80: Chapter 80 Mission Title: Desperate Situation

Meanwhile, in a gloomy underground palace thousands of miles away.

Several high-level members of the Blood Sea Sect sat upright with solemn expressions.

Standing before them was a mysterious figure completely shrouded in a black robe.

"The Spirit Stone mine of the Qingxuan Sect is simply a piece of fat meat delivered right to our mouths," the black-robed figure let out a hoarse, unpleasant laugh. "As long as you all cooperate with the actions of our Nether Cult, after it is done, we will split it seven-three. You get seven, we get three."

The Blood Sea Sect Sect Master on the main seat gently tapped his fingers on the armrest cast from white bones, producing a light "tap, tap" sound.

"A seven-three split, and your Nether Cult only takes thirty percent?"

The black-robed figure let out a hoarse laugh.

"A Medium Grade Spirit Stone mine is not something our Nether Cult values that much."

"Our true target is a Disciple of the Qingxuan Sect."

"A Disciple?" The Blood Sea Sect Sect Master sneered, "Is he worth your Nether Cult making such a huge fuss?"

"This Disciple is named Zhao Ruoan." The black-robed figure's tone shifted, "With Body Refining Realm cultivation, this child counter-killed several Spirit Pill Realm Protectors of our cult. His talent... has made even our Sect Master develop a desire to recruit him."

"Hiss—"

Sounds of sharp intakes of breath echoed throughout the underground palace.

Body Refining Realm counter-killing Spirit Pill Realm? What kind of Prodigy was this?

The expression of the Blood Sea Sect Sect Master also changed.

"He is Yun Qinghan's Disciple."

"So what?" The black-robed figure retorted, "So what if she is an Immortal Emperor in Reincarnation? Can she guard her Disciple every second of the day? As long as we capture him alive and bring him back to our cult's Holy Land, even the highest deities won't be able to find him."

The black-robed figure continued to up the ante: "As long as the Sect Master nods, besides thirty percent of the mine's revenue, our cult will also offer a batch of rare 'Blood Soul Crystals' to help your Sect's Elders break through their Bottleneck."

Blood Soul Crystals!

The Blood Sea Sect Sect Master's breathing became a bit heavy.

That was a supreme treasure capable of purifying blood-path Cultivation Techniques.

Greed ultimately triumphed over reason.

"Good!"

He slammed his palm heavily against the armrest.

"Let's do it!"

"Sect Master is wise." The black-robed figure bowed, "The specific plan will be presented in a few days. We only need to quietly await the opportunity."

...

Zhao Ruoan finished a day of "strolling around" and returned to his small courtyard.

He sat on a stone stool, reviewing today's gains.

Good heavens, this mining area was simply a concentration camp for undercover agents. Besides the people from the Nether Cult, the Black Wind Fortress, Blood Blade Sect... all sorts of monsters and freaks had sent spies over.

The composition was far too complex.

Fortunately, most of these spies were shabby and low in cultivation, unable to stir up any major waves for the time being.

The true fatal troubles were still Li Gui and those Nether Cult inside men who had their "Souls Planted".

He wondered if Revered Master had received his Jade Slip yet.

Pondering in his heart, he sank his mind into the System.

[Ding! Series Hidden Task: Eliminate Traitors in the Mining Area (I) has been completed!]

[Task Rating: Perfect!]

[Comments: Without alerting anyone, you have already perceived all the darkness beneath this land. Well done, buddy!]

[Task rewards are being calculated...]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the special title: 'Spirit Power Cornucopia' (Rare)!]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Heaven And Earth Treasure: 'Fire Comprehension Spirit Fruit' x1!]

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining High-Grade Spirit Stone x10000!]

A series of System prompts instantly refreshed Zhao Ruoan's spirits.

He checked that new title.

[Spirit Power Cornucopia]: Passive title. After equipping, the upper limit of the host's total stored spirit power within the body increases by five times, and the spirit power recovery speed increases by three times.

Holy shit!

Zhao Ruoan almost cried out.

This title was simply a timely rain!

The Great Dao Scripture and Fifth-Order Sword Intent he cultivated, which one of them wasn't a massive mana consumer? Previously, using the Burning God Scorching Heaven Art had almost drained him dry.

With this title, his endurance capability was maxed out directly, and Mother would no longer have to worry about him running out of mana!

In future fights with people, he could completely exhaust the opponent to death.

He looked again at that 'Fire Comprehension Spirit Fruit', which was entirely crimson and exuded a scorching aura.

Good stuff. Swallowing it could greatly enhance one's comprehension of the Fire-type Law.

If paired with an extraordinary comprehension card, he might even directly comprehend the Concept of Fire, and by then, with water and fire blending together, his combat power would soar once more.

However, there were too many people and eyes in the mining area right now, and making too big of a commotion would easily expose him.

This thing should be saved until he returned to the Sect.

After dealing with the System rewards, Zhao Ruoan returned to the quiet room once again to continue polishing that strand of natal Sword Qi.

The explosive growth of his spirit power upper limit allowed him to compress even more power into it, and the might of this trump card would far exceed his expectations.

...

Meanwhile, Qingxuan Sect, Qinghan Peak.

Yun Qinghan waved her delicate hand, and a spirit bird flew over from the horizon, landing in her palm.

She took off the Jade Slip and probed her Divine Sense into it.

The next breath.

Boom!

A terrifying killing intent that could freeze eternity erupted violently from within her body.

The temperature of the entire Qinghan Peak plummeted sharply, and snow filled the sky.

The ten-thousand-year ice spring at the peak instantly froze into ice.

"Nether Cult!"

The cold and detached voice, carrying a chill sufficient to freeze the Soul, echoed across the mountain peak.

It was this group of rats in the gutter again!

Last time she let them hang on by a thread, but this time, they dared to set their sights on her Disciple.

Court death!

Yun Qinghan's figure vanished on the spot.

...

Three days later.

Inside the small courtyard, moonlight was like water.

Xiamo and Qiuyin sat cross-legged, their auras blending as one with the bright moonlight.

Under the transformation of the Mystic Water Formless Skill, their spirit power had completely transformed into incomparably pure moon spirit power.

Under the moonlight, their combat power could even receive a boost.

"Hah!"

Qiuyin let out a soft cry and struck out with a palm. A water blade condensed from moon radiance tore through the air, splitting a trial stone in the courtyard into two halves, with the cut surfaces smooth as a mirror.

"Young Lord, I succeeded!" Qiuyin happily ran over to Zhao Ruoan to claim credit.

"Not bad." Zhao Ruoan nodded, very satisfied with their progress, "Right now, against Cultivators at the Early Stage of the Spirit Pill Realm, the two of you also have the strength to fight."

In a mere three days, going from the Body Refining Realm to possessing the strength to contend with the Spirit Pill Realm, this speed of progress could be called miraculous.

"However, your Physical Bodies are still too weak; this is a shortcoming." Zhao Ruoan said again, "When we return to the Sect, I will find a Body Refining Cultivation Technique for you two."

He could tell that these two lasses only had medium-to-high Comprehension Ability and could not achieve greatness overnight; they had to be nurtured step by step.

"Thank you, Young Lord!" Qiuyin smiled sweetly, her body naturally leaning closer as she helped massage Zhao Ruoan's shoulders.

Not far away, Xiamo watched this scene and clenched her hem tightly.

In her heart, that sour feeling welled up once more.

That fellow Qiuyin was always so good at pleasing the Young Lord.

Hmph.

She walked away nonchalantly, a small plan already forming in her heart.

Tomorrow, she would let this little lass taste her specially made "spiced up" version of spirit porridge.

Let you act spoiled, I'll spice you to death!

"Young Lord, I suddenly feel a bit flustered." Qiuyin, who was massaging his back, suddenly whispered softly and shivered.

"Flustered?" Zhao Ruoan found it somewhat amusing, "Did you have a deviation in your Cultivate?"

"It's not that, it's just a feeling, I can't quite put my finger on it."

Right at this moment.

A piercing alarm sound rang out without any warning in Zhao Ruoan's mind!

[Warning! Warning! High-risk emergency task triggered!]

[Task Name: Desperate Survival!]

[Task Description: The Blood Sea Sect and Nether Cult have formed an alliance, dispatching three Peak Spirit Pill Realm, ten Late Stage Spirit Pill Realm, and fifty Middle Stage Spirit Pill Realm Cultivators to form a lethal annihilation array, enclosing the mining area from all directions! Target: Capture the host alive!]

[Task Difficulty: Dead End!]

[Survival Advice: Abandon illusions and prepare to run away!]