Lin Gang was one of the threete-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators of Yunjing Mountain and a direct disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect.


    Along the way, under Lin Gang''s leadership, there was none of the arrogance often disyed by sect disciples.


    On the contrary, Lin Gang was exceedingly polite to the members of the Lin Family.


    "Brother Lin, may I know where Brother Xu is located? Could you possibly introduce me so I may pay my respects?" Lin Xianzhi, as the one with the highest cultivation level within the Lin Family, was the one to speak.


    Meanwhile, Lin Shiming was following behind, listening attentively and humbly.


    The ''Brother Xu'' Lin Xianzhi referred to was Xu Dai, the master of Yunjing Mountain. Xu Dai, as ate-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was the most powerful person on Yunjing Mountain, in charge of all matters concerning the guarding of the Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone veins.


    However, by rights, his cultivation level was not sufficient to hold the position of deacon for the Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone vein.


    But his life-bound Demonic Beast was also a peak Third Rank Demonic Beast, making him a rare match for other Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Moreover, he had the backing of a Purple Mansion Loose Hermit.


    "Brother Xu is currently in closed-door cultivation practicing a spell," Lin Gang exined, sounding somewhat apologetic, "Daoist Lin, pleasee with me. Once the Ye Family and the Lu Family arrive, I presume that by then, Brother Xu should also be out of his seclusion!"


    Lin Shiming, catching Lin Gang''s expression, started to guess that considering Lin Gang''s previous earnestness, the defenses within Yunjing Mountain might be strong on the outside but empty on the inside.


    Lin Xianzhi understood as well and continued to converse andugh with Lin Gang. After learning about various situations on Yunjing Mountain during their journey, they finally arrived at the guest chambers prepared for the Lin Family.


    After arranging everything properly, Lin Gang called for a Qi Cultivationte-stage disciple to inform the Lin Family of the situation, and then once again hurriedly went to nearby formations to strictly guard them.


    As soon as Lin Gang left, Lin Shiming and Lin Xianzhi waved the Spirit Beast Sect Qi Cultivation disciple away, and exchanged nces, both looking quite grim.


    In Heavenly River City, they had already learned that the Heavenly Demon Sect of Chu Country was incessantly dispatching Foundation Establishment cultivators to plunder and destroy various Spirit Mines.


    And the Spirit Stone veins supplying Spiritual Power for the city-guarding formations were of utmost importance.


    The Intermediate Grade vein in Yunjing Mountain, logically speaking, should be overseen by a Purple Mansion cultivator given such dangerous times, yet they had only ate-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge, even if apanied by a peak Third Rank Demonic Beast.


    Nheless, most of the Demonic Beasts raised by the Spirit Beast Sectcked the Spirit Intelligence of cultivators, and at a crucial moment, they could notpete with a Fully Completed Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    Besides that, Yunjing Mountain had only twote-stage, two middle-stage, and one early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, with the twote stages including Lin Gang and another named Cheng Yong, who was in charge of supervising the Spirit Stones within the vein.


    The number of Foundation Establishment cultivators was also not high.


    No wonder Lin Gang looked exceptionally pleased upon their arrival.


    "Shiming, arrange for our family cultivators to assist in the defenses," Lin Xianzhi said.


    Lin Shiming nodded in agreement. Given the situation within Yunjing Mountain, if word got out, it would likely be the first target of an attack by the Heavenly Demon Sect.


    And Xu Dai was still in seclusion, waiting for the cultivators from the three great families to gather before jointly emerging.


    After discussing with his father, Lin Hou Yuan, Lin Shiming decided they would take turns standing guard.


    Each person would guard for three days.


    After making arrangements, Lin Shiming voluntarily went to assist in the defense at the formation walls, joined by members of the Lin Family including Lin Shiyi and Lin Yuqing.


    From above, Yunjing Mountain looks like arge mirror lying in the midst of the mountains, surrounded by a wall.


    However, it cannot be considered a city; it is more akin to a fortress.


    At this moment, Lin Shiming was also continuously sizing up the entire Yunjing Mountain, with his divine sense sweeping over it unremittingly.


    Inadvertently, he collided with Lin Gang''s divine sense, which sent a wave of confusion, though Lin Shiming retracted his quickly.


    This made him feel somewhat embarrassed; it was his first time fully extending his divine sense since the breakthrough, but this expansion was not without gains. On the contrary, he now had a rough understanding of the terrain of Yunjing Mountain in his mind.


    After all, they were only here to assist in defense. If the cultivators from the Heavenly Demon Sect approached aggressively, Lin Shiming was not one to adhere to outdated principles—he knew when it was necessary to flee.


    When Lin Shiming walked up to the city walls, Lin Gang also approached, but he merely smiled, greeted casually a couple of times, then arranged for a Qi Cultivation Ninth Level cultivator to follow Lin Shiming before departing again.


    Lin Shiming understood the implication but said nothing more. Instead, he found a spot on the city wall and began to peruse the fundamentals of artifact refining.


    Naturally, one cannot cultivate on these city walls, not even body refinement or divine sense cultivation would be appropriate.


    However, studying the manuals and understanding their essence seemed like a good way to pass the time.


    As for the matter of the city gate fortress, he was in no hurry. Although Xu Dai was unreliable and had not yet appeared, Lin Gang was dutiful and vignt, reducing the likelihood of significant problems.


    In this manner, Lin Shiming took turns assisting in the defense of Yunjing Mountain for half a month, until one day he saw two Spirit Boats approaching almost simultaneously in the sky.


    Unlike Lin Shiming''s prior visit, these Spirit Boats didn''t need to make inquiries; their tokens shed out, and amidst the golden light, a group of people descended as if they were immortals from heaven.


    Their cultivation levels were quite impressive as well. Both belonged to the Purple Mansion Family, one from the Qingxuan Sect''s Ye Family and the other from the Spirit Beast Sect''s Lu Family.


    Each family had five Foundation Establishment cultivators: one in thete stage, three in the middle stage, and one in the early stage.


    At this moment, Yunjing Mountain finally had neen Foundation Establishment cultivators.


    Five in thete stage, plus six in the early stage and eight at the initial stage—this was a force to be reckoned with.


    Lin Gang still greeted them with a smiling face.


    "Where is Xu Daoyou?" The Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ye and Lu families clearly held a grudge against Xu Dai and did not mince their words.


    It needs to be understood that both their families could have been guarding a Third Rank Spiritual Medicine Garden instead had it not been for Xu Dai''s call for help, their disdain for the Lin Family from Yunzhou, and their subsequent rerouting here.


    While an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine is precious, it does not mean that all the spirit stones in the mine are of intermediate quality; some are of inferior quality, but it gets named an Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine because of a certain proportion of intermediate-grade stones.


    Yet, how could thispare to a Spiritual Medicine Garden where one could just reach out a hand ande up dripping with riches?


    And here, they still had to be restrained by Xu Dai.


    "Daoist Ye, Daoist Lu, Elder Brother Xu is still diligently honing his cultivation techniques to protect Yunjing Mountain from invasion by the demonic sect, hoping to give us an extra edge at the crucial moment!" Lin Gang responded respectfully and then led the Ye and Lu families inside Yunjing Mountain.


    "This is a Lin Family cultivator? Definitely from Yunzhou!" A Foundation Establishmentte-stage cultivator from the Lu Family, also young, nced over, spotted Lin Shiming''s token, and then scoffed.


    Clearly, the vexation they held toward Xu Dai had now been directed at Lin Shiming.


    It was as if, were Lin Shiming not so weak, they would not have been sent to guard the Intermediate Grade Spirit Stone Mine.