Chapter 602: Deception
Chapter 602: Deception
A hundred li away from the teleportation array, there was a newly discovered large spirit mine controlled by the Demon Vortex Sect.
Several months ago, various cultivators had gathered, and the entire mine was heavily guarded.
It was only recently, with cultivators gradually leaving, that things returned to normal.
At this moment, in one of the mine's caves, nearly a hundred people were walking forward.
Most of them were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, but there was also a Core Formation Cultivator standing among them.
This Core Formation Cultivator of medium stature, with a black mole on his face, had just arrived at the mining area.
He clapped his hands and shouted, "Everyone, focus and pay extra attention. There will be a generous reward for those who mine high-grade Spirit Stones!"
As the Core Formation Cultivator's voice fell, another Foundation Establishment Cultivator immediately shouted, "Senior, we heard that the ninth cave mined a high-grade Spirit Stone yesterday. Is that true or not?"
"Of course, it's true!" The black-mole Core Formation Cultivator chuckled.
"However, they only mined two high-grade Spirit Stones near our eighth cave.
Most of the high-grade Spirit Stones should still be in our eighth cave.
Today, many people wanted to enter our eighth cave to mine, but if not for Elder Cao being my personal master's senior, this opportunity would not have fallen to us.
So, everyone, focus! This is a great chance to make a significant contribution!
Elder Cao is waiting for our good news in the mining area."
Hearing these words from the black-mole Core Formation Cultivator, the dozens of cultivators in the cave showed joy on their faces.
If what this Core Formation Cultivator said was true, then the chances of them mining high-grade Spirit Stones were indeed high.
Although they wouldn't get a share of the Spirit Stones, the rewards they could obtain would certainly not be meager.
Immediately, everyone found their mining spots and began to dig carefully.
However, none of them noticed that at this moment, a powerful Divine Sense was enveloping everyone.
Although everyone was mining as usual, the environment had quietly changed.
Among the many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, one cultivator stood up and slowly walked towards the cave entrance.
Yet, everyone seemed unaware.
"It's been a long time since I last used the Illusionary Divine Technique!"
Chu Ning's eyes flashed as he glanced at the cultivators mining ahead.
Ever since the Black Demon Tyrant had interfered with the teleportation array using the Gale Wind Dagger, Chu Ning had fled to this mine.
In his opinion, this place was the safest.
And indeed, the Demon Vortex Sect cultivators never imagined that Chu Ning would boldly stay right under their noses.
Chu Ning was well aware of the various disturbances outside over the past few months.
Initially, Chu Ning had hoped that after this storm passed, he could leave through the teleportation array again.
But when he heard the news that the teleportation array had been discovered, Chu Ning knew he had to find another way.
However, the subsequent news of the Cangxuan Sacred Turtle escaping the encirclement of several Demigod Cultivators took Chu Ning by surprise.
Chu Ning didn't know where the Cangxuan Sacred Turtle had teleported to, but it had indeed left, and Chu Ning had witnessed it himself.
With this news, Chu Ning understood their purpose.
"The Skylid Continent is so vast that unless I reveal myself, their search for me is nothing but a fool's dream."
Chu Ning scoffed at the idea.
However, he also realized that staying in the Skylid Continent was no longer suitable at this stage.
With the continent's major sects and even Demigod Cultivators keeping watch, unless he found a place to seclude himself, any activity would likely be detected.
Fortunately, Chu Ning had long planned to go to the North Cold Region.
Moreover, for Chu Ning, there were other options besides the teleportation array. He could fly across the Endless Sea, though it would be more resource-intensive.
This time, Chu Ning wasn't as prepared as when he had come from the West Alliance Continent, with ample supplementary pills and potions.
As for the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk, after years of consumption, there were still some left, but not many.
Such treasures were invaluable in life-or-death battles, and Chu Ning wasn't willing to exhaust them so easily.
So, Chu Ning set his sights on the Demon Vortex Sect.
Since the Demon Vortex Sect wouldn't let him leave through the teleportation array, they would have to bear the consequences.
After hiding in this mine for several months, Chu Ning had already grasped the situation.
He also understood why the Demon Vortex Sect had chosen to invest so much effort here.
It was because they had discovered, through special means, that this mine had a high probability of yielding high-grade Spirit Stones.
In the Endless Sea, where there is not a trace of spiritual energy, middle-grade spirit stones cannot be activated due to the lack of heavenly energy.
Even if refined, the speed is not enough to support the recovery of a cultivator's mana.
However, high-grade spirit stones are different. Although they cannot be refined as easily as in normal circumstances, the dense spiritual energy in high-grade spirit stones can still replenish a cultivator's mana.
Chu Ning had already experienced this before.
But the extraction of high-grade spirit stones is not easy either. Even with Chu Ning's spiritual awareness, it is impossible to find them directly.
Just yesterday, news came from the mine that high-grade spirit stones had been mined in Mine Number 9.
Subsequently, Chu Ning learned from the conversations of Nascent Soul Stage cultivators from the Demon Vortex Sect that these high-grade spirit stones were mined in an area right next to Mine Number 8.
It is highly likely that more high-grade spirit stones can be found in Mine Number 8.
This was why Chu Ning had infiltrated the mining team of Mine Number 9 today.
After all, the mining of high-grade spirit stone mines is different from ordinary spirit stone mines and requires more precision.
Even with Chu Ning's cultivation, it would be difficult for him to mine on a large scale alone.
At this moment, under the influence of Chu Ning's Illusionary Divine Technique, nearly a hundred people in the mine were trapped in an illusion, completely unaware of their surroundings.
Even the Core Formation cultivator was no exception.
Under Chu Ning's watchful eyes and the guidance of his illusions, they continued to mine spirit stones.
"It seems that after reaching this range, the quality of the spirit stones is indeed very high.
After half a session of mining, low-grade spirit stones became scarce, and most of them were middle-grade spirit stones.
Moreover, judging from the density of spiritual energy, the quality is getting higher and higher."
Chu Ning watched as the miners, who had been working for half a day, handed over middle-grade spirit stones to the Core Formation cultivator, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Another half a day passed, and suddenly, a Foundation Establishment cultivator shouted excitedly.
"High-grade spirit stone! I've mined a high-grade spirit stone!"
Upon hearing this, the black-spot Core Formation cultivator immediately walked over, excited.
Soon, a spirit stone with abundant spiritual energy appeared in his hand.
"Excellent! It's indeed a high-grade spirit stone! Liu Xiong, you'll be greatly rewarded after we leave!"
The others also became more careful in their search...
"Hall Master, I've also mined a high-grade spirit stone here!"
Before the black-spot Core Formation cultivator could finish speaking, another Foundation Establishment cultivator shouted excitedly from another location.
"Oh, let me see!"
The black-spot Core Formation cultivator quickly walked over. When he saw that it was indeed another high-grade spirit stone, he couldn't help but laugh.
The success of these two miners set a good example, and soon, within a short time, another cultivator mined a high-grade spirit stone.
In just one hour, the black-spot Core Formation cultivator had obtained ten high-grade spirit stones.
Even Chu Ning was surprised by this number.
High-grade spirit stones not only have an extraordinary effect in restoring and refining spiritual energy but are also essential for driving large-scale formations and magic treasures.
Even larger sects may not have ten high-grade spirit stones in their possession.
Initially, the Jiuhua Sect only had three or four high-grade spirit stones.
When facing the joint attack of the Great Dharmaraja Sect and the Beyond-World Demons, they almost couldn't bear the consumption of their formations.
But now, in just one hour, ten high-grade spirit stones had been mined.
This was beyond Chu Ning's expectations.
What surprised him even more was that he could clearly sense that the frequency of high-grade spirit stone discoveries was increasing.
Indeed, in the following hour, nearly thirty high-grade spirit stones were mined from this mine.
And in the next hour, another sixty were mined.
In just half a day, nearly a hundred high-grade spirit stones had been mined from this mine.
Only then did the mining speed of high-grade spirit stones gradually slow down.
Even in the following hour, not a single high-grade spirit stone was mined.
It was as if all the spiritual energy in the vein had been absorbed by the dense concentration of high-grade spirit stones.
"It seems we're almost done!"
Chu Ning, sitting in meditation in the cave, muttered to himself.
He prepared to retrieve the high-grade spirit stones from the black-spot Core Formation cultivator.
Just then, someone suddenly exclaimed.
"Hey, Hall Master, what's this?"
Upon hearing this voice, the black-spot Core Formation cultivator immediately walked over.
Chu Ning's attention was also drawn to the scene.
He saw that in front of this miner, embedded in the stone ore, was something resembling a spirit stone.
Unlike the milky white color of high-grade spirit stones, this stone was purple.
However, everyone could see that it was filled with abundant spiritual energy.
"Supreme-grade spirit stone!"
Before the black-spot Core Formation cultivator could speak, Chu Ning's eyes widened in surprise.
Supreme-grade spirit stones are the highest-grade spirit stones, and it is said that they no longer exist in this world.
Chu Ning had only read about them in ancient records.
If Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk is the best treasure for recovering mana, then supreme-grade spirit stones are the ultimate treasure for cultivation breakthroughs.
When cultivators encounter bottlenecks in their cultivation and require a massive amount of spirit energy, a single supreme-grade spirit stone can greatly accelerate their progress.
Chu Ning had encountered many treasures on his cultivation journey, but this was his first time seeing a supreme-grade spirit stone.
Just as Chu Ning realized this, the black-spot Core Formation Cultivator seemed unsure as well, and asked, "Could this be... the legendary supreme-grade spirit stone?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the black-spot cultivator immediately ordered, "Don't move, I'll go report to Elder Cao!"
Before he could finish his sentence, a hoarse voice echoed from within the cave, "What do you want to report? Have you found a high-grade spirit stone?"
The black-spot cultivator looked up and saw Elder Cao, his master's uncle, slowly walking into the mine.
A hint of joy flashed across his face.
He quickly stepped forward, his face full of pride, and said, "Master Uncle, we found high-grade spirit stones long ago, and there are over a hundred of them.
You came just in time; I just saw a purple spirit stone, and I suspect it's the legendary supreme-grade spirit stone."
Chu Ning, who had transformed into Elder Cao, already knew everything, but he feigned surprise and joy.
"Over a hundred high-grade spirit stones, and a supreme-grade one too?"
Chu Ning took the high-grade spirit stone from the other party and stored it in his storage bag.
As he walked towards the purple spirit stone, he said, "It's indeed a supreme-grade spirit stone."
As he got closer, Chu Ning could feel the essence of the supreme-grade spirit stone.
He immediately ordered, "Mine this spirit stone!"
Following Chu Ning's command, the cultivator who discovered the supreme-grade spirit stone carefully extracted it.
What delighted Chu Ning and the other Demon Vortex Sect cultivators even more was that as the spirit stone was mined, a purple glow reappeared from the soil.
"Another supreme-grade spirit stone!" the black-spot cultivator exclaimed in surprise.
Chu Ning didn't hesitate and ordered the mining to continue.
In succession, they unearthed three supreme-grade spirit stones!
Chu Ning had the miners dig deeper, but as they went further, the spirit energy gradually became thinner, and even ordinary low-grade spirit stones were no longer found.
Chu Ning realized that these three spirit stones were probably the limit.
However, at this moment, he turned to the black-spot cultivator and said, "Finding supreme-grade spirit stones is a big deal. I must report this news to the sect immediately.
Guard this mine well, and continue mining deeper; you might make more discoveries.
You have all made great contributions, rest assured, you will all be heavily rewarded when you return!"
"Master Uncle, don't worry! We will guard this mine until you return," the cultivators assured him.
Chu Ning nodded in approval.
Then, he left the mine.
As Chu Ning departed, the illusion created by the Divine Prohibition Technique disappeared.
However, at this moment, no one noticed anything amiss.
After all, the arrival of "Elder Cao" had been so natural and real.
Under the black-spot cultivator's command, the other cultivators continued mining deeper.
Meanwhile, Chu Ning, who had just left the mine, quietly made his way to Elder Cao's cultivation chamber.
For Chu Ning, who possessed the Divine Prohibition Technique and had White Spirit's assistance, even the decent seals within Elder Cao's cultivation chamber posed no obstacle.
On the contrary, these seals became his perfect cover.
Suddenly appearing before Elder Cao, Chu Ning immediately launched a divine sense attack.
Without waiting for the other party to react, he struck with the Annihilation Hammer.
The Demon Vortex Sect elder was also at the middle stage of Nascent Soul, but unfortunately, under Chu Ning's calculated strike, he was directly annihilated without any struggle.
After a short while, Chu Ning, under the cover of the Divine Prohibition Technique, left without anyone noticing.
Even the other Nascent Soul cultivator guarding the mine with Elder Cao was completely unaware.
None of the Demon Vortex Sect cultivators knew that the most valuable treasure from the spirit stone mine, for which they had worked so hard, had already been taken away by Chu Ning.
It wasn't until several days later that the Nascent Soul elder guarding the mine could no longer contain his curiosity about the harvest from the eighth mine. He went to Elder Cao's cultivation chamber, only to find that the elder had already left.
(End of Chapter)
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