Within the underground space, a massive orange flame blade, accompanied by violent fluctuations of spiritual energy, suddenly swung down.

The moment the black true energy collided with the orange giant blade, a tremendous explosion of true energy swept across the area.

"puff!"

Han Yao, who wanted to stop Qin Xin from using his Earth-rank martial arts, failed. The massive explosion of true energy directly knocked him over.

It crashed heavily onto the ground, and the martial spirit shrouded in black mist behind it began to appear somewhat illusory.

"Qin Xin, how dare you!"

Looking at the young man standing before him, Han Yao began to feel fear.

After the shockwaves from the explosion subsided, Qin Xin slowly walked to the spot where Song Ming had been nailed.

When Song Ming was using a low-level martial art, he sensed something was wrong, so he poured his true energy into the crystal and was teleported away, leaving only a pool of bright red blood on the ground.

Gripping the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff tightly, he gently lifted his hand, and the staff was pulled out of the rock. As true energy was poured in, the bloodstains on the staff were instantly cleared away, and orange flames enveloped it once again.

Step by step, Qin Xin approached Han Yao, his eyes filled with killing intent. The other party's repeated provocations had almost cost him his life, so he naturally couldn't let him go easily.

"Um?"

A strange fluctuation slowly emanated from Han Yao's figure, and Qin Xin frowned.

The Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff shot out again, transforming into a streak of orange flame.

"Ah!... Qin Xin, I won't let you get away with this!"

A wail instantly resounded, and Han Yao's figure became illusory for a moment before disappearing from the spot, as if he had been moved away by a mysterious force.

"But the location is a little off-center."

Qin Xin pulled out the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff, which had been stuck into the rock again, and curled his lips. He had originally planned to cripple Han Yao's lower body, but the latter dodged and the staff only hit his thigh, which made him feel a little regretful.

Seeing Qin Xin's fierce demeanor, Ya Ru hid behind Qin Xue, muttering to herself as if she strongly resisted Qin Xin's approach.

Qin Xin ignored the girl's grumbling, took out a black robe from his Qiankun bag, and casually tossed it to the two of them.

Only then did the two women realize that their robes were quite torn and their undergarments were exposed, so they quickly put the black robes on.

"Qin Xin, when did you become so amazing?"

After Qin Xue put on her robe, she looked at him with surprise and delight in her eyes.

"Sister Xue, I've always been really good, you know," Qin Xin replied with a grin.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xue let out a soft sigh. However, she was also very happy that Qin Xin had become stronger. She couldn't help but think of the boy who had spied on her while she was bathing. After being discovered, he didn't forget to throw all her clothes into the water when he ran away. Later, she learned that the boy had awakened his martial bone, but it was taken away. She was very angry, but Zhongzhou was still beyond her reach with her strength. She could only send spiritual medicine back from Donghuang Academy continuously, hoping that the boy could wake up as soon as possible.

After receiving news that the boy had woken up, she immediately returned to her family to participate in the clan competition... Unexpectedly, the boy had already surpassed her.

"By the way, Sister Xue, why is Han Yao pursuing you and the others?"

Qin Xin looked at Qin Xue, who was in a daze, and wondered what she was thinking. He spoke up, directly interrupting her thoughts.

"Oh? This is it."

Qin Xue made no attempt to hide anything. Her hand traced a line between her fingertips, and after a ripple, something Qin Xin had never seen before floated into the air.

"Ding! Dong!..."

Inside a translucent jade sphere, fiery red gas surged continuously, occasionally conjuring up "dragon shapes".

"This is the spiritual vein?"

Looking at the little thing, Qin Xin was somewhat surprised. This was the first time he had ever seen such a thing, and he could feel the powerful spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from the container.

"That's right, this spiritual vein was taken by Senior Sister Shui, and it was almost snatched away by Yun Yi and the others."

Qin Xue nodded gently, but Qin Xin could hear the worry in her voice.

Spiritual veins are quite unique, and ordinary containers simply cannot collect them. However, each peak has these translucent jade sphere containers specifically used to collect spiritual veins. Qin Xin's main peak is isolated, and he is the only one there, so he doesn't have one. However, Qin Xue has one, so she directly gives it to Qin Xin.

"Once you obtain this spiritual vein, you can simply inject your true energy into the crystal and leave this place, right?"

After Qin Xin put the translucent jade sphere container into his Qiankun bag, he asked with some doubt.

"It's not that easy. The spiritual veins will affect the crystal's sensitivity. It will take some time after it's been infused before it can be brought out of this underground space."

After Qin Xue's explanation, Qin Xin finally understood why Qin Xue and the others had been constantly pursued by Han Yao and his group—their goal was the spiritual vein in their possession.

"Brother Qin Xin, can you go and help Senior Sister Shui?"

As they were talking, Ya Ru cautiously spoke up from the side.

Qin Xin then noticed that several disciples of the Fan Hua Pavilion behind the two women had suffered numerous injuries.

"Alright, but I'll protect you as you leave first."

Although his strength was far inferior to Shui Qingxi's, she was, after all, Qin Xue's senior sister. So, after learning where Shui Qingxi was, he still planned to go and take a look. Then, he began to protect Qin Xue and the others.

Without any worries, Qin Xue and the others acted decisively, pouring all their true energy into the identity crystal. The fluctuations of true energy emanating from the crystal gradually masked the fluctuations of the spiritual vein.

Immediately after a strange fluctuation occurred, Qin Xue and the others showed joy on their faces.

"Qin Xin, be careful. If you encounter any danger, leave immediately," Qin Xue reminded him.

"Brother Qin Xin, we'll be going now."

Unlike usual, Ya Ru didn't call Qin Xin a little hooligan; she seemed to be shocked by his strength.

As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Xue and the other female disciples of Fan Hua Pavilion vanished from their spot with a ripple in their figures.

Seeing that the group had safely left with the spiritual vein, Qin Xin did not hesitate and quickly flew towards the direction where Shui Qingxi was.

Along the way, Qin Xin saw many signs of battle and the tattered clothes on Qin Xue and the others, and couldn't help but curse Han Yao in his heart.

After traveling for half an hour, Qin Xin finally heard the sounds of fighting coming from afar.

At a distance of about twenty zhang, Qin Xin stopped directly. This was the farthest distance his spiritual sense could probe in this underground space. For safety's sake, he did not go forward directly, but instead found a place to hide and observe for a while.

~~~~~~

"Miss Shui, why are you doing this? Do you think Qin Xue and the others can take the spiritual vein out of here?"

"Yun Yi, to use such methods against someone from the same peak, you truly deserve to be called Yun Lei's good grandson!"

Amidst the sounds of fighting and noisy conversations, Qin Xin, hiding to the side, felt secretly fortunate. Although Ji Ju looked young, he possessed the strength of the sixth level of the Qi Sea Realm, which was comparable to Shui Qingxi's. As the two continued to clash, purple lightning crackled and exploded, while ribbons of flowing water surrounded Shui Qingxi.

After a fierce battle, earth and stones flew everywhere.

"Shui Qingxi, how dare you address your master by his name!"

Upon hearing the name Yun Lei, Ji Ju's eyes turned somewhat cold.

"snort!"

Shui Qingxi gave a soft snort, and her hand seals changed in a series of movements, with flowing ribbons continuously blocking the fierce attacks.

"Himeko!"

As the battle raged, Yun Yi, who had been secretly attacking from behind, was suddenly attacked by a giant eagle that appeared somewhat arrogant. After a soft shout, Ji Ju in front of him immediately understood and produced an object in his hand.

The object instantly transformed into a purple streak, striking Shui Qingxi directly in the waist.

Although the flowing ribbons blocked her way, the purple light was too fast. In an instant, Shui Qingxi was struck by lightning and her body froze on the spot, as if she had been sealed.

"Hahaha, Ji Ju, you've succeeded in one strike! I'll enjoy Shui Qingxi's primordial yin energy first!"

Seeing that Shui Qingxi was standing there unable to move, Yun Yi immediately began to undress.

"Young Master, please enjoy your meal first. I will protect you from the side."

Ji Ju understood immediately, turned around, and stood aside.

As Yun Yi took a step, the giant eagle behind him was enveloped in a layer of black aura, appearing somewhat sinister. After the black light flowed between his eyes, his entire aura underwent a tremendous change, seemingly becoming a completely different person from the previously gentle and refined Yun Yi.

Seeing Yun Yi approach step by step, Shui Qingxi was unable to move or make a sound. Her eyes revealed a look of despair, and tears streamed down her face.

The moment her eyes fell, a warm embrace encircled her. Feeling the warm hand around her slender waist, Shui Qingxi trembled. But the instant she opened her beautiful eyes, a resolute face appeared before her.

"Ah! Qin Xin! You deserve to die!"

The figure that suddenly rushed out from the corner caught Yun Yi off guard, who was preparing to enjoy Shui Qingxi's Yin essence. Looking at the several orange fire blades that Qin Xin threw after turning around and smiling, Yun Yi immediately recognized him and roared angrily.

After several orange fire blades exploded, the stone wall immediately collapsed, and countless boulders fell, blocking Qin Xin's escape route.

Ji Ju retreated to a safe distance so that Yun Yi could have more space to enjoy herself. However, it was precisely because of this distance that Qin Xin was able to take advantage of the situation and bring Shui Qingxi away.

"boom!"

The boulder that crashed to the ground flew away with a roar, and two figures emerged from behind.

Some disciples of Lei Ge also heard the noise and hurriedly made the order.

"Search! Shui Qingxi is sealed away; the two of them can't leave this underground space!" After shouting angrily, several figures behind him immediately dispersed.

"Young Master Yun, finding the spiritual vein is more important. As for our teacher..." Ji Ju said softly, trying to calm Yun Yi down when he saw him getting angry.

Hearing Ji Ju's reminder, Yun Yi calmed down a little, but the anger in his eyes did not subside. The duck that was about to be eaten had flown away, how could he not be angry?

"We'll get the spiritual vein first, but I won't let Qin Xin get away with this!"

After taking out a jade plate from his bosom, Yun Yi looked at the red light flashing on the plate, and angrily waved his hand, causing countless pebbles to fly up. Then, he and Ji Ju rushed off in the opposite direction from where Qin Xin had fled.