Reward: One Random Treasure Chest

Yang Ling entered the mine tunnel and found a few familiar miners to ask around, confirming that what Zhang Wei said was true.

Huìnéng and the others had indeed left.

"Even so, I still can't let my guard down."

"The Vajra Mingwang Technique is a first-rate cultivation method. Losing it like this... Ku Jue Temple naturally won't let it go."

"But no matter what, they won't trace it back to me, as long as I don't expose the technique I'm cultivating."

Yang Ling thought it over, then began looking for an opportunity to head to Mine Tunnel No. 2.

Seeing that no one was around in the West Five Days, Yang Ling slipped into Mine Tunnel No. 2 in a flash.

"But I can't stay in the mine tunnel for five consecutive days like before."

Unlike before, he now needed to find chances to go back and cultivate the Vajra Mingwang Technique and Collapse Mountain Fist.

These things couldn't be exposed, so naturally he wouldn't cultivate them inside the mine tunnel.

Thus, once he had dug enough, he had to leave.

After he reached the First Glimpse of the Door stage with the Vajra Mingwang Technique, he might choose a period of time to focus on leveling up and add more attribute points.

Opening the map, Yang Ling picked a route and slowly advanced deeper.

Along the way, he didn't encounter any large pieces of Fire Crystal Rock Ore.

He wasn't in a hurry either.

While keeping an eye out for any signs of Mine Bandits or Mine Worms, he steadily pressed deeper.

Arriving at a fork, Yang Ling checked the map and chose one of the entrances.

After walking a bit further, the space ahead suddenly opened up.

It was a natural limestone cave.

Lighting a Fire Lighter and looking around, he saw quite a few signs of excavation.

"Right here."

Yang Ling began digging and stopping here and there, searching for Fire Crystal Rock Ore.

He had enough strength; a few swings of the pickaxe could probe a meter deep.

After repeating this for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he detected a piece of Fire Crystal Rock Ore and immediately started working.

In the pitch-black depths, only the sound of Yang Ling's continuous digging remained.

Thump, thump, thump!

With every swing of the pick, sparks flew in all directions, and some ore fragments fell.

Streams of experience poured into Yang Ling's body, relieving muscle fatigue and soreness, boosting his endurance.

He was like a tireless machine, digging with all his might.

After who knows how long, the crisp sound of leveling up rang out again.

"Ding!"

"Congratulations, you have leveled up. You have received 1 Free Attribute Point."

Level 10!

A trace of emotion surged in Yang Ling's heart.

He added the attribute point to Spirit and glanced at the Attribute Panel:

Character: Yang Ling

Class: Martial Artist

Level: 10

Strength: 11

Agility: 5

Spirit: 12

Martial Arts: Vajra Mingwang Technique (First-rate Cultivation Method, Beginner)

Experience: 60/100

Collapse Mountain Fist (First Glimpse of the Door)

Proficiency: 87/1000

Health Points: 110

"Congratulations, Player Yang Ling has become one of the first thirty Top Players to reach Level 10. Reward: Random Treasure Chest x1."

"What!? There's such a good thing!?"

Yang Ling was stunned. With a flash of white light, it converged before him into the shape of a treasure chest.

"Now this looks like a game. Finally, it feels a bit like a game."

Yang Ling stared at the gleaming White Treasure Chest, a flicker of excitement stirring within him.

"There you are. I've been looking all over for you."

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.

Xu Qing stepped inside, torch in hand, its flames illuminating Yang Ling's stunned expression with perfect clarity.

"You..."

Yang Ling's muscles slowly tensed.

What now?!

The treasure chest had been seen!

How was he supposed to explain this thing!?

If the other man was tempted by greed, there was no way Yang Ling could match Xu Qing in a fight!

Huìnéng had already left, Wang Jing had left too—why hadn't Xu Qing gone yet?

"Are you that surprised to see me?"

Xu Qing said with a helpless tone.

Then he walked over, seemingly oblivious to the chest on the ground.

Could he not see the chest?

A thought stirred in Yang Ling's mind.

"You popped out all of a sudden and scared me. I thought you were a Mine Bandit."

Yang Ling forced a hint of displeasure onto his face.

"If I were a Mine Bandit, would you still be alive? But honestly, even if a bandit came after you, one swing of your pickaxe and they'd be dead meat. That strength you've been honing—you're probably on par with the guards outside now."

Xu Qing chuckled.

"Not bad. Just a bit of brute force."

Yang Ling smiled back.

"Anyway, I'm heading back to the Mountain River Sect."

Xu Qing said with a faint smile: "Don't be surprised. I'm a Martial Artist of the Mountain River Sect, and my status is higher than Wang Jing's. I disguised myself as a Miner this time just to see if that Buddhist Sutra from Ku Jue Temple was actually in our mine. Clearly, that kind of good stuff isn't here. Ku Jue Temple has also given up searching this area and set their sights on Qingshan City instead. They think the Prisoner Butcher is more likely to have hidden the sutra there. Everything we did afterward was just a cover."

"You..."

Yang Ling's face showed shock, then he said respectfully: "So you're a Big Shot from the Mountain River Sect."

"I still liked how you acted before, but this is normal too."

Xu Qing smiled: "You're stubborn about mining, stubborn about making money—that shows you're an ambitious man. Interested in working for me?"

"Hiss!"

Yang Ling sucked in a sharp breath inwardly.

A Class Transfer opportunity, just like that?

He said with utmost deference: "This Humble One is willing to join the Mountain River Sect!"

"Bullshit!"

Xu Qing laughed and scolded: "What qualifications do you have to join the Mountain River Sect? To enter the sect, you need either a good background, money, or talent. Which one do you have?"

"Then what does the gentleman mean?"

Yang Ling was taken aback.

"The Sect Master plans to allocate a Red Gold Mine to me, so I'm short on hands. I want a subordinate who understands mining and can be trusted to keep an eye on things over there."