Deception and Trickery

When Xu Yuan and Bi Qiong emerged from the mine tunnel, they realized that quite a few people were standing outside.

They were all immortal slaves from the mining district—men and women alike. There were oxen and horses who worked themselves to death in the mines, as well as fireflies who entertained guests in the stone houses. At this moment, they stood silently along both sides, watching the two of them pass.

Just then, Xu Yuan suddenly sensed Bi Qiong lower her head. He instinctively looked in that direction and found the group of subordinates from her Seek Immortals Society among the crowd, all staring at Bi Qiong with excitement written across their faces.

Shaking his head inwardly, Xu Yuan swept his gaze further over and spotted Wang Quan beside the Seek Immortals Society. The fellow seemed to have just come off a shift in the mine, his clothes and trousers still covered in dust.

The moment he saw the ascender's face clearly, the dry biscuit in his hand fell to the ground with a smack.

Buddy didn't want to see you suffer, but buddy wanted even less to see you driving a Land Rover.

Brother Xu, come back soon. The mining district is handing out spirit stones, and the supervisor even promised us a meal with meat every three days.

Yet although his heart was filled with shock and disbelief, once he truly recognized Xu Yuan, he still waved warmly. "Xu Yuan, make something of yourself."

As though he had taken the lead, quite a few of the unfamiliar immortal slaves offered their blessings as well, looking at the pair with envy on their faces.

Seeing this, the mining district supervisor's thoughts turned, and a smile immediately spread across his old face.

"Everyone, stay calm, stay calm. This old man has long said that your road to immortality lies right there in your mining picks."

"These two—Xu Yuan and Bi Qiong—mined diligently every day, thereby building up a fine foundation for the immortal path. That is why they are ascending to the immortal sect today."

Spouting such bullshit with his shameless old face, the supervisor did not blush in the slightest. It was as though he had not just tried to kill Xu Yuan and Bi Qiong. Instead, he draped himself in their achievements like tiger skin and painted a grand pie for the immortal slaves before him.

Watching the immortal slaves' eyes light up, a trace of mockery appeared in his own. Then he cast a furtive glance at Bi Qiong and Xu Yuan.

Tsk. You really think reaching Qi Refinement means you've ascended to immortality? Two immortal slaves like you, with no foundation and no one to guide you—once you enter that place, you probably won't last more than a few days before you're eaten without even your bones left!

The mining district was not large. By the time Xu Yuan came back to himself, lush greenery already stretched before them, while the noisy dust-filled place where he had lived for a year was far behind them.

Unsure what sort of feelings he ought to harbor, Xu Yuan suddenly felt someone tug at his sleeve. Looking up, he saw the veiled deacon ahead of them suddenly turn around.

"That old dog Tu Fang's cultivation is low, and his eyes are dim with age. He couldn't see why you broke through. But did you think you could hide it from me?"

She spoke coldly. Then, without waiting for them to answer, her aura surged sharply. Spiritual energy far more terrifying than the supervisor's roared forth and bore down upon them.

"Speak. What opportunity did you obtain in the mining district, and how did you break through? Otherwise, you two immortal slaves who have yet to be entered into the disciple registry—I can kill you whenever I please."

"This disciple does not know what the immortal master means." At that moment, Bi Qiong stepped forward from behind and spoke. Xu Yuan immediately caught on and added:

"Reporting to Immortal Master, this pair of disciples truly used the spirit pills exchanged for in the mining district to break through to Qi Refinement. It's just that we also dug up two Jade Marrow Crystals in the mine tunnel. We each used one."

"Jade Marrow Crystals?" Rong Ling raised a brow. "There were actually Jade Marrow Crystals in the mine? How did the two of you discover them on your own? Did anyone instruct you? Are there any left in the mine?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Yuan and Bi Qiong each performed a deep bow. "Reporting to Immortal Master, no one instructed us. We obtained them only by a fortunate coincidence. There should be none left in the mine."

After another two breaths, Bi Qiong slightly raised her head, intending to gauge the other party's expression. Yet she found Rong Ling looking at her with a half-smile.

"Bi Qiong, you do have a little cleverness. But in the future, do not use sound transmission in front of someone whose cultivation greatly exceeds yours."

"And one more thing." Deacon Rong Ling removed her veil, revealing a cool and lovely face. "If anyone asks in the future, you must remember what you just said."

"You..." Bi Qiong opened her mouth in shock, as though she wanted to say something. In the end, however, she tightly shut her lips, changing her deep bow into a kowtow. "Thank you, Deacon Rong Ling. Bi Qiong will remember."

"Hmph." Rong Ling gave her an unappreciative cold look, then beckoned. The lotus-leaf bundle on Bi Qiong's body flew out and landed in her hand.

"What a pity. I had originally intended to use this chance to find an excuse that old dog had harmed sect disciples, kill him, and place my own people here. Who would have thought you two would survive? This time, it was not his time to die, nor was it yours."

With that, she casually pointed ahead. "Pass through that mountain path, and you will reach the disciple registration office. Let me also teach you two little ones this: in Hidden Moon Sect, there are not many people as trustworthy as I am."

The instant her words fell, Rong Ling transformed into a streak of white light and vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Only after roughly three breaths, once the two had confirmed that she was gone, did they finally let out a breath. Both were drenched in cold sweat.

If either of them had said one wrong word just now, they would likely have become dry bones already. And Bi Qiong also understood why they had been delayed by that half-quarter of an hour.

So that so-called superior had actually been Deacon Rong Ling. She had not only wanted to use Bi Qiong's hand to mine for treasures, but had even intended to use Bi Qiong's death as an excuse to frame and kill the supervisor.

It was just that no one had expected Bi Qiong and Xu Yuan to survive, thereby ruining her second layer of plans.

Tacitly avoiding the topic, Xu Yuan did not mention the ten Jade Marrow Crystals still inside the lotus-leaf pouch. Escaping the mining district this time already counted as immense good fortune.

"Let's go."

After resting a while longer, Xu Yuan and Bi Qiong began walking toward the mountain path Rong Ling had indicated. This time, Rong Ling had not deceived them. At the end of the path stood an iron chain bridge.

Through the swirling clouds and mist on the other side, the two clearly saw the plaque for the disciple registration office.

But just as both of them stepped onto the chain bridge, a fierce wind suddenly rose around them. The bridge immediately began creaking and swaying as though it might collapse at any moment.

"Hold on to me."

Xu Yuan fiercely grabbed onto a nearby iron chain. Without needing his instruction, Bi Qiong had already seized one of his arms, and the two slowly inched forward step by step.

Only when they had made it halfway across did an impatient voice ring out from the air. "Damn it, where did these two penniless idiots who value money over their lives come from? They'd rather endure the life-taking wind head-on than pay a little life-selling money."

As the voice sounded, the uproar on the bridge ceased. Only then did the two steady themselves from nearly being blown away. They looked toward the source of the voice and saw a black crow standing at the bridgehead.

It was the size of a wildcat, with red pupils and black feathers, and it looked remarkably sentient. Seeing them look over, it suddenly let out a strange laugh, folded its wings, and performed a Daoist salute.

"You two poor... no, fellow Daoists, welcome to Hidden Moon Sect."