My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

News of the appearance of a spirit stone vein in Thorn Ridge spread rapidly, and the forces of Great Yan, the Grasslands, and Great Li were the first to receive the news.

Thorn Ridge is not far from Ganquan County, and Li Xuancang quickly received the news.

"The spirit stone mine—who knows how much bloodshed it will cause?"

A small spirit stone vein can yield at least hundreds of thousands of low-grade spirit stones, not to mention mid-grade and high-grade spirit stones.

If it's a medium-sized spiritual vein, the number can increase several times, or even ten times.

Every time a spiritual vein appears, it attracts countless forces to compete for it.

"Increase manpower for patrols; no one is allowed to act recklessly within Ganquan County."

Ganquan County is the only way for various forces in the Great Yan Dynasty to reach Thorn Ridge. At that time, all sorts of people will pass through here, making it a mixed bag and disrupting the peace of Ganquan County.

Li Xuancang took precautions and prepared in advance.

Inside Wenxin Academy, several renowned scholars personally led the team on their journey.

Wenxin Academy has been lacking spirit stones in recent years, so they also want a share of the pie.

"Set off."

The Great Yan Sect, the Spirit Sword Sect, the Giant Whale Gang, the Xuan Tian Sect... all the major forces in the Great Yan Dynasty sent their experts to compete for the spirit stone mine.

In the imperial court, the ministers once again argued fiercely.

"Your Majesty, the national treasury is currently empty and urgently needs spirit stones to replenish it."

The Great Yan Kingdom's treasury is depleted, and the war at the front is intense, with daily expenditures reaching astronomical figures. If this spirit stone mine could be seized, it would solve the immediate crisis.

"Your Majesty, the imperial court is determined to acquire the spirit stone mine."

"Your Majesty, let's send troops!"

"Your Majesty, this is a golden opportunity, we must not miss it!"

"..."

Driven by greed, the crowd offered their advice.

If they could really seize the spirit stone mine and send a large number of spirit stones to the national treasury, they would naturally have ways to transfer them without anyone noticing.

The emperor left the dragon throne and paced back and forth.

He also longed to obtain the spirit stone mine to solve the national treasury deficit.

But he has no one to send out right now, so where does he get the power to compete for the spirit stone mine?

"My esteemed ministers, most of the imperial army and powerful warriors are engaged in the battle of Lingyang Prefecture. How can we then contend for the spirit stone mines?"

The emperor posed the problem to his ministers, asking them to come up with a solution.

Gu Yanqing stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you can issue an edict to Ganquan County, instructing General Li to unite with the forces within the Great Yan territory to jointly occupy the spirit stone mine, and then divide the spirit stone mine among themselves."

With the power of the imperial court, it was powerless to compete for the spirit stone mine.

However, if we unite the forces within the Great Yan territory, we will have enough power to compete with other forces.

Everyone's eyes lit up, and they all thought this was a feasible idea.

However, some people have doubts.

"Will those forces agree?"

The martial arts world and the imperial court were never on good terms, so how could they possibly obey the imperial court's orders?

"Whether it will work or not, we'll find out soon enough."

Once a decision was made, the imperial court immediately began to act.

A large number of people went to various factions, hoping to unite and compete for the spirit stone mine.

After learning of the court's intentions, various factions scoffed at them.

"What kind of bullshit government is this? How could I possibly associate with it?"

"Has the imperial court gone mad? How could they be so naive?"

"Get those people from the imperial court out of here."

"..."

People in the martial arts world refused, and some audacious individuals even killed the imperial envoys to demonstrate their determination to be irreconcilable with the court.

"Damn it, damn it!"

"These underworld forces deserve to die a thousand deaths."

"Disrespectful of the law, unruly, and beyond redemption."

"..."

Rejected by the martial arts world, the officials were furious but helpless.

"Let General Li act according to the situation and decide for himself whether to take action!"

Everyone was at a loss and could only place their hopes on Li Xuancang.

Even if they can't control the spirit stone mine, they can still get a share of the profits.

Li Xuancang received the imperial decree but ignored it.

With numerous forces gathered at Thorn Ridge, how can he, alone, compete for the spirit stone mine?

"My lord, recently a large number of martial arts practitioners have entered Ganquan County. They are unruly and some civilians have been injured."

Nangong Zhan came to report.

A large number of cultivators entered Ganquan County. They acted recklessly and disregarded the law, causing harm to many people.

Li Xuancang's eyes turned cold, and he ordered, "Send out the Xuan Kui Battalion. If anyone commits a crime, arrest them immediately. If they dare to resist, kill them on the spot."

Li Xuancang would never allow anyone to act recklessly in Ganquan County.

"Yes, sir!"

Immediately, all three thousand members of the Xuan Kui Battalion were mobilized to patrol the entire prefecture.

A group of people dressed in luxurious clothes and uniform attire approached the city gate with arrogant and overbearing eyes.

"Is this Ganquan County? It is indeed as prosperous as the rumors say."

The crowd commented on their surroundings as if they were superior, looking down on the common people as if they were ants.

As they approached the city gate, they ignored the guards and walked in with their heads held high.

"stop."

The city guards stopped the crowd.

Countless forces come and go in Ganquan County every day, and even evil cultivators and demons infiltrate, so inspections are very strict.

No one can enter the city without being checked, and the Xuantian Sect is no exception.

The Xuan Tian Sect members' faces darkened as they were stopped by the city guards.

They are a major sect of the Great Yan Dynasty and do not need to abide by the rules of the Great Yan.

Not to mention entering Ganquan County, even if they were heading to the imperial city, no one would dare to stop them.

"How dare you! Do you know who we are?"

"You dog lackeys, are you blind? How dare you block our way?"

"The imperial court's lackeys are truly courting death."

"..."

The disciples glared angrily and cursed at the soldiers guarding the city.

"They're from the Xuantian Sect. This is going to be interesting."

"The Xuantian Sect has always been domineering and arrogant; the imperial court has really bitten off more than it can chew."

"If the imperial court offends the Xuantian Sect, it will be in deep trouble."

"..."

Many forces stopped and watched the scene unfold in front of the city gate with great interest, eager to see what would happen.

"Insulting the imperial court is an even more serious crime."

Faced with the enraged Xuan Tian Sect members, the city guards showed no fear whatsoever.

The spears were aimed at the crowd, gleaming coldly, ready to strike at any moment.

"Get checked immediately."

The soldiers guarding the city shouted angrily, which completely enraged the Xuantian Sect.

"Die!"

The Xuantian Sect, accustomed to their domineering ways, had never suffered such humiliation before, and immediately took action in anger.

"Still dare to resist? Take them all down."

The Xuantian Sect dared to make a move, and their soldiers immediately charged towards them.

"Bang!"

"puff!"

"what!"

"..."

Although the city's defenders were elite, they were far inferior to the Xuan Tian Sect disciples, and hundreds of soldiers were instantly slaughtered.

"Dare to provoke the Xuantian Sect, they deserve to die."

"They dare to stop people from the Xuantian Sect? They really have no eyes."

"Good riddance! We must put an end to the arrogance of these lackeys of the imperial court."

"..."

The martial arts faction on the sidelines laughed unrestrainedly, feeling extremely pleased.

Since ancient times, the imperial court and the martial arts world have been irreconcilable enemies. They are genuinely happy whenever the imperial court suffers misfortune.

"This is what happens when you're courting death."

Even after killing over a hundred soldiers, the Xuantian Sect members were still furious.