The Qingfeng Sect's spirit stone mine was located in a remote mountain area.
The scenery alone was quite pleasant, with green mountains and clear waters surrounding the area, and many beasts with awakened intelligence roaming the forests.
It was unclear whether the formations around the mine were to prevent the miners from escaping or to guard against attacks from the beasts.
A simple soul-confusing array was set up around the mine, making it extremely difficult for cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage to leave the mine on their own.
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 individuals were unlikely to have powerful backgrounds, so they wouldn't provoke anyone they shouldn't.
Secondly, in those poor and remote areas, even if someone didn't return, no one would question it.
As long as they had even a trace of spiritual roots, no matter how mixed, they would be taken away.
They were then forced to undergo medicinal baths that burned their potential, pushing them to the second or third level of Qi Refinement, and then thrown into the mine to dig until they died.
Thus, the Qingfeng Sect, while appearing to be a righteous sect, was actually engaging in practices akin to those of demonic cultivators.
After all, how could such activities be hidden from the Qingfeng Sect's leader and other high-ranking officials?
Chu Xingchen carefully avoided the areas patrolled by the sect's disciples.
Climbing up from a cliff on one side, he concealed his aura as much as possible and slowly observed the situation in the mine below.
A few simple wooden huts were scattered haphazardly without any clear plan, but at the highest point stood an exquisite building where disciples in Qingfeng Sect robes could be seen.
There weren't many of them—two men and one woman.
If their cultivation levels couldn't be detected without using spiritual sense, then these Qingfeng Sect disciples were likely at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Once a cultivator reached Foundation Establishment, they could easily control their spiritual energy and keep it hidden within their bodies, making it impossible to discern their level by sight alone unless one was at the Golden Core stage.
During the day, the mine was bustling with activity, and loud noises frequently echoed from the mining tunnels.
From time to time, ragged Qi Refinement cultivators could be seen pushing simple carts loaded with raw spirit stones.
As expected, the cultivation levels of these miners were low, with most being only at the second or third level of Qi Refinement.
Chu Xingchen watched as they transported cart after cart of raw spirit stones to a processing shed.
Several Qi Refinement cultivators were vigorously hammering 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 the area, quickly locking onto a large warehouse-like building. Strangely, there were no guards around it.
According to Li Xingtian, a Golden Core cultivator was likely stationed inside.
A direct assault would not be wise, as the place was likely equipped with a means to contact the sect.
The options were either to win quickly or to lure the enemy out.
However, this trip was only meant to gather information, not to take action.
Chu Xingchen took out paper and a brush from his spatial ring and quickly sketched a rough map of the area, noting the layout of the buildings and pathways.
He planned to take the map back and discuss it with Li Xingtian to determine the best course of action.
After finishing the sketch and storing it back in his spatial ring, Chu Xingchen was about to leave when someone entered the range of his alert spiritual sense.
A long sword instantly appeared in his hand as he scanned the intruder with his spiritual sense.
To his surprise, the person who had entered his range was an ordinary mortal with no cultivation at all.
What was going on?
Chu Xingchen concealed his aura and cautiously moved closer to investigate.
Soon, he saw the person who had entered his spiritual sense range.
It was a small, emaciated girl dressed in tattered hemp clothes, her body covered in dirt, and her dry, tangled hair hanging in clumps.
Her face was dirty, but her eyes were sharp and alert.
Chu Xingchen could clearly see the confusion and anxiety on her face as she nervously looked around.
He watched as she struggled to walk in one direction, only to unknowingly circle back to her starting point.
Was she trapped in the soul-confusing array?
Had she wandered in by accident, or was there more to it?
Chu Xingchen decided to use his system to check her attributes.
【Ning Qianqian】
【Cultivation: None】
【Blue Trait: Unyielding】
【Blue Trait: Loyal and Righteous】
【White Trait: Clever】
【Does not meet the requirements to become a disciple】
There were Qingfeng Sect disciples patrolling nearby, so it was clear that this thin, ragged girl wasn't with them.
She was most likely someone who had escaped from the mine.
Chu Xingchen suspected that, like Li Xingtian, she had been deceived by the Qingfeng Sect and forced into mining.
After a moment of thought, Chu Xingchen decided to take her away first. She might have useful information.
He put on a mask to hide his face.
Then, without hesitation, he grabbed the girl and used the earth escape technique to quickly leave the area.
"Immortal! Great Immortal!"
Ning Qianqian, tied to a tree, cried out, "I really just got lost!"
As she spoke, she secretly glanced at the person who had tied her up.
He was wearing a terrifying ghost mask, and his cold eyes bore into her.
The Qingfeng Sect was definitely up to no good!
Her father must have been tricked by those so-called immortals from the Qingfeng Sect.
Chu Xingchen looked at Ning Qianqian with exasperation. He hadn't wanted to tie her to a tree, but the girl had been completely uncooperative.
She had spat, thrown tantrums, and even pretended to be insane.
If he hadn't called her bluff, she would still be acting like a fool.
Chu Xingchen said irritably, "Stop crying. I'm not from the Qingfeng Sect."
Ning Qianqian continued to wail:
"Great Immortal, I don't know anything about the Qingfeng Sect! I really am just lost!"
Chu Xingchen didn't respond. Instead, he took out a large flatbread from his spatial ring and, despite Ning Qianqian's terrified expression, stuffed it into her mouth.
"You're as thin as a stick. How long has it been since you last ate?"
Fearing that the bread might contain some kind of immortal trick, Ning Qianqian shook her head and tried to refuse.
But as the soft crumbs entered her mouth, her hunger, which had been gnawing at her for days, overwhelmed her resistance.
She began to devour the bread without hesitation.
If she was going to die at the hands of this immortal, she might as well die with a full stomach!
Father! I've failed you! I couldn't save you, and now I'm going to die too.
Watching Ning Qianqian wolf down the bread, Chu Xingchen silently untied her and handed her a water flask.
At this point, Ning Qianqian had given up caring and eagerly drank the water.
The bread was quickly finished, and she looked at Chu Xingchen with longing eyes.
Chu Xingchen sighed, "You haven't eaten in a long time. You can't eat too much at once."
Ning Qianqian clearly didn't believe him, giving him a look that said, "Even immortals are stingy with a piece of bread."
But Chu Xingchen didn't explain further. Instead, he continued to question her: "What are you doing here? Did you escape from the mine?"
Ning Qianqian timidly glanced at the masked man and replied in a small voice:
"...I really am just lost."
Chu Xingchen stared at her for a moment, then decided not to press further. He took out some silver pieces and more bread from his spatial ring and handed them to her.
He then pointed in a direction and said, "If you don't want to talk, I won't force you. Go straight that way, and you'll reach a nearby town. This place is dangerous, so don't come back."
Ning Qianqian looked at the items forced into her arms in surprise. She then looked up and saw Chu Xingchen turning to leave without another word.
She couldn't help but call out:
"Great Immortal, wait!"