Chapter Seventy-Nine: A Nighttime Exploration of the Spirit Vein

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In the depths of the night, Qingyang Peak was enveloped in utter silence, the moonlight casting a pale glow as a lithe figure darted through the shadows of the rear mountain. Qi Fei arrived at the ruins of the medicinal garden at the appointed hour, only to find Zhuo Jin’er had been waiting there for some time.

Upon seeing Qi Fei, Zhuo Jin’er’s lips curved into a smug smile. “Qi Fei, you really came. It seems it’ll be some time before I can call in those favors you owe me.”

“Miss Zhuo, I have come as promised. Now, will you finally reveal the truth behind all this?” Qi Fei asked, eager to get to the heart of the matter.

Zhuo Jin’er frowned, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Why are you in such a hurry? I, Zhuo Jin’er, keep my word—I won’t deceive you. But tonight, before anything else, we must find the source of Qingyang Peak’s spiritual vein.”

A flash of astonishment crossed Qi Fei’s face, his tone turning cold. “Zhuo Jin’er, you’re not thinking of coveting the spiritual vein of Qingyang Peak, are you? Let me warn you: this is the very foundation of my sect. You must not act recklessly.”

Zhuo Jin’er shot him an exasperated look. “Honestly, Qi Fei, aren’t you a little too calculating? When you want something from me, it’s all ‘Miss Zhuo’ this and that, but the moment I touch a sore spot, you call me by name. Do you believe I’ll destroy Qingyang Peak’s spiritual vein just to spite you?”

“I spoke out of turn. I’ll follow your lead in all things, will that suffice?” Eager to uncover the hidden truth, Qi Fei had no choice but to swallow his irritation.

With movements light as drifting willow catkins, Zhuo Jin’er leapt nimbly to a stone wall and beckoned to Qi Fei. “Come here, quickly.”

Though suspicious, Qi Fei dared not delay and hurried to her side.

He saw that an arcane barrier had long since been set up around the stone wall, a faint radiance shimmering over it. Qi Fei could sense a vast and powerful surge of spiritual energy flowing within the wall itself.

“Most likely, Xuan Zhen Temple feared damaging the source of the spiritual vein, which is why they never broke open the stone wall. The spiritual energy here remains undissipated—a stroke of fortune for your sect,” Zhuo Jin’er observed with delight. Then she turned and asked, “Qi Fei, do you trust me?”

Qi Fei was puzzled by the sudden question. “Are you looking for the truth or a convenient lie, Miss Zhuo?”

“I knew you didn’t trust me, but it doesn’t matter. After tonight, you’ll see what I’m capable of.”

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A glimmer flashed in Zhuo Jin’er’s eyes, sending a chill through Qi Fei’s heart. Wasn’t she supposed to reveal why she was so determined to kill Chu Yanran tonight? Why, instead, had she brought him to the source of the spiritual vein in the rear mountain? He prayed this sorceress of the Yin-Yang Path wouldn’t stir up trouble within the sect.

“Zhuo Jin’er, what exactly do you intend to do tonight?”

Beneath the moonlight, Zhuo Jin’er’s expression turned grave. “Sima Yan was humiliated and furious that day. He’ll fear being exposed for colluding with those of the demonic path and is sure to use Chu Yanran to silence us. You’re still injured, so tonight, I will use the secret arts of the Yin-Yang Path and the power of this spiritual vein to help you heal.”

“You mean to use the same method you employed at Wangyue Peak’s spiritual vein? That technique may be effective, but if the spiritual energy here is rapidly depleted, how will Danxia Sect maintain its footing on Cangyun Mountain in the future?” Qi Fei voiced his concerns, shaking his head.

Zhuo Jin’er replied coldly, “In my conversations with your fellow disciples these past days, I learned of your hardships here in the sect. Danxia Sect has done little for you—why be so cautious? Do you not wish to avenge your master?”

Qi Fei answered solemnly, “In the chaos of years past, Danxia Sect saved my life. Though I’ve suffered at the hands of villains in the outer court, my master has always treated me fairly. If Lu Qingxuan still held power, I’d not hesitate to kill him for the sake of my fortune, let alone destroy the spiritual vein. But now my master leads the sect, and Qingyang Peak is in ruins. I am not indecisive, but I cannot, in good conscience, destroy the sect’s foundation for my own recovery.”

Zhuo Jin’er lowered her gaze, determination flickering in her eyes before she looked up with a gentle laugh. “Enough, you needn’t worry. I was only teasing you. Chu Yanran is a master at the peak of martial cultivation; to break through, the spiritual vein at Wangyue Peak suffered great damage. Tonight, I only wish to use the Yin-Yang Path’s secret arts to heal you. The two situations are hardly the same.”

Qi Fei considered this for a moment, realizing he had indeed been overcautious. Though their relationship was one of mutual use, for the sake of their greater goals, Zhuo Jin’er needed his help as much as he needed hers. She would not harm him lightly. The thought of healing his wounded meridians filled Qi Fei with quiet joy.

“If that’s so, I’ll trouble you, Miss Zhuo.”

Zhuo Jin’er summoned a stream of arcane energy and pressed her palm gently to the stone wall. With the secret techniques of the Yin-Yang Path, the solid rock melted away like mud, opening a large hole.

Focusing his innate energy, Qi Fei peered inside and found a cavern beyond, aglow with rainbow hues. Before he could react, Zhuo Jin’er had already slipped inside. Sensing the abundant spiritual energy within, Qi Fei hurried after her.

Inside the pitch-black cavern, Zhuo Jin’er raised a luminous pearl, its soft glow guiding them deeper underground.

“The place where spiritual energy surges within this cave—could it be the very source of Qingyang Peak’s spiritual vein?” Qi Fei wondered. Xuan Zhen Temple had long held the peak; how could Zhuo Jin’er, a recent arrival, have discovered this source before them?

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“This is indeed the source of the spiritual vein. I found it by tracing the arcane barriers Xuan Zhen Temple set outside,” Zhuo Jin’er replied, her expression calm in the pale light.

Qi Fei’s heart settled at her words. It was a twist of fate: all the effort Xuan Zhen Temple put into their barriers had only benefited him and Zhuo Jin’er tonight.

Deeper in the cavern, they soon came upon a jade-colored stone pillar, radiant with overflowing spiritual energy.

Qi Fei gazed at the pillar, unable to restrain himself. He began to circulate the Xuantian Heart Sutra, drawing in the abundant energy. At once, the spiritual energy gathered around him, and as he absorbed it, his Ice-fire Martial Soul and Arcane Spirit transformed it into pure innate energy. The new energy coursed through his meridians in a gentle cycle, and he could feel his past injuries beginning to heal.

“Well? Isn’t the spiritual energy from this source truly extraordinary?” Zhuo Jin’er asked as Qi Fei ceased his practice.

“It is indeed unparalleled. If I remain here for a few days, my wounds will surely heal. I’m already deeply indebted to you, Miss Zhuo, and can’t trouble you further with your secret arts.”

Zhuo Jin’er’s face darkened. “Qi Fei, you know your meridians have been damaged more than once. Even with this wondrous energy, without the aid of my secret arts, you’ll be left with hidden ailments. If you don’t trust me, then let’s forget the whole thing—I’ll be on my way.”

She had a point. Qi Fei quickly replied, “If I didn’t trust you, would I have followed you into this cave tonight? I just worry about troubling you too much. How could I ever repay all these favors?”

“At least you know how to speak politely. I won’t bicker with you. Sit and draw in the energy—the rest is up to me.”

Qi Fei thought to himself: Zhuo Jin’er had aided him many times. If she meant him harm, she wouldn’t have gone to such trouble. Besides, he was still her key ally against Chu Yanran. She must be eager for his recovery so they could join forces against their enemy.

He still had not learned why Zhuo Jin’er was so determined to kill Chu Yanran, but for now, he did as she said. Sitting cross-legged, he began to draw in the spiritual energy from the heart of the spiritual vein, letting it flood his body as the healing began.