Chapter 491

Chapter 491: Abnormalities in the Mines

After finishing his inspection, Steward Wu did not notice that, at the other end of the mine, Ji Yang had already opened a mine and started digging.

Physique +1

Spirit +1

Agility +1

Superior flying sword +1

…

Returning to the Demon Spirit Mine, Ji Yang showed a joyful expression, wielding his silver-white pickaxe that dug with impressive speed.

The ore beneath his feet was easily broken apart like tofu under the iron pick.

This was not even Ji Yang’s full strength; he was only displaying its inherent power.

Elder Chai had previously mentioned that it was best to nurture using the essence of the Way, and Ji Yang planned to do just that.

However, he hesitated about which essence to use for nurturing.

He first ruled out time essence, as he couldn’t use it without triggering the essence of War, let alone using it to nurture spiritual treasures.

That left him with a choice between the essence of War and the essence of the sword.

The essence of War had the highest condensation, and theoretically, it was the most suitable.

But considering that he would also need the spiritual treasure in his hand for battles in addition to mining, Ji Yang ultimately chose the essence of the sword!

Although the two forms differed, the iron pick could still emit sword energy, and with the sword essence’s enchantment, it would surely sweep away all obstacles.

As for the essence of War, he could easily trigger it himself.

In the following days, Ji Yang began an endless mining career, whether it was day or night.

Amid the mines, a lightly audible sound of mining could always be heard.

In his obsession, Ji Yang even forgot to return to the peak.

Compared to the rewards on the peak, he found the benefits of mining far greater.

After Ji Yang used the essence of the sword for nurturing, Little Gold also began to change gradually.

Though it appeared to be just an iron pick, it actually kept its sharpness hidden, only revealing a glimmer of its edge while mining.

A month later.

Panic spread among the people at the Demon Spirit Ore mountain. Whether it was Heaven Demon Sect disciples or the miners below, everyone wore furrowed brows and occasionally perked up their ears, as if quietly listening to something.

This unusual behavior quickly reached Steward Wu’s ears.

Upon hearing the reports from the miners below, Steward Wu frowned.

"You said that sometimes, at night, the sound of mining can be heard from the mines?"

"Yes."

"But are there disciples secretly mining inside at night?"

This was Steward Wu’s first reaction; the Demon Spirit Ore was a property of the sect, and it could not be lost.

"Reporting to Steward Wu, the disciples checked the mine after finishing work. Neither our Heaven Demon Sect disciples nor anyone else has been lost."

"Mm?"

Seeing that the disciple who came to report did not seem to be lying, Steward Wu’s brow furrowed slightly.

Since it was not their Heaven Demon Sect disciples, it must be outsiders?

However, this place is not far from the sect; which cultivator would dare come here to cause trouble? Even the previous incident at the Demon Spirit Ore mountain came from the inside out, not from an enemy invasion.

After thinking for a moment, Steward Wu felt that this was most likely something caused by a disciple of the sect, and they had clearly come prepared while he was away mining.

"I understand. For now, do not spread word of this. Let the others mine with all their might, and do not pay attention to this matter. Tonight, I will personally lead a team to investigate. If I find out who it is, hm!"

As he spoke the last part, Steward Wu’s tone turned cold.

The situation was still unclear; if news got out, how would he complete this month’s sect quota? Moreover, others would accuse him of poor management, leading to new troubles.

After he investigated tonight, he would naturally find out the truth.

If he identifies the Main Instigator, he would make sure that person knew what cruelty meant!

But before that, he needed to make thorough preparations to avoid letting that person escape.

Time quickly passed into the night. Due to the recent unusual happenings deep in the mine, the mining cultivators quickly distanced themselves, not daring to linger too long inside the mine.

As everyone left the mine one by one and gathered outside, Steward Wu’s figure soon appeared at the scene.

Although the disciple had made things clear during the day, Steward Wu still prepared to conduct a detailed inspection himself to avoid being fooled.

This time, Steward Wu was not alone; he had brought two of his brothers in the Spirit Transformation Stage, whom he specially recruited through personal connections.

In addition, he had opened all the Formations outside the Demon Spirit Ore to ensure nothing went wrong.

Moreover, he held a Transmission from a sect elder; if the situation turned bad and exceeded his expectations, he would instantly send for help.

Caution was the secret to his rising success!

After some inspection, a trace of worry appeared on Steward Wu’s face.

He initially thought it could be one of the disciples from the mountain, but after carefully verifying and comparing the list, he found that all the miners were present.

This made Steward Wu’s expression turn grave; he hoped it was the mountain disciples at fault, which would lessen the danger.

But now it seemed, clearly, it was not.

"I will be relying heavily on the two of you this time."

Steward Wu turned to the two Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators behind him.

"Younger brother need not be polite."

The two responded indifferently, considering the reward offered by this junior apprentice was not low. Given how close this place was to the sect, they did not mind lending a hand this time.

"Let’s go; let’s check inside."

With the promise of his two brothers, Steward Wu led several people forward, walking into the mine.

"Bang… bang… bang…"

As the group entered the mine, a dull sound echoed around them, fluctuating in tempo with occasional gaps.

"Steward Wu, did you hear that? It’s that sound!" one of the guard disciples beside them said in a worried tone.

They had checked before but had never discovered anything unusual.

"Shut up! I’m not deaf!" Steward Wu snapped in annoyance.

As everyone fell silent, the sound reverberated through the mine, once more reaching their ears. During the day, they might not have noticed it, but at night, it was distinctly clear.

As a miner with years of experience, Steward Wu quickly recognized it; this was definitely the sound of mining, just lighter than usual.

But whoever dared to steal from his Heaven Demon Sect’s Demon Spirit Ore better be prepared to face death.

"Alright, you all stay here. I will go in with my two brothers to investigate."

"If you encounter anyone coming out, remember to shout immediately!"

With that, Steward Wu turned and entered the mine with the two Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators, trying to locate the source through the sound.

The mine had many tunnels, and with just the three of them, they couldn’t cover it all.

But the three remained calm; the sect had a spell called Sound Localization that could enhance a cultivator’s five senses. Although they rarely used it, it was perfectly suited for the current situation.