I am a full-level celestial master, you let me enter the strange talk of rules?

Since it is possible to cultivate and accumulate power in secret and then escape, once a special ore that is beneficial to cultivation is discovered, the best option is no longer to obediently hand it over to win a charioteer's dog collar.

Instead, they should find a way to secretly hide away and use the time for self-cultivation, accumulating the resources to escape!
Different ways of thinking led to the chosen ones' main storylines diverging from the very beginning.

The middle-aged overseer was pleased with the burning desire in the miners' eyes, which represented control and drive.

He continued, his tone carrying an unquestionable command: "Today, we're going to Mine Area Seven!"

The term "Seventh Mining Area" was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing the flames of excitement that had just ignited in the eyes of many miners, replacing them with deeper fear and panic!
Despite their best efforts to restrain themselves, the slight trembling of their bodies and the instant pallor of their faces betrayed their inner terror.

Like most of the chosen ones, Zhang Yangqing immediately realized that this No. 7 mining area was definitely not a good place!

The level of danger far exceeds that of ordinary mining areas; otherwise, the family would not have so easily offered up the position of a charioteer as an incentive.

This confirms the consistent principle of "danger and opportunity coexist" in the world of ghost stories: to gain the opportunity to advance, one must risk one's life in the most dangerous places.

Zhang Yangqing's gaze swept over the terrified miners, his mind already racing, pondering deeper questions:

First: If I were lucky enough to find a special ore that could be used for cultivation, how could I hide it in full view of everyone and not be discovered?

This could be an opportunity, or it could be a death sentence.

There's no guarantee that other greedy miners won't kill each other in order to steal credit or the ore itself.

In a hellish place where resources are scarce and survival is paramount, threats from one's own kind are often more direct than the bizarre.

But Zhang Yangqing has a clear understanding of his own "luck".

Unless there are clear rules or special circumstances, the probability of finding rare ores by simply digging blindly and getting lucky is extremely low.

This leads to the second, more practical and likely question: How do I identify those miners who are lucky or have mastered some kind of skill and thus find special ores?

Furthermore, at the right time, what method should be used to seize it?
Zhang Yangqing never considered himself a soft-hearted person. In the world of supernatural tales, especially in such desperate situations, taking action against those of the same kind who might hinder one's survival or goals is a choice that many seasoned Chosen Ones would consider.

This might be your only chance to live. If you miss it, you'll most likely be stuck in this dark and hopeless hell forever.

This necessitates measures to "sanction" other miners.

Weapons? There were clearly none in this cell.

Props? None at the moment.

Poison? Perhaps we can find a way to concoct it.

If we can help the old miner remove the pollution, we can get some clues from him.

Or perhaps we could take advantage of the "rules" and environment here?

Of course, this is the method used by the more sophisticated chosen ones. Rules can eliminate some terrifying beings, and many people have used this method before.

Just as Zhang Yangqing was thinking rapidly, the talkative but clearly knowledgeable middle-aged foreman seemed to have finished his mobilization and waved to the side.

Immediately, two guards, also in uniform but slightly weaker and with their faces hidden in the shadows, stepped forward and used a special key to open the iron bars of the cell. "Come out! Line up! Hurry up!" the overseer urged impatiently.

The miners began to slowly and deliberately move out of their cells, like marionettes.

Their movements were stiff and slow, not because they were deliberately dawdling, but because the limitations of the chips in their minds prevented them from making quick and powerful movements, as if their bodies were bound by invisible chains.

Zhang Yangqing mingled in the crowd, imitating the others, lowering his head and slowly moving outwards.

The moment he stepped out of the cell, a guard pointed a palm-sized, square instrument that shimmered with a dark red light at his head.

An invisible ripple swept across.

Zhang Yangqing felt a slight heat coming from the foreign object in his mind. At the same time, a faint red halo suddenly lit up inside the heavy iron shackles on his wrists, with a set of jumping numbers appearing on it.

03:00:00.

The countdown starts.

Zhang Yangqing immediately understood the meaning of the countdown.

This is probably the safe time limit for each mining trip, or rather, the time the chip allows them to leave the fixed cell area.

If you don't return to the designated area, such as this cell or a rendezvous point, when the time comes, the chip in your mind may trigger some kind of punishment mechanism.

It could cause severe headaches, numbness, or even spontaneous explosion!
This thing has incredibly strong control; it's almost impossible to escape using only physical strength. You have to find a way to break free from or circumvent its control.

Just as he was being scanned and the countdown started, perhaps due to the interaction between the instrument's energy and the chip in his brain, Zhang Yangqing's vision suddenly blurred.

A few lines of distorted text appeared on his retina like a hallucination, then quickly faded away, but the content was clearly imprinted in his mind.

Miner's Survival Guidelines:

[Rule 1: When a miner's eyes start to turn consistently green, even if only for a moment, try to get closer. You will see what you want. Note that it's what you want, not necessarily what you need.]

[Rule 2: Rats are miners' early warning partners. Their sense of danger far surpasses that of humans. Remember, healthy rats will not bite unless provoked. If a rat attacks you, it means something is wrong.]

[Rule 3: Be careful of any spiders that appear on the rock face. Remember, every spider here is carnivorous and carries varying degrees of neurotoxins or contaminants; their webs may be invisible.]

[Rule 4: Whispers may sometimes be heard from deep within the mines. If you don't know the person making the whispers, do not answer, do not try to find the source of the sound, and especially do not repeat them.]

[Rule 5: If you get lost or encounter an insurmountable danger in a mine, try to find caves or crevices where bats once lived; you will be safe there temporarily.]

[Rule 6: Do not trust any sudden, complete light source that appears in the mine, especially light that makes you feel "warm" or "safe".]

[Rule 7: If a dark red, viscous, blood-like liquid flows from the ore during excavation, immediately stop digging and cover the area with at least three kilograms of gravel or soil. Then move at least thirty meters away and do not look back for ten minutes.]

[Rule 8: Deep within certain veins of Mine Area 7 lie things that do not belong to this world. Curiosity may bring opportunities, but it may also bring utter destruction. Proceed with caution.]

(End of this chapter)