Chapter 385: Tense Standoff, Venerable Realm Fourth Layer

Just then, an aged voice came from outside.

"Enough!"

"All of you, stop!"

An elderly man with white hair walked into the hall.

He wore a grey robe, and his aura was unfathomable; he was clearly at the quasi-immortal realm third layer.

He was none other than the Chief Steward of the Black Stone Mine—Shi Changqing.

Shi Changqing was a neutral party jointly hired by the Liu and Huang Families to coordinate the conflicts between them.

Seeing Shi Changqing appear, Liu Cheng and Steward Huang Tao both withdrew their pressure.

"Steward Shi."

Both men cupped their hands simultaneously.

Shi Changqing snorted coldly: "You two, what kind of behavior is this?"

"The Black Stone Mine has just experienced a collapse, and this is exactly the time when you need to work together."

"Yet here you are, fighting among yourselves."

"If the Family finds out, you two will both be in serious trouble!"

Liu Cheng and Steward Huang Tao both looked somewhat grim, but they dared not refute him.

Shi Changqing glanced at them and said in a deep voice: "Steward Liu, Steward Huang, I do not care what conflicts you have between you."

"But there is one thing: the operation of the Black Stone Mine cannot stop."

"Now, immediately come up with a plan for me."

"How to distribute this month's mine revenue."

Liu Cheng immediately said: "According to the previous agreement, the Liu and Huang Families will split the revenue equally."

Steward Huang Tao sneered: "Split equally?"

"Steward Liu, I'm afraid you've forgotten, haven't you?"

"This mine collapse caused huge losses."

"And the work of repairing the mine was mainly done by my Huang Family."

"Therefore, my Huang Family should get thirty percent more of the revenue."

Liu Cheng frowned: "Thirty percent more?"

"Steward Huang, aren't you asking for too much?"

"Repairing the mine is the responsibility of your Huang Family; why should you get more revenue?"

"Besides, the mine collapse was caused by your Huang Family's poor maintenance in the first place."

"You don't compensate us, and yet you still want more revenue?"

"Dream on!"

Steward Huang Tao sneered: "Liu Cheng, so you don't agree?"

"That's easy to handle."

"From today on, my Huang Family will stop all repair work."

"Whether the mine can operate or not will depend on your Liu Family's ability."

Liu Cheng's expression changed.

The repair work of the mine was indeed mainly done by the Huang Family.

If the Huang Family stopped working, the mine's output would further decline.

When that time comes, the Liu Family would also have to bear the responsibility.

"Steward Huang Tao, are you threatening me?"

"Threatening?"

Steward Huang Tao sneered: "I am being reasonable."

"If your Liu Family does not agree, then the mine will simply stop operating."

"In any case, it is both Families losing out; no one can stay out of it."

Liu Cheng gritted his teeth, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

"Fine!"

"Since Steward Huang wants to play it this way, my Liu Family will play along to the end."

"From today on, my Liu Family's Mine Slaves will no longer listen to the Huang Family's orders."

"Furthermore, I want half of the mine veins in the West District for my Liu Family."

Steward Huang Tao was furious: "What did you say?"

"The mine veins in the West District are the responsibility of my Huang Family!"

"Why should they be shared with your Liu Family?"

Liu Cheng sneered: "Why?"

"Because the Black Stone Mine is jointly controlled by the Liu and Huang Families."

"Since your Huang Family does not follow the rules, my Liu Family does not need to be polite either."

The two argued endlessly, neither willing to back down.

Shi Changqing looked at the two, his brows tightly knitted.

He knew that the conflict between the Liu and Huang Families had reached an irreconcilable point.

If this continued, the Black Stone Mine would sooner or later Face a major disaster.

"Enough!"

Shi Changqing said in a deep voice: "Since you cannot agree, we will follow the old rules."

"For this month's revenue, the Liu and Huang Families will each take forty percent, and the remaining twenty percent will belong to the Black Stone Mine for public use."

"As for the cost of repairing the mine, it will be deducted from the public portion."

"How about that?"

Liu Cheng and Steward Huang Tao looked at each other, both somewhat unwilling.

But Shi Changqing's plan was already the most moderate compromise.

If they continued to make a scene, it would only lead to a lose-lose situation.

"Fine, I agree."

Liu Cheng said through gritted teeth.

"I agree too."

Steward Huang Tao snorted coldly.

"Very well."

Shi Changqing nodded: "Then it is settled."

"Dismissed."

The two left the hall with their respective Cultivators.

But everyone knew that this was only a temporary compromise.

The conflict between the Liu and Huang Families had completely erupted.

Black Stone Mine, West District.

Steward Huang Tao returned to his management area, his expression terrifyingly gloomy.

"Damn Liu Cheng…"

"Daring to oppose me…"

A Huang Family Cultivator beside him whispered: "Steward, what do we do next?"

Steward Huang Tao's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness: "What to do?"

"Since the Liu Family does not give me Face, then don't blame me for being impolite."

"Pass down the order: from today, all Mine Slaves of the Liu Family faction will have their tasks doubled."

"Make them unable to complete their tasks."

"I want Liu Cheng to know that in the Black Stone Mine, I am the boss!"

"Yes!"

The Huang Family Cultivator left to carry out the order.

Black Stone Mine, East District.

Liu Cheng also looked grim.

"That bastard Huang Tao…"

"Daring to threaten me…"

A Liu Family Cultivator beside him said: "Steward, we cannot show weakness either."

"Since the Huang Family wants to play, we will play along with them."

Liu Cheng nodded: "Well said."

"Pass down the order: restrict the mining area of the Huang Family's Mine Slaves."

"Allocate the best mine veins in the West District to my Liu Family's Mine Slaves."

"Let the Huang Family's Mine Slaves go dig those poor Ore."

"Yes!"

The Liu Family Cultivator left to carry out the order.

Over the next few days, the atmosphere in the Black Stone Mine became increasingly tense.

The Huang Family Cultivators began to deliberately make things difficult for the Mine Slaves of the Liu Family faction.

They demanded that the Liu Family's Mine Slaves hand over seven pieces of Low Grade immortal crystals worth of Ore every day.

Those who could not complete the task were either beaten or scolded.

Many Mine Slaves were miserable, but dared not resist.

The Liu Family Cultivators were not to be outdone.

They restricted the mining area of the Huang Family's Mine Slaves, driving them to the poor Ore area.

The Ore quality there was extremely poor, and the output was extremely low.

The Huang Family's Mine Slaves were also complaining endlessly.

The entire Black Stone Mine fell into chaos due to the struggle between the Liu and Huang Families.

The Mine Slaves guarded against each other while mining, fearing they would be framed by the other side.

The Black Stone Mine's production efficiency dropped significantly.

Zhou Chen saw this, and sneered in his heart.

"The conflict between the Liu and Huang Families is becoming more and more intense…"

"It seems the opportunity is almost here."

Taking advantage of the gap in the two factions' struggle, he continued to Cultivate secretly.

Because the Black Stone Mine management was chaotic and the guards were busy dealing with the opposing faction, they could not spare the time to manage the Mine Slaves.

Zhou Chen used this time to frantically refine the supreme grade immortal crystals.

One… two… ten…

In just a few days, he had refined ten supreme grade immortal crystals.

His Cultivation finally broke through the Bottleneck.

Venerable Realm fourth layer!

Moreover, because the quality of the immortal crystals was extremely high, his Foundation was incredibly solid.

His combat power far exceeded that of Cultivators at the same level.

Three days later.

Black Stone Mine West District, the mine cave under the Huang Family's jurisdiction.

A Mine Slave from the Liu Family faction was mining.

He was digging very hard, but the output was very low.

Because the Huang Family Cultivator had deliberately assigned him to the poor Ore area, the Ore quality here was extremely poor.

"Damn…"

The Mine Slave gritted his teeth: "If this continues, I won't be able to complete the task at all…"