Chapter 34: One Year Later

One year later.

Tomorrow would mark the final day of Cheng Buzheng's first year at the spirit stone mine.

Inside the secret chamber.

Cheng Buzheng sat cross-legged on the ground. As he slowly ceased his cultivation, the spiritual energy gathered around his body dissipated rapidly. He opened his bright, black-and-white eyes and tossed aside the irregular stone he had been holding.

He performed a silent calculation in his mind, resting his chin on his right hand as he fell into deep thought.

"Tomorrow marks exactly one year since I arrived at the spirit stone mine. After that, I will have twelve days of rest!

Returning to the sect immediately won't be enough time, but... the daily necessities of so many cultivators certainly aren't something they carry on their persons.

After all, cultivators are a special kind of resource. With so many of them gathered here, it's impossible that people would remain indifferent upon meeting them!

There must be something like a cultivator's trading market nearby.

With twelve full days of rest, I will definitely be able to find a market, and such a location certainly won't be a secret; many people should know about it!

In the past, I was afraid two days of rest wouldn't be enough, which is why I waited until today. I hope the market doesn't disappoint me!"

Cheng Buzheng pondered silently, and then, his mind sank...

Master of the Heavens Jade Disk: Cheng Buzheng Realm: Qi Refinement Level 3 Tier 1 Cultivation Method: Mid-grade (Exquisite) Red Fire Manual + Tier 1 Spells: Low-grade (Ultimate) Amethyst Polishing +, Low-grade (Ultimate) Earth Escape Technique + Spiritual Power: 10

He was not surprised to see that his panel still showed ten points of spiritual power. Almost all the raw spirit stones he had "scavenged" had been absorbed through his cultivation, but he had left behind enough raw ore to meet his required quota.

Otherwise, his cultivation would not have progressed so rapidly; it was all built up from those raw spirit stones.

If he had the assistance of medicinal pills, his cultivation speed would have skyrocketed even further; perhaps he could have broken through to Qi Refinement Level 3 in just half a year.

Though it sounded wonderful, he knew it was impossible. The inspections at the mine entrance were so strict, and his "golden finger" lacked storage capabilities. It was quite a pity when he thought about it.

Cheng Buzheng thought somewhat greedily, then his gaze swept across the secret chamber.

Seeing an empty basket in the corner, he waved his sleeve. A surge of magic power transformed into an invisible hand, scooping the raw spirit stones from the corner into the basket. Like hail falling from the sky, the basket was filled in the blink of an eye.

Only then did he stop.

Afterward, Cheng Buzheng closed his eyes slightly, gripped a piece of raw spirit stone, and began to cultivate once more.

***

The next day.

Sitting in the secret chamber, Cheng Buzheng opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them. He stood up, shouldered the heavy basket of raw spirit stones, and gripped his mining pick.

Looking at the pick in his hand, he thought to himself

"The basket is somewhat useful for carrying raw spirit stones when I'm scavenging.

But this pick is completely useless. Since arriving at the mine, I haven't dug a single piece of raw spirit stone; I'm just putting on an act.

In the future, if cultivation becomes tedious, perhaps I can use it for exercise. After all, scavenging is my main occupation, while mining spirit stones is my hobby—they are two entirely different concepts, and the two must not be confused!"

Suppressing his strange thoughts, Cheng Buzheng walked toward the rock wall. A layer of yellow spiritual light enveloped him before he merged into the stone.

Arriving at the junction between the main tunnel and the eight branch tunnels, he extended a strand of divine sense. Seeing no one nearby, a flash of yellow light occurred, and Cheng Buzheng appeared at the end of the main tunnel.

He feigned the appearance of having worked hard for a long time, keeping his head down and his back bent. Gripping the pick in his right hand with a numb expression, he silently walked up the main tunnel.

Cheng Buzheng had been acting this way for a year; he had gained much insight into the nuances and was quite experienced.

As he walked silently through the pitch-black main tunnel, the "clink-clink" sounds gradually grew quieter.

After walking for a long time, he saw a glimmer of light, knowing he was not far from the tunnel exit.

When Cheng Buzheng reached the tunnel entrance, he saw a rather thin young man. In front of the man sat a square-shaped magical tool that appeared to be forged from red refined iron.

He stepped forward, approached the thin youth, and with practiced ease, poured the full basket of raw spirit stones into the square magical tool.

Cheng Buzheng cupped his fists and said, "Senior Brother Wei... thank you for the trouble!"

Senior Brother Wei, who was sitting on the ground, opened his eyes. He glanced at the square magical tool and the scale compass on its side, then smiled.

"So it's Little Junior Brother! You've done a good job with your tasks.

You've met your monthly quota every time, and your cultivation is progressing rapidly—you've even broken through to Qi Refinement Level 3!

Junior Brother... what's your secret? Tell me... I certainly won't let you suffer for it!"

Hearing this, Cheng Buzheng's heart skipped a beat. He immediately put on a helpless expression.

"Senior Brother Wei, you must be joking... You only know one part of the story, not the whole. If it weren't for the delays caused by the mining tasks, I would have reached Qi Refinement Level 3 long ago.

Before coming here, I was at the peak of Qi Refinement Level 2, ready to break through at any moment. Who knew... I'd only just broken through now!

If the spirit stones earned from mining tasks weren't so plentiful, I wouldn't have come here to mine!"

He knew that Senior Brother Wei's inquiry meant he had already entered the sights of someone observant.

There was no way around it. Breaking through from Level 2 to Level 3 could still be explained for now, but later on, it wouldn't be. It seemed he would have to find a way to mask his cultivation.

A look of understanding appeared on Senior Brother Wei's face, as if he believed him.

"I see. My own cultivation progress has been slow lately; please forgive my intrusion!

I hope you don't mind, Junior Brother~"

"It's only natural! You're overthinking it, Senior Brother!" Cheng Buzheng replied, acting as if he didn't care at all.

Cheng Buzheng knew that Senior Brother Wei only believed him on the surface. Deep down, he was surely still suspicious and would likely observe him secretly in the future. Once he was certain, the strike would be like a thunderbolt.

With Senior Brother Wei's late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation, Cheng Buzheng would certainly be powerless to resist. Unless he found a method to conceal his cultivation during this trip, he would have no choice but to temporarily stop cultivating. However, once the mission ended, he would never again enjoy such generous cultivation resources.

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Cheng Buzheng felt a headache coming on.

"Here... this is your reward for this month!"

As he spoke, Senior Brother Wei took out two spirit stones and handed them to Cheng Buzheng.

Cheng Buzheng took the stones, examined them closely, and then carefully tucked them into his robes, deliberately showing a look of pleasant surprise. "Thank you... Senior Brother!"

Smiling, Senior Brother Wei waved his hand. "You may go. I still have work to do here!"

"Yes! I'll be going now, Senior Brother~"

As Cheng Buzheng walked away, Senior Brother Wei looked at his back and thought to himself

"Judging by how he acted just now, as if he had never seen spirit stones before... could it be that I'm overthinking it?

Hmm... I'll keep observing. Just observe..."

***

Carrying the basket in his left hand and the pick in his right, Cheng Buzheng arrived at the item inspection station. He placed the two spirit stones from his robes, the long-necked porcelain bottle containing fasting pills, his secret ring, the pick, and the basket on the inspection table.

After bidding farewell to the inspector, he went to the lead senior brother and cupped his fists. "Greetings, Senior Brother... sorry to trouble you!"

The lead senior brother said nothing. He tapped a point, and a strand of divine sense searched Cheng Buzheng's body thoroughly. With no issues found, he passed through safely.

Finally, he arrived at the last inspection station, where he saw the thin Senior Brother Hua. Hua was sitting in a chair with a beast-control compass on the table before him, and a bright gold Spirit-Seeking Mouse was perched on the table.

Seeing someone approach, Senior Brother Hua muttered a few words to the compass. In an instant, the mouse on the table turned into a streak of golden light and appeared before Cheng Buzheng.

After circling Cheng Buzheng once, it turned back into golden light, reappeared on the table, and let out a few "squeak, squeak" sounds toward the thin Senior Brother Hua.

After communicating with the mouse via the divine sense of the beast-control compass, Senior Brother Hua understood its meaning and waved his hand, signaling Cheng Buzheng to leave.

Seeing this, Cheng Buzheng went to the item collection area, packed his belongings, and after bidding farewell to the inspector, finally completed the entire process.

Before long, he arrived at the "Storage Pavilion," retrieved his storage bag, and finally returned to his wooden hut.