Chapter 14: Wait, Great Immortal!

The Qingfeng Sect's spirit stone mine was situated in a remote mountain valley, surrounded by lush greenery and clear waters. The picturesque scenery seemed almost ironic, given the ominous purpose of the mine. Here, faintly intelligent beasts roamed the woods, while a basic maze formation encircled the mine—likely designed to prevent miners from escaping or deter intruding beasts. Within this formation, any cultivator below the Foundation Establishment stage would find it nearly impossible to break free.

Chu Xingchen crouched on a rocky ledge, carefully observing the mine below, as Li Xingtian had previously informed him of its situation. Most of the miners here were low-level cultivators with poor spiritual roots, recruited from rural villages or desolate areas. Such individuals, with no background or potential to stir trouble, were convenient laborers for Qingfeng Sect. Anyone with even a hint of spiritual roots was taken, forcibly elevated to the second or third Qi Refinement layer through harsh medicinal baths that burned away their potential, then cast into the mines to toil until death.

Qingfeng Sect seemed to wear the mask of a righteous sect, while practicing the ways of an evil cult. After all, such practices would never escape the notice of the sect's high-ranking leaders.

Moving silently, Chu Xingchen bypassed the main entrance and climbed up a cliffside path, carefully concealing his aura as he observed the layout below. Several crude wooden huts were scattered around, but at the highest point, there stood a beautifully crafted building, where he noticed three Qingfeng Sect disciples in robes—two men and a woman. Their cultivation levels were indiscernible without scanning with spiritual sense, but Chu guessed they were likely Foundation Establishment cultivators, capable of hiding their spiritual energy.

Within the main mine area, the miners toiled with miserable expressions, pushing carts full of raw spirit stone ore toward a processing shed, where a few low-level cultivators were hammering away to separate the ore from the surrounding rock. Qingfeng Sect disciples leaned casually against the fence, watching the scene with mocking amusement.

As Chu surveyed the scene, his gaze shifted to a large warehouse-like building. Oddly, it was unguarded. According to Li Xingtian, the Golden Core cultivator overseeing the mine might be stationed there. A direct assault was out of the question; any commotion would likely summon reinforcements from the sect. A swift, stealthy strike or a well-executed diversion would be necessary.

Today, he was here only to survey the area, not to act. Chu Xingchen pulled out a piece of paper and quickly sketched the mine's layout, marking the key areas. After finishing his sketch and storing it in his spatial ring, he prepared to slip away. Suddenly, his spiritual sense picked up an unexpected presence—a figure had wandered into his alert range.

Startled, Chu conjured a sword and extended his spiritual sense to scan the intruder. To his surprise, it was merely a mortal, with no trace of cultivation.

What's going on?

Concealing his aura, Chu crept closer, observing a small, slender figure stumbling through the mine's perimeter. It was a young girl, thin to the point of emaciation, dressed in tattered hemp clothes, her face smudged with dirt and her tangled hair matted. Despite her ragged appearance, her eyes were bright, though filled with a lost, anxious look.

Chu watched her wander in circles, each time unknowingly returning to the same spot. She was caught in the maze formation—accidental, or had she been sent for some reason?

Furrowing his brow, Chu used his system to examine her attributes.

[Name: Ning Qianqian] [Cultivation Level: None]

Curious, Chu continued observing, wondering how this frail girl had managed to stumble into such a dangerous place.

[Blue Trait: Unyielding Determination]

[Blue Trait: Loyalty and Integrity]

[White Trait: Cleverness]

[Does Not Meet Disciple Requirements]

Chu Xingchen scanned the girl's traits through his system, confirming she was no ally of the Qingfeng Sect. Judging by her frail, dirt-streaked appearance, she was most likely a runaway from the mines, much like Li Xingtian, who had been lured into slave labor by the sect. After a moment's thought, Chu decided to take her away; perhaps he could gather some valuable information from her.

He took out a mask to conceal his face, then reached out and lifted the thin girl by her collar, whisking her away through the earth with his earth-escape technique.

"Great Immortal! Merciful Celestial!" Ning Qianqian wailed, bound to a tree and sobbing as she pleaded, "I swear, I'm really just lost!"

She stole a glance at the masked man who'd tied her up. His face hidden behind a demonic mask, his cold eyes regarded her with an unsettling calm.

She was right—something was deeply wrong with Qingfeng Sect. Her father must have been deceived by those so-called "celestial beings."

Chu Xingchen, feeling exasperated, studied the stubbornly resistant Ning Qianqian. He hadn't intended to tie her to a tree, but she'd left him no choice. She had spat, flailed, feigned madness—she'd even pretended to be feeble-minded until he exposed her act.

With a sigh, Chu said irritably, "Stop crying already. I'm not with Qingfeng Sect."

Still, Ning Qianqian continued her loud sobs.

"Oh, Great Immortal! I don't know anything about a Qingfeng Sect! I'm just lost!"

Chu cut her off by pulling out a large flatbread from his spatial ring and stuffing it in her mouth, silencing her protests with a mix of surprise and terror.

"Look at you, skinny as a stick. When was the last time you ate?"

Ning Qianqian eyed the flatbread suspiciously, fearing it might contain some kind of magical trick, but hunger soon overpowered her. Abandoning her reluctance, she tore into the bread voraciously. She figured, if she couldn't escape this immortal, at least she'd die with a full stomach.

Father! Forgive your foolish daughter for failing to save you…

Chu Xingchen watched her devour the bread, then loosened her bindings and handed her a water flask. She accepted it without hesitation, downing the water to wash down the last crumbs of bread. When she finished, she looked up at him, wide-eyed and hopeful.

Chu shook his head, saying, "You've gone too long without food. You shouldn't eat too much all at once."

Clearly, Ning Qianqian didn't believe him; her expression suggested she thought this immortal was stingy with his flatbreads. Chu, uninterested in explaining himself, continued with his questions.

"So, what are you doing here? Are you a runaway from the mines?"

Ning Qianqian cast a wary glance at him, replying timidly, "…I… I really am just lost."

Chu studied her carefully for a moment before deciding to let it go. Without pressing further, he took out some broken silver and another flatbread, pressing them into her hands.

"If you don't want to talk, I won't force you," he said, pointing in the direction of the nearest town. "Head that way. There's a small town nearby. It's dangerous here, so don't come wandering back."

Ning Qianqian looked down at the items he'd shoved into her hands, then back up at him in surprise. She watched as he turned to leave without another word.

"Wait, Great Immortal!" she called out, unable to hold back.