Beast Taming Immortal Clan

Chapter 263 The Su Family of Jiangzhou, A Gambling Battle [Please Subscribe]

After learning about the Xuanjing Stone mine, Zhou Chun didn't dare to act on his own and quickly went to pay his respects to the two Supreme Elders.

After discussing it, the three decided that Zhou Daoyi would take Zhou Chun to the pioneering base in person.

The reason it was Zhou Daoyi was because Zhou Mingde's spirit pet, the Fire God Jackal, had already entered a dormant state of advancement after consuming a mid-grade third-tier demon core, making it unsuitable to move it.

After leaving the clan with Zhou Chun and Zhou Jiarui, Zhou Daoyi released the Azure Dragon Qingqing, which carried the two of them at high speed towards the wilderness outside Yunzhou.

After traveling for more than two days, the three arrived at the Zhou family's stronghold.

At this moment, Li Qinghe, a Purple Mansion cultivator from the Li family, arrived with several Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the You family had not yet arrived.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Daoyi first looked at Li Qinghe and asked, "Fellow Daoist Li, what is Senior Li's opinion on this matter?"

In terms of seniority, Li Qinghe was several generations older than Zhou Daoyi, and he was also several decades older than Zhou Mingde.

However, the Li family and the Zhou family are not as close as they used to be. If they address each other by seniority, it will weaken the prestige of the Zhou family.

Therefore, Zhou Daoyi could only address Li Qinghe using the common term used among cultivators of the same level in the cultivation world.

Li Qinghe, however, didn't seem to care. Upon hearing this, he whispered, "The Ancestor's opinion on this matter is that there must be no more bloodshed, and at least 60% of the interests must be preserved!"

"Is it because the Su family is backed by the Moon Wheel Cult?"

Zhou Daoyi narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice.

Then Li Qinghe nodded in agreement.

The Su family of Jiangzhou has a history of nearly a thousand years and was founded by a cultivator at the Purple Mansion stage of the Moon Wheel Sect.

For a long time, this family was a cultivation family within the Moon Wheel Sect and did not become independent.

Later, as the Su family grew larger and larger, the Moon Wheel Sect no longer allowed those Su family cultivators with poor aptitude to remain in the sect as disciples of the Moon Wheel Sect, and the Su family officially became independent.

After many years of development, the Su family has now established a Golden Core stage ancestor who is in charge of the family, thus becoming a Golden Core family.

With such a deep connection to the Moon Wheel Sect, the Su family has always been a valued direct descendant family of the Moon Wheel Sect, and the Su family's Golden Core stage ancestor also serves as a guest elder in the Moon Wheel Sect.

Under such circumstances, it is understandable that Li Jingxuan would not want a bloody conflict with the Su family.

After all, while a Xuanjing Stone mine is precious, it's not enough for the Li family to offend a powerful Golden Core family like the Su family to the point of no return.

"It seems our two families share the same opinion. Our Zhou family also believes that under the current circumstances, we absolutely cannot engage in a fierce conflict with a family like the Su family!"

Zhou Daoyi nodded slightly and also explained the Zhou family's plans.

Compared to the Li family, which has a Golden Core cultivator, the Zhou family is undoubtedly weaker and less willing to clash with a powerful Golden Core family like the Su family.

After all, the Zhou family doesn't actually lack the profits from a Xuanjing Stone mine, so they can accept completely abandoning it.

Not long after, You Liming, a Purple Mansion stage cultivator from the You family, also arrived at the stronghold with his men.

Then, after the leaders of the three families exchanged views, they basically reached a consensus: to do their best to protect their own interests without causing bloodshed, and ideally, to retain more than half of the profits from the Xuanjing Stone mine.

After reaching a consensus, the three families sent people to the Su family's stronghold to invite the Su family's leader to come and discuss the matter in detail.

Because the family's mountain gate was too far from the reclaiming base, the Su family directly arranged for a Purple Mansion stage cultivator to be stationed at the reclaiming base. This was also the basis for the Su family's previous courage to directly seize the Xuanjing Stone mine.

However, after both sides had lost people, the Su family's Purple Mansion cultivator dared not make decisions on his own anymore. He sent someone back to the family to report and ask the family's Golden Core Ancestor for instructions.

At this time, due to the distance, he had not yet received a reply from his ancestor.

Therefore, after receiving the invitations from the three major families, he adopted a delaying tactic, saying that he would go to the meeting in a few days.

Zhou Daoyi and his companions were well aware of this, so they waited inside the pioneering base.

During this waiting period, Zhou Chun and Zhou Daoyi, led by Zhou Jiarui, inspected and learned about the situation of this stronghold.

The location of this stronghold is quite good, situated right in the middle of many rolling hills and mountains. The stronghold is located at the highest point within a radius of two hundred miles, a mountain peak that is over eight hundred feet high and very majestic and massive.

The protective array that the You family built for this stronghold is a powerful array that is no less powerful than the "Five Directions Miro Array," covering an area of ​​more than 20 miles, including the main peak where the stronghold is located and more than a dozen surrounding peaks.

However, due to the short time frame, most areas within the base remain undeveloped.

Currently, there are about a hundred resident cultivators in the entire stronghold, ninety percent of whom are cultivators from the Li and You families, and a few are rogue cultivators who dared to come here to take risks.

The Jing Kingdom expanded its territory by thousands of miles in the wilderness, and many independent cultivators saw the opportunity in it.

Those who are more timid are still observing and gathering information in Yunzhou.

Some daring independent cultivators followed along when the major cultivation families were building their strongholds, earning spirit coins while trying to be the first to try something new.

As Zhou Chun walked up the mountain, he discovered that the cultivators of the Li family had made full use of their family's strengths, cultivating medicinal fields in suitable locations within the stronghold and sowing seeds of spiritual herbs.

According to the agreement among the three families, all output within the stronghold must be divided equally, which means that the Zhou family will also receive a share after the medicinal herbs in these fields mature.

Of course, in return, the Zhou family also took care of the travel arrangements for the cultivators within the stronghold.

Ten eight-horned water-repelling deer and six dragon-scaled horses were sent to this stronghold by the Zhou family to serve as mounts for the cultivators within the stronghold.

The You family was responsible for guarding the formation and providing formation assistance to the cultivators within the stronghold.

For example, if the Li family cultivators need to use formations to create special environments for growing spiritual herbs, and the Zhou family cultivators need to use formations to maintain the temperature inside the icehouse, the You family will provide the formation support for these purposes.

The three families had already cooperated in this way back when they were in the Three Absolutes Sect, and now that they are cooperating again, they are doing so with great tacit understanding.

After inspecting the situation inside the stronghold, Zhou Chun nodded in satisfaction and said, "The environment of this stronghold is indeed good. After a few years, once we are sure that the surrounding area is relatively safe, we can let the young cultivators of the family come here to train for a year or two."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Daoyi couldn't help but say, "Experience is fine, but it must be guided by an experienced elder."

"That's natural."

Zhou Chun responded with a nod, indicating that he understood.

After staying at the stronghold for two days, the Purple Mansion cultivator from the Su family finally arrived at the stronghold with his entourage to keep the appointment.

The Purple Mansion cultivator from the Su family who came to keep the appointment was named Su Renmei. He was a handsome man with a dignified appearance, looking to be in his early thirties, and quite tall.

Upon seeing Zhou Daoyi and the others who came out to greet him, he cupped his hands in greeting and said calmly, "Fellow Daoists, I, Su, am very polite."

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Su. We have been waiting for you for quite some time. Please come in."

Li Qinghe, representing the three major families, returned the greeting with a cupped hand, then smiled and gestured for the person to enter the stronghold.

Once inside the stronghold, the members of the four families took their seats. Li Qinghe first bowed to Su Renmei and said, "Last time, a junior member of our clan was ignorant and had a conflict with your family over some matters. On behalf of our three families, I apologize to Fellow Daoist Su and ask for your forgiveness."

Upon seeing this, Su Renmei quickly returned the greeting and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, you are too kind. In the previous conflict, the younger generation of my Su family were a bit too impulsive. I had already reprimanded them before I came, and I believe they will not repeat the mistake in the future."

Upon hearing his words, Li Qinghe, You Liming, and Zhou Daoyi all showed a change in expression, and a look of relaxation appeared in their eyes.

Clearly, Su Renmei's words revealed the Su family's intention: they would not become enemies with the three major families because of the previous conflict.

If that's the case, then the intentions of both parties should be quite clear.

Everyone wants to get involved in that mystic crystal mine!

Thinking of this, Li Qinghe spoke again, "We invited Fellow Daoist Su here today not only to express our apologies, but also to ask Fellow Daoist Su and the Su family how they view that Xuanjing Stone mine!"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing his words, Su Renmei countered with, "But I wonder how the families of the three fellow Daoists view that Xuanjing Stone mine?"

Taken aback by his question, the three of them paused slightly. Then, You Liming spoke in a deep voice, "The Xuanjing Stone mine was first discovered by our You family cultivators, and its location is only about two hundred miles from this stronghold. Our three families should rightfully possess the mining rights to this vein!"

"Fellow Daoist You is mistaken!"

Su Renmei shook her head repeatedly, saying slowly, "In terms of distance, that Xuanjing Stone mine should be closer to our Su family's stronghold, so the mining rights should belong to our Su family!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qinghe's expression changed, and he couldn't help but say, "But according to the rules of the three major sects, the core territory of each stronghold is only a hundred miles around the stronghold. Outside of this area, all mineral and medicinal resources belong to the discoverer!"

"That's right, the three major sects have such a rule."

Su Renmei nodded, acknowledging Li Qinghe's words, then smiled faintly and said, "But how can Fellow Daoist Li prove that you discovered the Xuanjing Stone mine first? Did you report it to the three major sects? Or have you already dug the mine shafts and started mining?"

These words left Li Qinghe and the other two speechless.

Reporting to the three major sects is something that will only happen after they have confirmed the exact size and reserves of the ore vein, and the same applies to digging a mine shaft for mining.

Su Renmei's meaning was quite clear: even if the three major families discovered the Xuanjing Stone mine first, since the Su family discovered it before the mining was reported, the Su family had a good reason to compete for the mine.

Seeing that he couldn't intimidate the other party with these rules, Li Qinghe could only say in a deep voice, "Since Fellow Daoist Su says so, then we won't beat around the bush. Our three major families absolutely cannot give up this Xuanjing Stone mine; it must be mined!"

"My Su family will not let go of such a spirit mine right on our doorstep!"

Su Renmei also expressed her attitude firmly.

The resolute tone of both sides suggested that there was no room for negotiation.

In reality, both sides had already left room for maneuver in their initial dialogue.

Therefore, after a period of silence, Zhou Daoyi, who had not spoken until now, said in a deep voice: "It is better to resolve enmity than to create it. The Su family and the other two families are all families under the three major sects, so in a sense, we are all one family!"

"Since neither of us wants to compromise on the mystic crystal mine, and neither of us has the strength to make the other completely give up the mine, how about we cooperate to mine it together?"

For the Zhou family, which is relatively the weakest in terms of strength, to say these words can be considered as preserving the reputation of the three Golden Core families: the Li family, the You family, and the Su family.

As soon as Zhou Daoyi uttered these words, the atmosphere at the scene immediately relaxed.

Su Renmei glanced at Zhou Daoyi, then nodded slightly and said, "Cooperating in mining spirit mines is not out of the question, but I wonder how the three of you plan to cooperate?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qinghe immediately said solemnly, "A 70/30 split, with the three of us taking 70% and the Su family taking 30%, isn't that already very considerate of the Su family?"

"That won't do. Since it's a joint mining operation, the profits should be split at least 50/50!"

Su Renmei shook her head repeatedly, denying Li Qinghe's statement on the spot.

"Fellow Daoist Su, don't be so greedy!"

Yu Liming's voice turned cold, and he said angrily, "We discovered the spirit mine first, and it should belong to our three families. Now you've taken 30%, which is already an enormous bargain! One shouldn't be so greedy!"

Li Qinghe coldly replied, "Fellow Daoist You is quite right. We absolutely cannot accept a 50/50 split. If that's the case, then we can only rely on our abilities to see who can contribute more manpower!"

Seeing their reaction, Su Renmei narrowed her eyes slightly and pondered.

The idea of ​​splitting it 50/50 was just something he casually mentioned; he knew in his heart that the three major families were unlikely to agree.

However, it's impossible to get him to agree to the proposals of the three major families so easily.

Therefore, after pondering for a moment, he nodded slightly and said, "How about this, we are all cultivators after all. Since everyone is dissatisfied with the way the cooperation is distributed, let's use the cultivators' method to decide whose opinion to follow."

"Oh, but I wonder what method Fellow Daoist Su is referring to?"

A strange light flashed in Zhou Daoyi's eyes, and he asked softly.

The cultivators who had been observing, such as Zhou Chun, also turned their curious gazes toward Su Renmei.

Upon seeing this, Su Renmei immediately replied, "It's very simple. Each of your three major families will send one Foundation Establishment cultivator to compete against a cultivator from my Su family. If you win two matches, the spoils will be split 70/30. If you lose two matches, we'll split it 50/50. What do you three think?"

One update today, one more tonight.

(End of this chapter)