349: Spirit Stone Vein

On the ice table in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, a map of the Western Regions was spread out. The “Black Wind Ridge Spirit Stone Mine” marked in cinnabar on the map was repeatedly caressed by Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip. The ink bled into a small red stain, looking exactly like blood seeping from the depths of the mine.

“Young Lord, the Xuantian Sect people truly harbor ill intentions.” Zhao Gao’s voice emerged from the shadows, carrying a hint of coldness. The secret letter in his hand still carried the scent of smoke from the post station. “Although they withdrew their troops from Black Wind Pass, they sent Elder Xuan Chen with a hundred Disciples to garrison Black Wind Ridge, claiming to 'guard the mine vein,' but in reality, they want to monopolize the source of the mine.”

Jun Xiaoyao looked up, and Xuan Chen's figure immediately appeared in the water mirror. The old Daoist, dressed in a purple robe and holding a whisk, was directing his Disciples to set up a Spirit Locking Array at the mine entrance. The Formation Flags stuck in the snow emitted a faint blue light, clearly intending to block the Heavenly Human Realm's spiritual power detection.

“Xuan Chen, Middle Celestial Realm, is skilled in ‘Profound Ice Palm,’ which is said to be able to freeze a Great Grandmaster’s internal Qi,” Zhao Gao added. “Among the hundred Disciples he brought, twenty are Grandmaster Realm, and the rest are Innate Realm Peak. The lineup is even stronger than Prince of Zhenbei’s Profound Armored Army last time.”

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip lightly on the ice table, making a crisp sound: “Are Li Xunhuan and Flying still in the Northern Territory?”

“They just sent a message back, saying they have settled from Water Margin and are preparing to return.”

“Have them detour to Black Wind Ridge.” Jun Xiaoyao stood up and walked to the summoning array. The spiritual power of the array's core had already risen to 75% due to recent resource accumulation. As the runes flowed, phantom images of swords and blades spontaneously appeared. “Tell Li Xunhuan not to hold back. I want Xuan Chen's head brought back to Cold Moon Valley.”

The water mirror screen switched. On the official road from the Northern Territory to the Western Regions, Li Xunhuan was drinking in a carriage, his wine gourd gently swaying with the bumps of the carriage. Flying leaned against the shaft, his iron sword diagonally inserted at his waist, his gaze vigilantly sweeping the surroundings—this was their Jianghu habit, one drunk and hazy, the other heavily guarded, yet always able to detect clues before danger arrived.

The moment he received the message talisman, Li Xunhuan tucked the wine gourd back into his arms and said to the coachman, “Change course, go to Black Wind Ridge.”

Flying gripped his iron sword: “Trouble?”

“The Xuantian Sect has occupied our mine vein.” Li Xunhuan twirled his Flying Dagger between his fingers, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight. “Young Lord wants us to say hello.”

Flying grunted and asked no more questions, merely drawing his iron sword and meticulously wiping it with a cloth—this was his habit before acting, as if to make every inch of the blade remember the enemy’s blood.

Two days later, at the Black Wind Ridge mine entrance. Xuan Chen was proudly watching the Spirit Locking Array operate. The blue light rising from the Formation Flags had completely enveloped the mine shaft. He stroked his beard and chuckled, “Even if Beyond Heaven has extraordinary abilities, they shouldn’t dream of touching this Spirit Stone mine again. When I return to report, the Sect Master will surely reward me with a ‘Ice Soul Pill’ to help me Breakthrough to Late Heaven-Man Realm.”

Before he finished speaking, a Flying Dagger broke through the air, accurately piercing the central Formation Flag. The blue light suddenly dissipated, and the Spirit Locking Array instantly failed.

“Who?!” Xuan Chen roared in anger, pointing his whisk towards where the Flying Dagger came from.

Two figures slowly emerged from the snow. Li Xunhuan played with his Flying Dagger, and Flying held his iron sword, their eyes as cold as the ice on the ridge.

“Daoist Xuan Chen,” Li Xunhuan smiled, “May I borrow some Spirit Stones from your esteemed place?”

Xuan Chen recognized the Flying Dagger at Li Xunhuan’s waist, and his face changed drastically: “It’s you! Little Lis Flying Dagger Li Xunhuan? How dare you help the evil creatures of Beyond Heaven?”

“Evil creatures?” Li Xunhuan tossed the Flying Dagger up and caught it again. “Compared to your Xuantian Sect’s usurpation, we are at least open and aboveboard.”

Xuan Chen was furious and laughed instead: “Arrogant! Today I will let you know that Jianghu’s false reputation is no match for my Profound Gate’s true Cultivation Technique!” He flicked his whisk, and the Disciples behind him immediately formed a sword Formation, their sword tips pointing at Li Xunhuan and Flying, the cold light connecting into a continuous sheet on the snow.

“Flying, the twenty Grandmaster Realm on the left are yours.” Li Xunhuan’s figure flickered, already closing in on Xuan Chen. A Flying Dagger left his hand, aiming directly for the opponent’s throat. “I’ll handle this old Daoist.”

Flying said nothing. The moment his iron sword was unsheathed, he shot into the sword Formation like an arrow released from a bowstring. His Fast Sword unfolded, sword light sweeping like a bolt of silk. The five Innate Realm Disciples in the front row didn't even see the movement before their throats were pierced, blood splattering on the snow like blooming red plum blossoms.

Xuan Chen saw that Li Xunhuan’s Flying Dagger was as fast as lightning and dared not be negligent. He unleashed his Profound Ice Palm with full power. The palm wind carried bone-chilling coldness, actually condensing an ice wall in front of him. With a “clang,” the Flying Dagger shot into the ice wall and was frozen!

“Your Flying Dagger is also afraid of my Profound Ice Palm!” Xuan Chen laughed wildly, both palms pushing out. The ice wall surged like a tide towards Li Xunhuan.

Li Xunhuan, however, advanced instead of retreating. His left hand suddenly reached out, index and middle fingers together, and he actually used “Spiritual Link Finger” to clamp Xuan Chen’s wrist. This finger seemed effortless, yet it contained the clever force of deflecting power. Xuan Chen only felt his internal Qi stagnate, and the cold Qi of the Profound Ice Palm actually backfired on him, freezing his arm numb.

“Impossible!” Xuan Chen was both shocked and enraged, his other hand forming a claw, grabbing towards Li Xunhuan’s face.

Li Xunhuan flipped his wrist, twisting Xuan Chen’s arm behind his back, while the second Flying Dagger at his waist was already launched. This Dagger had a tricky angle, passing under the armpit and accurately piercing Xuan Chen’s back heart.

“Pfft!” The Flying Dagger buried its hilt, and Xuan Chen’s eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe, even in death, that he would be defeated in a single move.

After dealing with Xuan Chen, Li Xunhuan looked over at Flying. Flying’s iron sword was already stained with blood, and twenty Grandmaster Realm Disciples lay scattered on the ground. The remaining Innate Realm Disciples were scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, about to flee in all directions.

“Leave a few alive,” Li Xunhuan called out. “Ask who else from the Xuantian Sect wants to come and die.”

Flying pointed his iron sword, its tip resting against the throat of the last Disciple: “Speak, who else did Holy Land Elder send?”

The Disciple trembled all over: “No… no one else… just… just Elder Xuan Chen…”

Li Xunhuan walked to the mine entrance, looking at the shimmering spiritual stone luster inside the cave, and said to Flying: “Notify The Net’s people to take over. We should return to Cold Moon Valley.”

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched Xuan Chen’s corpse being dragged away and said to Zhao Gao: “Hang Xuan Chen’s head at the Black Wind Ridge entrance, then send a message to Holy Land Elder—this is just the beginning.”

Zhao Gao bowed and replied: “Young Lord, there’s one more thing. The ‘Shadow’ group found out that the ‘Ten Thousand Treasures Tower’ in the Western Regions recently auctioned off an Incomplete Manual of the Heaven Burning Art. That Cultivation Technique is said to enhance the power of fire-attribute Martial Skills, which would be perfect for Ouyezi, improving the efficiency of his duan shui sword tempering by 30%.”

Jun Xiaoyao’s eyes flickered slightly. Heaven Burning Art? He remembered that a master who Cultivated this Cultivation Technique had appeared on the summoning panel before, but at that time, his spiritual power was insufficient. He looked at the summoning array. The spiritual power of the array's core had risen to 80% due to the acquisition of the Black Wind Ridge mine vein. As the runes flowed, flame patterns actually appeared.

[System Notification: Detected rare Cultivation Technique aura, triggering special summoning.]

[Summonable Character: Jiumozhi]

[From: <demi-gods and semi-devils> world]

[Realm: Late Heaven-Man Realm]

[Martial Skills: Flame Blade (Perfection), Minor Formless Art (Major Achievement)]

[Specialty: Proficient in all martial arts under heaven, Flame Blade can melt profound iron, skilled in breaking Formations]

[Summoning Cost: 75% spiritual power]

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on the name “Jiumozhi.” The summoning array suddenly erupted in crimson light, runes flickering like flames, and a figure in a kasaya condensed in the firelight. The person held prayer beads, with a solemn and majestic face, precisely the National Preceptor of Tubo, Jiumozhi.

“Namo Amitabha.” Jiumozhi put his palms together and bowed to Jun Xiaoyao. “This humble monk Jiumozhi greets Young Lord. The spiritual power here is abundant, truly a good place for meditation.”

[Character Panel: Jiumozhi]

[Status: Solemn]

[Loyalty: 75%]

[Current thought: If the Incomplete Manual of the Heaven Burning Art can be combined with the Flame Blade, I might Breakthrough to the Land Immortal Realm]

Jun Xiaoyao nodded slightly: “Go and retrieve the Incomplete Manual of the Heaven Burning Art from the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower. Remember, don’t damage the Incomplete Manual.”

Jiumozhi twirled his prayer beads: “Young Lord, rest assured. Although this humble monk’s Flame Blade is fierce, it can also be controlled at will.” He turned and stepped into the teleportation array, his kasaya fluttering in the red light, giving off an indescribable strangeness.

Zhao Gao watched Jiumozhi’s disappearing back and whispered: “Young Lord, this Jiumozhi was notoriously greedy in his original world. Letting him retrieve the Heaven Burning Art, might he…”

“He wouldn’t dare.” Jun Xiaoyao’s tone was calm. “The loyalty granted by the System is enough to make him obedient.”

At this moment, news came through the water mirror that Li Xunhuan and Flying had arrived at Cold Moon Valley. The two stood outside the underground palace, the smell of blood still lingering on them. Li Xunhuan’s wine gourd was empty again, and Flying’s iron sword was dripping blood.

Jun Xiaoyao said to Zhao Gao: “Have Ouyezi forge them each a new weapon, using the Spirit Stone ore from Black Wind Ridge.”

“Yes.”

The underground palace returned to silence, only the flame runes of the summoning array still slowly flowing. Jun Xiaoyao leaned on the cold jade couch, watching the auction scene of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower in the water mirror. Jiumozhi’s figure had appeared in a private room on the second floor, closing his eyes to rest, seemingly indifferent to the bidding downstairs.

He knew that with Jiumozhi’s addition, Beyond Heaven gained another boost in Cultivation Technique research. And the Black Wind Ridge Spirit Stone mine would provide a continuous supply of energy for the summoning array, allowing him to summon more powerhouses.

Snow began to fall again outside Cold Moon Valley, landing on the head racks at Black Wind Ridge, covering the bloodstains, but unable to conceal the deterrence of Beyond Heaven.

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the falling snowflakes outside the window, a profound glint flashing in his eyes—the Xuantian Sect’s debt had only just begun to be settled.

The spiritual power of the summoning array had recovered to 80%, and the flickering runes seemed to be anticipating the next summoning.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that the territory belonging to Beyond Heaven would expand step by step, with Cold Moon Valley as its center, towards the Western Regions and towards the Central Plains, until no one dared to underestimate these three words again.