Published at 16th of December 2025 8:22 am

Chapter 1927: Choosing Sides (Part 3)

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"Local small families have ancestral property and can occupy a small hill."

"Loose cultivators, who come from the same ancestor and have the same surname, can also mine on a fixed hill."

"There are also some scattered mines available for loose cultivators without home or job to make a living mining."

"Of course, the Taoist Court can also occupy a piece..."

"Although the situation is chaotic, it is relatively reasonable. Everyone can have a bite to eat, and the mining resources of the entire Solitary Mountain City are sufficient to support the city’s population."

Fan Jin shook his head and sighed, "But later the various family clans, especially the Shen Family, came and changed everything..."

"Loose cultivators are mostly ignorant and short-sighted. When the Shen Family arrived, they offered high prices to buy the mines, and many greedy ones sold immediately."

"Those who didn’t sell were persecuted by the Shen Family."

"Some wanted to rally against the Shen Family. But human hearts vary: some are greedy for wealth, some for beauty, and some wishing to ingratiate themselves, were secretly used by the Shen Family, thus being divided and unable to unite."

"In the end, large tracts of hills were sold to the Shen Family."

Mo Hua frowned slightly, "With the mines sold, how will the cultivators of Solitary Mountain City make a living?"

Fan Jin said, "The Shen Family initially promised that after buying the mines, they would still recruit loose cultivators to mine for them and promised not low prices."

Fan Jin couldn’t help but laugh derisively, unclear if it was at the Shen Family or the loose cultivators.

"Once the mines were sold, when trying to get the Shen Family to keep their promise, they ignored you."

"Such a large family clan as the Shen Family, with developed industries, builds large Spiritual Machines, cooperating with Formations for mining as steadily as flowing water. Why would they still need those bottom-level loose cultivators with pickaxes and hammers?"

"Loose cultivators realized they were deceived and tried to make a fuss, but it was useless. The mines belonged to others, clearly written in the Spirit Pact."

"Even if there were subsequent conflicts due to mining disputes between family clans and loose cultivators, how can an arm twist a thigh?"

"After several bloodsheds and some deaths, the loose cultivators became like scattered sand and nothing came of it..."

"Later on..." Fan Jin gazed out at the desolate Solitary Mountain, "After extracting all the ore, family clans wrapped up the riches and withdrew, leaving Solitary Mountain ravaged. The cultivators of Solitary Mountain City, without a means of livelihood, either perished or fled, drastically reducing the population. Solitary Mountain City then became desolate, showing its current state..."

After speaking, Fan Jin looked regretful. Master Gu also felt the sentiment.

The atmosphere became somewhat dreary for a moment.

Mo Hua pondered for a while, his eyes glimmered, and said to Fan Jin, "Speaking of which, the Taoist Court can’t be absolved from this, can it?"

The family clans coerced and enticed loose cultivators to sign Spirit Pacts, annexing the mines, and then suppressed the riots of loose cultivators.

No need to think, the Taoist Court must have been helping the tyrant.

Otherwise, in matters of regulations, the Shen Family couldn’t have managed.

Mo Hua silently looked at Fan Jin.

Fan Jin, flustered by Mo Hua’s gaze, hurriedly waved his hands, "I have nothing to do with it."

Mo Hua made no comment.

Fan Jin, helpless, said, "These were matters of the former Taoist Court. Back then, I hadn’t even joined the Taoist Court and wasn’t clear about the exact ins and outs."

"What about those from the former Taoist Court?" Mo Hua asked.

"They were promoted."

"Promoted?" Mo Hua’s expression was somewhat complicated.

Fan Jin sighed, "They helped the Shen Family annex the mines and extracted so many ores, earning a vast amount of Spirit Stones, making Solitary Mountain City appear ’prosperous’ for a time. On the surface, this was naturally a great achievement. Having achievements, coupled with the Shen Family’s operation, the related Court Leader and Supervisor naturally got promoted early and went flying high."

"By the time I became Supervisor, it was already a mess. I didn’t even have a chance to ’help the tyrant.’"

He was quite frank, speaking his mind.

"Also, those promoted weren’t just from the Taoist Court." Fan Jin’s gaze darkened slightly, "The mines of Solitary Mountain were the mark of the Shen Family’s rise. It was through the wealth from Solitary Mountain that the Shen Family operated everywhere, gradually reaching the status they have today."

"Some branches of the Shen Family, through the operations concerning the mines, also obtained huge profits and leaped into the family’s core."

Fan Jin talked about these matters, shaking his head all the while, unclear whether it was from envy or jealousy.

Master Gu remained silent but was obviously a bit angry.

It’s just that the Shen Family’s influence was too large. Even if these cultivators were dissatisfied, they couldn’t express it.

Mo Hua also looked thoughtful.

The banquet thus ended in a somewhat stifling atmosphere.

Fan Jin let out a sigh of relief, as at least his purpose was initially achieved.

He treated this Young Master Mo to a meal and shared so many secrets.

This friendship might count as somewhat deep; if I get a chance in the future, I’ll help this young master with a little favor. As we interact more, the friendship will deepen.

At least, I can finally latch onto a considerable backer.

After eating, the three left the private room, walking along the luxurious corridor towards the exit, when they ran into a group of people. Leading them was a young master from a noble family, followed by three or four people.

They passed by each other. Mo Hua was lost in thought and only glanced slightly, not paying much attention.

But after taking just a few steps, he suddenly heard someone shouting at him:

"Stop!"

This sudden command to stop caught everyone off guard.

Mo Hua turned his head and saw that it was that young master who had told him to "stop".

This noble young master was dressed in fine clothes, with an arrogant expression.

But Mo Hua had no impression of him and wasn’t familiar with him, not understanding why this person called him to stop for no reason.

"I recognize you, you’re Mo Hua." The noble young master spoke.

"Oh..."

Mo Hua responded casually.

Now he was somewhat of a "celebrity", so being recognized on the street seemed quite normal.

Mo Hua was gradually getting used to it.

"You don’t recognize me?" This noble young master said with a cold face.

Mo Hua wanted to say no, but thought it was impolite, so he replied somewhat tactfully, "You are..."

Mo Hua’s apparent "disregard" made a trace of fierceness appear in the noble young master’s eyes, "New Year’s Eve, Qingzhou City, we met once, I was behind Mr. Linsu..."

Mo Hua remembered and suddenly realized:

"You’re that follower."

Follower...

Standing in the middle of everyone, with everyone fawning over him, the noble young master’s face turned ashen.

He was indeed Shen Linsu’s "follower", but not just anyone had the right to call him that.

Perhaps not elsewhere, but here in the remote Solitary Mountain City, as a young master of the Shen Family, he could do whatever he wanted.

No one had dared to call him a "follower" before.

"Blind fool..." The noble young master’s face darkened, ordering the person behind him, "Go, tear his mouth apart, gouge out his eyes..."

Immediately, one Golden Core cultivator behind him stepped forward, exuding a murderous aura.

Master Gu’s expression turned severe and without a second thought, he stood in front of Mo Hua, releasing the aura of a Golden Core.

"Golden Core?" The noble young master sneered, "In Solitary Mountain City, want to compare manpower with me?"

Before he finished speaking, another Golden Core stepped out from behind him, with hands sharp as claws, his face twisted in a sinister grin.

Another Golden Core appeared opposite.

At this time, another Golden Core behind Mo Hua seemed at a loss.

"No, what’s the situation here..."

Fan Jin was sweating profusely.

All he wanted was to latch onto a powerful ally, and before anything had even happened, just after a cup of tea and a meal, he was suddenly facing a life-and-death "choosing sides" test?

One side was Mo Hua, the other the Shen Family.

Intervene, and you’ll offend the Shen Family.

Do nothing, and you’ll offend Mo Hua.

Isn’t this courting death?

Fan Jin was completely at a loss.

This damned cultivation world, is too hard to navigate...

He just wanted to latch onto a powerful ally, why is it so difficult?!

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