PCJ – Chapter 770 Warning

“What brings you here? Don’t tell me your mineral exploration has already reached the Spirit Beast Mountains?” Zhang Jiaohua looked coldly at Hu Tengda.

“Word reached us that the Battle Hall was hunting in the Spirit Beast Mountains. We elders were concerned and came with our family’s elite disciples to assist, lest our sect’s Battle Hall suffer heavy losses,” Hu Tengda replied, though his eyes couldn’t help but wander toward the valley.

“That’s enough. I understand your intentions. With me overseeing the Battle Hall, nothing will go wrong. You may leave now. As for your Five Great Families—whether you wish to mine or hunt—that’s your own affair. But remember: the sect has its own rules. The Meishan Sect’s contribution system is not for show. The Meishan Sect doesn’t need this family or that family—it needs cultivators who truly contribute to the sect. From now on, any cultivator who wants to obtain resources from the sect must have contribution points that match what they receive. Those who contribute nothing—even elders—will not be entitled to any resources!

I know exactly what’s in your hearts. The Battle Hall’s training concerns the long-term development of Meishan Sect. Anyone who dares to sabotage it—don’t blame me for being merciless!”

As Zhang Jiaohua spoke, he casually waved his hand toward a nearby mountain. In an instant, a thunderous boom echoed through the valley as the entire peak was sheared flat by that single effortless strike. The spirit beasts dwelling within the mountain fled in terror.

The Battle Camp, which had been resting, immediately reacted to the sound. Within seconds, they had fully assembled. Squad captains, Battle Camp elders, and Commander Wen Xiaoqun all responded with astonishing speed.

By contrast, the elites of the Five Great Families were thrown into panic. Instead of forming ranks, they scattered in disarray.

Hu Tengda’s face turned pale. In all his scheming, he had forgotten one fundamental fact—cultivators like him, at the Spirit Transformation stage, were nothing but ants before Zhang Jiaohua, a Void Returning expert. If Zhang Jiaohua were truly angered, a single flick of his hand could erase all five families from existence.

The other elders from the Five Great Families said nothing. They simply followed Hu Tengda, retreating with their clans’ disciples in frightened silence. Along the way, none dared to speak; their faces were filled only with regret and fear.

Wen Xiaoqun approached. “Sect Master, they’ve left?”

“They have,” Zhang Jiaohua nodded.

“Sect Master, I have an idea,” said Wen Xiaoqun.

“What is it? Speak,” Zhang Jiaohua replied.

“I think this valley’s terrain is excellent. I’ve already surveyed the surroundings—no particularly powerful spirit beasts nearby. There’s a mineral vein in that mountain range; it might even contain a spirit vein. I believe we should establish a permanent base here. The Battle Hall could be stationed here long-term, improving our strength through continuous hunts.

Also, since we suffered casualties in this battle, I’ve brought in a batch of reserve combat cultivators. I plan to return and select more disciples to replenish the reserves. The Battle Hall will eventually expand—it has to. Our growth must come from the reserve forces. So I want to gradually enlarge the reserve ranks. Any cultivator with decent talent and strength could be recruited there first,” Wen Xiaoqun explained.

Through this fierce battle, Wen Xiaoqun had found his own direction. He realized that if their long-range attacks had been stronger, they could have inflicted far heavier damage on the Copperhide Golden Boars, greatly reducing the need for close combat—and therefore, casualties.

“If you’ve got a solid plan, go ahead and execute it,” Zhang Jiaohua said approvingly. “You have my full support. Not only should the Battle Hall move here—the Artifact Refining Hall must come too. The Artifact Refining Hall exists to serve the Battle Hall. They need to understand your needs and craft equipment accordingly.”

Wen Xiaoqun was overjoyed. Though the Battle Hall’s current numbers weren’t large, and their overall combat strength might still struggle against the Five Great Families, continued development along this path would eventually surpass them.

After this hard-fought battle, every Battle Hall cultivator who participated would earn contribution points sufficient to obtain second-tier cultivation techniques and generous resources. The Swiftwind Wolves and Copperhide Golden Boars they had hunted were extremely valuable cultivation materials in the Abandoned Lands.

To cultivators, the flesh and blood of spirit beasts were even more precious than spirit stones. Though spirit stones provided pure spiritual energy, they were difficult—and risky—to absorb. Spirit beast flesh, on the other hand, was rich in easily absorbed energy, and its nutrients could even strengthen the body.

In short, with ample spirit beast meat, the Battle Camp’s cultivators could advance rapidly in cultivation.

Even the support cultivators earned high contribution points and received portions of spirit beast meat to improve their own cultivation.

The Meishan Sect’s architectural skill was unmatched in the Abandoned Lands. With help from various support cultivators, a sturdy fortress soon rose within the valley, surrounded by high, reinforced walls. Even spirit beasts as tough as Copperhide Golden Boars couldn’t easily break through.

Of course, if a Void Returning level spirit beast appeared, such defenses would be useless—but none existed near the outskirts of the Spirit Beast Mountains.

When the Five Great Families’ elders returned to Yanguicheng, they were troubled. What should they do next?

Zhang Jiaohua’s warning had made one thing clear—no arm could twist a thigh. If they continued to oppose him, they were courting their own destruction. This was a world where strength ruled. Anyone who ignored that truth was destined to die.

Among the Five Families, the Tian Family was the first to act. Tian Ningxue decided to distance her clan from Hu Tengda and the others. Zhang Jiaohua clearly disapproved of the families forming alliances. She then ordered her disciples to fully commit to the sect’s assigned mining and exploration missions.

The Tian Family’s foundation far surpassed that of loose cultivators like Wen Xiaoqun. Once they set their minds to something, they could do it far better. Soon, under their supervision, the Tian Family’s assigned region revealed multiple new mineral deposits, and their teams began large-scale mining—continuously sending ores to the Artifact Refining Hall.