Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1535 712: Mining in the North Sea

The North Sea is a broad geographical region located in the northern part of the Earth Immortal Realm, encompassing all the large and small worlds in the sea area from the Northern Continent to the Earth Immortal Realm.

These worlds are very close to each other, and some are even connected by continental bridges that are mountainous and rugged, allowing people from different worlds to travel across.

This area is rich in mineral veins and mines, abundant in gold, stones, and precious jade, and also produces a mythical bird called Huihui, which is edible, tastes good, and can cure madness.

In the North Sea, it is often seen that a certain place suddenly radiates treasure light straight into the sky, often due to the leakage of a mineral vein.

Whenever this happens, people don't run toward the treasure light but escape in the opposite direction.

Because of the mineral vein leaks, the waste gas buried underground for unknown thousands of years, under sunlight, may appear captivating but is extremely dangerous, even Immortals find it difficult to survive in it.

Therefore, places where the waste gas leaks often signify mining disasters, and if one escapes too slowly, they may die in the waste gas.

On Chen Shi's first day in Beidi Province of the North Sea, he was enthusiastically targeted by Black Taibao.

"Where are you from, fellow Daoist? Ascended from the West Bull New Continent? I am also from the West Bull New Continent; our accents are quite similar," said a charming woman approaching Chen Shi, smiling.

Black Taibao is a collective term for Immortal traffickers.

They are not mine bosses but intermediaries who sell miners to mine bosses.

Outside the Western Heaven Swing of the Heavenly Court, Black Taibao roams; those Immortals who leave the Heavenly Soldier Camp after their ten-year term often get tempted by Black Taibao with promises of high monthly salaries and exquisite Magical Treasures, tricking them to the North Sea to be sold to mine bosses.

Some Black Taibao are active outside significant government offices such as the Dou Department, Thunder Department, and Wen Department, waiting for those Immortals to leave after their terms, then persuading them cleverly to entice them into the North Sea.

Thus, the North Sea is notorious, but the number of Immortals ascending each year is substantial, and most Immortals do not know the North Sea Mine, so many are still deceived and brought to the North Sea to work as miners.

Black Taibao refers to this business as sending heads because mine bosses pay per head, sending an Immortal is one head, equating to a payment.

Of course, there are also some unscrupulous Black Taibao who find those cultivating Three Heads and Six Arms Immortals trying to charge more money. Such Black Taibao often get beaten by mine bosses, thrown into the mines to work, with their fate uncertain.

Some Immortals come to the North Sea, down on their luck, seeking fortune, selling themselves to mine bosses, hoping to find Exotic Treasures in Immortal Ore and achieve prosperity.

"What is your name, fellow Daoist?"

Chen Shi asked the charming woman in surprise, "There are very few Immortals from our West Bull New Continent, unexpected to meet a fellow here. It's just that your accent is a bit off."

"Been away from home too long, already forgot the hometown dialect."

The charming woman mimicked his accent, about seventy to eighty percent similar, smiled, and said, "My surname is Guan, first name Qinshuang. You are new to the North Sea, not aware of the rules here. Swindlers are rampant; be careful not to be sold away!"

Chen Shi, embarrassed, said, "Senior Sister Guan, truth be told, I am indeed here to sell myself. Isn't it because I left the Thunder Department and hit a dead end? I originally thought after getting out of the Thunder Department, I could make a name for myself, but I didn't expect everything to cost money, and I got swindled in Beidi Province…"

Guan Qinshuang empathized, saying, "The swindlers in Beidi Province are even more numerous than in the North Sea, cheating and deceiving; even a Buddha would come out with a layer of skin scraped off!"

She looked Chen Shi up and down, smiling, "You don't seem like you're from the Thunder Department. Your attire is extraordinary, unlike the Heavenly Soldiers from the Thunder Department."

After all, Chen Shi was the General of the World, originally dressed glamorously, worried that he appeared too lavish, not like a fledgling just out of the Heavenly Court, so he changed into plain clothing.

However, his plain clothing seemed still too luxurious in Guan Qinshuang's eyes.

"To tell the truth, I am the Prisoner from the Thirty-Six Inner Courtyard Middle Department's Heavenly Punishment Execution Institute in the Thunder Department, ordered by the superiors to inspect the plight of the common people and experience life from the bottom,"

Chen Shi's face slightly darkened and said, "I am here on a confidential mission, Daoist Qinshuang, please do not make it public."

Guan Qinshuang's heart trembled: "The Thirty-Six Inner Courtyard Middle Department of the Thunder Department, Prisoner of the Heavenly Punishment Execution Institute? What a significant status!"

She didn't know that the host and even the principal of the Thirty-Six Inner Courtyard Middle Department of the Thunder Department needed to queue outside Biyou Palace to meet Chen Shi.

But for Immortals like Guan Qinshuang, wanting to meet a prominent figure like the Middle Department Prisoner was practically impossible.

Chen Shi inquired, "Daoist Qinshuang, does my clothing make me look unlike an Immortal just starting out?"

Knowing his prestigious background and unfamiliarity with Jianghu, Guan Qinshuang quickly said, "Your clothing, seemingly plain, but every stitch and thread is finely crafted by Heavenly Workers, using threads that have undergone rigorous refinement. Ordinary Immortals can't see the elegance, but in the eyes of those experienced like us in Jianghu, your background is clearly extraordinary."

"I see."

Chen Shi lamented, "How can I truly understand the people's plight? The superiors say I'm disconnected from the populace and unaware of the common people's hardships, hence sending me to tour the North Sea. Daoist Qinshuang, can you help me get an outfit worn by the people at the bottom?"

Guan Qinshuang laughed and said, "What's so difficult about that? Come with me, sir."

Chen Shi solemnly said, "Daoist, I am here to understand the people's conditions, don't call me sir. If you're not too formal, call me Zhong Wuwang, or even Er Niu."

Guan Qinshuang hesitated for a moment, didn't dare to truly call him Er Niu, and said, "Daoist Zhong."

Chen Shi reluctantly nodded, "Don't make it seem special as if I'm different from these poor destitute."

Guan Qinshuang found a set of clothing for a bottom-tier Immortal and laid it before Chen Shi.