This spirituality was very similar to the fluctuations given off by Spirit Iron and Spirit Medicine. However, it was difficult to detect, perhaps because he had only just entered this realm.
If not for his powerful Heart Spirit and his mastery of Sword Intent, he might never have noticed this change.
There was another change—Enlightenment.
For the past few days, whenever he wasn’t cultivating, he spent most of his time contemplating the natural world.
While he hadn’t gained any profound insights, he discovered that this contemplation could strengthen and restore his Heart Spirit.
This feeling became even more pronounced after he began cultivating the Blood Prison Heart Blade Scripture. He could even restore his depleted Heart Spirit with this method instead of sleeping.
"Brother Xu, Senior Brother Zhou is back," an Outer Disciple suddenly reported.
Xu Yang ceased his cultivation and walked out of his courtyard to see Zhou Jiang following a middle-aged man into the mine.
The middle-aged man was none other than Zhao Qing, with whom Xu Yang was on relatively good terms.
When Xu Yang had revealed his Minor Achievement in Bone Marrow Cleansing Cultivation and entered the Ten Heroes List, Zhao Qing had sent him a congratulatory gift.
In addition to Zhou Jiang and Zhao Qing, there were two other Outer Disciples whom Xu Yang had seen before in the Outer Sect but didn’t know well.
He strode over, cupped his fist, and said, "Senior Brother Zhao, I didn’t realize you were coming to take over the mine. This is wonderful news."
Zhao Qing smiled and returned the gesture. "It’s hardly a good thing for me, Junior Brother Xu. I’ll be in your care from now on. I’ll defer to you on all matters."
Two Stewards had died in just over two months, along with Guan Du, a master at Marrow Cleansing Great Success, and three disciples at Gang Qi Great Success. None of the Outer Sect Stewards wanted this thankless job; they were all afraid of dying at Moon Lake.
He had no powerful backing, so he was the one assigned.
Fortunately, he had established a good relationship with Xu Yang early on. He figured as long as he deferred to Xu Yang, he should be safe.
Xu Yang shook his head. "You’re joking, Senior Brother Zhao. You’re the Steward of the mine. I should be listening to you."
Zhao Qing’s words were partly in jest, so he didn’t press the issue. "Junior Brother Xu, could we speak in private?"
Xu Yang nodded and led Zhao Qing into his courtyard.
Zhao Qing first took a Jade Box from his luggage and handed it to Xu Yang. "Gao Lin asked me to give this to you."
Xu Yang opened it to find a Dragon Tiger Great Golden Pill. He knew this was the provision from Elder Huoyun—one pill every three months—and immediately stored it away.
"Did Senior Brother Gao have any other messages for you to relay?"
’Even though he’d been flawless in handling the matters of Liu Xunjiang and Song Wenxuan, Liu Qingyuan was still an Elder of Tianquan Peak. He wasn’t sure if Elder Huoyun would still stand by him now that he had offended another Elder.’
’Logically, the best course of action would be for him to return to the Purple Sun Sect and lay low for a while.’
"Yes!"
Zhao Qing nodded. "Gao Lin wanted me to tell you that the Sect isn’t investigating Liu Xunjiang’s death, and Liu Qingyuan hasn’t made a move. However, the Song Family’s eldest son, Song Wenshan, has brought experts to the Yunling Mountain Range, and you need to be careful.
"Elder Huoyun can only guarantee that no Celestial Essence Strong Person will move against you. You’ll have to deal with anyone else on your own."
After speaking, he looked thoroughly dejected. Coming to Moon Lake now was like walking onto a battlefield; he could get caught in the crossfire at any moment.
Xu Yang breathed a sigh of relief that Celestial Essence experts wouldn’t get involved.
’It seems Elder Huoyun isn’t abandoning me,’ he thought. ’He’s using this as an opportunity to temper me.’
’Come to think of it, the Secondary Dragon Ascension is only about two and a half years away. Elder Huoyun has invested so much in me; of course he hopes I can succeed.’
’As for any real emotional attachment, there wasn’t much.’
’Elder Huoyun is more interested in producing a disciple who achieves the Secondary Dragon Ascension. So, when it comes to my life or death, you could say he cares, but you could also say he doesn’t.’
’He cares because he wants me to achieve the Secondary Dragon Ascension, so naturally, he doesn’t want me to die.’
’But if he truly cared, he wouldn’t make me face a behemoth like the Song Family alone. If I didn’t have an ace up my sleeve, facing a great clan like them would be practically a death sentence.’
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Zhao Qing quickly departed to familiarize himself with the mine’s operations.
’Song Wenshan!’
’According to Zhao Qing, Song Wenshan, the eldest son of the Song Clan Leader Song Shirong, is at Marrow Cleansing Great Success. His combat prowess is considered top-tier even among others in that realm. Ostensibly, he’s leading a group of Song Family experts into the Yunling Mountain Range to hunt the Wushan Four Fiends, but no one can guarantee they won’t come for me.’
’Gao Lin couldn’t find out how many experts the Song Family brought, but they probably wouldn’t make a move just yet.’
’After all, Song Wenxuan just died. If something were to happen to me immediately after, it would be difficult for the Song Family to answer to the Purple Sun Sect.’
In the days that followed, Xu Yang stuck to his daily cultivation routine. A month passed in the blink of an eye, and the Song Family still hadn’t appeared at the mine.
...
Somewhere in the Yunling Mountain Range, Song Wenshan and the Song Family experts had been searching for the Wushan Four Fiends for over a month, but to no avail.
The Yunling Mountain Range was simply too vast. Even with ten or a hundred times their number, finding a few specific people would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
If the Wushan Four Fiends were that easy to find, they wouldn’t have been able to run rampant in the Yunling Mountain Range for so many years.
"Young Master, do we continue?" asked Song Shizhao.
He was one of the Song Family’s experts at Marrow Cleansing Great Success and had come along to hunt the Wushan Four Fiends.
After a month without finding a single trace of the fiends, he knew that continuing the search was a waste of time.
However, he wasn’t the one in charge. The decision to continue rested with the young master, Song Wenshan.
"We’ll stop here," Song Wenshan sighed.
After more than a month, even his burning hatred had started to fade. No matter how immense his rage, it was useless if he couldn’t find his enemy.
They couldn’t just keep searching the Yunling Mountain Range indefinitely.
"Let’s get some rest. Then we’ll go to Moon Lake, kill Xu Yang, and head back. Bringing his head to the family will be explanation enough." Murderous intent surged in Song Wenshan’s eyes.
...
Night fell, the moon a platter of white jade.
The Yunling Mountain Range was far from peaceful at night. From time to time, the roars of massive beasts echoed through the towering mountains.
’How marvelous!’
Xu Yang’s Heart Spirit enveloped the mine, spreading outward. He saw Zhou Jiang and the others, already asleep; he saw the disciples patrolling in the darkness; he felt every breath of wind and rustle of grass on the grounds.
Before he had reached Marrow Cleansing Great Success, he could extend his Heart Spirit and perceive these things, but it had been a simple, direct observation, devoid of any deeper insight.
Now, after reaching Marrow Cleansing Great Success, his Heart Spirit seemed to be in harmony with the world. When he extended it, he gained this ability to "contemplate" the natural world. It was as if he became one with the mine itself, his Heart Spirit slowly growing stronger.
’This must be the so-called Unity of Heaven and Man. Before Marrow Cleansing Great Success, my cultivation was insufficient to harmonize with the world, so extending my Heart Spirit didn’t have this effect.’
Xu Yang’s Heart Spirit was tranquil as he felt the boundless majesty of the world and the wonder of nature.
’Hm?’
Suddenly, he felt a gaze fixed upon him, radiating killing intent and hostility.
No, strictly speaking, the gaze was on the mine. But since his Heart Spirit currently covered the entire area, it felt as if it was fixed on him.
Two gazes!
Three!
Before he could think further, he detected several more. A total of four gazes, all carrying immense pressure.
’Four Martial Artists at Marrow Cleansing Great Success, watching the mine from the shadows?’
’To be lurking near the mine at this hour, staring with such hostility... they’re clearly up to no good.’
’Could it be the Song Family’s experts?’ The thought struck him.
He immediately rolled out of bed and snatched Red Blood from its place by his pillow. Like a phantom, he vanished into the night.
...
"Young Master, that’s the Purple Sun Sect’s Moon Lake Mine," Song Shizhao said, pointing to the nearby site.
Song Wenshan nodded. "Do we know how many experts are stationed here?"
He wouldn’t act rashly. It was best to clarify the situation first.
Song Shizhao replied, "This is just a small mine with low output. Normally, it’s staffed by ten Outer Disciples at the Gang Qi Realm, one Outer Sect Steward who has just entered the Marrow Cleansing realm, and Xu Yang."