30: Chapter 30: The Pursuer

At the registration desk of the ore vein entrance, Manager Wang was crossing his legs and picking his teeth.

Today, the sandstorm was exceptionally fierce, making the shed creak loudly.

He was just pondering whether to pack up early when two figures appeared in the distance.

One after another, separated by about half an hour.

The first to arrive was a lean man whose gaze was as sinister as a poisonous snake.

With the cultivation of Qi Condensation 9th Layer, he hung an Outer Sect Disciple token at his waist.

"Name, purpose of visit." Manager Wang lazily flipped through the registry.

"Li Sha." The man said in a hoarse voice, "I am taking on the one-year miner mission."

Manager Wang raised an eyebrow: "Qi Condensation 9th Layer coming to mine? Are you sure?"

The Disciples sent by the Sect were almost all below Qi Condensation 6th Layer. Even those who volunteered for the mission were at most Qi Condensation 7th Layer, and those at Qi Condensation Stage 8 were practically non-existent.

Now, someone at Qi Condensation 9th Layer ran over to say he was taking on a one-year mission, filling his heart with astonishment.

Li Sha did not answer and tossed over a Storage Pouch.

Manager Wang swept his Divine Sense across it—inside were neatly arranged one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, paying off the one-year "mission quota" all at once.

Manager Wang was slightly stunned, standing there dumbfounded. He had never seen anyone come to mine and pay Spirit Stones before it even started.

Paying like this meant that the person coming to mine could leave at any time.

He really wanted to say to this person, Damn it, are you sure you are here to mine?! Weren't you harboring some other purpose?!

Although filled with doubts, he still registered it in the booklet.

"Alright, go on in. You know the rules, right?" Seeing that the other party was a veteran who handed over Spirit Stones right away, he didn't want to talk nonsense!

"Mn." Li Sha nodded, paused, and asked, "Asking about someone—Xiao Yuan, which mining tunnel is he in?"

The eyes of Manager Wang flickered.

As expected.

He just said, why would an Inner Sect Disciple at Qi Condensation 9th Layer have nothing better to do than run over to mine and pay off the Spirit Stones in advance. Turns out he was aiming for that kid.

"C-Zone, Mine Cave No. 7, deeper down the third fork." Manager Wang very simply sold the intelligence—anyway, it had nothing to do with him, so why offend someone.

Li Sha nodded and turned to walk into the mine cave.

Manager Wang looked at the retreating figure and smacked his lips: "Xiao Yuan, oh Xiao Yuan, just which deity have you offended..."

Half an hour later.

The second person arrived.

This was a tall, robust Bald Man with a vicious face, also at the Qi Condensation 9th Layer cultivation. He walked with the wind and had a fierce look in his eyes.

"Name."

"Tie Tu." The big man said in a muffled voice, "Mining for one year."

Similarly, he tossed over a Storage Pouch containing one thousand Spirit Stones.

Manager Wang looked at the Storage Pouch in his hand, too lazy to even lift his eyelids this time: "Are you also here to find Xiao Yuan?"

Tie Tu was slightly stunned, then sneered: "Good that you know. Where is he?"

"C-Zone, Mine Cave No. 7, the third fork." Manager Wang repeated, "However, someone already went in just now, also looking for him. You guys... aren't together, are you?"

The gaze of Tie Tu congealed: "Who?"

"His name is Li Sha, also at Qi Condensation 9th Layer."

Tie Tu was silent for a moment, then grinned: "Interesting... Thanks."

After speaking, he also strode into the mine cave.

Manager Wang looked at the empty entrance, shook his head, and put away the two Storage Pouches.

"Two thousand Spirit Stones... just to kill a trash at Qi Condensation 3rd Layer?" He clicked his tongue, "The life of this Xiao Yuan is quite valuable."

But on second thought, he smiled again.

"Fine too, dogs biting dogs, killing one means one less. Saves me the trouble."

...

Deep inside the mine cave.

Xiao Yuan was squatting in front of a newly discovered small mine pit with a look of disappointment.

"Thirty-seven pieces..." He used a mining pick to poke at the sparsely embedded raw Spirit Stones on the stone wall and sighed, "It seems this ore vein is truly about to dry up."

From yesterday until now, relying on the perception ability of the creation cauldron, he had already found seven or eight Spirit Stone spots.

Except for the first time, which dug out nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, enough for him to pay four years of mission quotas.

But the other few spots were wretchedly poor. At most a few dozen pieces, and at least only a dozen pieces.

"It seems this ore vein is really about to be mined out." Xiao Yuan stood up and patted the dust off his hands.

Mining all the time was too much of a waste of time. He came here not just to mine! Although he also wanted to earn some extra money, he couldn't put the cart before the horse!

The top priority was to find a secluded place to raise his strength first.

The Five Elements Return to One Technique required cultivating five basic attribute Cultivation Techniques first. He had already gathered all five in the market—it cost him quite a few Spirit Stones, but it was worth it.

Now he had enough Spirit Stones on hand, Medicinal Pills, and Cultivation Techniques. What he lacked was time and a safe environment.

"I need to carve out an Immortal Cave..." Xiao Yuan stroked his chin and continued deeper along the mining tunnel.

The deeper he went, the more forks there were and the more complicated the terrain became. In some places, there were even signs of collapse, with rubble blocking half the passageway.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, a downward steep slope suddenly appeared ahead.

Xiao Yuan carefully slid down. After landing, he discovered—this was actually a naturally formed underground hollow space!

The space was not large, about three zhang square. There were cracks at the top letting a faint light filter down, barely enough to see things. In the corner, there was even a tiny underground spring, its dripping water converging into a small pool.

"Right here!" The eyes of Xiao Yuan lit up.

The location was secluded, with a water source, and the space was sufficient. The only drawback was the thin Spiritual Qi—but it didn't matter, he had plenty of Spirit Stones.

He first inspected the surroundings to confirm that no other mining tunnels were connected before beginning to set things up.

He took out a few Formation Plates from the Creation Cauldron Space—these were simple concealment Formations bought from the market. Although they couldn't stop experts, they could isolate the Divine Sense exploration of ordinary Cultivators.

After setting up the Formation, he took out illumination stones and fixed them in various places.

Finally, he cleared a flat patch of ground next to the spring and laid down a beast-skin mat.

A simple Immortal Cave was complete.

Xiao Yuan sat cross-legged, took out a pile of Spirit Stones from the creation cauldron, and set up a gathering spirit Formation around him.

"Let's try first to see if I can also upgrade the Rank of the Five Elements basic Cultivation Techniques..."

Soon, five Jade Slips lined up horizontally in front of him.

Gold, green, blue, red, yellow, corresponding to the Five Elements.

These were the Five Elements basic Cultivation Techniques he spent a whole day scouring the market to gather—Sharp Metal Art, Azure Wood Longevity Technique, Profound Water Congealing Ice Technique, Crimson Sun Burning Heaven Technique, and Houtu Indestructible Body.

The names were more domineering than the last, but in reality... they were all common goods, selling for ten Spirit Stones a book in the market, and buying five books even came with a free copy of Introduction to Basic Talismans.

"Come on, let's see what kind of tricks the creation cauldron can pull off."

Xiao Yuan took a deep breath and placed the five Jade Slips into the yin-yang creation cauldron one by one.

"Condense, upgrade!"

The order was given.

The creation cauldron vibrated slightly, and colorful flowing light emerged on the body of the cauldron, wrapping around the Jade Slips.

A quarter of an hour later, the light faded.

Five brand-new Jade Slips lay quietly in the cauldron—their materials had changed from ordinary white jade to warm spiritual jade, with faint halos circulating on their surfaces.

Xiao Yuan picked up the first one and probed it with his Divine Sense.

Gengjin Sword Soul Art!

It was no longer the basic Sharp Metal Art, but a comprehensive Cultivation Technique that included Spiritual Qi Cultivation, sword techniques, and Body Refining methods!

When cultivated to a profound level, one could condense a sword soul with metal-type Spiritual Qi, and with a single sword strike, all spells would be broken!

Looking at the layers...