pdf-ebookys Chapter 32 Change is thwarted, and conspiracies begin to surface.
Chapter 32 Change is thwarted, and conspiracies begin to surface.
Dai Yao rubbed her temples. The rules of this Demon Palace were longer than an old lady's foot binding cloth, restricting people at every turn.
Trying to mobilize resources is incredibly difficult.
"These old fogies won't learn their lesson until they see the coffin!" Zi Yan, with her fiery temper, slammed her fist on the table, making the teacups jump.
"Calm down, calm down." Dai Yao waved her hand, took out the secret passage key she got from Xue Ying, and twirled it between her fingers. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way." Although she spoke lightly, Dai Yao knew in her heart that this matter was far more troublesome than she had imagined.
The Demon Palace's resources are tightly bound by an invisible net, and their every move seems to be secretly monitored.
Forget about making any big moves, even the magic crystals needed for cultivation are in extremely short supply.
“This won’t do.” Leng Xing pushed up his glasses, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. “We must find another way.”
Dai Yao nodded, closed her eyes, and began to sense the flow of Qi.
This is her biggest advantage after transmigrating; she can vaguely sense where "good things" are.
"I've got it!" Dai Yao suddenly opened her eyes, a hint of excitement flashing in them. "Come with me!"
She led the group through many twists and turns until they arrived at an abandoned courtyard.
"This is it?" Zi Yan looked skeptical. "What good stuff could there be in this godforsaken place?"
Dai Yao smiled mysteriously, took out a small shovel, and started digging in the ground.
"Are you... digging for treasure?" Miao Wan asked curiously as she leaned closer.
"Pretty much." Dai Yao chuckled, her hands still moving.
As the soil was turned over, a strong demonic aura rushed out.
"Holy crap! It's magic crystal ore!" Zi Yan's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
Although it was just a small mine, it was enough for them to catch their breath for the time being.
The reformists worked together and secretly began mining the vein, their faces beaming with excitement.
The news quickly reached the ears of the Shadow Demon.
"What? They actually found a mineral vein?" Ghost Ghost suddenly stood up, his face grim, and crushed the teacup.
"Found a mineral vein? Heh, Dai Yao really has some skills." The Shadow Demon sneered, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes. "However, this little bit of cleverness is not enough to impress me!" He immediately summoned the Spirit Wind Demon and whispered a few words in his ear. The Spirit Wind Demon obeyed and left, a sinister smile curving his lips.
Soon, a message spread like wildfire throughout the Demon Palace: the mineral vein discovered by Dai Yao was no ordinary mineral vein, but a forbidden area of the Demon Palace!
Mining this land will unleash ancient monsters, bringing annihilation to the Demon Palace!
The moment this rumor was spread, the Demon Palace was in an uproar.
Members of the traditional forces who were originally wavering turned against them and glared angrily at Dai Yao and the reformists.
They gathered at the entrance to the mine, their emotions running high, demanding that Dai Yao immediately cease mining.
"Bullshit! This is clearly a fabrication!" Zi Yan, with her fiery temper, was the first to jump out. "We've already explored this mine; there's no ancient demonic creature here. It's clearly you old fogies who are afraid of change and are deliberately spreading rumors!"
"Zi Yan! Stop talking nonsense!" Ling Fengmo said with a pained expression. "You've been deceived by Dai Yao's sweet words! The demonic energy in this mine is so dense; it must be sealing something terrifying inside!"
"So what if it's rich? Rich means there are a lot of magic crystals! We reformers worked so hard to find this vein, why can't we mine it?" Zi Yan argued, "You bunch of old fogies, all you know is to cling to the past, you deserve to be left behind by the times!"
"You...you are utterly rebellious!" Lingfeng Mo was so angry that his beard stood on end, and his finger pointing at Ziyan trembled uncontrollably.
The two engaged in a heated exchange, neither willing to back down, and it looked like they were about to come to blows.
Just then, Dai Yao slowly walked out.
She glanced around, her gaze calm, but her tone carried an undeniable firmness: "Gentlemen, I know you have concerns about this mine. But I want to say that my sense of danger is far more acute than you imagine. During the struggle for spiritual resources, I relied on this sense to escape danger time and time again. I can guarantee that this mine is absolutely safe!"
Some members of the Demon Palace who were originally staunchly opposed to the competition began to have their eyes flicker when Dai Yao mentioned the struggle for the Spirit Source.
They had witnessed Dai Yao's performance in the competition for spiritual resources firsthand, and it was indeed extraordinary.
Could it be... that this mine is really safe?
The Ghostly Ghost, hiding in the shadows, watched Dai Yao turn the tide with a terrifyingly grim expression.
"Damn it! This woman is really troublesome!" A glint of malice flashed in his eyes as he muttered, "Looks like I have no choice but to use that method..."
Dai Yao's words did indeed shake many people's resolve.
The Shadow Ghost hid behind the crowd, his face ashen.
He was about to succeed, but Dai Yao ruined it with just a few words. How could he tolerate that?
"You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences! Since you're courting death, don't blame me for being impolite!" The Shadow Ghost thought bitterly and decided to unleash its trump card.
He transmitted his voice to Huan Yue: "Attack! This time, success is imperative!"
Huan Yue accepted the order and moved silently, like a ghost, towards Dai Yao.
The dagger in her hand gleamed with a cold, eerie light, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.
Dai Yao was busy explaining to a group of stubborn old men and didn't notice the approaching danger at all.
Zi Yan and Leng Xing were protecting her on either side, and because of the noisy surroundings, they momentarily neglected her.
At the critical moment, Leng Xing caught a glimpse of a cold light out of the corner of his eye. He turned around abruptly and saw Huan Yue raise her dagger and stab at Dai Yao!
"Watch out!" Leng Xing shouted, shoving Dai Yao aside.
Caught off guard, Dai Yao stumbled as she was pushed.
Huan Yue's dagger missed its mark and slammed into the ground.
"Oh my god! I was so scared!" Dai Yao patted her chest, still shaken.
This illusory moon is simply haunting!
They're even more annoying than mosquitoes!
Having missed her first attack, Huan Yue immediately withdrew, preparing to launch another attack.
She had assumed that Dai Yao would confront her head-on, just like last time.
Unexpectedly, Dai Yao has learned her lesson this time!
She slipped and fell to the ground in a seemingly disheveled manner, but in doing so, she spilled a handful of white powder on the ground.
"Cough cough cough..." Caught off guard, Huan Yue inhaled the powder and immediately began to cough violently.
"What the hell is this?" Huan Yue felt weak all over, and her vision began to blur.
Dai Yao smiled smugly: "A family secret recipe, a cure for all kinds of stubbornness! How about it, does it taste good?" This isn't poison, it's... itching powder!
She had anticipated that the Shadow Demon wouldn't give up easily, so she made preparations in advance.
Huan Yue was both ashamed and angry, but powerless to retaliate.
She glared at Dai Yao fiercely, then turned and disappeared into the night.
Dai Yao clapped her hands, looking relaxed: "Done! We're done!"
"Yaoyao, are you alright?" Miao Wan ran over worriedly.
"It's nothing, it's a small matter~" Dai Yao waved her hand, looking nonchalant.
When Dai Yao faced the crowd's opposition and explained the mine's safety, even more people vehemently objected, and several of her subordinates were even captured by traditional forces as a threat. Standing in the center of the crowd, Dai Yao exuded a powerful aura, her gaze piercing, and she declared loudly and sternly, "I, Dai Yao, guarantee with my life that this mine is absolutely safe! If you trust me, I can double the mine's output, ensuring everyone has ample magic crystals for cultivation! Furthermore, those who captured my subordinates, return them immediately, or I will find out who they are and make sure they suffer the consequences!" Dai Yao's voice was firm and powerful, and those who had captured her subordinates felt a chill run down their spines, slinking away as they returned them.
As Huan Yue attempted to assassinate him, the moonlight, like water, spilled into the courtyard. The cold glint of Huan Yue's dagger clashed with the white powder scattered by Dai Yao in the air. Those around were terrified and bewildered. Huan Yue, forcibly enduring the itching, launched another attack, her moves even more ferocious. Dai Yao, however, remained unfazed. She skillfully used the surrounding environment, chanting a spell that sent surrounding stones flying and hurtling towards Huan Yue. Huan Yue dodged left and right, looking utterly disheveled. As Huan Yue fled, Dai Yao crossed her arms and taunted, "Go back and tell Youying Gui to send someone capable next time!"