Chapter 29: The Long Watch Ends

The rising sun painted the desolate quarry landscape in harsh, revealing light. The carnage outside the low stone wall was stark – dozens of rocky hides belonging to the slain Rock Biter Lizards lay scattered across the disturbed earth, testament to the ferocity of the night's siege and the effectiveness of Lin Fan's defense. The immediate, pressing danger of the nocturnal assault had passed with the dawn.

Cautiously, the three mining disciples emerged from their barricaded barrack. Their eyes went wide as they took in the scene outside the wall, then landed on Lin Fan, who stood calmly atop the perimeter, his simple robe barely ruffled despite the night-long battle. Awe and profound relief were palpable on their faces.

"Senior Brother Lin!" the crew chief hurried over, bowing deeply, his companions following suit. "You... you held them off! All night! Look at this..." He gestured, almost speechless, at the slain lizards. "We haven't seen a defense like this since... well, ever!"

"The perimeter is secure for now," Lin Fan stated simply. "Did you rest?"

"Yes, Senior Brother, thank you! We actually slept!" the chief exclaimed, looking years younger without the immediate shadow of fear hanging over him. "Did you... did you see where they were coming from? Their nest?"

Lin Fan nodded, pointing towards the shadowed cleft in the mesa several hundred meters away. "The main concentration of activity originated from that cave entrance to the northeast. It's likely their primary nest."

The miners stared towards the location, expressions mixing fear with understanding. "That figures," the chief muttered. "We always suspected it was over there, but getting close... impossible for us. Hopefully, the sect sends a proper extermination team now that it's confirmed."

Lin Fan offered no comment on sect policy. His task was defense and identification, not extermination. "My duty lasts until sunset today. Maintain your caution, but the threat should be significantly lower during daylight hours."

The miners thanked him profusely again before returning somewhat nervously to their duties – assessing quarry conditions and perhaps tentatively resuming some surface-level Sunstone extraction now that they weren't actively under siege.

Lin Fan resumed his vigil. The day unfolded slowly under the relentless sun. The rocky landscape shimmered with heat haze, a stark contrast to the freezing winds of the Frozen Serpent Ridge. As predicted, the Rock Biter Lizards were largely absent during the day. Only twice did he detect movement – once, a lone fourth layer lizard cautiously scouting near the wall, which he dispatched instantly with a single, almost contemptuous Wind Blade, and later, a small group of three who attempted a half-hearted burrow near a weak point, which he disrupted with a Qi-infused ground stomp before they could make progress. These were dealt with so swiftly they barely registered as interruptions.

The long hours of daylight stretched before him. Standing idly wasn't his style. He sat cross-legged atop the wall, maintaining a vigilant awareness of his surroundings with his spiritual sense, while simultaneously optimizing his time. He drew upon the ambient spiritual energy – richer here than in his courtyard due to the underlying Sunstone deposits, carrying a faint Yang attribute – and circulated it via the Nine Cycles Refining Art. While not as explosive as using High-Grade Spirit Stones, it allowed him to steadily refine his Qi, further consolidating his fifth layer foundation and ensuring he remained at peak condition.

After a couple of hours of cultivation, seeking a mental shift, he retrieved the "Introduction to Pill Concoction" manual from his storage ring. Shielding the pages from the sun's glare, he began to read, absorbing the foundational knowledge. He reviewed the basic Qi Gathering Pill recipe, mentally noting his previous errors in control. He then moved on, reading about the properties of common Yang-attribute herbs, theories on neutralizing Yin-attribute poisons (perhaps relevant given the Yin Essence Bead he now possessed?), and the delicate process of extracting medicinal essence. He even used Basic Appraisal on a loose Sunstone pebble nearby: [Item: Raw Sunstone Fragment. Material: Yang-Attuned Quartz. Quality: Low-Grade Spiritual Material. Effect: Emits weak Yang Qi, useful in low-level Yang formations or specific warming concoctions.]. Interesting, but not directly related to the basic pills in his manual yet.

The study session provided a welcome mental distraction while his senses remained alert for any threat. It reinforced his understanding that alchemy was a deep, complex art requiring far more than just ingredients and a furnace.

The sun crawled across the sky. The 24-hour vigil, even with minimal daytime action, was a test of sustained alertness. Lesser cultivators might have grown complacent or fatigued, but Lin Fan's powerful spiritual sense and deep Qi reserves kept him sharp.

Finally, the sun began its descent once more, mirroring the scene from the previous evening. The 24-hour cycle he had committed to was nearing its end. The mining crew chief approached him hesitantly as the shadows lengthened.

"Senior Brother Lin," he began respectfully, holding up a small communication talisman. "Sunset is almost here, marking 24 hours since you arrived. Per sect procedure, I need to send confirmation of your successful defense completion back to the Contribution Hall. Is the perimeter secure for your departure?"

Lin Fan stood up, stretching slightly. He did one final, thorough sweep of the surroundings with his spiritual sense. The air was quiet, save for the evening breeze. No immediate signs of lizard activity. "The outpost is secure," he confirmed. "You may send the confirmation."

The chief activated the talisman, speaking briefly into it, confirming Lin Fan's name and the successful completion of the 24-hour defense task. A moment later, a faint acknowledgement light glowed on the talisman.

"Confirmation sent and received by the Hall, Senior Brother," the chief said, bowing again. "We... we cannot thank you enough. You have given us a chance to meet our quota and perhaps earn enough points for a transfer request."

Lin Fan gave a slight nod. Their fate was not his concern beyond the task completion. His Contribution Points were secured. He turned towards the direction of the sect, ready for the return journey.

Just as he prepared to take his first step using Wind Step, a low, distant rumble echoed from the direction of the mesa hiding the lizard nest. It wasn't the sound of digging, but something deeper, heavier... angrier? The ground vibrated almost imperceptibly.

Lin Fan paused, glancing back towards the nest location. The miners also heard it, their faces paling again. It seemed his 24-hour defense had repelled the horde, but perhaps angered something larger within the nest. That, however, was a problem for the sect's next extermination team, not for him. His task was done.

Without a backward glance at the fearful miners or the rumbling mesa, Lin Fan's figure blurred, Wind Step carrying him away from the Sunstone Quarry Outpost and into the rapidly gathering twilight, heading back to claim his reward.