However, both Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi still did not understand. After the banquet ended, Lin Shiming also learned from Lin Xianzhi that inside his Storage Bag were eight hundred Intermediate Grade Spirit Stones.
That was equivalent to eighty thousand Inferior Grade Spirit Stones, and for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, such an amount was already considered a considerable fortune.
"This Xu Daoyou really has some clever tricks!" Back in his own room, after activating the Spirit Isolation Formation, Lin Shiming thought back on the events and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Xu Daolai was clearly reminding them that Yunjing Mountain had treasures, and it was very likely that cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect would come too.
And yet, Qian Daolai, a cultivator with the Cultivation Level of Foundation Establishment Perfection, was not invited.
The Spirit Stones of Lin Xianzhi, I'm afraid, couldn't compare with those of Lu Changming and Ye Qiuming.
"Each harboring their own schemes, it's just a pity that we don't have a stronger backing!" Lin Xianzhi was also somewhat helpless – though they had the support of Zi Xuan Hermit and did not need to go to the frontlines, they still ended up in the dark and were part of someone's calculations after arriving at the Yunjing Mountain Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine.
After leaving Lin Xianzhi's room, Lin Shiming returned to his own room. He had hoped to wait for a system prompt, but unfortunately, the system prompts were still about Artifact Refining knowledge and did not mention the cultivators with the surname Lu, nor the treasures under the control of Xu Daolai.
Otherwise, his perspective would have been much clearer.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a month had gone by. It was said that the situation in Heavenly River City was getting worse.
The Spirit Veins and Spirit Stone Mines controlled by the various large Spirit Beast Sects within Heavenly River State were also attacked by disciples from the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect, losing a great deal of treasures.
Fortunately, the Spirit Beast Sect brought out a magical mirror treasure, which somehow projected an image of the entire Heavenly River State. As long as there was a cultivator in Heavenly River State above the Purple Mansion stage, they would appear in the mirror, thus eliminating any Purple Mansion-stage cultivators from the raiding parties.
"Success!" Lin Shiming shut off the furnace, withdrew the true fire, and took out a sky-blue magic sword.
The magic sword was only a Second Rank Inferior Grade Magic Artifact, and even mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators might not consider it valuable, but this was indeed the first Second Rank Inferior Grade Magic Artifact that he had ever refined.
Lin Shiming put away the magic sword and once again fell into contemplation, revising the just-finished refinement process deliberately, aiming for improvement.
It was a pity that Lin Yutie was not here, otherwise, as his first Artifact Refining experience, he could have also consulted with Lin Yutie.
Another quarter of an hour later, Lin Shiming stood up from the meditation mat and walked outside.
Today was another day for the three-day rotation, and he needed to go to the city walls of Yunjing Mountain to relieve his father from duty.
After all, from his Lin Family's perspective, if Lin Shiming died, they would not mobilize the clan to investigate extensively, let alone seek revenge with determination after four years.
"Daoist Lu jests. The Lin Family is nothing but a declining clan. Not to mention lacking fierce Spirit Beasts, even if we had one, how could it be a match for Daoist Lu?" Lin Shiming shook his head and declined.
Lu Changming was pressing him hard, evidently with ulterior motives.
Lin Shiming wasn't some hot-blooded youth in his early twenties; how could he play into Lu Changming's hands?
As the standoff continued, a Spirit Boat also appeared on the horizon.
"Uncle-Master Lin, we have come from the front lines to transfer Spirit Stones!" a Qi Cultivation disciple from the Spirit Beast Sect behind him said.
Indeed, a Token flew out in the sky.
The Token emitted light from both sides; on both its front and back were the words "Spirit Beast."
After confirming the Token was authentic, Lin Gang prepared to open the Formation, allowing the cultivators on the Spirit Boat to enter.
These cultivators in charge of transferring Spirit Stones had at least reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, or else the high-ranking cultivators wouldn't have felt assured, so he did not dare to treat them with neglect.
Meanwhile, Lin Shiming suddenly sensed a system alert in his mind.
"Please be on guard against a sneak attack and pay attention to the cultivator controlling the corpse. You may be able to obtain a Superior Grade Spirit Stone!"
As soon as the system alert appeared, Lin Shiming's eyes changed dramatically.
Although it was only three sentences, it signified that the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect were ready to make a move on Yunjing Mountain.
And a sneak attack could very likely involve an inside man. Now, he finally understood why Xu Daolai placed such importance on this Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone vein. It was probably because Superior Grade Spirit Stones had appeared, and Xu Daolai desired to use them to create a small Spiritual Energy tide to break through from the Middle Stage to Perfection in Foundation Establishment.
"Be careful, that Spirit Boat is a trap!" Lin Shiming suddenly shouted.
As Lin Shiming shouted, Lin Gang paused for a moment, but at that moment the Formation flags had already opened.
In their eyes, even if the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Corpse Refining Sect were to attack, they would surely choose the night!