Chapter 127: City Lord Min’s Unwillingness

Between the Crimson Fire Mining Island and Min Village’s Spirit Island lies a distance of over one hundred and fifty li by sea—a straightforward route, with little risk of getting lost.

Gao Jian appeared relaxed, teasing Min Yingtang occasionally, though he received no response. Yet Gao Jian remained unfazed and continued in high spirits.

After three hours, the small boat docked at an island.

The island was fairly large and quite suitable for constructing a celestial village.

Upon setting foot on the island, Gao Jian felt a chill run through him. In the faint glow of firelight, he vaguely made out a grand city wall of a celestial village under construction on the island’s plain—vast in scale, several times larger than the Ye family’s village.

Clearly, the Min family’s celestial village paid little heed to the threat of sea beast tides, having built directly upon the plains.

Inside the village, an elderly steward hurried over to meet Min Yingtang. The two spoke quietly, and upon learning that all Min Village cultivators sent to battle, including Lord Min himself, had been captured, the steward was shocked but soon regained his composure.

Casting a cold glare at Gao Jian, the old steward’s anger was palpable.

Gao Jian’s heart sank, his hairs standing on end. The steward’s cultivation level was formidable, likely nearing the late Qi Refining stage.

Gao Jian remained silent, choosing to be merely an observer.

At the Min family’s Spirit Island ferry dock, a large sea vessel was moored. However, it was clear there were no longer enough powerful cultivators to mount another offensive against the Ye family’s celestial village.

Half an hour later, the Min village gathered a total of ten thousand spirit stones. The old steward, Min Yingtang, and several other Qi Refining stage cultivators boarded a swift vessel and set out to sea.

Their swift boat was several times larger than the small boat Gao Jian had arrived on—about three zhang long and over one zhang wide—with a crew of sailors who navigated even faster.

Gao Jian boarded the Min family’s swift ship, racing overnight back to Crimson Fire Mining Island.

The return journey took only two hours, arriving before dawn.

Immediately, the Min family celestial village fulfilled the contract terms, handing over ten thousand spirit stones to Ye Mo.

The night watch was guarded by Min Village cultivators. Quietly, they evacuated the camp, departing Crimson Fire Mining Island by swift boats and rafts before dawn.

At daybreak, the Min family warriors realized their cultivators had vanished, plunging them into panic.

Though they had long known they would become mining slaves, this sudden abandonment left them with a deep sense of betrayal.

Onboard the Ye family’s sea vessel, all cultivators gathered in the captain’s quarters.

“I went to Min’s Spirit Island to take a look. A large portion of Min Village’s celestial city wall is already constructed—it should be completed within these days. Their cultivator numbers are substantial, and that old steward is likely a Qi Refining stage six or seven cultivator. Their forces exceed twenty or so, and the island has other cultivators, a large sea ship docked at the port, and some newly built swift boats,” Gao Jian reported in detail, sharing what little he had observed.

Though covert matters remained unseen, plenty of intelligence about Min Village could be discerned. Min’s celestial village was at least half a month behind Ye’s, yet its construction speed was comparable.

Exchanging glances, they understood this victory was merely fortuitous.

Min Village’s celestial village was considerably stronger than Ye’s.

“Now that we hold an official agreement signed by Lord Min, they pose no immediate threat. They won’t come after us in the short term. Dawn approaches; prepare to build a mining facility here on Crimson Fire Mining Island. Organize those mining slave warriors to start extraction. This island can provide us with a continuous and substantial financial source,” Ye Mo said, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice.

He was eager to strengthen the Ye family’s celestial village as quickly as possible.

After dawn, Gao Jian and others escorted captured sailors from the Ye family’s sea vessel ashore, meeting with the Min family’s mining slave warriors on the island.

Among the nearly fifty mining slaves were many sailors and seamen.

Despite their resentment, facing Ye Mo and over twenty cultivators, they lacked any intention to resist.

“Lord Min has abandoned you. Do you think he would spend five thousand spirit stones to redeem you? Impossible. You’re worth far less than that in his eyes,” Ye Mo said coldly, showing no sympathy.

This time, Min Village had lost, and its warriors had become mining slaves. Had Ye Village lost, it would have been Ye’s warriors and even cultivators enslaved.

Such was the price of defeat; there was no room for pity.

Subsequently, Ye Mo tasked Gao Jian with overseeing the mining slaves’ labor.

“The lord does not intend to take your lives. Serve as mining slaves for three years, and you will be freed. Work diligently—food will not be scarce. But if anyone dares to cheat, slack off, or attempt escape, don’t blame me for being ruthless,” Gao Jian warned.

After this brief admonition, Gao Jian assigned some warriors to prepare meals.

The mining slaves were flustered, not even having eaten. To ensure they could work, they could not be left hungry.

Ye Mo and his cultivators headed to a nearby canyon, intending to eliminate a few pangolin-like beasts. Yet they soon discovered these creatures had already been slain by Min Village cultivators, saving them the effort.

Mining required iron-mining shovels. Wang Hu and Yang You immediately returned to the celestial village to hasten production of several dozen iron shovels.

Though shovels were basic spiritual tools without special functions—simpler even than a first-grade iron sword—they were easy to forge without blueprints. Even if the quality was somewhat inferior, as long as functional, it posed no problem.

Given their forging skills, production was swift.

By the time the mining facility on Crimson Fire Mining Island was completed and ready for official work, dozens of iron shovels had been crafted. Though not yet enough for each worker, they were sufficient to commence mining.

Back at Min Village’s celestial village, cultivators returned with low morale.

As soon as Lord Min entered the manor, he furiously smashed objects in a rage.

This sea battle had been a devastating loss.

Not only had Min Village lost face and a group of loyal warriors, but it also had to compensate with ten thousand spirit stones.

Warriors were easier to recruit, but the ten thousand spirit stones represented crucial finances for Min Village, which now strained many key workshops, forcing a slowdown.

Many cultivators within the village were deeply worried.

Because Min Village had expanded too broadly, building directly on the open plains with various workshops, the scale was large, but so was the pressure on the city walls' defense. A sea beast tide would be a brutal test.

Previously, this was not as apparent.

Now, after such a crushing defeat—with losses of over ten thousand spirit stones and forty or fifty loyal Min family warriors—the vulnerabilities were glaring.

This contrasted starkly with Ye Mo’s choice of a small valley location for Ye Village, where the defensive front was smaller and less pressured.

“I, Min Cong, swear to utterly destroy your celestial village, Ye Mo, ensuring you never rise again!” Lord Min bellowed, smashing everything within reach in his room.

“Young master, you signed an agreement not to offend Ye Village. Seeking revenge now is impossible,” Min Zhong frowned, trying to counsel him. “Besides, Min Village is newly established and vulnerable to sea beast tides at any moment. Don’t jeopardize the bigger picture.”

“You…” Min Cong snapped angrily, but then swallowed his words.

Min Zhong, having watched him grow since youth, was a trusted confidant. Min Cong had to restrain his fury.

“Uncle Zhong, I understand the affairs within the village. With you managing them, I needn’t worry. If the young master is in a bad mood, perhaps you could visit other spirit islands or celestial villages to clear your mind,” Min Zhong suggested softly.

“Other spirit islands?” Min Cong paused, then realized the implication in Min Zhong’s words.

After some thought, he nodded. “Very well, I shall visit the Xun family’s celestial village. Since coming to the Aolai Archipelago to establish our village, I have yet to visit my elder brother from the Fiery Spirit Academy.”

“Yes, old servant will arrange the sea vessel immediately,” Min Zhong hurried off.

Not long after, Min Cong boarded another sea ship, heading over two hundred li to the Xun family celestial village.

“Uncle Zhong, will the Xun family back the lord’s quest for revenge?” Min Yingtang asked as they watched Lord Min depart by sea.

“It’s hard to say. But young master and Lord Xun are close. As long as young master’s grievance remains unsettled, he won’t find peace. Lord Xun is far-sighted and meticulous, and he has a friendship with the second young master. He will either support the young master or advise patience. His words carry more weight than ours,” Min Zhong replied calmly.

Xun Spirit Island was also a large island of over a hundred li, nearly as sizable as Ye Spirit Island.

On a plain of the island, buildings crafted from spirit wood stood dense—city walls, watchtowers, streets, houses, and various functional structures—forming the embryonic shape of a celestial village, awaiting further growth and refinement.

A young cultivator in his early twenties, clad in a sky-blue brocade robe, ascended the city tower to inspect defenses.

“Lord Min has come to visit,” a warrior suddenly reported in haste.

“Lord Min? Why would he come here before completing his village?” The young cultivator frowned in puzzlement, exchanging a few words with those nearby before descending the tower and heading toward the island’s port.

At the port, Min Cong paced anxiously.

“Second brother, what’s troubling you? You seem troubled,” the young cultivator approached with a warm smile.

Hearing the gentle voice, Min Cong looked up, his face drawn, and hurriedly exclaimed, “Third brother, you must help me seek revenge.”

The Xun and Min families were longstanding friends.

Min Cong had known Xun Guang since childhood, and they regarded each other as sworn brothers.

Xun Guang was two years older, ranking third among his generation in the Xun family.

Xun Guang’s heart skipped a beat—Min Cong was a lord, and if he came to Xun Island seeking aid for revenge, it meant another lord had beaten him.

“There are many ears here. Let’s discuss this at my manor,” Xun Guang said, giving Min Cong a steady look.

At Xun Guang’s manor, Min Cong recounted the entire ordeal without concealment.

“I signed an agreement not to offend Ye Village. I can’t strike at the Ye family again. Third brother, you are stronger than I am—you must help me seek revenge,” Min Cong pleaded earnestly.

“Nonsense!” Xun Guang’s eyes blazed. “Can’t you distinguish priorities? What is our purpose in the Aolai Sea? To establish celestial villages, become lords, accumulate resources, and grow stronger—not to settle petty grudges!

Your village is built? If the sea beast tide erupts within a month, can you hold out? If your village falls, what good is seizing that mining island? Have you forgotten that many within the Min family are waiting to see you fail? If you can’t survive the first sea beast tide, how will you face anyone?”

“I just happened to encounter this… didn’t expect to lose to Ye Village… sigh, what’s done is done,” Min Cong said bitterly, unable to argue further.