Four Eyebrow Mountain was located on the outer edge of the Celestial Profound Mountain Domain. It took Wen Qingye a full seven days to finally arrive.

Through the dark and gloomy forest, a massive cave entrance appeared before him. A middle-aged man in green stood at the entrance. One by one, disciples walked up to the man and handed over their Jade Scrolls.

Among these disciples were not only Registered Disciples, but also servant disciples, and even a few Core Disciples. After handing over their Jade Scrolls, they slowly walked toward the cave entrance.

However, the path to the entrance wasn’t entirely smooth. When some disciples stepped forward, a stone on a nearby Jade Pearl would emit a faint red halo. The halo was captivatingly beautiful, alluring to the soul.

"Place your Sumeru Rings here," the man in green said, taking out a bowl and addressing those disciples.

Those disciples had no choice but to take off their Sumeru Rings and place them in the bowl.

’The Celestial Profound Sect must be afraid of dishonest disciples, so they set up this Array to inspect everyone, making them hand over their Sumeru Rings first to prevent them from privately hoarding any gains.’

Before long, it was Wen Qingye’s turn.

The man took the Jade Scroll without even glancing at Wen Qingye, as if the name meant nothing to him and stirred no emotional response.

Wen Qingye walked up to the Jade Pillar. Just as he expected, the pillar showed no reaction. With a calm expression, he walked into the depths of the cave at a steady, unhurried pace.

’How could a paltry Array from the Celestial Profound Sect possibly detect Wen Qingye’s Sumeru Ring?’

"Woah!"

As Wen Qingye stepped into the cave, he found it was not dark and gloomy at all; on the contrary, it was quite bright.

The ceiling was several dozen feet high, and dozens of passages opened up before Wen Qingye, each leading to a different area within.

Wen Qingye casually chose a passage. Along the way, he constantly saw signs of previous mining. Before long, he came across even more forks in the path.

The Four-Eyebrow Mountain Mine Cave was like a sprawling, crisscrossing labyrinth. It seemed one could mine ore just about anywhere. Along the way, Wen Qingye saw many other disciples.

Some disciples had specialized tools, using pickaxes they had refined themselves. Many others used their swords, and some even used their bare hands.

Wen Qingye, of course, wasn’t going to just pick a spot and try his luck. He had his own methods.

A beautiful, captivating purple light appeared on his right index and middle fingers. He slowly brushed that strange light across his eyes.

TCHSS!

Wen Qingye felt his eyes suddenly brighten. He could see straight through the thick earth, as if the Primordial Stones hidden beneath the surface were laid bare before him.

This was an Ancient Secret Technique: the Spirit Communication Eye!

This Secret Technique could not only see fluctuations in Primordial Qi but could even perceive things like Yin Soul Remnants and Ghost Transformations.

Using the Spirit Communication Eye, Wen Qingye felt the environment immediately become much clearer. The density of the Primordial Stones was now plain for him to see.

Wen Qingye swept his gaze around. The area he had just walked through had a few Top-Grade Primordial Stones buried beneath, but naturally, he wasn’t interested.

He continued forward.

But after just a few steps, Wen Qingye heard a familiar voice.

Deeper inside and ahead of him, Nie Shuang was leaning against a stone wall, his arm stained with blood. A woman stood before him. She was quite beautiful, and a hint of nervousness was visible in her eyes as she looked down at Nie Shuang’s arm.

’This woman’s cultivation is impressive. She’s definitely not a Registered Disciple.’ This was Wen Qingye’s first impression of her.

Nie Shuang gritted his teeth against the pain and said, "Senior Sister, thank you so much this time. If it weren’t for you..."

The woman frowned. "I’m not your Senior Sister."

Nie Shuang was suddenly embarrassed, standing there at a loss for what to do.

...

Seeing this, Wen Qingye thought for a moment before deciding to take a different path and leave.

’That woman doesn’t seem to have any ill intentions, and I still need to search for ore. It’s just that the wound on Nie Shuang’s arm doesn’t look like it was caused by a person, but more like a monster.’

At this thought, Wen Qingye grew more vigilant.

’It seems there’s more to this Four-Eyebrow Mountain Mine Cave than meets the eye.’

Sure enough, he only walked a short while longer.

WHOOSH!

A black shadow suddenly lunged at Wen Qingye.

A Stone Beast!

Stone Beasts were creatures that grew near Primordial Stone Ore Veins, frequently absorbing the Primordial Qi from the underground Primordial Stones. They were also called Primordial Beasts. A Stone Beast’s cultivation was not fixed; some were at the Refining Essence Realm, while others were at the Yin Yang Realm. The one before him was roughly at the Yin Yang Realm Second Level.

Furthermore, by absorbing subterranean Primordial Qi over many years, a Stone Beast forms a Stone Beast Pearl inside its body. This pearl contained the entirety of the beast’s physical essence.

Wen Qingye focused his eyes and saw that the black shadow looked somewhat like a tiger or leopard, yet with some differences. Its black tail was covered in sharp spikes, and its claws were sharp and powerful as it viciously tore through the air toward him.

Wen Qingye quickly drew his One Thought Sword, holding the blade horizontally to block in front of his chest.

BANG!

When the sharp claws struck the Basic King Grade One Thought Sword, they might as well have been made of tofu. Blood sprayed wildly as a bloodcurdling shriek echoed through the cave.

The Stone Beast was now crouched on the ground, its two front paws trembling as blood streamed from them. Its emerald eyes, filled with hatred and fury, were locked on Wen Qingye.

Wen Qingye knew the Stone Beast had now marked him for death. If he didn’t kill it now, it would stalk him relentlessly and deliver a fatal blow at the most critical moment.

At this thought, a cold killing intent rose in Wen Qingye’s heart. He moved like a slithering dragon, his sword an unerring bolt of lightning striking toward the Stone Beast’s throat.

The Stone Beast’s paws were injured, and its speed was greatly reduced. Knowing it couldn’t escape Wen Qingye’s strike, it twisted its body and swept its iron-like tail heavily toward him.

The light from the sword in Wen Qingye’s hand split, erupting in a dazzling cyan radiance.

SWISH!

The cyan Sword Aura swept past, and Wen Qingye sliced the Stone Beast’s iron tail in two.

The Stone Beast whimpered, not yet recovered from the last blow, when Wen Qingye’s sword pierced straight through its throat.

In an instant, blood sprayed violently!

THUD!

Just like that, the body of the Yin Yang Realm Second Level Stone Beast collapsed.

Wen Qingye sheathed his sword and walked over to the Stone Beast. With a heavy palm strike, its body dissolved into a pool of blood, in the middle of which lay a white pearl—the complete essence of the Stone Beast.

Wen Qingye walked over and slowly stored the Stone Beast Pearl in his Sumeru Ring.