Chapter Fifty-Six: The Dark Sorcerers' Sinister Plot

At the very heart of the storm, the Yi Tribe showed no sign of disturbance despite the turmoil outside. The tribe simply reinforced its vigilance. Hunting parties sent out were strengthened, while the remaining warriors seized every moment to cultivate, relentlessly enhancing their strength to withstand the even greater tempest looming on the horizon.

Not long ago, they had all but annihilated the combined forces of the Wu Family, Black Dragon Society, and the Dark Skeleton Regiment—a resounding display that sent shockwaves through all the powers, great and small, of Black Dragon City. Confronted with the Yi Tribe, who had suddenly bared their fangs and revealed formidable might, even those factions coveting the tribe’s treasures dared not act rashly.

But this state was only temporary.

The Yi Tribe’s sudden wealth made every power covetous beyond restraint. The tribe sought to use this brief calm to further their strength; the longer their enemies delayed, the greater their advantage.

Yi Tian, for his part, was unaffected by the tension, continuing his cultivation of the Great Sun Celestial Art with unhurried calm.

After the last beast tide, it was revealed to Yi Tian and others that the ancestral temple held a passage leading to an underground refuge—a sanctuary for the Yi people. With this knowledge, much of the anxiety that had gripped them dissipated. The tribe already had a retreat; should disaster strike, they could simply take refuge below.

During these days, Yi Tian was wholly absorbed in his training. He realized that practicing the Great Sun Celestial Art was slow and demanded vast quantities of elemental energy. The pure yang energy, in particular, was strikingly effective in tempering his body; each day, he could feel his body subtly transforming, always welcoming the influx of pure yang. The three thousand six hundred and fifty acupoints of the Great Sun Celestial Art seemed like bottomless pits, consuming at least ninety percent of the pure yang energy he cultivated for bodily refinement and acupoint transformation.

Yi Tian sensed that this state would persist for a long time.

Thus, his cultivation now required at least twenty to thirty times more spirit stones than before, making him the third largest consumer of elemental stones in the tribe, after his Star Mud Avatar and Little Black.

Fortunately, after deducing the Great Sun Celestial Art, Yi Tian discovered that during the day he could absorb the omnipresent essence of the sun. This energy extended fifty yards around him, fiercely potent; the solar essence and the world’s fire energy were easily refined, making his training speed rival that of using spirit stones.

In this way, he could conserve some of the tribe’s reserves.

Although he required massive amounts of spirit stones, the large elemental vein mine being worked by the tribe had now reached hundreds of miles deep. The stones extracted were all of medium grade, their energy a hundred times richer than the lesser stones, and their numbers had scarcely diminished—effectively multiplying the tribe’s reserves many times over.

This vast elemental vein contained hundreds of millions of spirit stones.

However, the tribe had only excavated a single passage toward the core of the vein, continually delving deeper.

As for the outer regions of the mine, they left them untouched, their value much less significant.

The chief and other respected elders were eager to accelerate mining; so long as the existence of this great vein remained unknown to the outside world, they wanted to extract as much as possible. The high-grade stones at the heart of the mine were their greatest prize. One high-grade stone was equivalent to a hundred medium-grade or ten thousand low-grade stones. If they could harvest all the high-grade stones from the great vein, their value would surpass all the medium and low-grade stones combined.

Though the number of high-grade stones would be only in the tens or hundreds of thousands compared to the tens or hundreds of millions of inferior stones, they could be taken away easily, saving much trouble.

Of course, what the chief and the grand elders coveted most was the spiritual crystal at the core of the elemental vein.

Elemental crystals—these were formed over countless years as elemental energy condensed deep underground. Each contained the purest elemental essence—liquid energy—the very resource needed by those above the Mortal rank. Even a ninth-rank martial artist could, upon absorbing a crystal, very likely break through and condense true essence, stepping into the ranks of the Human tier.

Elemental crystals were treasures beyond price, coveted by cultivators of the Mortal, Human, and Earth tiers.

A small vein might yield only one or two crystals. In a great vein, there could be thousands, even more. This is why the appearance of a great vein would incite a frenzy among all the major powers.

Thousands or tens of thousands of spiritual crystals would allow a single Human-tier expert to ascend rapidly to the Earth tier. Even Earth-tier cultivators would benefit greatly, and for Heaven-tier experts, such treasures were still of immense value.

It was no exaggeration to say that a single spiritual crystal could provoke a bloody struggle among all the factions of Black Dragon City.

Breaking into the Human tier was the most fervent desire of every ninth-rank martial artist—some would abandon everything for the chance.

Yet, not even a small vein could be possessed by the powers of Black Dragon City’s remote regions. Should one be discovered, the great overlords would descend and seize it.

Moreover, elemental veins were found only in spiritual mountains and blessed lands—most of which were already claimed by regional warlords, royal houses, ancient families with terrifying heritage, or mysterious sects.

Those left unclaimed were perilous forbidden zones, home to fearsome beasts and monsters.

The Fulong Mountains were just such a supermassive forbidden land.

Stretching millions upon millions of miles, the Fulong Mountains were riddled with countless elemental veins and blessed lands—even great veins. Yet all these places were overrun by savage monsters of incredible power; no force could mine the inner reaches of these mountains.

The Yi Tribe was extraordinarily fortunate to have discovered their great vein in a hidden crevice at the edge of the range, and to have mined it in secret. Otherwise, the outpouring of elemental energy would have attracted terrifying beasts.

Meanwhile, the powers of Black Dragon City, stirred by reports of the Yi Tribe’s discovery, seethed with secret machinations. Some were forging alliances to launch a coercive attack; others watched coldly, hoping to profit from the strife; still others plotted in the shadows, their murderous intent barely concealed.

At this moment, in a dark chamber, a figure in black robes sat in a chair, his fingers tapping the table rhythmically, lost in thought.

After a moment, he opened his eyes—a flash of green light flickered through the gloom, chilling the room.

"Number Ten, go to the Yi Tribe and find out exactly what treasure they have acquired."

"Yes!"

From an empty corner, another black-robed figure materialized, his face devoid of emotion as he replied.

He vanished like a ghost from the chamber.

"If this treasure truly exists, then the Dark Demon Sect will fan the flames, sowing chaos throughout Black Dragon City. In the ensuing turmoil, we shall strike and fulfill the Demon Lord’s mission. With the Demon Lord’s reward, I shall break through—becoming a true demon at last. Keh keh keh..."

A sinister, chilling laugh echoed through the darkness.