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

The air here was filled with a stench similar to sulfur mixed with rotten eggs, and faint, almost invisible grayish-white gas was hissing out from some inconspicuous rock crevices.

Zhang Yangqing stopped here, his gaze sweeping over the base of a rock wall emitting a faint wisp of air, where a strange, grayish-black substance, resembling both moss and a fungal carpet, was attached.

He pointed to the area below the attached substance: "Here, dig it up, be careful not to inhale too much of this energy. There should be a piece of ore suitable for cultivation down there, and it should be of a good quality."

The veteran miners had long held Zhang Yangqing's judgment firmly in mind.

He immediately stepped forward and first covered his mouth and nose with a damp cloth, a simple dust-proof method commonly used by underground miners.

Then, carefully use a pickaxe to pry away the slippery coating, and then clear away the loose gravel and soil underneath.

After digging about a foot deep, the tip of the pickaxe suddenly touched a hard yet warm object, making a soft "ding" sound.

The old miner's spirits lifted, and his movements became even gentler, as if he were digging for fragile treasures.

Soon, he completely removed a piece of ore about the size of an egg, which was a deep dark red color with fine golden veins flowing on its surface.

When the ore was fully exposed to the light of the miner's lamp, the old miner's pupils suddenly contracted, and he almost couldn't breathe!
"This...this is 'Dragon Blood Stone'?!" His voice trembled with extreme shock.

Dragon Bloodstone! It's not actually stained with dragon blood, but rather because its color resembles the legendary dragon blood, and it contains extremely pure, domineering minerals that lean towards fire attributes and life energy!
In the resource-scarce and difficult-to-cultivate Nine Netherworld underground, the value of this level of ore is immeasurable!
It is said that even a powerful family like the Qing Tong family might only have a few pieces in their warehouse, which are used as strategic reserves or as rewards for their core members!
If it were an old miner from the past, his first reaction upon seeing this would definitely be ecstatic joy. He would then rack his brains trying to figure out how to safely bring it back to his family and exchange it for a "Riding Master" position, or even a higher reward and status.

But now, his thinking has been subtly changed by Zhang Yangqing.

After a brief moment of shock, he unhesitatingly presented the incomparably precious dragon blood stone to Zhang Yangqing with both hands. His eyes held no greed or reluctance, only pure reverence and anticipation.
"Boss! This thing is amazing! You should take it! Use it to cultivate, and your strength will definitely reach a new level!"

In his view, nothing—wealth, status, or fame—could compare to making his leader, who had the world in his heart and lofty aspirations, even stronger.

The stronger Zhang Yangqing becomes, the greater the hope of ending this chaotic world, and the more likely these struggling ants at the bottom will ever see the light and a way to survive.

This dragon blood stone is most valuable when used on the boss!
Zhang Yangqing gave the old miner a deep look, and without refusing, reached out and took it.

It feels warm to the touch, as if a faint pulse is beating within it, and the pure energy can be clearly sensed even through the skin.

"It's definitely a good item." He nodded and carefully put it away.

Seeing that the countdown on his wrist was almost over, Zhang Yangqing made a decisive decision to return.

On his way back, he made a detour to the site where the bodies of the miners who had been attacked by the mutated rats lay.

All that remained were a few skeletons, their bodies mangled beyond recognition, and tattered clothing scattered about.

Zhang Yangqing found the simple space compression box among the remaining clothes of one of the people. Although it was damaged, the outer shell was still intact.

He placed the dragon bloodstone inside, then found a secluded crevice nearby, partially hidden by rubble, and hid the box there.

If you carry this back with you, the supervisor's scanning equipment will likely detect abnormal energy fluctuations, causing unnecessary trouble.

Only when I come out again can I search for deeper clues and find an opportunity to use it for cultivation.

Having done all this, the two quickened their pace and headed towards the meeting point.

When Zhang Yangqing and the veteran miners returned to the cave platform where they had started, many miners had already returned one after another.

At a glance, it seems that about a third of the miners remained forever in the dark depths of the mine, never to return. The miners who did return were mostly exhausted, bearing injuries of varying degrees, their expressions numb or lingering fear, silently handing over the ore they had mined.

Then, dragging their heavy steps, they returned to their assigned cell areas, collapsed to the ground, as if all their strength had been drained.

Zhang Yangqing mingled in the crowd and handed over the pre-prepared, ordinary-quality ores, mainly black iron-associated crystals and a small amount of copper ore that he had previously mined. The quantity met the requirements and did not attract any special attention.

Zhang Yangqing deliberately ensured that the ore submitted by the veteran miners was just right at the "excellent" level, but not too outrageous.

The old miner followed Zhang Yangqing's instructions perfectly, appearing even more listless and disheveled than usual, as if he had exhausted his last bit of strength.

Not long after the overseers took stock and checked the records, the middle-aged overseer reappeared, holding a list in his hand.

His sharp gaze swept over the collapsed miners, finally settling on the old miner.

"You, number 73, Earthly Branch Wu, come out." The middle-aged overseer's voice was devoid of emotion.

The old miner felt a jolt in his heart, knowing that his opportunity had arrived.

He struggled to his feet, his face showing just the right amount of bewilderment and a hint of fear, and staggered over to the overseer.

The middle-aged foreman glanced at him, then looked at the ore contribution record in his hand.

He nodded and said, "Your contribution has met the standard, and your performance is acceptable. Come with me, and the family will give you a chance."

Envy, jealousy, or indifference were seen in the gazes of the surrounding miners.

The old miner lowered his head, responded, and followed behind the overseer, heading out of the mine towards the deeper area leading to the Qing Tong family's territory.

He knew that he was able to embark on this path entirely thanks to his boss, Zhang Yangqing.

He must cherish this opportunity, establish himself within the Qing Tong family, gather as much intelligence as possible, familiarize himself with the rules, and accumulate strength.

He believed that it wouldn't be long before his boss would come looking for him.

Before that, what he had to do was to prepare as much as possible, lay a solid foundation, and provide cover for his boss's future "great cause".

The iron bars of the cell slowly closed behind them, locking the weary miners back into darkness.

Zhang Yangqing leaned against the cold stone wall, closed his eyes, as if he were resting.

But beneath his calm exterior, his thoughts were racing.

Perhaps there are exceptionally talented individuals who will be able to acquire enough ore in the first round, shed their status as miners, and join the Qing Tong family.

However, there, they were still slaves at the bottom of society, with little difference between them and the rest.

When Zhang Yangqing went there, it was still uncertain who was at the bottom.

After all, this world is very simple, with little order! Might reigns supreme!
For Zhang Yangqing, the game has only just begun!
(End of this chapter)