Deep beneath Crescent Moon Valley, there was actually a place where spirit energy condensed so densely that it nearly pulsed with life. Luo Chen stood still for a moment, startled by what he'd seen. Then, slowly, realization crept into his mind.0

But he didn't act on it immediately.0

Instead, he calmly stepped outside his stone house and made a brief appearance before Gu Caiyi and the others. He offered them a casual smile, making sure to show he was fine. Luo Chen knew the value of keeping things under wraps. If anything had seemed amiss, Mi Shuhua would have surely come to investigate personally. And if that happened, whatever treasure or secret lay beneath the valley would no longer be his alone.0

By evening, most of the alchemists had finished their work and left. The day's refined pills were securely locked in the pill storage room, and a quiet calm returned to the Alchemy Hall. Luo Chen turned to Gu Caiyi and casually informed her that he'd be staying late to continue refining Jade Essence pills.0

Gu Caiyi had no objections. For now, Luo Chen was the only one truly capable of refining the pills. The others—apprentices and fire handlers—were still in the midst of learning the methods he had taught.0

Once most of the hall was clear and only a few guards remained, Luo Chen made his move. He slipped back into the stone chamber and removed the hidden stone slab.0

"Let's see if that branch of the first-tier spirit vein...0