Chapter 643

Chapter 643: Keep Stealing

After hearing Ximen Qingdong’s words, the other three exchanged glances before sighing in unison, "There’s truly no way to stop him!"

"How’s that possible?" Ximen Qingdong asked, baffled. "With your strength and Ninth-Rank Treasures, crushing him should be child’s play!"

"The problem is catching him," Ximen Qingzhong shrugged. "That brat’s too slippery—he bolts the moment he spots us, and runs faster than lightning. I’m helpless!"

"Even if we kill one or two clones in direct combat, it changes nothing," Ximen Qingyu added bitterly. "Fang Lie’s undying nature is too broken. Even his clones revive instantly. I can’t possibly drive away so many copies!"

"The worst part’s their numbers," Ximen Qinghe groaned. "Fang Lie has at least three hundred clones. Some roam in groups of three, others in eights. They’ve split up across a million-mile territory. With just three of us, how can we cover everything?"

"Then what?" Ximen Qingdong exclaimed. "We just let that brat wreak havoc?"

"Unless a Semi-Immortal intervenes, we’re stuck," Ximen Qingyu said. "At best, we can delay him or guard critical locations."

"But both Founders are in closed-door training!" Ximen Qingdong protested.

"Call external aid!" Ximen Qinghe suggested. "East Kunlun’s Sword God married into our Ximen family clan—he’s practically family. He’ll come if we ask."

"True," Ximen Qingzhong nodded. "Fang Lie’s his mortal enemy. Though bound by righteous sect rules and seniority, he’s itching for revenge. He’d rush here immediately!"

"With the world’s strongest expert guarding us, how could Fang Lie dare act up?" Ximen Qinghe added.

"Very well," Ximen Qingdong conceded. "I’ll draft a formal request under the Ximen clan’s name."

"Embarrassing, but necessary," Ximen Qinghe agreed. The others nodded.

Ximen Qingdong produced a golden-patterned Jade Slip—the clan’s official document. Imprinting it with divine sense, all four late-stage Thunder Tribulation elders added their Soul Imprints, signifying united urgency.

A trusted subordinate teleported to East Kunlun with the Jade Slip. Watching them leave, Ximen Qingdong turned grim. "Brothers, patrol actively and guard key sites. Buy us whatever time we can."

"I’ll patrol the large towns—our economic lifelines!" Ximen Qingyu declared.

"Same here," Ximen Qinghe chimed in. "We must protect them at all costs!"

"Exactly," Ximen Qingzhong agreed. "Losing those towns would cripple the clan!"

The trio departed without awaiting dismissal. Ximen Qingdong’s face darkened—he saw through their selfishness. They’d guard their own faction’s towns under the pretense of clan duty.

Outer territories could burn for all they cared—only their personal treasures mattered. Having witnessed Fang Lie’s ferocity, none dared pursue him. The vindictive brat might retaliate against their holdings. Noble sentiments? Gone. Clan interests? Forgotten.

While gloom gripped the Ximen clan, the Mo Sect celebrated. They’d seized the Spirit Jade mines! Family Heads grinned endlessly—their risky investment had triumphed beyond dreams. Sect Leader Mo Qianxun’s promise of profit-sharing based on contribution was ironclad. Mere spirit stones for partial mine ownership? Unthinkable!

Mo Qianxun himself nearly danced with joy. Spirit Jade—vital for Mo Sect—had cost tenfold premiums before. Seventh-rank Spirit Jade required Eighth-rank material prices; Eighth-rank demanded Ninth-rank costs. Now? The mines were theirs.

Other families hardly used any or not at all. Only the Mo Sect had to use it constantly. It was practically as if everyone conspired against the Mo Sect, yet they endured it silently.

Now with the Spirit Jade mines, everything changed. They no longer needed to desperately purchase from various sources. Even if they did buy, they wouldn’t have to pay such exorbitant prices anymore – the cost could be slashed severalfold. With the Mo Sect’s demand drastically reduced, the Spirit Jade held by others became worthless. Whether sold or kept, it couldn’t fetch high prices.

After the excitement subsided, Mo Qianxun remembered his promise. He declared, "Follow the established rules. Everyone contributed this time, so all get shares. Fang Lie claims thirty percent! Any objections?"

They exchanged glances, eyes burning with envy and resentment, yet none dared oppose.

Fang Lie had shed blood in the frontlines, contributing most. Taking thirty percent was rightful.

Seeing no dissent, Mo Qianxun solemnly continued, "Then it’s settled. The remaining seventy percent will be divided based on each family’s spiritual items contribution, including our sect. Calculations will follow!"

The crowd brightened.

Realistically, the sect would claim at least forty percent of the seventy, given their vast reserves surpassing any single family clan.

The remaining would be split among other clans. Smaller clans might receive mere fractions, yet even those amounted to staggering quantities. This was an endlessly productive Spirit Jade mine!

Moreover, the Small Thousand World’s Spirit Jade numbers vastly exceeded the Mo Sect’s annual consumption. This stemmed partly from the sect’s limited purchases, but mainly from the Ximen family clan and other Spirit Jade-controlling clans deliberately restricting supply to inflate prices. Despite enormous yields, they sold minimal amounts yearly, extorting the Mo Sect for more coin and fewer goods.

The actual output figures enraged the Mo Sect’s higher-ups.

The Righteousness Token Lord exploded, "Damned Ximen clan! When I procured Spirit Jade, they claimed low production to limit sales, jacking prices twelvefold! Now we see they gave us less than a tenth of their annual haul. They’ve been bleeding us dry!"

"Serves those bastards right for crossing Fang Lie!"

"Forge core energy pools immediately! Once our upgraded warship fleet’s ready, our first strike obliterates the Ximen clan!"

"Right! Always loathed them! Annihilate those curs!"

As fury swept the room, Mo Qianxun raised a hand. "Enough. This isn’t celebration time. The Spirit Jade mines bring both opportunity and peril. Our enemies won’t idly watch our strength surge. Our priority isn’t fanfare – we must stay low-key. Complete the fleet discreetly before anything else!"

"The Sect Leader’s right. We’ll maintain secrecy." With unified agreement, they dispersed to assigned tasks – some mining Spirit Jade, others crafting core energy pools. Teams gathered spirit stones and pearls while information-blockers suppressed news of the mine.

While the Mo Sect worked silently, Fang Lie reveled in plundering the Ximen clan’s territory.

The Ximen clan’s wealth showed in their million-mile territory’s Spiritual Energy-rich lands, boasting numerous natural treasures and transplanted precious sites.

But they weren’t fools. Their prime assets lay within clan grounds, shielded by protective arrays beyond Fang Lie’s reach. Only lesser treasures placed outside remained vulnerable.

Yet even "lesser" treasures held immense value.

Take the snow-peak ironwood before him – growing only in frigid, Spiritual Energy-dense areas, gaining mere inches per Hundred Years. This ten-thousand-tree stand on a transplanted ten-thousand-foot peak (moved via Powerful Divine Skills to block a Spiritual Vein’s Spirit Eye) reached over ten zhang heights.

Though nearly Eighth-rank material, its ice-wood affinity limited it to niche treasures, making it undesirable despite rarity. Thus it remained exiled from clan heartlands.

But as Fang Lie’s gaze fell upon it, Divine Light flashed in his eyes. This was perfect warship material!