---
Xuan Le smiled and gestured for Qi Yuan to sit down. "Junior Brother Qi, don't worry about this matter," he said. "The Six Sects Alliance has already made arrangements. If those wandering demon monks appear, there are measures in place to deal with them. Our task will focus elsewhere."
"Oh? And what exactly is that?" Qi Yuan asked, his curiosity piqued.
Xuan Le paused, his expression momentarily serious before relaxing. "The spirit stone mine has been active for decades without incident. But recently, disciples have been disappearing. At first, the six sects didn't take it seriously — they assumed it was nothing more than isolated incidents. But the disappearances kept happening, and now the alliance has decided to investigate the cause."
Mining slaves weren't considered valuable. Being assigned to mining work was practically a mark of disgrace, a role for low-status disciples. Naturally, the six sects hadn't cared much about their fate. The sudden concern could only mean something more was at play — someone pulling strings behind the scenes.
In uncertain times like these, even small disturbances could agitate the sects.
"In that case," Qi Yuan said, as if something had just occurred to him, "when do we set off? I'm already prepared."
Xuan Le's tone hardened slightly. "We leave in an hour. Don't be late. Violating the alliance's orders carries consequences."
"I'll be on time," Qi Yuan promised, though his expression turned sour. The warning felt less like a reminder and more like a threat.
Once Qi Yuan left, silence settled over the hall. Alone, Xuan Le allowed himself a triumphant smile. Everything was falling into place. He needed only a few expendable pawns to wear down the Blood Jade Spider's strength. Afterward, he could step in, claim the treasure, and silence anyone who knew too much.
Xuan Le had once been stationed at that very spirit stone mine. Years ago, he'd overheard whispers among the mining disciples about strange disappearances. Intrigued, he quietly investigated. What he discovered was far worse than he'd expected — a powerful Blood Jade Spider lurking deep within the mine. At the time, Xuan Le had barely escaped with his life.
For years, he kept the secret to himself. When conflict broke out between the Kingdom of Yue and the six sects, Xuan Le cleverly linked the mine's troubles to demonic activity. His manipulations earned him a leadership role in the investigation — exactly what he'd planned.
He had no intention of confronting the Blood Jade Spider alone. The beast's strength would have grown in the years since their last encounter. Instead, Xuan Le would send others to weaken it before stepping in to finish the job — and his "helpers" would never live to tell the tale.
Xuan Le had waited patiently for suitable pawns. Lu Tianmeng, a former Lingshou Mountain disciple who defected to Yanyue Sect, was an ideal candidate — an outsider, easy to manipulate. Although Lu Tianmeng's cultivation was on par with Xuan Le's, Xuan Le was confident he could outmaneuver him.
The final piece was Qi Yuan. His impressive battle record made him a perfect addition to the plan. Once Qi Yuan's strength was spent, Xuan Le would handle the rest.
---
Qi Yuan left the council hall, lost in thought.
'Xuan Le knows something.' That smug confidence was impossible to miss. 'But I'm tired of being used like this. Next time, let someone else be the pawn.'
He stopped by Chen Qiaoqian's cave to visit her, then spent time with Han Yunzhi. Lately, he'd been bouncing between their caves without setting up his own.
'Maybe I'm getting too comfortable... or too lazy.'
---
A few days later, Qi Yuan followed Xuan Le to a desolate hill where a deep pit stretched between the valleys. Hundreds of low-level disciples could be seen working below, chipping away at stone beneath a faint protective barrier that shimmered over the mine.
Xuan Le glanced back. "Junior Brother Qi, this is our destination. Let's go down."
"Haha, whatever you say, Senior Brother Xuan," Qi Yuan replied with a forced smile.
They descended together, greeted by a rough-faced man in Yanyue Sect robes.
"Senior Brother Xuan, you've finally arrived. And this is...?"
Xuan Le smiled lightly. "This is Junior Brother Qi Yuan from Yellow Maple Valley — you may have heard about his victory at the logistics outpost."
Lu Tianmeng's eyes widened. "Ah! So you're the one who defeated two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators! Impressive. Your future is bright, Junior Brother Qi."
Qi Yuan studied Lu Tianmeng's eager expression and smirked inwardly. 'They're working together.'
"It was all thanks to my master," Qi Yuan said humbly.
Lu Tianmeng chuckled but didn't press further.
"Shall we rest first?" Lu Tianmeng asked Xuan Le.
"Yes," Xuan Le agreed, stepping forward like he owned the place. Lu Tianmeng followed, smiling obediently.
---
That night, Qi Yuan stayed in his room, examining the mine's map and memorizing its layout in case things went wrong.
Suddenly, a sound transmission note floated in.
"Junior Brother Qi, come to the mine entrance quickly."
It was Xuan Le's voice.
'So soon? He must be eager to deal with the Blood Jade Spider.'
Qi Yuan stashed the map and vanished into the night.
At the mine's entrance, Xuan Le and Lu Tianmeng were already waiting.
"Apologies for the delay," Qi Yuan greeted.
Xuan Le's tone was cold. "It's fine. We called you because we're going deeper into the mine to investigate. There may be nothing, but it's better to get familiar with the area."
Lu Tianmeng nodded. "I agree."
With no way to refuse, Qi Yuan muttered, "Then let's get this over with."
The three ventured into the dark, twisting tunnels. The deeper they went, the more tangled the paths became.
"Looks like we're lost," Xuan Le muttered, frowning. His eyes scanned the walls — not for a way out, but for something else. 'A marker,' Qi Yuan realized.
"Don't worry," Lu Tianmeng said confidently. He summoned a mole-like creature from his spirit pouch. The beast sniffed the air, then darted into the ground.
Moments later, Lu Tianmeng pointed down a narrow path. "This way."
Xuan Le's eyes glinted greedily. 'That mole will be mine soon.'
---
Hours later, the mole scurried to a dead end. Lu Tianmeng frowned.
"My mole's gone crazy behind this wall," he said. "Something's here."
Xuan Le's smile widened. "Then let's break through together."
On Xuan Le's count, the three unleashed their power on the wall. Dust filled the tunnel.
When the air cleared, a mountain of spirit stones glistened before them.
"A hidden stash," Xuan Le murmured. "Must've been hoarded by mining disciples."
"Shall we split it?" Lu Tianmeng asked eagerly.
Xuan Le's gaze shifted to Qi Yuan. "What do you think, Junior Brother Qi?"
Qi Yuan grinned, feigning greed. "As long as I get my fair share, I've got no complaints."
Xuan Le smiled darkly. **Enjoy your share while you can.**
The three spent the rest of the day gathering their fortune. Spirits high, they laughed and joked like old friends.
Yet behind their smiles, each was quietly plotting their next move.
(End Of Chapter)