As Lin Mingshu rubbed her eyes in disbelief, Song Jixing had already slashed several sword lights.
With a slight tremor and fierce winds, the ground beneath the gold mine cracked open, revealing deep ravines extending several dozen meters down.
Descending gracefully on her sword, Song Jixing landed from above and then tucked her sword away into her sleeve.
Addressing Wu Xiao, Song Jixing said, "Let's begin the rescue operation!"
Wu Xiao hastily bowed, feeling his blood boiling under the impact of those few strikes. "Understood, I'll arrange for people to go over immediately!"
Approaching Feng Juechen, Song Jixing retrieved something from her pocket. Two simple talismans, both crafted by her hand.
"There's a formation below that's shielding the spiritual veins! It shouldn't be the work of Elder WenRen and the others. I'll go down to take a look, I'll leave the rest to you!"
Feng Juechen nodded, pocketing the talismans and glancing at the sun setting in the west. "Hurry and come back, senior sister."
Song Jixing found an unoccupied spot and with a swift stroke of her sword, carved out an artificial deep well, then leaped down without hesitation.
The entire process flowed seamlessly, taking less than three minutes.
Standing above, Lin Mingshu still hadn't fully comprehended what was happening, wondering if she was dreaming. Had the world changed while she wasn't looking?
How were people now capable of flying and splitting mountains?
-
Song Jixing soon reached the bottom of the spiritual stone mine, gazing at the glowing spiritual stones and a winding cave before her.
The cave was spacious enough for a person to stand and walk, showing signs of human activity, though not many.
The growing spiritual stone mine contained immense energy, beyond even Song Jixing's ability to fully envelop. Coupled with the distant spiritual aura, searching became even more challenging. If she wanted to find someone, she would have to venture in herself.
However, an array barrier was set up at the entrance, preventing easy passage.
Song Jixing tried, confirming that this was related to the demonic cultivator. Because this formation originated from the cultivation world and its power surpassed hers, she couldn't penetrate it.
Unable to shatter the barrier with her own spiritual energy, she realized she needed to go inside to change the formation.
Yet Song Jixing was curious. If her cultivation was so difficult, how did that demonic cultivator act so swiftly?
With this question in mind, Song Jixing exerted her consciousness deeper, finding a solution.
As she had suspected, the demonic cultivator's barrier only covered the surface and not the depths below. It was like a glass bowl covering an apple; large and limited, only covering the top layer but not the bottom. She just needed to dig down.
Song Jixing swung her sword several times, causing a tremor and dislodging some rubble, then leaped down several dozen meters.
Upon reaching the bottom, everything seemed to become clearer.
The spiritual veins were not fully formed, allowing her consciousness to extend further.
And down there, she found WenRen He and Huo Ling'er.
WenRen He was digging with a shovel, exerting all his strength, while Huo Ling'er felt drowsy from the gas around the spiritual vein.
Compared to the demonic cultivator, the safety of the two was more important, so Song Jixing decisively headed towards them.
Song Jixing didn't take a detour either, directly opening up a nearby path and hurriedly approaching WenRen He, greeting him.
"Elder WenRen, what are you digging for?"
Song Jixing's voice suddenly echoed in the dim underground passage. WenRen He wiped the sweat from his forehead, put down the shovel and scroll, and rested his hands, saying, "I'm digging for the source of the spiritual vein."
Song Jixing asked, "What is that?"
"This area is mostly rich in fire spiritual stones. Besides nurturing spiritual stones, there will also be some original spiritual sources with certain attributes. They can be dug out for Huo Ling'er to consume, helping him grow a bit." WenRen He said, with beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.
At this moment, WenRen He was wearing two thin and damp garments, seeming to have been soaked in sweat for a while.
"Let me help you!" Song Jixing said, silently admiring WenRen He's endurance.
He had no idea how long WenRen He had been digging such a long passage.
Without hesitation, WenRen He nodded and said, "Then I'll leave it to you. Be gentle, the mine is already collapsing, don't let this side collapse too."
Song Jixing cast several spells, and a spacious passage quickly formed in front of them. Following this passage downwards, they arrived at the source of the mine.
In a hollow cave surrounded by spiritual stones, there was a raised stone platform in the middle, with a block-like object similar to a stalactite slowly condensing something heavy on it.
Approaching, Song Jixing noticed a bit of the original spiritual source in the depression, a smooth object radiating a silver-red light.
It should have been formed after the revival of spiritual energy, even though it looked a bit scarce, in the cultivation world, it could probably incite a fight among several small sects.
In Qingyun Sect, its function was equivalent to specialized milk powder for Huo Ling'er. Song Jixing had heard that the sect would send people to procure original spiritual sources from various places, and the price of procurement was self-evident.
But it was the first time Song Jixing learned that this thing was bought specifically for Huo Ling'er to consume.
Tsk tsk, truly a walking gold mine.
WenRen He woke up Huo Ling'er, shaking him vigorously, "We're here, time to eat!"
Although WenRen He looked stern, his tone was extremely gentle.
Huo Ling'er rubbed his eyes and staggered forward like a drunken person. Several times, Song Jixing wanted to support him, but he watched as he insisted on walking to the stone platform, swaying.
Huo Ling'er dipped his fingers into the spiritual source and tasted it, then furrowed his brow, "Not tasty!"
WenRen He's face stiffened as he lectured him, "You won't grow if you don't eat!"
Huo Ling'er made a face, dipped his fingers a few more times, resembling a picky child, then shook his hand, collapsing like a drunkard.
Song Jixing glanced at the remaining spiritual sources in the depression.
"Elder WenRen, what about these...?" Song Jixing pointed to those original spiritual sources.
"Leave it! He can't eat that much. Eating a little is enough, leaving some opportunity for others," WenRen He said.
In the cultivation world where people kill for treasures, the Qingyun Sect follows the rule of leaving a way out, hoping to meet again in the future. When picking flowers, one must leave the leaves; when picking leaves, one must leave the roots.
It's not easy for someone to survive all these years. There's no need to uproot them all at once.
Although some of the Origin Spirit Source has been consumed by Huo Ling'er, it will quickly replenish at the gathering speed here, growing more and more.
WenRen He carried the fainted Huo Ling'er, intending to head back.
Just then, a violent tremor seemed to come from the ground, accompanied by continuous muffled noises.
Song Jixing released his spiritual sense and probed upwards, discovering that the path WenRen He dug out had collapsed entirely, and there were cracks on the surface.
