The Windless City is located on the edge of the chaotic star belt. Although it is named "Windless", it is actually constantly swept by strong winds carrying stardust. The city walls are made of black star iron and are covered with marks from swords and blades, exuding a rough and fierce aura.
When Xiao Chen and Shi Tou arrived, the gale had subsided and the city gates were wide open. Most of the cultivators coming and going carried weapons and had weathered faces, clearly indicating that they were rogue cultivators making a living in the Chaotic Star Belt.
Following the guidance of the mission jade slip, the two passed through three main streets and arrived at the Bai family mansion in the center of the city.
The Bai family mansion was much more imposing than ordinary residences. Two stone lions stood in front of the vermilion gate. Although it was not as luxurious as the aristocratic families in the core star region of Xuanqiong, it still exuded the majesty of a "local tyrant".
The guards at the entrance were dressed in black armor with swords at their waists, and their auras were all at the Dao Proving Realm. When they saw Xiao Chen and Shi Tou approaching, their eyes immediately became wary.
"Halt." The guard on the left stepped forward, his voice cold and stern. "Who goes there?"
"I've accepted your mission and come to see my employer." Xiao Chen said calmly, taking out his mission token.
The guard glanced at the words "Qingyun Squad" on the token, then looked Xiao Chen and his companion up and down—one was in the late stage of the Tribulation Transcending Realm, and the other was a body cultivator? They didn't seem like the type to take on the "explore abandoned mine" mission.
But he was just a guard and had no right to ask more questions. He simply said, "Wait here," and turned to enter the mansion.
A moment later, the gate of the mansion creaked open, and a group of people walked out.
The leader was a young girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a moon-white gauze dress with delicate star patterns embroidered on the hem. As she walked, the dress swayed gently, like a shower of starlight.
She wore her hair in a double bun, adorned with a pearl hairpin. Her skin was as white as snow, and her features were exquisite. In particular, her eyes were as clear as a rare spring in Wufeng City, though there was a hint of aloofness between them.
Beside the girl was a young man in a blue robe, handsome but with a hint of arrogance. When his eyes swept over Xiao Chen, it was as if he were looking at an out-of-place object.
He was followed by six guards, the leader of whom was a middle-aged man with a resolute face and a calm and deep aura. He was actually at the peak of the Dao Inquiry stage, only one step away from the Dao Proof stage. He was obviously a guard of the Bai family.
"So you were the ones who accepted the mission?"
The young man in the blue robe spoke first, his tone filled with undisguised contempt. His gaze fell on Xiao Chen as if he were a joke, "Late stage of Tribulation Transcending? You dare to accept a mission from my Bai family with this level of cultivation?"
Do you know how dangerous those abandoned mines are? The three teams that went there a few days ago, all of whom were at least at the early stages of the Dao Realm, haven't returned yet.
Xiao Chen ignored his sarcasm and focused his gaze on the girl. Although she appeared frail, there was a calmness between her brows that was beyond her years. Moreover, he vaguely sensed that there was a considerable spiritual power hidden within her, which was deliberately concealed.
"The mission jade slip only says that we need to explore together and protect the employer, without specifying the cultivation level of the person accepting the mission."
Xiao Chen looked at the young man in the blue robe and asked calmly, "Could you tell me what the strange phenomena in the mine look like? Are there any other dangers?"
The young man in the blue robe was taken aback, seemingly not expecting this Tribulation Transcending cultivator to dare to ask such a direct question. His expression darkened: "Who do you think you are, daring to inquire about such things?"
"Bai Feng, do not be rude."
The girl spoke softly, her voice clear and melodious like the clinking of jade stones. She looked at Xiao Chen, her gaze softening, "Please don't be offended, sir. My brother is just worried about the safety of the mission."
She paused for a moment, then slowly said, "The mine is an abandoned Star Marrow Iron Mine from three hundred years ago. A few nights ago, a purple-gold glow suddenly shot into the sky and lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before dissipating."
The Bai, Shi, and Tang families have all sent people to investigate the outer perimeter, and they only discovered energy fluctuations deep within the mine. The specific nature of this anomaly remains unclear.
"As for other forces..."
The girl glanced at Bai Feng beside her, "The city lord's mansion is not interested in this kind of low-level mine, so we, the young people from our three major families, will go and explore it—it's also a form of training."
Besides our Bai family, the Shi and Tang families will also send their members; they will meet outside the mine around noon.
Xiao Chen understood. It turned out that this mission was not only about finding Star Marrow Iron, but also involved the training of the younger generation of the three major families. The strange phenomena deep in the mine were probably the real highlight.
Bai Feng was clearly dissatisfied with the girl's patient explanation and snorted, "Luo'er, why bother talking to a rogue cultivator from a small world like this? I doubt he can even get into the outer perimeter of the mine. It's a waste of his time."
He looked at Xiao Chen, his tone even colder: "Since you've accepted the mission, follow the rules. If you can bring out the Star Marrow Iron or other treasures alive, you'll receive your full reward; if you die inside, my Bai family won't be collecting your corpses."
Xiao Chen didn't reply, but simply nodded slightly to the girl: "Thank you for informing me. When shall we depart?"
The young woman said, "Please wait a moment. We will go together once the Shi and Tang families arrive. If you don't mind, sir, you may rest in the manor and have a cup of spiritual tea?"
"No need," Xiao Chen said. "We can just wait at the city gate."
He didn't want to get too involved with the Bai family, especially the arrogant Bai Feng; even a glance at him felt like an inconvenience.
Bai Feng scoffed, "You're smart to know what's good for you."
The girl glanced helplessly at Bai Feng and said to Xiao Chen, "Then I'll wait for you at the city gate."
Xiao Chen nodded, turned around and left with the stone.
After walking a distance, Stone muttered to himself, "That White Wind is really annoying, he looks down on people!"
Xiao Chen said calmly, "When your strength is insufficient, other people's opinions are not important."
What he cared more about was the strange phenomenon in the mine and the young disciples of the three major families—the fact that all three families sent their disciples there at the same time meant that the phenomenon was no simple matter of star marrow iron; it probably contained a greater opportunity, or perhaps a greater danger.
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