After returning from the city, Shang Shujue and Song Yanqing took out their SUV in town and drove towards Cloud-Piercing Village. When they got near the village, they both sensed a significant fluctuation of spiritual energy.
The two exchanged a glance, and Song Yanqing wanted to brake and stop, but Shang Shujue stopped him, "Keep driving into the village. This spiritual energy is mixed with the smell of Lingxiao Powder. They should be members of the Rebel Forces Alliance. Don't alert them."
Song Yanqing paused, then continued driving towards the village, his brow still furrowed. "How did they end up near the village?"
I guess...
Shang Shujue clenched his fingers, recalling the spiritual vein aura he had sensed from the roots of the banyan tree. He knew that a spiritual vein had once existed in this place, but for some reason, it was destroyed before it could fully form.
Thinking of this, he unconsciously narrowed his eyes slightly before continuing, "It's highly likely that the abandoned spirit vein in this place produced something that they're all eager to obtain, like... rare and precious materials, spirit stones, and the like."
Song Yanqing frowned slightly, his fingers gripping the steering wheel until they turned white. "I don't know when they entered the village. I hope my uncle and aunt are alright."
"That's hard to say, but don't worry."
As soon as Shang Shujue finished speaking, he closed his eyes and spread his spiritual sense outwards. Tangyuan and Xingyun also finished their cultivation at this time and came out to assist him. The amplification effect of the two little guys together was naturally self-evident.
Soon, Shang Shujue had scanned all twenty-five households in Cloud-Piercing Village and found nothing unusual; they were still living their simple and happy lives.
So he expanded his spiritual sense further, and after seeing the abandoned spiritual vein mine and the three Foundation Establishment cultivators fighting, he withdrew his spiritual sense.
"Don't worry, that spiritual vein pit is about eighteen kilometers away from Cloud-Piercing Village, and Cloud-Piercing Village has been protected by a protective barrier. Unless you're at the Golden Core or higher, it can't be breached."
After saying this, Shang Shujue gestured for Song Yanqing to stop the car before continuing, "I just detected that the cultivators fighting are all at the Foundation Establishment Stage, one at the Peak Foundation Establishment versus two at the Early Foundation Establishment."
"The spirit vein mines over there are mostly Qi Refining Stage cultivators, so they don't pose much of a threat. Their goal is most likely just to mine the ore, not to harm anyone, so you don't need to worry."
"As for those spirit stones..." Shang Shujue could roughly guess how many spirit stones they would get after the gathering was finished. For the Rebel Forces Alliance, whose resources were not strong to begin with, it was simply a windfall.
After all, most of the well-known mineral resources are controlled by the Cultivator Alliance. It is their skill that they were able to find this place, but they cannot give it away.
The alliance is now cracking down hard on the rebel forces, fearing they might cooperate with other countries and receive no resources. Since they refuse to submit to control, not a single stone or grain of soil in the country can be taken away.
What are you planning to do?
Song Yanqing couldn't fathom Shang Shujue's thoughts, and he was afraid that if he remained silent any longer, Shang Shujue would give up on dealing with those counter-revolutionaries, which would be bad if ordinary people were harmed.
"I entered the mortal world for cultivation, and I can no longer use my spiritual power at will, so I can't interfere in this matter. However, there are others who can, so don't worry."
After leaving those words, Shang Shujue saw the village appear not far ahead. He spotted the protective barrier, and with a slight glint in his eyes, the entire vehicle was covered with the same protective barrier, allowing them to enter the village without hindrance.
Seeing this, Song Yanqing paused slightly, then asked him with a somewhat complicated expression, "Can't we use spiritual power?"
"Oh dear, we were exposed the moment we entered the village. I didn't even use my spiritual power. It's better to stay hidden."
Shang Shujue touched his nose somewhat awkwardly. He had done it on impulse, coughed slightly, and then nodded confidently, feeling that what he had just said didn't count.
What could Song Yanqing say? He could only go along with him; after all, he liked him.
The two of them settled down in the village without any problems. When the villagers learned that Song Yanqing had returned, they held a feast to welcome him that very evening. Almost everyone's eyes welled up with tears as they looked at him.
The skinny little monkey from before has finally grown into a strong and upright man, and he's so successful now.
He not only returned the money to everyone, but also bought a lot of things, and everyone received something.
If the deceased village chief knew that his grandson had turned out so well, he could finally rest in peace.
Song Yanqing had hardly ever drunk alcohol since he was a child, but since everyone was in a good mood, he couldn't refuse to offer a toast as a junior, so he got quite drunk that night.
When Shang Shujue helped him home, he was still dazed and confused, all the strength was concentrated on him. If he hadn't been a cultivator, he would have collapsed long ago.
I don't know how this guy grew so tall, even in such dire circumstances, he still grew to over 190cm. He's much shorter than him, and it's quite a struggle to help him up.
" Xingyun, your master is such a fool! Doesn't he know that he can use his spiritual energy to purify the alcohol in his body when he drinks? How could he get so stupidly drunk?"
Shang Shujue placed Song Yanqing on the bed and saw that he was covering his furrowed brows with his arm, looking like he was in great pain. She couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
" Brother Jue, Master must have heard you say that we shouldn't use spiritual power casually, which is why he didn't use spiritual energy to purify the alcohol. Besides, those grandpas, grandmas, uncles, and elders are all his elders, so he wouldn't do that."
Xingyun's words made Shang Shujue pause, then he raised his hand and pinched Song Yanqing's cheek, his eyes filled with complicated emotions, "You're quite obedient to me, but I'm the one who has to get through this ordeal. Why are you making things difficult for yourself? You're such a fool."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shang Shujue couldn't help but use his spiritual power to purify the alcohol from Song Yanqing's body. He then used the Dust-Cleansing Art to make Song Yanqing instantly clean and refreshed, and his uncomfortable emotions instantly disappeared.
Song Yanqing fell asleep. Shang Shujue watched him for a long time before finally getting up and going outside to look at the moon. Tangyuan Xingyun were both on his shoulders, the two little ones looking adorably at the moon with him.
"Master, are you starting to like him?"
" Brother Jue, is that right?"
As soon as Tangyuan asked the question, Xingyun immediately joined the group buy. Shang Shujue's ears turned red from the question, and each of them poked his forehead, saying, "Too talkative."
The two little ones covered their heads: Oh~ so that's what they like, hehehehe...