Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Yan Zaizen's expression darkened. Was the deep mines something he should know? He couldn't help but ask, "What is the Deep Mines?" Tao chuckled lightly, pointed towards the rest of the people who were also isolated in this small space. Following his fingers, he realized the thing he missed. Every last one of them had either insanity or despair in their eyes. There was no other type of emotion, only he and Tao were different.

Tao said lightly, "The Deep Mines are where the dregs of the world go to die."

Yan Zaizen's eyes suffused with a fierce killing intent, his dao aura started to radiate slightly, causing the atmosphere to change its quality. When this happened, Tao's eyes widened in surprise for the first time. "A Nascent Dao?!"

The surrounding people felt this formless pressure emitting from Yan Zaizen's body, and backed up in fear. Yan Zaizen's dao wasn't truly formed yet and could be considered in its early stages, but it had indeed formed. It gave one a sensation of seeing a sovereign of slaughter and authority.

Tao spoke in a heavy voice filled with fear, "You have a Dao? Why are you even here?!"

Yan Zaizen, however, was confused. His dao aura dissipated as he looked towards this Tao inquisitively. "What's a Dao?" In truth, he didn't know about this nor was he taught this. It makes sense, a dao was simply too rare for one to develop. Tao was surprised at his question. To not know of the dao but to have comprehended a dao. Should that even be possible?! Unless...

He took a deep breath, looking at everyone and realizing they stayed at the edges, fearing the aura of Yan Zaizen's dao. Looking at Yan Zaizen, his eyes glimmered with a faint trace of hope. "The Dao is a form of law. A law that originates from yourself. You can even bestow others your Dao, and with it, possessors would be able to enhance their cultivation paths, regardless if its qi, soul, body, formations, armament creation, or anything for that matter."

He looked at Yan Zaizen, seeing him soaking up this information, he felt his conclusion was correct. This boy truly developed his own dao. "To formulate a Dao, you need to have encountered and been baptized by heaven's grace! However, most people take the dao of others into themselves for power. Similar to how we derive power from the laws, we cultivate the dao in a similar fashion."

When Yan Zaizen heard that, he felt clueless. He didn't take a dao from others, and he felt like everything he had belonged to him. Unbeknownst to him, the Heavenly Annihilation Light baptized him. In front it, all creation bows! In front of it, all things are eliminated! Unless, of course, you exceed the heavens.

"Typically, heaven's grace means overcoming the heavenly tribulation. If you can overcome it, you can formulate your own dao." Tao further explained.

Yan Zaizen could only shake his head. What tribulation? It just came into existence. Not all information was reliable, it seems.

Seeing his skepticism, Tao added, "However, the knowledge of men are limited. I do not know all, so your situation could be different." He felt more reassured after saying this. In truth, he didn't know it all, so it wasn't untrue.

Contemplating for a bit, "How does one use this dao for cultivation?" This question was developed after hearing his explanation. If it can be used to enhance one's cultivation path, then won't that be incredible?

Tao was at a loss as to how to respond. It was clearly apparent that he had only heard stories or depictions but never seen an actual dao before. They were simply too rare. Not many in the entire realm would know of a dao, and having the opportunity to be bestowed another's dao? That would be small. "From what I gather, you just use it when you're cultivating." He said, his words obviously uncertain.

With a silent sigh, Yan Zaizen nodded. Regardless of this dao or whatever, he still needed to escape. "What is so special about the Deep Mines that it's so nightmarish?"He couldn't help but ask. The Deep Mines were the place he was sent to by that sapphire haired woman, and his term was five hundred years. If it was so hellish, then why did he need to be sentenced here for five hundred years? She even said that if he survived, he'll be given his freedom.

"The Deep Mines are a set of mines that go far into the earth. It's a place of no escape and if you don't reach your quota, you'll be immediately executed. Only those with special circumstances are taken there." Tao stated, his voice abnormally calm.

"If the Deep Mines require such circumstances, how did you get sent there?" He inquired.

"I asked the wrong question, at the wrong time." Tao merely said, obviously not willing to elaborate. "You?"

"I was schemed against, survived, landed in some noble woman's palace as a result, and then was sent here for trespassing." He spat out, his shoulders shrugging at the very memory. When he gets free, he'll be sure she regrets her actions. She should've killed him, but he will not spare her.

"A noblewoman? Unfortunate." Tao lamented over Yan Zaizen multiple bouts of misfortune. To be schemed against, survive, land in some place, and then be sent to the Deep Mines was a harsh series of events.

They suddenly stopped moving, and the isolated space had a part of it open up. They were located in some box-like construct, and when he saw the outside, he only saw holes and earth. They were urged outside by the guards, and when they exited the scene was absolutely stunning.

Those holes he saw from inside were actually enormously wide. They each were hundreds of meters wide and as deep as the eye can see. "This…" He was genuinely shocked speechless. In comparison to the hailing skyscrapers of Sky Titan City, this was like the opposite. Holes that drilled into hell itself and beyond. There were howling winds that seemed like wraiths crying for souls.

There was a giant formation that spanned miles situated above that seemed to regulate the holes, keeping track and surveillance over them. Every so often, shipments of minerals would soar out of the cage by some beams of energy, and enter the formation, also disappearing. It seems the formation was multi-layered and multi-purpose. To survey, to collect, and likely to defend.

"How deep do they go?" Yan Zaizen couldn't help ask.

Tao directly answered with, "Some say, as deep as the world itself."