Chapter 1253: The Powerful Ones Have Arrived

Cliffside Ancient City.

The sky was clear for miles, with not a single cloud in sight. Only the brilliant sunlight poured down, illuminating the ancient city and making it shine brightly. The towering pavilions and grand halls within the city were especially resplendent. It was another clear and sunny day, and everything seemed as calm and ordinary as the weather.

Inside a luxurious hall.

Yao Qianji had just finished handling official affairs and was enjoying a leisurely day with his subordinates, sipping wine and chatting with a natural air of superiority.

Despite the relaxed atmosphere, a sense of reverence lingered in everyone's eyes. No one dared to be too casual or disrespectful.

The hall fell silent the moment Yao Qianji casually asked a question.

"How is the progress at the newly opened mine in the Northern Desert Wasteland? Are those new outsiders obedient and manageable?"

Even though his tone was casual, the powerful figures seated around him wore solemn expressions. No one dared to interrupt, and the tension in the air was palpable, as if they were in the presence of a tiger.

A middle-aged man in black armor stood up and bowed, his eyes filled with respect.

"Your Excellency, as per your orders, to prevent other forces from learning about the new mine, no information about the Northern Desert Wasteland mine has been leaked. With Captain Hu guarding it, there should be no issues!"

"Captain Hu possesses extraordinary cultivation and is extremely steady in his actions. His vision and perspective are far beyond that of ordinary people. Managing a group of outsiders is certainly no problem for him!"

"Although the Northern Desert Wasteland has been sealed off and we don't know the exact situation, according to the star chart from the Celestial Star Instrument, the mineral output has skyrocketed recently. The progress in mining is astonishing. I've never seen such a terrifying rate of extraction before. It must be due to Captain Hu's excellent management!"

As he spoke, the man pulled out a small, intricate instrument from his sleeve. Its complex and precise construction was rare in the world, and the array formations covering its surface were highly advanced. As the instrument was slowly opened, beams of starlight converged to form a map.

Above the hall.

The starlight-formed terrain map showed that a significant portion had already dimmed, confirming the man's words and causing a wave of shocked murmurs among the crowd.

"Tsk tsk..."

"The mining progress is truly astonishing!"

"In just a few short days, these outsiders have achieved more than what took months in previous years. It's truly shocking!"

"Captain Hu is indeed a genius, far beyond our reach!"

As the hall buzzed with shock and admiration, Yao Qianji's eyes also gleamed with interest.

After staring at the star map for a long time, a rare smile of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Good, very good."

"It's rare to see such mining progress. Hu Tao has indeed done an excellent job managing things. These outsiders have proven to be somewhat useful, and it seems the decision to allow them to set foot on our sacred land was not in vain!"

"This must be the will of heaven, a sign that the heavens are bestowing upon the Black Dragon Divine Guards an astonishing amount of mineral wealth!"

As Yao Qianji finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became lively.

Everyone exchanged smiles and nods, their voices filled with awe and agreement. It was almost as if they could already foresee the mine producing an unimaginable amount of resources, enough to make any other force green with envy if word got out.

In this rare moment of joy, Yao Qianji generously waved his hand.

"Everyone here has contributed to this success!"

"Since the progress in the Northern Desert Wasteland is so promising, there's no need to focus too much on it anymore. Let Hu Tao handle everything. I have high hopes for him."

"The next priority is to investigate the migration of the ancient sea beasts. This is the most important matter, and none of you should take it lightly. We must quickly uncover the shocking truth behind this phenomenon!"

The people in the hall all bowed in unison, their expressions solemn.

"We will follow your orders, Your Excellency!"

...

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Far away, in the Northern Desert Wasteland, millions of miles away.

At the foot of the mountain, near the mining site.

Yi Feng lay in a tea shed. It was already autumn, and the green tea had been replaced with red tea. The shed had been renovated several times and now looked quite presentable. Yet, he still hadn't seen any sign of the so-called elite forces.

From a distance, he watched the workers toiling away, his face numb and filled with helplessness.

If things continued like this, he would truly become the overseer captain.

Where were the elite forces he was promised?

Why hadn't they shown up after all this time? Had they gotten lost because it was too far?

He looked up at the sky, which remained desolate.

Not a single bird was in sight, let alone any human figures.

Yi Feng felt increasingly frustrated.

Who could have imagined that things would turn out like this? What was supposed to be a straightforward and bloody showdown had turned into a half-year-long wait with no one showing up!

Damn it!

Now he was stuck in a difficult position.

Should he keep waiting?

Who knew how long it would take for the elite forces to arrive.

But if he left?

In this unfamiliar place, he had no sense of direction. Wandering around aimlessly with this group of cultivators, he might not even encounter a decent opponent.

Even when he tried to gather some inside information, the miners were all low-level lackeys who would tremble in fear at the slightest question, claiming they knew nothing.

What was even more absurd was that every time he questioned someone, the others would start mining even more frantically, as if he were some terrifying figure...

Yi Feng grew more and more exasperated.

Out of curiosity, he glanced at a dark-skinned guard.

Just one glance!

That guard immediately transformed into a groundhog, furiously digging into the mountain. In no time, he had dug himself deep into the mountain...

"Whoosh..."

A gust of wind blew past, carrying a cloud of dust. Yi Feng watched from a distance, utterly bewildered.

Forget it...

There was no point in asking anymore.

If he kept asking, who knew how scared they'd get.

Life was truly as lonely as snow.

Just as Yi Feng sighed and lay back on the recliner, a few figures flew in from the distance.

Led by Lin Ruochen and Cheng Yuxun, they bowed with serious expressions.

"Senior!"

"A group of people has arrived outside the mining site. They seem quite formidable!"

Huh?

Had the elite forces finally arrived?

It's about time! My sword was almost rusting from waiting!

Hearing this, Yi Feng immediately perked up.

He slapped his thigh and stood up.

"Quick, quick! Take me to see them!"

As Yi Feng set off, the outskirts of the mining site were already crowded with figures, each exuding a terrifying aura, no weaker than the Black Dragon Divine Guards. However, their attire was mixed, resembling that of rogue cultivators.

Despite this, the auras of these figures were profound and their demeanor as steady as a mountain.

The leader gazed at the distant mine, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.

"Who would have thought the Black Dragon Divine Guards would extend their reach here and discover such a rich celestial mine? Their methods are truly extraordinary!"

The elders behind him nodded in agreement, their expressions grave.

"Elder Xu is right. The Black Dragon Divine Guards have made such a significant move in secret, yet almost no one has noticed. Such tactics and foresight are not something ordinary people possess."

"Indeed. To control this place and keep the mine so well hidden, it must be the work of a captain-level figure within the Black Dragon Divine Guards."

"This celestial ore is a rare treasure, and the starfall crystal sand within it is even more precious. All major sects covet it. The Black Dragon Divine Guards are likely to rise to power because of this!"

At this point, everyone's eyes burned with fervor.

One of the elders took a deep breath.

"Huff..."

"With so much ore right before our eyes, why don't we take a risk and seize this mine?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all the elders turned their intense gazes toward him!