237: Chapter 237 Helping You Cultivate

"What are you still standing around for?! Get to the mine! Today's task is five immortal essence stones per person! Those who fail will receive ten lashes and no Immortal-Nurturing Pill!"

The Supervisor scolded sharply, cracking his whip in the air, creating a piercing sound of breaking wind.

Helpless, the crowd could only drag their heavy steps toward the deep, dark mine.

"And you! Since you've rested enough, get up quickly! We're not feeding you for nothing!"

The Supervisor whipped mercilessly beside the sitting miners, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Those people stood up numbly, picked up the standard-issue pickaxes beside them, and dispersed into the surrounding mines.

Upon entering, Yin Gu and the others didn't start mining but looked at some Cultivators in the mine whose faces were ashen.

The Qi in their bodies was chaotic, and their immortal essence was dissipating. Clearly, their immortal fetus Foundations were damaged, and their eyes were dim as if they were waiting for death.

"How could these Cultivators..."

Heavenly Valley couldn't help but speak up.

But before he could finish, a voice came from behind.

"They didn't complete their daily tasks and didn't get the Immortal-Nurturing Pill. Without the supplement of Immortal Qi, they simply can't resist the erosion of the corrupt immortal miasma in this mine. I'm afraid..."

"Soon, their lives will end and their Dao will vanish."

Everyone turned around to see several more Cultivators entering the mine entrance. Leading them was a cold-faced man, also dressed in grey commoner's clothes with an immortal locking ring around his neck, yet his aura was much stronger than the other Cultivators.

Heavenly Valley took a step forward and cupped his hands.

"Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist. My name is Heavenly Valley. May I know your name?"

"Savage Stone."

"Fellow Daoist Savage Stone, we indeed just arrived today. Hearing what you said, it seems you know this place well. Could you give us some pointers?"

"Pointers?"

Savage Stone sneered and led the few people behind him straight into the depths of the mine.

"Here, no one will help you for nothing. If you want to live a bit better and suffer less, then mine more immortal essence stones."

"immortal essence stones?"

Yin Gu murmured.

Since he arrived here, he had heard this name dozens of times.

"immortal essence stones should be like the Spirit Stones of the Lower Realm, the common currency of this Yuanguang Realm. They can be used for Cultivation and trade, and they should also be able to supplement Immortal Qi. But why are these people still in this state?"

Seemingly hearing Yin Gu's whisper, a Cultivator with an ashen face sitting nearby let out a miserable laugh:

"Cough, cough... immortal essence stones do indeed contain Immortal Qi... but the corrupt immortal miasma here is incredibly thick... while absorbing the Immortal Qi from the immortal essence stones, one also inhales the corrupt immortal miasma into the body... it's no different from seeking death."

He struggled to raise a finger, pointing to his clouded eyes and cracked lips:

"Do you see? This is the consequence of forced absorption... the immortal fetus is defiled, the Foundation is damaged, and even a god would find it hard to save you."

"So one can only mine and not absorb. Only the Immortal-Nurturing Pills distributed by the Supervisor are specially treated to temporarily resist the erosion of the miasma while supplementing Immortal Qi. Although the effect is weak, it can at least keep you alive."

Hearing this, everyone realized:

"So that's how it is..."

However, Yin Gu, Heavenly Valley, and the other Cultivators who had ascended from the Cangxu Realm didn't feel much of a ripple in their hearts.

Miasma eroding the immortal fetus?

They didn't care at all!

What Yin Gu and the others were worried about was another matter. If absorbing immortal essence stones here would defile the immortal fetus as this Cultivator said, then how could they temper their immortal fetuses and improve themselves?

"If only there were a place that could isolate the corrupt immortal miasma, or if we could take the immortal essence stones back to the Lower Realm to absorb them..."

Yin Gu's eyes flickered as he whispered to himself.

"Don't overthink it. Let's mine first. Maybe there will be a turn of events later."

Heavenly Valley's voice pulled Yin Gu back to reality from his contemplation.

He nodded, suppressed the stray thoughts in his heart, and walked toward the depths of the mine.

A moment later, several people arrived at an empty spot.

There were clear chisel marks on the walls here.

"Let's try it here."

Heavenly Valley said in a low voice.

Yin Gu nodded, swung his heavy pickaxe, and smashed it hard against the rock wall.

Clang!

Sparks flew, and the counter-shock force made his arm go numb. The rocks here were incredibly hard; this strike only left a thumb-sized hole in the rock wall.

"Tsk, this rock is harder than the Essence of Gengjin!"

In the Lower Realm, the Essence of Gengjin was one of the top Materials for forging immortal swords and Magic Treasures, being incredibly hard, yet the rocks here were even harder.

"Pah! What kind of world is this? Even the rocks in the Upper Realm are harder than the top spiritual Materials of the Lower Realm!"

Yin Gu cursed under his breath, a look of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

Then, three-colored flames directly rose from his body. These were flames fueled by burning Lifespan, essence blood, and Divine Soul.

"Break for me!"

Clang!

The three-colored flames wrapped around the pickaxe as Yin Gu poured all his strength into it, once again smashing it hard against the indestructible rock wall.

This time, it wasn't a dull thud; the head of the pickaxe embedded itself half an inch into the rock wall.

Crack!

A palm-sized piece of rock was pried off and fell to the ground.

"It works!"

Seeing this, a sharp light flashed in everyone's eyes.

"Don't you all just stand there either!"

Heavenly Valley and the others understood instantly. Three-colored flames erupted from everyone's bodies as they picked up their pickaxes and smashed them hard against the rock wall.

They had chosen a place with no one around, so no one noticed the commotion they were making.

About half an hour later, a look of wild joy appeared in Yin Gu's eyes, and he couldn't help but whisper:

"It's out!"

Everyone looked over and saw a thumb-sized, warm, and pure white object revealed on the rock wall Yin Gu had excavated.

Yin Gu pried it off and held it in his palm, examining it closely:

"This should be an immortal essence stone."

He could feel the massive amount of Immortal Qi contained within it, identical to what he had absorbed in the Ascension Pool before, making everyone look on with envy.

"What a pity, it can't be absorbed..."

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly rang in everyone's ears.

"Who said it can't be absorbed?"

Several people immediately turned their heads upon hearing the voice, then showed expressions of extreme surprise and joy.

"Senior Su?!"

That's right! It was indeed Su Mo!

After Yin Gu and the others ascended, Su Mo had been observing the situation in the Yuanguang Realm through their vision, so he knew everything that happened to them clearly.

After discovering that Yin Gu and the others were caught and sent to the immortal essence mine to dig, Su Mo's heart was filled with wild joy.

What corrupt immortal miasma?!

Others couldn't absorb immortal essence stones here, but he could!

The world-cleansing demon-subduing pestle given to him by the Great Nirvana Buddha contained a Buddhist Kingdom inside, which was equivalent to a space that could hold living things.

Wouldn't it be fine to just take the immortal essence stones inside to absorb them!

"Se... Senior, how did you get here?"

Yin Gu's excited voice trembled slightly. He knew Su Mo would come sooner or later, but he didn't expect him to appear before them now.

Su Mo smiled slightly:

"Naturally, I've come to help you Cultivate."

After saying that, a double-headed short pestle appeared in his hand, and a few words escaped his lips:

"Nirvana Buddhist Kingdom."