Chapter 26

The tranquility of the Imperial Pill Sect was shattered by a sudden roar, and the entire mountain shook.

Li Yuan and Song Chu felt the tremor and ran out of the house.

"An earthquake! It came from the back of the mountain!" Li Yuan exclaimed.

"Oh no, Senior Sister just went to the back mountain!" Song Chu's face turned pale instantly.

"Why did she go to the back mountain? Wasn't she supposed to be looking for the mysterious man?" Li Yuan asked doubtfully.

“I saw them, they went together!” Song Chu replied, his eyes revealing worry.

Fortunately, the terrifying tremors subsided after a short while.

Feeling uneasy, the two hurried together towards the back of the mountain.

However, on the way to the back mountain, they encountered the two people who were returning.

Jiang Liuya was lying on Danxi's back.

"Senior sister, what happened to you? Are you hurt?" Song Chu rushed forward and asked anxiously.

Jiang Liuya then noticed Li Yuan and Song Chu and immediately jumped down.

She said awkwardly, "It's nothing, just a minor injury, my leg hurts a little."

"Which leg? Let me see," Song Chu asked.

"It seems to be my left leg..." Jiang Liuya said, then quickly added, "Oh no, it's already been treated and is almost healed."

"It seems the injury isn't serious." Song Chu secretly moved aside, covering her mouth and laughing.

"Did you hit your head? Why are you talking nonsense?" Li Yuan joined in the teasing.

"What are you laughing at! If you keep doing this, I won't tell you anything about the crystal mine!" Jiang Liuya pretended to be annoyed.

"Then stop talking... Wait! What crystal mine?" Li Yuan, who had been smiling, suddenly snapped back to reality upon hearing the words "crystal mine," his voice filled with shock.

The group hurriedly returned to Yudan Gate from the back mountain.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Jiang Liuya eagerly pulled out a large bag of high-grade crystals from her storage pouch and placed it all in front of them. The crystals shimmered with a captivating light under the sunlight.

Li Yuan and Song Chu's eyes widened instantly as they stared at the crystals, their eyes filled with amazement.

They had never seen so many crystals in their lives, and these crystals were of such high quality and so bright.

"This is just a drop in the ocean compared to the crystal mine," Jiang Liuya said smugly, her lips curving upwards and her eyes sparkling.

"With such a large crystal mine, there is hope for the revitalization of our Imperial Pill Sect," Li Yuan said happily.

The three senior and junior disciples looked excited and expectant, as if they could already see the Imperial Pill Sect rising and growing stronger in the near future with the help of the crystal mine.

However, they didn't notice that among the bushes surrounding the courtyard, a vibrant green worm was quietly hidden in its surroundings, blending seamlessly with its color. Its small size made it easy to miss without close inspection.

It silently observed these changes, its two slender antennae twitching as if receiving some information. After a moment, it seemed to receive some command, and silently moved swiftly along a hidden route unnoticed by anyone, heading towards the back of the mountain.

Danxi, standing to the side, suddenly felt a strange sensation. It was as if an invisible pair of eyes were watching them from the shadows. He glanced around, a hint of wariness and doubt in his eyes, and secretly probed with his spiritual power, but found nothing amiss. Everything around him seemed so calm, as if it had just been his imagination.

"The matter of the crystal mine must not be disclosed to outsiders," Danxi said solemnly.

He frowned slightly, hoping that the strange feeling he had just experienced was just his imagination.

Jiang Liuya and the others were still immersed in the great joy of discovering the crystal mine. When they heard his words, they were first stunned, and then realized the significance of it.

In the dog-eat-dog world of cultivation, if news of the crystal mine were to leak, it could bring enormous trouble to the Imperial Pill Sect. If the news were to leak, the Imperial Pill Sect might not only miss the opportunity to grow and expand, but would also be plunged into an unprecedented crisis.

The three students instantly calmed down from their excitement and nodded seriously.

"In any case, the Imperial Pill Sect is different now than before, so we must be careful in the future," Danxi said in a low voice.

The three nodded in agreement, their expressions turning serious.

"Furthermore, the mountain gate formation must be established as soon as possible," Danxi said solemnly. Times have changed. The discovery of the crystal mine by the weak Imperial Pill Sect is like a child possessing a great treasure. Not only will it attract wolves from all sides, but it could also bring about annihilation. The energy of this crystal mine is enough to make all forces envious, but the Imperial Pill Sect's current strength is far from sufficient to protect this windfall.

Fortunately, Danxi vaguely sensed that the restriction on her Dan Yuan was about to dissipate, and when her spiritual power recovered, she would be able to better protect her beloved.

Over the next few days, Danxi was busy arranging the mountain gate formation. Jiang Liuya didn't know much about formations and could only learn by watching. Fortunately, she was smart and eager to learn, and gradually she was able to help. However, such a massive project as the mountain gate formation required the combined efforts of many people. It involved calculating the formation's cores, adjusting runes, and calibrating energy flow; every step required meticulous attention. With just Danxi and Jiang Liuya, who only had a superficial understanding, there were only two of them, and it couldn't be completed overnight.

On this day, another guest arrived. It was Elder Ye, the same one from last time.

"Elder Ye, are you here to deliver a message for your master again?" Jiang Liuya asked, her tone laced with sarcasm.

"Junior Nephew Jiang, Young Master Xuan has invited you to meet at Qilian Tavern in Qingquan Town at 5 PM today." Elder Ye's tone was calm, showing no anger at the provocation in his words.

From Elder Ye's first visit, Jiang Liuya knew that Ning Xuan's people would come knocking again sooner or later. This man was always a nuisance. Ning Xuan, though of mediocre strength, had a formidable background. Now, with its powerful treasures, the Imperial Pill Sect wouldn't tolerate repeated visits from outsiders. Fortunately, in a few days, the mountain gate's grand formation would be completed, and with a readily available and continuous supply of crystals for energy, petty thieves would no longer be able to come and go so freely.

Jiang Liuya secretly considered that Qingquan Town wasn't far from the Imperial Pill Sect, so she should go there first to pay off the debts she had incurred. However, she secretly felt that if this problem wasn't completely resolved, it would eventually become a major hidden danger for the Imperial Pill Sect.

“Tell Ning Xuan that I will be there on time,” Jiang Liuya said.

"Is this Ning Xuan the one who delivered the alchemy furnace?" Danxi asked from beside her.

“That’s right. This person is despicable, but his cultivation is weak and he’s not worth worrying about.” Jiang Liuya’s words revealed her contempt for Ning Xuan. She continued, “I will settle my debt with him today and return in a moment. He is not allowed to bother me again.”

Although Dan Xi had never met Ning Xuan, judging from his persistent and relentless manner, he didn't seem like someone who could be easily dealt with. He knew that in the cultivation world, only absolute strength could allow one to stand proudly, unafraid of the hidden forces behind the scenes, and protect those around them. He secretly circulated his inner energy, feeling some resistance, but also sensing a breakthrough was imminent. A sense of composure returned to him.

"Be extra careful," Danxi cautioned.

Jiang Liuya nodded in agreement.