Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The blood-red, turbid energy was cleansed by the joint efforts of the three sects. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around Lingxian Grass Valley changed from its previous turbid and oppressive state to a rich and abundant one, with every strand carrying pure crystal energy, flowing endlessly throughout the mountains and fields.

After the three sects of Laoshan, Qingyun Sect, and Shuiyue Pavilion agreed on the branching agreement, the development of the Hidden Crystal Spirit Vein was immediately launched, and the entire Lingxian Valley instantly became lively, completely losing the deathly desolation after the previous bloody battle.

The disciples of the three sects each performed their duties and kept to their posts, keeping themselves very busy and happy.

The disciples of Laoshan, bearing the solid foundation of the mountain's earth, cleared the land and stabilized the vein array. Wielding Xuan Yan magic shovels and stepping on the mountain-suppressing spiritual seal, they excavated layer by layer along the exposed edge of the hidden crystal vein. The heavy rocks shattered, revealing the shimmering, iridescent crystal vein stones within. Each stone contained rich spiritual energy, warm to the touch, and radiant with spiritual light. Elder Wudao, seated at the central command, held the Laoshan Vein-Suppressing Compass, constantly calibrating the vein's direction to prevent mining from disturbing the vein's foundation and generating new evil and turbid energy, thus guarding the first stable line of defense for the three sects' development of the spiritual vein.

The disciples of Qingyun Sect were all swift and agile, with profound sword cultivation. Their flying swords darted through the air, their blades flashing, shattering the mixed waste stones and leaving only the high-quality spirit crystals for sorting and storage.

The female disciples of Shuiyue Pavilion moved with graceful movements, proficient in water-based nourishment and spiritual energy purification techniques. They specialized in refining newly mined spirit crystals and nourishing the depleted spiritual veins. With slender, delicate hands, they condensed flowing spiritual water, brushing it over the mined spirit crystal ore, washing away impurities and purifying the inner spiritual energy, allowing the hidden crystal spiritual veins to fully exert their effects.

The three groups moved about in an orderly fashion, the sounds of spells booming and disciples whispering among themselves, creating a vibrant and thriving scene. After the bloody battle at Guixu, such peaceful and tranquil conditions for cultivation and spiritual vein development were a rare treat.

Lin Yan stood at the crucial point where the spiritual vein and the Ruins of Return were connected. His late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation was completely stable, his aura was deep and profound, and he did not show any outward sharpness. However, he had a heavy Daoist charm that guarded the mountains and rivers and stabilized the Ruins of Return.

This place is the core hub of the entire Hidden Crystal Spirit Vein, and a crucial juncture where the residual power of the Ruins of Return reverberates and the spiritual energy of the earth veins converge and clash. On one side lies the foundation of the spiritual vein upon which the three sects rely for cultivation and development; on the other is the Ruins of Return, a hidden abyss teeming with evil remnants and poised for unrest at any moment. One is yin, the other yang; one is righteous, the other evil; their convergence and balance must be precise. The safety of this place directly impacts the overall development of the spiritual vein and the safety of the disciples of the three sects. Only Lin Yan, who bears the responsibility of guarding the vein and is deeply versed in the workings of the earth veins, is capable of fulfilling this vital duty of guarding the vein.

The three sects erected a simple yet sturdy temporary settlement here, using bluestone to build a platform. Small spirit-gathering arrays and a warning barrier were set up around it to isolate the noise of mining from the outside world and lock in the pure spiritual energy of the crystal source. The platform was closely attached to the main vein of the earth, and the spiritual energy rose from the cracks in the stone, pure and unadulterated, far surpassing other places in the valley. It was both the place where Lin Yan guarded the area and a place for everyone to cultivate in peace.

Lin Yan sat cross-legged on the main stone platform, his back straight as a mountain. He closed his eyes and divided his mind into two: one half sank into his dantian, using the innate dantian fire to nourish his meridians and make his late-stage Foundation Establishment realm even more solid; the other half spread out his divine sense, covering a radius of ten miles, firmly locking onto the subtle anomalies in the earth veins and the Guixu rift.

In the palm of his hand, the inkstone floated silently, its ink-colored Dao patterns flowing, the power of guarding the source of the meridians seeping into the earth, soothing the earth's veins and suppressing the remnants of evil; the Dingyuan Pearl's spiritual light was restrained, slowly absorbing and releasing the essence of the pill fire, tempering the body's meridians. One cultivates internally, the other guards externally, neither neglecting the other, both complementing each other.

Yunxi, Yi Azhu, Chen Dagang, Ye Qing, Shen Yue, Su Lingyue, and others cultivated here in their spare time. The spiritual energy here was abundant, and with Lin Yan overseeing things, it was the perfect opportunity to heal injuries, strengthen their foundations, and solidify their cultivation. Everyone sat quietly, breathing exercises, their bodies enveloped in a gentle aura of spiritual light, creating a serene atmosphere.

Outside the resettlement site, elite disciples from the three sects took turns patrolling day and night, guarding key roads and keeping watch in all directions to prevent remnants of the Blood Fiend Sect from spying, allowing Lin Yan to concentrate on guarding the area.

"I've been away from home for a year and a half now. I wonder how my mother is doing?" Chen Dagang murmured to himself, looking towards the fishing village as he stopped his cultivation, filled with longing.

Upon hearing this, Yunxi lowered her eyes slightly, her heart filled with longing for her adoptive parents in the mortal realm, her cultivation thoughts shimmering.

Lin Yan, understanding the situation, slowly opened his eyes and said gently, "You two should go back and check. I'll be guarding this place, so there's no problem."

Yunxi and Chen Dagang immediately thanked them and flew towards the fishing village on their swords.

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the mountains and forests.

After their crushing defeat in the Battle of Guixu, Su Chen and Hai Lan fled in panic, like stray dogs, not daring to approach the Spirit Immortal Herb Valley. They were also wanted by three sects, living in constant fear. On their journey, they unexpectedly encountered a few scattered remnants of the Blood Fiend Sect and were forcibly captured.

In their desperate attempt to survive, the two were terrified and willingly made a soul pact with the Blood Fiend Sect, selling themselves into submission in just to find a way out.

The first task given to them by the remnants of the Blood Fiend Clan was to offer up the souls and blood of mortals as a pledge of allegiance.

The two were familiar with the terrain of this area. Years ago, they noticed a fishing village of ordinary people near Lingxiancao Valley. They knew that the villagers there were unarmed and unprepared, and that it was not too far from Lingxiancao Valley. Using it as a sacrifice would both show their loyalty and provoke the three sects.

Furthermore, with all three sects currently busy mining spiritual veins and their defenses focused on the Spirit Immortal Herb Valley, the fishing village area is undefended, making it the perfect opportunity to strike.

The two concealed their presence, bypassed the patrolling disciples of the three sects, and, using the cover of the mountains and forests, quietly made their way to the edge of the fishing village. They made their way unimpeded and went straight into the courtyards of the farmhouses in the village.

Inside the farmhouse, Yunxi's adoptive parents and Chen Dagang's elderly mother were cornered by the two men, their faces pale and their bodies trembling with fear.

"Old man, hand over all your valuables, then cripple yourself and let us practice our skills. Maybe then we'll leave you with a whole corpse!"

Su Chen was as sinister as a ghost. Although his cultivation was damaged, he could still crush mortals like ants.

Hai Lan sealed off the doors and windows, and roared menacingly, "Blood is on your side for associating with the people of Lingxian Grass Valley! We used you as a pledge of allegiance so that we could join the Blood Fiend Sect and make a comeback!"

Yunxi and Chen Dagang arrived just in time on their swords and were horrified by what they saw.

Yunxi immediately shielded the old man, angrily rebuking him: "Scum! The great battle has just ended and you're already harming mortals! Aren't you afraid the cultivators from the three sects will come knocking on your door?!"

"Come knocking on our door? By the time they arrive, you'll all be corpses!"

Su Chen grinned maliciously, and a chilling aura suddenly rushed towards the old man.

At that very moment—

A streak of pale ink-like light descended from the sky, as swift as a thunderclap.

Lin Yan's divine sense had already detected the sudden surge of malevolent energy in the fishing village. He rushed to the scene from the resettlement point in an instant, and as soon as he appeared, he stood in front of everyone. With a light wave of his hand, he directly dispersed the malevolent energy.

He looked at Su Chen and Hai Lan with eyes as cold as ice.

"A stray dog ​​doesn't flee for its life; instead, it attacks ordinary people, using innocent civilians as a pledge of allegiance."

"You guys are really tired of living."

The overwhelming pressure of the late-stage Foundation Establishment stage suddenly spread out, instantly locking the two of them in place, rendering them unable to move.

Su Chen and Hai Lan turned pale instantly, their souls nearly leaving their bodies.

They never expected Lin Yan to arrive so quickly, and his cultivation was so powerful that they couldn't even muster the will to resist.

Enraged, Yunxi and Chen Dagang swiftly dispatched the two Blood Fiend henchmen who had been secretly following them, then subdued Su Chen and Hailan, bringing them before Lin Yan.

Lin Yan swept his gaze indifferently over the two of them. "Traitors to the sect, siding with the evil forces, slaughtering mortals, their crimes are unforgivable." After speaking, he raised his hand and condensed a wisp of refined and piercing black Dao power. As the spiritual light fell from his fingertip, two muffled cracking sounds rang out.

Su Chen and Hai Lan's bodies froze instantly. Their evil blood energy and broken cultivation were crushed and scattered by the power of the Dao. Their souls were destroyed, and they were killed on the spot.