A Year Later

A year later.

Tomorrow would be the last day of Cheng Buzheng's first year at the Spirit Stone Mine.

Inside the Secret Chamber.

Cheng Buzheng sat cross-legged on the ground. As he slowly finished his cultivation, the spiritual energy gathered around him quickly dispersed. He opened his bright black-and-white eyes and tossed aside the irregular piece of Waste Stone in his hand.

He silently did the math, then rested his chin on his right hand and fell into thought.

"Tomorrow will mark exactly one year since I came to the Spirit Stone Mine Cave. After that, I'll have twelve days off!

There's definitely not enough time to return to the sect, but... with so many cultivators here, the things they use every day surely aren't all things they carry with them.

After all, cultivators are a special resource, too. With so many gathered here, it's impossible for no one to take notice!

There must be some kind of cultivator trade fair nearby.

With a full twelve days off, I'm sure I can find one. And a place like that definitely won't be a secret; plenty of people should know about it!

Before, I was afraid two days off wouldn't be enough, so I've waited until now. I hope the trade fair doesn't disappoint!"

Cheng Buzheng thought it over in silence. Then his mind sank inward...

Master of the Heavenly Jade Disc: Cheng Buzheng

Realm: Third Level of Qi Refining

First-Order Cultivation Technique: Mid-grade (Fine) Crimson Fire Technique+

First-Order Spell: Low-grade (Perfected) Purple Crystal Drill+, Low-grade (Perfected) Earth Escape Technique+

Spiritual Power Value: 10

Seeing that the panel still showed ten points of Spiritual Power Value, he wasn't surprised. He had used up nearly all the Spirit Stone Raw Ore he'd secretly pocketed to cultivate, but he'd still set aside enough to meet his required quota.

Otherwise,

his cultivation wouldn't have advanced so quickly. It was all thanks to the Spirit Stone Raw Ore he'd accumulated.

With pills to help, his cultivation would improve even faster, perhaps allowing him to break through the Third Level of Qi Refining in just over half a year.

It was a nice thought, but he knew it was impossible. The inspections at the entrance to the mine were far too strict, and his golden finger had no storage ability. Just thinking about it made him regretful.

Cheng Buzheng thought greedily for a moment, then swept his gaze around the Secret Chamber.

In the corner sat an empty back basket. He flicked his sleeve, and his magical power formed an invisible giant hand that loaded the Spirit Stone Raw Ore in the corner into the basket. It was like hail falling from the sky; in the blink of an eye, the basket was full.

Only then did he stop.

Then Cheng Buzheng closed his eyes, held a piece of Spirit Stone Raw Ore in his hand, and began cultivating again.

The next day.

Cheng Buzheng, who had been sitting cross-legged inside the Secret Chamber, opened his eyes. A glint flashed through them as he stood up, slung the full back basket of Spirit Stone Raw Ore over his shoulders, and gripped his Mining Pick.

Looking at the Mining Pick in his hand, he thought to himself:

"The back basket still comes in handy. I can use it to carry Spirit Stone Raw Ore when I sneak some away.

"But this Mining Pick is completely useless. Since coming to the Spirit Stone Mine, I haven't mined a single piece of Spirit Stone Raw Ore. I only carry it around to keep up appearances.

"Later, when cultivation gets a little tedious, maybe I can get some exercise. After all, secretly pocketing ore is my main occupation, while mining it myself is just a hobby. They're two completely different things, and I mustn't get their priorities backward!"

Cheng Buzheng suppressed his odd thoughts and walked up to the rock wall. A layer of yellow Spirit Light enveloped him, and then he sank into the rock.

He arrived at the junction of the Main Mine Tunnel and the Eight Branch Mine Tunnels and sent out a wisp of Divine Sense. After confirming no one was nearby, the yellow Spirit Light flashed, and Cheng Buzheng appeared at the end of the Main Mine Tunnel.

He pretended to have labored hard for a long time. Head bowed, back bent, Mining Pick in his right hand, he wore a numb expression and silently walked up the Main Mine Tunnel.

Cheng Buzheng had been putting on this act for a year, and he'd learned a great deal about it. He was quite experienced by now.

He walked silently through the pitch-black Main Mine Tunnel, while the clanging in his ears gradually grew fainter.

After a long while, he saw a sliver of light and knew the mine entrance wasn't far away.

When Cheng Buzheng reached the entrance, the first thing he saw was a rather thin young man. Before him sat a square-framed Magic Tool, apparently made from refined iron.

He walked up to the slender young man and, with practiced ease, emptied the full back basket of Spirit Stone Raw Ore into the square-framed Magic Tool.

Cheng Buzheng clasped his fists.

"Senior Brother Wei... sorry for the trouble!"

Senior Brother Wei, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, opened his eyes and glanced at the square-framed Magic Tool and the Scale Compass beside it. He smiled.

"So it's you, Junior Brother! ...You've done a good job with your mission.

"You've met your quota every month, and your cultivation has advanced quickly. You've even broken through to the Third Level of Qi Refining!

"Junior Brother... do you have some secret? Tell me... I promise I won't let you come away empty-handed!"

At these words,

Cheng Buzheng's heart gave a thump. His face immediately turned wry.

"Senior Brother Wei, you're joking... You only know half the story. If it weren't for the Mining Mission holding me back, I'd have reached the Third Level of Qi Refining long ago.

"Before I came here, I was already at the peak of Qi Refining Level 2, on the verge of a breakthrough. Who could've known... I'd only break through now?

"If the Mining Mission didn't earn me so many Spirit Stones, I wouldn't have come here to mine!"

He knew Senior Brother Wei's questions meant that he had already caught the attention of someone with ulterior motives.

There was nothing he could do about it. Breaking through from Qi Refining Level 2 to the Third Level of Qi Refining was still explainable, but that wouldn't work in the future. It seemed he would have to find a way to conceal his cultivation.

Senior Brother Wei's face showed understanding, as if he believed him.

"So that's how it is. My cultivation has been progressing slowly lately, so I spoke out of turn!

"I hope you don't take offense, Junior Brother."

"That's only human nature! ...You're overthinking it, Senior Brother!"

Cheng Buzheng shook his head as if he didn't mind at all.

Cheng Buzheng knew Senior Brother Wei only believed him on the surface. Deep down, he was surely still suspicious, and would secretly watch him from now on. The moment he confirmed his suspicions, he would strike like a bolt of thunder.

With Senior Brother Wei at the Late Qi Refining Stage, Cheng Buzheng would have no way to resist. On this trip out, he had to find a Cultivation Concealment Method.

Otherwise... he could only stop cultivating for the time being. But once his mission ended, he would no longer be able to enjoy such generous cultivation resources.

Thinking about all this gave Cheng Buzheng a headache. The thoughts flashed through his mind in the blink of an eye.

"This is... your reward for this month!"

As Senior Brother Wei spoke, he took out two Spirit Stones and handed them to Cheng Buzheng.

Cheng Buzheng accepted the Spirit Stones and examined them closely before carefully putting them away in his robes. He deliberately let a look of delight show.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Senior Brother Wei smiled and waved his hand.

"Go on ahead. I still have work to do here!"

"Yes, Senior Brother. I'll be on my way!"

At that moment, Senior Brother Wei looked up at Cheng Buzheng's retreating figure and thought to himself:

"Judging by how he acted just now, as if he'd never seen a Spirit Stone before... could I have been overthinking it?

"Hmm... I'll keep watching him..."

With the back basket in his left hand and the Mining Pick in his right, Cheng Buzheng arrived at the inspection Senior Brother's station. He placed the two Spirit Stones, the Long-necked Porcelain Bottle containing Bigu Pills, the Secret Ring, the Mining Pick, and the back basket on the inspection table.

After taking his leave, he went to the Leader Senior Brother and clasped his fists.

"Greetings, Senior Brother... sorry for the trouble!"

The Leader Senior Brother said nothing. He nodded, then swept Cheng Buzheng's body with his Divine Sense. There were no surprises, and he passed through safely.

At the final checkpoint, he found Senior Brother Hua, a slender man, sitting in a chair. On the table in front of him sat a Beast Control Compass, and the Crimson-Gold Spirit-Seeking Mouse was sprawled on top of it.

When Senior Brother Hua saw someone approaching, he murmured a few words to the Beast Control Compass. In the blink of an eye, the Spirit-Seeking Mouse on the table turned into a streak of golden light and appeared in front of Cheng Buzheng.

It circled Cheng Buzheng once, then became a streak of golden light again and reappeared on the table. It squeaked at the slender Senior Brother Hua a few times.

After communicating with the Spirit-Seeking Mouse through the Beast Control Compass, Senior Brother Hua understood what it meant. He waved Cheng Buzheng away.

Seeing this,

Cheng Buzheng went to the item inspection station and gathered his belongings. After taking his leave of the inspection Senior Brother, he finally completed the entire process without a hitch.

Before long,

he reached the Storage Pavilion, took out his storage bag, and only then returned to his wooden hut.