41: Chapter 41 Amethyst

[You have mined a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, experience points +1.]

"Heh!"

"A great start indeed."

Zhao Yi pulled the Mid-Grade Spirit Stone out from the mountain rocks and showed it off to Zhou Yan and Mi Yao.

After three days of adaptation, Zhou Yan and Mi Yao finally picked up their hoes,

and began mining Spirit Stones as well.

However, their cultivation was too low; they had to rest after every strike of the hoe, and their speed couldn't compare to Zhao Yi's at all.

"Aaaah~"

"I'm not digging anymore."

Zhou Yan threw down her hoe. Her cultivation was a bit lower than Mi Yao's, and she was now drenched in sweat, her hair and clothes sticking to her body.

Walking to Zhao Yi's side, she grabbed his arm.

"Big Brother~"

"How about I help you pick up the Spirit Stones?"

Zhao Yi...

That single "Big Brother" made his heart melt; he simply couldn't refuse Zhou Yan.

"I didn't ask you to dig anyway. You can just help me process these rocks like before."

"Alright!"

A pile of rocks had already accumulated at Zhao Yi's feet. In fact, even if Zhou Yan hadn't come over, he would have called for her in a bit.

Relying on Zhao Yi to process these rocks himself would be too much of a waste of time.

"Eh, there are even Low-Grade Spirit Stones in these rocks."

"Fellow Daoist Zhao Yi, are those eyes of yours just for breathing?~"

Zhao Yi...

He suddenly felt a bit of regret; perhaps he should have called Mi Yao over to process the rocks instead.

After all, if Mi Yao found a Spirit Stone in the rocks, she would just pick it up and give Zhao Yi a gentle look, rather than exposing his shortcomings directly like Zhou Yan.

Although Zhou Yan was nagging, it was impossible for Zhao Yi to change.

If he had to sift through the rocks after every strike, how much time would be wasted?

In that time, Zhao Yi estimated he could have mined another Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.

[You have mined a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, experience points +1.]

...

In fourteen days, mining three to five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones every day, Zhao Yi finally earned back the mine entry fee.

"System,"

[Miner: Zhao Yi]

[Cultivation: Early Stage Golden Core (Insufficient experience, cannot level up)]

[experience points: 61/100]

[Rewards: None]

"Sixty-one experience points?"

"Damn, this is such a rip-off."

"This is a complete waste of time."

Zhou Yan and Mi Yao nodded in agreement.

The third layer of the mines was desolate and cold. In all these days, Zhao Yi hadn't seen a second Golden Core Cultivator.

"Today is the last day. We'll head out tomorrow."

He had seen the third layer, and he had figured out the System. Zhao Yi needed to return to the Cultivation Academy.

Some matters had to be settled.

Bang, bang—

The atmosphere in the mine was a bit heavy because of Zhao Yi's thoughts.

"Ah!"

Mi Yao let out a startled cry.

A dark shadow lunged straight at her, its two red eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty light.

"Die!"

Zhao Yi didn't even move; he simply threw the great sumeru treasure hoe in his hand.

"Gaa—"

With a miserable shriek, the great sumeru treasure hoe struck the dark shadow dead center.

"A Lesser Strange Demon?"

Zhao Yi looked at the mine wall Mi Yao had been digging.

"Is there something good here?"

Of course, there might also be Lesser Strange Demons.

"You two, put away your important things first."

Zhao Yi's meaning was instantly understood by the two women; this was a precaution in case they accidentally triggered a demon tide and needed to flee.

Bang!

[You have mined a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, experience points +1.]

With one strike of the hoe, Zhao Yi unearthed a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone.

"As I thought."

Zhao Yi picked up the Spirit Stone and focused his mind.

[You have mined a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, experience points +1.]

Following that, Mid-Grade Spirit Stones were continuously unearthed.

Naturally, there were also many Low-Grade Spirit Stones that Zhao Yi ignored.

[You have mined an Sky-Blue Stone, experience points +10.]

[First time mining an Sky-Blue Stone. Reward: good luck card (90 seconds)]

In just this short time, Zhao Yi had mined eight Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, breaking his highest record of the past dozen days.

[Miner: Zhao Yi]

[Cultivation: Early Stage Golden Core (Insufficient experience, cannot level up)]

[experience points: 79/100]

[Rewards: good luck card (90 seconds)]

Seventy-nine experience points. He was still twenty-one short, which meant twenty-one Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Looking at the good luck card, something called ambition appeared in Zhao Yi's eyes.

As for the Sky-Blue Stone, Zhao Yi didn't take it to heart and casually tossed it to Zhou Yan.

"Give me those eight Mid-Grade Spirit Stones from just now."

Zhao Yi held a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone in each hand; he wanted to fully restore the Golden Core Power in his body.

As time passed, the Spirit Stones turned to powder one by one. The Golden Core Power in Zhao Yi's Dantian finally returned to its Peak state.

Nearby, Zhou Yan and Mi Yao were processing the rocks.

Zhao Yi took a deep breath and walked to the mine wall.

"I feel like there's something big here."

"Either wealth or a demon!"

"Be careful, everyone."

Taking out the great sumeru treasure hoe, Zhao Yi took another deep breath.

"System, claim reward."

A countdown appeared in Zhao Yi's eyes that only he could see.

90...

89...

Bang!

Raising the great sumeru treasure hoe, Zhao Yi began to dig.

[You have mined a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, experience points +1.]

[You have mined a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone, experience points +1.]

...

Zhao Yi unearthed a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone with almost every strike, with a few Low-Grade Spirit Stones mixed in.

This was Heaven-Defying.

Zhou Yan and Mi Yao could barely keep up with Zhao Yi's pace just by picking up Spirit Stones and processing rocks.

10...

9...

The use of the good luck card was coming to an end.

"At most three more strikes."

Zhao Yi judged in his mind.

"I estimate I'll have enough experience points to Breakthrough the Early Stage Golden Core."

Just as Zhao Yi thought it would end like this, a streak of purple light shot out from the mine wall, illuminating the entire cave.

[You have mined a purple strange crystal stone, experience points +100.]

[First time mining a purple strange crystal stone. Reward: Immovable Void Technique.]

"Ah!"

"A purple strange crystal stone!"

Zhao Yi didn't feel much after mining the purple strange crystal stone, but Zhou Yan's reaction was huge.

She almost lunged forward, instantly clutching the purple crystal stone to her chest.

Zhao Yi hadn't even clearly seen what the purple strange crystal stone looked like.

"You...?"

"Is this necessary?"

Just as Zhao Yi was about to ask why Zhou Yan's reaction was so extreme,

A figure suddenly appeared in the branch tunnel.

"Who?"

"Young friend, was it you who mined the purple strange crystal stone?"

"Correct. And you are?"

"This old man is Ye Qingyang."

Who was Ye Qingyang?

Zhao Yi had no idea.

Behind him, Zhou Yan and Mi Yao cried out in panic, "You are True Lord Qingyang?"

"Zhou Yan and Mi Yao pay respects to the True Lord!"

Ye Qingyang couldn't be bothered with the two women; instead, he looked at Zhao Yi.

"How about it? Young friend, would you consider selling the purple strange crystal stone to me?"

"Rest assured, I won't let you suffer a loss. I'll give it to you at the Anning Prefecture market price—one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones."

"We're not selling!"

Zhou Yan's voice was a bit shrill.

"Hmm?"

Ye Qingyang glared at Zhou Yan. She felt as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer, and a trace of blood leaked from the corner of her mouth.

"A mere minor female Cultivator, what right do you have to speak here?"

"Dare to speak out of turn again, and you die!"

Ye Qingyang's overbearing manner made Zhao Yi quite displeased.

"I must disappoint the True Lord; we are not selling this purple strange crystal stone."

Ye Qingyang looked at Zhao Yi with surprise, then his expression turned to one of realization when he saw Zhou Yan.

"Young friend, lust is a blade over the head; I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to come to a good end like this."