The Black Iron Mountain was a bleak, jagged peak located on the border of the Zhao Clan's territory.
For fifty years, the Zhao Clan had mined it. But now, the banner of the Shadow Court flew over the main camp.
However, the transition was not going smoothly.
"We demand our pay!" A burly miner shouted, throwing a rock at the newly arrived Shadow Court overseers.
"The Zhao Clan left without paying us for three months! You bought the mine, you bought the debt!"
Behind the miners stood a group of cultivators in brown robes. The Iron Fist Sect.
"The miners are right," an Iron Fist Elder stepped forward. "This mine is disputed territory. The Shadow Court has no authority here."
Mo Tian, dressed as "Young Master Nether," sat in a palanquin carried by four sturdy puppets. He sipped tea, ignoring the shouting.
"They are noisy," Mo Tian said.
"They are backed by the Iron Fist Sect," Ghost One whispered. "The Sect wants to seize the mine by force, using the workers as an excuse."
"So, a rebellion," Mo Tian noted. "Instigated by a rival power."
He put down his tea.
"Xue Yao."
A figure stepped out from behind the palanquin.
She was no longer the ragged slave. She wore sleek, crimson armor that hugged her athletic frame. Her hair was washed, flowing like a river of blood down her back. In her hand, she dragged a massive Zanbato—a sword nearly as tall as she was.
"Master?" Her voice was calm, but vibrating with suppressed violence.
"The Elder is annoying," Mo Tian pointed a manicured finger. "Silence him."
Xue Yao didn't bow. She didn't speak. She vanished.
BOOM.
The ground where she stood exploded.
The Iron Fist Elder saw a red blur. He raised his arms, crossing his iron gauntlets. "Insolent girl! Iron Mountain Guard!"
Xue Yao appeared in front of him. She swung the Zanbato.
It wasn't a technique. It was pure, unadulterated strength amplified by the Asura Physique.
CLANG-CRUNCH.
The massive sword cleaved through the iron gauntlets. It cleaved through the Elder's arms. It cleaved through his torso.
The Elder was split in half from shoulder to hip.
Silence fell over the mountain.
The miners dropped their rocks. The Iron Fist disciples stared in horror at the bisected body of their leader.
Xue Yao stood over the corpse. She didn't wipe the blood off her face. She breathed it in, her red eyes glowing brighter.
[System: Asura Physique - Killing Stacks +1]
She turned to the Iron Fist disciples. There were twenty of them.
"Next?" she asked.
"Kill her! Avenge the Elder!"
The disciples charged.
Mo Tian watched with a bored expression. "It's not a fight. It's feeding time."
Xue Yao laughed. She spun the heavy sword like a toy. She danced into the crowd. Limbs flew. Heads rolled. It was a whirlwind of gore.
Within a minute, twenty cultivators lay dead.
The miners were shaking, huddled on the ground.
Xue Yao walked back to the palanquin. She knelt, presenting the bloody sword to Mo Tian.
"Done, Master."
Mo Tian patted her head like one would a favorite hound.
"Good girl."
He stood up and walked to the edge of the platform, looking down at the terrified miners.
"The Zhao Clan owed you money?" Mo Tian asked, his voice amplified by Qi.
"Y-yes..." a miner squeaked.
"The Zhao Clan is weak. I am strong."
Mo Tian waved his hand. A rain of spirit stones fell from the sky—thousands of them.
"Here is your back pay. Double it."
The miners scrambled for the stones, weeping with joy.
"However," Mo Tian's voice turned cold. "From today, you work for the Shadow Court. Digging quotas are increased by 50%. If you meet them, you eat meat. If you rebel..."
He pointed at the pile of dismembered Iron Fist disciples.
"You join them."
"Long live Young Master Nether!" The miners chanted, clutching their money. Fear and Greed—the two leashes of humanity.
Mo Tian sat back in his palanquin.
"We have the mine," he told Ghost One. "Now we have the ore to equip our army. Phase Two of the takeover is complete."
"Master," Ghost One looked at a communication talisman. "A message from Yan Luo. She says Ye Chen... has disappeared."
Mo Tian raised an eyebrow.
"Disappeared? From the servant quarters?"
"Yes. He vanished last night during the storm."
Mo Tian smiled.
"The protagonist has gone to find his 'fortuitous encounter' to heal his crippling. Predictable."
"Should we hunt him?"
"No," Mo Tian waved his hand. "Let him climb. If he doesn't recover, he's boring. Let him find hope. Let him think he has a chance."
Mo Tian looked at Xue Yao, who was cleaning her blade.
"Besides," Mo Tian grinned. "I have my own monsters to raise."