Resolve

Back home, Xu Yuan ate another cold noodle cake.

As he felt his strength slowly returning, Xu Yuan practiced another set of Long Fist.

This time, he could clearly feel that he had become a little faster. At the same time, the qi and blood within his body seemed to have grown considerably, apparently reaching the level of a first-rate expert among mortals.

"The power of these entries really is formidable."

Xu Yuan sighed, just about to lie down and rest.

Just then, a knock suddenly sounded from outside.

"Wang Quan?" He called out the lecherous fat man's name, but no one outside answered. Xu Yuan frowned. Then, at that moment, a voice said, "Is Brother Xu there? I have an important matter I wish to discuss with you."

"Who are you?" Xu Yuan replied bluntly, vigilantly picking up the refined iron ore pick resting beside his bed.

This pickaxe issued by the immortal sect could easily tear through a mortal's flesh even without the Sharp entry.

"My name is Lou Fan. I ask Brother Xu to open the door so we may meet."

"Lou Fan?" Hearing this unfamiliar name, Xu Yuan truly could not recall knowing anyone by that name. After hesitating again and again, he still opened the door.

In the residential area, he did not believe anyone would be so audacious as to openly defy the Hidden Moon Sect's rules.

"Brother Xu." Seeing that Xu Yuan had finally opened the door, Lou Fan smiled amiably. At the same time, Xu Yuan examined this well-featured visitor before him.

He was about the same age as Xu Yuan, yet he lacked the obvious despondency of the immortal slaves in the mining district. His eyes shone brightly, holding the rarest emotion in this place: hope.

"You..."

Xu Yuan was just about to speak when the other man suddenly asked, "Would it be possible to talk inside?"

Shaking his head, Xu Yuan rejected the suggestion. "Whatever it is, say it here."

"That works as well." Lou Fan looked around. Most of the immortal slaves had just returned from the mines. Those with contribution points had gone to the stone houses to seek pleasure, while those without them were lying dead in their rooms. There was hardly anyone on the streets.

"Brother Xu, have you heard of the Immortal Seeking Society?" he asked directly.

Seeing that Xu Yuan did not answer, Lou Fan further explained. This so-called Immortal Seeking Society was a group of immortal slaves working together. They would select the person among them with the best aptitude and disposition, then pool their strength to help that person enter the immortal sect first. Once that person entered the sect, they would in turn repay the collective.

Xu Yuan's brows drew together slightly. Without the restraints of law, could a bunch of dark, filthy immortal slaves who barely had enough to eat actually gather together and accomplish something like this?

His first thought was not whether this could work, but the methods of the person behind it. And now, they had even set their sights on him!

Seeing Xu Yuan deep in thought, Lou Fan assumed he was tempted and hurriedly added, "The reason Brother Xu was chosen is that several brothers in our society noticed how different you are. Other mine slaves barely warm the few contribution points they earn before throwing them all onto those women's bellies. But Brother Xu can endure loneliness and save up hope for the immortal path. That is why our Immortal Seeking Society values you."

"Hmph." Xu Yuan sneered inwardly. The man made it sound nice, but in the end, were they not simply after the little nest egg he had saved?

Xu Yuan did not flatly reject him, only tactfully expressed that he would not accept. There was not much surprise in Lou Fan's eyes. He merely said that this first visit was only to greet Xu Yuan, and that in a few days, their president would personally come to his door. Then, they could discuss matters with Xu Yuan in detail.

After saying his piece, Lou Fan left. Xu Yuan watched him walk away, then shut the door with a dark expression.

He had thought that after obtaining this fantasy power, he could develop steadily for a while until he entered the immortal sect. Yet only a day had passed, and trouble had already come knocking.

Immortal Seeking Society? What bullshit Immortal Seeking Society? Wasn't it just deceiving others out of their resources to help themselves ascend to immortality?

Still, if they had such methods, then if they truly came after him, he needed the capital to deal with them.

After thinking calmly for a moment, Xu Yuan took a deep breath. Fortunately, he was not some lamb waiting for slaughter.

Pulling out paper and brush from beneath his bed, Xu Yuan began calculating the contribution points he currently possessed.

He should have enough to exchange for spirit crystals and demonic beast blood, but he still needed the required ores from deep within the mine tunnels.

Looking at the lines of small words appearing on his palm, Xu Yuan suddenly clenched his fist, a sharp gleam flashing continuously in his eyes.

He had endured an entire year with no bright future ahead of him. There was no reason to cower at this crucial moment!

Early the next morning, while the sky was still dim, Xu Yuan sprang out of bed and hurried toward the mine. At this hour, the vast majority of immortal slaves in the residential area were still snoring away, and he was the only figure on the streets.

When he reached the outskirts of the mine, the supervisor was already at his post. Upon seeing Xu Yuan, he merely nodded faintly.

With immortal slaves in the mining district who could endure hardship and work diligently like this, why worry about failing to meet this quarter's targets?

"Immortal Master, I wish to exchange for some items."

Xu Yuan first gave a respectful bow, then stated his request.

"Hm?" The supervisor glanced at Xu Yuan curiously. He remembered that this kid had worked here for a day and had only exchanged for some dried meat a handful of times. What was going on today? He was actually willing to spend contribution points?

"Please take a look, Immortal Master."

Xu Yuan handed over the list he had written. The supervisor glanced over it. Though curious, he could not be bothered to ask. With a wave of his hand, a small pouch and a small porcelain bottle suddenly appeared before Xu Yuan.

Inside were the spirit crystals and demonic beast essence blood he needed.

Besides those, the supervisor also took a cold-weather coat from a large chest behind him and tossed it to Xu Yuan as well.

After thanking him again, Xu Yuan carried these items and his ore pick into the mine tunnel. The supervisor gave him a few more glances, then boredly withdrew his gaze.

Who cared? Immortal slaves like this would vanish from here in as little as three to five years, or at most six or seven. No matter how hard they worked or how frugal they were, it was useless.

No aptitude, no spirit root, and they still wanted to cultivate immortality? What a joke.

At the same time Xu Yuan entered the mine tunnel, two figures appeared at his door at some unknown time. One was yesterday's Lou Fan, while the other was a man with an icy expression.

"Left?"

The burly man turned and glanced at Lou Fan, who immediately broke out in a cold sweat. "Vice President, he should have gone to the mine tunnels. I know where he goes most often—I can take you to find him."

"Mm." The man nodded indifferently, then added, "The president has reached a critical juncture. Every bit of support is vital to us; nothing can go wrong. When necessary, there is no need to care too much about what the other side thinks. Once the president enters the Hidden Moon Sect, he will naturally compensate them."

"Yes."

Meanwhile, Xu Yuan was no longer near the mine tunnel he usually frequented. Instead, he had arrived before a deep passageway.

Beyond this place lay the deeper levels of the mining area.

At the same time, his gaze fell upon the coat in his hands.

text
[Item: Coat]

[Status: Slightly Damaged]

[Current Trait: None]

[Traits That Can Be Added: 0/1]

[Selectable Trait: Cold Resistance (White): A coat carefully stitched from fine fur, with exceptional protection against the cold. Cost required: Three taels of gold.]

As the gold in his hand vanished, Xu Yuan pulled the coat tightly around himself, gripped his pickaxe, and stepped into the passageway.