Chapter 2287: Unclear Explanation

Zhong Yuan King again notified Xue Rongwu to take men to rescue Xue Jinling.

Xue Rongwu readily agreed, gathered everyone, led the party out of the city, and had Xue Jinling hide here until he returned.

The clone also became invisible and followed Xue Rongwu and the others out of the city.

After leaving the city, he shapeshifted into Xue Jinling's appearance, led the newly subjugated dozen or so guards, caught up with Xue Rongwu, and claimed it was Zhong Yuan King's order, urging Xue Rongwu to cooperate and take men to seize the Spirit Spring.

Xue Rongwu pretended to verify with the Transmission Talisman, then rushed with the group toward the Spirit Spring.

When they arrived at the Spirit Spring, the Zhong Yuan Dynasty's Martial Cultivators naturally came out to greet them—a prince and a Prince, surely sent by the dynasty, otherwise they couldn't both be present.

The clone again pretended to have a secret order, called the Martial Cultivators one by one, and together with Qiong Qi and Xue Rongwu, placed Slave Seals on those cultivators, then led them to attack the Martial Cultivators of the other two dynasties.

Qiong Qi and the clone, meanwhile, donned Invisibility Cloaks to study the Spirit Spring.

"You've still got the skill!"

Qiong Qi transmitted his praise to Ye Liuyun.

The two of them effortlessly arrived at the Spirit Spring and observed the situation.

Ye Liuyun also told Qiong Qi: "I received information from Xue Rongwu that the Zhong Yuan Dynasty has secretly cultivated nearly ten thousand royal offspring and fifty thousand Imperial Guard, all at the later stages of the Ninth Level, so we must act ahead of them.

What they obtained from that Xingqiu envoy is indeed a Grand Hall like ours.

Together with that rescue talisman, they are all in Zhong Yuan King's hands."

"Then we must act quickly.

This time we must take the entire Spirit Spring!"

Qiong Qi said.

The Spirit Spring is said to be a water spring, but in reality it's only a small pool a little larger than a fist, filled with emerald‑green liquid, about a hundred drops.

Ye Liuyun's Golden Pupil swept beneath the Spirit Spring and discovered an emerald‑green jade beneath the small pool, absorbing energy from the ground and generating the green liquid that filled the pool.

"Can you see it or not?"

Qiong Qi, knowing he was observing with the Golden Pupil, kept urging.

Shouts and killing cries rang around the pool, but their strength held the advantage; the Martial Cultivators and soldiers of the other dynasties could not approach the Spirit Spring.

Ye Liuyun gave no reply, instead continued looking down the mountain and found a high‑quality Divine Crystal Vein beneath.

That means beneath this peak lies nothing but Top‑grade Divine Crystals.

These Divine Crystals are the true energy source of that jade.

The jade itself merely serves as a converter and concentrator.

After Ye Liuyun investigated thoroughly, he relayed the situation to Qiong Qi.

"First take away that jade and the Spirit Spring, then mine the Divine Crystals!"

While speaking, Qiong Qi already loaded a small bottle of Cui Yuan Liquid, about a dozen drops.

Ye Liuyun immediately drew the Demon Slaying Sword, excavated the pool water, the underground jade, and the surrounding soil as one piece, and stored them into the Space World.

Then he and Qiong Qi joined the battle, devouring Divine Soul Power.

After eliminating the Martial Cultivators of the other two dynasties, the remaining over 130 Martial Cultivator elites and more than 3,000 soldiers began excavating the Crystal Stone Vein beneath the mountain.

These Martial Cultivators mined destructively, blasting the mountain fiercely, then had the soldiers collect the ore and load it into unified Storage Rings.

After loading about enough, Xue Rongwu had his ten Martial Cultivator subordinates lead the soldiers to Cui Yuan City to await Xue Jinling's orders.

The clone then applied Slave Seals to the remaining over a hundred Martial Cultivator elites who lacked them, then deployed the Spearhead Squad to unleash a furious bombardment on the peak, gathering all the blasted Divine Crystals,

and subsequently pulled everyone into the Space World, transmitting via the Black Tower back to Ye Liuyun's side.

Xue Jinling, in Cui Yuan City, also received Xue Rongwu's message, informing him he could appear, and that bringing those ten Martial Cultivators and three thousand soldiers back to the Royal City would suffice.

He asked Xue Rongwu what had happened; Xue Rongwu simply told him to follow orders, saying it was Zhong Yuan King's secret command, and warned him not to ask further to avoid causing trouble.

Xue Jinling complied, did not inquire further, manifested, and led the soldiers straight back to the Royal City.

But when he returned to the Royal City, all three dynasties had already learned of the battle at the Spirit Spring and were questioning the Zhong Yuan Dynasty.

Zhong Yuan King now tried to contact Xue Rongwu, but was completely unable to reach him.

Upon hearing that Xue Jinling returned with some Martial Cultivators and the three thousand Spirit Spring guards, Zhong Yuan King immediately began assigning people to interrogate.

Xue Jinling recounted his own affairs, mentioning nothing about the Spirit Spring.

"Where have you been these past few days?"

Zhong Yuan King asked him personally.

"I've been out avoiding pursuit from Cui Shan City!"

Xue Jinling feigned composure as he said.

Now even Zhong Yuan King Xue Rongtian does not believe him.

Because the ten Martial Cultivators and three thousand soldiers unanimously claimed it was a command from Zhong Yuan King conveyed by Xue Jinling, who personally led them.

If one person lying is possible, how could three thousand people all be lying?

Zhong Yuan King even summoned a Soul Cultivator expert to verify whether Xue Jinling and those soldiers were being controlled, and found that none of them were

Thus Zhong Yuan King essentially concluded that Xue Jinling was lying.

"Where is Xue Rongwu?"

Zhong Yuan King patiently asked Xue Jinling.

"I don't know! Maybe he went looking for me and we took different paths!"

Xue Jinling still doesn't know how big a mess he caused this time, yet remains stubborn.

Zhong Yuan King shook his head in disappointment, ordering Xue Jinling to be pressed down and interrogated harshly.

He is now utterly disappointed with this prince, unwilling to spar with him, and simply lets others interrogate him.

The eighth prince soon could not endure the torture and confessed everything he knew.

However, regarding the matter of leading people to attack the Spirit Spring, he truly knew nothing, so he never admitted it.

"How could I falsely transmit orders to attack Lingquan?"

Xue Jinling insisted firmly, it was someone else framing him.

The interrogator also had to tell him: "Over three thousand soldiers personally witnessed it; does the Eighth Prince really want to stubbornly resist to the end?"

The Zhongyuan King merely wants to hear you speak one honest sentence.

After all, you are father and son; even if the Eighth Prince admits it, he won't do anything to you, so why suffer here?

"What?"

"Over three thousand soldiers?"

Xue Jinling thought for a moment, then suddenly shouted: "I know now, the person who harmed me is Xue Rongwu; go find him!"

The interrogator was also somewhat speechless; he just wanted to ask where Xue Rongwu was: "So you mean the Eighth Prince doesn't want to tell us Xue Rongwu's whereabouts?"

"I really don't know his whereabouts! I've said everything I know."

He deceived me, making me wait in Cui Yuan City.

Since then, I haven't seen him again!

Xue Jinling explained.

However, no matter how he explains now, he can't make it clear.

That person also shook his head helplessly: "Since the Eighth Prince is so stubborn, don't blame us."