12: Chapter 12: The Real Thing Has Arrived

On the other side, Chen Yin received the news almost at the same time.

"Cultivation Room?" He was momentarily stunned before an unvarnished sneer appeared on his face. "Does this trash know his death is near and wants to experience rich Spiritual Qi before dying? Or does he think hiding in a Cultivation Room makes him safe? Naive!"

His intent to kill Xiao Yuan was already boiling over.

The disappearance of Zhou Zheng and his two Qi Condensation 4th Layer subordinates, along with Ye Qingcen's unusual reaction that day, made him regard Xiao Yuan as a thorn in his side.

"Continue surveillance, don't relax for even a moment," Chen Yin ordered his confidant.

"He has to come out eventually. It's difficult to act near the Cultivation Rooms. Once he returns to the Scrap Yard or goes somewhere else... notify me immediately."

His thoughts aligned surprisingly well with Zhao Mingfang's: Xiao Yuan must die!

As for the jade talisman treasure, that was merely an extra bonus along the way.

If he got it, great; if not, it wouldn't stop him from eliminating this eyesore of a "love rival" and potential threat.

Two groups of people, carrying the same murderous intent, locked onto the direction of the Cultivation Room like venomous snakes lurking in the dark.

...

However, what none of them knew was that shortly after Xiao Yuan left the Scrap Yard, another figure hurriedly arrived at the Scrap Recycling Station.

The visitor was a woman wearing the light-blue robes of an Inner Sect Disciple. She possessed a cold, ethereal temperament, with a subtle hint of anxiety and anger between her brows.

When she saw that the Scrap Yard was completely empty—not to mention the jade pendant, even the mountain-like piles of scrap and garbage had vanished without a trace—she froze in place, dumbfounded.

"How could this be... Where are the things?!" Panic flashed across her beautiful eyes, quickly replaced by deeper anger.

Recalling carefully where she might have lost the jade talisman treasure, it was very likely sent here along with the pill ash!

How could there be nothing left at all?!

Furthermore, she recalled that when she was frantically searching earlier, Chen Yin and Zhao Mingfang, who also practiced Alchemy, were nearby.

Even if the two of them didn't know what she was looking for, there was no guarantee they wouldn't get suspicious. After all, besides the jade talisman treasure, there was likely nothing else that could make her care so deeply!

Her heart tightened. If those two noticed anything amiss, she could forget about ever finding her jade talisman treasure!

Suppressing her rage, she searched thoroughly inside and outside the Scrap Yard, even using a secret sensing technique, but still found nothing.

The Utility Disciple guarding the Scrap Yard was nowhere to be seen either.

"Xiao Yuan..." She read the responsible Disciple's name off the simple wooden sign at the door and gritted her teeth as she muttered it.

"Could it be... that this tiny Utility Disciple picked it up and pocketed it?!" The thought made her tremble with anger.

That jade talisman treasure was extremely important to her—it wasn't just a protective treasure, but also a relic left behind by her mother!

If she couldn't find it, she would lose even the final keepsake of her mother.

"It had better not be you..." The woman looked at the empty Scrap Yard, her eyes icy.

"If I find out that you pocketed my belongings... I will definitely make your life worse than death!"

Giving the Scrap Yard one last resentful glare, she turned into a streak of green light and departed quickly.

Her top priority now was to leverage her connections and network to secretly track down the jade talisman treasure, while also investigating where this Utility Disciple named "Xiao Yuan" had gone!

The Scrap Yard restored its silence once more.

...

Three days later, inside the Cultivation Room.

Inside the Cultivation Room, Xiao Yuan felt the surging Spiritual Qi inside his body. His heart swelled with wild joy, a sharp glint flashing briefly in his eyes.

"Qi Condensation 5th Layer Peak!"

Feeling the Spiritual Qi inside him nearly twice as powerful as before, he stretched his limbs with satisfaction.

Downing over a hundred perfect Medicinal Pills produced remarkable results! Although he was still a bit short of reaching the Qi Condensation 6th Layer, his strength was no longer what it used to be.

"Now I finally have some means to protect myself." With his confidence slightly boosted, Xiao Yuan packed up his things, removed the Restriction, and pushed open the heavy stone door—

"Huh?!"

As soon as the door cracked open, a gentle yet irresistible force of Spiritual Qi pushed lightly against it, "sending" him straight back into the Cultivation Room!

Xiao Yuan was deeply shocked. Spiritual Qi instantly circulated through him as he readied the hidden Talisman and spiritual sword in his sleeve, putting his whole body on high alert!

Who?! Who could corner someone right at the doorway of a Cultivation Room?!

He jerked his head up and looked toward the doorway.

He saw a svelte figure stride gracefully inside, conveniently closing the stone door behind her and reactivating the sound-isolating Restriction.

The newcomer was wearing the light-blue robes of an Inner Sect Disciple. Her appearance was strikingly refined and beautiful, with an ethereal temperament, except that her expression was currently slightly cold as her beautiful eyes gazed quietly at him.

Xiao Yuan's heart sank.

He recognized the pretty beauty before him: Su Ruotong, the sixth personal Disciple of Dan Peak Master Su Ningyan, and also Ye Qingcen's sixth Senior Sister!

More importantly, her cultivation was Early Foundation Establishment!

Although he heard she had recently reached Foundation Establishment and her Realm might not be particularly stable yet, she was still a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Squashing a Qi Condensation Stage like him would be like child's play!

"I'm in big trouble..." Xiao Yuan forced himself to calm down, his mind rapidly analyzing: "Is she here for the jade talisman treasure? Or... to stand up for Ye Qingcen?"

Regardless of which, he couldn't panic now!

Her ability to corner him precisely at the Cultivation Room door meant she had extensive connections—ordinary Disciples had no authority to enter this area at all, much less find out who was in which stone room!

Feigning composure, he bowed slightly. "Senior Sister Su, may I ask... what business brings you to Junior Brother?"

Su Ruotong didn't waste words. Her gaze like lightning, she stared directly at Xiao Yuan. "Xiao Yuan, let me ask you: three days ago, at the Scrap Recycling Station, did you pick up a blood-red jade pendant?"

Her voice was cold and chilly.

As expected! It was for the jade talisman treasure!

The last sliver of hope in Xiao Yuan's heart vanished.

Facing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he had no room to bargain.

Refuse to hand it over? If she used force, he wouldn't even have a chance to resist.

What's more, he still carried so many secrets that couldn't see the light of day—dozens of perfect Medicinal Pills, top-grade Spiritual Artifacts, and a stack of Tier-1 top-grade Talismans.

Even though she was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, these items could still incite her greed. If his Storage Pouch were searched, it might very well bring about a fatal disaster!

Decisiveness was required!

With almost no hesitation, he shifted his thought, retrieved the blood-red jade talisman treasure from his Storage Pouch, held it in both hands, and respectfully handed it over.

Although this was a good thing, one had to be alive to enjoy it. Losing his life over it wasn't worth it!

"Is this the item Senior Sister Su speaks of?" Xiao Yuan asked sincerely.

"Junior Brother indeed found this jade pendant in the trash pile three days ago. Seeing its extraordinary nature, I carefully put it away. I was worrying about which fellow Disciple lost it while fearing drawing covetous eyes if I made it known. Seeing Senior Sister today, I assume it has been returned to its rightful owner."

He paused, then added "incidentally": "Curiously enough, two Senior Brothers—Senior Brother Chen Yin and Senior Brother Zhao Mingfang—also came to the Scrap Yard before to ask about this jade pendant. However, Junior Brother felt this item was exquisite and delicate, unlike something male Cultivators would use, and neither Senior Brother could describe its specific features, so I did not dare to hand it over rashly."

Shifting the trouble away, success!