When the Qingyang Spirit Ore mine was first established, a Warning Array was set up around its perimeter to monitor any passing Cultivators.

But from the looks of it, the thing hadn’t been replaced in at least several decades and was now probably just for show.

He tried to inject a stream of Magical Power, but the Array Plate didn’t react at all.

Only a single inscription line lit up briefly, flickered a few times, and then went dark again.

’Alright then. Looks like this Warning Array can’t be relied upon. I’ll have to count on myself.’

Xiao Chen shook his head, then walked a full circle around the Qingyang Spirit Ore mine to familiarize himself with the terrain.

In the end, he chose a high point with the best vantage point overlooking the whole area to set up his base.

There were two Qi Refining Cultivators at the mine specializing in construction. In just one day, they built him a brand-new small courtyard and were even thinking of expanding it.

However, Xiao Chen requested that they keep it simple, leaving out useless rockeries and ponds.

’He wasn’t here on vacation. He would be leaving in three months, so there was no need for all that fancy stuff.’

After settling his living quarters, he took out the Array Flags for the Yellow Wind Flowing Sand Formation and began setting them up in advance according to the Array Map.

Although he was confident in his own Combat Power, it was always better to be overprepared.

In the middle of this, Chang Shunping came by again with another invitation.

But Xiao Chen was busy setting up the Yellow Wind Flowing Sand Formation, so he politely declined again, using the excuse that he was still settling in.

.

On the third day, Chang Shunping came again.

This time, he simply brought a large entourage carrying over a hundred food containers, inviting all the Cultivators at the Qingyang Spirit Ore mine to a meal.

They also carried in a large table and laid out sixty-six dishes in Xiao Chen’s courtyard.

From things that flew in the sky to those that ran on the ground and swam in the water, it was a feast of everything imaginable.

"Xiao, it’s just a humble meal. Please don’t take offense."

Chang Shunping smiled warmly. "These are all local specialties from our Qingyang County. You can’t find them anywhere else."

His enthusiasm was enough to make Xiao Chen feel a bit embarrassed. "Chang, this is far too extravagant."

If he wasn’t mistaken, the Spirit Fish over three feet long in the center of the table was a Tier Two Peach Blossom Carp.

It was one of the few types of Tier Two Spirit Fish that could be farmed.

Judging by its size, it must have weighed at least ninety, if not a hundred, pounds.

The cost of this Peach Blossom Carp alone had to be at least two hundred Spirit Stones.

In fact, this was already the third one.

Since Xiao Chen hadn’t attended the previous two banquets, the first two fish had been shared and eaten by the Chang Family Members.

The reason Chang Shunping was willing to spend so much and was so insistent on building a relationship with Xiao Chen was because traces of Demon Cultivators had recently appeared in Qiuping County, not far from Qingyang.

Although from the current situation, it seemed they were targeting the Spirit Vein there, you could never be sure with these things. If the Demon Cultivators turned their attention to Qingyang, the Chang Family would be in for a disaster.

Xiao Chen and Chang Shunping chatted as they ate, and Xiao Chen got a general understanding of the Chang Family’s situation.

At first, he felt the Chang Family was a bit like the Su Family, but upon asking more detailed questions, he realized they were far from their equal.

The Chang Family had two Foundation Establishment Cultivators in this generation: the elder brother, Chang Shunping, at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, and the younger brother, Chang Shun’an, at the third layer.

Logically speaking, this was already quite impressive.

But for one, there were many more Cultivators in Hezhou, making competition much fiercer.

And for another, though Chang Shunping didn’t say it outright, Xiao Chen could tell that the two brothers weren’t particularly formidable.

They were much like the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Su Family, having benefited from the protection of their elders since childhood and gradually neglecting their cultivation.

Both of them were currently stuck at their respective Realms and had been for over thirty years.

In fact, another detail also showed that the Chang Family wasn’t very powerful.

The Qingyang Spirit Ore mine was so close to them, yet the Chang Family didn’t receive even a sliver of its profits. The entire mine was an asset of the Lingyuan Sect.

In contrast, South Lake had belonged entirely to the Su Family before Xiao Chen started receiving a share of its profits.

With the recent invasion by the Divine Fire Sect, the Lingyuan Sect had summoned the Foundation Establishment families within its territory to collectively resist the Demon Cultivators.

As a result, Chang Shunping was now the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator left in the Chang Family to look after their estate and raise the next generation.

Moreover, due to a manpower shortage at the beginning, the Lingyuan Sect’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator originally stationed at the Qingyang Spirit Ore mine had been redeployed to the front lines at Seeking Plum Mountain.

Chang Shunping looked around; for a hundred miles in every direction, he didn’t have a single ally.

For over a year now, the thought that stray Demon Cultivators might attack the Chang Family at any moment had filled him with both worry and fear.

Therefore, seeing Xiao Chen arrive was like witnessing the arrival of a savior.

He was especially thrilled after learning that Xiao Chen was already a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Xiao, you might laugh, but I’ve truly been on pins and needles this whole time."

Chang Shunping raised his Wine Glass, his face flushed. "Demon Cultivators have always been rampant over in Qiu Ping, and I heard that a large group of them snuck in from Wangyan Mountain a while ago."

"These are troubled times!"

"It’s a good thing you’re here, Xiao. If anything were to happen, we could look out for each other."

"Come, let me offer you a toast."

Xiao Chen’s eyes lit up at his words, but then a hint of suspicion crept in. "Chang, how come I didn’t hear any news about this before I came?"

Chang Shunping lowered his voice and said quietly, "To be honest, I have a friend who works for the Huidong Commerce Association. He’s the one who told me."

Xiao Chen was completely baffled. "And the Huidong Commerce Association is...?"

"Ah, how silly of me. I completely forgot that you’re from Li State, Xiao."

Chang Shunping downed a cup of wine as a self-punishment before explaining, "The Huidong Commerce Association isn’t one of the top powers in Hezhou, so it’s relatively unknown."