The enemy cultivators emerged from the treeline as the distant Foundation battle lit up the sky. Huo Chen counted fifteen total—Lin Clan disciples in flame-embroidered robes mixed with Iron Fang mercenaries in mismatched gear.

  Sixth to eighth layer Qi signatures, with two at peak Qi Refining. They stopped at the clearing's edge, weapons ready, and stared across the open ground.

  Elder Shun raised his hand. "Nobody moves unless I give the order."

  The two groups faced each other in tense silence.

  Explosions echoed from the northeast where the Foundation experts fought—bursts of fire, earth, and wood Qi lighting up the sky.

  Huo Chen's hand rested on his weapon. Beside him, Huo Jian's breathing was controlled but rapid.

  "Why aren't they attacking?" Huo An whispered.

  "They're waiting," Huo Jian said quietly. "Watching to see how the battle goes."

  One of the Lin Clan cultivators—a tall eighth-layer man—called across the clearing. "Quite the situation, isn't it? Our masters fighting while we stand here like spectators."

  Elder Shun didn't respond.

  The Lin cultivator smiled. "Smart. No point dying when the real decision is being made up there."

  Another explosion echoed. Everyone turned to watch the distant flashes, the shockwaves strong enough to rustle leaves and send dust swirling.

  **The Battle**

  Elder Wei and Lin Tao met in the air first, their spiritual pressures flaring as they sized each other up. Both were mid-stage Foundation Establishment—the real power players in this fight.

  Lin Tao struck without preamble. Compressed flame spiraled from his palms, cutting through the air toward Huo Wei's center. Elder Wei's hands moved.

  An earth wall materialized between them. The flame hit and the collision sent a sharp crack echoing across the ridge, debris and spiritual energy scattering.

  "Still using that old barrier technique?" Lin Tao called out, circling. "You've gotten predictable in your old age, Wei."

  "And you still talk too much," Wei shot back.

  Lin Feng circled from the side, his sword burning dull crimson. Early-stage Foundation Establishment, but his technique was clean.

  The blade came down in a precise arc, heat trailing behind it. Elder Mei stepped into the strike. Her jade sword flickered—wood Qi reinforcing the blade—and deflected. She twisted her wrist, counterattacking.

  Lin Feng barely pulled back as her blade carved through the space where his throat had been.

  "Shit!" Lin Feng jerked backward, eyes wide.

  Scarred Fang dropped from above, dark Qi condensing around his arm. His clawed strike drove toward Mei's back. Her barrier flared and cracked.

  She spun with the impact, boots finding purchase on empty air as she regained position.

  Huo Wei slammed his palm forward. Three compressed earth masses shot toward Lin Feng and Scarred Fang, forcing them apart.

  Lin Tao intercepted the last one with a burst of flame. The detonation rolled heat across the ridge.

  The fight accelerated. Elder Wei and Lin Tao traded blows in the center, their mid-stage power making each exchange hit harder than anything the others could produce.

  Fire met earth in rapid succession—palms, short-range techniques, each impact testing defenses.

  Below them, Elder Mei pressed her advantage against Lin Feng and Scarred Fang.

  Her jade sword moved in precise arcs, each strike draining spiritual energy from their techniques through its life-stealing properties.

  Lin Feng's movements started to slow, sweat visible on his face.

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  "Elder Tao!" Lin Feng shouted, his sword work faltering. "I need support!"

  "Busy!" Lin Tao snapped, barely deflecting one of Wei's strikes.

  Scarred Fang tried to reengage Mei from a different angle, but Wei's pressure kept cutting off his openings. A wall of earth would materialize between them, or a projectile would force him to dodge.

  Elder Mei's blade found an opening. It scored a shallow cut across Lin Feng's shoulder.

  Blood misted in the air. Lin Feng cursed and fell back, clutching the wound. "Damn it!"

  Scarred Fang snarled and dove at Mei. His dark Qi claws raked across her side, tearing through her outer robe and drawing blood.

  She grimaced but didn't slow, her sword coming around in a counter that forced him to retreat.

  Wei pulled a bronze mirror from his storage ring. He channeled Qi through it.

  The technique doubled in power through the artifact—a compressed stone fist that shot toward Lin Tao with devastating force. Lin Tao's eyes widened.

  He raised a crimson talisman. Fire erupted into a defensive barrier. The stone fist slammed into it.

  The barrier held but barely. The impact sent Lin Tao tumbling backward through the air, blood at the corner of his mouth.

  Lin Tao's flames intensified around his hands. A serpent of white-hot fire materialized and shot toward Huo Wei, its body writhing with compressed Qi.

  Elder Wei raised both palms. Six pillars of earth erupted around him in a hexagonal formation. The fire serpent crashed into them and the collision sent shockwaves that rattled through the air.

  Elder Mei's sword flashed toward Scarred Fang's throat. He twisted away but her blade caught his shoulder, drawing blood. He hissed and backed off.

  Lin Feng tried to support but Wei sent another earth projectile his way, forcing him defensive. Then Wei disengaged from Lin Tao with a heavy pulse of earth Qi that created distance. He shot through the air to join Mei's position.

  Scarred Fang immediately backed away, recognizing the shift in power dynamics.

  The five cultivators separated into two groups, all breathing hard, minor wounds visible on clothing and skin.

  Lin Tao straightened in the air, wiping blood from his lip. Despite this, he smiled. "Calling it off already, Wei?"

  "This ends now," Wei said, his face cold. "Push us further, and we take this to the Azure River Sect."

  The words landed with weight. Lin Tao's smile didn't fade completely, but his eyes narrowed.

  Lin Feng's jaw tightened. Even Scarred Fang's expression shifted, calculation replacing aggression.

  "You're bluffing," Lin Tao said, though his tone carried less certainty.

  "Try me." Wei's voice was flat. "The moment we report this mine, the Sect will send people to investigate. They'll take control, and we would get scraps as tribute. But at least you get nothing too."

  Elder Mei added, "Your choice. Keep pushing, or walk away with something."

  Silence stretched between the five floating cultivators. Blood dripped from minor wounds, falling toward the earth far below.

  Lin Tao's jaw worked. His eyes stayed on Wei, measuring. Finally, he spoke. "Then let's talk terms instead of threats."

  "I'm listening."

  "My Lin Clan wants fifty percent of the mine's output."

  "Not happening," Elder Mei said immediately.

  Lin Tao's expression hardened. "Then let me be clear. We want fifty percent, and if you refuse, we'll report the mine ourselves. We'll tell the Sect you've been concealing resources to avoid proper tribute assessment. They'll investigate, find the mine, and they'll punish you for hiding it."

  Wei's hands clenched. "You'd burn everything just to get your way?"

  "I'm offering you a choice," Lin Tao said. "Keep fifty percent of a working mine, or lose everything when the Sect takes over. What sounds better?"

  The calculation was brutal. Report to the Sect, everyone loses.

  Negotiate, the Huo Clan at least keeps control and quarter the profits.

  Wei's voice came tight with fury.

  "Thirty percent to the Lin Clan. Twenty percent to the Iron Fang. Huo Clan keeps fifty and operational control."

  "We want—" Lin Feng started.

  "Thirty," Elder Wei cut him off. "Or I report to the Sect right now and we all watch this region burn."

  Lin Tao studied Wei's face for a long moment.

  Whatever he saw there made him nod slowly. "Thirty percent to the Lin Clan. Twenty to the Iron Fang. You keep fifty percent and operational control."

  His eyes narrowed. "But we'll monitor the output. Any attempt to hide production or falsify records, and we go straight to the Sect."

  "Same applies to you," Mei said. "If your clan members cause any unnecessary trouble,they pay the price."

  Scarred Fang spoke up, satisfaction in his rough voice. "Twenty percent for doing nothing? I'll take that deal."

  "Then we have an agreement," Lin Tao said.

  Neither he nor Wei sounded pleased. The five Foundation experts began descending toward the mine entrance. Their spiritual pressure remained present but no longer hostile.

  Huo Chen watched them land in the clearing between the two disciple groups. Elder Wei's face could have been carved from stone as he addressed the assembled Huo cultivators.

  "The conflict is resolved. The mine will continue operating under Huo Clan control, with output sharing negotiated with our business partners."

  The way he said "business partners" made his hatred obvious. Lin Tao looked satisfied despite not getting everything he wanted.

  Lin Feng still carried his arrogant expression, though the blood on his shoulder suggested he'd learned something today.

  Scarred Fang just looked pleased at the prospect of easy money.

  "All Lin Clan disciples, return to base," Lin Tao ordered. "We'll establish proper oversight within the week." The fifteen enemy cultivators began to withdraw, moving slowly and keeping their weapons ready until they'd disappeared back into the treeline.

  Elder Mei turned to Elder Shun. "Double all security measures. I don't trust them to honor any agreement."

  "Yes, Elder," Shun said immediately.

  Huo Chen exchanged glances with Huo Jian and Huo An. None of them said anything.

  Elder Wei's voice cut through the quiet. "All disciples, return to your posts. This situation is contained for now, but stay alert."

  The disciples dispersed to their positions. Huo Chen gripped his weapon as he returned to the eastern perimeter. The Huo Clan had kept their mine. But they'd given up half the profits to do it.