3: Chapter 3: A Frame-Up from a Love Rival

Inside, Earth Fiend Qi filled the air; it was dark, damp, and plagued by year-round conflicts.

Every year, the low-level Disciples who inexplicably died in the mine tunnels could not even be counted on two hands.

Even for those at the 7th or 8th layer of Qi Condensation, unless they wanted to earn more Spirit Stones, or had made a mistake, or ranked in the bottom hundred of the assessment, no one was willing to go.

With just his 1st layer Qi Condensation Realm, what was the difference between going in and seeking death?

Moreover, Disciples below the 3rd layer of Qi Condensation could be exempted from the Sect's assessment.

He was only at the 1st layer of Qi Condensation, yet he was actually arranged into the assessment list. This clearly showed someone wanted to mess with him!

Ye Qingcen? She had just left, and shouldn't have this authority. Then who else could it be?

Xiao Yuan rolled his eyes, took out the last Low-Grade Spirit Stone in his bosom, and quietly stuffed it into Manager Liu's hand, lowering his voice: "Manager Liu, give me a hint, who wants to fix me?"

Manager Liu weighed the Spirit Stone, glanced left and right, leaned in, and whispered: "It is the Outer Sect Senior Brother, Chen Yin. The biological grandson of the Outer Sect Grand Elder, he personally named you to 'participate in the assessment'."

Chen Yin? Relevant memories instantly jumped into Xiao Yuan's mind — an Outer Sect Genius, Peak of Qi Refining Level 9, relying on his grandfather's power to run amok in the Outer Sect, and moreover... has been crazily pursuing Ye Qingcen.

The case is solved! This is retaliation from a love rival!

A fire surged up in Xiao Yuan's heart, but upon second thought, he became amused instead.

"This Chen Yin is chasing Ye Qingcen quite enthusiastically... I just wonder, if he knew that Senior Sister Ye's first blood was taken by me, would he vomit blood on the spot?"

His mind instantly conjured up Chen Yin's arrogant face, twisting and turning green after learning the truth, wearing a playful look.

"Alright, I know, many thanks, Manager Liu." Xiao Yuan looked distressed on the surface, but started calculating rapidly in his heart.

Manager Liu glanced at him, shook his head, and left, probably feeling that this kid was not far from entering the mine pit.

After all, even those at the 4th or 5th layer of Qi Condensation might be placed in the bottom hundred, let alone Xiao Yuan at the 1st layer of Qi Condensation, who was securely the very last place.

Although he was only dispatched down for three years, he estimated that Xiao Yuan might not survive a month before dying in the mineral vein.

The door closed. Xiao Yuan leaned against the wall and touched the small tripod at his Dantian.

"Want me to go mine? Then let's see... whose grave gets dug first!" He grinned, a flash of light passing through his eyes.

The urgent task was to quickly acquire resources and improve his strength. As for the "energy source"

He looked toward the direction of Dan Peak outside the window, his smile gradually turning playful.

"Senior Sister Ye, I'm afraid our fate won't be cut off anytime soon."

If worst came to worst, he could only go find Ye Qingcen again, although Ye Qingcen certainly wouldn't agree.

But since there was a first time, could there not be a second time?! Of course, if he could find other female cultivators again, that would naturally be best!

Xiao Yuan summoned the small tripod, glanced at the small tripod with flowing light in his palm, and thinking of the assessment a month later, he rubbed his hands: "Let's get a wave of resources first!"

He rummaged through the pile of waste, picking out those goods that "still had rescue value":

Among this batch of waste, he found one hundred and thirty-six waste Medicinal Pills, among which were ninety-eight marrow cleansing pills, twenty-five Qi-returning pills, thirteen blood-bursting pills, a dozen broken but barely passable Spiritual Artifacts, three sets of Formation Flags, and thirty-seven Talismans.

As for the rest of the junk, he threw them all into the neighboring Earth Fire Pit to burn.

"Let's start!" Xiao Yuan rubbed his hands and began acting as a "humanoid purifier".

Piece by piece, the waste Medicinal Pills were thrown into the creation cauldron. The body of the cauldron flowed with light, and in less than a moment, it spat out new Medicinal Pills of perfect quality.

After purifying forty-six Medicinal Pills, Xiao Yuan looked at the small tripod again — good grief, the light on the body of the cauldron had dimmed by more than half, almost returning to its initial dusty appearance.

"The energy is already bottoming out?" He felt a bit heartbroken, "That wave from Senior Sister Ye... was just too short-lived?"

Carefully sensing it, he also discovered a pattern: the worse the quality of the waste Medicinal Pills, the more energy it consumed; the slightly better quality ones actually saved energy.

"Understood, in the future I must pick waste with 'good quality' to start with." Xiao Yuan noted down this precaution.

He originally wanted to refine all the waste Medicinal Pills, as well as that pile of broken Magical Artifacts and Formation Flags, so as to have a few more trump cards to save his life.

Unfortunately, the energy in the cauldron had already bottomed out, so he had no choice but to give up.

"The assessment in a month... I must hurry." Xiao Yuan sat cross-legged, grabbed a handful of perfect marrow cleansing pills, and began taking pills to Cultivate.

One, two, three... After sixteen perfect marrow cleansing pills went down his stomach, his Meridians finally felt the familiar swelling sensation.

With a soft "pu" sound, his Realm finally made a Breakthrough — 2nd layer of Qi Condensation!

Xiao Yuan looked at the remaining thirty marrow cleansing pills, the corners of his mouth twitching: "Sixteen perfect Medicinal Pills only raised me by one layer? Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Roots, you truly are trash beyond Realms!"

If this were changed to a single Spiritual Root Genius like Ye Qingcen, one perfect marrow cleansing pill would probably be enough to level up on the spot.

Xiao Yuan was unwilling to give up and took another twenty perfect marrow cleansing pills. His Realm barely reached the Peak of the 2nd layer of Qi Condensation. Looking at the remaining ten Medicinal Pills, he had a hunch that even if he ate them all, his Realm probably still wouldn't break through to the 3rd layer of Qi Condensation!

Xiao Yuan's heart turned half cold; the Disciples participating in the assessment had to be at least at the Qi Condensation 4th Layer at the very worst.

With this meager Realm of his, he didn't even have a decent Magical Artifact in his hands. Going up there would just be serving himself as easy prey?

As for the Cultivation Technique?

Aside from the "Object Manipulation Technique" specially given for handling garbage sent for free by the Sect, he knew nothing else.

That foolish kid of the original owner had exchanged all the contribution points he accumulated over three years into resources for Ye Qingcen.

Xiao Yuan's resentment towards the original owner deepened by another layer.

The urgent task was still to find a way to "charge" that small tripod again.

As for the ten perfect marrow cleansing pills left in his hand, eating them now wouldn't push him to the 3rd layer; it would be purely a waste.

It was better to save them first and concentrate resources to charge through the barrier directly!

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about taking these perfect Medicinal Pills to sell at the market outside the Sect in exchange for some Spirit Stones and resources.

But as soon as this thought popped up, he suppressed it.

With this little Realm of his, once exposed?

He would definitely die so thoroughly that not even slag would be left!

Forget it, forget it. It's better to develop stealthily first and not act recklessly. Talk about it after having some self-preservation power.

Xiao Yuan rubbed his hands, looked at the small tripod in his Dantian that was so dim it was almost out of power, and gritted his teeth: "Fine, it seems I still have to go find the 'power bank', Senior Sister Ye."

He strolled toward Dan Peak, calculating in his mind how to trick Ye Qingcen for another wave.

Just as he reached the gate of Dan Peak mountain, from afar he spotted two figures.

Oh ho, an acquaintance!

The one fluttering in white clothes was precisely Ye Qingcen, and standing beside her was a male cultivator wearing brocade robes. He looked like a human in appearance, but his eyes were glued to Ye Qingcen as if they were about to string threads.

Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow — wasn't this Young Master Chen Yin who wanted to send him to mine? Truly, enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road.

He narrowed his eyes, a tiny bit of killing intent flashing through his heart, but quickly suppressed it. He couldn't beat him right now, so he would chalk up this account first.

Over there, Chen Yin was holding a jade bottle, smiling like a sunflower: "Junior Sister Qingcen, this is a Medium Grade marrow cleansing pill that I specially entrusted someone to refine. Its medicinal properties are mild, and it is most suitable for Junior Sister to consolidate her Realm and charge towards Foundation Establishment. Please do not decline, Junior Sister..."