Chen Jichuan glanced at Old Fifth, whom he hadn't seen in what felt like ages in the real world, and sighed inwardly.
He knew Chen Shaohu was desperate to get out.
But now was not the best time.
Chen Shaohu's 'Fire Control' ability was still just proficient, without any real experience in combat.
As for himself, this Fourth Brother was even more of a burden.
They both needed more time.
"Iron Bull Skill."
"Jade Belt Skill."
Tamping down his impatience, Chen Jichuan glanced around and said, "We need to switch caves."
...
The fog thickened.
Chen Jichuan woke Chen Shaohu and headed to the foot of the mountain.
In just a day's time.
Two more miners were taken away from North Second District, leaving only thirty-eight people.
The overseer, Qian Lai, grew progressively irritable.
He beat anyone on sight.
Chen Jichuan and Chen Shaohu hadn't provoked him yet still got accused of 'slacking off' and were each whipped twice. Chen Shaohu's face was slashed by the whip, leaving a terrifying blood mark. Chen Jichuan was struck in the chest, the pain burning like fire.
The brothers didn't dare show anger, biting back their pain and grinning foolishly to appease Qian Lai.
The overseer sneered.
Not sparing them another glance.
Chen Jichuan felt the fiery sting of the lash across his chest, a mix of shock and anger stirring in his heart but most of all, doubt: "He—"
Name: Qian Lai
Age: 27
Level: 2
Spell: Wusheng Saber (Second Layer)
Ever since he first achieved Insight with the Dao Fruit and encountered Qian Lai, Chen Jichuan had used his ability to uncover his details. He knew Qian Lai was a second-level figure, capable and formidable. Yet he didn't fully understand what being 'second level' meant, or the extent of its power.
Now, after a year in the Great Yann.
He'd gained a clearer understanding.
Like himself.
In the Great Yann World, he was also second level. With the 'Iron Bull Skill' and 'Jade Belt Skill' trained to the second layer, his physical strength had greatly increased. An average person would be crippled if not killed with a single whip strike from him.
But Qian Lai, despite his violent demeanor, seemed no stronger than a regular man.
"Afraid of killing someone?"
"Or is it—"
Chen Jichuan subtly observed the other miners in North Second District. He saw several others who had been whipped also smiling obsequiously, but deep down, they must surely be furious.
Then he thought of Chen Shaohu.
At first, he believed Chen Shaohu's talent awakened because of direct exposure to a Spirit Stone. But now, it seemed there might be more to it.
"Emotions."
"Could talent awakening also be tied to emotions?"
A theory began forming in Chen Jichuan's mind.
With this thought, and recalling the Wusheng Sect behind Qian Lai, his sense of caution rose yet another level.
...
Back in the cave.
"Fourth Brother."
"Once I get out, I want to burn Qian Lai alive myself."
Chen Shaohu traced the blood mark on his face, feeling the sting of pain, but grinned all the same.
"Do as you wish."
Chen Jichuan nodded.
Then he fetched clean water to treat Chen Shaohu's wound.
Unfortunately, he didn't have any Source Power; otherwise, the wound would heal in an instant. But whether he could was one thing—whether he dared was another. Getting whipped one day and having the gash miraculously heal the next would only bring unwarranted trouble upon himself.
Chen Jichuan wasn't that foolish.
Thinking of Source Power.
All the easily mined Spirit Stones in this cave had already been extracted. Staying here any longer would involve a lot of work, probably yielding only a few more stones.
So.
"Switch caves."
This mine contained hundreds of caves, large and small.
Originally, five hundred miners couldn't fully occupy them all; now, with deaths and disappearances, only four hundred miners remained, leaving many caves abandoned.
Chen Jichuan used his Insight ability to scan one cave after another, selectively extracting Spirit Stones buried closer to the surface without wasting much time.
To him.
Every moment of time was precious.
And in a time of widespread fear, switching caves seemed perfectly normal.
Anyone who couldn't find Spirit Stones in their cave would start to doubt and switch caves. Besides, after being whipped by Qian Lai today, their decision to move would raise no suspicion.
Deciding on action.
Chen Jichuan left Chen Shaohu in their cave to rest while he headed to a nearby empty cave.
In just an hour.
He found four Spirit Stones and returned to start his cultivation.
...
Name: Chen Jichuan
Age: 18
Immortal-order: None
Official Position: None
Level: 0
Talent: Creation·Insight
Spells: Iron Bull Skill, Jade Belt Skill
Immortal Salary: 1
Source Power: 318
In Black Prison, inside the caves, there weren't any medicinal wines or perfectly-sized timber. But Chen Jichuan had already thought this through in the Great Yann World and even tested it—
"Source Power."
"As long as there's enough Source Power, it can completely replace medicinal wine, and you won't have to progress step by step like ordinary people."
Chen Jichuan found a pillar in the cave of suitable thickness, stepped forward, and assumed a horse stance, wrapping his arms around it.
The pillar was rugged and uneven, with small protrusions.
More coarse than any tree bark.
Its hardness far surpassed timber.
Chen Jichuan took off his coat, letting the damp, chill, and fierce cold wrap around him. Waves of icy sensation emanated from the pillar, gnawing at his internal organs. Chen Jichuan clenched his teeth and worked the pillar with his hands.
...
Great Yann World.
Half a year in the blink of an eye.
Chen Jichuan pushed open the door to see grass flourishing and birds singing. It was already March.
The disorienting beauty of time and space was indescribable.
Chen Jichuan reflected on himself.
After spending about six hours in the real world, he returned to the Great Yann World, and this body seemed identical to six months ago, without the slightest trace of time.
"Return to reality."
"This body enters a 'offline' state. Whether it's a hundred years or a thousand years, upon return, it remains exactly as it was."
Chen Jichuan marveled at the mystique of the Dao Fruit.
And he felt fortunate.
Without this mechanism, he wouldn't dare to 'log off' so lightly.
Otherwise, given the time ratio between the Great Yann World and Black Prison, spending one hour in reality would starve him to death in the Great Yann World. Spending six hours would leave his body to rot.
What a needless hassle that would be.