“Damn! So it was a plant!”

After listening to Qi Yuan’s analysis of the case, the Formation Spirit’s expression shifted between dark and light, and he was unable to hold back a curse.

“Let’s go, we’ll go pull out that thieving plant right now!”

As the words fell, Qi Yuan felt his vision blur, and the surrounding scenery changed drastically. When he regained his senses, he found himself in a strange underground space.

This was the core area of Falling Cloud Valley’s sect-protecting grand formation and also the Formation Spirit’s dwelling.

His eyes were filled with surging, multicolored formation energy. At the very center of this space stood an ancient jade stele covered with countless intricate runes.

These runes formed the operational veins of the entire grand formation, profound and mysterious, faintly connected to Heaven and Earth—clearly the formation’s eye.

“Kid Qi, follow me.”

After returning here, the Formation Spirit led Qi Yuan to the boundary of the dwelling. There was a massive, dark protrusion resembling tendons or veins, lying across the underground like a giant dragon—it was a naturally formed Earth Vein.

This Earth Vein connected to the formation’s core, continuously providing it with Earth Mother Energy, one of the forces maintaining the formation’s operation.

The Formation Spirit pointed at the Earth Vein before them and said quietly:

“What you mentioned earlier must be this Earth Vein. Due to the chaotic heavenly secrets and abundant turbid energy inside it, it can conceal that little thief’s aura. That’s why I couldn’t detect its presence before.”

As soon as Qi Yuan approached, he felt a surge of immense Earth Energy wash over him.

Under its influence, even the air became thick and viscous, carrying a piercingly cold chill.

The rocks and soil around the Earth Vein all showed an eerie dark red color, like congealed blood, looking somewhat unsettling.

As they say: Heaven is clear, Earth is turbid. Although earthly miasma energy is yin-turbid and filthy, it is the life source upon which all plants rely for survival.

Just as he was deep in thought, an urgent voice came from beside him.

“Steady yourself. This Old Man will now take you through the Earth Vein to settle accounts with that thieving plant.”

As he spoke, the Formation Spirit held Qi Yuan’s shoulder and pulled him deep into the Earth Vein.

The man and spirit explored forward along the vein and soon discovered a cave beneath the herb garden. Inside, they saw a spirit herb emitting purple radiance all over.

“Found it!”

Seeing this spirit herb, Qi Yuan’s spirits lifted as he carefully examined his mission target not far away.

This Phantom Star Herb bore only nine fruits on its stem, clearly not yet at the ten-thousand-year level.

Not far above it hovered a gleaming silver talisman. Powerful sealing energy continuously emanated from it, firmly pinning the Phantom Star Herb in place.

“You shameless little thief! Finally found you!”

Seeing the Phantom Star Herb, the Formation Spirit snorted coldly and immediately stepped forward to confront it.

“Senior, wait!”

Seeing this, Qi Yuan quickly stopped him and said seriously, “Plant spirits are naturally timid. If you’re so fierce, it’ll be even more afraid to come out and speak.”

“Think about it—if it doesn’t speak up, you won’t be able to recover those stolen items. Let me go ask first. If that doesn’t work, then you can use force. How about that?”

His mission was to save the Phantom Star Herb, not kill it. If he let the Formation Spirit act now, things would likely fall apart immediately.

After hearing Qi Yuan’s words, the Formation Spirit thought for a moment before nodding in agreement.

“You make some sense. Alright then, you go try first.”

“No problem.”

Qi Yuan agreed and walked to the edge of the light barrier formed by the talisman. He spoke in a gentle tone:

“Fellow Daoist, didn’t you specifically call for my help not long ago? I’ve come to save you now. Come out quickly.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint shadow slowly coalesced around the Phantom Star Herb. As it gradually solidified, it revealed a small humanoid figure.

The little figure looked like a child of five or six years old with two horn-like buns on its head. Its tender little face was round and chubby—utterly adorable—the very image of countless grandparents’ ideal “dream grandchild.”

Seeing this innocent and naive appearance of the Phantom Star Herb spirit, even the Formation Spirit couldn’t help but soften his expression and involuntarily reveal a kind smile.

After manifesting, the Phantom Star Herb spirit looked at Qi Yuan with joy on its face, its eyes reddening with excitement.

“Great! Finally someone has come to save me.”

“Big Brother, quickly take that spirit talisman off my head so I can be saved. Wuwuwu… that woman was just too terrifying…”

Qi Yuan nodded slightly. Then he pointed at the Formation Spirit behind him and softly asked:

“Little Grass Spirit… did you steal things from this senior before?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Formation Spirit eagerly stepped forward and put on what he thought was a not-too-fierce expression.

“Little one… tell me honestly… did you sneak into my dwelling while this Old Man was undergoing my Artifact Spirit Tribulation… and take away all the spirit stones there?”

The Phantom Star Herb spirit shrank its neck in fear and weakly said:

“I didn’t steal your spirit stones… Ginseng Grandpa once told me… taking things that are unguarded isn’t called stealing… it’s called picking up… I specifically waited until no one was home before going in to pick things up…”

Looking at this earnest little grass spirit defending itself so seriously… Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

Isn’t this teaching children bad habits?

And who is this Ginseng Grandpa? Could it be… there’s another spirit herb within Falling Cloud Valley?

“You still dare quibble?”

Hearing this explanation… the Formation Spirit’s face grew darker until finally he roared angrily:

“It clearly is stealing! Call your Ginseng Grandpa out! This Old Man wants to debate him right here on the spot!”

The little grass spirit looked utterly wronged… “I… I don’t know where Ginseng Grandpa is either… He told me that a spirit herb that doesn’t like going out to have fun isn’t a good spirit herb… Then he left this place… and never came back…”

“Huh?”

The corner of the Formation Spirit’s mouth twitched violently… but he still composed himself and asked his most important question:

“Where are those spirit stones and heavenly treasures you took from my dwelling now?”

The little grass spirit extended its small hand… pointed toward its own belly… and said with certainty:

“I ate them all up already… Ginseng Grandpa said… after getting good stuff… you should dispose of the evidence quickly… to avoid complications later on… a good spirit herb never drags its feet…”

Holy crap!

Qi Yuan felt somewhat dazed listening to this… just what kind of being is this “Ginseng Grandpa”… to have taught an originally good little grass spirit into such a state?

This Phantom Star Herb should have been an upright seedling… who would have thought it grew crooked right from its roots…