Chapter 52: Yinshan Mine (Part 1)
In the western border of the Central Plains, there was the Yinshan Mine.
Thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed, creating a gloomy atmosphere.
Bone-chilling cold winds stirred up sandstorms, violently battering the enchantment covering the Yinshan.
The vast Yinshan stretched for thousands of miles, with dragon-like lightning crossing the sky, and sparse vegetation on the mountains.
Hong Tao, with Jiang Yuebai, entered the minefield after changing their tokens. The fierce wind suddenly subsided, leaving only a bone-chilling cold and the clattering of mining carts and the striking of iron pickaxes on rocks.
Shaking off the yellow sand covering him, Hong Tao surveyed the laborers transporting stones outside the mine. Suddenly, he released a strong Foundation Building pressure and kicked one of the passing workers.
"Someone from the Internal Affairs Hall is here. Let your overseer come out to see me!"
Jiang Yuebai frowned. Hong Tao was usually kind and reasonable, and she had never seen him acting so arrogantly.
The emaciated laborer rolled twice and, seeing the token on Hong Tao's body, fearfully went to report. The surrounding miners all avoided, observing from a distance.
"Oh, I said this magpie has been making noise since this morning. Turns out it's the overseer from the Internal Affairs Hall."
The slightly plump middle-aged overseer, Cui Sheng, nodded and bowed, giving Jiang Yuebai a brief glance. He smiled ingratiatingly, "I wonder what business the overseer has at the Yinshan Mine?"
Hong Tao pushed Jiang Yuebai forward, looking proud, and said loudly, "I've brought you someone. This is a disciple favored by the Inner Sect Golden Core cultivator. Due to some trivial matters, she's been sent to Yinshan Mine to stay for two years. When the Core cultivator handles the matters, she will be taken back."
Hong Tao's words were ambiguous, and many people around heard them.
Jiang Yuebai pondered for a moment, suddenly realizing, and felt extremely grateful to Hong Tao.
Cui Sheng was a shrewd person. Without mentioning the name of the Golden Core cultivator, being sent here indicated that she wasn't a significant figure.
However, it couldn't be completely ignored. After all, a Golden Core cultivator had sent her here, and it made Hong Tao, a Foundation Building overseer, personally deliver her. It showed that she had some connections within the sect.
Understanding the situation, Cui Sheng grinned, "Understood. I will arrange a better mining cave for this... junior sister. The overseer can rest assured."
Hong Tao nodded indifferently, and Jiang Yuebai took out a storage bag, offering it with both hands.
"Brother, please make arrangements. This is just a small token of appreciation."
Cui Sheng looked at Hong Tao, who glanced elsewhere. He smiled and took the storage bag, finding a hundred low-grade spirit stones inside. He was overjoyed.
"Oh, why is our junior sister so polite?"
Hong Tao said, "Since we're here, I'll inspect Yinshan Mine on behalf of the Internal Affairs Hall. Lead the way."
Cui Sheng understood Hong Tao's intention and quickly made a gesture of invitation, leading him and Jiang Yuebai to inspect the mine, making everyone see Jiang Yuebai's 'backing.'
Various parts of the mine were similar, nothing particularly interesting.
Cultivators below the Third Level of Qi Refining were working outside, moving soil and rocks or excavating new mine caves. Only those above the Third Level of Qi Refining were allowed to go underground for mining.
The daily quota was a hundred low-grade spirit stones, and one medium-grade spirit stone could cover three days' quota.
On the day of entering the mine, the date was registered. As long as one could endure, staying inside for one or two years was acceptable. On the day of coming out, all quotas had to be fulfilled. If it wasn't enough, the deficiency had to be made up, and work continued until the full amount was reached.
"...Master Xuan Cheng has been in seclusion at the deepest part of the mine, and he rarely comes out. This is the central hub of the Yinshan Mine. Please, junior sister, put a drop of your blood into it."
Jiang Yuebai looked at the fierce-looking stone sculpture of a ferocious bull standing in the center of the minefield. She wiped her fingertip on it, instantly feeling her soul being suppressed and restrained.
Thunder and lightning filled the sky, and the grand enchantment seemed faintly visible.
Cui Sheng said, "Rest assured, junior sister. This grand array, as long as you don't run around or try to escape, is here to protect us from being harmed by external demons or scoundrels. When your period of labor is complete, the restriction will naturally be lifted."
Jiang Yuebai nodded, noticing a stone tablet below the sculpture with densely packed names, some disappearing, replaced by new ones.
"What is this?" Jiang Yuebai asked.
Before Cui Sheng could answer, Hong Tao explained, "If you don't come out of the mine for two years, you're considered missing, and your name will appear on the tablet. If you don't come out for five years, your name will be erased, equivalent to losing the protection of the array."
Thunder rumbled, and lightning flashed, creating a gloomy atmosphere.
Bone-chilling cold winds stirred up sandstorms, violently battering the enchantment covering the Yinshan.
The vast Yinshan stretched for thousands of miles, with dragon-like lightning crossing the sky, and sparse vegetation on the mountains.
Hong Tao, with Jiang Yuebai, entered the minefield after changing their tokens. The fierce wind suddenly subsided, leaving only a bone-chilling cold and the clattering of mining carts and the striking of iron pickaxes on rocks.
Shaking off the yellow sand covering him, Hong Tao surveyed the laborers transporting stones outside the mine. Suddenly, he released a strong Foundation Building pressure and kicked one of the passing workers.
"Someone from the Internal Affairs Hall is here. Let your overseer come out to see me!"
Jiang Yuebai frowned. Hong Tao was usually kind and reasonable, and she had never seen him acting so arrogantly.
The emaciated laborer rolled twice and, seeing the token on Hong Tao's body, fearfully went to report. The surrounding miners all avoided, observing from a distance.
"Oh, I said this magpie has been making noise since this morning. Turns out it's the overseer from the Internal Affairs Hall."
The slightly plump middle-aged overseer, Cui Sheng, nodded and bowed, giving Jiang Yuebai a brief glance. He smiled ingratiatingly, "I wonder what business the overseer has at the Yinshan Mine?"
Hong Tao pushed Jiang Yuebai forward, looking proud, and said loudly, "I've brought you someone. This is a disciple favored by the Inner Sect Golden Core cultivator. Due to some trivial matters, she's been sent to Yinshan Mine to stay for two years. When the Core cultivator handles the matters, she will be taken back."
Hong Tao's words were ambiguous, and many people around heard them.
Jiang Yuebai pondered for a moment, suddenly realizing, and felt extremely grateful to Hong Tao.
Cui Sheng was a shrewd person. Without mentioning the name of the Golden Core cultivator, being sent here indicated that she wasn't a significant figure.
However, it couldn't be completely ignored. After all, a Golden Core cultivator had sent her here, and it made Hong Tao, a Foundation Building overseer, personally deliver her. It showed that she had some connections within the sect.
Understanding the situation, Cui Sheng grinned, "Understood. I will arrange a better mining cave for this... junior sister. The overseer can rest assured."
Hong Tao nodded indifferently, and Jiang Yuebai took out a storage bag, offering it with both hands.
"Brother, please make arrangements. This is just a small token of appreciation."
Cui Sheng looked at Hong Tao, who glanced elsewhere. He smiled and took the storage bag, finding a hundred low-grade spirit stones inside. He was overjoyed.
"Oh, why is our junior sister so polite?"
Hong Tao said, "Since we're here, I'll inspect Yinshan Mine on behalf of the Internal Affairs Hall. Lead the way."
Cui Sheng understood Hong Tao's intention and quickly made a gesture of invitation, leading him and Jiang Yuebai to inspect the mine, making everyone see Jiang Yuebai's 'backing.'
Various parts of the mine were similar, nothing particularly interesting.
Cultivators below the Third Level of Qi Refining were working outside, moving soil and rocks or excavating new mine caves. Only those above the Third Level of Qi Refining were allowed to go underground for mining.
The daily quota was a hundred low-grade spirit stones, and one medium-grade spirit stone could cover three days' quota.
On the day of entering the mine, the date was registered. As long as one could endure, staying inside for one or two years was acceptable. On the day of coming out, all quotas had to be fulfilled. If it wasn't enough, the deficiency had to be made up, and work continued until the full amount was reached.
"...Master Xuan Cheng has been in seclusion at the deepest part of the mine, and he rarely comes out. This is the central hub of the Yinshan Mine. Please, junior sister, put a drop of your blood into it."
Jiang Yuebai looked at the fierce-looking stone sculpture of a ferocious bull standing in the center of the minefield. She wiped her fingertip on it, instantly feeling her soul being suppressed and restrained.
Thunder and lightning filled the sky, and the grand enchantment seemed faintly visible.
Cui Sheng said, "Rest assured, junior sister. This grand array, as long as you don't run around or try to escape, is here to protect us from being harmed by external demons or scoundrels. When your period of labor is complete, the restriction will naturally be lifted."
Jiang Yuebai nodded, noticing a stone tablet below the sculpture with densely packed names, some disappearing, replaced by new ones.
"What is this?" Jiang Yuebai asked.
Before Cui Sheng could answer, Hong Tao explained, "If you don't come out of the mine for two years, you're considered missing, and your name will appear on the tablet. If you don't come out for five years, your name will be erased, equivalent to losing the protection of the array."
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