Seven days finally passed.
Today was the day the workers in Lu Li's mining area went down into the mine.
It was also the day he had long awaited to send a message to Great Xia!
"Time to go down into the mine again."
"Ah, I wonder if I'll make it back alive this time."
"Come on, stop grumbling. Be careful, or Senior Brother Bai might arrive before we've lined up."
"..."
Amid a few murmurs that sounded rather numb,
the menial workers filed out of the wooden huts one after another.
The mine where Lu Li worked was just one of the mines in the Azure Pool Sect's mining area.
There were fewer than a hundred people there.
The Azure Pool Sect had at least another ten or so mining areas like this one.
From this, it was clear how wealthy the Azure Pool Sect was.
I wonder if the country has discovered anything from the Azure Gold Spirit Ore I sent back last time.
If they really can efficiently refine the Spiritual Power inside it...
Thinking of the items he had sent back to Great Xia last time, Lu Li couldn't help looking forward to it.
Only Foundation Establishment True Persons and cultivators who specialized in the Dao of Artifact Refinement could efficiently refine the Spiritual Power within spirit ore and remove its impurities.
If Great Xia could accomplish this through technology,
it would undoubtedly be a tremendous help to Lu Li.
Breaking through to the Qi Refining Second Layer went without saying. He could even enjoy the convenience and pleasure of efficient cultivation all the way until Foundation Establishment!
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Just as Lu Li was pondering,
a bright streak of sword light abruptly rose in the distance.
The sword light shot across the sky like a rainbow, arriving in the blink of an eye.
It revealed the figure of a middle-aged man in white robes. It was none other than Bai Sheng, an outer disciple.
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
"Greetings, Senior Brother!"
"..."
At the sight of the newcomer, the gray-robed menial workers in their ragged clothes dared not be negligent.
They cupped their fists and bowed in greeting.
Lu Li hid himself behind the crowd.
He cupped his fists along with the others.
For some reason, he always felt that Bai Sheng seemed different from before today.
There was a sense of excitement about him that he was doing his utmost to conceal.
Could something good have happened to this guy?
For some reason, Lu Li couldn't help recalling the terrifying figure that had soared into the clouds a few days ago, blazing with golden light.
True Person Bai Yi advanced to True Lord. Could it be because of that?
Before Lu Li could figure it out,
Bai Sheng, standing on his flying sword, had already spoken.
"Everyone, get down into the mine at once!"
"Don't waste time. The ore will be collected in two days."
"If you're late, you know the rules."
His voice, as cold as ever, rang in everyone's ears.
The menial workers dared not waste time and filed into the mining area.
Watching the menial workers scramble to get ahead of one another,
Bai Sheng wore a barely suppressed smile of excitement on his cold lips.
The Ancestor broke through!
I thought that with my age and standing in the Lineage, it would be hard to obtain even a single Foundation Establishment Pill in this lifetime.
But now... the Ancestor has advanced to True Lord!
My Bai Household is now one of the Azure Pool Sect's four great Golden Core Lineages!
What we receive and enjoy will be beyond comparison with before. I heard the Ancestor is going to Supreme Origin Peak for a meeting today.
If it succeeds, the Lineage's resources are sure to multiply several times over. Then, as long as I reach Qi Refinement Perfection before forty,
there will surely be hope for Foundation Establishment!
Thinking of everything that had happened in the Lineage over the past few days, Bai Sheng couldn't help feeling delighted.
With the Ancestor's breakthrough, he shared in the glory as a member of the Bai Household.
Even the menial workers in their tattered clothes looked much more pleasing to him.
His gaze swept over the crowd, and he spotted a figure who seemed a little familiar.
What was that First Layer of Qi Refinement fellow's name again?
Lu Li? He was the one who turned in the full quota last time.
Hmph, he was lucky. Let's see if his luck can be that good again this time.
With a cold snort, Bai Sheng withdrew his gaze.
He began planning his future Foundation Establishment.
Those at Foundation Establishment were also called True Persons. They lived for more than two hundred and twenty years, developed Divine Sense, and possessed abundant Law Power.
In the Azure Pool Sect, they could advance to become inner disciples and live a truly carefree life.
Naturally, he had to strive hard for such a goal.
After entering the mine, the menial workers hurriedly squeezed their way into the narrow, crisscrossing tunnels.
They dared not waste a moment.
Lu Li did the same, though he wasn't worried about failing to turn in enough spirit ore.
He was anxious to contact the country.
He was eager to know whether there had been any progress with the items he had sent back last time.
Whether they could help him quickly break through to the Qi Refining Second Layer.
Just before entering the mine, he had distinctly felt a chill on his back.
Without having to think, he knew it had to be Bai Sheng looking at him.
I have to speed things up. Even if I turn in the full quota this time and manage to brush him off once more,
what about the time after that? If I'm still at the First Layer of Qi Refinement before the next trip into the mine and turn in the full quota again,
Bai Sheng will surely find a way to dig into my background! He might even search my soul!
A sense of urgency gripped him.
Lu Li took turn after turn, walking hundreds of meters through the narrow tunnels before finally stopping.
After confirming that no one was around and that it was safe,
he reached into his robes and took out the fish-shaped jade pendant.
"Buzz!"
Without hesitation, Lu Li slowly circulated his cultivation method.
The meager Spiritual Power in his body flowed through his meridians and into the jade pendant.
The next second,
a faint light suddenly flickered...
Blue Star, Great Xia.
At the General Administration of Security in Jing City, the 749 Group had begun preparing early in the morning for today's cross-realm communication.
After all, this transmission would be the first formal cross-realm communication between the two sides!
The preparations were thorough and comprehensive.
Dozens of high-definition cameras and specialized recording devices had all been set up.
They were trained silently on the fish-shaped jade pendant atop the metal platform in the center of the underground main control hall.
All the elite group members from every walk of life, along with professors, experts, and scholars,
as well as medical personnel, strategists, translators, and psychologists,
had all arrived early.
"Reporting to Director Li, all amplification and recording equipment is ready."
"All 520 members of the 749 Group are in position."
"Level-one security has been established within five kilometers of the building."
"Air and traffic control orders have all been issued."
"Please give your instructions!"
In the underground main control hall, a soldier in uniform reported loudly to Li Yuanchao, who stood straight-backed, his hair slightly gray.
The entire main control hall was silent.
Aside from the faint static that occasionally came through the communications equipment,
no one spoke. Everyone watched eagerly as the fish-shaped jade pendant lay silently on the metal platform in the center of the hall.
Then a faint glimmer of light slowly began to flicker.
A sharp gleam flashed in Li Yuanchao's eyes, and he immediately gave an order in a low voice.
"Everyone, prepare for cross-realm communication!"
Buzz!
As soon as he finished speaking,
Academician Elder Wang, who was the first to report and was also the head of the 749 Group's core research team, Wang Zhiwen, was the first to stand, excited.
Speaking into the amplification device in his hand, he said in a trembling voice,
"Comrade Lu! Can you hear me?!"
"I can hear you, Academician Elder Wang... hello."