Before him was not a narrow vein awaiting extraction.


    Instead, it was an expansive ritual site, with several grotesque heads suspended high on the uppermost sacrificial altar.


    Furthermore, six figures cloaked in voluminous black robes sat cross-legged at six cardinal points, drawing in the sanguinary essence of the surrounding blood pools.


    The blood-splattered altar bore silent witness to countless lives forfeited upon it.


    Enveloping the altar was a vast, man-made blood pool. Directly across from it stood four uniquely bizarre statues, each portraying disparate expressions.


    Yet, their gazes seemed to harbor an ominous light, glowering resentfully at the central altar.


    The blood pool was strewn with corpses, both of demonic beasts and humans alike. The corpses were unnaturally desiccated, yet they emanated a dark crimson energy.


    From Li Xingtian''s position extended a narrow pathway, barely wide enough for two individuals, leading directly to the heart of the altar, before bisecting it entirely.


    His pupils dilated in shock, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding figures, only to discover that all appeared perfectly normal.


    They presently seemed to believe themselves to be within a congested tunnel, squeezing through diminutive mine shafts, advancing towards the innermost depths.


    Could this be... a large-scale illusion?


    Was it merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator''s inherent resistance to such sorcery, or was some other force safeguarding him from this environment?


    Li Xingtian suppressed his growing unease, resolving to remain within the throng for the moment. He needed to decipher the Qingfeng Sect''s true machinations and identify the entity lurking behind them.


    The meticulously laid plan was threatening to unravel with this revelation.


    Was the Qingfeng Sect, in truth, a clandestine cult?


    Li Xingtian kept his head bowed, cautiously trailing the throng, slowly traversing the altar''s central path.


    Beyond the altar lay the semblance of a genuine mine, with all wielding their extraction implements, poised to commence their labor.


    The mine appeared to be authentic, but... what purpose did that sacrificial rite truly serve?


    The moment the first miner wielding a pickaxe began his work, clarity dawned upon Li Xingtian.


    With each strike, a faint, dark crimson energy gently rose from the miner''s crown chakra, flowing towards the blood pool.


    All the miners displayed the same phenomenon. These tendrils of dark crimson energy coalesced, forming a power that was not to be underestimated.


    Li Xingtian''s gaze fixated on a single miner, abruptly realizing that this dark crimson energy appeared to be extracted from the spiritual roots themselves.


    It was not merely the miners'' flesh and blood and spiritual energy that were being depleted, but also the very foundation of their cultivation, their spiritual roots, were being eroded.


    No wonder the miners appeared so gaunt and emaciated. Enduring arduous labor daily, while also having their vitality extracted, how could they be anything but skeletal?


    This was a purely malevolent cultivation technique, unprecedented and horrifying. Moreover, the formation''s scope was immense!


    Li Xingtian dared not commence mining, for his observation revealed that the sanguinary tribute was calibrated according to the potency of one''s spiritual roots and cultivation level.


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    Should he commence extraction, resulting in the depletion of his cultivation and spiritual roots, he would not merely release wisps of dark crimson energy; he would emanate torrents as thick as his arm.


    He would become far too conspicuous among this group.


    He needed to devise a means to escape and alert his master.


    As for Ning Qianqian''s father, in accordance with his master''s admonition, preserving his own well-being was paramount when the situation was uncertain.


    He could only hope for his safety.


    Li Xingtian estimated the six black-robed figures to be around the Foundation Establishment stage.


    If the charm he had been given was truly reliable, forcing his way out might be a viable option, especially given his considerable confidence.


    On the very day Li Xingtian successfully established his foundation, his master had bestowed upon him a perfectly suited supernatural ability.


    Moreover, it was a supernatural ability of exceptionally high quality, as if it had been prepared in advance, awaiting only his foundation to be established.


    This left Li Xingtian, who believed he had partially deciphered his master''s enigmas, feeling that his master had become shrouded in even more profound mystery.


    These considerations, of course, were secondary. To his life-saving benefactor, from the outset, as long as his master did not genuinely betray him, and was not akin to the Qingfeng Sect, Li Xingtian would remain within the sect and repay the kindness of saving his life.


    Yet, throughout these encounters, this small sect of merely three had filled Li Xingtian with immeasurable warmth.


    Although the senior apprentice sister could be mischievous, she treated him, her junior brother, as she would a member of her own family.


    It was true that she captured beasts for his cultivation daily, and it was equally true that she urged him to cultivate diligently.


    Although her gaze sometimes appeared to harbor disdain for him, her actions were genuine and heartfelt.


    Not to mention his master, though he sometimes seemed frivolous and immature.


    Yet, his master possessed an exceptionally unique personal charisma. He appeared somewhat out of place in this cultivation world, yet he was remarkably easy to believe in.


    Apart from that unorthodox alchemy he had learned from some unknown source.


    He had been undeniably generous towards him. From the outset, he had yielded the already-obtained opportunity, and subsequently, it was the master who had been selflessly bestowing gifts upon him.


    If initially, he had merely been bound by the kindness of a life-saving benefactor, loath to reject the offer of his rescuer, then through these days of interaction, Li Xingtian genuinely felt that he had willingly joined this small, family-like sect.


    From the cultivation techniques to the supernatural abilities,


    Li Xingtian naturally regarded all of this as invaluable treasure, but a supernatural ability of extremely high quality also implied that it would be exceedingly difficult to master.


    After all... not everyone possessed an understanding as prodigious as that of the senior apprentice sister.


    However, merely borrowing a modicum of its power, coupled with the supernatural abilities of his past life, his combat prowess should still be formidable.


    He did not believe that the six black-robed figures before him would also wield supernatural abilities.


    After first scanning his surroundings to secure his bearings, Li Xingtian reverted to his preferred tactic: strike first, rejoice first; strike later, suffer!


    He abruptly clenched the pickaxe in his hand, spinning around and charging back towards the altar.


    A watchful Qingfeng Sect disciple immediately noticed Li Xingtian and barked:


    "What do you think you''re doing?!"


    A flicker of apprehension crossed Li Xingtian''s face, and he shuffled towards the disciple as if his legs were giving way:


    "I... I need to use the lavatory."


    "Our construction schedule is pressing! You can relieve yourself in your trousers and keep working! Get back to your post!"


    When sufficiently close, Li Xingtian erupted into action, appearing before the Qingfeng Sect disciple in a flash, unleashing the spiritual power within his body.


    The supernatural ability of his past life - Nine Heavens Profound Nether Blade, combined with the superficially studied supernatural ability - Immortal Slaying Soul Transmutation Nine Nether Blade.


    Given that both were blade techniques, rudimentary assimilation was feasible.


    The pickaxe in Li Xingtian''s grasp transformed into a great blade, its dark crimson energy imbued with boundless power, slashing towards the Qingfeng Sect disciple''s head.


    The Qingfeng Sect disciple was caught unawares, especially when confronted with a technique as swift as a supernatural ability!


    He felt as if he had been petrified, his very soul shaken by this imposing aura.


    He could only display a look of terror before Li Xingtian cleaved his head with a single blow.


    With one swing, Li Xingtian cursed inwardly.


    Damn it, that was a significant expenditure.


    Li Xingtian felt nearly half of the spiritual energy within his body had been consumed by that single strike!


    He had not anticipated that simply borrowing a fragment of its power and form, the actual expenditure would be double that of his previous supernatural abilities.


    Yet, the effect was undeniably potent.


    What Li Xingtian had not foreseen was that, while mobilizing the spiritual energy within his body, he seemed to have faintly sensed the energy of the pool.


    Before Li Xingtian could delve further, the six black-robed figures abruptly rose to their feet, their forms lunging towards him.


    One of the black-robed figures bellowed in a raspy, genderless voice:


    "What impudent whelp dares to cause turmoil here?!"


    "Still merely at the Foundation Establishment stage?! Today, you shall become our blood offering! To comprehend the true essence of cultivation!"