Chapter 143

This middle-aged man is the clan elder stationed at Cold Star Valley, Lu Weijin, who is at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.

"How is the situation, Weijin?" Lu Renwei asked immediately upon seeing Lu Weijin walk out.

"It's not very good. The other side not only has no intention of retreating in the slightest, but they have also committed more personnel below the late stage of Qi Refinement. As for martial masters, they have committed another ninth-rank Martial Grandmaster, and I saw Yan Jiheng arrive this morning!" Lu Weijin said with a grave expression.

"The tenth-rank Martial Grandmaster Yan Jiheng has also come?" Both Lu Renwei and Lu Sanxia's expressions changed slightly, and they looked up toward the mountain ridge on the opposite side of the valley.

"What exactly does the Yan Clan want to do? Do they really want to launch an all-out war against our Lu Clan? Is he not afraid of both sides suffering and other forces reaping the benefits?" Lu Renwei said with an ugly expression.

"The Yan Clan has the support of the Xie Clan behind them, and the Yan Clan's younger generation is indeed more outstanding than ours on the Lu Clan's side. Over these years, they have also cultivated many formidable martial masters in the secular world.

By gradually committing personnel below like this, the Yan Clan might eventually suffer heavy losses, but we would certainly be the ones hurt even more severely. Moreover, they can use this to train their truly elite disciples," Lu Weijin said.

"Then what can be done? Are we just going to admit defeat now and give up Cold Star Valley?" Lu Renwei said with his tiger eyes wide open.

"That is certainly not possible! So many people have already been killed or injured; once we give up Cold Star Valley, not only will all previous efforts be wasted, but the Yan Clan will surely be able to rise to power by taking advantage of the situation. At that time, the Lu Clan will definitely be in danger!" Lu Weijin said.

"Since that is the case, then continue to commit personnel. Dig as much Dark Nether Ice Stone as possible to exchange for some magic treasures and elixirs to strengthen our power.

If it really comes to the end and the casualties are too severe for us to hold on, and we still cannot force the Yan Clan to retreat, then the late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators and we old fellows will have no choice but to throw everything in!

At that time, it will depend on whether the Yan Clan dares to follow suit. If they don't dare to follow, then naturally they will have no choice but to negotiate with us. We definitely cannot retreat now!" Lu Renwei said in a deep voice.

"Good!" Lu Weijin nodded and said, "Now, let's distribute the personnel and have them go down as soon as possible."

Soon, Xia Daoming and the others were gathered at the camp, lined up in squads.

Except for the leader who was a Martial Grandmaster, the rest were all Qi Refinement cultivators.

However, the most powerful among them were only at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.

Xia Daoming had already learned from Lu Ziying yesterday that both sides still had a tacit understanding, only committing cultivators below the late stage of Qi Refinement. As for martial masters, they only committed those below the tenth-rank Martial Grandmaster level.

But as casualties increased and the conflict intensified, figures at the clan elder level had already begun to gather on the ridges of Cold Star Valley to monitor the other side, ready to escalate the battle at any time.

Therefore, Xia Daoming was not surprised that the highest-ranking Qi Refinement cultivator leading the team into the valley mine cave this time was only at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.

As for whether both sides were secretly smuggling in powerful figures to hunt specifically down below, that was hard to say.

However, even if there were, according to Xia Daoming's estimation, they should be extremely rare.

Because the Lu Clan and the Yan Clan were next-door neighbors, they were very clear about each other's powerful figures.

Moreover, once there were many such figures, it actually meant that both sides would break out into an all-out war—it would be either you die or I die, with no room for maneuver left.

Personnel soon began to be rearranged and mobilized.

Before long, Xia Daoming frowned.

On the side of the Jin Guifeng main sect, although the number of powerful martial masters was not small, compared to the small branches of the secular sect, the proportion of martial masters was still very small, while the proportion of cultivators was very high.

Often, one Qi Refinement cultivator would only keep four or five martial master followers by their side.

Whereas for the small branches of the secular sect, it was just the opposite: the proportion of martial masters was extremely high, and cultivators were the small handful of people at the very top of the family pyramid.

Therefore, a large portion of the martial masters brought by Qi Refinement cultivators like Lu Ziying were reassigned to the Qi Refinement cultivators of the main sect.

Not only that, Clan Elder Lu Weijin was clearly biased.

The Qi Refinement cultivators of the main sect already had higher cultivation bases, and although they had fewer martial master followers by their side, they were basically formidable seventh or eighth-rank Great Martial Masters. Yet, he still transferred away a large portion of the martial masters from the side of the weaker Qi Refinement cultivators of the small branches and distributed them to the Qi Refinement cultivators of the main sect.

However, those Qi Refinement cultivators from the small branches did not seem to show much dissatisfaction, or perhaps they were already accustomed to the distinction between superior and inferior and thought this was normal, or perhaps even if they were dissatisfied in their hearts, they dared not express it.

"You, you, and you five, follow Lu Junshan." Just as Xia Daoming was secretly frowning and quite displeased with the clan elder's clearly biased deployment, Lu Weijin pointed at him, Lu Huiyun, Lu Zhengqin, and four sixth-rank Great Martial Masters, telling them to follow a young cultivator at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.

This young cultivator already had three eighth-rank Great Martial Masters by his side.

"This won't do!" Lu Ziying was greatly shocked upon hearing this and blurted out subconsciously.

"Presumptuous! Since the clan elder has arranged it, how could you have the qualifications to object? Why haven't you all come over here yet!" That young cultivator, Lu Junshan, looked coldly at Lu Ziying, scolded her, and then called out to Xia Daoming and the others in a condescending and bossy manner.

"Others are fine, but Lu Huiyun and him—Ziying dares to request that the clan elder leave them for me," Lu Ziying said, ignoring Lu Junshan and bowing to request Lu Weijin.

"Hmph, you are indeed presumptuous! How can I allow you to bargain with what I, the clan elder, have arranged!" Lu Weijin's expression sank, and a powerful aura burst forth from his body, pressing down so hard that Lu Ziying's iron-tower-like, sturdy body was faintly bending, and beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

However, Lu Ziying did not retreat because of this. Instead, she knelt down on one knee abruptly, staring at Lu Weijin with teary eyes, and said, "A few days ago, Lu Chengtian lost his life at the hands of the Heart-Devouring Old Demon. Ziying dares to beg the clan elder to have pity on my Jinxiu Valley lineage!"

I really didn't expect it; this Lu Ziying is rugged but meticulous, and her acting is actually first-class!

Xia Daoming couldn't help but admire her greatly in his heart upon seeing this.

Lu Weijin's expression, however, turned gloomy. Just as he was about to scold her, Lu Sanxia on the side already frowned slightly and said, "Weijin, why don't you just forget it! Jinxiu Valley is indeed a bit pitiful; it was hard for them to produce a Lu Chengtian, only for him to lose his life at the hands of the Heart-Devouring Old Demon.

Lu Ziying became a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator at only seventeen years old, which can be considered a good seedling. Just let her take a few more martial masters by her side."

"Lu Junshan is a seedling in the younger generation who has hopes of reaching the late stage of Qi Refinement in the near future. This trip into the mine cave is more about tempering his state of mind to help him break through, so there can be no mistakes.

Since you have said so, then give Lu Ziying one more eighth-rank Great Wu Shi!" Lu Weijin frowned upon hearing this, but still made a concession.

After saying this, Lu Weijin pointed at Lu Huiyun and said, "You continue to follow Lu Ziying; the others remain unchanged."

"Clan Elder, I am actually not a member of your Lu Clan. I stayed behind only to protect my senior brother, sister-in-law, and Lu Ziying, not to throw my life away for your Lu Clan, and certainly not to protect him!" Xia Daoming said helplessly upon seeing this.

"Presumptuous! Who do you think you are to speak he..." Lu Junshan's expression sank, his eyes flashing with cold light.

However, halfway through his sentence, Lu Junshan's expression changed drastically, and he swallowed the rest of his words.

Lu Weijin, who had already worn an angry expression, also changed his face.

"A ninth-rank Martial Grandmaster! I didn't expect that you are a ninth-rank Martial Grandmaster at such a young age. This old man actually misjudged you along the way!" On the other side, Lu Renwei revealed a look of surprise.

"Three clan elders, I think as a martial grandmaster with a different surname, I should have the qualifications to say a few words and make a choice, right?" Xia Daoming looked up at the three clan elders, including Lu Renwei.

"Hmph, it's just a ninth-rank Martial Grandmaster; this place is not for you to..." Lu Junshan was a true standout in the family's younger generation and was very conceited. How could he stand Xia Daoming looking down on him like this? He immediately revealed an angry expression.

"Junshan, don't speak." Lu Renwei raised his hand to stop Lu Junshan.

In normal times, for the Lu Clan, a ninth-rank Martial Grandmaster naturally counted for nothing, and he would have no qualifications to put on airs in front of the Lu Clan elders.

But today is different from the past.

The Lu Clan is in need of personnel, and to recruit reinforcements, the Lu Clan even issued a mission at the Destiny Mansion in the Shi Zhu Lin market.

Now that a martial grandmaster has suddenly come to help, how could they push him out the door just for the sake of a little face!

Moreover, the struggle between the Lu Clan and the Yan Clan is still limited to those below the late stage of Qi Refinement.

If a ninth-rank Martial Grandmaster is used well, he can exert great lethality.

Lu Junshan swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

"This old man remembers your name is Xia Daoming! Grandmaster Xia, thank you for coming from afar to support our Lu Clan. Don't worry, after the dispute in Cold Star Valley ends, our Lu Clan will definitely reward you generously!" Lu Renwei bowed to Xia Daoming after stopping Lu Junshan.

"Clan Elder Renwei is too polite," Xia Daoming bowed and said.

"Quality is better than quantity. Since you are a martial grandmaster, in my opinion, the four of you following Lu Ziying as a team is enough. Too many people will only cause many inconveniences," Lu Weijin looked at Xia Daoming and said indifferently.

These people are all Lu Clan disciples, and in the end, they are all fighting for their own interests. Xia Daoming naturally has no obligation to protect them, and with fewer people, it is indeed more convenient for him to act. Although Lu Weijin's words had a suspicion of selfishness and maintaining his dignity as a clan elder, they also suited Xia Daoming's wishes.

Therefore, Xia Daoming nodded without hesitation and said, "That is also fine."

Xia Daoming's straightforwardness made Lu Weijin feel a bit embarrassed.

After all, as a martial grandmaster, he disregarded the danger to his life for the sake of fellow-disciple friendship to come and help the Lu Clan; it was truly rare and commendable. His own behavior was indeed lacking in grace.

However, since the words had already been spoken, Lu Weijin found it difficult to take them back.

This personnel distribution storm passed.

Only that fellow Lu Junshan seemed very unconvinced, glancing at Xia Daoming from time to time with a trace of contempt and mockery.

Clearly, he believed that his sixth-layer Qi Refinement realm and status were much more powerful and noble than Xia Daoming, a mere martial artist.

Soon, small squads descended from the mountain ridge into the valley and entered from one of the largest mine caves.

On the opposite ridge, the Yan Clan also sent out squads, descending into the valley and entering the mine cave entrance.

In the blink of an eye, Cold Star Valley returned to tranquility.

The personnel stationed on the ridges on both sides monitored the actions of the opposite side.

As soon as Xia Daoming and the others stepped into the mine cave, they suddenly felt as if they had entered another world.

The mine cave was very large, and inside it connected to many channel entrances, extending in all directions, intricate and complex, like a huge maze.

Scattered on the rock walls were bits of ore like stars, emitting a faint, cold light.

There were two elderly cultivators guarding the mine cave.

Their eyes swept over Xia Daoming and the others, revealing a complex look.

PS: The second update will be at noon. Also, a notice: the time for the first update in the future will also be moved to noon. This will free up more time for me to revise and buffer. Continuing to ask for monthly tickets, thank you!

(End of chapter)