Chapter 64
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Chapter 64: Assistance
Ten feet beneath the surface.
In the lengthy passage, Wang Chen diligently dug forward.
Large chunks of earth and stone were excavated with specially designed tools, then vanished without a trace.
Once the storage bag, with a capacity of one cubic foot, was filled with dirt, Wang Chen paused to employ the Earth and Stone Technique, transforming the newly excavated cave walls into robust, thick rock walls.
He then ascended to the surface to empty the storage bag.
This cycle repeated, and the tunnel extended further and further.
This tunnel linked to the previously constructed hidden chamber, and according to Wang Chen’s plan, its exit was situated in a forest approximately six or seven hundred meters from his home.
However, it wasn’t a genuine escape route.
Lu Defang’s sudden appearance had instilled a severe case of "paranoia" in Wang Chen.
He felt that the "doomsday fortress" he had previously conceived was not as secure as he had anticipated.
Consequently, Wang Chen revised his plans.
He needed to continue digging downward for several more meters to create a second or even third hidden chamber.
Layer upon layer, a cunning rabbit has three burrows, real and fake!
As for the tunnel he was currently digging, it served as a temporary escape route, but later it would be used to confound enemies.
Moreover, he planned to excavate a few more tunnels like this one.
He would create a labyrinth!
Thus, if he encountered an insurmountable danger, Wang Chen could hide underground and be pursued by formidable enemies, then the hard work he invested now would be the foundation for his future escape, making it entirely worth his time and effort.
Crash!
Suddenly, the pickaxe struck a hard object.
Wang Chen pushed aside some soil and discovered that a large stone seemed to be buried in front of him, obstructing his path.
Without hesitation, Wang Chen raised his hand and unleashed a "Turn Fossil to Mud" spell, intending to force his way through.
There was no way to change direction; no matter how hard the stone was, it could not withstand the destructive power of the advanced level Earth and Stone Technique!
Under the effect of his magical power, the originally hard rock body instantly became soft.
Wang Chen effortlessly dug it open.
However, what he did not anticipate was that the next strike of the pickaxe actually hit nothing!
The soil collapsed, revealing a dark tunnel.
Hmm?
Wang Chen was momentarily stunned.
He quickly grabbed the Obsidian Lamp and shone it around, discovering that the tunnel was long and narrow.
The walls were distinctly solidified with the Earth and Stone Technique.
Whoa!
Wang Chen forcefully raised his hand and slapped his own head.
If he wasn’t mistaken, this tunnel must have been dug out by his neighbor, Old Sun.
The exit was most likely in that forest over there.
What a coincidence!
Wang Chen was almost speechless—how could this happen?
It was almost like winning the lottery!
While feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation, he also felt a strange sense of guilt, as if he had accidentally stumbled upon someone else’s big secret.
After a moment of thought, Wang Chen retreated.
He took some dirt from his storage bag to fill the passage and then solidified it back into rock.
After stepping back about ten meters, Wang Chen started digging again.
This time, he planned to pass beneath Old Sun’s tunnel.
After all, the forest was vast, and opening a few more exits wouldn’t be a problem.
Dig! Dig! Dig!
He felt like a diligent groundhog, tirelessly burrowing through the dark underground.
Days passed one after another.
When the cold wave from the north began to sweep across the Tianyun Mountain range, the weather grew increasingly chilly.
It was then that Wang Chen’s underground construction project finally reached a temporary pause.
The foundational work for the redesigned "Doomsday Bunker" was now complete.
However, there were still many details that needed to be addressed.
Nevertheless, Wang Chen was quite pleased with the progress.
He hoped this would help him weather the winter safely!
Since the rice planted in early autumn was nearing maturity, he began spending more time tending to the spirit fields.
Lately, Wang Chen had no extra income, and spirit stones were hard to come by.
The winter rice harvest was crucial.
One day, while Wang Chen was working in the fields, a horse-drawn cart approached along the path.
The burly man driving the cart called out loudly, “Immortal Master Wang!”
Wang Chen raised his hand and smiled, “Brother Wei.”
It was none other than Wei Xiong.
Since their two encounters, this innate martial artist from afar had been visiting regularly.
He often helped Wang Chen with farm work.
Of course, Wang Chen didn’t let Wei Xiong work for free; in return, he brought things for him from the city.
Although Yunshan City was open to loose cultivators, entering the city required a fee of one spirit fragment.
For many loose cultivators, this fee was undoubtedly a heavy burden.
As an Outer Sect Disciple of the Yunyang Sect, Wang Chen could enter the city for free, making it a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Through these interactions, the two had become quite familiar with each other.
Wang Chen found Wei Xiong’s temperament to his liking, and having another friend was a pleasant addition.
However, Wei Xiong seldom brought his sister along.
But today, Wang Chen noticed the girl sitting in the back seat of the cart.
Wang Chen approached and invited the siblings into his home.
“Cough! Cough!”
Wei Xiong coughed twice and said to the girl, “A-Lian, stay by the cart and don’t wander off. I need to discuss something with Immortal Master Wang.”
The younger sister nodded, appearing obedient and well-behaved.
It was then that Wang Chen learned her name was A-Lian—a pleasant name indeed.
Once they entered the house and took their seats, Wei Xiong, as if having made a significant decision, spoke in a deep voice, “Immortal Master Wang, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with.”
Seeing his serious expression, Wang Chen asked earnestly, “What is it?”
Wei Xiong pulled out a small, dusty bag from his chest and placed it before Wang Chen.
Wang Chen was momentarily stunned: “A storage bag?”
He was all too familiar with it; it was the storage bag most commonly used by cultivators.
“Yes,” Wei Xiong licked his lips and said, “I’d like you to help me open it. You can pick any two items from inside!”
There was a hint of nervousness in Wei Xiong’s gaze.
Wang Chen smiled and said, “This is simple. I’ll open it for you, but you can keep the items.”
Storage bags were magical tools, and only cultivators who had trained their spiritual power could fully open them.
But since Wei Xiong was an innate martial artist, he couldn’t access the items inside unless he forcibly damaged the storage bag.
However, doing so would completely ruin the bag, and the items that fell out might also be damaged.
Wang Chen had no idea where Wei Xiong had obtained this storage bag, but he knew that Wei Xiong must be reluctant to destroy it, which was why he sought his help.
It was understandable, given the internal struggle he must have faced.
As the saying goes, wealth stirs the heart, and it was hard to tell what treasures might lie within an ownerless storage bag.
Moreover, the bond between the two was not particularly deep.
Wang Chen felt that Wei Xiong had a great deal of trust in his character, or perhaps he was willing to take a gamble.
Wang Chen reached for the storage bag, infused it with spiritual power to unlock it, and began to remove the items one by one.
Spirit stones, spiritual rice, jerky, talismans, weapons, and clothes…
A whole assortment of items!
Wang Chen handed the emptied storage bag back to Wei Xiong: “Everything’s here.”
Wei Xiong’s expression was somewhat peculiar: “Aren’t you going to ask where I got this storage bag?”
Wang Chen replied, “Where did you get it?”
The two stared at each other, both breaking into laughter.
