Chapter 112 (2): Fang Che's Promotion

"Now that we've ascertained the ore vein's location, Master Xue and the others will join me down here soon," Xiao Tianshui replied. "You should leave once you're recovered sufficiently from your injuries. I'll stay here to wait for Master Xue and the others."

He had immediately notified Xue Fuxiao after tracking down the ore vein, but it would still take some time for the latter to get here, given that he was still engaged in a battle on the surface.

A short while later, Water Ghost's condition was much improved, and he said, "I'll go back up and bring Xue Fuxiao and the others down here as repayment to you for saving my life, but please don't ask any more of my Yin Water Palace. A tiny sect like ours would be completely crushed if we tried to get involved in the conflict between the Guardians and the Church of the Self-Righteous."

"I understand," Xiao Tianshui sighed.

Water Ghost took a glance at the feeble Amethyst Soul, then lamented, "It's a real shame this Amethyst Soul has only just taken shape. Now that this place has been discovered, it won't get a chance to grow."

"It can't be helped," Xiao Tianshui said. "We don't have the time to wait for it to grow."

With one final forlorn sigh, Water Ghost departed as a stream of water.

***

High up in the sky outside, the battle had already concluded, but both sides were still locked in a showdown.

Over a hundred Guardians had already arrived on the scene, including even several legendary figures like Dongfang Chongming, so it was clear that they were not messing around.

As for the Church of the Self-Righteous, they had also sent out forty to fifty powerful warriors, and Duan Xiyang was standing at the forefront.

There was a temporary ceasefire as someone had arrived.

A figure in black slowly strode onto the scene with his hands clasped behind his back, and there were two people with him, but they were completely overshadowed by his almighty aura.

It was the second-in-line deputy pope of the Church of the Self-Righteous, Yan Nan!

Everyone from the Church of the Self-Righteous immediately extended respectful bows, with the exception of Duan Xiyang, who only lowered his head slightly as a gesture of acknowledgement.

Upon Yan Nan's arrival on the mountain summit, someone immediately carried out a chair for him, and he sat down onto it in an authoritative manner.

"Care for a chat, Master Xue?"

"It would be an honor for me to have a conversation with the mighty Deputy Pope Yan," Xue Fuxiao said with a smile as he began to descend out of the sky.

"It is not time yet for the final showdown between our two sides, Master Xue," Yan Nan said. "We've been making preparations for three years to secure this Amethyst Soul, and we won't be returning emptyhanded."

Before Xue Fuxiao had a chance to reply, a rock abruptly sprang up from the mountain summit, following which a stream of water burst out before immediately taking on the form of Water Wraith.

He was looking very much worse-for-wear, and he hurriedly paid his respects to Yan Nan.

Yan Nan flicked a vial of pills in Water Wraith's direction as he asked, "Did you encounter an enemy down there? Was it Xiao Tianshui?"

"Correct as ever, Deputy Pope Yan."

"Did you find the Amethyst Soul?" Yan Nan asked.

"I did, but... it's only just taken shape. It's only a flickering shadow right now, and it hasn't even formed a flame yet."

"Are you sure?" Yan Nan asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"I'm certain, Deputy Pope Yan. However, the ore vein contains a very large quantity of Amethysts, all of which are of an extremely high level of purity."

Yan Nan fell into a contemplative silence.

He was certain that the Amethyst Soul was ready to be harvested, so this piece of news had caught him completely off guard.

Right at this moment, another stream of water shot up from a nearby creek, and it was none other than Water Ghost.

His body had only just reformed when he felt himself enveloped by a burst of almighty force, and he was completely powerless to resist as he dragged over to a seated figure.

Upon catching a clear glimpse of the people gathered around him, Water Ghost almost fainted on the spot!

At the moment, even Duan Xiyang was standing, so who could this seated figure be?

"I am Yan Nan of the Church of the Self-Righteous," the seated figure declared, and Water Ghost would've immediately collapsed to the ground had he not been held up.

"Water Ghost of the Yin Water Palace pays his respects to Deputy Pope Yan!"

"What did you find down there?"

"I found an Amethyst Ore vein, inside of which was a very faint Amethyst Soul that's still yet to fully take shape."

Water Ghost didn't dare to try and deceive Yan Nan at all.

Yan Nan closed his eyes and grabbed onto the top of Water Ghost's head with one hand, instantly reading his recent memories.

Moments later, he released Water Ghost and handed him a vial of pills.

"You have my gratitude."

Water Ghost's head was pounding with agony, but he didn't dare to complain at all as he extended a deep bow of gratitude.

"You're very much welcome, Deputy Pope Yan. Thank you for this generous gift!"

Yan Nan offered no response. His expression remained unchanged, but everyone could sense that he was a little disappointed.

Three years of planning, nine volcanoes detonated, all for nought.

This was not an outcome that he had foreseen at all.

He rose to his feet as heaved a faint sigh, no longer interested in the ongoing standoff.

He turned to Xue Fuxiao and said, "Please inform Master Dongfang that our Church of the Self-Righteous would like a third of this ore vein."

Clearly, Yan Nan was trying to save face after such an embarrassing farce, but it was yet to be seen whether Dongfang Sansan would be willing to play along.

After consulting with Dongfang Sansan via communication jade, Xue Fuxiao declared, "Sansan says a third is too much. The volcanic eruptions have caused widespread damage and taken millions of lives, and this ore vein is on our territory, so it belongs entirely to us. In light of all of that, a third is too much. Sansan says that he's willing to gift you a tenth of the ore once the vein has been excavated."

Dongfang Sansan was only willing to offer 10% at all because he didn't want a full-blown conflict to erupt at this time.

A battle at this point would completely disrupt his overall plan, and it was also too close to the White Cloud Prefecture for comfort.

"All of our church members in the southeast will be returning in three months. They must be allowed to leave without obstruction," Yan Nan harrumphed.

Dongfang Sansan's response was very swift: "Alright, in that case, I'll kill as many more of them as possible in the next three months!"

Yan Nan gave another disgruntled harrumph after Dongfang Sansan's message was relayed to him by Xue Fuxiao.

He hated speaking to Dongfang Sansan because no matter what he said, it always felt like he came out second-best.

I'm telling you to allow everyone to leave and return to the main church in three months, not giving you a three-month timeframe to kill as many as possible!

Yan Nan paid no further heed to Xue Fuxiao as he took a glance at Gu Changhan, then turned his gaze away and departed with Duan Xiyang by his side.

"Come and see me once we get back. Beihan wants to brush up on her spear techniques. She has some questions from the last lesson you gave her."

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Why does she insist on learning spear techniques?" Duan Xiyang exclaimed in an exasperated manner. "She's clearly more cut out for the sword! You need to stop indulging her and get her to focus on what she's good at!"

"Even if she doesn't lear spear techniques herself, you have to teach her how to overcome the spear!"

"You want me to teach her how to defeat me?!" Duan Xiyang raged.

"No, I just want you to teach her how to fight against spear users in general! What's going on with you, Old Man Duan? You used to be so cooperative and easygoing, but nowadays, it feels like you're constantly bickering with me!"

"You spoil her too much, Brother Yan," Duan Xiyang sighed. "You need to take a more hands-off approach in your grandparenting."

"What would an old widower like you know about parenting?" Yan Nan harrumphed. "She's my granddaughter! If I don't look after her, all of you will bully her to death! It's decided then. Beihan's asking me for a piece of divine metal, probably to give to someone. While I try to get my hands on that, you can focus wholeheartedly on instructing her."

Before Duan Xiyang had a chance to protest, Yan Nan snapped, "I'm not taking no for an answer!"

Duan Xiyang could only heave a forlorn sigh to the heavens.