Recently, Xuantian Sect detected abnormal fluctuations in the earth vein spiritual energy in the northern section of the Luoyun Mountain Range. It seemed as though the spiritual power within the mountains was being drained from deep within by some force, and the rate of depletion was accelerating daily.
Missions related to this were quickly dispatched.
Following Liu Ningshuang's instructions, Bai Qingxue collected her mission token, packed her gear, and set out toward the Luoyun Mountain Range with Lu Xueqing.
The two walked north along the familiar mountain path, remaining silent the entire way.
They had traveled this path many times over the past two years. From walking one behind the other at first to now walking side by side, they no longer needed idle chatter to fill the silence.
At this moment, there were no bird calls or insect chirps within the Luoyun Mountain Range; even the wind seemed to have been sucked away by something.
The air was thick with an indescribable scorched scent, identical to what they had smelled a year ago in the northern caves.
“It’s starting again,” Lu Xueqing whispered, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
Bai Qingxue nodded, then spread her spiritual sense to cover the surrounding dense forest.
Suddenly, her spiritual sense detected something unusual beneath her feet. A layer of dark gray powder covered the stones protruding from the soil.
Bai Qingxue crouched down and cracked open a stone to examine it. She found that the internal textures were blackened, as if something had been eating away at them from the inside out.
It seems the earth vein spiritual energy is indeed being drained, and the speed is much faster than the sect's estimates, Bai Qingxue thought to herself.
She then picked up a pinch of the powder and rubbed it between her fingers. The powder was too fine to be caused by weathering; it looked like residue left behind after something had devoured spiritual energy.
Bai Qingxue’s brow furrowed slightly as she looked up at Lu Xueqing.
“It’s man-made,” Bai Qingxue said.
Hearing this, Lu Xueqing’s brow knitted together.
A year ago, when they had discovered the Soul Control Formation talisman fragments and the scrap of a storage bag engraved with a beast horn pattern in the northern caves, Liu Ningshuang had concluded that “seeds” of the Northern Region Demonic Sect were buried beneath the Luoyun Mountain Range.
With the earth vein spiritual energy draining like this, it meant that a seed was being activated or perhaps being extracted.
Whichever it was, it wasn't something the two of them could handle alone.
“Let’s go back and report,” Lu Xueqing decided immediately.
The two of them turned to head back the way they came, their pace much faster than before.
As they reached a fork in the path, Bai Qingxue suddenly stopped.
A pale green figure was moving rapidly through the trees not far ahead.
The person also spotted them and paused for a moment before quickening their pace toward them.
“Sister Bai!” Ye Qingyao’s voice was breathless, fine beads of sweat dotting her forehead.
Ye Qingyao was wearing pale green martial attire with a short sword in a dark green scabbard hanging at her waist. She carried a herb basket on her back containing several spirit herbs.
The hem of her robes was stained with quite a bit of mud, suggesting she had been walking in the woods for a considerable time.
“Are you gathering herbs nearby?” Lu Xueqing asked.
“An outer perimeter mission for Qingyun Peak.” Ye Qingyao nodded, her gaze unconsciously lingering on Bai Qingxue before she quickly looked away. “I felt something was wrong with the earth vein spiritual energy and was preparing to return to the sect. You too?”
Bai Qingxue nodded. “Let’s go together.”
Ye Qingyao looked delighted and followed them without hesitation.
The three of them moved quickly along the mountain path toward the mountain gate, with Bai Qingxue in the lead, Ye Qingyao in the middle, and Lu Xueqing bringing up the rear.
No one spoke; only the faint rustling of footsteps on dry leaves could be heard.
As they passed through a dense thicket, Bai Qingxue suddenly stopped and raised her hand to signal the two behind her.
Lu Xueqing immediately suppressed her aura and withdrew her spiritual sense.
Though Ye Qingyao didn't understand why, she instinctively held her breath and placed her hand on her sword hilt.
Not far ahead was a hidden mountain hollow.
Through the layers of branches and leaves, several black-robed figures could be faintly seen.
Bai Qingxue didn't dare probe too close with her spiritual sense and could only listen with her ears.
Fragmented sounds drifted over—a low masculine voice, respectful in tone as if reporting something.
“...The main vein has been controlled... the branch veins are being drained... it is expected to be completed within seven days...”
Another voice was deeper and more curt. “What about the seed?”
“The location has been confirmed, but the outer perimeter formation was once destroyed and needs to be reinforced. It will take a few more days.”
“Hasten it.” That voice was flat and devoid of emotion, yet it sent a chill down the spines of those who heard it.
Bai Qingxue’s brow furrowed slightly.
She recognized this unsettling voice.
It was Shen Moyuan!
The boy who had faced her in the New Disciple Grand Competition at Tianshu Peak, the one whose mouth was always curved in a perfectly appropriate smile.
At this moment, Shen Moyuan stood among the black-robed cultivators with his back to the three women. His ink-black Daoist robe almost blended into the shadows of the dim forest.
After listening to the black-robed cultivator’s report, Shen Moyuan spoke only two words: “Continue.”
Bai Qingxue’s fingers tightened slightly on the hilt of the Frost Condensation Sword. It seemed that Shen Moyuan was likely not a sword dao genius at all, but nothing more than an undercover agent who had used unknown means to infiltrate Xuantian Sect.
Sensing that something was wrong, Lu Xueqing also placed her hand on her sword hilt. She glanced at Bai Qingxue, her eyes seemingly asking: Leave or wait?
Bai Qingxue nodded slightly, intending to signal the two of them to slowly retreat.
However, Shen Moyuan suddenly turned around.
“You three, come out.” Shen Moyuan’s tone was flat, as if he had known they were there all along. That unchanging smile still hung on the corners of his mouth.
At the same time, the black-robed cultivators behind him also turned toward the direction where Bai Qingxue and the others were hiding. Several waves of spiritual sense swept over them like a tide.
Seeing that they had been exposed, Bai Qingxue did not hesitate. She immediately channeled her spiritual power to block the initial waves of spiritual sense blasts.
Lu Xueqing also swiftly drew her sword, the frost-white sword light weaving a barrier in front of the three of them.
Ye Qingyao was a moment slower. With the lowest cultivation among them, she was nearly breathless under the crushing pressure, her face turning pale. However, she gritted her teeth, drew her short sword, and stood by Bai Qingxue’s side.
Shen Moyuan looked at the three of them, his gaze lingering on Bai Qingxue’s face for an extra moment.
His tone remained leisurely as he said, “Since you’ve stumbled upon this, then stay.”
As the words fell, Shen Moyuan’s aura suddenly began to climb.
Seventh level of Qi Refining, eighth level, ninth level...
Foundation Establishment!
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