Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

204: Lin Lingbao and the other person confessedWhile the entire Lin Family was immersed in a festive atmosphere, no one noticed Lin Xuan, who was responsible for guarding the abandoned mine of Black Gravel Mountain, quietly leaving the crowd.

He carried a bulging Storage Pouch, filled with Spiritual Rice, dried meat, and medicinal ointments that he had saved or exchanged using his accumulated contribution points, along with some brand new clothes.

During the Lin Family’s last merit evaluation and reward ceremony.

He had also been granted a Storage Pouch.

However, he only had the right to use it; he needed to pay a certain amount of Contribution Points monthly, and after a set number of years, it would become his property.

The guards of the Great Formation recognized Lin Xuan, and after a brief inquiry, they let him pass.

He did not conceal his intentions and stated his purpose directly.

He was going to the abandoned mine vein in Black Mountain to visit Lin Lingbao and Lin Lingyue.

After passing the Great Formation, he quickly walked toward Black Gravel Mountain outside the village.

Lin Xuan followed the familiar and gloomy mine tunnels deep inside, twisting and turning until he reached the deepest, nearly forgotten abandoned area.

The air was filled with damp mildew and the earthy smell of Ore; the light was dim, with only scattered Moonstone embedded in the rock walls emitting a faint glow.

This place had long been abandoned, and no one should have been here.

“Lingbao! Lingyue!”

Lin Xuan called out in a low voice, his words echoing faintly in the empty tunnel.

Soon, two figures emerged from behind a pile of waste rock—it was Lin Lingbao and Lin Lingyue, who were serving their sentence here.

Having not seen them for several days, both looked much leaner and darker, but their eyes were no longer as restless as before; instead, they held a sense of composure and determination.

“Brother Lin Xuan! You’re here!”

Lin Lingbao showed a joyful smile, took the Storage Pouch Lin Xuan handed over, and pulled out the contents, his eyes slightly red.

“You spent money on us again...”

Lin Lingyue also whispered, “Thank you, Brother Xuan.”

“Why be polite with me?”

Lin Xuan waved his hand, looked at their complexions, and said with relief, “It seems your injuries have completely healed.

How is it? Are you getting used to being here?”

After all, they were among the few friends he could talk to in the Lin Family.

“We’re used to it, used to it.” Lin Lingbao quickly nodded.

“It’s just... a bit monotonous. But it’s perfect for settling down and Cultivating; I feel my cultivation has become much more solid.”

“You two must not resent the Family or the Clan Chief. After all, according to the Clan Rules, your offense... the Young Clan Leader showed leniency...”

Lin Xuan continued to console them.

Now, he was completely convinced of Lin Jingyu’s ability.

Even the usually arrogant Zhong Family had obediently come forward to apologize.

Currently, the entire Lin Family was high-spirited and united.

Everyone was working with all their might.

“Brother Xuan, please don’t worry. We definitely hold no grudges; we are even thinking about contributing to the Family!”

Lin Lingbao said with emphasis.

Lin Xuan then recounted the various events that had recently occurred within the Family.

Listening, looks of shock continuously appeared on their faces.

They exchanged glances, their minds racing with countless thoughts.

Lin Xuan nodded proudly, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. Suddenly, he frowned slightly, and a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.

He keenly sensed that the Spiritual Power fluctuations emanating from Lin Lingyue seemed much stronger than when they last met.

The Spiritual Qi here was scarce, almost nonexistent, so the progress of Cultivation should have been extremely slow.

He couldn’t help but sense it carefully, and in that instant, a massive wave of shock surged in his heart!

Qi Refining Fifth Layer?

Lin Lingyue had actually Broken Through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer! How was this possible?

Even in the area with the best Spiritual Qi in the Family, without the aid of Medicinal Pills, it would be extremely difficult to Break Through from the Qi Refining Fourth Layer Middle Stage to the Fifth Layer in just a few months!

How did she manage it in this desolate, abandoned mine?

Lin Xuan’s gaze instantly sharpened. He stared intently at Lin Lingyue, then looked at Lin Lingbao, whose eyes were flickering and who subconsciously clenched his fists, and asked in a deep voice:

“Lingyue, you... Broke Through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer?”

As soon as he said this, the expressions of Lin Lingbao and Lin Lingyue drastically changed!

Lin Lingyue subconsciously took half a step back, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.

The air instantly seemed to fill with a tense and cold atmosphere.

Sure enough, this matter couldn’t be concealed.

She bit her lip tightly, her heart filled with complex emotions.

That secret place was the Foundation for her and Brother Bao’s future immortal Dao. Did this mean she had to fight Brother Xuan to the death... Even if they won, once the Family reacted,

it would be difficult to keep this area... Alarm bells rang in Lin Xuan’s heart. The Spiritual Power in his body quietly began to circulate, and his right hand was already resting on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

His gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping across their faces, and his voice carried an undeniable severity:

“What exactly happened? Did you find some Opportunity deep within the mine? Lin Lingbao, Lin Lingyue, answer me!”

Feeling the pressing Aura emanating from Lin Xuan and his unyielding determination that brooked no deceit, Lin Lingbao and Lin Lingyue exchanged glances, seeing the struggle and fear in each other’s eyes.

After a silence of more than ten breaths, a hint of bitterness appeared on Lin Lingbao’s face, and he sighed deeply, as if resigned to fate.

“Alas... Brother Xuan, we really couldn’t hide it from you.”

Lin Lingbao’s voice was hoarse and helpless.

“We... we did find a place. It’s not that we intentionally hid it, but truly... truly, that place is too strange.

We dared not publicize it, and we were greedy for the Spiritual Qi there, which could accelerate our Cultivation, help us recover from our injuries sooner, and escape this hard labor... so, that’s why...”

The two of them revealed everything, holding nothing back.

“What place?” Lin Xuan pressed, his hand still resting on the sword hilt.

Lin Lingyue bit her lip and chimed in:

“It’s a... very secret stone cave. It’s located deep within this mine, behind a collapsed rock wall. We found it by chance.

Inside... the Spiritual Qi is incredibly dense, many times stronger than the best Cultivation room in the village! We... we Cultivated inside... Brother Bao’s injuries also recovered quickly because of it.

I also Broke Through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer through that Opportunity!”

Lin Xuan frowned tightly: “Take me to see it!”

He felt quite displeased about the matter the two had concealed.

After repeated incidents, he had long come to view the Family as more important than his own life.

Led by Lin Lingbao and Lin Lingyue, Lin Xuan passed through several even rougher, narrower, and almost forgotten abandoned mine tunnels.

They arrived before a rock wall that looked completely normal, covered in excavation marks and dust.

Lin Lingbao skillfully moved aside several boulders that looked randomly stacked but were actually arranged with purpose, revealing a narrow gap just wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.

Inside was a space about five zhang in circumference, and a wave of pure and dense Spiritual Qi immediately rushed out from the gap.

Lin Xuan’s spirit lifted. This concentration of Spiritual Qi was indeed extraordinary!