Martial Cultivator
chapter-31

The few people soon arrived in front of a warehouse in the northeast direction of the mine.

This place was used to accumulate Xuanming Stones in the past. It was built in front of a precipice and made of boulders. It was clearly quite sturdy.

In the past, there should have been many guards here. But now, not a soul could be seen.

Guo Xi stopped in front of the warehouse and looked around.

Yan Ruoshui stopped and glanced at Chen Chao without leaving any traces. While Chen Chao was sizing up the surroundings, a little curious.

Previously, he went back and forth more than once in front of that mining hole and failed to find any abnormalities. Only afterward, did he leave somewhat reluctantly. But he was very clear that this quarry definitely held a secret.

When he saw Guo Xi and the rest cast their secret arts over there, he virtually already confirmed this.

However, these few young qi refiners could find it, but Chen Chao did not have that ability.

Actually, Chen Chao would sigh a bit every time he thought of this.

The path of a martial artist was seriously too arduous.

Guo Xi stood in front of the warehouse, but he was not in a hurry to make a move. Instead, he looked at Yan Ruoshui who was by the side, and said with a faint smile, "I'll have to trouble Fairy Yan."

Yan Ruoshui took a look at the warehouse. Without hesitation, her two hands formed a complicated hand seal in front of her. Then, streams of blue light slowly converged behind her. Then, an armored immortal appeared. That armored immortal was several dozen feet high, its aura like the abyss. It seemed to be from ancient times, filled with the scent of archaicness and years.

This was one of the secret arts of qi refiners. It was called Spirit Exorcism and it achieved the same wondrous effect as another lineage of qi refiners that reared demons to battle via different means. However, this Spirit Exorcism formed a contract with some wandering remnant souls between heaven and earth. Through secret arts that were unique to qi refiners, they would make up the three spiritual and seven physical souls for these wandering souls so that they would have the possibility of reincarnation. During this period, these wandering souls had to serve their host.

If cultivators failed to reincarnate after death but were also not completely eradicated, they would naturally become wandering souls.

Yan Ruoshui's armored immortal was once a previous dynasty's great general before his death. He had a powerful cultivator. After being summoned by Yan Ruoshui at this time, he received an indication from his host and a fist suddenly smashed toward that warehouse.

With a loud bang, the warehouse that was made of boulders collapsed.

Dust flew all over the place.

Chen Chao looked at this scene. When he looked at Yan Ruoshui again, he felt a little more apprehensive.

Guo Xi arrived next to Chen Chao and said with a slight smile, "This Fairy Yan is from the southern qi refiner sect, South Heaven Sect. Their lineage of qi refiners is most adept in Spirit Exorcism. Virtually everyone in their sect has one, it's extremely hard to deal with."

"This armored immortal is Great General Fen Wu from the previous dynasty. When he was alive, he was a fifth-realm martial artist."

Chen Chao was taken aback and in hindsight, "The means of Immortal Masters are truly amazing."

He glanced at Guo Xi, wanting to speak but swallowing the words back.

Guo Xi asked, "You want to ask where I'm from?"

Chen Chao chuckled and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm just curious. Seeing how brilliant Immortal Master is, I presume that you won't be worse than this fairy."

Guo Xi smiled and said softly, "My sect is also a lineage of qi refiners. In fact, we can stand up to the South Heaven Sect as an equal too. But the sect that I'm in has researched destiny quite a bit. If we really fight, we aren't inferior to their South Heaven Sect."

Chen Chao shook his head and said, "Immortal Master is too modest."

Guo Xi pointed to that pair of apprentice brother and sister over at the other side and said, "These two are nothing remarkable. They are from a small sect, there's nothing to pay attention to."

Chen Chao took a look at the warehouse over there. Currently, the dust had yet to dissipate. After retracting his sight, Chen Chao lowered his voice and said, "Immortal Masters shouldn't be here for something as simple as looking for some uncommon stones, right?"

If they wanted to look for those Xuanming Stones that were not yet mined, they could just go to those mining holes that had been mined. Why was there a need to destroy this warehouse here?

Guo Xi shook his head and said calmly, "This mine has the stones that we want, but it won't be in those harvested mining holes. Those Xuanming Stones outside don't cost much skygold currency. What we're looking for is naturally not those things."

After saying that, Guo Xi looked at Chen Chao again and said, "Are you worried that we didn't tell your superior what we're doing and that you'll get into major trouble afterward?"

Chen Chao hurriedly shook his head and said in a low voice, "Whatever Immortal Masters want to do, just go ahead, I'll just take it as if I didn't see it. This place is already an abandoned mine, what amazing things can there be?"

Guo Xi patted Chen Chao's shoulder. Then, he said in astonishment, "Your physique seems pretty good. You must have spent quite the effort to temper your body, right?"

Chen Chao smiled bitterly and said, "The path of a martial artist is a slow grind in the first place. My aptitude is lacking and my paltry salary can't buy any good medicinal herbs either. I'm afraid that it's hopeless for me to attain the second-realm in martial arts in this lifetime."

Guo Xi waved his hand with a smile and said, "You shouldn't be so unduly humble. Your northern army has many great generals whose cultivation realms are extraordinarily high. Martial artists at that realm, forget about qi refiners, probably even sword cultivators might not dare to approach them too."

"How can I dare to be equated to those great generals? I only hope that I'll be able to sit in Warden Li's position sometime in my lifetime and that would already be amazing."

Chen Chao's eyes held hope, his face full of envy.

Guo Xi stopped talking, he just looked toward the warehouse over there.

At this moment, the dust dispersed and the warehouse had already become ruins. But, a mining hole the size of a human was revealed behind the warehouse.

With one glance, Chen Chao knew in his heart that this was that mining hole that he saw on the county government file. It was just that he could not find it before.

It was true that there was a mining hole here and it was intentionally covered up with a warehouse. Actually, it already indicated a lot of problems.

At this moment, the armored immortal behind Yan Ruoshui slowly dispersed and disappeared.

Guo Xi looked at Yan Ruoshui and praised, "Fairy Yan indeed has excellent abilities!"

Yan Ruoshui smiled slightly and did not speak.

Chen Chao suddenly said, "Since Immortal Masters want to go down, then I'll wait here for Immortal Masters."

Guo Xi turned his head and said with a faint smile, "It doesn't matter, go down together. It wasn't easy for you to lead us over either. If we find some nice things, you'll get a share."

Hearing Guo Xi say so, Chi Ganquan furrowed his brows and wanted to speak.

Yan Ruoshui interjected, "Fellow Daoist Guo is right, go in together, Warden Chen. We're bound to find some good stuff along the way."

Seeing that even Yan Ruoshui had spoken up, Chi Ganquan who was about to speak before immediately stopped.

Chen Chao hesitated for a moment before saying with a nod, "Since Immortal Masters are so kind, I'll have to thank Immortal Masters."

Guo Xi nodded his head, very satisfied.

After that, Guo Xi took out a snow-white bead. No idea what secret technique he used, this bead floated on its own, emitting a dazzling white light not far in front of him. It was sufficient to illuminate the mining hole.

"Fairy Yan, please go ahead. Fellow Daoist Chi will be last."

Guo Xi decided on the order of entering the hole with a few casual words.

Yan Ruoshui did not hesitate at all and walked right in.

After that, Guo Xi turned to Chen Chao and said with a slight smile, "Warden Chen."

Chen Chao secretly cussed, but he still smiled as he lowered his head and walked in.

Guo Xi followed closely behind.

The last was Chi Ganquan two people.

……

……

Upon entering this mining hole, Chen Chao could not help but be shocked. This mining hole was different from those mining holes that he entered before. It was much wider and could totally accommodate someone to advance with ease. The size of those previous mining holes could virtually only be entered by bending over.

Before taking a few steps, a number of forked paths appeared in front, leading to different places respectively.

Every time Yan Ruoshui encountered these forked paths, she would have to take the small flags from before out of her bosom and plant one at the entrance of each cave.

Only after waiting for one of the flags to move without any wind, would she enter that cave and continue moving forward.

And each wait would take at least 15 minutes.

And Guo Xi who was behind him did not show any impatience either. He was very patient.

Chen Chao observed the surroundings without batting an eyelid. He was long already clear that this mining cave was definitely not as simple as being used for mining Xuanming Stones.

The few people had walked for goodness knows how long and experienced god knows how many forked roads. When they reached another forked road, Yan Ruoshui took the small flags out. After waiting for 15 minutes, there were still no small flags that moved without wind. Only then, did she say softly, "Fellow Daoist Guo."

Guo Xi casually pointed at a cave on the left and said with a smile, "Looks like the South Heaven Sect's secret art isn't that useful either."

Yan Ruoshui smiled slightly and just stepped into it.

The few people continued walking in the cave.

Chen Chao silently calculated the distance and thought to himself: This is already much longer than those mining caves that I've entered. It's at least the length of three mining caves already.

It was unknown how long had passed.

Yan Ruoshui stopped.

The scenery before their eyes was already completely different.

This place became very spacious, like a great hall. And there was a green pond of water in the middle. Further afield, there were countless passageways that lead in all directions.

Guo Xi passed by Chen Chao and arrived in front of the pond. After squatting down, he extended his finger, dabbed it, then raised his head and asked, "What does Fairy Yan think?"

Yan Ruoshui wanted to speak but swallowed the words back.

While Guo Xi muttered away on his own, "This is the right place. We just need to find the correct path, then we'll be able to find that place."

Chi Ganquan's eyes stirred, but he still did not speak.

"What methods does Fairy Yan have? When are you waiting for if you're not using it now?"

Guo Xi smiled and said, "Could it be that South Heaven Sect just gave these few lousy flags?"

Yan Ruoshui was expressionless, "South Heaven Sect is naturally inferior to Three Streams Manor. We'll have to depend on Fellow Daoist Guo's divine abilities."

Guo Xi smiled and said, "Fairy Yan, do you really have no solutions?"

Yan Ruoshui did not speak.

Right at this moment, Chen Chao suddenly felt a stirring in his heart. An inner-voice sounded out in his mind, "Warden Chen, are you aware that your life is in danger?"

It was a woman's voice.

Chen Chao frowned and did not respond.

"Do you take it that the Guo Xi in front of you is some good guy? Do you believe that when we arrive at our destination, you'll die there?""

Chen Chao was silent.

Yan Ruoshui continued to say with inner-voice, "I'm not his match by myself. But if you and I join hands, we should have the strength to fight. After he's dead, the magic artifacts and skygold currency on him will all belong to you. I also won't tell anyone about this matter."

Chen Chao still did not give any response.

"Apart from this, I can even give you a pretty good magic artifact and a large sum of skygold currency..."

Hearing this, Chen Chao began to struggle a little.

Yan Ruoshui frowned imperceptibly, but she noticed Guo Xi looking at her, so she could only terminate her thoughts.

At the same time, ripples stirred in Chen Chao's heart. Guo Xi's voice sounded out, "I want to kill this b!tch in front of me now."