After binding with a genius, I became an immortal by exploiting loopholes.

The two men stared at each other; Liu Quan's gaze was cold, while Lu Qingchen's was calm.

After a brief standoff, Liu Quan spoke first.

"What's there to be afraid of?"

He sneered, his voice filled with undisguised mockery: "But considering you're just a seedling of immortality, I'll let it slide this time."

"If you have evidence, go ahead and report it to the Spirit Plant Hall. I'll be waiting. If you don't have evidence, get out of here and don't cause trouble."

"If you want to frame someone, produce evidence first."

Lu Qingchen didn't say anything more, turned around and left.

He walked quite a distance before stopping and looking back.

Liu Quan stood by the field, arms crossed, watching him with a cold smile on his lips.

The sunlight shone on him, casting a long, crooked shadow that looked like a crooked tree growing out of the ground.

......

After leaving, Lu Qingchen remained silent the entire way.

Liu Quan's mocking expression was etched into his mind, haunting him.

He'll be unhappy if he's not made to pay for this.

But now, he can't produce any evidence.

You can't exactly say, "I just knew it was mine," can you? That would be a joke.

But the inability to produce evidence does not mean there is no way to solve the problem.

He thought of Old Sun.

Judging from Elder Sun's previous reaction, he seemed to value those few spirit rice plants very much.

If he knew that the spirit rice had been stolen, he probably wouldn't have stood idly by.

But Old Sun hasn't returned yet, so he can only wait.

......

Two days later.

Early in the morning, Lu Qingchen got out of bed, washed up quickly, and headed towards the spirit field.

He's gotten used to it these past few days—he'll glance at those empty pits every day, then go about his business.

When he reached the edge of the field, he suddenly stopped.

A person was standing on the edge of the field.

He wore a coarse cloth short jacket, was barefoot, rolled up to his knees, and held a stick of tobacco in his hand.

Old Sun is back.

He was standing by the field, his gaze fixed on the several newly filled-in pits, his brows furrowed, lost in thought.

Lu Qingchen stood at a distance, looking at the dark figure, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

He had never looked forward to seeing anyone so much.

He walked over quickly and bowed respectfully: "Old Sun, you're back."

Old Sun turned his head, glanced at him, and slowly took a puff of his cigarette: "Hmm, where are your spirit rice plants? They're gone? Did you pull them up?"

"No!" Lu Qingchen quickly shook his head. "Elder Sun, the spirit rice has been stolen."

Old Sun frowned: "Stolen?"

Lu Qingchen took a deep breath and recounted the whole story of the stolen spiritual plant.

After listening, Old Sun remained silent for a long time.

His cloudy eyes gradually sharpened, as if a light had suddenly shone in a stagnant pool.

Then, Lu Qingchen felt an invisible pressure emanating from Elder Sun.

It was an indescribable aura, like a mountain pressing down or a sharp sword being drawn from its sheath.

Lu Qingchen, who was standing next to him, felt it most clearly, and a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

"When did this happen?" Old Sun asked, his voice still calm, but Lu Qingchen sensed something different—beneath that calmness lay something.

Seven days ago.

"Any clues?"

Lu Qingchen hesitated for a moment, a look of doubt appearing on his face.

Seeing this, Old Sun took a drag of his cigarette, smoke slowly escaping from the corner of his mouth: "Just say what you know, no need to hide anything."

Lu Qingchen gritted his teeth and told Liu Quan about it—although the appearance of those special spiritual rice plants in Liu Quan's field had changed, he was certain that they were his own.

After listening, Old Sun nodded: "I understand. I will handle this. You don't need to worry."

Lu Qingchen's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Elder Sun."

Elder Sun waved his hand: "No need to thank me. This matter happened in the sect, which is a disgrace to the Spirit Plant Hall and even more so to the sect. Although I am not in charge of this, I cannot sit idly by."

He tucked his pipe back into his belt, turned around and looked at Lu Qingchen: "Lead the way, to Liu Quan's place."

Lu Qingchen nodded and quickly led the way.

The two walked one after the other along the mountain path toward the east side of Mingfa Peak.

......

Soon, Lu Qingchen brought Elder Sun back to the vicinity of Liu Quan's spirit field.

At this moment, Liu Quan was working in the field. When he saw Lu Qingchen, a shadow crossed his face.

But upon seeing Old Sun, his expression immediately changed. He quickly stepped forward, his face beaming with smiles.

"Mr. Sun? What brings you here? Please come in, please come in."

Old Master Sun remained calm as he glanced at the spiritual field: "I heard you've grown some special spiritual rice, so I came to take a look."

Liu Quan's smile froze for a moment, then he forced a smile and said, "There are a few, but..."

He paused, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.

Old Sun frowned: "Is it not allowed?"

"Old Master Sun is joking. How could we refuse?"

Liu Quan smiled wryly: "But I already gave those few spirit rice plants to Elder He yesterday."

"When Elder He learned that I had special spiritual rice, he said he wanted to study it, so I sent it to him. Now those few spiritual rice plants are no longer in my field."

"If you want to see it, Elder Sun, you'll have to go to Elder He's place."

Old Sun looked at him without saying a word.

Liu Quan felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze and gave an awkward smile: "Elder Sun, as you know, I couldn't refuse Elder He's request..."

Old Sun didn't reply, but just glanced at him again.

That gaze, neither too intense nor too gentle, sent a chill down Liu Quan's spine.

Old Master Sun didn't say anything more, and turned around: "Then let's go see Elder He."

He took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, turned back to look at Liu Quan, and said, "You come too."

Liu Quan's expression changed slightly. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Old Sun's gaze, he swallowed his words and reluctantly followed.

......

The three of them walked along the mountain path towards Cuiping Peak, where Elder He was located.

Not long after they started walking, they encountered someone—Shen Yao.

When she saw Elder Sun, she paused for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Elder Sun."

When Old Sun saw her, his expression softened, and he nodded: "Shen girl, it's been a long time."

Shen Yao smiled, her gaze sweeping over Lu Qingchen and Liu Quan, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes: "Elder Sun, what's going on here...?"

"It's nothing."

Old Sun waved his hand, "The spiritual plant has been stolen, go and take a look."

Shen Yao's heart stirred, and she glanced at Lu Qingchen.

Lu Qingchen met her gaze and nodded slightly.

"Old Sun, I'll go too," Shen Yao said hurriedly.

Old Sun glanced at her: "You know about this too?"

"I helped Junior Brother Lu look for clues a few days ago, so I know a bit about it."

Old Sun nodded: "Then let's all come together."

The four continued walking forward.

Shen Yao lagged two steps behind, walked to Lu Qingchen's side, and asked in a low voice, "Did you find any clues?"

Lu Qingchen glanced at her and said in a low voice, "Found it. You'll find out soon enough."

He paused, then asked, "By the way, do you know if there's an Elder He in the Spirit Plant Hall?"

Shen Yao nodded: "Elder He, with the cultivation of Foundation Establishment Realm, has considerable seniority in the Spirit Plant Hall."

Lu Qingchen's heart sank slightly.

Foundation Establishment Elders—the people involved in this matter are in for some trouble.

......