Chapter 106: Turning Against Each Other

  "Jinghuo Mine has collected a lot of flame crystals in recent years, but very few have been sold externally. Can I know the reason?" The Second Prince seemed to have forgotten the commotion earlier and continued to inspect and find fault everywhere.

  Niya's face was gloomy and she didn't respond, Helen explained: "The quality of the crystal is not good, most of them are left in the palace as decorations, very few meet the qualifications for external sales, otherwise our income would definitely be much higher than now."

  "Is that so? Your mine should have a temporary warehouse, take me there to see it. I'll check the quality of the crystals and see if they're even qualified for sale." The Second Prince pursued relentlessly.

  "This..."

  "What, am I not qualified? Or is there a secret inside?" The Second Prince gave him a cold glance.

  Helen didn't dare make a decision on her own and secretly looked at Niya.

  The temporary warehouse was filled with crystals that had just been excavated and hadn't been processed yet, both the quality and quantity were astonishing, but this was a top-secret of Jinghuo Mine, how could it be shown to people casually.

  Niya, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up: "Second Prince, what exactly did you come here for today?"

  "On the imperial order, inspect Taiwu Mining Area."

  "What's next?"

  "Comprehensive evaluation of the top ten mines."

  "Then?"

  "Choose the worst and most chaotic."

  "And then?"

  The second prince smiled silently, looking around the situation while casually saying: "Since the establishment of the empire, the Taiwu mining area has never stopped digging, and it has been over 2,000 years now. The deepest part is 20,000 meters deep. There are ten major mines in the Taiwu mining area, which have always been divided among the four royal families, while the remaining parts were shared by the six founding families of the country. This situation has also lasted for 2,000 years."

  It may be that the prolonged occupation has produced a psychology of complacency, or it may be due to other unknown reasons, but some mines are becoming increasingly disorganized in their management, not only causing problems with arms transactions within the empire, but also affecting imperial financial revenue.

  In order to revitalize the Taiwu Mining Area and restore vitality to the major mines, the Emperor decided to implement a rotational operation system. Every hundred years, the ten major mines would undergo comprehensive evaluation, with the worst performer automatically relinquishing its operating rights, allowing other capable operators to take over.

  For example, if the Lao family ranks last in this assessment, from tomorrow on, this mine will be handed over to the Simo Nong family. The empire is not going to completely deprive you of your power, and after a hundred years, there will be a second round of evaluation. If you have the ability, you can replace another mine that ranks last. It could be Jinghuo Mine or any other mine, isn't it better?

  It's as expected, the imperial family is going to take action against the Laoyao family! Niya calmed down and said: "For such an important matter, why didn't the imperial family hold a joint meeting? Privately deciding on such an important matter, isn't it against the law and public opinion?"

  "Of course it was held, all the big families participated, but your father didn't attend because he wasn't feeling well, so the Rao family was absent."

  "Did the other five families agree?"

  "Except for the La'O family giving up, all other families passed."

  Niya's expression didn't change: "What ranking do you think the Rao family will get in this assessment?"

  "Judging from the current situation, it's likely to be very dangerous. It's chaotic and rebellious, I couldn't imagine which mine would be worse than this!"

  "The royal family decided how to expel the last one?"

  "In a peaceful manner, but not excluding the use of force. Niya, you are an intelligent person and should understand that everything the imperial family does is for the prosperity of the Delos Empire. If someone insists on resisting, it means they are resisting the joint meeting, resisting the empire, and the imperial family will do its best to eradicate these tumors." The Second Prince's smile deepened as he looked at Niya, who was standing beside him with a cold and enchanting beauty: "I hope that among these annoying tumors, there is no Miss Niya of our Delos Empire."

  Niya didn't catch the implicit warning in the Second Prince's words, and instead said: "The ten major mines stretch for thousands of kilometers and have been operating for over two thousand years. To reach a fair and just conclusion, it will take a lot of time to conduct a detailed investigation, we can't just look at appearances. Am I right?"

  "That makes sense, I will naturally be fair and just."

  "Alright, very well! Helen, from today on, you will accompany the Second Prince, inch by inch, pool by pool, including the tower furnace, abandoned mines, miners' quarters, food conditions, mental state, all aspects will be thoroughly inspected, not a single item can be missed, everything must be clear and transparent."

  Helen felt the resolute and icy gaze of Niya, her spirit slightly shaken, and loudly shouted: "Obey!! Starting today, seal off the Jinghuo Mine and conduct a thorough investigation."

  "I'll give the Second Prince ten years, and I hope he can investigate thoroughly. If at that time, the Jinghuo Mine is ranked last, our Laoluo family will have nothing to say and will not resist, immediately handing over the operating rights. But if the Second Prince does not investigate clearly and randomly ranks us... even if it's a big fuss in the Imperial Capital, our Laoluo family will never yield!" Niya coldly glanced at the Second Prince, then mounted her Golden Winged Black Eagle and soared into the sky.

  "Niya!!" The second prince roared loudly, his face gradually darkening, indeed a rose with thorns, counterattacking sharply!

  "Does the second prince have any other orders? There are still some 'loiterers' outside, I need to go and clear them out to avoid affecting the environment."

  The second prince looked gloomy and slowly raised his head: "No need for ten years, ten days is enough."

  "Not enough!!"

  "That's enough!!!!"

  "I say, it's not enough!! One minute less, one second less, and the ranking won't be fair. I, Nia, hate this kind of irresponsible person the most. I hope the Second Prince is not among them." Nia retorted in the same tone, looking at the Second Prince coldly: "Also, when you inspect, please be careful. Many of my miners have been locked up for over a decade and are prone to violence and impulsiveness. If anything unexpected happens, I, Precious Fire Mine, will not be able to take responsibility. Helen, stay with the prince, I'll leave first!!"

  "Nobody is allowed to leave!!" The Second Prince bellowed loudly.

  "Stay back!" The five hundred Imperial Guards' eyes flashed with a fierce light, rapidly retreating and scattering in all directions. Their bodies shone with golden light, transforming into dazzling beams of light that pierced through the clouds and shot straight up to the sky.

  "Has he arrived?" With a loud cry, the long-awaited Simo's spirit was greatly lifted. At his command, nearly a thousand tigers and eagles let out a fierce roar, like black lightning, slashing down from the sky.

  "Haha! House Lao, welcome the Empire's wrath! Today marks the beginning of your downfall!"

  Accompanied by the sound of arrogant and crazy laughter, three top-level strongmen, sixteen great king-level strongmen, fully sealed off the entire space, terrifying energy clashed, a purple lightning bolt, as well as densely packed strange techniques, all blasted towards the luxurious palace.

  "Can't help but take action?" The two great elders of the Lao family took a step forward, and their terrifying aura surged forth.

  "Prepare for counterattack, today we will kill him to the point of heaven and earth turning upside down!!" The various great martial kings and sects who had been accumulating energy for a long time suddenly burst forth at the same time, wrapping up powerful momentum and surging into the sky.

  Rumble!! Two furious tides collided in mid-air, a terrifying energy storm swept across, thunder rolled, the wind and clouds changed color, the heavens and earth shook violently, hundreds of demonic beasts and warriors were directly turned into a bloody rain that filled the sky.

  A loud roar echoed through the sky, a loud howl shook the heavens.

  Rolling rivers and vast skies, endless bloody seas covering the sky and sun, doomsday thunder shocking heaven and earth, terrifying fierce beasts' shadows roaring towards the sky, fearsome seven-colored giant pythons coiling in the air.

  Five top-level powerhouses collided wildly in the high sky of ten thousand miles, and the terrifying momentum affected all directions, strangling all living beings.

  Inside and outside the palace, under the vast sky, all the great martial kings, martial ancestors, and even the powerful spiritual level masters were fighting with all their might, both sides knew each other's goals, and were clearer about their own tasks, without any idle chatter, only desperate life-and-death battles.

  Blood rain pours down from the sky, and countless corpses fall like a curtain of rain.

  In the mine thousands of meters below, the mining slaves were shocked by the sudden energy fluctuations. They looked up at the misty sky and saw only a dull haze of smoke, as well as blood rain and scattered limbs falling from the sky.

  "Second prince, what do you mean?! It's not even like this yet, and you're already prepared to drop the facade? Compared to the first and third princes, you're not just a little inferior." Niya stepped down from mid-air, her cold and elegant face showing a hint of disdain.

  "The Second Prince's face was gloomy: 'I hereby formally notify the Rao family, on charges of imprisoning an Imperial Prince, to immediately abandon resistance and return to the Imperial Capital for a joint trial punishment!'"

  "Put away your fancy excuses, I'm not so weak as to fall for that. I was thinking of having some fun with you, but it seems you don't have the patience, Second Prince. Today, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your father... being a prince isn't about doing things like this!" Nia's eyes flashed with a fierce killing intent as she surveyed the silent Scarlet Flame Mine: "Hailen, get ready to send the Second Prince on his way!"

  With an expressionless face and a tone even colder, she directly sentenced the imperial prince to death!

  It's easy to imagine the impact of this event on her, but she was resolute and unwavering, without a moment's hesitation!

  Is this bravery or madness?!

  Under her stunning appearance lies a strong heart!