Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1539 713: Low-Rank Immortal (Part 2)

The fifth point is to quietly pocket the treasure once it's extracted, look for the next mineral vein, and then leave unnoticed to exchange the treasure for money with the mine boss.

Chen Shi observed for a long time, ensuring he was familiar with the process here, before he went to mine.

Initially, Guan Qinshuang thought this young master would give up after suffering enough hardship, reveal his identity and leave with her. But unexpectedly, Chen Shi began mining in earnest.

He also chose a mining spot, set up defensive arrays, and mined cautiously, fearing the release of Earth. After extracting stone, he would carefully probe whether the Earth contained ordinary Five Elements Stone, treasure, or something ancient.

However, the stones he mined were all ordinary stone; he did not find any real treasure.

In fact, with Chen Shi's cultivation and Daoist practice, he could easily discern whether the unusual aura in a mineral vein was a treasure, Great Demon Skeleton, or something ancient.

He was well-versed in Outer Dao; whether it was the Outer Dao hidden in Great Demon Skeletons or the strange objects from ancient times, he could distinguish them clearly. Once these things were ruled out, the source of abnormal energy would be the treasure.

He didn't use this ability but instead mined like a normal Immortal.

His purpose in coming here wasn't mining; the Immortal Ore and jade yielded here did not impress him. Penglai West was one of the best Holy Lands in the world, and its mineral veins produced truly superior treasures.

His purpose in coming was to walk the path that Immortal Wencheng once did.

He wanted to see what reason led Immortal Wencheng to commit such crimes.

"The young master only finds everything novel; after a few days of hardship, he'll leave." Guan Qinshuang thought.

To her surprise, Chen Shi stayed in the mining area for half a year, mining daily, without caring about other matters.

Occasionally, Chen Shi would extract jade or Immortal Ore of decent value but when exchanging it for money, the mine boss would greatly discount the price. Moreover, after exchanging the money, he would have to buy Spiritual Energy Liquid to replenish cultivation, and the remaining money would go towards buying Magical Treasures for array formation.

—In the mining area, as it was suffused with Outer Dao energy, Magical Treasures would spoil quickly, particularly those used for arrays which need frequent replacement.

Thus, the amount of money he could save was indeed little.

Other mining Immortals were roughly the same; the result of their hard work, even risking life, would be only a few scattered Heavenly Yuan Notes.

Some would cautiously save up money, planning for the future, intending to save enough to buy better cultivation techniques for future achievement and leave this place.

Others squandered their savings, indulging in nightlife and luxury; once spent, they'd return to the mining area to continue mining.

Some got caught up in gambling, hoping to double their money and win others' Heavenly Yuan Notes but often ended up with nothing.

The place where Chen Shi lived was called Hidden Immortal Residence, sounded nice but was where bottom-tier Immortals resided for mining.

It was a 480-story building, with well-placed arrays, easy to defend, hard to attack.

The mining Immortals' abode had living quarters for two to three people; Immortal Families might have a child servant to stay there.

Hidden Immortal Residence had communal alchemy rooms where, for a fee, one could perform alchemy.

It also had an Immortal Master Workshop for puppet cultivation; the puppets were lifelike and alluring, allowing desire release for a small fee if one couldn't resist.

Hidden Immortal Residence had arrays to gather Spiritual Energy from North Sea, making it quite habitable.

But in just six months, Chen Shi noticed that several neighbors had changed.

Those disappeared neighbors were either dead, or had left after mining treasure.

Chen Shi continued mining; of those who started mining in the fourth mining area of Black Water Mountain with him, only thirty percent remained.

Guan Qinshuang still lived, but with one arm less.

Last time Chen Shi encountered her, she mumbled about losing her arm in a mining accident where Earth was triggered.

"Young master, when are you leaving?" She asked dully, her eyes now devoid of spirit.

"Let's wait a bit longer." Chen Shi replied.

A month later, Chen Shi met Guan Qinshuang again; she looked sallow and emaciated.

She said she fell for a young Immortal in the mining area and no longer wanted to work as Black Taibao; it was too damaging to virtue.

"That's a good thing."

Chen Shi said, "Live well with that Immortal once you leave, don't indulge in ignoble dealings anymore."

"Seven days ago, he died." Guan Qinshuang said, staring blankly.

Chen Shi was stunned, somewhat at a loss.

Suddenly, she looked hopeful towards Chen Shi: "Young master, when will we leave? I can't stay here any longer!"

She cried again, laughing and sobbing, hitting herself with her good arm.

"I've sent many Immortals here! I've sinned greatly! Killed many people! Haha, I deserve it!"

Chen Shi entered the mining area again, reaching the deepest corner, where he saw a corpse lying.

He recognized this person.

This young Immortal often mined good Immortal Ore; others said he was a Sacred Body of luck, a mining Sacred Body.

Some said he was born with great fortune, a mining prodigy, who turned harm to safety despite danger.

But this time, the young Immortal's luck seemed used up.

He died in the fourth mining area.

Chen Shi buried the young Immortal's body in the mining area, then walked out without continuing mining.

New mining Immortals were arriving; veterans warned them: "Black Water River harbors bugs, don't touch the water! When Alien Bugs touch the skin, cut it off immediately, or just a leg is left!"

Some Immortals angrily proclaimed, "Fellow Daoists, this isn't the world we want… overthrow Heavenly Court, establish our own Immortal Court!"

Chen Shi walked out, not seeing Guan Qinshuang.

He searched for her but didn't find her, even going to Hidden Immortal Residence, but in vain. The Immortal managing Hidden Immortal Residence said Guan Qinshuang hadn't returned for several days.

"Know where she went?"

"Who knows? Maybe she's gone, maybe dead."

...

Chen Shi went to see the mine boss, telling him he wanted to redeem himself.

The mine boss laughed: "Saved up money? You're quite capable, living to now. I think you're naturally a mining Sacred Body with great luck! You'll surely mine ancient treasures if you stay! Don't leave; in the future, I'll take one less portion when you sell stones!"

Chen Shi shook his head: "Seen too many dead, afraid to stay."

The mine boss lost interest in him, lazily saying: "Too bad."

"Have you seen Guan Qinshuang?"

Chen Shi asked, "The Black Taibao I sold here, she's a woman, quite good-looking, lost her left arm."

The mine boss lazily fiddled with a jade piece, not looking at him, grumbling: "Didn't find her here? Then she's dead. Such women, dead or not, it's not pitiful. She wronged many; don't you agree?"

Chen Shi said: "Indeed."

He walked out of the mining area.

Outside, the sun was dazzling.

Chen Shi, while walking out, felt a sourness in his eyes, and walked while tears fell uncontrollably.

He walked and sobbed, wiping his tears with his sleeve like a mining Immortal cheated out of money by the mine boss.

He stopped by the roadside, unable to stop his tears, sat on a stone, and cried.

"It shouldn't be like this…" He said, head down, eyes red, sobbing.

After a while, he collected his spirits, mustered courage, left North Sea, and headed for Northern Continent.

He didn't take the Star Shuttle but traveled like ordinary Immortals, flying and resting when tired, arriving at Northern Continent after two months, finding the Primordial Continent's Beast Hunting Team.

"Boss, I want to sell myself to you."

Chen Shi's face showed a simple smile like other newly ascended Immortals, "I want to earn money, and advance cultivation."

The Beast Hunting Team's captain was a brawny Great Han, like a black bear, laughing: "Cornered?"

"Yes. Cornered."

"Come with us. The beasts we capture supply Heavenly Court. Though risky, survive, and you're rewarded richly!"