Xie Songlin watched as Chu Xinghe and the others left, a mocking expression on his face.
"No matter how capable you are, Chu Xinghe, you're still just a naive kid who hasn't even grown all his hair yet."
The little guy is simply too innocent.
Talking about clearing the ghosts from the Silver Star Mountain Range?
To Xie Songlin, this was utterly ridiculous.
How could I, Xie Songlin, not know what the deal is with the ghosts in the Silver Star Mountain Range?
Damn it, it's something our Cloud Soar Sect created.
The Silver Star Mountain Range was long neglected, but once a massive Silver Star Ore was discovered, it suddenly became a hot commodity.
Over the years, the Cloud Soar Sect and the Grand Sky Sect have been peacefully developing the Silver Star Ore together.
But seeing the Grand Sky Sect grow stronger and wealthier, the Cloud Soar Sect grew envious.Finally, the Cloud Soar Sect got its chance when the sect accidentally acquired an ancient secret treasure, which is the source of all the evil energy in the Silver Star Mountain Range.
Using this ancient treasure, the Cloud Soar Sect successfully drove the Grand Sky Sect out of the Silver Star Mountain Range, and now all the Silver Star Ore belongs to the Cloud Soar Sect.
When Chu Xinghe came this time, Xie Songlin couldn't help but laugh.
Back then, even when your Grand Sky Sect's Great Elder came personally, he couldn't do anything about the Silver Star Mountain Range.
Clear the ghosts?
If they were real ghosts, then your Grand Sky Sect could clear them, but the things in the Silver Star Mountain Range aren't ghosts at all, they're... evil energy puppets!
These evil energy puppets come from the ancient secret treasure the Cloud Soar Sect accidentally obtained.
As long as this treasure exists in the Silver Star Mountain Range, the evil energy won't dissipate, and as long as the evil energy remains, it can endlessly spawn those ghost-like evil energy puppets.
The rumor about discovering a Ghost Emperor in the Silver Star Mountain Range was just a ruse by the Cloud Soar Sect to confuse the Grand Sky Sect.
The evil energy puppets themselves aren't very strong, but they're incredibly annoying.
No matter how many times you kill them, they can be reborn in the evil energy, making them virtually endless.
Unless the Grand Sky Sect assigns several Martial Emperors to keep watch here every day, killing the evil energy puppets as soon as they appear, it's impossible to mine the Silver Star Ore.
But while Silver Star Ore is valuable, is it worth stationing several Martial Emperors here? Isn't that a bit excessive?
So the Grand Sky Sect had no choice but to withdraw from the Silver Star Mountain Range.
After all, the strong aren't afraid of these evil energy puppets, but the miners can't handle it...
Now the entire Silver Star Mountain Range is shrouded in evil energy, and all the Silver Star Ore has become the property of the Cloud Soar Sect.
As for Chu Xinghe's talk of clearing out these ghosts, Xie Songlin thought it was pure fantasy.
Come on... Grand Sky Sect, come clear out these ghosts...
By then, Chu Xinghe will find out that not only can't you clear them, but your Grand Sky Sect will also waste resources!
It's a total loss.
That little bastard Chu Xinghe even asked me if I wanted the Silver Star Mountain Range. Don't think I, Xie Songlin, don't know what you're up to, Chu Xinghe.
That little bastard Chu Xinghe must be thinking that after clearing the Silver Star Mountain Range, the Grand Sky Sect will take over.
After all, I said I didn't want it... But Chu Xinghe, you're too naive.
When I said I didn't want it, it was just to fool you. Your Grand Sky Sect can't touch the Silver Star Mountain Range at all; in the end, only our Cloud Soar Sect will mine the Silver Star Ore.
Chu Xinghe, along with Ma Liang and An Lan, had already returned to Ice City.
"I think it's definitely the Cloud Soar Sect up to something!" Ma Liang said indignantly.
"Why are you stating the obvious? Do you have any evidence?" Chu Xinghe glanced at Ma Liang.
From Xie Songlin's behavior, even if Chu Xinghe were a fool, he'd know this had something to do with the Cloud Soar Sect, right?
What's the deal? Xie Songlin, an enforcement elder of the Cloud Soar Sect, isn't staying in the sect but instead shows up in Snow City?
And just as we enter the Cloud Soar Sect's territory, you appear... Isn't that too much of a coincidence?
"Senior Brother Xinghe, let's ask the elders from the sect to help!"
Ma Liang couldn't believe it; could these damn ghosts in the Silver Star Mountain Range really not be killed?
But before Ma Liang could finish speaking, An Lan chimed in, "It's useless; those things are probably something called evil energy puppets. They are born from evil energy, and as long as the evil energy remains, no matter how thoroughly you clear them, they'll be reborn after a while."
"They're not strong, but they're extremely annoying. It's impossible to completely clear them."
An Lan's words left Ma Liang feeling helpless. Ma Liang spread his hands and said, "Isn't there any way to solve this?"
"Unless we find the main body of the evil energy puppets. Once we have the main body, the evil energy puppets will naturally cease to exist. But the Silver Star Mountain Range is so vast, finding the main body of the evil energy puppets is very difficult."
"Treasure hunting, huh? Yuzheng can do it... I'll contact Yuzheng right away!" Ma Liang said with glee.
If you talk about other abilities, Yuzheng might not be great, but when it comes to treasure hunting, damn, there's no one more awesome than Feng Yuzheng.
No matter where the main body of the evil energy puppets is hidden, even if the Cloud Soar Sect hides it in something awesome, Feng Yuzheng can dig it out.
But just as Ma Liang was about to contact Feng Yuzheng, Chu Xinghe stopped him.
Goodness... Ma Liang's mind works fast; he immediately thought of Feng Yuzheng's treasure hunting technique.
Although Feng Yuzheng's Divine Engraving Technique is incomplete, his treasure hunting technique is complete.
Others might not know about this treasure hunting technique, but doesn't Chu Xinghe?
With this treasure hunting technique, forget about treasures; if Senior Brother Xinghe got lost, Feng Yuzheng could find him.
So if Feng Yuzheng were to enter the Silver Star Mountain Range, wouldn't he find the main body of the evil energy puppets in no time?
Then we could control the evil energy puppets and take over the Silver Star Ore vein, and the Cloud Soar Sect would suffer a silent loss.
In theory, Ma Liang's method is quite good.
But Ma Liang, oh Ma Liang... can't you ever consider Senior Brother Xinghe when you do things?
If we really followed your plan, how many resources would the Silver Star Ore vein bring to our Grand Sky Sect every year?
Are you targeting the Cloud Soar Sect or targeting me, your Senior Brother Xinghe?
Moreover... if we really followed Ma Liang's plan, the Cloud Soar Sect would lose both the evil energy puppets and the Silver Star Ore, which would be a very painful loss.
But the problem is, am I, Senior Brother Xinghe, the kind of person who lets others suffer in silence?
The Cloud Soar Sect has practically delivered their face to our doorstep, and we won't just give them a slap; we'll let them suffer in silence?
So Chu Xinghe immediately stopped Ma Liang from contacting Feng Yuzheng and told him not to worry about this matter. Senior Brother Xinghe had his own plans, and this time, he promised Ma Liang that he would give the Cloud Soar Sect a huge surprise.
However, before this surprise, Chu Xinghe specifically arranged for Ma Liang and An Lan to make another trip to Snow City, targeting Xie Songlin.
"Go again?" Ma Liang looked confused and said he didn't quite understand.
"Go ask Xie Songlin if the Cloud Soar Sect really doesn't want the Silver Star Mountain Range anymore. Oh, and remember to bring a memory crystal to record it, just in case they deny it later."
Although he couldn't figure out what Senior Brother Xinghe's intentions were, for Ma Liang, Senior Brother Xinghe's arrangements were everything, so Ma Liang, along with An Lan, hurriedly headed to Snow City.
After Ma Liang left, Chu Xinghe hummed a tune about getting rich while taking out a spirit bird. After writing and drawing for a while, the spirit bird flew out of Ice City and headed towards the Grand Sky Sect...
Watching the spirit bird fly further away, Chu Xinghe smiled with satisfaction.
Ma Liang, oh Ma Liang, your plan is perfect, but it's a bit small-minded.
Just wait and see how Senior Brother Xinghe pulls off something big for you!
If we don't make the Cloud Soar Sect crap themselves, it means they were already clean!
In Snow City, Xie Songlin's face darkened when he saw Ma Liang return.
After all, Ma Liang's previous actions in the Great Moon Nation had embarrassed the Cloud Soar Sect.
Although the Grand Sky Sect severely punished Ma Liang, look at him; does he look like an outer disciple?
Who has ever seen an outer disciple wield the Feng City Order at the drop of a hat?
Even our Cloud Soar Sect knows Ma Liang is known as Chu Xinghe's right-hand man. And who is Chu Xinghe?
This guy is Chu Xinghe's right-hand man; does it matter if he's an outer or inner disciple?
What? If the Cloud Soar Sect announced that I, Xie Songlin, was demoted from enforcement elder to outer disciple, would the disciples dare to disrespect me? I'd smack them!
But whether this outer disciple is real or not, at least the Grand Sky Sect has given the world an explanation.
Now, seeing Ma Liang return, Xie Songlin, though wishing to crush Ma Liang, had to maintain a friendly demeanor.
"Ma Liang, why are you back again? Is there something you need from our Cloud Soar Sect? Or is there someone here you're looking for?"
As soon as Xie Songlin spoke, Ma Liang's face showed a cold smile.
Ma Liang could obviously tell that Xie Songlin was trying to provoke him. If it were before, Ma Liang might have lost his temper and confronted Xie Songlin.
But the current Ma Liang is not the same as before. As a man destined to become the Grand Sky Sect's Great Elder, Ma Liang can endure and adapt.
What is Xie Songlin up to? Ma Liang knows.
But this old fool doesn't realize that as soon as he finished speaking, Senior Brother An Lan had already moved behind him. If it came to a fight, he'd be the one getting stabbed to death.
Although Ma Liang really wanted Senior Brother An Lan to stab this old fool, he knew that compared to Xie Songlin's life or death, the task assigned by Senior Brother Xinghe was more important.
Ignoring Xie Songlin's taunts, Ma Liang directly asked.
"Elder Xie, no need for verbal sparring. Today, I'm here on Senior Brother Xinghe's orders to ask again if your Cloud Soar Sect really doesn't want the Silver Star Mountain Range anymore."
"Hehe... I, Xie Songlin, stand by my word. Didn't I already say it before? Our Cloud Soar Sect won't be taking the Silver Star Mountain Range."
"Can Elder Xie represent the Cloud Soar Sect? Don't come back asking for it after we've cleared it, that would be..."
"Ma Liang, as the enforcement elder of the Cloud Soar Sect, my words naturally represent the Cloud Soar Sect. Today, I state here that if the Grand Sky Sect can truly clear the Silver Star Mountain Range, our Cloud Soar Sect won't take a single bit!"
Hearing Xie Songlin's response, Ma Liang knew it was settled...
Without wasting more words with Xie Songlin, Ma Liang cupped his hands in salute and left.
But Ma Liang was also curious about what exactly Senior Brother Xinghe was planning to do this time.