Inside the Eighth Branch Mine Tunnel, in the stone cave.
At that moment, Cheng Buzheng was in the stone cave. After circling around and carefully inspecting it once,
he then slipped to the entrance and, as usual, searched every inch of it meticulously. Only after finding no traps did he finally relax.
Then Cheng Buzheng focused his attention on the two cultivators standing guard.
He saw that both were Third Level of Qi Refining cultivators, seated cross-legged at the north and south ends of the cave, forming a pincer formation to guard against a surprise attack.
At that moment, the stone cave was utterly silent. The two men were each resting with their eyes closed.
But Cheng Buzheng knew that even the slightest disturbance would alert them.
If they called for help, his only option would be to flee.
Besides, he had no idea whether the people by the Third Branch Mine Tunnel had discovered anything yet. Judging by the worst-case scenario, he did not have much time left.
In the blink of an eye,
those thoughts flashed through Cheng Buzheng's mind.
He flipped his right hand, and the Purple Crystal Bracelet spun rapidly in his palm. Then he silently infused it with magical power. As more and more power flowed into it, the purple spiritual glow grew brighter and brighter.
Meanwhile, the two cultivators guarding the Spirit Stone Raw Ore noticed nothing unusual and continued resting with their eyes closed.
Cheng Buzheng's thoughts stirred.
A layer of spiritual power spread out to block the cave entrance. At the same time, a streak of purple Rosy Cloud seeped up from underground.
Right then, the two sensed the fluctuation of magical power and sprang to their feet. Without hesitation, they shouted in unison.
"Enemy attack!"
"Someone, help!"
But not a single sound escaped.
When they saw the layer of spiritual Light Screen at the entrance, they immediately realized that an enemy cultivator had entered the cave.
But they had no intention of surrendering. Instead, they prepared to channel their magical power and shatter the Light Screen.
At that very moment, a wave of purple Rosy Cloud descended, enveloping them both.
They suddenly found themselves unable to move. Even their magical power was difficult to stir. They could only strain all the harder to channel it, and in an instant their faces flushed crimson as blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.
Cheng Buzheng did not stop. He flicked the Purple Crystal Bracelet into the air, and it shot away as a streak of purple light.
"Bang!"
Rocks flew and dust swirled. A palm-sized hole appeared in the ground not far from the cave entrance, and a streak of purple light shot out.
In an instant,
the air exploded. It seemed to turn solid, rippling in concentric rings.
The Purple Crystal Bracelet spun so frantically that its eighty-one blades, shaped like fish fins, could no longer be seen. Like a purple ring of light, it sliced through wave after wave of air and rushed toward the guards before it.
The Small-eyed Cultivator in front saw the Purple Crystal Bracelet hurtling toward him and was struck with terror. Though he struggled to channel his magical power, his hands never stopped moving. He knew that if he gave up resisting, death was certain.
"Crack!"
The Small-eyed Cultivator died before he could even cast his spell. The Purple Crystal Bracelet sliced his body in two, and blood spread in every direction.
The short, stout cultivator behind him had witnessed his companion being cut in half. A chill pierced his heart. His magical power surged, and his hand seals moved faster than they ever had in his life.
Just as the Purple Crystal Bracelet was about to reach him, he finally cast Diamond Shield.
A dazzling golden shield enveloped him.
Seeing that he had managed to cast the spell, the short, stout cultivator breathed a sigh of relief. His face pale, he said,
"Senior, could you... give me a way to live?" He pleaded, yearning for survival as he gazed hopefully toward the cave entrance.
Cheng Buzheng ignored him.
If you didn't pull out the grass by its roots, it would grow again when the spring breeze blew!
The Purple Crystal Bracelet carried tremendous force, its purple glow hazy and bright as it tore through the air, which seemed almost solid, and rushed toward the glittering golden shield.
The shockwave slammed against the rocky walls. The walls trembled slightly as rocks fell. The force of the shockwave was spent, then vanished without a trace.
The Purple Crystal Bracelet collided with the golden shield.
"Pop!"
The golden shield and the short, stout cultivator inside it were both cleaved in two.
With his dying breath, the short, stout cultivator cursed venomously,
"You... won't... die... well!"
Cheng Buzheng paid him no mind. If curses worked, there would not be so many high-level cultivators in the cultivation world.
Which high-level cultivator had not trodden over heaps of bones, leaving a trail of blood and gore behind?
Countless resources and lives had built the cultivation he possessed today.
In the cultivation world, if you did not fight, how could you get Spirit Stones, spiritual treasures, or pills to advance your cultivation?
He did not hesitate. He stripped the two men of every spiritual treasure they carried, then set them alight, reducing them to two heaps of ash.
Murder and arson were basic practices. If you did not have a strong heart, you were better off never entering the cultivation world.
Otherwise, you would ultimately become a stepping stone beneath someone else's feet.
He had no saintly compassion or desire to save the world. He only wanted to strive for his Great Cause of Longevity. So, whenever he was confident he could do so, he would fight with all his strength for any cultivation resources within reach.
Cheng Buzheng did not linger. He knew that every minute and every second was precious.
He hurried to the Spirit Stone Raw Ore and swept his sleeve. A surge of magical power wrapped around the small pile.
Then a flash of yellow light—
Cheng Buzheng and the Spirit Stone Raw Ore vanished from the cave.
Underground, he headed toward the Fifth Branch Mine Tunnel while wrapping his divine sense around the Spirit Stone Raw Ore and linking his soul to the Small Plate deep within his Sea of Consciousness.
In an instant, the small pile of Spirit Stone Raw Ore became Waste Stone, and the panel hovering above the Small Plate deep within his Sea of Consciousness changed.
Master of the Heavenly Jade Disc: Cheng Buzheng
Realm: Third Level of Qi Refining
First-order High-grade Cultivation Technique: Starry Sky Technique (Perfection) +
First-order High-grade Spell: Concealment Technique (Perfection) +
First-order Low-grade Spells: Purple Crystal Bracelet (Perfection) +, Earth Escape Technique (Perfection) +
Spiritual Power Value: 1123
After repeatedly and forcibly mooching off them, the Spiritual Power Value on the panel had once again passed a thousand. He was overjoyed, and secretly looked forward to the next pile of Spirit Stone Raw Ore.
With this much spiritual power, he estimated that he would not need to worry about his Spiritual Power Value for a while. After all, there were no other opportunities as good as this outside.
As he traveled, he scattered the Waste Stone, cleaning up every trace that might cause trouble later.
Before long,
Cheng Buzheng reached the Fifth Branch Mine Tunnel and followed the familiar route straight toward the Spirit Stone Raw Ore storage site.
While Cheng Buzheng was traveling underground, he sensed that many cultivators were heading toward the stone cave, shouting as they went.
The rock strata muffled their voices so badly that he could hear them but not make out what they were saying.
He furrowed his brow, realizing that the worst might have happened. Then he quietly made his way upward, stopping one zhang beneath the rock layer.
Only then could he clearly hear the voices above.
"Everyone... hurry to the Spirit Stone Raw Ore storage site! That Little Thief has appeared again!"
"Quick... hurry up! The Third Mine Tunnel has already been hit!"
"Get to the mine chief! The mine chief may need our support right now!"
......
Hearing this,
Cheng Buzheng sighed softly. The news had already spread, and he would not get another chance. He could only give up. If he went after the Spirit Stone Raw Ore again, he might fall into the mine chiefs' trap.
"Better leave it.
If I mooch off them again, the risk will outweigh the reward. It's not worth taking such a gamble."
Then his thoughts stirred.
One zhang beneath the rock layer, a streak of yellow light made a strange turn and headed straight toward the Secret Chamber.
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