Yang.
Deacon Yang's account was similar to Ma Liang's.
"So, Deacon Yang, do you think this is related to the Cloud Soar Sect?" Chu Xinghe asked directly.
Deacon Yang, facing Xinghe, didn't hold back and said, "Although there's no concrete evidence, there are rumors that the Cloud Soar Sect's sale of Silver Star Ore hasn't decreased in the past two years, but has actually increased."
"It must be the Cloud Soar Sect's doing! Senior Brother Xinghe, let's go and confront them!" Ma Liang couldn't hear the words "Cloud Soar Sect" without wanting to charge ahead.
If it were any other time, Chu Xinghe would have ignored this matter.
After all, it would cause a loss to the sect. Although the Silver Star Ore isn't worth much, any loss is still a loss, right?
But since it involved the Cloud Soar Sect, Chu Xinghe felt he couldn't ignore it!
After all, there are more ways to cause a loss to the sect than just turning a blind eye. When it comes to causing losses, Chu Xinghe has countless ideas. Although they often fail, you can't deny I have plenty of ideas!
Without much discussion, Chu Xinghe took Ma Liang and An Lan to the Silver Star Mountain Range.
Originally, Deacon Yang was worried and planned to go with them, but when An Lan appeared and asked if he didn't trust him or Ma Liang's Wan Ghost Array, Deacon Yang fell silent.
The strongest in Ice City was himself, a Martial Sovereign... But what was An Lan's cultivation level? What was Ma Liang's level?
With the two of them, if something really happened, would he be protecting Xinghe or would Xinghe be protecting him?
Although he didn't go, Deacon Yang still reminded Xinghe not to act rashly even if they discovered something, as it involved the Cloud Soar Sect.
Regardless of the relationship between the Cloud Soar Sect and the Grand Sky Sect, from a moral standpoint, the Cloud Soar Sect is ranked third among the Top Ten Sects, a reputable sect, and some things must be done according to the rules.
Of course, Deacon Yang mainly reminded Ma Liang.
After all, Deacon Yang trusted Xinghe's actions, but Ma Liang might act impulsively.
The Silver Star Mountain Range wasn't far from Ice City. The three of them arrived at the Silver Star Mountain Range and saw that the entire range was shrouded in a gray mist.
This mist seemed to be composed of some evil power, similar to Ma Liang's Wan Ghost Array.
Without much delay, the three chose to enter the mist of the Silver Star Mountain Range.
As soon as they stepped into the mist, countless ghostly figures appeared around them, rushing towards them.
"Senior Brother Xinghe, leave it to me!" Ma Liang activated the Wan Ghost Array, and in an instant, the array enveloped countless ghostly figures. Ma Liang urged the Wan Ghost Array to absorb all these ghostly figures into it.
After all, the Wan Ghost Array was composed of countless fierce ghosts, and absorbing these ghostly figures would strengthen it.
But when Ma Liang, with the Wan Ghost Array, commanded the Ghost Emperor to absorb all these fierce ghosts, something strange happened.
These ghostly figures showed no fear of the Wan Ghost Array. Not only were they not absorbed by Ma Liang's array, but they even charged towards Ma Liang's Ghost Emperor!
This scene left Ma Liang dumbfounded.
It's known that fierce ghosts have a strict hierarchy, and weaker ones wouldn't dare attack stronger ones.
But now, these seemingly weak ghostly figures were recklessly charging at the Ghost Emperor. Isn't this a bit too outrageous?
What, do foreign fierce ghosts not play by the rules?
While Ma Liang was bewildered, a flash of light appeared in Chu Xinghe's hand, and Quelling Evil flew out from his arm. Quelling Evil, with its divine light, instantly enveloped the surroundings, but these ghostly figures seemed oblivious to it and continued their charge!
This scene left Ma Liang dumbfounded.
"Senior Brother Xinghe... these ghostly figures are not right!"
Regarding Ma Liang's words, Chu Xinghe thought, "Damn it, do you even need to say that?"
My Quelling Evil is out... What ghostly figure sees Quelling Evil and still acts so lively?
Even if you're foreign ghostly figures and don't follow our local hierarchy, I could understand, but damn it, you can't possibly not fear Quelling Evil, can you?
An Lan didn't give these ghostly figures a chance to get closer. In an instant, his blade flashed, shredding all the ghostly figures into pieces.
However, no matter how fast An Lan's blade was, the ghostly figures around them seemed to have an endless supply, continuously emerging as if there was a passage, making it impossible to kill them all!
"Let's retreat first!" Chu Xinghe didn't continue to entangle with them and chose to withdraw directly.
Once the three of them exited the mist's range, all the ghostly figures retreated, showing no intention of leaving the mist.
Although they didn't know what these things were, Chu Xinghe was certain that they were definitely not ghostly figures but some strange entities.
"Let's go check out the Cloud Soar Sect's side..." With Chu Xinghe's command, the three of them crossed the Silver Star Mountain Range and arrived at the Cloud Soar Sect's territory.
But as soon as they entered the Cloud Soar Sect's territory, a voice came from afar.
"So it's Xinghe. It's been many days since we last met at the Millennium Grand Festival..." Along with the voice, a person dressed in the Cloud Soar Sect's elder attire approached from a distance.
Chu Xinghe recognized the person as Xie Songlin, the Law Enforcement Elder of the Cloud Soar Sect, second only to that old man Ling Su, and one of the top hundred experts on the Heavenly Dao list.
"Xinghe greets Elder Xie."
"Hehe... What brings Xinghe to our Cloud Soar Sect's territory today? Since I'm here, why don't I host you for a good time?"
"Elder Xie, you're too kind. I'm here today because of the Silver Star Mountain Range. I wonder if Elder Xie knows about the situation there?"
"Xinghe, you're asking the right person. The Silver Star Mountain Range was indeed one of the areas I was responsible for, but that was two years ago. Since the sudden appearance of fierce ghosts, our Cloud Soar Sect has abandoned the area."
"Is that so? Elder Xie, your Cloud Soar Sect has abandoned the Silver Star Mountain Range, yet you still manage to sell so much Silver Star Ore each year. That's quite impressive." Ma Liang interjected with a smirk.
"You must be Ma Liang... Young and fiery, aren't you? How much Silver Star Ore my Cloud Soar Sect sells is none of your business."
"Ma Liang, shut up... Elder Xie, please don't mind him. I'm mainly here to ask if your Cloud Soar Sect still intends to claim the Silver Star Ore vein. If you do, we can join forces to clear out the ghostly figures."
"Hehe... Xinghe, you might not know, but our Cloud Soar Sect isn't as wealthy as your Grand Sky Sect. The Silver Star Ore vein is genuinely important to us, so we've been trying to clear out the ghostly figures for the past two years. However, these ghostly figures are almost endless, no matter how many we kill, they keep reappearing. So, Xinghe, your idea is simply impossible."
Chu Xinghe listened and looked at Elder Xie with a troubled expression, "I see... So, Elder Xie, are you saying you don't intend to claim the Silver Star Mountain Range?"
"It's not that we don't intend to claim it, but we can't... Why? Is your Grand Sky Sect planning to clear out the ghostly figures?" Xie Songlin asked with a suspicious look.
"So you're not planning to claim it, huh? That makes things easier. As Elder Xie said, our Grand Sky Sect plans to give it a try. If we succeed, the Silver Star Mountain Range will be ours! Farewell!"
Hearing Chu Xinghe's words, Xie Songlin nodded with a smile, indicating that the Grand Sky Sect was welcome to try, and if they succeeded in clearing it, the Silver Star Ore vein would be theirs.
Watching Chu Xinghe leave, Xie Songlin's face revealed a sinister smile.
Clear the Silver Star Mountain Range?
Hmph! It's not that I, Xie Songlin, look down on your Grand Sky Sect, but you're just wasting your efforts! Even if you send a Martial Emperor, you won't be able to clear those "ghostly figures"!
No matter how capable you are, Chu Xinghe, it won't matter, because those "ghostly figures" are truly endless...