The Big Net is Cast

Spirit Stone Mine, Seventh Branch Mine Tunnel.

At this moment, a middle-aged cultivator with a stern expression sat cross-legged on a rather flat rock inside the stone cave, his eyes slightly closed, with spirit energy swirling around him.

Suddenly.

He heard the noisy commotion outside the cave mansion, and couldn't help but frown. He then slowly stopped his cultivation, and the spirit energy around him quickly dissipated.

He stood up, his face showing displeasure, and walked to the outside of the cave mansion. Seeing the noisy crowd, he frowned even tighter.

The two cultivators guarding the outside of the cave mansion immediately cupped their fists and said when they saw the stern-faced middle-aged cultivator.

"Brother Ba... they want to break into your cave mansion, and we two stopped them!"

Another guard cultivator quickly said:

"Brother Ba, their cultivation is higher than ours... we can't drive them away either!"

"Alright, you two continue to guard here!"

Wang Daba waved his hand, then looked at the seven somewhat familiar mine overseers in front of him and said.

"Song Laoer, what business do you mine overseers have with me?"

"Wang Daba, we want to ask, do you still have any Spirit Stone Raw Ore?"

Song Laoer cupped his fists.

"Yes... I'm just here to inquire!"

"That's right, this is a matter of great importance, Wang Daba, please don't hide it!"

Wang Daba frowned, looking at the scene before him. He knew something had definitely happened.

Otherwise.

The mine overseers from the other branch mine tunnels wouldn't all be here. Therefore, his attitude couldn't be too strong; he couldn't afford to be attacked by the other seven cultivators.

"My Spirit Stone Raw Ore has always been here!

What happened... let's discuss it inside the cave!"

Wang Daba said with some confusion. He knew it was definitely related to the Spirit Stone Raw Ore, but he didn't know what exactly had happened.

After speaking, he turned and walked into the cave first.

"Let's go, let's go in and see!" Song Laoer said.

"Okay, let's go in and see if it was really Wang Daba!"

"If it was him... we won't let him off!"

"Let's go together!"

The seven mine overseers followed Wang Daba into the cave mansion. Their gazes swept around the stone cave, and upon seeing a pile of Spirit Stone Raw Ore, they said:

"His Spirit Stone Raw Ore is still here!"

"But the quantity is wrong! ... Did he hide it?"

"It's not impossible!"

Wang Daba saw them getting more and more outrageous and said in a low voice:

"Alright, what's going on? Why are you all staring at my Spirit Stone Raw Ore!

Song Laoer, you tell me, why have you come to my place?"

Song Laoer pondered for a moment and said:

"Wang Daba, did you steal our Spirit Stone Raw Ore? The rest of us seven have all been robbed clean, not a single piece of Spirit Stone Raw Ore left.

Only your Spirit Stone Raw Ore hasn't been lost. You are the most suspicious!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Daba was startled, and then secretly delighted in his heart, but his expression remained surprised.

However, he knew he absolutely couldn't let this blame fall on him, otherwise, it would be a big trouble.

Then, he frowned and said:

"These past few days, I've been cultivating inside the stone cave and haven't stepped outside even once. You can ask anyone, and they'll say the same!

Moreover, my cultivation has been in a breakthrough state during this period, and I've been cultivating non-stop. I've already advanced to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, so I absolutely had no time to go out during these past few days.

Before you all came, I was consolidating my foundation.

Besides, all of your Spirit Stone Raw Ore was stolen, but you haven't seen it, have you! Perhaps someone hid it and pretended to have been robbed."

His words were meant to expose their hidden agents. Although there might still be some, it was just a small effort on his part, so why not do it!

None of his informants had been exposed. When they started investigating each other, their respective hidden agents would suffer significant losses. By then, his informants would be the most numerous and widespread.

This was an open scheme. Compared to the loss of hidden agents, the Spirit Stone Raw Ore was the core Wealth. He believed they would all make a wise choice.

Hearing this.

Song Laoer and the other seven mine overseers each pondered in their own minds, displaying different expressions.

Some frowned deeply, some had faces full of determination, and some looked regretful...

After a short while.

"Good, we'll go back and investigate first!"

"Indeed, that's right!"

"Although the possibility is small, it's not impossible!"

"It's time to investigate thoroughly!"

After a short while, the stone cave was completely empty.

"Xiao Ba, come in!"

A majestic voice echoed in the cave.

The youth guarding on the right heard this and trotted into the cave.

"Brother Ba... what are your orders?"

"From now on, deploy all personnel, especially at the entrances and exits of the Eighth Branch Mine Tunnel, and guard them closely.

If you see cultivators from other mine tunnels entering, don't stop them. Observe who they interact with and talk to!

Also, closely monitor the personnel that the other seven mine overseers interact with in this mine tunnel!

...Do you understand?"

The guard cultivator, Xiao Ba, nodded:

"Brother Ba... I promise to complete the mission!"

"You may go!"

"Yes!"

With that, he trotted out and began deploying personnel.

Wang Daba watched Xiao Ba's retreating back. He knew that at this moment, he absolutely could not go out to deploy personnel; he had a more important task: guarding the Spirit Stone Raw Ore.

The other seven branch mine tunnels had been completely stolen from, and he was now afraid that if he left, the Spirit Stone Raw Ore would also be stolen.

Within half a day.

Personnel moved frequently and acted with urgency in the various branch mine tunnels, but the mine overseers turned a blind eye, occasionally meeting miners from different mine tunnels.

For a time, the surface appeared much the same as before, but in reality, the mining tunnels were now teeming with informants.

From time to time, miners could be seen idling about, as if with nothing to do.

As time passed, the idle personnel in each mining tunnel gradually disappeared.

The mine overseers in each tunnel analyzed the information provided by their informants, but found no one who fit the criteria for stealing Spirit Stone Raw Ore. Simultaneously, they were clearing out informants exposed in other mining tunnels.

The ultimate beneficiary of this large-scale investigation was Wang Daba, as none of his informants were exposed; they remained hidden in the shadows.

The next day.

The remaining eight mine overseers once again arrived at Wang Daba's Cave Mansion. His was the only one that had not been robbed.

Wang Daba gathered all the mine overseers from the Spirit Stone Mine in his Cave Mansion.

"How is it... have you investigated who is responsible?"

Wang Daba was also quite worried about this matter; he did not want his stored Spirit Stone Raw Ore to be coveted by others.

"No useful information was found!"

"Same here!"

"It seems everyone is in a similar situation."

"Whoever finds a valuable clue, let's share it and work together to minimize losses!"

"Exactly! ... If you have any clues, speak up quickly so we can discuss it."

Seeing this, Song Laoer knew they had no concrete leads. After pondering for a moment, he said.

"After my investigation, the one stealing the Spirit Stone Raw Ore this time is not one of us, but someone else. It's unknown which mining tunnel the miner is from!"

"Song Laoer, if you have something to say, say it quickly! Don't play coy."

A rather impatient mine overseer said with annoyance.

"Yes... do you have any solutions? Let's discuss them!"

"Right, everyone is anxious now, let's get straight to the point!"

"Indeed! ... Song Laoer, what are your thoughts?" Wang Daba echoed.

Song Laoer surveyed the room before speaking unhurriedly.

"First, we must keep this news quiet and not let it spread. If we cannot submit enough Spirit Stone Raw Ore this month, it will cause unrest among our subordinates.

Otherwise... it will alert the thieving Little Thief. The Little Thief's cultivation is at most Qi Refining Mid-stage, not too strong, otherwise, they would rob us directly instead of stealing."

The last step will trouble you, Brother Wang!

·· eight of us need to lie in ambush here and wait for the Little Thief to walk into our trap!

Given the Little Thief's thieving methods, the most likely technique he'll use is the Earth Escape Technique. This spell is easy to learn but difficult to master!

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Let's discuss it amongst ourselves!"

"No problem, that Little Thief will definitely come back. He's still thinking about my Spirit Stone Raw Ore."

Wang Daba agreed enthusiastically. He also wanted to find the Little Thief who had stolen from him as soon as possible.

"Good... Let's make detailed arrangements!"

"We must capture him alive... and get back our Spirit Stone Raw Ore!"

Inside the Stone Cave, the eight Qi Refining Mid-stage Mortal Cultivators began to make arrangements with great urgency. A large net had been cast, waiting for the Little Thief to fall into it.

PS: Setting out bowls, politely requesting three things (requesting collection, requesting recommendation, requesting votes)

This is also a large chapter, with over 2,600 characters.