Zhou Quan wiped the boogers from his eyes and walked out of the dilapidated mine, rubbing his ears as he walked.
No matter how many years he had lived in Xuantie City, he was not used to the incessant noise here, which made it difficult for him to sleep well.
The defensive formation set up by the previous sect still worked from time to time, giving Xuantie City an extra layer of gray barrier, but some areas had already become ineffective. The wind and sand hit the barrier created by the formation at the edge of the city, and a rustling and buzzing noise was heard, like hundreds of millions of overwhelming locusts swarming over, making people who had just arrived here feel their scalps tingle and their hearts shudder.
The walls of Xuantie City were riddled with holes and damaged in many places, allowing sand and gravel to seep in through the gaps, like black stagnant water, sweeping across the surrounding houses and mines with the momentum to obliterate everything.
Over time, when Xuantie City no longer had an environment suitable for human habitation, it quickly became an abandoned land, ending up like countless abandoned mining cities in Tianhuang Territory.
The Tianhuang Territory is mostly Gobi desert and has very few oases. This vast area is located in the northwest of Zhongzhou and is famous for its abundant and diverse spiritual mines.
Black Iron City was originally a large "mine" producing black iron. Twenty years ago, it was prosperous, with a population of 130,000 to 140,000. Later, the main vein of the black iron ore was mined, and the mine lost its value.
As a result, the sect's forces quickly moved away, and Xuantie City completely became a deserted city with no one to take care of it.
But Xuantie City is by no means deserted. Treasure hunters like Zhou Quan, who have no roots, still hope to make a living in Xuantie City.
He had just dug dozens of kilograms of black iron ore in the "Bingwu Road".
After selling the ore today, he considered returning to "Moon Spring" to have a good rest for a few days.
At this time, Zhou Quan saw a man in a cloak walking in from the west gate at the end of the road.
Like everyone who entered Xuantie City from outside, he began to shake off the sand and dirt on his body.
Zhou Quan couldn't help but grin, but quickly covered his mouth.
But it was too late, the cloaked man had already raised his head and looked over here.
Zhou Quan turned around quickly. Although he seemed a bit careless, he was still quite sharp. He knew who was not to be trifled with, and who he couldn't afford to offend.
Anyone who could come to Xuantie City alone at this time must have amazing martial arts skills. Maybe he is an immortal master.
Isn't he asking for trouble by watching the fun here?
"Quan'er! When will you change your dissolute habits?"
Zhou Quan criticized secretly while pretending to be calm and turned away.
After walking a few steps and finding no movement behind him, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
However, at this moment, someone behind him coughed lightly: "This young man..."
Zhou Quan's scalp was tingling, but he quickly pretended to be confused, turned his head and turned around. As expected, it was the man in the cloak.
"This, uh, senior, what do you want?"
Zhou Quan is a typical treasure hunter, with rough skin, sallow face, and strong limbs.
But surprisingly, his smile is very friendly and likable.
This smiling face also helped him avoid many fatal disasters.
"I'm new here and would like to ask for directions. Do you know how to get to Fengyu Hall in the city?"
The cloaked man had a gentle voice and a kind tone, but his accent sounded unfamiliar.
"Could it be that he just came to Tianhuang from another realm?"
Zhou Quan had a plan in mind, and his smile widened. "Feng Yu Tang, right? Go straight from here to East City, turn right at the second intersection, and you'll find the shop in the middle."
As he said this, he grinned in a "simple and honest" way.
The cloaked man nodded slightly and turned to walk over there.
Zhou Quan couldn't help but look at the cloaked man's back a few times, then turned and left.
At this moment, a jade-white stone bead suddenly fell from the sky and landed in his arms.
Zhou Quan picked up the stone bead and looked at it, exclaiming in surprise: "Spiritual stone!"
Well!
Zhou Quan covered his mouth with his hand, swiftly hid the spirit stone in his arms, looked around vigilantly, and quickly turned into the alley.
After a while of twists and turns, they were about to return to their residence when suddenly a strong wind blew from behind their head. Zhou Quan quickly dodged to the side, but the person who came was much more skilled than him. He grabbed his shoulder and, with a little more force, threw him against the wall. The huge body cast a shadow, covering them.
"Haha, Quan'er, long time no see. I guess you must have dug up a lot of treasures!"
When Zhou Quan saw the visitor, he smiled bitterly: "Thank you for your care, Third Master..."
As he spoke, he flipped his palm and a gold leaf appeared in his hand, which he stuffed into the giant's hand very familiarly.
After the giant accepted it, his expression turned stern, "There's more, hand it over!"
"What is that?" Zhou Quan was shocked, but his face was full of confusion.
The giant Third Master sneered, exerted force with his right hand, and easily lifted Zhou Quan close to him. He roared fiercely, "How dare you play dumb with me! I'm talking about spirit stones! Where are the spirit stones?"
Zhou Quan's body trembled, his face filled with fear: "Third Master, please forgive me! Here is the spirit stone!"
As he spoke, Zhou Quan reached into his arms, took out the spirit stone and handed it to the giant.
Bang!
Zhou Quan fell to the ground.
The giant held the spirit stone, looked at it for a few seconds, a smile appeared on his face, and then he put it in his bag.
Zhou Quan lay on the ground, curled up into a ball: "Third Master, I won't dare to do it again!"
"Get up, Third Master has something for you to do!" The giant kicked Zhou Quan's arm and said sternly.
"What's the matter? I'm stupid and afraid that I can't get things done and delay Third Master's important business." Zhou Quan got up, nodded and bowed with a silly smile.
"Don't tell me, you're the only one who can handle this matter. Who asked you to be so kind as to show people the way? Who else can I turn to now if not you?"
"Directions? You mean..."
"The one who just came in from the west gate."
The giant Third Master lowered his voice and said, "You don't need to know anything else. Go and join Feng Yu Tang. Find an opportunity to tell them that you've discovered a 'treasure pit' in the Yi Hai Mine. Then lead the Feng Yu Tang gang to the treasure pit..."
The Third Master had actually been secretly watching Feng Yutang, and his reaction was so quick.
Something big is really going to happen!
You have to know that Fengyutang was also a big gang a few years ago. Although it has declined now, it is not something that a treasure hunter like him can afford to offend.
Zhou Quan groaned inwardly and complained, "Yi Hai Dao, that's too remote!"
"It's not remote, I still need you."
The giant shouted, "You'll be given seven days to lead them to Yi Hai Dao before the next wave of sandstorms arrives at the latest... Don't worry about the reward, there will be benefits for you. Of course, if you fail, you won't live!"
The chill in his words made Zhou Quan's face darken. The giant Third Master laughed heartily, and straightened up his leaning body: "I'd say you're lucky. If this goes through! You have a piece of land at Moon Spring."
Hearing the word "land property," Zhou Quan's body trembled again. He lowered his head, then raised his face again, gritting his teeth and saying, "I'll do it! But Third Master, you have to give me a promise. The people from Fengyu Hall were ruthless. After this, Dalong Hall must protect my life."
"Haha, don't worry! After this incident, Fengyu Hall will surely disappear. All the people are dead, so how can they bother you?" The giant Third Master laughed and patted Zhou Quan on the shoulder.