Chapter 1253: The Awesome One Is Coming

Broken Cliff City.

The sky was cloudless, with only brilliant sunlight pouring down, casting the ancient city in a radiant glow. The towering pavilions and grand halls shone particularly bright. It was another clear and sunny day, and everything seemed as tranquil as the weather.

Inside the lavish hall.

Yao Qianji had just finished handling official affairs and was leisurely enjoying his privileged daily life with his subordinates, sipping wine and chatting with an air of innate superiority.

Despite the relaxed atmosphere, a sense of reverence lingered in everyone’s eyes—no one dared to act too casually or unrestrained.

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

"How is the progress at the newly opened mine in the Northern Desolate Wasteland? Are those lowly outsiders obedient to discipline?"

Though his tone was casual, the powerful figures seated around him wore solemn expressions, not daring to interrupt or disturb him, as if walking on thin ice.

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

"As you wisely discern, my lord."

"Following your orders, to prevent other factions from learning of the new mine, no news from the Northern Desolate Wasteland will leak. With Captain Hu guarding it, there should be no issues whatsoever!"

"Captain Hu possesses extraordinary cultivation and acts with utmost steadiness. His vision and judgment far surpass ordinary men. Managing a group of lowly outsiders is nothing for him!"

"Though the Northern Desolate Wasteland has been sealed off and we don’t know the exact situation, judging from the astral chart of the Celestial Star Instrument, the mining output has skyrocketed recently. The progress in ore extraction is astonishing—I’ve never seen such terrifying efficiency before! Surely, this is all thanks to Captain Hu’s capable leadership!"

As he spoke, the man retrieved a small, intricate device from his sleeve. Its complex and delicate mechanisms were rare in the world, and the formations engraved upon it were profound. As the device slowly unfolded, streams of starlight converged into a map.

Above the hall, the starlight-formed terrain map revealed that nearly half of it had already dimmed, confirming the man’s claims and shocking everyone present.

"Tsk…"

"The mining progress is truly astounding!"

"In just a few short days, these lowly outsiders have achieved more than months of work in previous years. It’s unbelievable!"

"Captain Hu is indeed a man of great talent—we are far beneath him!"

Amidst the murmurs of amazement, Yao Qianji’s eyes also gleamed with approval.

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

"Good. Very good."

"Such remarkable progress is rare. Hu Tao has indeed managed things well. These outsiders are finally proving somewhat useful—it wasn’t in vain that we allowed them to set foot on this sacred land!"

"This must be divine will—the heavens are granting our Black Dragon Divine Guards an abundance of mineral wealth!"

As Yao Qianji’s words echoed, the hall erupted in excitement.

Everyone exchanged smiles and nods, their voices filled with awe and agreement. It was almost certain that the mine would yield an unimaginable output—enough to make any faction green with envy if word got out.

Seizing this rare moment of joy, Yao Qianji magnanimously waved his hand.

"In this matter, all of you have contributed!"

"Since the Northern Desolate Wasteland is progressing so splendidly, there’s no need to pay it excessive attention. Leave everything to Hu Tao—I have high expectations for him."

"From now on, our priority should be investigating the migration of the Primordial Sea Beasts. This is the most pressing matter. None of you should slack off—we must uncover the shocking truth behind this phenomenon as soon as possible!"

The hall’s occupants bowed in unison, their expressions solemn.

"As you command, my lord!"

……

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Far away, in the Northern Desolate Wasteland, millions of miles from Broken Cliff City.

At the foot of the mountain, in front of the mining site.

Yi Feng lay in the tea shed. With autumn now in full swing, the light tea had been replaced with a stronger red brew, and the shed itself had been renovated several times, now looking quite presentable. Yet, he still hadn’t seen any sign of the so-called "elite forces."

Watching the workers toil in the distance, he could only feel numb and helpless.

If this continued, he’d really end up as the permanent overseer captain.

Where were the elites they promised?

Why hadn’t they shown up after all this time? Had they gotten lost on the way?

He looked up at the sky—still desolate and empty.

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

Yi Feng grew increasingly frustrated.

Who would’ve thought things would turn out like this? What was supposed to be a straightforward, bloody battle had turned into a half-year-long wait with no sign of the enemy!

Damn it!

Now he was stuck in an awkward position.

Should he keep waiting? Who knew how long it’d take for the elites to arrive?

But if he left?

In this unfamiliar land, he had no sense of direction. Wandering aimlessly with this group of cultivators might mean he wouldn’t even find a decent opponent.

Even when he tried gathering intel, the miners were all low-level lackeys who trembled at the slightest question, claiming they knew nothing.

What was even more ridiculous was that every time he questioned someone, the others would start digging like madmen, as if he were some terrifying monster…

Yi Feng sighed in resignation.

Just out of curiosity, he glanced at a soot-covered guard.

A single glance!

That dark-skinned guard immediately transformed into a human mole, furiously chiseling into the mountain. In no time, he’d tunneled deep inside…

"Whoosh…"

A gust of wind carried dust past Yi Feng, who stood frozen in disbelief.

Forget it…

What was the point of asking anymore?

If he kept this up, who knew how much worse it’d get.

Life was truly as lonely as snow.

Just as Yi Feng sighed and slumped back into his chair, several figures flew toward him from the distance.

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

"Senior!"

"A group of people has arrived outside the mining site—they seem formidable!"

Hm?

The elites were finally here?!

About damn time—his sword was practically rusting from waiting!

Yi Feng’s spirits instantly lifted.

Slapping his thigh, he jumped up and urged them to lead the way.

"Quick, quick! Take me to see!"

At the same time, outside the mining site.

A crowd of figures stood in formation, each exuding terrifying auras—stronger than even the Black Dragon Divine Guards from before. Yet, their attire was mismatched, resembling rogue cultivators.

Despite their disheveled appearance, their profound cultivation and steady demeanor spoke volumes.

The leader, his gaze fixed on the distant mine, revealed a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Who would’ve thought the Black Dragon Divine Guards had stretched their reach here? And to have discovered such a rich vein of celestial ore—their methods are truly impressive!"

The elders behind him nodded solemnly, their expressions grave.

"Elder Xu speaks the truth. For the Black Dragon Divine Guards to operate on such a scale in secret, with almost no one noticing—such cunning and planning is beyond ordinary men."

"Indeed. To control this place and conceal the mine so thoroughly, it must be the work of a captain-level figure among them."

"Celestial ore meteorites are already rare treasures, but the Stellar Sand within is even more precious—every major sect covets it. If the Black Dragon Divine Guards monopolize this, their rise is inevitable!"

As they spoke, greed flickered in their eyes.

One elder took a deep breath, his voice trembling with desire.

"With so much ore right before us… why don’t we seize this opportunity and take the mine for ourselves?"

The moment those words left his lips, all the elders snapped their attention toward him.