Ling Xiao glanced at the dense cluster of caves.
The entrances were small, the interiors shallow and filthy, where eating, drinking, and everything else took place.
It was exactly like managing livestock.
…
Ling Xiao and Leng Mei merged two caves, cleaned them up, and settled in.
No one intervened.
The managers and Pen Two’s leaders cared only about Tianyuan crystals, indifferent to other matters.
With no oversight, Ling Xiao and Leng Mei enjoyed the freedom.
They took bedding from their storage rings, arranged the cave, and studied the Tianyuan crystal-making method on the walls.
Coming here and not trying to make crystals would be a shame.
Typically, a First Heaven warrior could produce one crystal a month.
A Four Symbols Heaven warrior could make four.
Leng Mei, exceptional as she was, crafted one crystal in three days.
At that rate, she could produce about ten a month, six more than the average Four Symbols Heaven warrior.
“Master, is it true we can’t use Tianyuan crystals here, as that man said?” Leng Mei asked.
“He’s right. I’ve checked. There’s a special array here. Using a crystal triggers an energy fluctuation, and the people outside will know immediately,” Ling Xiao nodded.
“So we have to turn over the extras? What a pity,” Leng Mei said, reluctant.
“Heh, Leng Mei, you’ve been gone so long you probably don’t know I’ve mastered array crafting. While cleaning the cave, I set up a small array to avoid detection. We can use crystals here without issue,” Ling Xiao said with a smile.
“Master, you’re incredible. They’d never dream of it,” Leng Mei said, amazed and increasingly admiring him.
“Right, Master, I’ll make six extra crystals a month. You can use them. With your First Heaven cultivation, you can’t make many, right?”
“Heh,” Ling Xiao chuckled, opening his hand to reveal three Tianyuan crystals.
“Heavens, Master, how did you do it? A First Heaven warrior making three crystals in three days!” Leng Mei was stunned. Ling Xiao’s feat was staggering.
Ordinary First Heaven warriors made one crystal a month. Ling Xiao was thirty times faster.
What terrifying Tianyuan power.
“Just a small trick. Let’s cultivate. Once I reach Two Principles Heaven, I’ll scout the situation,” Ling Xiao said, smiling, picking up a crystal to cultivate.
Tianyuan crystals were remarkable. Though made by warriors, they contained far more Tianyuan power than a warrior could cultivate in the same time.
Ling Xiao suspected the special environment mixed in external spiritual energy, condensing it into Tianyuan power.
He wasn’t sure of the details, but it didn’t matter.
He just needed to focus on cultivating.
Meanwhile, Leng Mei began cultivating too. Neither planned to keep crystals, as Ling Xiao had a way out, but needed higher cultivation.
About an hour later, Ling Xiao sensed Tianyuan power forming in the second cauldron of his Nine Cauldron Heavenly Veins.
It was a sign of breaking through to early Two Principles Heaven.
He’d only used two crystals.
Leng Mei was still cultivating, uninterrupted.
Ling Xiao planned to continue but heard loud quarrelling outside.
Using his World Eye, he saw a group shouting near a cave not far from his.
Inside was a late Three Talents Heaven warrior, face full of despair.
“There’s still plenty of time this month. I worked hard for days to make one crystal. If I give it to you, how do I answer to the administrators? I don’t want to be punished. That hellish feeling—I never want it again.”
“Quit whining. Don’t think we didn’t notice. You tried to cultivate with a crystal, didn’t you? Energy fluctuations were detected! Since you had that thought, hand over all your crystals, or you’ll be punished anyway,” said the upright-looking middle-aged man from before, now acting like a bandit.
Behind him were the warriors who’d been feasting that day, their combined strength formidable.
“You’re bullying me! I thought about it but didn’t use the crystal. It’s not a violation. Even the administrators didn’t say anything.”
“Bullying? I’m bullying an idiot like you. Truth is, the administrators manage you fools through us. We’re the bosses here, the kings!” the middle-aged man laughed.
He ordered his men to take the crystal.
Just one crystal was stolen, and the warrior in the cave wailed loudly.
Not because he was weak.
Without using crystals to cultivate, he couldn’t improve, doomed to remain a lowly slave, living in misery.
Death seemed better.
As Ling Xiao was about to look away, the man slammed his palm into his forehead, laughing maniacally before dying.
Ling Xiao sighed. The warrior’s mental resilience was too weak.
Better to live poorly than die. There might be a chance to escape.
Dying like that was unworthy.
This scene solidified Ling Xiao’s resolve.
Inciting a slave rebellion here had potential.
Pen Two’s leader was “Leech Heavenly Lord,” with a fear leech martial soul, at peak Four Symbols Heaven, one step from Five Elements Heaven.
He’d been absent, in seclusion, cultivating.
The slaves both hated and feared him. If Ling Xiao could take him out, they’d rally behind him.
So, in the days ahead, Ling Xiao focused on three things.
First, using his World Eye to study the arrays and formations, analysing how to break them.
Second, producing Tianyuan crystals.
Third, improving his cultivation.
The last two were intertwined, as crystals greatly boosted cultivation, undeniably.
