I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

"Li Zhen," Qin Yuan called out.

Li Zhen, who had been keeping watch at the cave entrance and maintaining the formation, rushed in: "Captain!"

"Analyze these runes to see if we can trace their origins or determine their specific function. Also, thoroughly scan the area below this hole to find out how deep it is and what its structure is like."

"Yes!" Li Zhen immediately took out various detection tools and began to work.

Qin Yuan then looked at Sun Ying and Wang Shan: "Examine these corpse puppets and the corpses of the Liuyun Sect disciples to see if there are any other clues. Su Wan, record all the details of the scene and draw a map of the mine."

"yes!"

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps and a commotion came from outside.

Zhao Zheng's voice rang out: "Captain! Sect Master Yun Yi of the Flowing Cloud Sect has arrived!"

Qin Yuan turned around and saw Zhao Zheng leading a middle-aged cultivator in a blue cloud-patterned Daoist robe. The cultivator had a refined appearance but also carried anxiety and fear. This man was at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm and was none other than Yun Yi, the sect leader of the Flowing Cloud Sect. Behind him were several elders of the Flowing Cloud Sect, all of whom were at the Nascent Soul stage.

Upon entering, Yun Yi's face turned deathly pale at the sight of the horrific scene inside the mine, especially the desiccated corpses of the dozen or so Flowing Cloud Sect disciples. He swayed slightly. When he saw the five grotesque remains of the corpse puppets, he gasped in horror.

"Captain Qin... Captain Qin!" Yun Yi rushed forward, bowed deeply, his voice filled with pleading and lingering fear, "Thank you so much for your help, sir! This evil creature... actually lurked beneath our sect's mine, harming our disciples and miners, and I... I was completely unaware! I deserve to die! I beg you, sir, to do justice for my Flowing Cloud Sect!"

The elders behind him were also pale-faced and bowed repeatedly.

Qin Yuan raised his hand in a gesture of support: "Sect Leader Yun, there's no need for such formalities. This matter is strange; the evil entity has been lurking for a long time, and it's not your fault. The most urgent task is to find out the truth, eradicate the root of the problem, and prevent it from continuing to cause harm."

"Yes, yes, yes! We will follow Captain Qin's orders! The entire Liuyun Sect will cooperate fully!" Yun Yi quickly replied.

"Li Zhen, how's it going?" Qin Yuan asked, looking at Li Zhen who was busy at work.

Li Zhen raised his head, his face grave: "Captain, the preliminary analysis of the runes is complete. This is an ancient blood sacrifice rune, possessing the effects of 'gathering yin,' 'concealment,' and 'blood marker.' The 'blood marker' means that these runes can serve as coordinates for remote spatial positioning or teleportation! As for the area below the cave entrance… the detection results are very strange. It's not a natural mineral vein or rock layer, but rather… a huge, artificially excavated and reinforced underground cavity! It's over three hundred feet deep, with a complex internal structure, strong array fluctuations, and life reactions! However, the cave entrance is blocked by extremely strong restrictions, preventing the detection tools from penetrating the details."

Spatial coordinates? Underground cavity? Life signs?

Qin Yuan's eyes narrowed. It seemed this wasn't just a breeding farm, but possibly a base, or even a hideout! The so-called "mining accident" was likely just a cover-up for the digging of this underground cavity! The other mines within the Flowing Cloud Sect's territory that had experienced accidents were probably similar!

"Sect Master Yun, have any unfamiliar cultivators been frequently coming and going from your sect recently? Or have any disciples been behaving abnormally? When did the sharp drop in mineral production begin?" Qin Yuan asked Yun Yi.

Yun Yi thought carefully, then his expression suddenly changed: "Reporting to Captain Qin, about half a year ago, a group of rogue cultivators did indeed pass through. The leader called himself 'Mr. Mo,' saying he was looking for rare refining materials. They stayed in our sect's market for over a month and even bought some Yin-attribute ores at high prices before leaving. The problems with the mine's production started shortly after they left! As for the disciple's unusual behavior..." He looked at an elder behind him who was in charge of criminal matters.

The elder hurriedly replied, "Indeed, several outer disciples and low-ranking miners began to show signs of lethargy and strange behavior about two or three months ago. Later, they left the sect or the mine on their own and their whereabouts are unknown. At the time, we only assumed that they couldn't stand the cold and dampness of the mine or were seeking other ways out, and we didn't investigate further..."

Mr. Mo? A rogue cultivator? Buying Yin-attribute ores at high prices? His disciple, a miner, disappeared after a drastic personality change?

The clues gradually came together.

"What does 'Mr. Mo' look like? What is his cultivation level?" Qin Yuan pressed.

"This person always wore a black cloak, making it impossible to see his face clearly. His voice was hoarse, and his cultivation level... was unfathomable, at least at the Nascent Soul stage, or perhaps even higher. He was accompanied by four or five people, all of whom also concealed their appearances," Yun Yi recalled, his face covered in cold sweat. He clearly realized that this group of people was likely the culprit.

A cultivator above the Nascent Soul stage, skilled in concealment and soul-refining sorcery… Qin Yuan had a general idea of ​​who this person was. This person was likely one of the masterminds behind the events at Black Wind Gorge and this place.

"Captain, what do we do now? Should we immediately notify the sect and send experts to wipe them out?" Zhao Zheng asked in a low voice. The situation in the cave below is unknown, and there may be even stronger enemies inside. Going down rashly is too risky.

Qin Yuan pondered. Notifying the sect was inevitable, but that would take time. If there were any survivors or important evidence below, the other side would likely move or destroy them immediately after realizing the corpse puppets in the mine had been destroyed.

He looked at the deep cave entrance, then at the general outline and energy reactions of the void below displayed on the monitoring array in his hand. There were quite a few life reactions, but their intensity was generally not high. The strongest energy source was around the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and it seemed to be in an unstable, fluctuating state, as if it were undergoing some kind of refining or ritual.

"Sect Master Yun, immediately mobilize your sect's reliable disciples to completely seal off the Qingqu Mine and the other mines where the incident occurred. No one is allowed to approach. At the same time, investigate the list of all disciples and miners who have left the sect in the past six months and whose whereabouts are unknown, as well as their last known locations." Qin Yuan quickly gave the order. "Zhao Zheng, you and Su Wan will assist Sect Master Yun in setting up defenses here. Use the sect's communication talisman to report the situation here in detail to the Enforcement Hall and request support. Highlight the 'blood sacrifice runes,' 'underground caves,' 'suspected Soul Refining Sect methods,' and the clue about 'Mr. Mo.'"

"Sun Ying, Wang Shan, Li Zhen, come with me to scout." Qin Yuan's gaze swept over the three team members. "We may not necessarily launch a frontal assault. Our objective is to confirm the situation below, gather evidence, and if the opportunity arises, capture or disrupt their key figures. If things don't go well, retreat immediately."

"Captain!" Zhao Zheng exclaimed anxiously, "The situation down below is unclear. It's too dangerous for you to go down yourself! We should wait for reinforcements from the sect..."

"By the time reinforcements arrive, the enemy may have already escaped." Qin Yuan interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. You outside must guard the cave entrance. If there is any unusual activity, or if we send out an emergency signal, immediately activate all the blockade and attack formations set up by Li Zhen, and request reinforcements from the sect again."

Seeing that Qin Yuan was determined, Zhao Zheng had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree: "Yes! Captain, please be careful!"

Yun Yi and the others were both apprehensive and grateful, and repeatedly promised to guard the outer perimeter well.

Qin Yuan said no more, looked at the deep cave entrance, and leaped in first. Sun Ying, Wang Shan, and Li Zhen exchanged glances and followed closely behind.

The cave entrance was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time, and descended vertically. A cold, foul stench assaulted the senses, and the deeper one went, the more astonishing the stench of blood and the malevolent spiritual energy became. The rock walls were smooth, clearly indicating that things frequently moved up and down the cave.