[Uncle Wang Awakens]
Thanks to the Spirit‑Foxes’ care and the system’s aid, Uncle Wang’s recovery advanced quickly. After several days of rest, his breathing steadied and color returned to his cheeks. At dawn on a quiet morning he finally opened his eyes. Familiar sights swam before him, and tears of relief welled up.
“Ye‑er… are you… unharmed?” His voice was hoarse yet filled with deep concern.
Lin Ye, standing at the bedside, smiled gently. “I’m fine. I promised to bring you back—rest easy, Uncle Wang.”
Seeing Lin Ye safe, Wang could not hold back sobs. Gratitude—and a hint of guilt—lined his wrinkled face. “I failed to protect you… came so close to…” His words broke, then steadied. “Were it not for your strength, I’d be—”
Lin Ye clasped his hand. “No blame. What matters is that we’re alive. Next, we’ll crush the darkness behind all this—together.”
[Black‑Stone Hall’s Secret]
Once Wang regained some strength, Lin Ye pressed for the truth. The old steward revealed far more than Lin Ye had imagined.
“Black‑Stone Hall doesn’t seize miners merely for common ore,” Wang said slowly. “They seek a very rare spirit crystal hidden deep in the lodes. Legend says it holds immense energy—enough for a cultivator to break through present limits, even reach realms beyond.”
Shock rippled through Lin Ye. A crystal of such potency could overturn the balance of power; whoever controlled it would be near‑invincible.
“The crystal’s power could reshape the cultivation world,” Wang went on. “Because it’s so elusive, Black‑Stone Hall digs at any cost. They believe the crystal will give them unending strength—and cement their place atop the hierarchy.”
Lin Ye sat in heavy silence. He swore then to expose and destroy this lurking evil.
[The Force Behind the Curtain]
Wang’s next words weighed even more. “You may have sensed it—Black‑Stone Hall is backed by a greater power: Tian‑Yuan Sect.”
Lin Ye’s heart jolted. He knew the name. Tian‑Yuan Sect—an enormous cultivation clan whose disciples blanketed the region, monopolizing resources and prestige. If Black‑Stone Hall was merely their pawn, then Tian‑Yuan was the true puppeteer.
“They sponsor Black‑Stone because they need the crystal to push their elders past their bottlenecks,” Wang said. “Black‑Stone Hall is only their tool.”
Lin Ye’s brow furrowed, complex emotions flickering in his eyes. Tian‑Yuan’s ambition clearly reached far beyond local mines—they aimed to extend dominion over far wider realms.
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and then Add to home screen.