Hearing the successive screams, Wen the Monk and Daoist Jax's expressions shifted dramatically. Seeing Leo emerge from the smoke, sword in hand, chasing after the fleeing Zane, even a fool could grasp what had happened. Zane stumbled along, appearing little stronger than an ordinary mortal. If they continued to stand by, they would likely meet the same fate.

  "Wen, Jax, save me!" Zane's panicked, raspy voice cried out.

  "Take one more step, and I'll consider you allied with him!" Leo's cold shout rang out.

  Wen the Monk and Daoist Jax exchanged glances. Looking at the murderous Leo, cold sweat trickled down their backs. They halted in their tracks simultaneously. Four Great Perfection Qi Refining cultivators, led by Zane, had been defeated in such a short time. The thick black smoke from the Smoke Mist Fruits had obscured the battle, leaving even the participants unclear on what happened, let alone those standing further away. Even if they led their men to reinforce, the outcome would likely be no better. Witnessing Zane's fate, how could they risk themselves?

  "Mercy, please spare me! Young hero, I'll do anything you—" Zane, seeing his old acquaintances too intimidated by Leo to intervene, began pleading frantically. But before he could finish, his massive head flew from his shoulders, tumbling several meters across the tunnel floor.

  Leo stopped, sheathed his sword, and swept his gaze over Wen the Monk, Daoist Jax, and the other miners. "From now on, his share is mine as well. Anyone who disagrees can come find me."

  Wen the Monk and Daoist Jax's mouths twitched. The ones who disagreed were already lying decapitated on the ground. Killed before so many witnesses, and they, the mine bosses, hadn't dared take a single step forward. After this battle, no one in the entire mine would dare provoke Leo. At the same time, they bitterly regretted their earlier hesitation over Viper's death. Now they had angered him, and things would not go so smoothly.

  This was exactly the effect Leo wanted. He was not bloodthirsty. If they had come to negotiate from the start, he wouldn't have wasted so many talismans. They had cost him a considerable number of spirit stones, and using them depleted his supply. But since Zane had dared to speak, and Wen the Monk and Daoist Jax had also tested him, he had to use overwhelming force to intimidate them again. Otherwise, they would eventually scheme against him. He wasn't afraid, but constant trouble would disturb his cultivation, and that would be a real loss.

  "Go negotiate the ore distribution with them. I want two shares. I don't care about the rest." Leo walked through the smoke to Hann.

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  "Yes, yes, Master Leo. I'll negotiate well."

  Still shaken, Hann nodded repeatedly. The screams had been relentless, yet Leo stood before him unharmed. The fate of the others was obvious.

  With Leo's overwhelming display, Hann's negotiations with Daoist Jax and Wen the Monk went smoothly.

  Seeing that Leo had no intention of touching their shares, the two bosses breathed sighs of relief. After that battle, even if Leo made unreasonable demands, they would have had no choice but to accept. Losing meant sharing Zane's fate. They had suffered no real loss, just a scare.

  Hann and his nephews were overjoyed, accepting various benefits. As Leo's representatives, even Great Perfection and late-stage Qi Refining cultivators dared not show them the slightest disrespect. For the first time in years, they could hold their heads high in the mine.

  After the negotiations, guided by Hann and some of Zane's former followers, Leo arrived at Zane's dwelling—a cavern of over ten meters square, pleasantly temperate.

  "Master Leo, those two villains, Viper and Zane, accumulated a considerable amount of spirit stones, likely hidden somewhere in their dwellings. They also kept several concubines each. How would you like to handle them?" A short, thin, fifty-something cultivator named Pike, a Great Perfection expert, ingratiated himself with Leo.

  "Concubines?" Leo was slightly puzzled. Most of these miners were exiled convicts. Such arrangements surprised him.

  "Master Leo may not know this. Occasionally, a few female cultivators are also exiled to the mines. The Black Water Stockade Mine has been worked for thousands of years. Though female cultivators are few, some are quite attractive. They are usually taken by the strongest mine bosses. According to mine custom, with Viper and Zane dead, their property naturally goes to you."

  Pike clapped his hands. Two men led in six or seven women. The eldest was a voluptuous woman of around thirty. The youngest, a girl of fifteen or sixteen, was quite beautiful. All were early or mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Having spent years in the mine, their skin was pale, and they were indeed somewhat alluring.

  But Leo had no interest. "I have no use for them. I'll leave the mine eventually. Let them go."

  "My nephew Kory is middle-aged and unmarried. I beg you, Master, grant him one." Hann quickly clasped his hands and pleaded.

  "If they are willing, you may arrange it yourselves." Leo waved his hand.

  "Thank you, Master." Though Leo hadn't directly agreed, he hadn't refused either. Hann thanked him profusely.

  "Everyone out. From now on, no one is to approach within twenty meters of this cavern without my permission. If anything arises, call out from outside. Oh, and Hann, have Kory go with Pike to find Viper's hidden spirit stones and bring them to me." Leo suddenly added.

  Pike, Hann, and the others were taken aback. Several cultivators were still searching Zane's dwelling for spirit stones. They didn't understand why Leo was dismissing them, but they feared him too much to question. They obeyed and left.

  "Hann is so trusted by Master Leo. I hope you'll put in a good word for me in the future." Outside, Pike bowed to Hann.

  "You flatter me, Pike. Your cultivation is profound. I'll rely on you for many things as well. I hope you won't refuse when the time comes." Hann returned the bow.

  "If you ever need anything, I'll go through fire and water for you." Pike thumped his chest.

  "Uncle, with Pike's cultivation on our side, we'll have fewer troubles." Kolin watched them leave.

  Hann snorted. "You don't understand. This man is currying favor with Master Leo. We must be wary of him. He's more powerful than us, and because he served Zane, he knows the mine better. If he gains Master Leo's trust, he'll be our greatest threat!"

  Kolin paled. "What should we do?"

  "Don't worry. I have a plan." Hann's expression was thoughtful, clearly scheming.