Ba Mingyang brushed back his hair, his expression lively and animated.
"You wouldn't know, my friend. Last year when I rushed here, the spirit vein had already been monopolized by the cultivators from Immortal-Knocking Town and Immortal-Worshipping Town nearby. If you're not from the cultivator clans of those towns, you don't even have the right to mine spirit stones."
"Oh? So Ba Daoyou, you haven't entered the spirit vein at all?"
"That's right. I can only find some odd jobs around the spirit vein to earn a few insignificant spirit stones."
When he said this, Ba Mingyang showed no sign of complaint.
"In my opinion, those cultivators who disappeared with the spirit vein are probably gone for good. The collapse of a spirit vein is extremely dangerous, a near-death experience."
He was fortunate enough to escape with his life.
Listening to Ba Mingyang's story, Zhu Xiaosuo couldn't help but marvel.
Some people really do have tougher fates.
Ba Mingyang was on his way to meet the King of Hell, only to be pushed back to the world of the living by the local cultivators.
Zhu Xiaosuo sighed, "I wonder if we can rescue the fellow cultivators below."
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"Rescue? Zhu Daoyou, since we seem to have a connection, there's something I should tell you."
"Please, Ba Daoyou, go ahead."
"When we rescue people, the Immortal Sect doesn't offer any compensation. There's no need to risk our lives; just make a show of it on the outskirts. Haven't you noticed that despite being here for so long, hardly anyone is actually digging?"
"This..."
"Life and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor are in the hands of heaven. If you dig deep and another spirit collapse happens, taking you with it, what will you do?"
"Ba Daoyou makes a valid point."
"Zhu Daoyou, you're new to the path of immortality, and many things are still too pure for you. I was the same back in the day. After decades of experience, I've gained some insights."
"Please, Ba Daoyou, share more of your wisdom."
"When we work for the Immortal Sect, we exert as much effort as the pay we receive. As long as we can face our 'salary' without guilt, that's enough."
When he mentioned the word 'salary,' Ba Mingyang rubbed his fingers together.
Zhu Xiaosuo nodded in understanding.
Indeed, if they won't even give him a meal, is it worth risking his life?
"Enlightening."
For his first Immortal Sect examination, Zhu Xiaosuo was determined to make a breakthrough.
Since they were both sect members, they could have closer interactions.
Ba Mingyang didn't look down on Zhu Xiaosuo's cultivation level, as he had also progressed step by step from the First Layer of the Rebirth Stage.
The two continued their conversation for a long time.
But from midday to sunset, there was still little progress in finding the missing spirit vein.
In the center, a group of cultivators with extraordinary auras continued their orderly discussion.
"Ba Daoyou, who are those seniors?"
"The one in the middle with the pig kidney face is the City Lord of the City of Seeking Immortality, Zhu Jingyue, who shares your surname. The one stretching his neck like a turtle is the City Lord's chief advisor, Chen Guisou. The other one, who looks dignified, is Ba Shanyue, the Immortal Sect's overseer in the City of Seeking Immortality."
Listening to Ba Mingyang's introduction, Zhu Xiaosuo was speechless.
Describing important figures as "pig kidney face" and "turtle-like."
If they heard this, their heads would surely be at risk.
Though disrespectful, it was quite accurate.
As for the last one, who he described as "dignified," Zhu Xiaosuo thought he was just average.
If not for the aura boost from standing in the center, he was at best a shabby old man like Zhuang Yun.
Wait, this overseer also has the surname Ba?
Zhu Xiaosuo cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask, Ba Daoyou, is Senior Ba Shanyue...?"
"My father."
"No wonder he's so dignified!"
"Zhu Daoyou, you have a good eye."
With a powerful figure by his side, Zhu Xiaosuo immediately turned into a sycophant.
"Of course, Brother Ba, I rely on these eyes to navigate the world. As soon as I arrived, I sensed your father's extraordinary presence. Even in silence, his casual demeanor commands respect and admiration."
Zhu Xiaosuo took another careful look at Ba Shanyue.
Indeed, he had the same dead fish eyes.
Like father, like son.
"My father is quite charming. I just don't care about appearances. If I dressed up, anyone would say I have my father's grace."
"I can imagine Brother Ba being very charming. However, Brother Ba's natural and unrestrained demeanor transcends appearances, reaching a higher realm!"
Encouraged by Zhu Xiaosuo's praise, Ba Mingyang became more talkative.
"I just don't want to rely on my family background, so I ventured out to mine and train on my own. Zhu Daoyou, you must keep this a secret for me."
"Of course, of course, it's a secret! Brother Ba is truly self-reliant, a model for us all! Others would surely rely on their family background and live a life of debauchery. How could they, like Brother Ba, start from scratch?"
"Born to my parents, understood by Zhu Xiaosuo."
"Not at all, I've always admired Ba Daoyou."
"Looks like we won't be starting work today. Let's find a place to rest."
"What? We're not searching for the spirit vein today?"
"Zhu Daoyou, look at the cultivators around us. Is anyone in a hurry to rescue people?"
Zhu Xiaosuo glanced around and saw everyone chatting in groups, relaxed and cheerful.
"Zhu Daoyou, put yourself in their shoes. Without benefits, who would be eager for a mission? Just showing up is enough; how much you do depends on fate."
"Aren't the City Lord and your father worried?"
"Oh, are you concerned the blame will fall on my father and the City Lord?"
"Won't it?"
"Rest assured. The disappearance of the spirit vein took over a hundred cultivators. If they all perish, the sect's disciplinary action will first target the cultivator responsible for organizing the excavation, second the Mission Elder who issued the rescue mission, and third the sect cultivator responsible for the area."
After speaking, Ba Mingyang gave Zhu Xiaosuo a meaningful smile.
"Coincidentally, the top three responsible for this spirit vein disappearance are the same person."
The same person?
So, the spirit vein was organized by the Mission Elder of the City of Seeking Immortality, who is also the sect cultivator responsible for the area?
Oh my goodness.
If something really goes wrong with this spirit vein, he's going to take all the blame.
Ba Mingyang's dead fish eyes then flashed with a hint of malice.
"Sun Qingde, that old man, is a master of power and wealth. It's time for him to bleed a little."
It seems Sun Qingde is the unfortunate one.
All the cultivators present, including Zhuang Yun, wore expressions of eager anticipation for the drama.
Zhu Xiaosuo hadn't entered the Immortal Sect or undertaken any sect missions.
But through his conversation with Ba Mingyang, he learned how the City of Seeking Immortality differed from other cities.
In other cities, regardless of passing the Immortal Sect examination, the gifted spirit stones didn't need to be repaid.
But in the City of Seeking Immortality, if cultivators didn't pass the examination, they were forced into missions to repay their debts.
In other cities, after opening their veins, cultivators were gifted ten basic spells.
But in the City of Seeking Immortality, only four basic spells were given, and the rest had to be earned through missions.
In other cities, if a cultivator fell during a mission, their children would receive a Vein Opening Pill and the mission's reward.
But in the City of Seeking Immortality, if a cultivator fell, the mission was deemed a failure, and only a Vein Opening Pill was given.
All of this was Sun Qingde's doing.
The City of Seeking Immortality had long suffered under Sun Qingde.