Chapter 85: Return to the City, Rewards

The Five Peaks seal was lifted.

The exit to the outside world reappeared.

A group of stone giants were busy at the bottom of the pit, turning over boulder after boulder, digging out the bodies of the Changsheng Sect followers and Mist Blade assassins that had been smashed to pieces, and stacking them haphazardly to the side.

Shibao, the great-granduncle of Shi Fei and Shi Meng, a twenty-meter-tall iron giant, sat at the edge of the pit, arms crossed over his chest, grinning wildly.

"I said, that Shixi, heh heh, is just a matter of one slap."

"You brats still don't believe in my strength."

"If it can be settled with one slap, why make it so complicated?"

Shi Fei and Shi Meng stood before Shibao with grim faces, while the laughing Shibao sprayed saliva, drenching the two brothers from head to toe.

Shi Meng clenched his fists, eager to jump up and punch Shibao's big face, but after thinking it over for a long time, he finally suppressed the urge.

Shi Fei took a fierce bite of roasted meat, gritting his teeth as he complained to Shibao: "You're impressive... the Xuanlan Crystal Mine almost got destroyed by your single strike. You certainly didn't grow that big for nothing."

Shibao's face darkened, he widened his eyes and glared at Shi Fei: "What do you mean by that?"

Wu Tie stood to the side, likewise gnawing on a large chunk of roasted meat.

He had swallowed nearly a hundred jin of roasted meat, yet his belly showed no bulge; streams of heat continuously flowed from his stomach throughout his body, and beneath his previously withered skin, faint muscle contours began to return.

Hearing Shibao's words, Wu Tie mumbled: "If I'm not mistaken, Shi Second Uncle is saying you grew that big for nothing, lacking brains."

Shi Fei's expression changed abruptly; Shibao shot out his right hand like lightning and tapped Shi Fei's forehead with a finger.

With a loud 'thud,' Shi Fei's eyes rolled white, his body swayed and staggered a few steps, finally unable to steady himself, he plopped onto the ground, panting heavily.

Shibao raised his head proudly and said: "Being able to settle everything with one slap... what do I need a brain for? Hahaha, if pure strength can solve a problem, why waste brains?"

Shibao was very proud, he spread his arms, fiercely bent them, and flaunted his extremely developed arm muscles.

"Although having a brain or not makes no difference, dare to disrespect me... you deserve a beating." Shibao grinned, then jabbed hard at Shi Fei's big belly, laughing "haha" as he stood and strode toward the cave exit.

"Let's go, to Big Stone City. Since I'm here, I'll help you properly deal with that clueless bunch of idiots."

"Hmph, selling out the whole family's interests just to gain a longer life for yourself?"

Shaking his head, Shibao sneered: "Really... is living a little longer that important?"

Wu Tie twitched his mouth at the side, shook his head silently, and kept devouring meat in big bites.

Shi Meng let out a long sigh: "Great-granduncle, for your giant clan, you are naturally long-lived... and you believe rocks have spirits; even in death, you merely merge with the ancestral rock spirits, which is a supremely joyous celebration."

Shi Fei swayed, his dazed head wobbling as he clumsily rose from the ground; he slapped his belly, and his pasty flesh rolled violently all over.

He sighed: "But we're different."

Shi Fei sighed deeply, counting on his fingers: "Power, wealth, beauties, fine clothes, delicious food... so many good things still left to enjoy."

"If it's those stone dwarf slaves or those wild wandering rat people, it's fine—they basically live without flavor, and death means nothing to them."

"But for these Elders of the Shi Family... they haven't lived enough yet."

"Especially someone like Elder Shixi, who has already seen hope of breaking through the Chonglou Realm; if he lives a few more years and breaks through, his lifespan could increase at least severalfold, letting him enjoy hundreds more years."

Shi Fei looked at Shibao with a hint of resentment: "They seek longevity; we juniors can understand... but they trade family betrayal for long life... the Shi Family is our Shi Family."

Shibao swung his fist forcefully: "I can't be bothered with the Shi Family's affairs... well, killing one Shixi would be enough? Or should I kill a few more?"

Shi Fei quickly waved his hands: "Enough, enough—Elder Shixi is the most urgent; beheading him would stabilize the family situation. These Elders are all immensely strong; if you slay too many, it would be a huge blow to the Shi Family's strength, after all the Cangyan Realm is not just the Shi Family."

Shibao's face twitched as he muttered lowly: "Just you guys causing trouble."

Wu Tie silently munched on roasted meat at the side. This is the Shi Family's internal affairs—no matter what Shi Fei and Shi Meng think, no matter what they do, no matter the consequences...

These are all the Shi Family's internal affairs; he's just an outsider hired as a steward, paid to work—why should he worry about these things?

Lava Grass—he now only wants more Lava Grass.

After a cough, Wu Tie interrupted Shibao's words: "Shi Second Uncle, Shi Sixth Uncle, you were just acting, heh, this couldn't be better... well, the Nether Demon Mine has returned to normal; I'm heading back to Big Stone City—how much Lava Grass can I get?"

Shibao had no interest in this matter; he lifted his head and strode toward the cave exit.

"Since nothing's wrong, I'll head back first... when you want to deal with someone, give me a heads-up. Prepare wine and meat—I'll come running whenever called, hahaha!"

The rock layers beneath Shibao's feet undulated; he seemed to walk on waves, his huge frame leaving a faint afterimage in the air without much disturbance—several steps out and he vanished without a trace.

It was as if the whole earth was writhing, the writhing earth driving his body forward, not him striding quickly on his own.

Shi Fei and Shi Meng helplessly shook their heads, glanced at each other, looked at Wu Tie, and finally their gazes both fell on the long banner hanging from Wu Tie's waist.

The six-foot long banner moved on its own without wind; misty clouds swirled across its surface, continuously sending out thin strands of black smoke that coiled and danced around Wu Tie's body. The drifting smoke made his figure appear hazy and indistinct.

Even though Wu Tie stood less than five meters before them, the two were astonished to find they could not pinpoint his position.

Wu Tie gave the feeling of a mirage—illusory and elusive, not like a truly existing person.

Without a doubt, this long banner is an ancient treasure.

Thinking of the strange phenomena in the Nether Demon Mine, and recalling how Wu Tie joined the Shi Family penniless, Shi Fei and Shi Meng naturally realized that this long banner was what Wu Tie obtained in the Nether Demon Mine.

Shi Meng blinked, his eyes also lighting up at the sight of the long banner.

Shi Fei broke into a bright smile, walked up to Wu Tie, rubbed his hands on his own collar to wipe off most of the grease, then enthusiastically patted Wu Tie's shoulder.

"Little Tie, the Nether Demon Mine has actually recovered—you've done a great job."

"Heh, Lava Grass—you're indispensable."

"How much Lava Grass was promised on the External Affairs Bureau's task sheet? I'll double your share."

"Well, once I've settled these few days' affairs, big brother I'll host a banquet; the Shi Family still has several gorgeous unmarried sisters—by then you two can get to know them well."

Shi Fei laughed brightly, while Shi Meng beside him also smiled with deep meaning.

Ancient treasures? The Shi Family isn't lacking—after all, it's one of the three great clans of the Cangyan Realm.

But talent? Nobody ever has too much.

The matter of the Nether Demon Mine, which even the combined efforts of the Shi and Lu Families couldn't resolve, was settled by Wu Tie as soon as he arrived—and he even gained a treasure.

That's talent.

Regardless of whether he thoroughly resolved this matter, even if he just got lucky and picked up a treasure out of thin air?

Even with good luck, it's still talent.

The current Shi Family lacks no treasures, only people… they are severely lacking in people!

……

The elite warriors Shixi left outside the mine pit, plus the assassins Mist Blade left outside, under the violent suppression of Shibao and a group of stone giants, the Shi Family's elite warriors were all captured alive.

And those assassins of Mist Blade, none survived.

Shi Fei didn't know where he ran off to, Shi Le didn't accompany him, Wu Tie rode a gray rock lizard, together with dozens of Shi Meng's guards, followed Shi Meng back to Great Stone City.

A strong smell of blood filled the entire district; on the gate of Great Stone City, nearly a hundred corpses were hung by ropes.

Among the nearly a hundred corpses were men and women, old and young; they had ropes around their necks, lined up in a row hanging on the city gate. The wind whistling through the distant passageway made these corpses sway slightly.

Wu Tie reined in his gray rock lizard he was riding, looked up at those people hanging on the city gate.

Shi Meng also stopped his mount, glanced at those corpses, waved his hand dismissively: "Eh, they're all Shixi's old cronies in Great Stone City. Tsk, I heard they colluded with our Shi Family's enemies, wanting to coordinate inside and out to breach Great Stone City."

Spreading his hands, Shi Meng laughed: "Although we weren't there, the warriors loyal to our Shi Family inside the city spontaneously took care of them."

Whistling, Shi Meng laughed loudly: "This time, the whole Great Stone City is spotless, clean and tidy!"

Wu Tie fell silent for a moment, then asked Shi Meng: "So, what about Second Uncle Shi?"

Shi Meng stroked his chin, looking at Wu Tie with a proud smile: "Old Two, of course he's not on my side…… all the Shi Family clansmen know it was I who seized power and profit, driving him out of Great Stone City. Well, anyway, now I alone decide everything in Great Stone City—it's that simple."

Squinting his eyes, he sighed, Shi Meng shook his head: "I have a bad temper, I like solving problems with violence, so this time… of course I'll step up as the target. Old Two and Old Three, it's better for them to stay behind and stab in the back."

Wu Tie said nothing more.

Regardless of what schemes Shi Fei, Shi Meng, and later-added Shi Le have.

This is all internal affairs of the Shi Family, not much concern to Wu Tie. He came to the Shi Family mainly for cultivation resources.

Besides that, Wu Tie currently has no feelings toward the Shi Family, and he has little camaraderie with Shi Fei, Shi Meng, and the others.

He certainly doesn't want to devote too much thought to the Shi Family's internal strife.

What does that have to do with him?

As the wind blew, the few corpses hanging on the city gate swayed, their heads knocking against the wall one by one, producing a 'knock knock' sound.

The gate of Great Stone City opened, a fully armed troop of warriors came out, Shi Meng laughed loudly, gleefully waving his hand forward: "Brothers, from now on Great Stone City will be under my rule as Sixth Lord!"

"Following me, Sixth Lord, you'll eat well, drink spicy, hehe……"

Shi Meng deliberately amplified his laughter, the booming laughter carried far into the surroundings.

Three hours later, Wu Tie sat in the main building training room of a large manor newly allocated to him, with twelve neatly arranged steel-cast boxes in front of him.

Each box contains ten stalks of lava grass, totaling one hundred twenty stalks.

The bounty for the mission to investigate the source of the anomalies in the Nether Demon Mine was sixty stalks of lava grass; Shi Fei promised Wu Tie double the reward, and Shi Meng indeed fulfilled his promise.

The one hundred twenty stalks of lava grass gathered together, in the training room tens of meters long and wide, hot air surged, heat waves rose; even Wu Tie couldn't help but sweat profusely, his clothes soaked through with sweat.

After tightly sealing each box, Wu Tie began calculating on his fingers.

One hundred twenty stalks of lava grass are more than enough to cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment; moreover, he still has surplus, following Old Iron's advice, deliberately suppressing his breakthrough to solidify the foundation further.

"Resources… time… and strength." Wu Tie recalled the Nether Demon Mine, where he was pursued by Bo Xi and utterly unable to fight back, a sorry state.

Especially Bo Xi's final large-scale killing divine ability technique; if not for Shibao's rescue, Wu Tie would have already been killed by that move.

Therefore, strength is the most important.

Taking out a stalk of lava grass, Wu Tie was about to consume it when a low reprimand suddenly came from outside the training room.

"Old White Hair, what are you doing here?"

After returning to Great Stone City, Shi Meng gave Wu Tie a different residence.

When the personnel of the External Affairs Bureau delivered the lava grass to Wu Tie, they also brought a hand order from Shi Meng.

Because Great Stone City lost a batch of mid-to-high level officials, Wu Tie, a First-Class Steward of the External Affairs Bureau, was appointed by Shi Meng as a Centurion of the City Defense Brigade, with a full hundred fierce wolf-tribe and lizardfolk mixed soldiers placed under his command.

Now in this large manor, aside from Wu Tie, the hundred warriors under his name also reside here.

Now outside his training room, there are two wolf-tribe warriors and two lizardfolk warriors standing guard.

After a loud shout, came the sound of a long blade tearing through the air.

Old White's shrill scream transmitted through the thick stone door; Wu Tie put down the lava grass in his hand and shouted loudly: "Is it Old White? Let Old White come in……"

The sound of the long blade tearing through the air ceased abruptly; Wu Tie walked to the stone gate, pulled out three steel bolts, opened the heavy stone door, and Old White sneaked in furtively.