Investment Return System, Start by taking Demon Empress as a Disciple

Chapter 109: Harvesting Spiritual Veins, What Are the Elders Sneaking a Bite Of?

As Chen Daoxuan was basking in the joy of acquiring system points, he was just about to calculate the total contribution the Ren Family had made to his points.

"Boom—" A deafening explosion resounded from deep beneath the earth's surface, accompanied by a surge of terrifying spiritual energy rapidly expanding, ready to burst forth from the ground. As the ground trembled violently in response to the explosion, towering trees collapsed with a resounding crash.

"Not good! The spiritual vein is detonating! We're done for, completely done…"

The two elders of the Holy Mountain only realized the situation upon hearing the commotion. They had been too absorbed in their astonishment at Chen Daoxuan's horrifying mystical art, inadvertently overlooking the Ren Family Lord's act of triggering the spiritual vein explosion.

The Ren Family's spiritual vein extended underground for thousands of miles, encompassing an immense area. Once triggered, there would be no time to escape. Within a radius of a thousand miles, all living beings, even the powerful cultivators of the Void Refining Realm, would be reduced to nothingness in the ensuing spiritual explosion.

"Senior Chen, the spiritual explosion has begun and is irreversible! Please, senior, lend a helping hand!"

The elder of the Holy Mountain bowed urgently to Chen Daoxuan, his voice fraught with anxiety.

Having encountered Chen Daoxuan twice before, he was aware of the mysterious technique that allowed him to traverse space. The elder's daring intervention against the detonation must have been bolstered by this secret art. Now, their only hope for survival lay in persuading Chen Daoxuan to take them away with him.

Chen Daoxuan casually glanced at the elder as if nothing were amiss, but he showed no intention of taking any action. Meanwhile, Leng Yanran and Li Yourong, who were well aware of the terrifying strength of their Master, remained remarkably composed.

Li Yourong, in particular, gazed at the ground with excitement, curious to witness the nature of this explosion that even made the elders wary.

In the blink of an eye, deep and unfathomable chasms began to appear in the ground. A frenzy of spiritual energy surged out from within, forming a terrifying storm.

"This spiritual vein might just be perfect to take back…"

Chen Daoxuan stroked his chin in thought. Originally, he had intended to casually resolve this spiritual explosion. However, his eyes brightened suddenly as he realized the value of a spiritual vein. Such a precious resource should not be squandered!

"Senior… we're running out of time!"

The elder beside him urged with intense anxiety. Yet, in response to the elder's puzzled expression, Chen Daoxuan merely raised his palm slightly and pressed it towards the spiritual vein.

In an instant, the spiritual energy that was previously surging outward began to rapidly contract, burrowing back into the chasms in the ground.

"What!? He actually suppressed the already detonated spiritual vein!? What kind of divine technique is this!!!"

The elder's jaw nearly dropped to the ground upon witnessing this scene. Chen Daoxuan, noticing that the suppression of the spiritual vein was nearing completion, casually reached out in the air.

"Rumble—"

A more intense tremor ensued, startling the two elders of the Holy Mountain. They thought the spiritual vein was collapsing once again. However, right after, under their astonished gaze, Chen Daoxuan pulled one end of the spiritual vein out of the ground. To prevent damaging the ground over the thousand-mile span, he left an opening.

This spiritual vein, stretching for a full thousand miles, appeared before their eyes in a matter of moments, suspended in midair.

"Incredible… simply incredible! This technique has reached unimaginable heights! I've never heard of anyone forcibly extracting a spiritual vein without destroying it!"

The two elders of the Holy Mountain were dumbfounded, their voices reduced to murmurs.

"Retrieve."

Then, Chen Daoxuan frowned slightly, feeling that the spiritual vein was too large. With a simple point in the air, he transformed the spiritual vein into a size akin to a loach. Upon closer inspection, it took the form of a dragon.

With another casual gesture, he stored the miniature dragon-shaped spiritual vein in his palm. The function of a spiritual vein was not insignificant – not only could it enhance the cultivation of those who occupied it, but it could also bestow blessings of fortune.

Now that he had safely stored the spiritual vein away, Chen Daoxuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Crackle, crackle…"

The second elder of the Holy Mountain was trembling all over, teeth chattering audibly. As he looked at Chen Daoxuan's figure, he seemed to have encountered a ghostly apparition. Although the Great Elder was somewhat better off, the cold sweat had soaked his entire body.

"Huh? Second Elder, what tasty treats are you secretly enjoying? You see, I also want some. Can you share a bit with me, Second Elder?

Li Yourong, from beginning to end, gazed curiously at the spiritual vein, not sensing any terrifying power from it. Upon hearing the sound of the second elder's teeth chattering, she perked up her ears, quickly speaking up to express her own hunger.

"I… I haven't eaten anything… I… crackle, crackle… this is… just scared… crackle, crackle."

The second elder's teeth continued to collide, and he answered Yourong's question in a stumbling and awkward manner, his face full of embarrassment.

Imagine, he, a powerful existence at the Divinity Separation Realm, one of the top figures in the Eastern Domain, was reduced to such a state by fear. Moreover, only Li Yourong, at the Profound Sky Realm Seventh Layer, remained calm without a hint of panic, making him feel utterly ashamed.

"Hmm? Wait, when did Yourong advance to the Profound Sky Realm Seventh Layer? I remember that when she left the mountain, she was only at the Profound Sky Realm Fifth Layer!"

Suddenly, the second elder realized something, his shock freezing him in place.

In less than a month's time, Yourong had broken through from the Profound Sky Realm Fifth Layer to the Seventh Layer? What had transpired during this period? How much excruciating pain had she endured to achieve such a swift advancement within less than a month, traversing two realms?

"You two, what were you discussing just now?"

Chen Daoxuan, having completed everything, turned his head to look at the elders and inquired softly. He vaguely recalled that it seemed like they wanted him to take them along in a hurry, mentioning something about running out of time.

"Uh, it's nothing, Senior, no need to worry about it."

The Great Elder noticed Chen Daoxuan's gaze and bent his waist even more. He had initially suspected that Chen Daoxuan might be a Void Refining Realm expert, but now it seemed he was utterly wrong.

Void Refining Realm experts couldn't possibly achieve this level. Just what kind of unparalleled powerhouse was Senior Chen Daoxuan?

"Oh, well, never mind if it's nothing. By the way, Yanran, Yourong, how did you find the scripture that your master gave you to study?"

Chen Daoxuan turned his head again, this time towards his two disciples, and asked in a gentle voice.

"Informing Master, on the way, your disciple has already memorized the 'Great Compassion Mantra for Transcendence' that Master bestowed, but it has never been used before, and I am unsure of its effects," said Leng Yanran respectfully upon hearing the words of her Master.

"Re-Revealing to Master, there was Y-Yourong on the way… Yourong, um… didn't learn…"

Li Yourong's hands kept tapping together incessantly as she spoke, and the more she continued, the deeper her head buried, until finally, she buried her face in her own ripples.