129: Chapter 129 Sect Mission: Exploring the Ancient Mine

After successfully passing Elder Xie's assessment and refining qualified blood-stopping powder, Ye Tian officially became a Named Disciple of Elder Xie, gaining an independent pill room and a small plot of medicinal field in the medicinal garden.

Every day, apart from Cultivating, he was immersed in the Dao of alchemy.

Although Elder Xie was still sharp-tongued, he held nothing back when giving guidance, and Ye Tian progressed rapidly, now able to skillfully refine several types of basic Medicinal Pill and gaining an increasingly profound understanding of medicinal properties.

On this day, just as Ye Tian stepped out of the pill room, ready to tend to some newly cultivated Spiritual Plant in the medicinal field, the communication jade talisman from the Mission Hall lit up.

"Urgent Sect mission: Investigate the Chenxing Ancient Mine in the Qiyao Mountains.

Recently, miners have often gone missing, and strange noises have been coming from the depths of the mine tunnels, suspected to be powerful Yao Beast.

Mission Rank: B-High, it is recommended that Disciple at the Ningyuan Fifth Stage or above form a team to go.

Reward: 800 contribution points, 200 Low-Grade Spirit Stone."

Chenxing Ancient Mine?

Ye Tian furrowed his brows slightly.

The Qiyao Mountains were located on the edge of the Liuli Xuan Sect's sphere of influence, bordering the area controlled by the Juetian Sect, and had never been peaceful.

The Chenxing Ancient Mine was a Spirit Stone mine that had been abandoned for many years, and it was only in recent years that the Sect had reorganized manpower to carry out tentative mining; he hadn't expected trouble to arise so quickly.

"A B-High Rank mission, the rewards are generous, but the risks are not small." Ye Tian pondered.

His cultivation had now reached the Middle Stage of the Condensing Essence Seventh Level, and his true combat power was quite formidable; it was not impossible for him to complete a B-High mission alone.

However, the Sect's recommendation to form a team suggested that the situation might be more complex than described.

Just as he was contemplating, two familiar figures approached together; it was none other than Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng.

"Junior Brother Ye!"

Liu Ruyan smiled charmingly, and Leng Feng also nodded slightly.

After their life-and-death experience in the Falling Star Swamp, the relationship between the three had become much closer.

"Senior Sister Liu, Senior Brother Leng." Ye Tian cupped his hands in return.

"Junior Brother Ye, you've received the mission for the ancient mine too, right?"

Liu Ruyan raised the jade talisman in her hand. "Senior Brother Leng and I are planning to form a team to go, and we were just thinking of inviting you to join us! With you there, we would feel much more at ease."

Her beautiful eyes held expectation; clearly, she trusted Ye Tian's strength immensely.

Leng Feng also spoke up: "The situation in the ancient mine is unclear; having one more person means having one more layer of support."

Although his words were concise, the intent to invite him was clear.

Ye Tian looked at the two and felt a warmth in his heart.

Liu Ruyan was meticulous, and Leng Feng's combat power was formidable; both were reliable partners.

Forming a team to go would indeed reduce risks and allow them to look out for each other.

He nodded in agreement: "Alright, then let us go together."

The three agreed on the departure time and meeting point before returning to prepare.

Ye Tian returned to the pill room and carefully checked his belongings.

Regarding Medicinal Pill, he was now able to refine Qi-Returning Pills, blood-stopping powder, antidote pills, etc., so he was well-prepared.

As for weapons, he had a standard ordinary longsword for Outer Sect Disciple, which was of low grade.

After all, he specialized in fist techniques and finger techniques, and his sword technique could only be considered rudimentary.

"Chenxing Ancient Mine... I hope there won't be any surprises."

Ye Tian's gaze was deep; he always felt that this mission had an unusual air about it.

But the path of cultivation was like sailing against the current; being timid and hesitant would hardly lead to great success.

The next morning, the three met at the Outer Sect plaza and boarded the "Wind-Walking Bird" raised by the Sect to head toward the Qiyao Mountains.

A few days later, the three arrived at the outskirts of the mountain range.

The mountains were majestic and appeared in several colors, giving one a sense of novelty.

There was more than one entrance, and according to the map's guidance, they quickly found an entrance to the Chenxing Ancient Mine located in a valley that was relatively close.

The mine entrance was deep, and a damp, cold, and foul-smelling wind blew out from within.

Some makeshift sheds were built near the entrance, but they were empty at this moment.

Ye Tian noticed several signs of fighting and dried bloodstains, indicating that an incident had occurred.

"It seems the situation is worse than imagined."

Leng Feng gripped his sword hilt and scanned the surroundings.

Liu Ruyan's pretty face was solemn as she took out a glowing "Fluorescent Stone" to illuminate the front: "The mine tunnels are intricate; we need to proceed with caution and must not get separated."

Ye Tian released his Divine Sense to probe forward, but some force in the depths of the mine tunnel seemed to interfere, and his Divine Sense became blurry after extending only a few dozen zhang.

He said in a low voice: "There is something strange inside; stay close to me."

He took the lead and stepped into the mine tunnel.

Liu Ruyan stayed in the middle, while Leng Feng covered the rear.

The mine tunnel was dark and damp, with gravel and standing water underfoot; besides the musty smell, one could occasionally catch a whiff of a fishy odor in the air.

Traces of mining remained on the rock walls, and the mining lamps had long since gone out.

The deeper they went, the darker the light became.

Along the way, they discovered a few miners' corpses, their deaths miserable, as if torn apart by immense force, with Demonic Qi still lingering on the wounds.

"It was done by a Yao Beast." Leng Feng concluded after inspecting them, "But the Demonic Qi is somewhat mixed; it does not look like a single species."

Ye Tian squatted down, dipped his fingertip into a bit of dried blood, and felt it carefully, his brows furrowing slightly: "In this Demonic Qi, there is also a trace of... Evil Qi."

This reminded him of the aura he had felt deep within the Meteor Rift Valley, and his vigilance increased even further.

The three continued to go deeper, and the mine tunnel began to branch off.

According to the mission file, the disappearances mostly occurred in the few main mine tunnels leading to the deepest part of the mining area.

Just as they chose a relatively wide mine tunnel to proceed, a faint scratching sound suddenly came from the darkness ahead, accompanied by low hisses!

"Careful!"

Ye Tian shouted in a low voice, signaling the two to stop.

In the darkness, over a dozen scarlet points lit up, and several Yao Beast resembling leopards, covered in black bone armor and with scorpion tails, rushed out!

Second-Rank Yao Beast "Bone Scorpion Leopards"!

And there were seven or eight of them!

"Roar!" The Bone Scorpion Leopards were extremely fast, pouncing toward the three!

"Form a formation!"

Leng Feng shouted sharply, drawing his sword and slashing at the leading Bone Scorpion Leopard!

Liu Ruyan displayed agile movement techniques, and as her jade hands waved, strands of water-blue True Essence entangled the Yao Beast, restricting their movements.

Ye Tian did not use his full strength but instead maneuvered on the flank, occasionally pointing out with his Starfall Finger, striking the joints or eyes of the Bone Scorpion Leopards.

Although these Bone Scorpion Leopards were fierce, their strength was mostly at the Early to Middle Stage of the Second Rank, equivalent to a Ningyuan Third or Fourth Stage Cultivator.

Under the tacit cooperation of the three, in less than half an incense stick of time, they were all slain.

"These Yao Beast seem somewhat manic."

Liu Ruyan looked at the Yao Beast corpses on the ground, lost in thought.

"Yes, and they are entrenched here; it does not seem like a coincidence."

Leng Feng sheathed his sword, his gaze looking toward the depths of the mine tunnel, "It seems the problem lies within."

After resting for a moment, the three continued to move forward.

After passing through several more forks and dealing with a few more waves of Yao Beast, they arrived at a huge underground mine cavern.

In the center of the cavern, there was a bottomless pit, from which cold wind rolled back up.

On the edge of the sinkhole, more miners' remains and some broken mining tools were scattered.

And most strikingly, opposite the sinkhole, stood five figures!

They were not Disciples of the Liuli Xuan Sect, but Cultivator wearing dark red clothing with hawk patterns embroidered on their cuffs.

It was the people from the Iron Eagle Gang!

The leader was a thin, tall man with eyes like a snake, whose cultivation had reached the Late Stage of the Condensing Essence Seventh Level!

This person was none other than the other Vice Leader of the Iron Eagle Gang, Yin Li!

The four people behind him were also not weak in aura, with cultivation levels between the Ningyuan Fifth and Sixth Stages.

"Hehe, finally waited for you."

Yin Li let out a cold laugh, his gaze sweeping over the three of Ye Tian before finally fixing on Ye Tian, full of killing intent, "Kid, you killed my brother Chen Hezhi; today, you will pay with your blood!"

Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng's faces changed drastically!

They did not expect to encounter an ambush by the Iron Eagle Gang here!

And the opponent's strength was even stronger than those they had encountered in the swamp last time!

Ye Tian felt a chill in his heart and instantly understood many things.

The missing miners, the abnormal movements of the Yao Beast, were all likely the work of the Iron Eagle Gang!

Their purpose was to lure him to this remote, deep ancient mine and surround and kill him!

Zhao Qian's hand really reached far enough!

To be able to persuade the Iron Eagle Gang to go to such great lengths!

"Yin Li, your Iron Eagle Gang dares to sneak into the territory of my Liuli Xuan Sect to set an ambush and kill Sect Disciple; are you not afraid of inviting a calamity?"

Liu Ruyan tried to remain calm and shouted sternly.

"A calamity?" Yin Li sneered, "Kill you all, destroy the bodies and evidence, who would know it was us?

If you want to blame someone, blame this kid beside you for not knowing when to advance or retreat! Kill them!"

At his order, the four elites of the Iron Eagle Gang behind him immediately pounced like wolves!

Two joined forces to attack Leng Feng, while two killed toward Liu Ruyan!

The offensive was ruthless, clearly intending to eliminate Ye Tian's helpers first!

As for Yin Li himself, he smiled sinisterly and walked step by step toward Ye Tian, the powerful aura of the Late Stage of the Condensing Essence Seventh Level released without reservation!

His hands glowed with a dark green poisonous light; clearly, he was Cultivating a Cultivation Technique even more insidious than Chen Hezhi's!

"Careful!"

Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng exclaimed, but they were entangled by their opponents and could not save themselves, let alone provide support.

Facing a strong enemy, Ye Tian's eyes were cold to the extreme.

He knew this was a carefully planned death trap!

But he also knew that if he were fearful and retreated, the three of them would surely die!

He raised his hand, and the Stellar True Essence surged within his body.

An aura, no less inferior to Yin Li's, soared into the sky!

Middle Stage of the Condensing Essence Seventh Level!

Feeling this aura, the savage grin on Yin Li's face froze instantly, and unbelievable shock erupted in his eyes: "This is impossible, your cultivation..."

The news he received was that Ye Tian was at most at the Ningyuan Sixth Stage!

How could this cultivation of the Condensing Essence Seventh Level be possible?!

Not only him, but Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng, who were in the heat of battle, as well as those Iron Eagle Gang elites, all felt this powerful aura and looked over, their faces filled with shock!

Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes widened, and a stormy sea churned in her heart: Junior Brother Ye, he seems to have become even stronger than before? This... how long has it been?

Leng Feng's grip on his sword also tightened a few times, his eyes filled with a mixture of Battle Intent and shock!

Ye Tian looked at the bewildered Yin Li, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly: "Want to kill me? Just by you?"