On the Road

Most of the time, the losses outweighed the gains. A few people did manage to scoop up a relocated Spirit Crystal vein or two, but after that, they found nothing else.

As a result, although many people were tempted, they gradually gave up on the idea of digging so deep underground for Spirit Crystals. After all, this was someone else's livelihood. At worst, they could just trade items for them.

In any case, this wealthy man had driven up prices on Hanging Mountain several times over the years.

What surprised Lu Ren, however, was that Ao Li still had not awakened. According to his examinations, Ao Li had long reached the point where he could break out of his shell and be born, yet he had instead entered an even deeper transformation.

If Lu Ren had not been so wealthy, and if he had not spent a hundred years as a corporate drone—expanding this Spirit Crystal Star by more than tenfold until his miniature universe finally began producing new Spirit Crystals through its self-circulating system—he would have long since drained an entire Spirit Crystal Star dry.

The self-generated Spirit Crystals were also based on the energy produced by one cycle of the Inner World Universe's self-circulation.

This was also what raised the rank of the universe under his control.

After diving once more to the bottom of the Sunken Sea Zone and reaching the surface of the bedrock, Lu Ren habitually took a sip of Clarity Spirit Wine. His body warm and comfortable, he reached out and touched the bedrock, which was dozens of times harder than that in the upper underground layers.

He then swiftly returned to Hanging Mountain. Cheng Guo, who had already emerged from seclusion, had apparently been waiting for him for some time. After thirty thousand