Chapter 98: Chapter 99: The Earth Dragon Turns Over

The Red Cloud Iron Ore Vein was a Tier Two ore vein located on the southwestern side of the Moon Viewing Mountain Range, at the border with the Liuyun Mountain Range.

It was an ore vein that had only been discovered in recent years. Since it was jointly discovered by disciples of the Song Clan and the Earth Fire Sect, the Song Clan had even fought the Earth Fire Sect over it, ultimately succeeding in taking it for themselves.

A Tier Two ore vein was of immense value. This one provided the Song Clan with an annual income of several thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, making it an extremely important resource point.

The Earth Fire Sect naturally coveted it as well, but they had been suppressed by the Song Clan for years and were unable to get what they wanted.

Now, relying on aid from the Lieyang Sect, the Earth Fire Sect had actually dispatched Qu Jinsheng to launch a sneak attack on the Red Cloud Iron Ore Vein.

The ore vein was guarded by only a few Stewards at the Qi Refining Great Perfection level. Although they had jointly operated the Array to resist Qu Jinsheng’s assault, the situation remained grim.

Steward Song Xianhe sent a message to the clan, requesting reinforcements...

Song Changsheng flew to the skies above the Red Cloud Iron Ore Vein on his Spirit-Slaying Gourd. Seeing that the Guardian Array was still intact, he breathed a sigh of relief. ’Good, I’m not too late.’

He landed among the mountains where there were clear signs of a recent battle. He called out toward the pitch-black mine entrance, "Where are the Stewards of the Red Cloud Iron Ore Vein?"

A moment later, a white-haired old man leading a dozen or so Cultivators appeared before Song Changsheng. Seeing Song Changsheng, the old man wasn’t as excited as one might have expected. Instead, he said cautiously, "Young Clan Leader, please present your Identity Jade Token."

Song Changsheng immediately took the Jade Token from his waist and held it up for the old man to see.

After confirming it was genuine, the old man opened a gap in the Guardian Array. He led the others in bowing their heads and said, "We greet the Young Clan Leader. We have been disrespectful, please forgive us!"

Song Changsheng quickly stepped forward to help the old man up. "Clan Elder, you speak too gravely. If not for your vigilance, this ore vein would have long since fallen into other hands. You have rendered a great service to the clan, what is there to forgive?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Everyone, please rise. Many of you are my elders. This is far too much for a junior like myself."

Only then did everyone rise. Song Xianhe shook his head and said, "The clan entrusted this vital location to an old man like me. How could I dare not do my utmost?"

"You’ve already done very well. Is everyone alright?"

"The Earth Fire Sect hasn’t made any moves in the past two days. A few of us old-timers sustained some injuries last time, but everyone else is fine. Production in the mines hasn’t been significantly affected either," Song Xianhe answered as he led the way for Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng frowned slightly. ’This isn’t like the Earth Fire Sect’s style,’ he thought to himself. ’Quiet for two days? What kind of trouble are they plotting now?’

"Now that the Young Clan Leader is here in person, we don’t have to fear that Qu Jinsheng anymore," a Steward said in a gruff voice.

"Exactly! Relying on his status as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he dared to come alone to break the Array. He has no respect for our clan at all."

"Everyone, rest assured. Just leave Qu Jinsheng to me," Song Changsheng said, his voice calm and self-assured, filling everyone with confidence. "Keep the mine operating as usual. Don’t let production be affected."

"Please, Young Clan Leader, come to the stone chamber and rest for a while. The Earth Fire Sect probably won’t come today."

Suddenly, a young Cultivator hurried forward and said anxiously, "Clan Elder, it’s bad! Something’s happened!"

Song Xianhe’s expression darkened. He shot a furtive glance at Song Changsheng, then frowned and snapped, "What’s the meaning of this panic? What happened?"

The young Cultivator said nervously, "Earlier, some miners reported that there was something in the mine that had killed several of them."

"Song Lumin thought it was a Demon Beast causing trouble, so she took two people to investigate. But that was four hours ago, and there’s been no word from them. I just went to the Soul Lamp Chamber to check, and all of their Soul Lamps are extinguished."

Song Xianhe’s face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He had just confidently assured Song Changsheng that everything was fine, and now this had happened. It was a complete slap in the face.

"But Song Lumin has a Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivation, at the very least. For there to be no word at all... could it be a Tier Two Demon Beast?" a tall, thin Clan Elder cried out in alarm.

Song Xianhe immediately realized the gravity of the situation and quickly looked toward Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng frowned and asked the young Cultivator, "Where did you lose contact with them?"

"And who are you? I’ve never seen you before," the young Cultivator said, staring.

Song Xianhe felt utterly mortified. With a dark expression, he roared, "You fool! This is the Young Clan Leader!"

The young Cultivator’s face paled in shock. He hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings, Young Clan Leader! Please forgive me."

Song Changsheng waved his hand impatiently. "No harm done, you didn’t know. Just tell me, where did Steward Lumin and the others lose contact?"

The young Cultivator answered respectfully, "It was in the Section-B Mine."

Song Xianhe was shocked. "Section-B? There are over a thousand miners in there!"

"Clan Elder, quickly take some men and evacuate the miners from that tunnel. I’ll go in and see exactly what kind of Demon Fiend we’re dealing with," Song Changsheng commanded decisively.

"Yes."

Song Xianhe’s heart was burning with anxiety. Although some of the miners were criminals and slaves, the majority were Song Clan Members brought over from the Mortal Realm. If there were major casualties, he would truly have to atone with his life.

Not daring to delay for a moment, he led Song Changsheng toward the Section-B Mine.

As they neared the mine entrance, Song Changsheng’s nerves instantly tensed. He raised a hand to signal for the others to stop. "I can feel an incredibly dense Demon Qi from inside. I’m certain it’s at the Tier Two Level. All of you wait here. I’m going down to take a look."

Hearing there was a Tier Two Demon Beast in the mine, many of those present turned pale with fright, looking like they wanted to turn and run.

"Young Clan Leader, you must be extremely careful." Song Xianhe knew their own limitations. Without the help of an Array, all of them put together wouldn’t even be a mouthful for a Tier Two Demon Beast. It was best not to go and hold Song Changsheng back.

Song Changsheng nodded slightly, summoned the Spirit-Slaying Gourd to orbit by his side, and slowly walked into the pitch-black mine entrance.

He fully extended his Divine Sense, searching inch by inch for any clue the Demon Beast had left behind. He soon found a scratch mark tainted with Demon Qi.

Following the scratches deeper, the marks on the tunnel walls suddenly became more numerous. They were the signs of a fierce battle. ’It seems this is where Song Lumin and her team were killed,’ he thought.

Song Changsheng’s vigilance spiked. ’The attacker is very likely still nearby!’

Suddenly, the mine began to shake violently. Rubble and dirt rained down from above. Song Changsheng’s expression changed, and he blurted out, "An Earth Dragon?"

He instantly deduced the identity of the culprit. The Spiritual Power in his body surged like a mighty river, and he shot backward in an instant.

At the same moment he retreated, a behemoth erupted from the ground, revealing a massive maw filled with spiraling, serrated teeth...