Refining Ruins Cauldron

Upon realizing this possibility, Gu Qingyun's breathing quickened.

He didn't dare delay and quickly packed his things away.

The bells outside rang one after another, as if they were trying to wake up the entire medicinal garden.

The disciples gathered together, discussing amongst themselves, their faces filled with confusion; clearly, no one knew what had happened.

Gu Qingyun mingled in the crowd, keeping his eyes and ears open, trying to glean some useful information from the chaotic sounds.

Unfortunately, it's all just speculation.

His biggest worry now is that Zhao Long's body will be discovered.

My strength is too weak, and my movement technique is not yet perfected. If something really happens, I won't be able to escape the Longevity Sect, let alone leave the medicine garden.

That's it.

there is always a solution to a problem.

Gu Qingyun suppressed his unease and followed the crowd to the Medicine Garden Square.

Hundreds of handyman disciples were all gathered here, with no one missing from the three shifts.

Around the plaza, outer sect disciples, wielding long swords, stood guard with cold expressions, stopping at all exits and forbidding anyone from making any unauthorized moves.

A short while later, a streak of light descended from the sky.

Arriving on a sword!

Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Everyone's hearts tightened, and they unconsciously softened their breathing.

As the light faded, an elderly man with gray hair and wearing a blue Taoist robe was suspended in mid-air.

A glance swept across the crowd, and everyone felt a sudden weight on their shoulders, as if a thousand-pound burden was pressing down on them.

"I am Long Qing, a steward of Tiandu Peak."

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried spiritual pressure, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Yesterday, a 500-year-old Spirit-Nourishing Grass went missing from the herb garden. This is a spiritual medicine for Core Formation."

One sentence instantly stirred up a storm in Gu Qingyun's heart.

Elixir for Core Formation!

A 500-year-old Spirit-Nourishing Grass, if left out in the open, would be enough to make a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators fight tooth and nail for it.

No wonder the alarm bells were ringing so urgently today, and even the Foundation Establishment Steward came in person.

Thinking of this, Gu Qingyun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as Zhao Long's death is not discovered, there is still room for maneuver.

Whether the Spirit-Nourishing Grass is lost or not is none of his business.

But before he could completely relax, Long Qing gave a cold order.

"Everyone, come forward one by one for a check."

One of the handyman disciples instinctively spoke up: "Elder, we are just outer sect handymen, how could we dare to steal..."

Before he could finish speaking, Long Qing gave him a quick glance.

The man coughed up blood on the spot, collapsed to the ground, his face pale, and immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy.

"Elder, spare my life! This disciple would never dare to do it again!"

Everyone fell silent instantly.

In the Longevity Sect, the lives of menial disciples have always been worthless.

If Long Qing really wanted to kill someone, no one would stop him, and no one would investigate.

"search."

Long Qing waved his sleeve.

Gu Qingyun's face immediately turned ugly.

He didn't steal the Spirit-Nourishing Grass, but the Refining Ruins Cauldron is still on him!

Now everyone is being searched, and if the Refining Ruins Cauldron is discovered, the consequences will be even more troublesome than those of the Spirit-Nourishing Grass.

Every husband is not guilty, and he is guilty of his crime.

Zhao Long dared to kill him based on mere guesswork.

If a Foundation Establishment cultivator truly recognizes the extraordinary nature of the Refining Ruins Cauldron, he probably won't even have a chance to struggle for his life.

The search began quickly.

The servant disciples lined up in a long queue, passing through the Spirit-Seeking Gate one after another.

It was a magical artifact specifically designed to detect spiritual objects. The five-hundred-year-old Spirit-Nourishing Grass possessed astonishing spiritual energy, making it impossible to conceal.

Long Qing hovered in mid-air, his gaze cold and detached.

"I'm giving you one last chance. Hand over the Spirit-Nourishing Grass and you may save your lives; otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."

No one stepped forward.

The procession moved slowly forward, and most of the disciples had already passed through the Spirit-Seeking Gate, but there was still no reaction.

Long Qing frowned slightly, and a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

Gu Qingyun stood at the back of the line, watching the number of people in front of him dwindle, his palms already sweating profusely.

If this continues, it will soon be his turn.

Once the Refining Ruins Cauldron is exposed, he will surely die!

Seeing the situation closing in, Gu Qingyun gritted his teeth and suddenly raised his hand.

"Elder Long!"

As soon as he shouted, all eyes fell on him.

Long Qing frowned and looked at him.

"What is it?"

Gu Qingyun steeled himself and stepped out of the group, bowing with clasped hands.

"Elder Huilong, Zhao Long, the head of the third menial shift, has not yet arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Long Qing's gaze darkened slightly. He glanced around and, sure enough, noticed that Class 3 was missing a person.

Seeing this, Gu Qingyun immediately added, "Such a big thing happened in the herb garden. As the class monitor, Zhao Long should have been the first to arrive. Now that he is absent without reason, I dare to guess that this matter may be related to him."

As soon as he finished speaking, several of Zhao Long's close disciples immediately started shouting.

"Gu Qingyun, stop talking nonsense!"

"How could Squad Leader Zhao possibly steal the Spirit-Nourishing Grass?"

"What do you know, you newcomer?"

"Shut up."

Long Qing uttered only two words, and the arena instantly fell silent.

His gaze returned to Gu Qingyun.

Do you have any evidence?

Gu Qingyun swallowed hard, forcing himself to calm down.

"If it really has nothing to do with him, why didn't he come? This disciple dares to suggest that the elder send someone to check Zhao Long's residence; perhaps they will find something."

He lowered his head after speaking and said no more.

All he can do now is try to divert everyone's attention away from the Spirit Gate.

As long as the Refining Ruins Cauldron isn't discovered, everything else can be dealt with later.

Just then, two figures flew over from the side, stopped in front of Long Qing, and clasped their hands in a salute.

Gu Qingyun raised her eyes slightly, and after just one glance, her face paled.

He recognized the man in white.

That person was none other than Bai Feng, the inner sect senior brother whom he had accidentally seen meeting with Zhao Long in private a week ago when he had diarrhea at night!

Could the theft of the Spirit-Nourishing Grass really be related to Zhao Long?

Zhao Long was only at the Qi Refining Realm, so naturally he didn't need the Core Formation Elixir.

If he really dares to touch the Spirit-Nourishing Grass, there must be someone behind him instigating it.

Thinking of this, Gu Qingyun quickly lowered his head even further.

Having just gotten rid of Zhao Long, he had no intention of provoking another Foundation Establishment Realm inner disciple.

It seems that bringing Zhao Long into this mess has really angered him!

The young man in white bowed to Long Qing.

"Elder Long, what happened in the medicine garden? Why are the alarm bells ringing?"

Long Qing said in a deep voice, "The Spirit-Nourishing Grass has been stolen, and I have just found some clues."

The young man in white raised an eyebrow, and seemed to glance at Gu Qingyun out of the corner of his eye.

In just a brief moment, Gu Qingyun clearly felt a chilling coldness, and his heart began to pound wildly.

Long Qing continued, "The alarm bells have rung, but Zhao Long, the third shift leader of the menial laborers, has not appeared. I suspect that he may have already fled with the Spirit-Nourishing Grass to evade punishment."

After saying that, he looked at the young man in white.

"Bai Feng, what do you think?"

Bai Feng pondered for a moment, then glanced at Gu Qingyun again.

"Did you learn this from this disciple, Elder?"

"That's right. If the situation is true, Zhao Long is the prime suspect."

Bai Feng nodded.

"Then let's search Zhao Long's residence first and see if we can find any clues."

Long Qing had no objection and immediately led his men to Zhao Long's courtyard.

As the squad leader, Zhao Long received much better treatment than ordinary laborers and lived alone in a courtyard.

The group opened the door and went inside, but the courtyard was empty; Zhao Long was nowhere to be seen.

Long Qing stood in the courtyard, his spiritual sense quietly spreading out, scanning the surroundings inch by inch.

Soon, the disciple in charge of the search exclaimed in surprise.

The detection devices in their hands reacted.

There were no medicinal herbs in the courtyard, but the lingering scent remained.

Although the reaction was weak, it was enough to prove that a high-grade spiritual herb had once appeared here.

Even if it's not a Spirit-Nourishing Grass, it's definitely not an ordinary thing.

With Zhao Long missing and the presence of medicinal residue in the courtyard, almost all suspicions point to him.

Long Qing's face darkened completely.

"Order the Enforcement Hall to immediately apprehend Zhao Long, dead or alive!"

"yes!"

Several disciples accepted the order and left.

Gu Qingyun secretly exhaled.

This hurdle is temporarily over.

Long Qing turned his gaze and it landed on him.

"name."

Gu Qingyun quickly clasped his hands in greeting.

"Disciple Gu Qingyun."

"You have done well in this matter."

Long Qing raised his hand and waved, and a jade bottle fell into Gu Qingyun's hand.

"This bottle of Spirit Essence Pills is a reward for you."

Gu Qingyun's heart skipped a beat.

The Spirit Essence Pill, a third-grade elixir, has remarkable effects on Qi Refining cultivators, far surpassing the Returning Origin Pill.

What's more, this bottle contains a full twenty-four pills!

With the Refining Cauldron, if he can continue to refine and improve these pills, his cultivation level will definitely rise to another level in a short period of time.

By then, even if they can't directly confront Foundation Establishment cultivators, they will at least have more power to protect themselves.

Gu Qingyun suppressed his excitement and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Elder Long!"

Long Qing said nothing more, and led his men away on their swords, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Gu Qingyun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the Refining Ruins Cauldron was not exposed.

But he knew in his heart that this was only temporary.

Zhao Long also has Bai Feng behind him.

Bai Feng had already noticed him.

Just as Gu Qingyun was about to leave, a gloomy voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Are you Gu Qingyun, the one who reported Zhao Long?"