The Qingfeng Sect's Spirit Stone Mine was located in a remote mountain.

The scenery was quite pleasant, surrounded by green hills and clear waters, with many demon beasts in the forest that had just begun to develop intelligence.

It was unclear whether the array was set up to prevent miners from escaping or to guard against demon beast attacks.

A simple Bewilderment Array was arranged around the mine, making it nearly impossible for cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Stage to leave the mine encased by the array.

According to Li Xingtian, most of the miners here were cultivators with extremely poor aptitude.

The Qingfeng Sect recruited people from remote villages and impoverished areas.

Firstly, such people were unlikely to have significant backgrounds and wouldn't provoke those who shouldn't be provoked.

Secondly, in such remote areas, even if people couldn't return, it wouldn't raise suspicion.

As long as they had a trace of a spiritual root, no matter how mixed, they would be taken.

They would be forced to undergo medicinal baths that burned their potential to reach the second or third layer of Qi Refining, then thrown into the mines to dig until death.

So, the Qingfeng Sect was essentially a righteous sect in name only, while engaging in the practices of evil cultivators.

After all, how could such activities escape the notice of the Qingfeng Sect Master and other high-ranking members?

Chu Xingchen carefully avoided the areas patrolled by the sect's disciples.

He climbed up a cliff from the side, concealing his aura as much as possible, and slowly observed the situation below in the mine.

Several simple wooden houses were scattered without any planned arrangement, but at the highest point stood an exquisite building where disciples in Qingfeng Sect attire could be seen.

There were not many of them, two men and one woman.

If one didn't use divine sense to scan, it would be impossible to detect their cultivation level, indicating that these Qingfeng Sect disciples were likely at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

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After reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, cultivators could easily control spiritual energy within their bodies, no longer exposing it.

If one didn't use divine sense to scan, it would be impossible to discern the Golden Elixir Realm with the naked eye.

At this moment, it was daytime, the time for excavation, and loud noises frequently echoed from the mine.

From time to time, ragged Qi Refining cultivators could be seen transporting raw spirit stone ore with makeshift carts.

Indeed, the cultivation level of these mining cultivators was low, with results showing only the second or third layer of Qi Refining.

He watched as they transported cartloads of raw spirit stone ore to a processing shed.

Several Qi Refining cultivators wielding large hammers were vigorously striking the stones, separating the ore from the spirit stones.

The Qingfeng Sect disciples leaned against the railing in front of them, watching the miners with a mocking expression.

Chu Xingchen's gaze swept over and quickly locked onto a warehouse-like building, which occupied a large area but strangely had no guards around it.

According to Li Xingtian, a Golden Core cultivator was likely stationed inside.

An aggressive attack was certainly not a wise choice, as there were likely means to contact the sect here.

Either achieve a swift victory or lure them out.

However, the purpose of this visit was merely to scout the situation, not to take action.

Chu Xingchen took out paper and pen from his spatial ring and quickly sketched a rough map based on the route and buildings.

He planned to return with the map and discuss the situation in detail with Li Xingtian.

After finishing the sketch and putting it back in the spatial ring, he was about to leave when someone entered the range of his vigilant divine sense.

A longsword suddenly appeared in Chu Xingchen's hand as he quickly scanned with his divine sense.

He discovered that the person who entered his divine sense was merely a mortal without any cultivation.

What was going on?

Chu Xingchen concealed his aura and cautiously approached the direction of the newcomer.

Soon, Chu Xingchen saw the person who had entered his divine sense.

It was a small, thin girl wearing tattered hemp clothing, covered in dirt, with tangled, dry hair.

Her face was dirty, but her eyes were bright and lively.

Chu Xingchen could clearly see her expression was one of confusion and panic as she looked around.

He watched as she struggled to walk in one direction, only to unwittingly circle back to her starting point.

Was she trapped in a maze array?

Did she wander in by accident, or was there more to it?

Chu Xingchen decided to use the system to check her attribute panel.

[Ning Qianqian]

[Cultivation: None]

[Blue Trait: Indomitable]

[Blue Trait: Loyal and Righteous]

[White Trait: Clever]

[Does not meet the requirements for taking on a disciple]

There were Qingfeng Sect disciples patrolling the area, so it was clear that the thin girl in front of him was not one of them.

She was most likely someone who had escaped from the mine.

Perhaps, like Li Xingtian, she had been deceived by the Qingfeng Sect into mining.

After a brief contemplation, Chu Xingchen decided to take her away first, hoping to extract some useful information.

He put on a mask to cover his face.

He reached out and grabbed the small girl in front of him, using the Earth Escape Technique to quickly leave.

————————

"Immortal! Immortal!"

Tied to a tree, Ning Qianqian cried bitterly, "I really just got lost."

As she spoke, Ning Qianqian sneaked a glance at the person who had tied her up.

He was wearing an Evil Ghost Mask, his eyes coldly staring at her.

Indeed, something was off with the Qingfeng Sect!

Her father must have been deceived by those immortals from the Qingfeng Sect.

Chu Xingchen looked at Ning Qianqian with exasperation. If he could, he wouldn't have tied her to the tree.

But this girl was too uncooperative.

She spat, threw tantrums, and pretended to be crazy.

If he hadn't exposed her act, she might still be feigning ignorance.

Chu Xingchen said irritably, "Stop crying, I'm not from the Qingfeng Sect."

Ning Qianqian continued to wail:

"Immortal, I don't know anything about the Qingfeng Sect! I'm really just someone who got lost."

Chu Xingchen didn't say anything further. Instead, he took out a piece of flatbread from his spatial ring and stuffed it into her mouth under her terrified gaze.

"You're as thin as a stick. How long has it been since you last ate?"

Fearing that the flatbread might have some immortal trick, Ning Qianqian shook her head in refusal.

But as the soft crumbs entered her mouth, the hunger of several days made her give up her struggle.

She began to devour the flatbread without hesitation.

After all, it seemed unlikely she could escape from the immortal in front of her, so she might as well die with a full stomach!

Father! Your daughter is useless! I couldn't save you and now I'm going to die first.

Watching Ning Qianqian ravenously devour the flatbread, Chu Xingchen silently retrieved the rope and handed her a water flask.

At this moment, Ning Qianqian, somewhat resigned, accepted everything and drank it all.

The flatbread, washed down with water, was quickly finished.

Then, Ning Qianqian looked over with hopeful eyes.

Chu Xingchen sighed, "You haven't eaten for too long; you can't eat too much at once."

But Ning Qianqian clearly didn't believe him, giving him a look that said even immortals could be stingy with a single flatbread.

Chu Xingchen didn't bother to explain further. Instead, he continued to ask, "What are you doing here? Are you someone who escaped from the mine?"

Ning Qianqian timidly glanced at the masked man in front of her and answered hesitantly:

"...I, I really just got lost."

Chu Xingchen stared at Ning Qianqian for a while, then stopped questioning her. Instead, he took out some loose silver and flatbread from his spatial ring.

He handed these items to Ning Qianqian and pointed in a direction:

"If you don't want to talk, I won't ask. Head straight that way; there's a small town nearby. It's dangerous here, so don't come back."

Ning Qianqian looked at the items forced into her arms in surprise, then looked up.

She saw Chu Xingchen turn away without another word.

She couldn't help but call out:

"Immortal, wait!"