Finding the Spirit Stone Mining Spot

At their word, everyone concealed themselves behind the pile of rocks, each regulating their breathing and bringing themselves to peak condition.

About the time it took an incense stick to burn, Liu Ruyan returned as silently as a ghost. Her presence was even more concealed than when she had left.

"How was it?" Xiao Yan immediately asked in a low voice, his concerned gaze falling on Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan's cool voice carried a trace of complicated emotion. "There really are only two Chen Family guards at Qi Refining Level 6 at the entrance, but I vaguely heard them mention Steward Chen."

Liu Ruyan paused and looked at Xiao Yan. "And... this Miniature Spirit Stone Mine actually has some ties to my Liu Family."

Xiao Yan raised a brow slightly. "Oh? How so?"

Liu Ruyan let out a soft sigh, her tone tinged with reminiscence. "Because of this spirit stone mine, the Liu Family nearly became joined to the Chen Family by marriage. Back then, my father and the Chen Family patriarch discovered traces of this mineral vein at the same time. In order to mine it together, the two families discussed a marriage alliance and intended to marry me to Chen Xuan of the Chen Family."

Li Chengjie's heart stirred at this. He had not expected there to be such a connection.

Liu Ruyan continued, her voice gradually turning cold. "If not for the Blood Fiend Cult invasion, the Liu Family and Chen Family would likely have already begun mining it. Luckily, the Blood Fiend Cult came at just the right time, allowing me to see the Chen Family's true face. The moment war broke out, they immediately betrayed the alliance and sought to monopolize the mineral vein."

Xiao Yan gently took Liu Ruyan's hand and said warmly, "Let the past stay in the past. Aren't we here for this mineral vein now?"

Liu Ruyan nodded slightly, a hint of warmth flashing through her eyes before she swiftly returned to her usual coldness. "I also sensed three presences at the mine entrance. One is at Qi Refining Level 7 and should be the Chen Family's leader. The other two are at Qi Refining Level 6."

Li Sihai cut in, "So there are only three people at the entrance. Should we adjust our plan?"

Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before looking at Li Chengjie. "Alchemist Li, what do you think?"

Li Chengjie responded calmly, "The plan is still feasible, but we must end this quickly."

Xiao Yan made his decision. "Then we'll proceed according to the original plan. Everyone, be careful."

"Move!" Xiao Yan barked, shooting out like lightning. His hands formed seals as Internal Spiritual Energy surged through him. "Crimson Sun True Fire, condense!" A blazing flame rose in his palm, transforming into the phantom of a firebird that lunged straight at the Qi Refining Level 7 leader with scorching heat.

The Chen Family leader reacted with astonishing speed. He gave a savage grin. "Flowing Cloud Sect trash, and you dare cause trouble here?"

He clapped his palms together, and an earthen-yellow glow rose around him. "Thick Earth Shield!" A massive shield condensed from earth and stone instantly formed, blocking the firebird's assault.

"A petty trick!" Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened, and his hand seals shifted. "True Fire Transformation, Flame Dragon Break!" The firebird cried out, its body expanding wildly as it transformed into a long flaming dragon. Its head reared high as it slammed viciously into the earthen shield with the force to burn all things to ash.

The earthen shield shattered at once. The leader was sent staggering back again and again, a trickle of fresh blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. Shock flashed through his eyes. "What technique is this?"

At the same time, Liu Ruyan drifted like smoke, her twin blades leaving their sheaths without a sound.

"Shadow Escape, Splitting Light, Transforming Shadow!" Her figure split into three, and all three phantoms attacked the Qi Refining Level 6 guard on the left simultaneously. The guard only saw a blur before three streaks of cold light had already reached him.

"Fierce Wind Saber Technique!" the guard shouted, wildly swinging his longsaber in an attempt to block every attack.

But Liu Ruyan's phantoms shifted between substance and illusion. The instant two phantoms dispersed, her true body was already behind him.

"Shadow Blade, Soul Severance!" Her twin blades crossed, and a line of blood appeared across the guard's throat.

Seeing his companion die in an instant, the guard on the right was struck with terror. He hurriedly retreated, intending to raise the alarm.

Li Sihai had been waiting for this moment. "Object Control Technique, Thousand Wheel Annihilation!" Twelve black circular wheels flew from the pouch at his waist. Their edges gleamed with a ghostly light as they formed a killing formation in midair, sealing off every avenue of retreat for the guard.

The guard cried out in terror, desperately swinging his longsword. "Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, Clouds Roll, Clouds Unfurl!" Sword light spread out like drifting clouds and rosy dawn, trying to block the wheels' attack.

But Li Sihai's wheels were strange and unpredictable, splitting and converging at will. At last, they found an opening and instantly shredded his Body Protection Spiritual Light.

Li Chengjie held the line from the side. Seeing that all three had succeeded, he immediately employed the Object Manipulation Technique.

Dozens of strands of spiritual energy, as fine as hairs, precisely wrapped around the fallen corpses and dropped weapons, gently placing them on the ground without making the slightest sound.

"Cleaned up." Liu Ruyan sheathed her blades, her voice as cold as ever.

Xiao Yan nodded and looked toward the mine entrance. "Let's go in and see this legendary spirit stone mine."

The four entered the mine one after another, and a damp, bone-chilling breath rushed over them.

The interior was unexpectedly spacious. The rock walls were covered in traces of man-made excavation, though even more abundant were the strange formations crafted by nature.

The farther inward they went, the more the passageways began to branch, tangled together like a labyrinth.

The clang of picks echoed endlessly through the deep, shadowy cavern from every direction.

Liu Ruyan stopped at a five-way intersection and took out an ancient compass. "According to the notes my father left behind, the main mineral vein should be in this direction. But the passages here are several times more complicated than what was recorded."

Li Sihai frowned at the five nearly identical passages before them. "How are we supposed to find it? Every passage has faint sounds coming from it. There's no way to tell them apart."

Xiao Yan's expression turned grave. "It seems we can only investigate them one by one. We'll split up, but don't go too far. Use divine sense transmissions as signals."

"No." Liu Ruyan immediately objected. "This place is strange. Splitting our forces is a grave taboo. I suggest we follow the passage where the spirit energy is most turbulent. Large-scale mining is bound to disturb the spirit energy."

Li Chengjie nodded in agreement. "Miss Liu is absolutely right. I sense the strongest Spirit Energy Fluctuation in the second passage on the left, mixed with a great many living presences."

The four cautiously entered the second passage.

This passage was exceptionally narrow, barely wide enough for one person to pass through. The rock walls were covered with fresh excavation marks.

The deeper they went, the murkier the air became, mixed with the smell of sweat and blood.

"Wait." Xiao Yan suddenly stopped and raised a hand in warning. He bent down to examine the ground. "Look at these footprints. They're chaotic and densely packed. People clearly come and go here often."

The passage split into three branches here, each carrying faint sounds of digging.

Liu Ruyan took out her compass, but its needle swayed uncertainly between the three passages.

"Damn it!" Li Sihai punched the rock wall. "This mine is practically a maze!"

Li Chengjie closed his eyes and focused, slowly extending his divine sense outward, but found nothing.

A moment later, guided by his instincts, he pointed to the middle passage. "This path may lead to the Spirit Stone Mine."

They chose the middle passage and continued onward.

The path wound downward at a steep incline, and they often had to brace themselves against protrusions in the rock wall to keep their footing.

After walking for about the time it took an incense stick to burn, they heard a distinct shout from ahead.

"Move faster! If you don't meet today's quota, none of you will get food!" A hoarse voice echoed through the passage.

The four exchanged glances and moved forward even more cautiously.

After rounding a bend, the space before them suddenly opened up—but the sight made them suck in a cold breath.

It was a massive underground cavern, far larger than they had imagined.

Countless stalactites hung from the ceiling, while the ground was riddled with excavated pits.

Most shocking of all, hundreds of ragged miners were toiling under the overseers' watch.

Every one of the miners was sallow and emaciated, their hands and feet locked in specially made shackles.

They swung their pickaxes mechanically, chipping at the rock walls, their eyes numb and hopeless.

The overseers carried Long Whips and wore sabers at their waists. Their cultivation levels were around Qi Refining Level 4 or 5, and from time to time, they lashed miners whose movements were even slightly too slow.

"Heavens..." Li Sihai transmitted in a low voice. "This is simply a living hell!"

Liu Ruyan said, "How dare the Chen Family be so utterly devoid of conscience!"

Xiao Yan carefully studied the cavern's layout. "Look over there." He pointed at a high platform deep within the cavern. "There's also an elder at Qi Refining Level 8 stationed there."

"Guests have arrived." The old man's voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly through the entire cavern. "Since you're here, why hide your heads and show only your tails?"