Chapter 121: Gold-Devouring Beetles and the Spirit Stone Mine

Ye Shuang'er spoke with delight, "Mr. Lin, we had originally planned to visit you in Lancheng. I never expected to run into you here."

Master Du bowed respectfully toward Lin Yi, saying, "Mr. Lin, thank you very much for your help with the matter last time."

Lin Yi waved his hand dismissively. "It was nothing. I received my compensation."

"Regardless, I will never forget the debt of saving my life," Master Du said sincerely. He then pulled a small, low-grade spirit stone from his pocket and handed it to Lin Yi, looking visibly pained to part with it.

"No need. I am not lacking in spirit stones."

Lin Yi shook his head. In truth, what he really wanted to tell Master Du was that he wasn't lacking in *low-grade* spirit stones.

"I see..." Master Du felt a slight sense of relief, though he put on a look of disappointment.

Lin Yi smiled faintly. Suddenly, his gaze caught on an amber pendant hanging around Ye Shuang'er's neck.

Ye Shuang'er clearly noticed his stare. Her neck flushed slightly as she asked in a low voice, "Um, Mr. Lin, is there something on my face?"

Lin Yi withdrew his gaze and asked with a smile, "Not at all. Where did you get that amber around your neck?"

"This? I picked it up while out on a trip. I saw there was a little bug inside and thought it was interesting, so I kept it," Ye Shuang'er replied without hesitation.

"Would you mind taking it off so I can have a look?" Lin Yi asked.

"Of course," Ye Shuang'er agreed instantly, without a moment's hesitation.

Lin Yi took the amber pendant from her. It was slightly warm and carried the faint scent of a young girl. Inside the yellow amber was a bug about the size of a fly. Looking closely, the creature was golden all over, resembling a ladybug.

*A Gold-Devouring Beetle.* Lin Yi felt a surge of joy.

The Gold-Devouring Beetle was a rare creature capable of consuming various metals and secreting a unique gold powder. This powder was a supreme material for artifact refinement, capable of greatly enhancing the quality of magical items; adding even a single gram could make common pig iron as hard as a spiritual weapon. This demonstrated the immense value of the beetle.

After the great upheaval of heaven and earth, not only had cultivators been suppressed, but many rare and exotic beasts had suffered the same fate. Lin Yi had assumed the Gold-Devouring Beetles were nearly extinct, so running into one here was truly a case of unstoppable good fortune.

"Would you be willing to sell me this amber?" Lin Yi asked, turning the pendant over in his hand.

"Oh, Mr. Lin, it’s just a common piece of amber. If you want it, just take it," Ye Shuang'er said, waving her hands hurriedly. She had been worrying about how to get closer to Lin Yi, and this was the perfect opportunity.

"Very well. I won't let you suffer a loss. Here are ten Foundation Establishment Pills; they can help solidify your foundation," Lin Yi said, tossing her a bottle of pills.

"This..." Ye Shuang'er hesitated.

Master Du tugged at her arm and whispered, "A person of Mr. Lin’s stature does not accept favors lightly."

"I suppose I overthought it," Ye Shuang'er said with a wry smile.

After they were seated, Lin Yi used his divine sense to examine the Gold-Devouring Beetle. Finding that it still had a faint trace of life, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Unfortunately, the beetle has been suppressed by the laws of heaven and earth. My true energy cannot heal it in the short term." Lin Yi sighed softly, pinning his hopes on the Nirvana Fire.

Since it was ranked among the ten great primordial fires, it surely possessed unique abilities.

Lin Yi tucked the beetle away, at which point Ye Shuang'er asked, "Mr. Lin, are you aware of what happened recently in Shan Province?"

"What happened?" Lin Yi asked, slightly puzzled.

"The Feng family's jade mine exploded. It is rumored that a terrifying creature was hidden inside. Just a moment ago, word leaked that all the experts hired by the Feng family have been killed—over a dozen half-step grandmasters!" Ye Shuang'er sighed.

A half-step grandmaster was the peak combat strength for many major families. To lose a dozen at once was a massive blow, regardless of the province. However, it was hard to say if the rumors were accurate.

"Are you certain it was the Feng family?" Lin Yi frowned.

He knew the Feng family owned a jade mine; in fact, he was a partner with a fifty percent stake. If something had truly gone wrong at the mine, the Feng family would have called him—unless there was some rare treasure inside that they were planning to keep for themselves.

"Yes," Ye Shuang'er nodded.

...

Meanwhile, at the Feng family jade mine, many martial artists had already arrived, ranging from the Innate realm and half-step grandmasters to those at the Postnatal stage. These were all hired at great expense by the Feng family.

"Grandfather, are we really not going to tell Mr. Lin?" Feng Yuling asked, looking worried.

Feng Gaozhuo’s expression was calm. "Silly girl, if that Mr. Lin comes, do you think there will be anything left for us? I have already sealed the interior of the mine; everyone only knows that a 'big thing' has appeared."

"But if the things inside the mine are discovered by other martial artists, our family won't be able to hold onto it," Feng Yuling argued.

"I will hold onto it whether I can or not. This is a chance for our Feng family to rise, granted by heaven itself. We must seize this opportunity," Feng Gaozhuo said, his gaze deep and resolute.

Just then, a woman ran in and said, "Elder Feng, we have hired one hundred and fifty martial artists so far, including fifteen half-step grandmasters."

"Good," Feng Gaozhuo said, looking spirited. The repeated hiring of reinforcements had already left the Feng family heavily in debt, but if they could mine the contents of the site, the returns would be a thousand times greater.

"Elder Feng, shall we start now?" the woman asked.

"Not yet. We must wait for one more person," Feng Gaozhuo said firmly.

Ten minutes later, a resonant voice echoed: "Feng Gaozhuo, I didn't think you'd be so willing to spend for a mere jade mine."

The newcomer was a short, thin old man dressed in black. His hands were clasped behind his back. Though he appeared to be walking slowly, every step covered dozens of meters. In just a few strides, he arrived at Feng Gaozhuo's side.

Feng Gaozhuo bowed hurriedly. "Greetings, Grandmaster."

"Grandmaster Sun Hongyi," Feng Yuling said in surprise. Sun Hongyi was a grandmaster from Miaojiang, renowned for his mastery of poisons. He had once used his toxins to kill two other grandmasters in succession, earning a fearsome reputation.

"Hmph," Sun Hongyi looked at Feng Yuling, a glint of desire flashing in his eyes. He asked Feng Gaozhuo, "Is this your granddaughter?"

"Yes," Feng Gaozhuo replied.

Sun Hongyi said, "Your granddaughter is quite pretty. Send her to my room tonight."

"This..." Feng Gaozhuo’s brow furrowed.

Feng Yuling’s heart sank. She never expected Sun Hongyi to make such a demand.

"Grandfather," Feng Yuling pleaded, looking at him with desperate eyes. She knew the power of a grandmaster, and Sun Hongyi’s strength was such that even Feng Yi, the Feng family's own grandmaster, would avoid offending him if possible.

"What? Do you disagree?" As Sun Hongyi spoke, the surrounding temperature plummeted.

Feng Gaozhuo hurriedly shook his head. "No, no—I just have to ask my granddaughter."

With that, he pulled Feng Yuling into a corner and said earnestly, "Ling'er, you have lived off the Feng family all these years; it is time you did something for the family."

"I won't!" Feng Yuling’s face turned pale. To be sent to an old man for the night—how could she accept that?

Feng Gaozhuo’s expression turned stern. "You have no choice in the matter. From the moment you were born into a great family, your life was never your own. Besides, it’s just to keep him company. If we can win Sun Hongyi’s favor, our family will surely advance to the next level."

Feng Yuling never imagined that the grandfather she had struggled so hard to save would treat her this way.

"I understand," she said, her heart filled with bitterness. This was the reality of a great family; one’s happiness was never one’s own.

"That's the spirit. Ling'er, I am going with Grandmaster Sun to deal with that 'big thing' now," Feng Gaozhuo said, patting her shoulder before leaving with Sun Hongyi.

Watching their retreating figures, Feng Yuling thought, *Am I really just supposed to accept my fate?*

Wait. Suddenly, she thought of Lin Yi.

After a moment of hesitation, her eyes hardened with resolve. She took out her phone and dialed Lin Yi’s number.

"Hello, Mr. Lin? There is something I need to tell you," Feng Yuling said.

"What is it?" Lin Yi asked in a low voice, surprised that it was Feng Yuling who had called.

"My family has a jade mine. I’m not sure if you’re aware of it," she said, lowering her voice.

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I have a contract with your grandfather. Everything in that mine is to be split fifty-fifty," Lin Yi said coldly.

Feng Yuling was surprised. No wonder her grandfather was so unwilling to tell Lin Yi. So, that was the reason.

She continued, "Mr. Lin, it is not actually a jade mine. It is a spirit stone mine!"

"What!" Lin Yi was shocked. If it were a spirit stone mine, it would surely contain high-grade, perhaps even top-grade, spirit stones.