1: Son of the Miners, Daily Intelligence

"Gu Changsheng! You cursed brat, the sun is already high and you're still lazing in bed! Are you waiting for me to feed you myself?!"

The shrill, mean scolding pierced through the thin wooden door, stabbing precisely into Gu Changsheng's ears.

He opened his eyes and calmly looked at the straw rope hanging a piece of cured meat from the rafters.

There was no anger, no grievance.

Only a stagnant pool of numbness.

Having been in this world for eight years as someone who transmigrated into the womb, he had long since grown used to it.

In his past life, he was a corporate drone who had just received an offer from a major internet company and hadn't even had the chance to enjoy the '996 blessing' before a car accident turned him into the current Gu Changsheng.

An eight-year-old orphan in the Black Iron Mine Slave Camp at the foot of the Taiqing Sect, a cultivation Sect.

His parents died in a mining accident five years ago, and most of the pension they left behind went into the pockets of his uncle and aunt, while he became the most redundant mouth to feed in this household.

"Did you hear me! If you don't get out here right now, don't even think about having a single sip of stale porridge today!"

The scolding outside the door continued.

Gu Changsheng got up silently and put on his washed-out linen shirt that was covered in patches.

He pushed open the door to find his aunt, Lady Li, standing in the courtyard with her hands on her hips, her triangular eyes glaring at him viciously.

"So you finally decided to come out? Do you think you're some Young Master of the immortal masters on the mountain? Let me tell you, there are only three days left until the Spirit Testing Assembly! If you aren't chosen, get your ass back into the mine to keep your dead parents company! Don't expect to eat and drink for free at my house for the rest of your life!"

Lady Li spat as she spoke, every word carrying undisguised disgust.

The Spirit Testing Assembly.

Gu Changsheng silently repeated those four words in his heart.

This was the only way out for all the children in the Mine Slave Camp.

The Taiqing Sect promised that any child of a mine slave with a Spiritual Root could enter the Sect to practice cultivation.

But these words were laughably ethereal.

The Mine Slave Camp held an assembly every three years, and among hundreds or thousands of children, it would be considered a stroke of incredible luck for their ancestors if even one or two were found to have a Pseudo Spirit Root.

But even so, this remained the only hope for everyone, the sole spiritual pillar that supported them through day after day in the dark mine tunnels, trading their lives for meager rations.

Gu Changsheng lowered his head and walked to the water vat without a word, scooping up half a ladle of cold water to messily wipe his face.

The icy water cleared his Chaos-filled head a little.

At that moment, a string of pale gold text emerged in his mind without any warning.

[daily intelligence has been refreshed]

[Intelligence 1: On the West Slope of the Black Iron Mountain mining area, under a crooked old locust tree, a marrow cleansing grass is growing in the crack of the third bluestone slab. Consuming it can cleanse the meridians and temper the marrow, improving a Mortal's constitution. Note: Someone may be nearby. However, there is no need for concern; your uncle, Gu Dashan, is worried about wild beasts on the West Slope and will follow you secretly to protect you. Risk Assessment: Low.]

[Intelligence 2: At noon today, a localized cave-in will occur in Mine Cave No. 7 of the East District. It is expected to cause three serious injuries and five minor injuries. Avoidance suggestion: Stay away.]

"It's here!"

A flash of heat that others could not perceive flickered in Gu Changsheng's downcast eyes.

This was not a hallucination.

This daily intelligence System had already appeared for two days.

He still clearly remembered the intelligence that was refreshed yesterday.

[Intelligence: Gu Changfeng will step into a hole while chasing a rabbit on the back mountain, and his right ankle will be injured by falling rocks.]

Gu Changfeng was his uncle's precious son, a year older than him, who often bullied him by relying on his strong physique.

Yesterday afternoon, Gu Changfeng had indeed been helped back by several other children, limping and crying heart-wrenchingly, his right ankle swollen like a steamed bun.

At that moment, he finally confirmed that this thing that suddenly appeared in his head was real!

It was the only straw that could change his fate!

"marrow cleansing grass..."

Gu Changsheng repeatedly chewed over these three words in his heart.

Improving a Mortal's constitution!

He was very clear about his own situation; this body was incredibly weak, and there was a high probability that he didn't even have a Pseudo Spirit Root.

At the Spirit Testing Assembly in three days, his chance of being eliminated was 99.9%.

And this marrow cleansing grass was his only chance to change his fate against the heavens!

The intelligence also mentioned: His uncle would follow him secretly to protect him?

Gu Changsheng's heart stirred slightly.

His uncle, Gu Dashan, was a man of few words with a weak personality. He was mostly controlled by Lady Li at home. Although he wasn't close to his nephew, he never mistreated or beat him like Lady Li did, and would occasionally say "Forget it, the child is still young" when Lady Li was angry.

When his parents first passed away, it was also his uncle who took him in despite the pressure from Lady Li.

He didn't expect that his uncle would actually worry about his safety and follow him secretly... This caused a faint, almost imperceptible warmth to rise in Gu Changsheng's cold heart. But this warmth was quickly replaced by vigilance.

Someone following him secretly meant his actions to retrieve the grass had to be even more covert, and he couldn't show excessive desire for the marrow cleansing grass.

Otherwise, how could he explain an eight-year-old child recognizing such a Spiritual Plant?

"What are you standing there for? Are you waiting for me to invite you? Go chop the wood already!"

Lady Li's shout interrupted his thoughts.

"I understand, Aunt."

Gu Changsheng responded and walked silently toward the woodpile.

He picked up the axe, which was thicker than his arm, and began chopping the wood stroke by stroke.

The physical exhaustion and his aunt's cursing could not affect the turmoil in his heart at this moment.

He forced himself to calm down.

Risk Assessment: Low.

Someone might be around, but with his uncle in the shadows, the risk of wild beasts or other accidents was indeed reduced. However, it could also bring variables, such as being seen or having it snatched... He couldn't delay; he had to get it as soon as possible and needed a proper excuse.

Time passed minute by minute, and soon it was noon.

Gu Changsheng was sitting on the threshold gnawing on a dark, coarse bun when a dull, massive boom suddenly came from the direction of the eastern mining area!

Rumble—!

The ground even trembled slightly.

Immediately following were chaotic shouts and shrill cries, coming from far to near.

"A cave-in! Mine Cave No. 7 in the East District has collapsed!"

"Quick, go save them!"

In the courtyard, Lady Li's face turned pale, and the bowl in her hand almost fell to the ground. Gu Changsheng's uncle, Gu Dashan, was mining in the East District, though fortunately not in Cave No. 7.

Even so, Lady Li paced back and forth in the courtyard restlessly, muttering incessantly, "Gods protect us, let's hope nothing went wrong on your uncle's side... Oh, this damned mine..."

Gu Changsheng slowly finished the last bite of his bun.

He looked up toward the Chaos in the east, and the last shred of doubt in his heart completely vanished along with that loud boom and the cries.

The cave-in had indeed happened.

The intelligence was completely accurate.

In that case, the intelligence regarding the marrow cleansing grass and his uncle must also be true.

He had to act now.

Once his uncle returned from the mine or was confirmed safe and everyone's attention shifted, it would be even harder for him to find an excuse to go to the West Slope.

Now, amidst the Chaos, was the best time.

After finishing his meal, he proactively cleared the dishes.

Then, he walked up to Lady Li, who was sighing in the courtyard, lowered his head, and spoke in a timid yet slightly concerned tone.

"What is it? Spit it out!" Lady Li was anxious, so her tone was even sharper.

"Your waist... is it hurting again?" Gu Changsheng asked softly, catching her subconscious movement of pounding her lower back.

Lady Li was stunned for a moment and cursed, "Isn't it because of a jinx like you! Ever since you moved in, my waist has never been right! And now I don't know what's happening with your uncle... Oh, misfortunes never come singly!"

Gu Changsheng listened to the scolding submissively. When her shouting died down slightly, he continued, "I... I heard Grandpa Sun in the camp say that on the West Slope, there's a wild grass called 'black-jointed grass.' If you crush it and apply it to your waist, it can relieve the pain. I want to... while it's still light out, go pick some for you to try. Grandpa Sun drew a sample for me."

As he spoke, he pulled out a crumpled piece of straw paper he had prepared long ago from his robe, which had a few crooked drawings of a plant that looked a bit like jointgrass.

Lady Li stared at the paper, then looked at Gu Changsheng's honest and even somewhat flattering appearance. Her irritability and back pain made her not care too much.

What kind of schemes could an eight-year-old child have? Besides, this medicine was being picked for her and didn't cost any money.

"The West Slope? Why go to the West Slope now! Your uncle still hasn't..."

Halfway through her sentence, Lady Li remembered that Gu Dashan was usually quite sturdy and should be fine, and the back pain was truly torturous. "Fine, fine! If you want to go, then go! You must be back before sunset! Otherwise, forget about dinner, you won't even be allowed in the door!"

"Thank you, Aunt." Gu Changsheng lowered his head, hiding the flash of light in his eyes.

He didn't leave immediately but first circled around the house, pretending to look for a cloth bag to hold the herbs, while actually checking if his uncle had returned.

He didn't see Gu Dashan's figure; he was likely delayed by the aftermath of the cave-in at the mine. According to the intelligence, he should be "following secretly."

Gu Changsheng slung a tattered small cloth bag over his shoulder, containing the straw paper and a small piece of hard biscuit. He also picked up a thin iron piece with a sharp edge near the woodpile and quietly tucked it into his sleeve.

He pushed open the courtyard gate and walked toward the West Slope.

After walking some distance from the camp, he felt as if a gaze had landed on his back, faint and not very strong.

He didn't look back, merely maintaining a child's normal speed and gait, occasionally stopping to check the wild grass by the road against the straw paper, appearing to be identifying them.

The West Slope was very quiet, with only the rustling of wind through the leaves and the calls of unknown birds.

Following the instructions from the intelligence, he soon found the highly recognizable crooked old locust tree.

He squatted down and began looking for the bluestone slabs under the tree.

One, two, three... right here!

In the crack of the third bluestone slab, a small grass, entirely emerald green with a faint shimmer on its leaves, was growing quietly.

marrow cleansing grass!

Gu Changsheng's heart hammered wildly in his chest.

He reached out his hand, carefully brushing away the surrounding soil, preparing to pull it out by the roots.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the marrow cleansing grass, a sinister child's voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"What are you doing?"