Lin Xuanchen crouched in the shadows of the mine, his eyes fixed on the white-clad girl running before him and the Blood Killing Sect cultivators pursuing him.
The girl looked young, perhaps eighteen or nineteen, with delicate features. Though disheveled, she exuded a unique aura. That aura seemed like a natural barrier, purifying the polluted air around her.
"That's..."
A series of messages suddenly flashed through Lin Xuanchen's mind:
[System Alert: This woman has a unique identity, suspected to be an orphan of the "Lingyin Sect," a branch of the Blood Killing Sect]
[The Blood Killing Sect and the Lin family have an old feud; the girl may be a key figure]
[Should I intervene to rescue her? This move is extremely risky]
[Current Protection Countdown: 65 hours and 27 minutes]
Lin Xuanchen's brow furrowed. The protection countdown continued to tick, and he knew this was a life-or-death decision.
"Help!" he said without hesitation.
He swiftly leaped from the shadows, wielding his pickaxe across the air, forcibly blocking the two pursuing cultivators.
"Dare a miner to stand in the way of our sect's law enforcers? You're courting death!"
The leading cultivator roared, his spiritual energy surging. A black whip shadow slashed down like a dragon emerging from the sea.
Lin Xuanchen gritted his teeth and resisted, dodging nimbly, but the pickaxe was worn out, and his arms throbbed with pain.
Just as the two sides were in a stalemate, the girl in white suddenly turned, muttering a spell.
A light blue spiritual shield instantly enveloped Lin Xuanchen, blocking the fatal blow.
"Hurry!" the girl's voice was cold but firm.
Lin Xuanchen nodded and pulled her along, sprinting deeper into the mine.
As the two fled, the girl slowly spoke:
"My name is Su Qingyin... and who are you?"
"Lin Xuanchen, a miner with useless spiritual roots." He smiled wryly. "Now I have some hope of cultivating."
Su Qingyin stared at him: "If you can help me escape the Blood Killing Sect, perhaps... you can change the fate of all of us."
As he spoke, a murderous aura suddenly rose from behind, and the Blood Killing Sect cultivators were in hot pursuit.
"Don't let them catch up!" Su Qingyin hurriedly said.
Lin Xuanchen looked down at the freshly picked Pure Spirit Herb in his hand, and a thought crossed his mind:
"System, can you help me?"
[System Notice: Insufficient Energy Points, Unable to Use Ultimate Attack]
[Recommended Using Pure Spirit Herb to Refine a Potion to Increase Physical Strength and Spiritual Energy Recovery]
[Do you want to refine it now?]
Lin Xuanchen nodded decisively, took out his simple alchemy potion, and began to brew the Pure Spirit Herb Potion.
In the firelight, he felt the spiritual energy slowly flowing back into his body, his strength gradually returning.
"Go!" he shouted.
The two men moved like the wind, using the mine's complex terrain to successfully evade their pursuers.
After escaping the mine, they arrived at a hidden valley.
"This is the ruins of the Lingyin Sect. My family once cultivated here," Su Qingyin's voice trailed off. "The Blood Killing Sect is hunting us for the secrets here."
Lin Xuanchen asked gravely, "What secret are you talking about?"
Su Qingyin's eyes were determined. "An ancient secret method that can reshape spiritual roots... Legend has it that only the Lingyin Sect possesses it."
Lin Xuanchen's heart trembled.
"Reshaping spiritual roots... This is exactly what I've dreamed of."
"If you and I can work together, we can break free from these shackles," Su Qingyin whispered.
In the distance, the roars of the Blood Killing Sect's pursuers gradually faded.
But the danger was far from over.
Lin Xuanchen gazed at the starry sky and vowed to himself:
"I, Lin Xuanchen, will no longer be manipulated by others. No matter how difficult it may be, I will create my own world!"
The valley was tranquil and picturesque, with swaying bamboo and a gurgling stream.
Lin Xuanchen and Su Qingyin stood side by side in front of the ancient stone gate of the Lingyin Ruins.
The stone gate, engraved with ancient runes, emanated a faint blue light, as if imbued with ancient spiritual power.