Chapter 52: Secret Cultivators in the Mine
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The situation inside Red Mountain Mine was far beyond Ji You’s expectations. It wasn’t just miners within the cavern; women and children had also sought refuge here. It was said they had rushed in before the influx of Malignant Beings spilled from the Qiling Mountain Range.
When the hundreds of miners saw Ji You enter, sword in hand and exuding murderous intent, they shrank into the corners in fear. Among them, a man named Luo You, who appeared to be a supervisor or leader, stepped forward. This man, in his forties, was surprisingly a secret cultivator. Judging from the faint spiritual energy radiating from him, he had awakened his true spirit a few days ago.
There were others hidden in the shadows—a few men whose spiritual energy fluctuations betrayed their secret cultivation. This mine, the largest spiritual ore source in the Azure Clouds Dominion, supplied one-third of the spiritual stones consumed by cultivators. Its abundant spiritual energy allowed even ordinary miners to feel the innate true spirit within their bodies stirring.
However, because practicing the Immortal Way in secret was punishable by death, most dared not try. These desperate miners, however, had already decided to take their chances, clinging to a slim hope of survival.
“Immortal… Immortal Lord, what do you seek here?” Luo You stammered nervously. “We’re trapped here, but… we still have some food.”
[This one is bold. He might make a suitable hall master for my future stronghold,] Ji You mused as his thoughts wandered to his bandit aspirations.
Seeing Ji You remain silent, Luo You glanced at his pregnant wife hiding behind him. “We… we also have some spiritual stones we’ve mined. They’re yours if you want them.”
Food was essential for survival, and the spiritual stones represented a faint hope of cultivating enough to fight their way out. They had never expected anyone to rescue them. In the eyes of the Immortal Sects, the death of miners was insignificant. Once the Malignant Beings’ killing qi dissipated, the sects would simply bring in a new batch of workers.
“Do you wish to leave this place?” Ji You asked, his earlier plan of taking them out suddenly giving way to uncertainty. If they were merely ordinary miners, it would be a straightforward matter, but as secret cultivators, they now faced the same life-and-death choice he had once faced.
Luo You froze at the question, unsure how to respond, his inner turmoil evident.
“Are you aware that practicing cultivation without authorization is a capital crime?” Ji You’s voice was calm but carried weight.
Luo You knelt abruptly. “We’ve already resigned ourselves to death, Immortal Lord. We only beg for a bit of time to send our wives and children to safety.”
Ji You understood. These men knew the consequences but had chosen to awaken their true spirits anyway. Their plan was likely to fight off the Malignant Beings and escort their families out, even if it meant dying in the process. However, the presence of children and pregnant women turned their predicament into a death trap.
Turning to Yuan Chen, Ji You said, “Ask your questions first.”
Yuan Chen nodded and retrieved an Immortal Robe from his green jade gourd. Unlike the robes of the Heavenly Script Academy, this one was entirely yellow with a red collar and a four-legged cauldron embroidered on the back.
“Have any of you seen six people wearing robes like this?” he asked Luo You.
Luo You shook his head after a glance. “No, never.”
Yuan Chen pressed further, his tone impatient. “Think carefully! They might have passed through briefly or been escorted under duress.”
“No, we haven’t seen them,” Luo You confirmed.
“What about on New Year’s Day?” Yuan Chen asked. “Did anyone strange appear nearby—someone exuding killing qi like the Malignant Beings?”
Luo You pondered before replying, “That day, a swarm of Malignant Beings emerged from the mountains and killed the Immortal sect guards. We hid here and didn’t see anything else.”
Yuan Chen’s frustration grew. In his mind, the mine was an ideal location for the Pill Sect to refine pills. But with no evidence, his hopes were fading. The only possibility left was that his sister had been taken deeper into the mountains. However, blindly venturing there wasn’t wise.
Ji You tapped his own gourd, and with a flash of celestial aura, a mountain of grains appeared in the open area outside the mine. “I wanted to help you all escape, but it seems I cannot. This food, taken from the granary of Beisha Town, should last you a while.”
He added, “Continue cultivating. Perhaps you’ll find a way to survive. If you escape, head east. With some luck, you might avoid disciples of the Immortal Sects.”
Ji You then addressed Yuan Chen. “Let’s go. You’ve asked all you can. I’ll see you out of Beisha Town.”
Yuan Chen’s face was pale. “My sister must have been here. If she isn’t now, she’s likely been taken into the mountains.”
“You’re willing to risk your life for a guess?” Ji You asked sharply. “You ran away from home, didn’t you? I suggest you return and consult your family. Gather trustworthy upper-stage cultivators before making any rash decisions.”
“I can’t go back without knowing my sister’s fate!” Yuan Chen’s voice was strained.
Ji You sighed. “If they’ve captured her to modify pills, she won’t be in danger in the short term.”
“Are you sure?” Yuan Chen asked desperately.
Ji You tapped his temple. “This thing here can be useful sometimes.”
After a long silence, Yuan Chen flicked his fingers, summoning a square box to the ground. Inside were pills, originally intended as payment to enlist help from other Immortals. With no leads left, he pushed the box toward the miners and walked silently to the door.
Suddenly, Luo You’s wife spoke. “Those people in robes did come through here. They were escorted by men in cloaks.”
Luo You’s expression turned sharp, but his wife’s face was resolute. After a tense moment, he remained silent.
Yuan Chen froze, then turned to Ji You. “Ji Brother, two thousand taels, and I’ll pay in gold!”
“I’m at the peak of the lower three stages. I can’t go,” Ji You replied.
“I’ll give you everything I can. I just want to save my sister.”
Luo You hesitated before speaking. “If you’re going into the mountains, there’s a mine tunnel that leads closer to the interior.”
Ji You stared at the miners in disbelief. [Are you all part of Yuan Chen’s elaborate ploy to manipulate me? Why is it so hard to become a bandit?]
Yuan Chen added quietly, “My sister is very beautiful…”
Ji You shot him an incredulous look. “Not interested. I’ve seen the most beautiful already.”
“Then I’ll serve you instead…” Yuan Chen trailed off weakly.
“Have you even asked your sister if she’s okay with that?” Ji You countered.
Yuan Chen sighed in defeat. “Life is the most important thing. In this world, everything else is trivial compared to life and death.”
Ji You relented. “Add another thousand taels. My stronghold needs startup funds.”
“Deal!” Yuan Chen agreed immediately.
Turning back to Luo You, Ji You asked, “What do you know about the Qiling Mountains? Anything could be useful to us.”
After a glance at his wife’s silent nod, Luo You sighed. “Over the years, we’ve seen people entering and leaving the mountains often. We didn’t dare follow them, but we do know they weren’t just capturing robed individuals. They took many Immortal sect members as well.”
Luo You’s wife added softly, “And infants.”
“What?” Ji You turned sharply.
“For three years now, we’ve heard babies crying from the mountains. Some miners went to investigate but never returned,” she explained.
Ji You froze. Kuang Cheng had been searching for missing infants, tracing clues to the Wild Goose Relay Station. Ji You had asked around in Beisha Town, but everyone claimed ignorance. He had thought the trail had gone cold. Yet now, it had connected again.