"Whoosh..."
The next moment, Qin Changkong flew towards the direction of the cave.
With his strength at the Tribulation Stage.
This short distance was naturally covered in an instant.
"Indeed, there are traces!"
Qin Changkong released his divine sense and quickly sensed the traces left by Lin Tianxuan and Xiao Junlin's activities, his face lighting up with joy.
"Something's wrong!"
Upon reaching the entrance of the cave, Qin Changkong suddenly stopped.
He could indeed enter now.
However.
He couldn't guarantee that he hadn't been discovered by other experts when he arrived, what if he was being followed...
If this secret were to be leaked, even as a Tribulation Stage expert, he would absolutely not live to see tomorrow!
The temptation of a spirit stone mine was too great.
How many people could remain unfazed in the face of the immense temptation of a spirit stone mine? At least he, Qin Changkong, couldn't.
"Swish!"
Immediately, Qin Changkong took out an item.
This item was round and smooth, divided into black and white, with yin and yang carved within. It was Qin Changkong's famed treasure, the Yin-Yang Illusion Pearl!
The Yin-Yang Illusion Pearl was a Earth-tier magical treasure.
As long as the user's strength reached the Tribulation Stage, they could easily cast a powerful illusion formation.
Even for fellow Tribulation Stage experts.
Upon encountering the illusion formation, without careful investigation, they might not be able to discover its intricacies, let alone break it.
This was Qin Changkong's method.
He would use the illusion formation to conceal everything, then enter himself, extract all the spirit stones from the spirit stone mine, and then destroy the mine shaft.
Thus, it would be done without anyone's knowledge!
This place would no longer hold any clues for others to discover.
And he could use the spirit stones within to constantly refine himself.
In time.
It was not impossible for him to surpass the Sect Master of Tianshan Sword Sect.
Perhaps, one day, he could even outshine Ji Xianyuan, the Palace Master of Xuanyuan Palace!
At this moment, Qin Changkong was unprecedentedly arrogant.
"Splash..."
As the Yin-Yang Illusion Pearl was activated, the next moment, this place transformed into a mountain body identical to the surroundings, with no cave in sight.
Even a Mahayana Stage expert would not be able to discern any difference.
A Tribulation Stage expert would have to probe very carefully with their divine sense.
"Swish!"
Afterward, Qin Changkong swiftly entered the cave.
Spirit stone mine.
"They're here!"
The small tower suddenly issued a stern warning: "Bai Zihe, hide in the Haotian Tower for now, don't come out again!"
"Hmm?"
Although Bai Zihe didn't understand, he didn't doubt it and quickly entered the Haotian Tower. Even though there were tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of spirit stones outside.
Including top-grade spirit stones!
But the next scene left Bai Zihe dumbfounded.
He suddenly realized that the Haotian Tower had become transparent, allowing him to see the outside scene with ease.
"Splash..."
The Haotian Tower suddenly flew up on its own.
"Swish!"
"Whoosh, whoosh..."
"Swish, swish, swish!"
It continuously flew through the spirit stone mine. Wherever it passed, spirit stones within a radius of ten to twenty feet seemed to be drawn, actively flying into the Haotian Tower.
In the blink of an eye.
The Haotian Tower had flown from one end to the other of the spirit stone mine.
The remaining spirit stones were also almost completely cleared.
Only.
A few pieces in the grooves and nooks and crannies remained.
In total, it should not exceed a hundred pieces!
"This..."
Bai Zihe was immediately overjoyed.
Not only were all the spirit stones obtained, but the Haotian Tower had also unlocked a new function. This was a double blessing. Xiao Junlin had made a great contribution on this trip!
"Whoosh!"
The next moment.
The Haotian Tower voluntarily landed in an inconspicuous corner.
Then, the voice of the Haotian Tower came, "They're here!"
Here?
Bai Zihe's heart stirred, and he quickly understood.
"Rumble..."
Almost the instant the words fell.
A deafening roar came from outside. Perhaps it was intentional by the Haotian Tower, but Bai Zihe also heard the commotion.
"Rumble!"
Another sound followed.
Bai Zihe saw that the cave entrance, which Xiao Junlin had concealed, was violently blown open. Then, a figure appeared in his sight.
This person was powerfully built, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, and a hooked nose. He was clearly not an ordinary person.
Bai Zihe immediately thought of Qin Changkong.
He secretly thought "Not good" and wanted to remind the small tower.
However...
Inside the mine shaft, the Haotian Tower had long since turned into a handful of soil, lying on the ground, indistinguishable from other soil.
"Hmm?"
After Qin Changkong entered, the first thing he saw was Xiao Junlin lying on the ground. His primordial spirit was dead, but his body was still there, unharmed.
"Primordial spirit has left the body?"
Qin Changkong's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't show much emotion. Instead, he kicked Xiao Junlin's body away.
To him.
Xiao Junlin was just a very ordinary disciple, and his death was just that.
Now, the most important thing was the spirit stone mine.
Thus, Qin Changkong looked ahead.
Upon looking...
Qin Changkong's eyes widened in fury, and he was enraged.
What he saw was a huge cavity hundreds of feet long and ten to twenty feet high and wide.
Inside the cavity...
There were only sparse remnants of low-quality spirit stones, not even up to the quality of low-grade spirit stones, with no significant spiritual energy.
Besides this.
Because of the long-term presence of spirit stones, the spiritual energy here was extremely abundant.
But now...
It was empty, with nothing left.
No spirit stones, and no Bai Zihe!
"Impossible!"
In his rage, Qin Changkong slammed his palm onto the nearby cave wall.
Instantly.
The vast palm force was unleashed without reservation. In just a blink of an eye, it almost caused the cave to collapse and be destroyed.
This showed the extent of Qin Changkong's fury.
"Bai Zihe, you are definitely still here, you can't escape!"
A sinister light flashed in Qin Changkong's eyes as he muttered incessantly.
He had rushed over from Tianshan Sword Sect at full speed, and it had taken less than half an hour. For Bai Zihe to clear out all the spirit stones here in half an hour and escape before he arrived...
This was fundamentally impossible.
Even Qin Changkong, with his storage bag covering a radius of thirty feet, couldn't store so many spirit stones.
"Perhaps..."
A cold glint flashed in Qin Changkong's eyes: "This Bai Zihe also possesses a treasure similar to a storage bag, which is why he could clear it all out!"
"But!"
Qin Changkong's fierce gaze swept around, and he roared, "Bai Zihe, I know you are still here, you can't escape!"
"Hand over the spirit stones obediently, and perhaps... I can be merciful and spare your dog life!"
"If you persist in your stubbornness..."
"Once I catch you, I will surely skin you alive, extract your soul, and permanently imprison you within Tianshan Sword Sect, never to be reincarnated for eternity!"