Entering the Mine

Li Jun drew in a deep breath, turned, and left the main peak.

Before this, he had already suspected that the person who had given him that sachet might have been someone else.

Someone had impersonated Huang Yi and deliberately given him the sachet, making him go out to purchase supplies so he would be killed by Dark Fragrance Hall's assassins.

Fortunately, Li Jun had made preparations at Wild Mountain before that, or he would already have become a ghost beneath the blade that time.

On this trip to Fire Cloud City, after seeing Luo Qingran's mask artifact, Li Jun became even more certain of his guess.

Because of that, when "Huang Yi" came to his door again, he had hidden some medicinal powder in his sleeve.

Now, the scent of that medicinal powder was drifting from Liu Pan'er's body, identical in every way. It could not be faked.

"I've never offended her. Why does she want to kill me?"

Li Jun sat in the cowshed, turning it over a hundred times without finding an answer.

He and Liu Pan'er had never met before this, so there was no talk of any conflict of interest at all.

If there was any intersection between them, it was only Shen Xiyue.

"Could it be... because of the Purple Foundation Pill? Liu Pan'er doesn't want Shen Xiyue to succeed?"

He carefully thought it over. What he had done for Shen Xiyue amounted only to the Purple Foundation Pill.

"Aren't they as close as sisters? Or is it just plastic sisterhood?"

Li Jun could not figure it out. He kept feeling there was still something he had not grasped.

But no matter what, he had finally caught the enemy behind the scenes.

In the past, he had always been stuck in a passive position. With this probing attempt, he had finally seized the initiative.

"She told me to listen to the core disciples. Looking at it that way, it must still be a trap. She wants me to die in the mine."

Li Jun's gaze turned sharp and cold, killing intent rising in his heart.

At Medicine Peak, he had always kept a low profile and had never thought of harming anyone.

Not to mention, his social circle was extremely small.

Aside from Yin Caiwei, he had barely moved around Medicine Peak, let alone offended anyone.

But this Liu Pan'er had tried to harm him again and again. Even a bodhisattva's heart would find it hard to swallow this anger.

"Her cultivation is probably at the seventh level of Qi Refining. My cultivation still isn't enough. I'll endure her for now."

Li Jun sat in meditation, regulated his breathing, and began cultivating.

This Black Rock Mine excavation would inevitably be packed with danger and thin on fortune. He had to be careful, careful, and more careful still.

As for Liu Pan'er, once he found an opportunity, he would definitely make her pay the price.

Time flashed by, and the day of assembly arrived.

Early in the morning, Li Jun prepared his pack and arrived at the square ahead of time.

Although he already had a storage pouch, in order to avoid arousing other people's suspicion, he still carried a pack on his back.

As for the storage pouch, it contained every variety of food and drink, and he had even brought along Emerald Cloud Bamboo Shoot seeds.

If some accident happened and he could not return to Azure Cloud Sect, those seeds would be an important source of spiritual energy supply.

"There really are quite a few Medicine Peak disciples. This time, they actually conscripted over six hundred people."

Li Jun looked at the square. Medicine Peak had about eight hundred outer sect disciples, and today, more than five hundred had actually come.

There were also several dozen inner sect disciples, and several core disciples.

"The treatment inner sect disciples get is really good. They don't even have to do heavy labor."

He looked toward one side of the square, where several dozen inner sect disciples sat beneath the shade of the trees, chatting and laughing.

It was said that these inner sect disciples were only responsible for guarding the perimeter this time. The actual mining task would all be carried out by the outer sect disciples.

As for the outer sect disciples, they were currently standing in the center of the square, not only having to face the scorching sun head-on, but also moving some necessary tools.

"Hey, stop standing there in a daze. Hurry up and come work."

Someone waved at Li Jun.

"All right, I'm coming."

An hour later, everything had been prepared properly.

"Look! The peak master is here!"

No one knew who shouted it, but everyone immediately raised their heads and looked over.

Above everyone's heads, three figures stood in midair.

The person in the lead wore a purple-gold long robe, her long hair casually draped loose.

Her features were beautiful. With her hands clasped behind her back, she stood atop a cloud platform, her gaze detached and cold as she looked down on the sect's ten thousand halls below the mountain, her expression without ripple or wave.

"Greetings, Peak Master!"

All the disciples knelt in unison.

"Is she Mu Xuanyi, the peak master of Medicine Peak? What a powerful aura."

Li Jun felt his heart jolt. She truly deserved to be called a Golden Core Realm expert.

"Everyone, rise."

Mu Xuanyi waved her hand.

"Yes, Peak Master!"

Mu Xuanyi looked at the disciples below and said coolly, "This Black Rock Mine excavation concerns the sect's interests. You must work together as one and not disgrace the name of our Medicine Peak."

"We obey!" everyone replied.

Then Elder Gu Yang, who stood beside Mu Xuanyi, took a step forward.

"To encourage everyone, whichever of the Four Peaks mines the most Black Rock Mine will receive a reward from the sect. Whether you are digging ore or transporting it, your contributions will be recorded, and rewards will be given according to merit when the time comes."

Hearing that there would be rewards, the disciples on the platform instantly perked up.

Mining might be a bit grueling, but as long as they could obtain a reward, it would all be worth it.

Gu Yang waved his hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.

"After you enter the mine, you must strictly follow Elder Pan's arrangements. You must stay united and are not to do anything that harms your fellow disciples."

Li Jun frowned. Since Elder Gu Yang had said this, then such things must have happened plenty of times before.

With a flick of her sleeve, Medicine Peak's peak master Mu Xuanyi used her magic power to lift everyone up and send them onto the giant flying ship beside them.

Immediately after, the giant ships of the Azure Cloud Sect's Four Peaks gathered together and headed toward Cangwu Mountain.

The flying ship passed through the clouds. Li Jun looked at Cangwu Mountain before him, feeling somewhat nervous.

He looked toward a certain spot. There, the spirit river still hung upside down, and a graceful figure was quietly breathing in and out within it.

Yet the people around him turned a blind eye to it.

"Sure enough, no one else can see it. And I don't know where that damned bird is either. It had better not be too close."

Li Jun's mood was heavy.

Two hours later, the four flying boats descended upon Cangwu Mountain.

"Elder Pan, Artifact Peak disciples reporting!"

"Elder, Medicine Peak disciples reporting!"

"Beast Peak..."

"Formation..."

"Good, good. Inner disciples and above, go wait over there to be assigned to guard the mining areas. Outer disciples, go to the square. The stewards will arrange your specific tasks."

"Yes, Elder!"

Li Jun looked at the fat elder before him. This man was named Pan Tianhong, the elder of Azure Cloud Sect in charge of mineral resources.

"I wonder how Xia Qiugeng arranged things for me. There won't be a problem with this back door he opened, right?"

Li Jun arrived at the square and lined up to wait for tasks to be assigned.

"Artifact Peak, Wang Chengshan, miner."

"Medicine Peak, Tie Datong, smelting."

"..."

"Medicine Peak, Li Jun, mine... hm?"

Chu Huaiming, who was in charge of the arrangements, paused. This name looked familiar!

"You are Li Jun from Medicine Peak?"

"Replying to the steward, this disciple is."

Li Jun looked at the steward before him. His instincts told him that the connection Xia Qiugeng had used should be this man.

"I heard you feed cattle on Medicine Peak, and that you do a rather good job of it. Is that true?"

"Reporting to the steward, this disciple merely understands a little about the art of raising livestock," Li Jun said, cupping his hands.

"Good, good. In that case, you can go to the kitchen."

Li Jun froze. Wasn't he supposed to transport ore?

How had it become working in the kitchen?

"Mm? Why have you not left yet? Could it be that you have objections to my arrangement?" Chu Huaiming's expression turned displeased.

"This disciple would not dare. Many thanks, Steward Chu."

Li Jun turned and walked away, unable to understand where the problem had arisen.

After seeing Li Jun leave, Chu Huaiming shook his head as well, thinking to himself, Old Xia, don't blame me for not helping take care of him. It's just that the money you gave was far too little, and someone else gave more than you!