Chapter 431

After her cultivation entered the Golden Core stage, Lin Meng felt her sharpness increase, and she quickly located the place with the densest spiritual energy.

She drew her long sword, controlled her strength, and with one strike split the ground beneath her feet.

A downward-extending fissure, neither too big nor too small, was just right for Lin Meng to crawl into.

She flew into the fissure on her sword, condensing spiritual energy into sword qi, cutting her way through—more powerful than an electric drill.

After descending about ten-odd meters, the resistance suddenly vanished and her view opened up.

Lin Meng stared at the underground cavern before her, astonished.

Beneath the snow mountain lay this scene; if she hadn't seen it herself, she would hardly believe it.

Below the snow mountain was a natural cavern; its size was such that even Lin Meng's spiritual sense could not reach its end, stretching on, with even more space deeper inside.

Lin Meng had no intention of digging deeper; she lacked expertise in crustal geology, and if she accidentally damaged it, affecting the whole plate structure and harming the Kunlun Mountain Range, that would be a grave sin.

For now this cavern is large enough, and crucially its spiritual energy density surpasses that of a Spirit Gathering Array, so there's no rush to find the source of the spirit vein.

It's a pity this isn't the so-called spirit-vein ore; there's no sign of spirit stones.

Still, turning this great cavern into a cultivation site would be excellent; later, when she wants to retreat into seclusion, she can come here.

Lin Meng didn't linger; after confirming there was nothing else special, she prepared to leave first, planning to return later with a team to develop and utilize the place.

Just as she was about to go, Lin Meng suddenly felt the spirit beast egg in the space move.

With a thought she took out the egg; in an instant it leapt from her palm onto a flat spot in the cavern and then remained motionless.

Lin Meng raised her eyebrows and did not go to pick up the egg.

It seems the spirit beast egg is quite clever; sensing the abundant spiritual energy here, it decided to stay on its own.

That works out well; taking it back would require spending spirit stones to set up a Spirit Gathering Array, whereas leaving it here to absorb free spiritual energy saves her a lot of trouble.

Moreover, this place is so concealed that nothing will go wrong.

After Lin Meng left the spirit beast egg behind and flew out, she concealed the entrance, awaiting the day she could bring a professional team to develop it.

——

The commotion caused by Kunlun Mountain has subsided, but outside discussion of this abnormal weather has not ceased.

At this time, several scenic spot projects near Kunlun Mountain were forced to halt, and professional teams have moved in.

Personnel from the nearby military district arrived first, followed by top scientists from various fields.

Tens of thousands of drones swept into the deep mountains' airspace; the scale was huge, leaving tourists astonished.

"Good heavens, what's happening? How did so many big shots appear all at once?"

"Could it be that this thunder and lightning really is something special? I saw many armed units with live ammunition; something's definitely off."

"Why are people getting a bit excited? Surely there isn't really some supernatural event going on, is there?"

As official forces poured into the scenic area, everyone sensed an unusual atmosphere.

Soon the authorities cleared the area, sending all non-local tourists back, and even local residents were not allowed to freely enter the Kunlun Mountain Range.

The guides had no work, gathered to kill time, and Lin Yang still each day gazed far toward the entrance, waiting for Lin Meng.

Lin Meng said she would come back to find him, and she surely will.

In the small tavern, several guides chatted enthusiastically.

"Listen to me, I got some inside information through a special channel—guess why this commotion is so huge?"

"Come on, don't keep us in suspense!"

The informed person lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously:

"It's that the ground lightning that day was abnormal; the meteorological bureau and relevant departments captured a special magnetic field, and afterward they detected a sudden surge of a special energy field deep in the snow mountain."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that the thunder and lightning that day were definitely not coincidental; experts believe something abnormal must have appeared deep in Kunlun Mountain, causing this energy-field fluctuation, which is no joke."

"Some energy-field changes foretell a supernatural disaster, while others indicate extremely rare mineral resources deep in the crust; whether it's good or bad can't be said for now."

In the small tavern the discussion continued, with everyone speculating wildly.

"Our neck of the woods already has plenty of legends; the deeper parts remain uninhabited, so a few strange happenings aren't really a big deal."

"This time it'll probably amount to nothing again; after all, such situations occur every few years, and although technology is now advanced, Kunlun Mountain's uninhabited zones are too mysterious."

……

The crowd drank, bragged, occasionally sighed; within a month they'd be penniless again, and besides, no one truly linked that day's thunder and lightning to supernatural phenomena.

Lin Yang sat at the corner's small bar counter, listening to the surrounding chatter, his anxiety growing.

He could be quite certain that the thunder and lightning that day were definitely related to Miss Lin.

Who would have thought it would attract the attention of higher-ups; these past days the entire open area at Kunlun Mountain's entrance has been requisitioned by the military, filled with tents—clearly they are determined to go deep.

What if they discover Miss Lin's secret, seize her for research—what then?

Although he trusts his country, Miss Lin's affairs are simply too fantastical; what if…

Lin Yang thought of that, the alcohol instantly sobered him completely, and he sprang up and rushed out of the tavern.

No, he can't wait any longer; he does have solid wilderness survival experience, and given the current situation he must find a way to sneak into the mountains and hurry to find Lin Meng.