Mortal: I, Zhang Tie, started by joining forces with Han Li to kill a strategist.

Zhang Tie quickly located the source of the strongest Yin energy.

The water tank in the dining hall!!!

"Where did you get this water from?"

"Uncle-Master, this water is fetched from the stream every day by the kitchen staff!"

"Take me to the stream!"

The manager quickly led Zhang Tie to a stream on the east side of the mine. The stream was only three zhang wide, with a slow flow and a clear surface, showing no abnormalities.

But under Zhang Tie's spirit-seeking technique, he immediately sensed a chilling aura, the same kind of gray aura he had seen in the dining hall!

Yin energy? No, while yin energy is indeed cold and yin, it's definitely not this kind.

This gray mist seems like some kind of demonic aura! Is it flowing down from upstream?

Zhang Tie sensed the direction of the gray gas and knew it was flowing upstream!

Zhang Tie walked upstream along the stream for about ten miles until he came to a pool. The thick gray fumes made Zhang Tie frown slightly.

The source of the poison was here, but when Zhang Tie probed the pool with his divine sense, he discovered that there was a hidden world inside, which was actually connected to an underground river.

The source of the gray gas was unknown, so Zhang Tie did not go down to investigate. Instead, he returned to the mine and told Zhao Dashan about the situation.

Zhao Dashan remained silent for a moment, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Junior Brother Zhang, I'm leaving in a month. What about the mine..."

Zhang Tie nodded, understanding Zhao Dashan's meaning: it's better to avoid trouble!

"I understand, Senior Brother Zhao. I'll handle things here!"

Zhao Dashan patted Zhang Tie on the shoulder: "Be careful, the water from that pool can poison even Qi Refining cultivators. It's not a big threat to you or me, but it's better to be safe than sorry!"

Zhang Tie nodded, and the next day he ordered the steward to forbid any servants from approaching the stream or fetching water!

When the Foundation Establishment cultivator issued his order, although the menial disciples were confused, none of them dared to question it.

The steward replaced all the food in the dining hall and changed the water source to a different stream. The poisoning incident at the mine finally subsided, and no more servants were poisoned.

Inside the wooden house, Zhang Tie sat cross-legged, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Zhao Dashan is about to return to the sect. He doesn't know what kind of personality the new Foundation Establishment cultivator has, or whether he will be easy to get along with.

"Once Zhao Dashan leaves and the new cultivators arrive, I'll go explore that deep ravine!" Zhang Tie thought to himself.

The mine remained peaceful for the next month or two.

The night before Zhao Dashan left, Zhang Tie specially took out a piece of scorpion-tailed beast meat and some spirit wine he had brought from Spirit Beast Mountain. The two sat in the wooden house and drank a little.

"Junior Brother Zhang, this toast is to you. These past few months of working together have been the most worry-free for me!" Zhao Dashan raised his glass, his face slightly flushed.

Zhang Tie clinked glasses with him: "Senior Brother Zhao, you're too kind!"

The two clinked glasses and exchanged toasts.

"Senior Brother Zhao, do you know which senior brother is the new cultivator?" Zhang Tie asked.

Zhao Dashan shook his head: "Those sent by the sect shouldn't be too weak, but I heard that the sect has been very busy lately with many tasks piling up, so the people they can send probably aren't very strong!"

Zhang Tie nodded without saying anything more.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you must be extra careful after I leave!"

"Although level five demonic beasts are rare in the Cangqiu Mountains, there are quite a few level three and four demonic beasts. Don't be reckless, you're alone!"

"I know, Senior Brother Zhao, take care too!" Zhang Tie smiled.

The two drank a few more cups and discussed some cultivation matters. Zhao Dashan talked about his alchemy experience. Although their paths were different, they got along very well.

Watching Zhao Dashan's departing figure, Zhang Tie felt a slight sense of melancholy.

Zhao Dashan is a typical cultivator—rough but not rude, shrewd but not treacherous. He'd be a decent partner.

But there is no lasting banquet in the world.

With only one Foundation Establishment cultivator left in the mine, Zhang Tie's burden became even heavier.

Zhang Tie had thought the rotating cultivators from within the sect would arrive soon, but it took him a full half month for the Foundation Establishment cultivator to take over Zhao Dashan's position to finally arrive.

The new cultivator appeared to be in his early thirties, with an early Foundation Establishment cultivation level. He had a fair complexion, wore a bright silver-white robe, and had a long sword hanging at his waist. He was spotless from head to toe.

Where did this rich young master come from? Doesn't he care that the sword hanging at his waist is uncomfortable?!

Zhang Tie knew that there were many Foundation Establishment cultivators from prominent families in Spirit Beast Mountain, most of whom had achieved Foundation Establishment at a young age. Judging from the situation, the person in front of him was probably one of them, but he didn't know which family he came from!

"So you're the other person stationed at the mine?" At this moment, the white-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator looked Zhang Tie up and down, his tone neither warm nor cold.

"My name is Zhang Tie, an inner disciple of Lingxian Peak. May I ask how you should address me, senior brother?" Zhang Tie frowned inwardly, but did not show it on his face.

"Songyang is a disciple of Elder Yang of the Spirit Beast Peak!"

Song Yang spoke calmly, raising his chin slightly as he introduced himself, his eyes filled with arrogance.

This guy is a disciple of a Core Formation Elder?

A look of surprise flashed in Zhang Tie's eyes, but this guy didn't seem easy to get along with.

"Senior Brother Song, please, I'll take you to your lodgings!" Zhang Tie stepped aside to make way, leading Song Yang into the mine just as Zhao Dashan had guided him before.

Upon entering the mine and seeing its conditions, Song Yang frowned slightly.

Zhang Tie naturally saw it too, but didn't say anything.

Although I don't know why this elder's beloved disciple came here, since we're all here to do a mission, we should be mentally prepared. If we can't even accept this, we should go back to the sect and enjoy our lives as soon as possible!

Upon arriving at the wooden cabin where Zhao Dashan had previously stayed, Songyang looked at its furnishings and frowned even more deeply. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "You live here? There's not even a decent spiritual spring?"

"Senior Brother Song, conditions at the mine are limited, so my accommodations are all the same!"

Songyang didn't say anything more, but his expression was somewhat displeased.

Zhang Tie originally thought that he could relax a bit after the new cultivators arrived, since there would be someone to take turns on duty.

But in the following two weeks, he thoroughly learned the true nature of this Core Formation disciple.

Songyang disliked the poor condition of his wooden house and ordered the mine's laborers and managers to rebuild a pavilion for him. The Qi Refining managers dared not disobey, but this would definitely affect the production of the red jade mine.

When Zhang Tie voiced his concerns, Songyang immediately retorted, "Just have them dig a little more every day!"

At this point, Zhang Tie completely lost the desire to communicate with this guy.

But to his surprise, Songyang was not satisfied with just commanding those Qi Refining cultivators, he actually wanted to order him around!

When it was Songyang's turn to be on duty, he went directly to Zhang Tie's wooden hut and summoned Zhang Tie, who was in seclusion: "Junior Brother Zhang, please cover for me for half a month. I have important business to attend to at the sect!"

Zhang Tie initially thought something serious had happened at the mine, but he never expected that he was summoned out of seclusion for this reason.

Another two weeks? This guy just arrived and he's already trying to slack off in the very first month!

Zhang Tie didn't indulge him: "Senior Brother Song, according to the rules, it's your turn to be on duty this month!"

"Junior Brother Zhang, why are you being so petty? I have business to attend to back at the sect. Besides, I am the senior brother and you are the junior brother. Why won't you help with such a small matter?" Songyang directly tried to morally blackmail Zhang Tie.

Zhang Tie almost laughed out of anger, but sorry, sometimes he was immoral and his bottom line was very flexible.

"Senior Brother Song, that's the rule at the mine. Each person is on duty for one month. You're responsible for your own duty period. Don't give me that crap. You're from Spirit Beast Peak, and I'm from Spirit Immortal Peak. I call you Senior Brother out of respect for us being fellow disciples of Spirit Beast Mountain, and you're really taking advantage of that!"

Songyang's expression changed: "You—"

"What? If you really don't want to stay here, you can go back to the sect and apply for a replacement!" Zhang Tie interrupted him directly.

This guy not only interrupted his secluded cultivation at will, but also acted as if it were his right.

Songyang's face turned pale and then red, and finally he gritted his teeth, turned around and left.