After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

Lin Fengmian nodded in realization, a sense of urgency he had never felt before welling up inside him, as if a boulder was pressing on his chest.

"It seems that reinforcing the seal of the Demon Abyss is truly urgent."

He looked up into the distance, his gaze resolute.

He didn't want to be trapped in this desolate place forever, and the menacing Demon Lord was like a time bomb hanging over his head, ready to explode at any moment.

"Let's go and take a look at the core of the spiritual vein. Maybe we can find some clues."

The two supported each other as they walked step by step toward the core area of ​​the Fallen Dragon Mountain Range.

Though their steps were slow, their determination was unwavering.

The main spiritual vein was hidden in a very secluded valley and stream.

After passing through a narrow crevice in the rock, and squeezing sideways, a breathtaking view suddenly opened up before me—

A crystal-clear, gently flowing stream meandered by, its babbling waters like the melodious strains of a zither. The lush green grass along the streambank shimmered with a faint, ethereal glow, a world apart from the scorched earth outside, as if it were the last pure land in the universe.

Lin Fengmian paused and gazed for a moment, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and said softly:

"The spiritual vein is indeed still there... but the spiritual energy is too weak, like the last breath of a person in their twilight years."

He crouched down and reached into the stream. The cool touch calmed him slightly, but he frowned again.

"But as long as there is a spiritual vein, there is hope. Let's follow the stream upstream and find the source of the spiritual vein."

Lin Fengmian and Qin Lan supported each other as they struggled towards the core area of ​​the Fallen Dragon Mountain Range.

The ground beneath their feet was cracked, the scorched earth emitting a pungent sulfurous odor, and occasionally a few pieces of withered bones could be seen half-buried in the gravel.

Those were the remains of cultivators who perished in the disaster a hundred years ago; even their storage bags had been weathered into fragments.

According to ancient records, the main spiritual vein of the Dragon Mountain Range is hidden in a secluded valley that is extremely remote and difficult to find.

The two groped their way along the ridge and finally stopped in front of a seemingly seamless cliff face.

Lin Fengmian placed his hand on the stone wall, sensing the faint fluctuations of spiritual energy, and raised an eyebrow: "This is it."

He channeled his spiritual power and gently pushed along the stone wall's texture.

The seemingly solid rock wall turned out to be nothing at all, silently sliding apart to both sides to reveal a narrow crack that could only allow one person to pass through.

The two of them squeezed through sideways, and after walking about a hundred paces, the view suddenly opened up before them.

What unfolds before our eyes is a paradise, completely different from the scorched earth outside.

A crystal-clear stream meanders through the area, its water tinkling and sparkling in the sunlight.

The grass by the stream is lush and green, with glistening dewdrops hanging from its tips. The air is filled with a rich, almost tangible spiritual energy, and taking a deep breath makes one feel refreshed and relaxed.

Several unnamed wildflowers bloomed among the grass, their petals shimmering with a spiritual light, clearly having been nourished by this rich spiritual energy for countless years.

Lin Fengmian closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, but his brows gradually furrowed.

"His body is slowly recovering, but the rate of recovery is far slower than the rate at which this desolate land is consuming his life force."

He opened his eyes, his tone grave.

"It's like a person who is about to die of thirst. Even though they can barely drink a few drops of water, they are still on the road to dying of dehydration."

Qin Lan stood beside him and softly replied:

"Young Master is right. According to the cultivators of the major sects, all the faint spiritual energy that still exists in the Spirit-Severing Land today comes from this spiritual vein."

It can be said that the reason the Land of Desolation has been able to survive until now is entirely due to this spiritual vein.

She paused, gazing at the gently flowing stream, her beautiful eyes filled with deep worry.

"If it were to be completely depleted, the seal of the Demon Abyss would likely collapse in an instant, and then there would surely be widespread suffering."

Lin Fengmian remained silent for a moment, about to speak, when suddenly his mind stirred.

As the space stabilized and the surrounding spiritual energy became abundant, his connection with the mysterious jade pendant became clear and perceptible once again.

He was secretly delighted, and with a slight thought, a cool and otherworldly figure quietly materialized in front of the two of them.

The newcomer was dressed in a plain white dress, the hem of which moved without wind, and a three-foot-long, pure white sword hung at her waist.

Her beauty was unparalleled, and her temperament was as aloof as the moon. Just by standing there, she made the scenery of the entire valley pale in comparison, as if a celestial sword immortal from the heavens had mistakenly descended to the mortal world.

Her aura was harmonious and restrained, and her pseudo-core realm was already extremely stable. She only needed one more opportunity to successfully form her core and become a true core cultivator.

It was Xiao Ling'er.

She was clearly interrupted from her seclusion, but there was no anger on her beautiful face. Instead, a gentle smile appeared in her eyes the moment she saw Lin Fengmian.

Qin Lan was slightly taken aback when she saw this unexpected fairy. Her beautiful eyes were filled with astonishment and a hint of self-consciousness that she could not hide.

This woman's appearance and demeanor were like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting, untouched by worldly affairs.

Although she herself was a female cultivator who had cultivated for many years and believed that her appearance and figure were not bad, what she lacked when standing in front of her was that innate immortal aura.

Is this also one of the young master's people?

She was secretly surprised, but did not ask any further questions.

Lin Fengmian didn't offer any further explanation, but simply said to Xiao Ling'er:

"Ling'er, this is Commander Qin Lan. She is injured and has demonic energy remaining in her body. I need you to take care of her."

Xiao Ling'er then turned her gaze to Qin Lan, looking her up and down with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Having spent so much time by Lin Fengmian's side, she had long since grown accustomed to the new, stunningly beautiful faces that constantly appeared around him.

Although she occasionally felt a pang of jealousy, she was mostly used to it.

"Yes, young master, Ling'er understands."

She nodded obediently, then walked up to Qin Lan, took out a pearly white pill from her sleeve, and respectfully presented it to her with both hands.

"Sister Qin, please take this pill. It's a Qi-Strengthening Pill, which can solidify your foundation, enhance your body's resistance, and also has a certain suppressive effect on demonic energy erosion."

Qin Lan looked at the stunningly beautiful young woman before her, yet so respectful and composed, and her astonishment only deepened. She accepted the pill, thanked her, and silently pondered:

This woman possesses extraordinary bearing and her cultivation has already reached the Pseudo-Core Realm. She can be considered a powerful figure in the entire Zhao Kingdom, yet she is so obedient to the young master... Just who is this young master Lin?

Lin Fengmian watched the interaction between the two women and was secretly delighted.

Xiao Ling'er was the woman he had long cherished in his heart; her aloof and otherworldly sword immortal aura always made him want to get closer.

Qin Lan, a mature and composed woman with a touch of heroic spirit, also captivated him.