The secluded courtyard became even more eerie after Yang Quanfeng finished speaking.

Qin An's slender fingers lightly tapped the sandalwood table, the dull thud resounding clearly in the quiet room.

"For some demon to feast on?"

At this moment, after Qin An connected all the clues, the truth was as clear as day.

Lianyu was born in a yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour, and had been transformed into a body of pure yin allure through a special secret technique.

For men, she was an exceptionally rare treasure.

If given to some demon, that demon would undoubtedly be extremely delighted.

But which demon to give her to required careful consideration.

"To make Elder Monkey go to such lengths, it must be no ordinary figure."

Qin An's fingertips rested against his jaw: "Could it be the hall master of the demon guild?"

The largest demon faction in Lingzhou was certainly the demon guild, and though Elder Monkey's position was not low, he was ultimately not on par with the hall master who wielded authority.

If Elder Monkey wanted to use this to curry favor with the hall master, it was understandable.

Yang Quanfeng shook his head: "The hall master does not care for beauty, and Elder Monkey is not such a scheming type, perhaps there's another agenda at play."

Qin An rubbed his chin: "Within the territory of Lingzhou, what demon could make Elder Monkey bow?"

Wan Ziqing chimed in: "Currently, there are no clues."

At this point, Qin An realized the clues had come to a halt.

Unable to discover Elder Monkey's ultimate goal, naturally, one couldn't clear up Elder Monkey's subsequent plans.

Yang Quanfeng continued: "I will immediately report this to the central state, perhaps they have news, and if I receive any, I will promptly inform you."

Qin An nodded, indicating feasibility.

He and the demon guild were long at odds, so acquiring more intelligence was indeed desirable.

"If there are no other matters, I will be temporarily leaving the Evil Extermination Bureau." Qin An decided, stood up, and declared.

He was still short two earth vein crystals, which would allow him to completely condense all eight main veins.

For the purpose of condensing the main veins, Qin An even temporarily set aside his tasks.

Now that the matter concerning the demon guild was becoming increasingly complicated, he needed to hurriedly increase his strength.

Yang Quanfeng acknowledged that the mountain ranger would not linger at the Evil Extermination Bureau and also understood that Qin An's status was now second to none, holding no authority to inquire about Qin An's movements.

"Be careful on your journey."

After all, Qin An was once under his wing, so he was deeply concerned for him.

Qin An slightly nodded, said no more, and turned to leave Yang Quanfeng's courtyard.

As for how to handle Lianyu, this group of Jinzhou guards naturally had their methods.

The mountain ranger only kills, not nurtures, which wasn't Qin An's concern.

Once Qin An left, the courtyard fell into silence, the quiet so pervasive one could hear a pin drop.

Mo Chuan had an expression difficult to conceal in his eyes: "His strength... has grown again."

They were all masters of the Gui Cang Realm, naturally able to sense Qin An's abilities.

Especially when Qin An sat here just now, though he did not exhibit any special presence, the aura he unconsciously emitted was enough to make them feel pressured.

Wan Ziqing's cold face showed a slight ripple: "Who would have thought that what started as a whim, coincidentally, brought out such talent for the mountain rangers?"

Yang Quanfeng slowly stated: "I believe soon enough, when we meet him, we should address him as Master."

At these words, the room burst into astonishment.

Mo Chuan could hardly believe it: "How is that possible..."

Only the mountain gold ranger deserves the title of Master from them.

But Qin An had barely been promoted to mountain silver ranger for a few months, how could he so quickly advance to mountain gold ranger?

This was an unprecedented event in the entire Evil Extermination Bureau.

Yang Quanfeng raised his hand to stroke the iron hammer around his waist, his gaze steadfast: "I trust in his potential."

When everyone doubted Qin An, this country boy from Ding County emerged at a speed that frightened all, becoming the new elite of Lingzhou.

What could be beyond his reach?

After hearing Yang Quanfeng's words, everyone remained silent.

Fortunately, this silence did not last long, and they began to discuss the aftermath of this matter.

...

After Qin An left the courtyard, he found a state official from the Internal Affairs Department to procure a swift horse, heading towards the outskirts of Lingzhou.

As he rode out of the city, the morning fog had not yet dissipated.

Dew sparkled on the vegetation on both sides of the road, reflecting a golden-glittering light in the morning sun.

Now, with just two earth veins remaining, he planned to first locate one of them.

According to the Array's guidance, one was not far from Lingzhou, barely a few dozen miles away.

A journey of dozens of miles passed in the blink of an eye.

In front, the distant mountains appeared teal.

The gray-green silhouette emerged faintly in the mist.

Morning light pierced through the clouds, gilding the mountain ridge with a light gold, like a slumbering dragon just awakening.

The mountain breeze rustled through the pine forest, bringing a sound of murmurs mingled with the fresh scent of soil and vegetation.

At the mountain's base, the creek meandered, clear to the bottom, occasionally whisking a few spinning leaves downstream.

From the cracks in the stones, patches of wildflowers emerged, shades of pale purple and tender yellow adorned the greenery, appearing especially lively.

A mountain sparrow hopped from a treetop, pecked a few droplets of water by the creek, then swiftly soared back to the heights, leaving only a few crisp chirps.

Qin An surveyed the region's lush mountains, silently appreciating it as a good place.

Finally, the Array indicated that the position was precisely these emerald mountains before him.

Called emerald mountains, indeed aptly named.

At the mountain's base lay a village, wisps of smoke gently rising at this time.

However, Qin An had no intentions of disturbing, as his goal lay within the mountains.

Securing the horse to a tree at the mountain's base, Qin An observed the deserted, rugged mountain trail and began ascending.

This journey revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

Only when Qin An reached the halfway up the mountain did he pause.

According to the Array's sensing, the local earth vein was approaching the point of decline, the opportune time for the creation of an earth vein crystal.

Qin An planned to locate the crystal and wait until it fully manifested.

Just ahead, a pitch-black cave emerged in Qin An's sight.

Without hesitation, Qin An stepped inside.

...

The cave is dark and gloomy, but it poses no obstacle for Qin An.

Before long, Qin An follows the straight cave tunnel and reaches his final destination.

Not far ahead is an immensely large cavern.

The soil at the bottom of the cavern is soft and damp, with a fissure in the middle revealing a sparkling earth vein within.

Whenever an earth vein is about to wither, it emerges from the ground, emitting its final brilliance.

From the state of this earth vein, it's evident that it will completely wither in at most half an hour.

Being able to acquire the earth vein crystal so easily is beyond Qin An's expectations, but he also knows that even though Lingzhou is fraught with crises, he won't encounter trouble every time.

Afterward, Qin An stops pondering, sits down in a clean spot, draws the Cold Star Saber, grips it in reverse, and begins to wait patiently.

...

Though the waiting process is incredibly dull, Qin An is used to enduring even the most tedious practices, so this wait does not trouble him.

It seemed everything would go smoothly, but a subtle noise made Qin An frown slightly.

"Someone's coming."

Outside the cave, there are people approaching, judging from the footsteps, at least a dozen.

"Looks like they're also after the earth vein crystal," Qin An thought to himself.

In this place, only the earth vein crystal is of value, and Qin An wouldn't believe anyone would wander into the cave without a reason.

With this thought, Qin An stealthily uses the Dragon Roar Wind Shadow Step, transforming into a shadowy figure and concealing himself like a specter in the darkness.

Once Qin An's figure is hidden, about a dozen people appear at the entrance of the cavern.

The leader is wearing leather armor, with a Wolf Fang Club hanging at his waist, exuding the strength of the Gui Cang Realm.

The other dozen people are at the Jade Bone Realm, a strength that might not stand out among the Mountain Patrol Guards but are top-notch in the Jianghu.

The leather-armored man stares at the forming earth vein crystal, greed gleaming in his eyes: "Wait another half an hour, and it will mature. Prepare to guard it well, and when we offer the earth vein crystal to Elder Monkey, there will surely be great rewards."

Upon hearing this, Qin An squints his eyes in the shadows.

It's Elder Monkey again.

Recently, matters concerning the earth vein crystals have been significantly related to Elder Monkey, repeatedly connected to him.

Qin An isn't in a rush to appear; the earth vein crystal hasn't fully formed, and it seems these people have more to say.

As for these humans siding with the demons, it's a common occurrence in Lingzhou.

The Evil Extermination Bureau's role is to slay demons and eradicate devils, and the definition of 'devil' naturally includes these traitorous Jianghu people.

One subordinate whispers: "I have no idea why Elder Monkey is in such a hurry, even having us find women born in yin year, yin month, yin day, and yin hour."

The leather-armored man snarls: "Talk too much! The more you know, the sooner you die!"

At these words, the subordinate can't help but shudder.

But he also perceives that their leader knows something, and curiously asks: "Boss, do you know some secrets?"

When he finishes speaking, the other subordinates also look curious.

The leather-armored man smacks the subordinate on the head, scolding: "Hide your curiosity, or you'll die terribly."

The subordinate, knowing his leader won't say more, can only drop the subject.

In the shadows, Qin An squints, sensing that this trip might be very fruitful.

If nothing else, it seems the leather-armored man knows a lot.

Given this, there's room for maneuver.

Thinking of this, Qin An continues to wait patiently.

Unfortunately, the subsequent conversation does not touch on the Demon Hall, only some disgusting topics.

"The woman Elder Monkey rewarded last time was truly exciting. I strung her up and toyed with her alive for three days and nights."

"Hahaha, you really know how to play."

"I've said it before, following Elder Monkey is so much better than being an ordinary Jianghu folk. When else would you have such beauties to enjoy?"

"Indeed, once we return, I certainly must ask for another woman…"

In the shadows, Qin An slightly tightens his grip on the Cold Star Saber's hilt, though his face remains expressionless.

In times of chaos, people more disgusting than demons often emerge, which is quite normal.

Qin An reckons he could soon send them off.

Though half an hour seems long, in the timeless darkness of the cavern, it passes quickly.

Before long, time is up.

The sparkling earth vein ahead is gradually weakening.

In just a few breaths, the earth vein withers and condenses into a more pure earth vein crystal.

The leather-armored man's face lights up with joy, ready to go forward and retrieve the crystal.

At this moment, a sudden gust of wind sounds.

The leather-armored man instinctively turns his head, freezing at the sight behind him, his entire body covered in goosebumps.

In the darkness, his ten-plus subordinates stand stiffly like wooden statues.

The leather-armored man becomes instantly alert, drawing his Wolf Fang Club from his waist: "What are you doing!"

No one responds to him, the surroundings eerily silent as if plunged into a dead zone.

At this point, a light breeze passes by.

The dozen subordinates suddenly drop down a notch.

Their heads topple smoothly from their necks, rolling on the ground like a cluster.

The leather-armored man feels like he has fallen into an ice cellar.

The light breeze turns into a raging wind.

He sees a shadow in the darkness advancing stealthily like a ghost.

In a moment of crisis, the leather-armored man swings his Wolf Fang Club, shouting loudly.

"Even a nobody dares to cause trouble? I'm a Gui Cang Realm!"

The Wolf Fang Club swings toward the shadow's head, and if it hits, the shadow's head would burst.

But at that moment, a flash of snow-bright blade light appears, splitting the Wolf Fang Club in two.

The snow-bright blade light doesn't stop, transforming into four more blades.

The leather-armored man feels intense pain in his limbs, and upon looking back, he sees his limbs have been severed.

"Bang!"

The leather-armored man falls heavily to the ground, hearing a voice as cold as water next to his ear.

"Gui Cang Realm… is it worthy of making noise?"

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