Secrets of the Spirit Vein, Su Shi'er's Plans

"But Xuanji Sect's strongest fighters all died in that decisive battle. As they retreated, demon soldiers ambushed them. Every last one of their lower- and mid-ranking cultivators was slaughtered, leaving no one to carry on their legacy!"

Shen Miaoyin's words startled everyone present.

"Xuanji Sect? The third-greatest power in Central Continent back then? Why have I... never heard of it?"

"Amitabha! People are quick to forget. After several thousand years, the past has long since turned to dust! The Heavenly Evolution Phantom Star Sect split into the Tianyan and Phantom Star branches less than a thousand years ago. How many people in this world still remember the Tianyan Lineage?"

"Sigh! I've heard a little about it. But after all these years, this place has long been tainted by demons. Could Xuanji Sect's grounds truly still exist?"

The others murmured among themselves, their gazes settling on Shen Miaoyin.

Only Su Shi'er quietly swept his gaze over Tang Zhuying in the crowd.

He had not forgotten what Tang Zhuying herself had said in the Phantom Star Sect's Scripture Pavilion: she was Xuanji Sect's sole surviving heir.

Yet under Su Shi'er's scrutiny, Tang Zhuying remained perfectly composed, her expression unchanged.

With everyone looking to her for answers, Shen Miaoyin continued, "Xuanji Sect's foundations were extraordinary. A spirit vein must remain within its grounds. Protecting the entire sect may be unrealistic, but sustaining a few critical formations for several thousand years would be no challenge."

Venerable Tianhong could not help interjecting. "A spirit vein? That legendary treasure of heaven and earth, formed from concentrated Spiritual Qi, that draws in and generates still more Spiritual Qi by absorbing Earth Qi and the turbid qi of heaven and earth?"

"Even if the five great powers of Muyun Prefecture joined forces, they might not find a