Extortion

Following the main mine tunnel, he continued downwards. Before long, it was completely dark.

Cheng Buzheng's footsteps did not pause, and he continued to descend. This had no effect on a cultivator.

Arriving at the intersection of the main mine tunnel and a branch mine tunnel, Cheng Buzheng carefully scanned the surroundings with his divine sense. Seeing no trace of anyone, he flashed a yellow light and directly burrowed into the rock layer, three zhang underground.

Within the rock layer, three zhang underground, a yellow spirit light rapidly moved. Before long, it arrived at a secret chamber.

Cheng Buzheng surveyed the secret chamber. Seeing that the positions of the few Spirit Stone Raw Ore pieces within the chamber had not moved and there were no traces of any cultivators, he finally felt at ease.

Without hesitation, he enveloped the remaining Spirit Stone Raw Ore pieces with his divine sense, his will connecting with the Small Plate.

Instantly.

The few Spirit Stone Raw Ore pieces in the secret chamber turned into waste stones, and the panel floating above the Small Plate changed.

Master of the Heavenly Jade Disc: Cheng Buzheng
Realm: Third Level of Qi Refining
First-Order Cultivation Technique: Low-grade (Boutique) Starry Sky Technique+
First-Order Spell: Low-grade (Ultimate) Purple Crystal Bracelet+, Low-grade (Ultimate) Earth Escape Technique+, Low-grade (Ordinary) Concealment Technique (Not Entered)+
Spiritual Power Value: 4

Cheng Buzheng saw that his Spiritual Power Value had increased from one to four, an increase of three points. Having seen large amounts of Spirit Stone Raw Ore, he did not pay much attention to such a small increase in Spiritual Power Value.

However, there was no need to waste it. He was always generous when it came to improving himself in all aspects.

Immediately.

Memories of the Concealment Technique surged within him. He condensed the entire memory of this spell into a seed-like form.

He then placed it in the recessed nest at the center of the Small Plate. The small figure formed by his Three-Colored Soul extended a finger and lightly tapped on the Concealment Technique on the panel.

Instantly, his Spiritual Power Value decreased by two points, and the patterns on the surface of the Small Plate lit up slightly.

Countless threads of white light enveloped the seed. As the Small Plate performed its deduction, the patterns on its surface flickered continuously.

Before long.

The patterns on the surface of the Small Plate gradually calmed down, and the white light enveloping the seed also dispersed.

A transparent bead appeared in the recessed nest at the center of the Small Plate.

Cheng Buzheng beckoned, and the bead appeared in his hand. This was the first time he had seen a transparent bead, but its size was no different from the previous beads.

He guessed it was due to the spell's peculiarity. Even the text inside, if not examined closely, would be impossible to notice the countless transparent characters swimming within.

Seeing no other special changes, Cheng Buzheng opened his mouth and swallowed it.

Instantly.

Countless transparent characters enveloped his soul, yet the three-colored soul figure within was still visible.

A profound mystery entered his soul. The experience and profound truths of the Concealment Technique merged into his soul, like a diligent gardener tirelessly teaching him all the knowledge bit by bit.

As time passed, the transparent characters enveloping the three-colored soul gradually decreased. The somewhat illusory three-colored hue gradually became more real.

Only after he completely comprehended it did the transparent characters enveloping the three-colored soul completely disappear.

Cheng Buzheng, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened his clear black and white eyes and performed a spell technique.

He shouted lowly.

"Conceal!"

The Spirit Pressure, which had been outwardly at the Third Level of Qi Refining, immediately weakened to the Second Level of Qi Refining.

Seeing this, he sighed inwardly.

"The Concealment Technique, after deduction... its ability to conceal one's cultivation is indeed good.

But it still cannot hide it from cultivators in the Late Qi Refining Stage!

It seems I still need to improve further..."

Afterward, his mind sank, and his consciousness entered his soul...

Master of the Heavenly Jade Disc: Cheng Buzheng
Realm: Third Level of Qi Refining
First-Order Cultivation Technique: Low-grade (Boutique) Starry Sky Technique+
First-Order Spells: Low-grade (Ultimate) Purple Crystal Bracelet+, Low-grade (Ultimate) Earth Escape Technique+, Low-grade (Boutique) Concealment Technique+
Spiritual Power Value: 2

Seeing the pitiful two points of Spiritual Power Value on the panel, Cheng Buzheng knew it was time to go "scrounge" again.

This time, however, was a little different. He planned to take all eight Spirit Stone Raw Ore storage points at once. He had originally intended to ration them out, waiting until the mission was about to end before taking them all at once.

Then, he would just pack up and leave.

But, compared to a First-order High-grade cultivation technique, the cultivation progress speed using a First-order Low-grade cultivation technique for a year would surely have a huge gap. It would be better to deduce the cultivation technique first.

Now that I have the Concealment Technique, I don't need to be sneaky about improving my cultivation. This place offers such favorable cultivation conditions; it would be a crime punishable by lightning if I didn't cherish and utilize them.

However, deducing cultivation techniques is a huge drain. The first deduction consumed a full nine points, and that was for a First-order Low-grade Cultivation Method. I don't know how much Spiritual Power Value Mid-grade or High-grade techniques would consume.

This Custom-made Cultivation Technique is not only my foundation for cultivation but also related to my Great Cause of Longevity. I cannot afford to be careless in the slightest.

Moreover, the Spirit Stone Raw Ore in those eight storage points isn't just for show; it's bound to be consumed.

I've also noticed that the Spirit Stone Raw Ore in the eight Spirit Stone Raw Ore points hasn't shown any trend of increasing. Instead, it's slowly decreasing, indicating that the consumption of Spirit Stone Raw Ore is increasing.

To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, I should first retrieve the Spirit Stone Raw Ore from these eight storage points to deduce the cultivation technique.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Cheng Buzheng didn't hesitate. With a thought, a yellow spirit light enveloped him, and he directly escaped from the secret chamber.

Three zhang beneath the rock layer, a yellow spirit light rapidly fled towards the Eighth Branch Mine Tunnel.

Not long after.

Cheng Buzheng arrived three zhang beneath a stone cave. He cautiously sensed the surroundings. He saw no cultivators inside the stone cave, but two cultivators at Qi Refining Level 2 were guarding the entrance outside the cave.

He carefully moved to a corner of the stone cave and extended a trace of his Divine Sense. After confirming the situation, he cautiously burrowed beneath the pile of Spirit Stone Raw Ore.

Then, he silently filled a back basket, and immediately placed the Spirit Stone Raw Ore ten zhang underground nearby. He returned to the stone cave again to fill another back basket. He made more than ten trips back and forth before stealthily moving all the Spirit Stone Raw Ore.

Cheng Buzheng arrived at the temporary storage point for Spirit Stone Raw Ore. His Divine Sense spread out, enveloping the large pile of Spirit Stone Raw Ore before him. His will connected with the small plate.

The small plate glowed with a white light, which lasted a little longer than before. The pile of Spirit Stone Raw Ore in the distance instantly turned into waste stone.

The moment the Spirit Stone Raw Ore transformed into waste stone.

The panel suspended above the small plate changed.

Master of the Heavenly Jade Disc: Cheng Buzheng

Realm: Third Level of Qi Refining

First-Order Cultivation Technique: Low-grade (Boutique) Starry Sky Technique+

First-Order Spells: Low-grade (Ultimate) Purple Crystal Bracelet+, Low-grade (Ultimate) Earth Escape Technique+, Low-grade (Boutique) Concealment Technique+

Spiritual Power Value: 321

Seeing that it had increased by more than three hundred points, Cheng Buzheng couldn't help but feel extremely excited. The other seven Spirit Stone Raw Ore storage caves stored roughly the same amount, totaling nearly over two thousand points of Spiritual Power Value.

He paid no attention to the pile of waste stone before him. After all, a pile of waste stone within the rock layer was a normal occurrence.

Then, without delay, he directly fled towards the Seventh Branch Mine Tunnel. Time was tight, and the task was heavy.

What if they tipped each other off? Then, that Spirit Stone Raw Ore would be gone from him.

Although the possibility was very small, it was still possible.

After all, they were all Mine Overlords. They definitely had informants among themselves. Perhaps behind them, there was a Mastermind controlling things.

Everything had to be done steadily.

PS: I've set out a large bowl. I invite all handsome, dashing, and elegant Fellow Daoists to cast your votes into it!