193: Chapter 193 Threatened?

That expression was no longer one of contempt, disdain, or condescending hostility.

Instead, it was...

Awe!

An awe mixed with fear, confusion, and something akin to faith.

"Master Zhao, please teach me!"

Zhao Yi dug out another piece of spirit light sandstone, and Ai You could no longer hold it in; he prostrated himself in a grand salute.

He had been imprisoned for over four hundred years and did not want to be locked up for another four hundred. Now, let alone taking Zhao Yi as his Master, he wouldn't even hesitate to call him "Father."

As for so-called Immortal dignity, Ai You only wanted to say:

Screw that!

He wanted freedom! He wanted female Immortals!

He never wanted to be trapped here again.

Zhao Yi...

How was he supposed to teach this mining stuff?

In his mind, it really was just a matter of using your hands; you just take a hoe and dig, right?

Looking at Ai You kneeling before him, Zhao Yi slapped his forehead;

He had been foolish.

Did Ai You need a mining method or technique?

No.

Mining itself didn't have any methods or techniques; all he needed was to dig a piece of spirit light sandstone from the mountain rock and gain his freedom.

That made it simple.

Zhao Yi helped Ai You up.

"You should get up first."

"This spirit light sandstone is easy to dig if you say it's easy, but hard if you say it's hard."

"Come, take my hoe."

Zhao Yi taught Ai You hand-in-hand, both of them holding the hoe handle, their eyes fixed on the shadows darting about, locked onto one.

Zhao Yi guided Ai You's hands and dug down without hesitation.

"Come on!"

"Pull it out hard!"

A faint light radiated from the crack in the mountain rock.

Ai You's body was trembling.

"Could it be?"

【You have dug up a piece of spirit light sandstone, experience points +1.】

Zhao Yi felt slightly smug.

Look, the Disciple had been taught, and the experience points hadn't been wasted.

"Master Zhao!"

"This~"

Ai You looked at Zhao Yi excitedly.

"Pick it up; you dug it."

"This~"

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

Ai You hesitated with his words, but his body was very honest.

When he picked up the piece of spirit light sandstone, a white light shot toward him.

"This?"

"I'm free?"

Following the white light, Ai You's body slowly became transparent.

"Thank you, Master Zhao."

"Master Zhao, I will wait for you outside."

"I believe you will be able to get out soon."

Zhao Yi...

"Get out?"

"Why would I go out?"

Looking at the shadows darting around at his feet,

"I'm not going out."

"Where else could I dig for this many experience points?"

Then he realized something.

That's not right.

Ai You was free after digging just one piece of spirit light sandstone, but he had already dug two; why was there no reaction at all?

Could it really be, as Ai You said, that his crimes were greater?

Ai You's freedom shocked the Immortals present.

Their timid, hesitant appearance—wanting to approach but not daring to—made Zhao Yi find it amusing.

However, Zhao Yi couldn't be bothered to pay attention to them.

Watching the shadows darting through the mountain rocks, he felt a little anxious.

How did these shadows come out?

"Could it be my blood?"

"Whatever, I'll dig first and worry about it later."

Next, Zhao Yi began his "old six" moment; he quietly held his hoe, and when a shadow approached, he struck with the hoe immediately.

The rock broke, light shone, the System notification sounded, and experience points were credited.

【You have dug up a piece of spirit light sandstone, experience points +1.】

【You have dug up a piece of spirit light sandstone, experience points +1.】

【You have dug up a piece of spirit light sandstone, experience points +1.】

...

The System notifications didn't stop, and brilliant light flashed constantly, illuminating the entire mine.

That day, Zhao Yi dug eighteen pieces of spirit light sandstone.

At night,

Zhao Yi gripped his hoe.

It wasn't that he didn't want to dig anymore, but the original shadows had long since vanished without a trace, forcing him to stop.

"That person took one, Ai You took one, and I have sixteen here, which means I dug eighteen pieces of spirit light sandstone in one day."

This quantity was the highest since the spirit light sandstone mine was first discovered.

After putting away the spirit light sandstone, Zhao Yi looked up; his surroundings were once again filled with Immortals.

These Immortals were swinging their hoes, working day and night without stopping.

Besides learning Zhao Yi's "diligence," they also imitated him, from his movements to his clothes; even their hoes looked just like the great sumeru treasure hoe.

"This..."

"Is it necessary?"

Zhao Yi tidied up and summoned a white cloud.

Since he already knew how to dig for spirit light sandstone, there was no need for him to waste time here.

On the white cloud, Zhao Yi summoned the System.

【Miner: Zhao Yi】

【Cultivation: Mid-stage Human Immortal Realm (Insufficient experience points, cannot upgrade)】

【experience points: 21/100】

【Reward: good luck card (three days)】

"Looks like I need to find a time to use the good luck card."

But after looking at the dense crowd of Immortals below the white cloud, Zhao Yi shook his head; he figured there would be no chance to use the good luck card in the short term.

Because Zhao Yi was now the absolute center of attention, and no matter where he went, Immortals followed him.

For example, right now, several white clouds were hovering around Zhao Yi, the meaning of surveillance being particularly obvious.

"Is it Sect Master Ren?"

"He really doesn't know when to give up."

"Time to sleep."

Two white clouds, one above and one below, enveloped Zhao Yi.

This was the first time Zhao Yi had rested since being locked in the mine.

"What does he mean by this?"

"Didn't he talk about 'diligence'?"

"Is he trying to ghost us?"

"Damn it, digging over ten pieces of spirit light sandstone in a day, how does he dare?"

Sect Master Ren's eyes were red with envy.

He was the Sect Master of the Bliss Sect; before Zhao Yi arrived, he was the big boss in the mine. Who didn't show him some respect?

There were no female Immortals in the mine; if he hadn't made sacrifices in advance, where would there be so much fun?

Sect Master Ren stared at the white clouds covering Zhao Yi, gnashing his teeth in hatred, but he lacked the courage to make a move.

"Hmph!"

Shouldering his hoe, he went to the spot where Zhao Yi had just dug out the spirit light sandstone.

Zhao Yi had dug three pieces in a row here, so it must be a mineral vein.

Sect Master Ren dug very seriously and very devoutly.

Hate was hate, but who would pass up spirit light sandstone?

This busyness lasted for a year, and Zhao Yi slept for an entire year.

"Comfortable!"

Sure enough, sleeping was the best way to rest, a hundred times better than those Medicinal Pills or Formations.

One sleep had washed away over a hundred years of fatigue from Zhao Yi; now, his mental state was surprisingly good.

He waved his hand to put away the white cloud.

Below, the figures of the various Immortals were gone, with only a few scattered white clouds floating around Zhao Yi.

Seeing Zhao Yi appear, those white clouds approached rapidly.

Dozens of people jumped off the white clouds, knelt in the Void Realm, and bowed to Zhao Yi.

"Master Zhao, please take us as your Disciples and teach us the secret mining technique."

"If we escape, we are willing to serve by your side for the rest of our lives."

"Please, Master, have pity on us~"

Zhao Yi looked at the Cultivators before him—over twenty Immortals!

How could he possibly have the ability to teach them?

"Scatter."

"What secret technique is there for mining?"

"Only 'diligence' and 'sincerity'."

After Zhao Yi finished speaking, those twenty-plus Immortals did not move an inch; instead, they all kowtowed together, causing the Void Realm to tremble with a rolling sound wave.

"The Disciples are willing to be diligent! Willing to be sincere! We only ask Master to point out a glimmer of survival!"

"If Master does not agree for a day, we will not leave for a day!"

"Even if we are exposed to wind and sun, and our Divine Souls wither, we are willing to kneel until Master's heart softens~"

Zhao Yi frowned, a look of displeasure on his face.

Was he being threatened?