Meeting the Immortal Sect Captives

"How have you been lately, junior brother?"

Mu Qi smiled and greeted Jiang Hao when he saw him.

"Well enough. What brings you to the Spirit Medicine Garden, senior brother?" Jiang Hao asked, though he already knew the answer.

He did not bring up the Mining Grounds himself. If Mu Qi did not mention it, he might escape this ordeal.

"I came specifically to wait for you, junior brother. There's something I need your help with." Mu Qi did not beat around the bush, getting straight to the point:

"You may need to go to the Mining Grounds for a while."

Jiang Hao put on a puzzled expression.

Mu Qi then gave him a rough account of the situation at the Mining Grounds before coughing twice and saying:

"This was originally my responsibility, but now I'll have to trouble you with it.

"But don't worry. I'll help look after the Spirit Medicine Garden."

Jiang Hao nodded without refusing. Nor could he refuse.

With Mu Qi injured, someone had to go to the Mining Grounds. Mu Qi was discussing it with him now, but if he refused, it would become a sect assignment.

There was no need to invite trouble for himself.

He was simply curious whether Mu Qi did not want to go because it was too dangerous or for some other reason.

Come to think of it, I've never appraised Senior Brother Mu.

Without hesitation, he activated his divine ability.

He appraised Mu Qi.

[Mu Qi: True Disciple of Heartbreak Cliff in the Heavenly Sound Sect, with golden core late stage cultivation. He once had an affair with Miao Tinglian, a candidate holy maiden of the Heavenly Saint Church. His current injury was deliberately inflicted after obtaining an ancient inheritance at the Heavenly Sound Sect's Mining Grounds. For his safety, he retreated to Heartbreak Cliff under the guise of injury and is preparing to absorb the inheritance.]

Because of an ancient inheritance?

He had an affair with Miao Tinglian, a candidate holy maiden of the Heavenly Saint Church?

Did having an affair count as being a traitor?

Still, the reason for his feigned grave injury was a silver lining amid misfortune. At least he had not been frightened back by another sect.

Otherwise, the danger would multiply for someone like Jiang Hao, whose cultivation was even weaker.

The Heavenly Saint Church seems to have its shadow lurking everywhere in the sect. I wonder whether Senior Brother Mu Qi will eventually become a traitor. Once he's turned, he'll set his sights on me.

Jiang Hao betrayed nothing as he asked softly, "When would I need to go?"

"You'll need to go by noon today." Seeing that Jiang Hao had not refused, Mu Qi's expression brightened considerably:

"I'll also share some of the rewards I receive afterward with you."

After agreeing, Jiang Hao headed straight toward the Mining Grounds.

He left Rabbit at the Spirit Medicine Garden as well. Mu Qi said he would help look after him.

"I wonder whether Rabbit will still be there, safe and sound, when I return."

He was a little worried, but bringing Rabbit to the Mining Grounds would make it easy to stir up trouble.

It was better to go alone.

He could only leave the task of watering the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower to Rabbit as well.

The Mining Grounds lay on the other side of the Heavenly Sound Sect. After collecting his assignment at the foot of Law Enforcement Peak, he took his things and headed there.

Most of the miners at the Mining Grounds were qi refining cultivators. There were almost no ordinary people.

Unless someone's cultivation had fallen below qi refining, ordinary people would not be allowed here.

With an ordinary person's physique, mining would yield far too little.

Outside the Mining Grounds, Jiang Hao looked out over a desolate expanse. The mountain looked as though a chunk had been sliced off, with numerous caves extending deep inside.

There were guards here, as well as supervisors.

Jiang Hao looked around some more and discovered that this place stood at the edge of the sect. No wonder people would come here to rescue captives.

A short while later.

Standing before the gate tower at the entrance to the Mining Grounds, Jiang Hao took a look and found that the city was heavily fortified, resembling a castle.

Once inside, he found a small marketplace and several buildings.

"It feels somewhat self-sufficient." He arrived before the tall building at the very back.

This was where people reported for duty at the Mining Grounds.

It was also the administrator's residence.

"Jiang Hao, Inner Sect Disciple of Heartbreak Cliff, foundation establishment middle stage cultivation, here to take over Mu Qi's work?"

Inside the room, a middle-aged man looked at Jiang Hao and read out his information.

"Yes." Jiang Hao nodded.

After briefly observing him, Jiang Hao realized that this administrator was very strong.

Stronger than both Senior Brother Mu Qi and Liu Xingchen.

After scrutinizing Jiang Hao for a while, Wu Yuanwu paid him no further attention and merely said:

"Fine, but your cultivation isn't high enough. For now, you'll work under Wei Lie."

After a short wait, a bald man led Jiang Hao out of the small marketplace and headed outside.

Apparently, they were going to work.

The man spoke without a hint of courtesy.

"Once you're at the Mining Grounds, you follow our rules.

"I don't care whether you're a True Disciple or an Inner Sect Disciple. If I tell you to go east, you go east. If I tell you to go west, you go west.

"Otherwise, don't blame me for showing you no mercy.

"And once you're here, you can't leave whenever you please, or you'll be in trouble," Wei Lie said coldly, staring at Jiang Hao.

A scar marked his face, and the surging vitality throughout his body gave him a thoroughly intimidating presence.

His cultivation was at early golden core.

After this brief contact, Jiang Hao could clearly sense the man's strength.

As for being told to obey him in everything, Jiang Hao could only lower his head and remain silent. Being unable to leave, however, would be troublesome.

Wei Lie did not care about Jiang Hao's attitude either. Someone with foundation establishment middle stage cultivation was beneath his notice.

Soon, a group of five, including Jiang Hao, arrived near the Heavenless Tower and collected another group of five.

Three men and two women.

They wore different styles of clothing, making it obvious that they were not from the same sect.

What they had in common was that their cultivation was only at the fifth level of qi refining.

They looked extremely weak.

The five stared at Jiang Hao and the others, their eyes filled with resentment and despair.

So we're here to collect captives, Jiang Hao thought.

"You evil scum of the demonic path! One day, our immortal sects will wipe every last one of you out!" a beautiful woman in blue roared.

Smack!

Wei Lie slapped her hard across the face.

Blood spilled from her mouth.

He said nothing else, merely gesturing at the five captives:

"Move!"

"Where are you taking us?" a handsome man in Daoist robes asked.

Bam!

This time, Wei Lie punched him so hard that he vomited blood.

"One more useless word, and you won't need to go anywhere."

Looking at these people from immortal sects and Daoist orders, Jiang Hao was overcome with mixed feelings.

These people might still have someone come to rescue them. But if he were captured as a disciple of the Demonic Sect, what would happen to him?

He would probably fare even worse.