36: Chapter 36 Entering the Mining Area

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the fourth morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, several spirited Dragon horses were already prepared at the side gate of the Lin Family estate.

Lin Qingxue personally saw Ye Chen to the entrance. The Scar-faced Guard stood by with a team of ten formidable Lin Family experts, led by none other than Lin Dong.

In his gaze toward Ye Chen, the previous scrutiny had diminished, replaced by a sense of genuine admiration.

Xiao Yu tugged at the corner of Ye Chen's clothes, her eyes red, her face full of reluctance.

"Brother, you must be careful. Come back soon." Xiao Yu's voice was laced with tears.

"Mm, Brother will be back very soon. Be a good girl and listen to Big Sister Lin."

Ye Chen ruffled her hair, comforting her with a gentle voice.

He had already entrusted Xiao Yu to Lin Qingxue's care; it was relatively safe within the Lin Family estate.

Lin Qingxue wore a cyan outfit convenient for movement today, covered by a cloak, making her look even more heroic and spirited.

She handed a heavy parcel to Ye Chen and said in a low voice.

"Inside are some Medicinal Pill for healing and detoxification, as well as a more detailed map of the mining area. I have marked a few areas where 'cold smoke grass' and 'ice heart lotus' might grow; they might be of help to you. Be careful in everything, and if you encounter trouble… prioritize your own safety."

At the last sentence, her voice was extremely soft, carrying a hint of imperceptible concern.

"Many thanks, I will."

Ye Chen took the parcel; it felt heavy in his hands, and his heart warmed slightly.

He vaulted onto a jet-black Dragon horse. This horse was exceptionally spirited, clearly meticulously selected by the Lin Family.

"Depart!"

With an order from Scarface, the group spurred their Dragon horses. The sound of hooves thundered as they rushed out of the north gate of Qingyun City, galloping toward the Black Wind Mountain Range.

The Dragon horses were extremely fast. By the time the sun was high, the towering and continuous Black Wind Mountain Range had come into view.

The closer they got to the mountain range, the more chaotic the Spiritual Qi in the air became, carrying a wild, primitive Aura.

Along the way, they encountered many other teams—some from the Wang Family, some from the Ye Family, as well as some small families and Loose Cultivator.

They all maintained a vigilant distance from one another, and the atmosphere was tense.

Ye Chen could feel many gazes landing on him—some wary, some greedy, and some filled with undisguised killing intent.

Especially the Wang Family team, led by an Elder with a sinister expression. Tiger Wang was among them, his eyes looking at Ye Chen like a venomous snake.

The Ye Family team was led by a trusted aide of Grand Elder Ye Rushan. Ye Hu did not come, but several Ye Family disciples had flickering gazes, harboring ill intentions.

"Hmph, a bunch of clowns."

Lin Dong spurred his horse closer to Ye Chen and whispered.

"Brother Ye, once we get inside, stay close to us. The Wang Family and Ye Family won't dare to act openly, but they will certainly use underhanded methods."

"Understood."

Ye Chen nodded, his gaze sweeping over the deep valley ahead—that was the entrance to the Black Iron Mining Area.

The valley was shrouded in a thick fog, which rolled and churned with faint, strange halos of light—this was a natural Formation.

Approaching noon, the various parties gathered on a relatively open flat ground at the valley entrance, numbering no less than several hundred.

The three great families were clearly demarcated, while other forces were scattered around, silent as the grave.

There was only the sound of the Dragon horses' restless snorting and the wailing of the mountain wind blowing through the treetops.

The fog at the valley entrance churned violently, its color gradually fading, and a narrow passage could be vaguely seen forming.

The pressure of the Formation permeating the air was also slowly weakening.

"The maze Formation is opening!" someone whispered.

Everyone became tense, gripping their weapons tightly and circulating their True Qi, preparing to charge in at the first opportunity.

Being the first to enter meant potentially seizing the initiative to find rich veins of Ore or rare medicinal herbs.

Ye Chen took a deep breath, his Profound Ice True Essence circulating slowly within his body, his focus highly concentrated.

He touched the ice scar sword and storage ring in his robes, then sensed the black tortoise armor worn close to his body, feeling slightly more at ease.

"Hum—"

With a slight hum, the fog at the valley entrance dissipated, revealing a deep, dim passage only wide enough for two horses to ride side by side; it was unclear where it led.

"Charge!"

Someone shouted, and the crowd instantly erupted!

Dozens of figures shot toward the passage like arrows released from a bow, scrambling to be first!

In order to seize the initiative, some people even started fighting directly at the entrance; the sounds of blades clashing and shouting immediately rang out!

"Go!"

Scarface gave a low shout. The Lin Family team did not scramble to be at the very front; instead, they formed a Formation, protecting Ye Chen and Lin Dong as they steadily charged toward the passage.

The Wang Family and Ye Family also set off almost simultaneously, like two torrents, slamming violently toward the entrance.

The passage was narrow and instantly became congested.

The various forces were packed together, shoving each other and landing underhanded blows. The sounds of True Qi clashing and screams were incessant.

Ye Chen followed closely by Lin Dong's side, his gaze sharp.

Suddenly, he felt a sinister gust of wind attacking from the side!

It was a disciple of the Wang Family, pretending to be crowded, who silently struck a palm toward his ribs!

The palm wind carried a scorching Aura; it was clearly the Wang Family's Blazing Sun Art!

Ye Chen's eyes turned cold. He did not dodge. He flicked his left palm backward, seemingly casually, and a condensed cold qi arrived first, accurately striking the person's palm!

"Crack!"

A faint sound of bone cracking!

The Wang Family disciple screamed, his entire arm instantly covered in white frost. He staggered backward, knocking over several people and causing chaos.

"You're courting death!" Tiger Wang roared when he saw this and wanted to rush over.

"Tiger Wang! Do you want to start fighting right here, right now?"

Lin Dong unsheathed his sword half an inch and shouted sternly. Scarface and the other Lin Family guards also immediately unleashed their Aura, locking onto the Wang Family members.

The Wang Family Elder's face turned livid; he grabbed the enraged Tiger Wang and glared coldly at Ye Chen.

"We'll talk after we get inside! Let's go!" The Wang Family team forcibly pushed through the crowd and charged deep into the passage.

The Ye Family team also took advantage of the chaos to slip in.

"Let's go quickly too!" Scarface urged.

The Lin Family team did not delay any longer, quickly passing through the chaotic entrance and stepping into the passage.

The passage was dim, and the air was damp and cold, filled with a faint smell of sulfur mixed with metal.

The stone walls on both sides were rugged and covered in moss, with gravel scattered on the ground.

Urgent footsteps and the echoes of blades clashing in the distance kept coming from the front; those who entered first were already fighting over the paths.

The team traveled for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick when three forks appeared ahead.

"The map shows that the left leads to the 'Black Water Marsh,' where there might be water-attribute medicinal herbs, but there are many poisonous insects and miasma; the middle leads to the main mining area, 'Red Iron Mountain,' where the Black Iron Ore is most abundant, but the fighting is also the most intense."

"The right leads to the 'Cold Ice Ravine,' where the cold qi is heavy and cold-attribute medicinal herbs might grow, but it is said that powerful Yao Beast reside there."

Lin Dong took out the map and said quickly.

Scarface looked at Ye Chen: "Young Master Ye, what is your intention?"

Ye Chen sensed that the cold qi coming from the right fork was the most intense, which matched his Cultivation Technique.

Furthermore, the cold smoke grass and ice heart lotus marked by Lin Qingxue were also in that direction.

"Take the right."

"Good! To the Cold Ice Ravine!"

Scarface did not hesitate and immediately led the team to turn into the right fork.

It seemed not many people chose this path, so it appeared much quieter.

After traveling a bit further, the passage gradually widened, the temperature dropped significantly, ice crystals began to appear on the stone walls, and cold qi permeated the air.

Occasionally, they could see some small herbs emitting a faint cold qi, but they were not very old, so no one picked them.

Suddenly, a shrill beast roar and the sounds of fighting came from ahead!

"Careful!" Scarface raised his hand to signal the team to stop, and everyone immediately became alert.

In a slightly larger ice cave ahead, three or four Loose Cultivator were besieging a Yao Beast that was snow-white all over and shaped like a giant wolf!

The Yao Beast was huge, with sharp claws and teeth, and it spat cold breath from its mouth; it was clearly a First-Rank Peak Yao Beast, an "Ice Wolf"!

It was equivalent to a human Cultivator at the Peak of the Meridian Opening Realm!

The cultivation of those few Loose Cultivator was at most at the Meridian Opening Fourth Level, and they were beaten back steadily; on the ground lay a corpse frozen into an ice sculpture.

"It's an Ice Wolf! The Yao Beast guarding the cold smoke grass!"

Lin Dong whispered.

In the rock crevice behind the Ice Wolf, several small herbs with crystalline leaves emitting a rich cold qi were growing—it was the cold smoke grass!

When those Loose Cultivator saw the Lin Family team, it was like seeing saviors, and they hurriedly shouted.

"Friends in front! Help! We don't want this cold smoke grass anymore, we just want to survive!"

Scarface looked at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen's gaze swept over the cold smoke grass; the age was good, and it was useful to him. He nodded.

"Form up! Attack!"

Scarface gave the order, and the Lin Family guards immediately formed a battle Formation, unsheathed their blades, and charged at the Ice Wolf. Lin Dong also leveled his sword and joined the fray.

With fresh troops joining, the pressure on the Ice Wolf increased significantly.

It roared repeatedly, and the cold breath it spat froze the ground, but the Lin Family guards coordinated well; the battle Formation rotated, distributing the attacks, and none were injured.

Ye Chen did not act immediately but carefully observed the Ice Wolf's movements and the characteristics of its cold breath.

He discovered that although the cold qi of this Ice Wolf was biting, it appeared mixed and impure compared to the Profound Ice Origin he had absorbed.

A moment later, the Ice Wolf had gained several wounds, and its movements slowed down.

Ye Chen saw his chance, moved, and cut into the battle like a ghost, avoiding a burst of cold breath, and unsheathed the ice scar sword.

A condensed blue Sword Qi thrust straight at the Ice Wolf's throat!

The Ice Wolf sensed a fatal threat and wanted to dodge, but it was held tightly by the Lin Family guards!

"Pfft!"

The Sword Qi accurately plunged into the Ice Wolf's throat!

The extremely cold Sword Qi erupted instantly, freezing its internal organs to pieces!

The Ice Wolf let out a mournful howl, its huge body crashing to the ground, and it lost all signs of life.

The battle ended.

Those few Loose Cultivator escaped death, thanked them repeatedly, and not daring to stay, left in a hurry.

Ye Chen walked to the rock crevice and carefully picked the five mature cold smoke grass, placing them into a jade box.

The oldest one among them had leaves that were already dark blue, and the cold qi was biting.

"Brother Ye, great skill!"

Lin Dong praised, his eyes filled with even more admiration. That sword strike by Ye Chen just now was fast, accurate, and ruthless, and his grasp of timing was perfect.

Scarface also nodded slightly.

This Young Master Ye not only had strong power but also a calm Heart-Nature; he was a talent worth cultivating.

"Continue forward; the Cold Ice Ravine should not be far."

Ye Chen put away the jade box and said calmly.

This was just the beginning; in the depths of the mining area, there must be greater dangers and opportunities waiting.

And trouble from the Wang Family and the Ye Family would likely arrive very soon. He had to find the ice heart lotus as soon as possible to improve his strength.