Fu Changsheng came down from Luofeng Mountain and, while crossing the river at the dock, happened to see Li Clan Leader leading two clan members by the riverside, seemingly waiting for someone.
Although the intelligence suggested that the Li Family would only discover the Yani Gang Stone Ore Vein tomorrow, to avoid potential setbacks, Fu Changsheng quickened his pace once on the boat.
Li Clan Leader watched the departing Fu Changsheng and whispered to the clan members behind him:
"Shantai, are you sure the Yani Gang Stone Ore Vein you brought back yesterday was indeed picked up in the opposite valley?"
"Clan Leader, absolutely certain, otherwise, I wouldn't dare trouble you to investigate in person."
Li Clan Leader nodded slightly.
Whether it's true.
Time will soon tell.
But.
Why did Fu Changsheng also cross the river?
Faintly.
Li Clan Leader felt as if something was slipping through his fingers, and immediately said, "Let's not wait for the Elder, we'll set off first."
On the other side.
After Fu Changsheng landed, seeing the Li Family starting to board the boat, he immediately slapped a Rapid Movement Talisman on himself. Spirit Light surged beneath his feet, and he floated like a leaf. In less than half a cup of tea's time, he sprinted through a hundred acres of Plum Grove without stopping and ascended the mountain, arriving at the valley.
At the top of the valley.
He saw Shangguan Hongyu in a red robe examining something, and when she saw Fu Changsheng coming over, she nodded slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Fu, I've already surveyed just now. Indeed, this valley harbors half a miniature Tier One Low-Grade Yani Gang Stone Ore Vein. If fully mined, it could fetch over ten thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones."
This amount of spirit stones might not be significant to the Shangguan Family.
But for the Fu Family, it's quite a substantial income.
Fu Changsheng's face beamed with satisfaction.
While the two were speaking.
Li Clan Leader also led his clan members to the valley. Seeing Shangguan Hongyu, his pupils shrank, and upon seeing the Yani Gang Stone in Fu Changsheng's hand, his body shook, realizing he was too late.
Shangguan Hongyu had a poor impression of the Li Family because of Li Wentai.
Her brows furrowed:
"This place contains a small Yani Gang Stone Ore Vein. Ten days ago, Fu Clan Leader reported it to me at Nanyang Marketplace, following the rules, this vein belongs to the Fu Family. If I find out you Li Family are up to something behind our backs again, it won't just end with losing a limb. Understood?!"
"Yes, yes, yes,"
Li Clan Leader dared not retort even a word.
He pulled his clan members, eyes full of reluctance, down the mountain.
After crossing the river.
They finally saw Elder Li arriving late.
After informing Elder Li of the situation.
Elder Li's eyes narrowed slightly.
Since Fu Changsheng took the position of clan leader, the Li Family had faced one misfortune after another.
First, the ambush in Phoenix Tree Forest failed, Fu Family cleverly resolved the Spirit Insect crisis, and then their clan's genius youth suddenly perished, even the Yani Gang Stone Ore Vein they had just discovered was preempted by the Fu Family.
All of this.
Seems to bear Fu Changsheng's shadow.
But now Fu Changsheng has the Shangguan Family as a protective talisman, and they can't touch him. Elder Li gritted his teeth and said, "Have someone keep a close eye on the Fu Family, report back to me immediately if there's any news."
....
In the valley.
Shangguan Hongyu handed Fu Changsheng something:
"I still have time, bring out your Defense Array, and I'll set it up for you."
Fu Changsheng awkwardly shook his head.
After a trip to the Marketplace to buy talisman brushes, talisman paper, and talisman blood, the clan's spirit stones had been spent entirely. He planned to wait for the Red Marrow Rice to mature, sell it, and then go to the Marketplace to purchase a formation array.
There are still quite a few Low-Tier Demon Beasts around Leimeng Mountain.
The mining of the ore vein is done by mortals.
Without a Defense Array, their lives wouldn't be guaranteed.
Shangguan Hongyu thought for a moment, understood Fu Family's current situation, immediately slapped her storage bag, and with a flash of Dawn Light, twelve array flags flew out. As she cast techniques into the Array Plate, the flags landed sequentially at the Celestial Qian, Earth Fiend..... twelve positions.
When the final technique was cast on the Array Plate.
The twelve flags buzzed.
Immediately, clusters of white light rose. The white light intertwined together, and after reaching the sky, it descended with a roar to form a white light shield, which flashed slightly and then disappeared.
The valley before them instantly turned into a forest.
Mist swirled in the forest.
Shangguan Hongyu handed an Array Plate to Fu Changsheng:
"This is the Array Plate for the Yellow Sand Mist Array, keep it well. Although it is only a Tier One Middle-Grade Array, with combined offensive and defensive effects, it is enough to withstand demon beasts below Tier One Late Stage."
"Fellow Daoist Shangguan, this.... how many spirit stones does this array cost? I will repay you in full once the ore vein is mined."
Refusal.
He couldn't utter the words.
For now, the Fu Family was really impoverished.
And desperately needed this Defense Array.
"It's just a Tier One Array; compared to the life-saving grace you gave me, it's nothing."
However, Fu Changsheng felt that the Shangguan Family had given enough.
After all.
The Tier Two Array on their Luofeng Mountain also came from the Shangguan Family, and when the Fu Family became wealthy, this kindness must be repaid.
Shangguan Hongyu, seeing that Fu Changsheng wasn't wishy-washy, was quite satisfied and then said:
"About Kuili Mountain that you mentioned last time, I found it; it's on the outskirts of the Eastern Wilderness. Fellow Daoist Fu, although you are now in the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, places like the Eastern Wilderness are ravaged by demons and monsters. I advise you to at least reach the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation before considering it."
Kuili Mountain is actually in the Eastern Wilderness?!
Fu Changsheng felt a bit regretful.
However.
In the future, if the Fu Family wants to be enfeoffed by the Court, they will also need to expand territories. Anyang County used to be on the edge of the Eastern Wilderness and was developed over generations by the Shangguan ancestors, which is why it is now Anyang County, and under the dynasty's influence, the demons and monsters of the Eastern Wilderness do not invade frequently.
After sending Shangguan Hongyu down the mountain, Fu Changsheng returned to Luofeng Mountain first.
Once he informed his third brother and fourth sister about the Yani Gang Stone Ore Vein, the two of them were stunned for a long time before reacting, and the fourth sister looked at Fu Changsheng with adoration:
"Patriarch, you are truly amazing! You actually discovered a mine."
The third brother quickly patted his chest and said:
"Patriarch, I'll be responsible for the mining of the ore vein, let the fourth sister take care of the Spirit Field at home. I promise to complete the mining task."
The three brothers and sisters immediately went down the mountain when they heard the patriarch's words.
Fu Changsheng handed over the Array Plate to him and said:
"I've already informed the head of Nanyang Town to select a thousand able-bodied men from the clan. By now, they should be waiting at the dock to cross the river. Let's go down the mountain immediately."
"Yes, Patriarch."
The three brothers and sisters quickly went down the mountain after receiving the Array Plate from him and waited for the command.
Once they reached the outskirts of Leimeng Mountain, to return to the Clan Mountain.
Fu Changsheng specifically instructed his third brother not to leave the Yellow Sand Mist Array without his order, regardless of what happened.
From Leimeng Mountain down, back to the Clan Mountain, upon returning, Fu Changsheng retreated into the Secret Chamber, and before leaving, he had specifically instructed his third brother, not to leave the Yellow Sand Mist Array without his clear orders, no matter what happens.
Inside the Secret Chamber.
A light shield slowly lit up his body.
"Exchange for the lottery draw!" Fu Changsheng immediately said:
With the reward points gathered, he now had enough to proceed with the exchange and draw once with his 58 family contribution points!
"""