Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 351 - 351 350 True and False

351: Chapter 350: True and False 351: Chapter 350: True and False The Shi brothers harbored their thoughts, maintaining their balance among the cultivators was a profound art, and missteps could trap them in their own schemes.

Whoever contracted the mine and commanded the stationed cultivators held significant power.

Even if they didn’t replace you, the constant, sporadic troubles were unbearable.

How much could one really earn from a legitimate mining operation?

Weren’t they reliant on the illicit practices behind the scenes?

As long as the cultivators took things seriously, there would be no gain, rendering the business worthless.

Would Daoist Chao continue to guard?

Or would the newly arrived Immortal Master take over?

Without clarity, one must not hastily place their bets, for a misstep could lead to an abyss.

Bowing and scraping, “Immortal Master, please discuss further inside.

We have prepared excellent Immortal Tea and some local specialties.”

Hou Niao smiled and nodded without refusing.

After all, it was good manners to accept their hospitality, wasn’t it?

While accompanying him inside to pay his respects, he acutely noticed that the Shi’s third brother slowly fell behind, took a turn, and then dashed away—clearly, he went to send a message.

This was an expected matter; the petty schemes of mortals could offend no one.

They struggled to survive, and he could understand that.

Sitting down with Shi Lao and Shi Lao Er over tea, they talked expansively about the climate, people, ocean currents, and mineral resources of Sangmu Island.

They also accepted some local specialties, which were truly just that—what fine gifts could mortals offer?

It was mainly about the gesture, the respect.

Before the conversation delved deeper, a surge of Divine Sense shot down from the sky; Shi Lao Da was still oblivious, but to Hou Niao, the implications were crystal clear.

Chuckling, “It seems your old benefactor is getting restless, isn’t he?”

He flew out the window and hovered in the air, a hundred yards away, a high-crowned Daoist was glaring furiously.

“Fellow Daoist, you are overstepping!”

Hou Niao, carelessly, “Overstepping?

Overstepping what?

I quite like the scenery here, rich in resources, with all the facilities I need, perfectly suits me.

I hear your tenure is ending soon, and you are due back.

Is there a problem if I check out my future territory?

I haven’t provoked you, nor have I disrupted the mining operation, so what crime have I committed?

What, has Wu Sect’s islands become your private property, not even allowing others to come and view them?”

Chao Buzhi’s gaze grew colder.

He had been informed by the Shi brothers, this newcomer from the Demon Sect had designs on Sangmu Island.

He hadn’t heard of this before, but he chose to believe it rather than not.

His tenure was indeed nearing its end, and he had no intention of remaining in Linhai.

When his term expired, he intended to return to Wu Sect for another lofty position.

Thus, the battle for ownership of Sangmu Island was indeed real.

However, what Wu Sect was orchestrating was to pass this island to another sect, preferably the Buddhist Sect or Taihao, or even another Demon Sect, as long as it wasn’t the Quanzhen Sect.

This was something Wu Sect was secretly orchestrating, so the arrival of this Sword Cultivator made him very cautious.

He had already sent information back to Mirage City and was now confirming it, but this would take time.

He couldn’t allow this individual to investigate the mine’s output, which could impact him; among all the deployed cultivators, it was normal to “use the mountain if near a mountain, or use the water if near water,” especially for someone about to leave, grabbing a final large haul was a common scenario.

Those who understood, understood; just don’t let anyone catch you.

No one knew he would soon return to Wu Sect for a prestigious position, everyone thought he was going to serve another term in Linhai.

This was a smokescreen.

Hence, he had collaborated with the Shi brothers on privately smuggling ore; he absolutely could not let this Sword Cultivator know, or not only would he have to hand over the wealth accumulated over the years, but he would also face a hefty fine, and the sect would not bear this burden for him.

He must drive this fellow away, but directly making a move was the most foolish method, and he disdained to do so.

“Much talk is pointless.

Since Daoist is so persistent, don’t blame me for not warning you beforehand.

You of the Demon Sect swagger arrogantly, but you also need to consider the place.

That’s all I have to say, mind yourself.”

Chao Buzhi’s threatening warning did not end with him making a move, which somewhat surprised Hou Niao; this was a God Sensing Realm Daoist whose realm was even above his own.

There was no reason for him to be afraid of him, so what was the purpose of these empty threats?

In fact, he didn’t need to bother guessing.

When he returned to the mines and saw the Shi Family’s third brother, wearing a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes, and the eldest Shi beginning to evade his questions, he understood.

It was merely a matter of buying time and the Shi brothers collaborating to establish a defensive alliance.

The Shi brothers started to play dumb, especially regarding the balance of mining expenditures, leaving Hou Niao somewhat at a loss; clearly, the Shi brothers had made a choice.

They could align so swiftly with Chao Buzhi, not because the Wu Sect was more dominant than the Quanzhen Sect, but rather, the greater likelihood was that they had to keep a handle on the situation, helplessly.

How could these years of cooperation have occurred without a bit of deception?

He did not have the right to lay hands on mortals, a somewhat hollow statement; if capable, searching souls would occur in a blink, even without the searched even realizing it.

The problem was he didn’t possess this ability, for applying the Upper Dantian Sea of Consciousness belonged to the capabilities of a Golden Core Cultivator.

He had to resort to the interrogation and threats pattern now, too concerned with leaving traces.

“Does Sangmu Island have records of mining volumes from the past years?”

“Yes, but we only keep records for three years.

Any more than that, and they’re with the Island Master.

That’s the rule for all mining islands.”

“How many years have you three brothers been on Sangmu Island?”

“To enlighten the Immortal Master, our Shi family is a family of miners, the trade passed from father to son; although I’ve been in charge here for less than twenty years, my Shi family has been deeply rooted in Sangmu Island for over a century without any mishaps, often receiving praise from the Jiedu Mansion in Lihai.

Over half of the miners on Sangmu Island were recruited by my Shi family from the continent, and the same goes for those supporting industries; Immortal Master might not know, but initially, Sangmu Island was very desolate.

No one wanted to come here, and we went to great lengths to persuade people to move to the island…”

Hou Niao gave a faint smile.

These three Shi brothers were truly crafty; they wouldn’t have been able to manage without it.

Their words meant only two things.

One was that the Shi family held some status at the Jiedu Mansion, not necessarily something you could easily manipulate.

The other was that Sangmu Island was under the control of the Shi family, if you replaced me, this mining area might cease operations.

It was both self-praise and a threat, subtly implying that the disputes among you cultivators should not involve our Shi family.

“Twenty years, that’s not short!

You must have served several Island Masters, right?”

The eldest Shi answered very earnestly to questions unrelated to mining.

This also showed a genuine reluctance to offend cultivators, for while cultivators generally do not trouble mortals, what if one encountered someone unreasonable?

Chao Buzhi had only said to keep everything about the aquamarine mine strictly confidential, and didn’t say to not cooperate on all matters; for him, a businessman, he naturally tried to leave some leeway in his dealings, who could tell if this Immortal Master might actually come to the island to become the Island Master in the future?

“Three terms, I have served three Island Masters.”

Hou Niao casually remarked, “Oh?

That’s quite a few; you must be quite fortunate.

So, which country’s cultivator do you think is the most reasonable?

Which sect’s cultivator is the most overbearing?”