"This name... it sounds so familiar..."
The black-robed man furrowed his brows tightly, and then realization struck him.
"Isn't that the purple-robed woman who killed Fifth Brother?"
His fury erupted like wildfire. "Witch! She dares to kill not one but two of my brothers. Eldest Brother will surely avenge you both!"
Seven days later.
On the flying vessel, Yao Ranran stepped out of the cabin.
A rainbow streak of light approached—the message from Nie Rong had arrived again.
"Master, come quickly to Central Continent's Duanya Mountain. A small secret realm has sprung a leak in its spiritual energy. I suspect there's a high chance a minor spiritual vein lies beneath it!"
"A minor spiritual vein? That's worth at least ten million spirit stones!"
Meng Xiangxiang, who had silently appeared at the cabin door, exclaimed in surprise.
Yao Ranran smiled faintly. "You heard him. Our next stop is... Duanya Mountain."
The so-called Immortal Tea in Qingshui County was indeed poisonous, but it would not immediately claim lives.
From Meng Xiangxiang's observations, that tea was nothing more than the black-robed man's method of controlling the people of Qingshui County. Now that the black-robed man was dead, there was no need to worry about the townsfolk dying from the poison.
Yao Ranran's original goal was to escort Zhou Lili back to Biluo Sect. With the sudden emergence of a spiritual vein, she had no reason not to divert to Duanya Mountain.
The flying vessel streaked like lightning, arriving at the mountain's entrance.
Nie Rong and Zhou Lili were hiding behind a massive boulder when the vessel descended right behind them.
The transmission talisman slipped from Nie Rong's hand. Alarm shot through him. "Damn, which great sect's disciples are these? Don't tell me others also know about the spirit leakage?"
Zhou Lili's face grew pale with worry. "A flying vessel! Elder Nie, we cannot possibly contend with them. Before Fairy Ranran arrives, we should escape at once!"
As the sect master's daughter, she knew well the value of a spiritual vein.
The strength of a sect was often measured by the quality of its veins. Great sects and powerful clans had domains with high-grade veins. Biluo Sect, for example, had nothing more than a minor spiritual vein.
Zhou Lili was reluctant to give up this chance, but if disciples from some powerful sect discovered them here, they would not only lose the vein but might also be silenced for knowing too much.
Nie Rong hesitated.
His strength had not yet fully recovered, and with Zhou Lili beside him he could not recklessly act. If the intruders were elders of some major sect, retreat would be his only choice.
"Where is the minor vein? Seeing you both safe puts my heart at ease."
Yao Ranran stepped out of the flying vessel with Meng Xiangxiang trailing behind.
Both Nie Rong and Zhou Lili's eyes widened in shock.
"Master?"
"Fairy Ranran?"
Yao Ranran chuckled. "And this one here is my new acquaintance, Meng Xiangxiang Daoyou."
Nie Rong blinked and pointed at the vessel. "That flying vessel..."
Zhou Lili's jaw dropped. "This vessel... Fairy, which sect did you rob?"
???
Yao Ranran was full of question marks.
Did she look like that sort of person?
"Do you not know I am a refiner?"
"We know, but... surely you don't mean this vessel was refined by you?" Zhou Lili asked in disbelief.
Yao Ranran smiled. "Its speed is good enough, though it does consume quite a lot of spirit stones."
Nie Rong's face shifted from shock to sheer excitement. He caressed the vessel's surface reverently. "Master, you are truly amazing. I have been in Wuxiang Sect for so many years and never owned a single flying vessel!"
Catching the envy in his eyes, Yao Ranran laughed lightly. "If you prepare the materials, I can refine one for you."
Nie Rong was stunned. "R-really?"
Yao Ranran: "Provided you lead me to that minor spiritual vein."
A minor spiritual vein—ten million spirit stones' worth!
The corners of Yao Ranran's lips curled upward. This trip to Central Continent was proving fruitful indeed.
Nie Rong's cheeks flushed with excitement. "Good, good, good! I will take Master there right away!"
Zhou Lili could not help but envy him. If only Biluo Sect could have such a vessel.
"Oh, Physician Zhou," Yao Ranran added suddenly, "your father has already broken through to the Golden Core. When you return, gather materials for a vessel and give them to me. Consider it a congratulatory gift from me."
Zhou Lili's face lit up in shock and delight. "Many thanks, Fairy Ranran. Biluo Sect will follow you unto death!"
Without delay, the group concealed the ostentatious vessel and plunged into Duanya Mountain.
Not long after they entered, a grand carriage descended from the skies, streaking two blazing trails across the clouds before landing atop the mountain.
From within the ornate carriage stepped a man and woman dressed in splendid robes.
Yu Zhenyan gazed at the steep, knife-like cliffs of Duanya Mountain, then turned with a smile. "Ye Daoyou, this aura leakage is indeed a sign that a minor spiritual vein is surfacing!"
The man she addressed, Ye Nantian, was the son of the patriarch of the Ye family—one of Central Continent's three great clans.
The Ye family and Yu family had long discussed an alliance through marriage. The two patriarchs had been in talks when news arrived that Duanya Mountain had sprouted a vein. Seizing the opportunity to foster harmony between their heirs, they dispatched the two juniors together, with instructions to seize the vein.
Ye Nantian surveyed the land arrogantly, then tossed out eight dao plaques. They expanded midair, embedding themselves in the eight corners of Duanya Mountain like towering pillars.
"I have sealed the mountain. No one may enter. Even those already inside will not escape."
A smile curled across Ye Nantian's lips. As heir to the Ye clan, this task was his to complete. He would bring the minor spiritual vein back to his family and present it as a gift to his betrothed standing beside him.
Yu Zhenyan was pleased. "Ye Daoyou is thoughtful indeed. Although Duanya Mountain is usually deserted, stray loose cultivators do occasionally train here."
Basked in her praise, Ye Nantian's mood soared. He smirked. "Come, Yu Daoyou. Let us unearth this vein at once."
Inside the mountain, the ground shook violently.
Nie Rong's expression darkened as he scanned the surroundings. "Duanya Mountain has been sealed!"
Zhou Lili's voice trembled. "Elder Nie, who could have done this? Could it really be that disciples of some great family have discovered the vein?"
Nie Rong solemnly studied the dao plaques rooted into the mountain peaks. His brows knitted tight. "That aura feels familiar..."
"Ye family's dao plaques?" Yao Ranran asked curiously.
Nie Rong's eyes widened with realization. "Yes, the aura belongs to the Ye family. Master, your divine insight is extraordinary!"
Yao Ranran rolled her eyes at him. "Did you not see the massive character 'Ye' engraved at the base of each plaque?"
At her words, both Nie Rong and Zhou Lili looked again.
Sure enough, at the bottom of each of the eight plaques, the character "Ye" was plainly carved.