Chapter 732: Immense Wealth

"Finally killed this muscle monster—he was incredibly hard to kill, holding his own against two of us at the peak of Three Flowers Realm solely through physical strength and bloodline power. If this had happened back when the Tian Dao Sect still existed, I doubt anyone would've believed me."

At this moment, Xiang Xiangzi, seeing the death of the Red Gold Mountain Lord Huohuo, let out a long breath of relief.

"If he'd understood even a little cultivation, he could've killed us effortlessly—he never should've been worn down to death here," Xuan Yuezi also exhaled deeply.

"These muscle monsters had better never learn cultivation—if they do, how will cultivators from other worlds survive? You and I are among the Seven Immortal Maidens, the absolute top experts in the cultivation world, second only to those who've reached Great Perfection or attained the Dao. In our own realm, we have almost no equals."

Xiang Xiangzi quickly shook her head, unwilling to see anyone from the Wildlands take up cultivation.

Their foundational strength is too immense—no matter what method they practice, they'll become nightmares to others.

"Every sip and bite is predestined. Precisely because the people of this world are so favored by heaven, able to surpass our Three Flowers Realm cultivators through physical strength alone, no cultivation methods ever developed here," Xuan Yuezi said, then waved her hand and retrieved the Tian Dao Seal.

She then took the weapons and armor of the deceased Red Gold Mountain Lord Huohuo for inspection.

"Look—just pure red gold forged into this armor can withstand attacks from top-grade Dao artifacts. If this were given to the Bald Daoist, and he re-forged it, inscribed talismans and arrays, its power would be incalculable."

Afterwards, Xuan Yuezi stored both the red gold weapon and armor inside her storage magic artifact.

Xiang Xiangzi glanced at them but made no request—they all knew clearly that once they seized the Red Gold Mountain, red gold would be plentiful; there was no need to quarrel over two pieces of equipment.

"For now, let's not cross back to the Incense World. Let's rest here first—this place is rich with heavenly spiritual energy, perfect for cultivators. Tai Yi really picked a good spot. If the cultivation world found out about this treasure land, they'd go completely mad."

"Now that Tai Yi has achieved such power, it's time to ask him to cross over and bring back our Tian Dao Sect's Divine Goddess and several Divine Generals," Xuan Yuezi added. "With your and my help, plus Tai Yi's own strength, suppressing those Three Flowers Realm cultivators won't be difficult."

But Xiang Xiangzi said with excitement, "Let's talk about that a few days from now. First, let's seize the Red Gold Mountain and become its new lord."

"Agreed," Xuan Yuezi nodded slightly.

At this moment, Li Yi and Jiang Mingtian, seeing the battle settled, also exhaled in relief. They planned to rest briefly, then press their advantage and seize the Red Gold Mountain outright.

"Li Yi, aren't we hitting the jackpot now?" Jiang Mingtian said with a grin.

Though he hadn't lifted a finger in combat, he'd still risked his life—if Li Yi had lost, he'd have faced retribution.

"Indeed. Killing the Red Gold Mountain Lord and taking the mountain means we're now regional lords ourselves. As thanks, everything here is yours," Li Yi said, making the promise without hesitation.

After all, without Jiang Mingtian taming the Qiongqi beast, he could never have won.

Jiang Ming said, "Li Yi, as always, how we split the spoils—I leave it to you. But now isn't the time to discuss it. Earlier, I sent Zhao Fangji to sneak into Red Gold City during our battle and locate the treasury. If we won, he's to hold it and prevent anyone else from getting there first."

"I see," Li Yi nodded. "Still, since he was willing to risk his life alongside us—even if he contributed little—he deserves his share."

"But now isn't the time to talk about that. We must seize Red Gold City, secure our wealth, and guard against other powerful enemies."

Jiang Mingtian nodded. "Then I'll take the Qiongqi to Red Gold City and hold the fort. You and the two Immortal Maidens should recover your strength first. We'll discuss the rest in a few hours."

"Alright," Li Yi nodded.

Of everyone present, only Jiang Mingtian and his controlled Qiongqi beast were in decent condition. Though the Qiongqi was wounded, it was far better off than Li Yi and the two Immortal Maidens.

Everyone immediately went their separate ways.

"Master, I've retrieved your arrow," Long Yu rushed over again, picking up the black gold arrow once more—though he couldn't join such a battle.

Yet as a bloodline warrior, he couldn't just stand by watching Li Yi fight while doing nothing.

Li Yi descended from the air and took the black gold arrow. "Your help was vital—I couldn't have repelled that Shenyu warrior so quickly without it."

He expressed his gratitude to Long Yu.

Indeed, it was Long Yu's timely retrieval of the arrow that turned the tide.

Otherwise, that warrior, Mu Tuo, might have actually killed Li Yi.

But that debt would be settled later—he wouldn't forget the man's opportunistic betrayal.

"Long Yu, take Qioniu and patrol the Red Gold Mountain. Drive out every surviving slave from the mountain and grant them freedom. Also expel every mountain guard—leave none behind. If they resist, kill them," Li Yi gave him a new order.

With Long Yu and Qioniu's strength, plus the new lord's reputation, this wouldn't be difficult.

"Yes," Long Yu immediately replied, then turned to act.

"Wait," Li Yi then summoned spiritual power and reached out through the air—the red gold spear left on the battlefield flew straight to him.

He handed the spear to Long Yu: "This was the weapon of the bloodline warrior Bei Gong. From today, it's yours—a reward for your loyalty."

"Thank you, Master," Long Yu took the spear, thrilled.

This was the finest weapon a warrior could wield—a red gold divine weapon. Even many bloodline warriors didn't possess one, let alone a slave like himself.

"Go," Li Yi said.

Full of excitement, Long Yu gripped the red gold spear and quickly departed.

For Li Yi, seizing the Red Gold Mountain meant no shortage of red gold divine weapons—he wouldn't begrudge rewards.

At this moment, Li Yi did nothing else—he simply waited quietly as the two Immortal Maidens restored their spiritual power, taking the chance to rest himself.

Fortunately, the spiritual energy in the Wildlands was abundant.

Less than an hour passed.

Under the Heaven and Earth Absorption Technique, Xuan Yuezi and Xiang Xiangzi restored their spiritual power in under an hour.

With the rest complete,

Li Yi's confidence grew. "Two Immortal Maidens, it's time to take Red Gold City. All the treasures mined from this mountain range were transported into the city. Now that we're the new lords of the Red Gold Mountain, these treasures belong to us."

"Tai Yi, you're right," Xiang Xiangzi smiled brightly and flew over. "If I could forge Dao artifacts from red gold, fighting that muscle monster wouldn't have been so grueling."

Xuan Yuezi nodded slightly—her demeanor was cold and expressionless.

"I'm confident the amount of red gold here won't disappoint us," Li Yi said, looking forward. He then cleared the battlefield, retrieving the damaged Xing Star Spear and a shattered red gold armor.

After confirming nothing was left behind, he joined the two Immortal Maidens and soared toward Red Gold City on clouds.

Every move they made was watched closely by the people in the city.

Though Red Gold City was small, it was fully equipped—with merchants, slave owners, and mountain-dwelling residents. But none knew how the new lords would govern.

Some merchants seized the chance to flee the city outright; others saw opportunity and stayed, hoping to profit under the new lord's rule.

After all, the new lord now controlled the Red Gold Mountain and had vast wealth—he'd surely make lavish purchases.

Li Yi now followed Jiang Mingtian's spiritual aura to the city's governor's mansion.

All guards and warriors had been driven out, leaving the place eerily empty. When he and the two Immortal Maidens entered the main hall, they were stunned by its opulence.

The entire hall was built of blue gold, and the throne seat was forged entirely from red gold.

In addition, countless precious gems were embedded in the walls, radiating brilliant light.

Eternal lamps burned for a thousand years; around the hall stood the skulls of mountain-lord-level beasts—displayed like trophies, boasting the former Red Gold Mountain Lord's might and valor.

"What a waste," Xiang Xiangzi couldn't help muttering.

As a Three Flowers Realm cultivator, she felt pain seeing such barbaric extravagance—these were top-tier materials for forging Dao artifacts and elixirs, yet treated like bricks and decorations.

This place had such abundant cultivation resources—how could they ever understand the suffering of the late Dao era?

"Li Yi, you're just in time—go see the weapons vault. That's where the real treasure lies," Jiang Mingtian rushed over, excited.

"Weapons vault? Good, let's go," Li Yi said.

When they reached the weapons vault again, they were stunned once more.

Rows of red gold weapons lay on the floor—great swords, massive axes, hammers, spears—each of different sizes and styles. Countless red gold armors and shields filled the space.

A quick glance revealed hundreds.

Too bad warriors in this world, no matter how strong, could only wear one armor and wield one or two weapons at most—more than that was useless.

Li Yi idly picked up a red gold divine weapon and swung it—he couldn't help grimacing.

Though red gold was excellent—indestructible and razor-sharp—it was still just an ordinary weapon, nowhere near the wonder of Dao artifacts.

"If we forged them all into Dao artifacts, we'd be rich beyond measure," Xiang Xiangzi's eyes gleamed—she saw each piece as a perfect blank for a top-tier Dao artifact.

A little refinement, and they'd become peerless treasures.

(End of Chapter)