Such a wide variety of hobbies

"Underground?"

Zu Xianxian still looked completely confused. "Are you saying the thief stole things by going underground?"

Beside her, Liu Qi shook his head and denied it with a certain expression:

"Impossible. Not to mention other places, the Spirit Medicine Garden within the Sect was specifically chosen for its rich Earth Qi, where several Earth Veins intersect."

"Although Earth Veins can completely block the influence of external Formations, the Earth Mother Origin Qi circulating within the Earth Veins is extremely foul. Even Cultivators who know the Earth Evasion Technique wouldn't dare approach lightly. Otherwise, once contaminated by the Earth Qi, one's Dao Foundation would be damaged at best, or they would perish at worst."

Qi Yuan didn't argue. He just smiled at the pensive Zu Xianxian, his words carrying a hint of deeper meaning:

"Sometimes, when all seemingly reasonable answers have been overturned, one should verify the answers that seem impossible."

"Although for a normal Cultivator, Earth Mother Origin Qi is even more terrifying than the grand Formations within the Pill Saint Sect, who says the thief must be a normal Cultivator?"

"I understand."

Zu Xianxian had completely caught on. She waved her small fist with some excitement, her Face beaming:

"You're right. The Sect has been searching back and forth on the surface these past few days, but neglected to investigate the situation underground, simply taking it for granted that the thief could never go through the ground."

"Thinking about it now, this is actually a huge loophole. Perhaps the thief has some means of isolating the Earth Mother Origin Qi and can travel through the Earth Veins at will."

"If that's the case, our Pill Saint Sect's various defensive Formations will be completely useless against them. The thief can come and go as they please, exactly like the situation in this case!"

At this point, she could no longer contain herself and dashed off toward the Pill Saint Sect, leaving behind only a crisp shout:

"No, I have to go back to the Sect now to see what's going on underground. If I can really find any clues of the thief, this lady will definitely credit you with a great achievement afterward..."

Zu Xianxian's short legs moved incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, she had run far away, her voice drifting further and further until it completely disappeared.

After a moment, Liu Qi gave Qi Yuan a bitter smile and apologized:

"My Second Senior Sister has been spoiled by Revered Master. Her personality is quite headstrong, and she's always impulsive in everything she does. If she was impolite, I hope you won't mind."

Qi Yuan naturally wouldn't hold a grudge against a child. Hearing this, he waved his hand nonchalantly:

"It's fine. Your Senior Sister is innocent, lively, and cute. Getting along with her is actually quite relaxed and natural."

"That little girl is really impolite." Pu Genshuo curled his lip nearby. "Forget it, for the sake of Senior Ancestor Zu's Face, I won't lower myself to her level. Otherwise, I'd definitely have to teach her what it means to respect one's elders."

Liu Qi glanced at him with disdain:

"Senior Brother Piao, you should be glad I stopped you in time just now."

"This little Senior Sister of mine is the darling of the Alchemist Association. Not only is she petty, but she also holds grudges. If you dare offend her, the price of buying Medicinal Pills in the future will probably be super-doubled."

Hearing this, Pu Genshuo immediately shrank his neck in fear and quickly coughed twice to change the subject:

"Brother Qi has already found the clue. How to solve the case is the Pill Saint Sect's business; we don't need to meddle in it."

Saying this, he patted Liu Qi's shoulder and gave him a suggestive look:

"To celebrate Junior Brother Liu moving into his new Immortal Cave, why don't the three of us go spend some time at Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion? My treat!"

"Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion?"

Hearing those three words, Liu Qi was no longer sleepy. His eyes shining, he nodded repeatedly:

"Good, good, good! Then I'll have to trouble Senior Brother Piao to spend some money. I've been short on cash lately, and the ladies at Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion have probably almost forgotten me..."

Seeing the two of them looking so energized, Qi Yuan was truly caught off guard, nearly throwing his back out from the shock.

Dammit, he thought this Liu Qi was an Alchemy fanatic obsessed with the Dao of Alchemy all day. He didn't expect his hobbies to be so colorful; he was basically the same kind of person as Pu Genshuo.

He had wondered before how these two knew each other, and now the case was finally solved.

They were completely birds of a feather, kindred spirits!

After silently complaining for a bit, Qi Yuan twitched the corner of his mouth and refused without hesitation, waving his hand:

"This Qi has something else to attend to, so please excuse me for not being able to join you. You two should go and have fun yourselves."

Are you kidding? I'm a virtuous gentleman who keeps himself clean. How could I be dragged down by you two beasts in human clothing?

Hearing this, Pu Genshuo clicked his tongue in disappointment and nodded:

"Since Junior Brother Qi has business, then we can only gather another day."

Liu Qi also cupped his hands to Qi Yuan with a look of regret:

"Meeting Fellow Daoist Qi today felt like meeting an old friend. When we meet again in the future, I must have a few drinks with you."

Qi Yuan smiled and returned the gesture... Watching the two leave with their arms around each other's shoulders, Qi Yuan pondered for a moment and quickly moved. His steps seemed slow but were actually fast, and in an instant, he left the bustling Pill Saint Immortal Workshop.

Soon, he arrived at a deserted suburb. With a flash of silver light in his hand, a silver-white talisman covered in countless complex Spirit Runes appeared.

This was a Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Talisman.

The mystery of this talisman is that it can lock onto any target within a ten-thousand-mile radius using a wisp of aura. It's said that nothing in heaven or earth can hide from it.

To confirm the current location of a certain Ten Thousand Year Phantom Star Grass, the Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Talisman was the simplest and most effective method.

Of course, all of this was predicated on the Little Grass Spirit currently being within the range of the Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Talisman. If it exceeded this range, the talisman would lose its effect.

"To find the elusive Spirit of Grass and Wood, this is the only way. I hope it hasn't run far yet."

While thinking, Qi Yuan took out an illusion star fruit from his storage space and carefully injected a wisp of aura emanating from the fruit into the talisman... The next moment.

Swish!

The silver light on the talisman suddenly flared up. Countless thin lines extended from the talisman, spreading around like a spider web, eventually fading into the Void Realm and completely disappearing.

At the same time, two dots of light—one white and one green—suddenly appeared on the talisman.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan's spirit was lifted, and a look of joy appeared on his Face.

The Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Talisman reacted, proving that the Illusion Star Grass Spirit was within a ten-thousand-mile radius.

Although the illusion star fruit given by a certain Little Grass Spirit had excellent effects, it was also a real trap. Last time, it caused a huge mess and almost got him killed!

"Alright, so it really was its doing... I didn't expect that after not seeing it for half a year, the little fellow's arrogance would become so blatant. It actually entered someone's Sect to steal and was even arrogant enough to leave a message as a provocation, without even bothering to hide."

"When I see it this time, I must discipline that brat properly. Otherwise, sooner or later, it will be caught and used for Alchemy..."

Thinking of this, Qi Yuan took to the sky without hesitation, turning into a streak of light and flying rapidly toward the location of the green dot.