Good medicinal herbs will never cause diarrhea or spoilage.

"F*ck! It turns out it's a plant!"

After listening to Qi Yuan's case analysis, the Formation Spirit's expression shifted erratically, and he couldn't help but curse right then and there.

"Let's go, we're going to drag that thief plant out right now!"

As the words fell, Qi Yuan felt his vision blur, and his surroundings changed abruptly. When he came to his senses, he found himself in a strange underground space.

This was the core area of the Falling Cloud Valley Sect's Grand Formation, and also the Immortal Cave of the Formation Spirit.

His eyes were filled with colorful, surging Formation Qi. In the very center of this space stood an ancient jade monument covered in countless complex runes.

These runes formed the operational network of the entire grand formation, profound and unpredictable, faintly connected to heaven and earth; clearly, this was the Formation Core.

"Kid Qi, follow me."

After returning here, the Formation Spirit led Qi Yuan to the edge of the Immortal Cave. There was a deep black, vein-like protrusion, looking like a giant Dragon lying across the underground—it was an Innate Earth Vein.

This Earth Vein was connected to the core of the grand formation, continuously providing Earth Mother Origin Qi, one of the powers maintaining the formation's operation.

The Formation Spirit pointed to the Earth Vein before them and said gloomily:

"The one you mentioned must be in this Earth Vein. Since the inside of the Earth Vein is filled with Chaos and turbid Qi, it can perfectly mask that Little Thief's aura. That's why I couldn't discover its presence before."

As soon as Qi Yuan approached, he felt a surge of majestic Earth Qi rushing toward him.

Under the influence of this Earth Qi, even the air became thick and viscous, with a hint of bone-chilling cold.

The rocks and soil around the Earth Vein were a strange dark red, like the color of coagulated blood, looking somewhat eerie.

As the saying goes, 'the sky is clear and the earth is turbid.' Although the Earthly Baleful Qi is dark and filthy, it is the source of life that all Spirit of Grass and Wood rely on for survival.

While he was lost in thought, the Formation Spirit's impatient voice came from beside him:

"Stand firm. This old man will take you through the Earth Vein now to settle the score with that thief plant."

As he spoke, the Formation Spirit grabbed Qi Yuan's shoulder and pulled him into the depths of the Earth Vein.

The man and the spirit explored along the Earth Vein and soon found a grotto beneath the herb garden. Inside, they saw a Spiritual Plant emitting a purple glow.

"Found it!"

Seeing this Spiritual Plant, Qi Yuan's spirits lifted as he carefully observed the mission target not far away.

This phantom star grass only had nine fruits on its stem, clearly not yet reaching the ten-thousand-year level.

Not far above it, a glowing silver Runic Talisman floated. A powerful sealing force emanated from it, firmly fixing the phantom star grass in place.

"Shameless Little Thief, I've finally found you!"

Upon seeing the phantom star grass, the Formation Spirit snorted coldly and was about to step forward to interrogate it.

"Senior, wait!"

Seeing this, Qi Yuan quickly stopped him and said seriously, "The Spirit of Grass and Wood are naturally timid. If you're so fierce, it won't dare to come out and speak."

"Think about it, if it doesn't talk, you won't be able to get back the stolen items. Why don't I go over and ask first? If that doesn't work, then you can use force. What do you think?"

His mission was to save the phantom star grass, not kill it. If the Formation Spirit really acted, everything would likely go down the drain.

Hearing Qi Yuan's words, the Formation Spirit thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

"You have a point. Alright, you go try first."

"No problem."

Qi Yuan agreed and walked to the edge of the light shield formed by the Runic Talisman, speaking in a gentle tone:

"Fellow Daoist, didn't you specifically ask me for help not long ago? I've come to save you now. Come out quickly."

As soon as he finished speaking, a blurry shadow slowly condensed around the phantom star grass. As the shadow solidified, a tiny human figure appeared.

The little person looked like a five or six-year-old child, with two horn-like buns on his head and a round, tender face. He looked very cute, the perfect image of a 'dream grandson' for countless grandparents.

Seeing the innocent and ignorant appearance of the Illusion Star Grass Spirit, even the Formation Spirit's expression softened slightly, and he couldn't help but reveal a kind smile.

After manifesting, the Illusion Star Grass Spirit looked at Qi Yuan with joy, his eyes turning red with excitement:

"Great! Finally, someone has come to save me."

"Big brother, hurry and take down that Spirit Talisman above my head so I can be saved. Wuwuwu, that woman is so terrifying..."

Qi Yuan nodded slightly, then pointed to the Formation Spirit behind him and asked softly:

"Little Grass Spirit, did you steal this Senior's things before?"

As soon as he finished, the Formation Spirit couldn't wait to step forward, putting on what he thought was a non-threatening expression:

"Little child, speak honestly. Did you sneak into my residence and take all the Spirit Stones while this old man was undergoing the Artifact Spirit Tribulation?"

The Illusion Star Grass Spirit shrunk back in fear and said weakly:

"I didn't steal your Spirit Stones. Grandpa Shen once told me that taking unguarded things isn't called stealing, it's called picking them up. I specifically waited until the owner wasn't there before going in to pick things up..."

Looking at the self-righteous Little Grass Spirit, Qi Yuan was stunned.

Isn't this teaching children the wrong things?

Also, who is this Grandpa Shen? Could there be another Spirit Medicine in Falling Cloud Valley?

"You're still making excuses?"

Hearing this explanation, the Formation Spirit's face grew darker and darker, finally shouting:

"It's clearly stealing! Call your Grandpa Shen out; this old man wants to debate it in person."

The Little Grass Spirit looked aggrieved. "I... I don't know where Grandpa Shen is. He told me that a Spiritual Plant that doesn't like to go out and wander isn't a good Spiritual Plant. Then he left and never came back..."

"Ah?"

The Formation Spirit's mouth twitched, but he still pulled himself together and asked the most important question:

"Where are the Spirit Stones and Heaven And Earth Treasures you took from my Immortal Cave now?"

The Little Grass Spirit reached out a small hand, pointed to his stomach, and said with certainty:

"I ate them all. Grandpa Shen said that after getting good things, you should dispose of the loot as soon as possible to avoid long nights and many dreams. A good Spiritual Plant never drags its feet..."

Holy crap!

Qi Yuan was a bit dazed. Who on earth was "Grandpa Shen" to teach the Little Grass Spirit such things?

This phantom star grass was supposed to be a righteous seedling, but who knew it would grow crooked from the roots...