Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1537 712: North Sea Mining (Part 3)

Chen Shi laughed and said, "Don't worry, if we encounter danger, I will reveal my identity and take you away."

Guan Qinshuang felt a glimmer of hope.

The two followed the main group up the mountain. The Black Water Mountain's mineral veins were different from the veins in Penglai West. The Immortal Ore in Penglai West was within the mountain, requiring miners to dig into the mountain to enter the mines. However, the mineral veins of Black Water Mountain were located on the mountains on both sides of a Black Water River.

These mountains were steep, piled up from fist-sized stones and earth. The immortals mining here needed to enter the mountains from the riverbanks and search along the way for treasures within the mining areas.

The rocks in these mountains contained a lot of jade, which concealed Immortal Dao Spiritual Power. However, the outer mineral veins were mostly emptied, leaving only the inner circle of mineral veins.

Chen Shi examined the mountains and saw that the ordinary stones here were mostly Five Elements Strange Stones, filled with Five Elements Dao Power. Unfortunately, most of this Five Elements Dao Power had become stagnant and unusable. Otherwise, they would be very precious Five-Colored Stones, which could be sold to the Nuwa Palace for a good price.

"Watch out for bugs in the river, don't touch the river water!"

An old miner shouted, "If those Alien Bugs touch your skin, cut off the flesh immediately, and you might still be saved. If you're too slow, you'll have to cut off your leg!"

"Don't touch the rosy clouds above the river, that's Outer Dao Light, exposure means certain death!"

"The Immortal Light shining in the mining area might be from jade, ancient artifacts, or remnants of a Great Demon. It's all about luck! If you're lucky, you won't need to mine for three years, living comfortably with Spiritual Energy and wealth, a beautiful wife, and everything!"

"Beware of your companions! Don't let anyone behind you while mining!"

...

Chen Shi heard this and asked in confusion, "Why be careful of your companions?"

Next to him was a young immortal who said, "If you and your companion find a treasure while mining, and he gets envious, he might kill you for it. Many immortals have died in the mines; if you die in there, no one will care. So, be careful of your companions."

Chen Shi suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. Fellow Daoist, were you sold into this place?"

The young immortal shook his head, "I ran out of money, so I came here to mine voluntarily. There's still good stuff left in Black Water Mountain. Last time, I found a piece of fine jade here and received eight thousand notes and thirty bottles of Immortal Qi Spirit Liquid as a reward from the mine boss, so I didn't work anymore. Now that the money and the liquid are gone, I'm back to earn more."

A few miners nearby gathered, filled with envy. One laughed and said, "Little brother, you must be having good fortune and amazing luck. You're sure to find treasure again! Can we share in your luck?"

The young immortal glanced at them and sneered, "You four are together, surely you plan to kill me and steal my treasure if I find it? This isn't my first time in the mines!"

He quickened his pace and left the four behind.

One of the miners spat on the ground and said, "This little brat thinks so badly of us, his Dao Heart is impure!"

He looked at Chen Shi, smiling, "Hey, little brother, more people means more power. How about we team up and look out for each other?"

Chen Shi was about to agree when another miner noticed his expression and quickly laughed, "The four of us are enough, no need for another. Let's go!"

The four quickly left.

"Brother, that guy was clearly a rookie, why did we leave?"

"Shut up! He's killed way more than us! Just a glance into his eyes showed that he's ruthless. Listen to me, stay away from him. Let's target other immortals, don't provoke him!"

Suddenly, there was a sharp rumbling sound ahead. A mountain ridge made of Five Elements Strange Stones collapsed, crushing many. Other nearby immortals were forced to retreat, some stepping into the Black Water River and being instantly invaded by Alien Bugs. The bugs burrowed into their skin, then their muscles, drilling into their bodies!

The quick-witted immortals immediately cut off their flesh or amputated their legs. However, some couldn't bear self-mutilation, hesitated, and were overtaken by the bugs, reduced to mere bones, clothes, and hair within moments—terrifying!

Other immortals who flew into the air encountered the Outer Dao Light above the river, instantly screamed in agony, polluted by the light, falling back down. Their flesh grotesquely mutated.

The crowd used Immortal Law to work together and slay these immortals-turned-monsters, but a few more people died in the mouths of those creatures.

Chen Shi approached quietly. The situation had calmed down, leaving more than twenty bodies.

"Immortal Wencheng wanted me to see these immortals living at the lowest level of the Earth Immortal Realm."

Chen Shi's face was as calm as a still pond, but in his heart, a voice said, "If not for my godmother and the Heavenly Mechanism Strategy, I would be struggling just like them."

Then, a voice filled with grief and indignation echoed across the river, from an immortal from the Lower Realm shouting, "Fellow Daoists, do we really have to live like this? Why does the Heavenly Court control the Holy Land? Why do the Heavenly Gods get to sit high above? Why can they decide our life and death, while the fruits of our hard work come so easily to them?"

He grew increasingly agitated, his voice rising passionately.

"It is the injustice of the Heavenly Gods! It is the Heavenly Court that causes such injustice! Only our Immortal Court can break this unfairness! If you're unwilling to just scrape by, join our Immortal Court!"

Chen Shi listened, feeling slightly moved, "The power of the Immortal Emperor is beginning to infiltrate the lower levels of the Earth Immortal Realm, full of allure."