Chapter 48: Forcibly Ripping Off the Benefits

Inside the stone cave.

Seeing the Giant Sword Technique shattered in a single blow, the guarding cultivator was struck with immense terror. His face turned deathly pale as his hands moved incessantly, chanting incantations in hopes that the powerful magical tool's impact against the Earth Wall Technique would be greatly diminished, allowing the Giant Sword Technique to eventually strike it down.

Driven by a desperate hope, the speed of his incantations grew faster and faster.

When danger approaches, potential can indeed be ignited.

The other cultivator, who was slightly shorter, had not given up either. To give up was to face certain death; even at the final moment, he refused to surrender.

Currently unable to move, he could only desperately surge his spiritual power once more, preparing to cast another Earth Wall Technique.

Just as they were desperately casting their spells,

The Amethyst Bead emitted a purple glow, slicing through the air as if it were a physical substance, and charged toward the yellow-glowing Earth Wall.

"Crack!"

With a single strike, the Earth Wall glowing with faint yellow spiritual light shattered, dissolving into specks of light.

The purple glow emitted by the Amethyst Bead dimmed slightly; it seemed its power had not gone unreduced, though its potency had dropped just a fraction.

Carrying its residual momentum, the Amethyst Bead sent out successive ripples of air pressure as it surged toward the two men who were still chanting incantations.

The Amethyst Bead spun around their necks like a gear.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

Two heads rolled to the ground almost simultaneously.

Cheng Buzheng watched as the two decapitated corpses bled profusely, the blood spreading in all directions.

He did not delay. Extending his divine sense, he discovered that the two possessed nothing of value, managing to scavenge only two bottles of Fasting Pills.

Then, with a flick of his finger, two flames shot toward the corpses. After injecting a stream of spiritual power, the flames flared up intensely, and the temperature rose sharply.

This was not like a barbecue where the temperature is kept constant; instead, he instantly pushed the spiritual power to its limit, causing the temperature to reach an extreme state.

In the blink of an eye, the corpses vanished, leaving behind only two piles of ashes.

Cheng Buzheng walked quickly to the pile of raw spirit stone ore and, with a wave of his hand, enveloped the pile in a shroud of spiritual power.

With a flash of yellow light, he and the raw spirit stone ore vanished from the stone cave.

A streak of yellow light traveled rapidly through the underground tunnels, occasionally dropping several pieces of stubborn rock.

By the time Cheng Buzheng had traveled to the eighteenth mining tunnel, the spirit stone ore enveloped in spiritual power had already disappeared.

····

A quarter of an hour after Cheng Buzheng left, a short and stout cultivator, one of the mine bosses' subordinates, walked into the stone cave.

Seeing the devastation of the cave and the two piles of ashes, he cried out in alarm

"This is bad! Someone, come quickly!

The raw spirit stone ore has been stolen! Quickly report this to the mine boss!"

The terrified cries for help spread through the mining tunnels.

Before long, figures began to gather rapidly toward the stone cave from all directions.

"Who... just who was it?"

"Could it be the one the mine bosses put a bounty on?"

"Probably. So far, that person has been the boldest!"

"That's impossible! Perhaps someone is framing them?"

"What's the use of saying that now? Has anyone seen the mine boss? Hurry and notify him, that's what matters!"

"I haven't seen him!"

"I've already sent someone to notify him! The mine boss will be here soon."

"The two Huang brothers who were on guard today—not a single one was left alive. They were all slain."

"Yeah! It's a good thing I wasn't on duty today."

"This task is truly dangerous!"

····

A quarter of an hour later.

A burly, dark-skinned middle-aged cultivator arrived, his face grim as he spoke in a cold voice.

"Who discovered it first?"

"Boss... it was me!" The short, stout cultivator stepped forward.

He lowered his head submissively, cold sweat pouring down his face. Carefully wiping the sweat from his forehead, he spoke tremblingly, explaining in detail how he had discovered the scene, how he had immediately called for help, and the exact time of the incident.

At this moment, he did not dare to anger the mine boss; otherwise, he would be met with a torrential storm of fury.

The dark-skinned mine boss suppressed his anger and listened patiently until the end.

Suddenly, the scene fell into dead silence. Everyone stared at the dark-skinned mine boss, waiting for his command.

The dark-skinned mine boss knew that today's incident could not be hidden. His subordinates surely had eyes and ears among the other mine bosses. Although he wanted the other bosses to suffer as well—as he was no selfless man—the previous agreement clearly stated that if trouble occurred, the news must be immediately relayed to the other mine bosses.

If the incident was concealed, the person responsible for the concealment would have to compensate for the losses. If they refused, the other mine bosses would undoubtedly join forces to attack them.

In an instant, he made his decision.

The dark-skinned mine boss scanned the crowd and said coldly

"Xiao Er, immediately dispatch seven men to inform the other seven mine bosses that the thief has appeared. Tell them to be prepared.

It is an urgent matter... depart immediately."

As soon as he finished speaking, without looking back, he entered the stone cave to handle the aftermath.

A lean young cultivator, watching the mine boss's retreating back, stepped forward two paces and bowed respectfully, showing not the slightest hint of presumption.

"Yes!...Big Brother, I will go do it at once."

After a moment of thought, the lean cultivator spoke.

"Qi Refinement Level 3, those who can use the Wind-Walking Technique, take a step forward!"

The only three Level 3 Qi Refinement cultivators in the crowd exchanged glances and, as if by unspoken agreement, stepped forward simultaneously.

"Your cultivation is the highest and your speed is the fastest. To deliver the news as quickly as possible, you three will head to mining tunnels number eight, seven, and six respectively.

Work hard, and return quickly!"

After speaking, he cupped his hands in a salute. He did not dare to act high and mighty; although he was a favorite of the mine boss, these three were at the same level as him. He tried his best not to offend them, as no one could predict what the future held.

As soon as he finished, the air exploded. The three Level 3 cultivators had already vanished from their spots, leaving behind three ripples of air that slapped against the rock walls.

Then, the lean youth spoke again.

"Qi Refinement Level 2 peak, those who have mastered the Wind-Walking Technique to the Great Success stage, take a step forward."

Three cultivators at the peak of Level 2 Qi Refinement stepped out from the crowd.

The lean youth scanned them and said in a low voice

"Hou San, you go to mining tunnel number one to deliver the news. Do not delay on the way, understood?"

"I'm going now!"

He turned and left immediately.

"Jiao Ping, Hu Liang, you two go to mining tunnels two and four respectively. Hurry back!"

"Yes!" Without further ado, they each applied the Wind-Walking Technique and sped toward their targets.

The lean youth scanned the crowd one last time. "The rest of you, return to your respective patrol areas. Watch out for unfamiliar cultivators!

...Do not be careless!"

Then, the lean youth also applied the Wind-Walking Technique and rushed directly toward mining tunnel number five.