Infiltrating the world of cultivation

At the end of each month, it's time to hand over spirit stones, and the people from the mine gather in front of Zhao Yuanbao's door.

Wang Chao glanced around and saw that the No. 3 mining area had a large population, about three thousand people.

Most of them were prisoners of war and criminals, but some, like the dynasty, were captured from the local areas.

Within the crowd, two forces were subtly divided. One side was a burly man with a dark face named Han Dianli, the mining tycoon of the No. 3 mining area, who had reigned supreme for many years. It was said that he was a criminal from the Chu Kingdom who had committed a heinous crime by assassinating the current emperor and was demoted to the Nanshan Immortal Mine for reformation.

Later, by chance, he obtained immortal techniques and has now become a high-ranking immortal. Even Zhao Yuanbao, who is known as Zhao the Skinflint, gives him some face.

A large crowd gathered around Han Dianli, mostly miners at the Innate Realm who had pledged allegiance to him in hopes of gaining some benefits and advancing their own ranks.

Around Han Dianli, nearly a thousand people were gathered, all of them miners who lived under the Han Dianli Group.

Suddenly, Wang Chao noticed that the miner who had been found to possess four elemental roots was being surrounded by a crowd, all of them chatting happily.

Clearly, the miner with the four elemental roots has already joined the group led by Han Dianli.

On the other side, a pale-faced scholar stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an extraordinary and ethereal air.

This man was named Zuo Qiuzhen. He was a prisoner of war from the State of Wei. Legend has it that he was once a general of Wei. After being captured by the State of Chu, he came to the Nanshan Immortal Mine.

The miner who swallowed the elixir and ascended to heaven in broad daylight was none other than Zuo Qiuzhen.

The rumor is incorrect. Zuo Qiuzhen was already a master of the Innate Stage before he took the Spirit Gathering Pill. After taking the Spirit Gathering Pill, he had already surpassed ordinary Innate Stage masters.

Of all the people the dynasty encountered, only the white-robed imperial advisor Li Wenshu could rival him.

This is also an important factor that enabled Zuo Qiuzhen to contend with Han Dianli. He is no longer an ordinary innate master; his cultivation has reached a state of perfection.

Even ordinary cultivators might be no match for him.

There were three thousand people in the venue. One thousand people gathered around the dark-faced, burly man, Han Dianli, chatting happily, while another thousand people gathered around the fair-faced scholar, Zuo Qiuzhen, talking and laughing.

The remaining thousand people also gathered in scattered groups, forming circles of varying sizes.

The emergence of the dynasty immediately attracted much attention, because many people were watching when the market opened that day, including Han Lidian and Zuo Qiuzhen.

The miner with four elemental roots, named Zhang Quan, has already joined Han Dianli's sect.

After all, Han Dianli was the only one among the many miners who possessed immortal techniques, and by following Han Dianli, one could receive guidance.

As for the dynasty that possessed the five elemental roots, it was naturally brought up by everyone. However, after returning to his residence, the dynasty remained in seclusion.

In addition, the dynasty's residence was too far away, and it was protected by the Vajra Formation, so the group had not been able to contact the dynasty.

Everyone is waiting for the end of the month, the moment to hand over the spirit stones, because at that time, the dynasty will definitely appear to hand over the spirit stones, and that will be the key moment for the two sides to fight for control.

If there is no successor, a power will soon collapse. Therefore, both Han Dianli and Zuo Qiuzhen attached great importance to the cultivation of new talents, because this is also a manifestation of their foundation.

"Look! The dynasty is here!" someone exclaimed upon seeing the dynasty approaching.

The current dynasty is quite well-known, after all, a five-elemental spiritual root that appears only once every thousand years has actually appeared in a celestial mine.

Although he was a good-for-nothing, he satisfied everyone's curiosity, and many people were there to watch the show.

After all, the two camps almost came to blows when they were vying for Zhang Quan. However, Zhang Quan was determined to join Han Dianli's faction because Han Dianli was a genuine immortal.

Zhang Quan's behavior was a blatant slap in the face to Zuo Qiuzhen. After all, even those who have reached the Innate Realm are not immune to worldly desires, and such behavior would be unacceptable to anyone.

Therefore, the remaining dynasties became the focus of contention between the two sides.

If the dynasty were to join the ranks of those performing the Han ceremony, it would undoubtedly be a significant blow to Zuoqiu Zhen's power.

Everyone knew that these five elemental roots were useless, but no one really knew exactly how useless they were. However, in everyone's mind, even if they were useless, they were still immortals, not ordinary mortals.

But people like Zuo Qiuzhen are exceptions. After all, not everyone can have this talent. The peak of the innate realm may already be another level. Perhaps this is not the end of martial arts.

That white-robed imperial advisor, Li Wenshu, has very likely already touched that level. Once he breaks through it, perhaps a completely different scene will appear.

After all, all roads lead to Rome, and the first person to pave a road always groped in the dark and walked alone.

With that person's exclamation, everyone's attention turned to that direction.

Wang Chao noticed that both mining tycoons were looking at him, and he couldn't help but curse the talkative man in his heart.

The current dynasty, still in its infancy, should be focusing on its own development and keeping a low profile. But that outburst has thrust it into the eye of the storm, leaving it in a difficult position.

"This young friend must be Wang Chao, who's been making waves lately? He is indeed handsome and elegant!"

Zuo Qiuzhen frowned. Wasn't it rumored that this dynasty had bronze skin, like bronze statues? How come they were so fair-skinned now?

Zuo Qiuzhen was known as a handsome man in the State of Wei, and was called the Jade-Faced General in the army. Naturally, he had a face as beautiful as jade and was very well-maintained. Although he was forty years old, he was still elegant and dashing.

But upon seeing the appearance of the dynasty, one couldn't help but feel somewhat amazed. However, the aura emanating from the dynasty was so familiar—it was the aura of soldiers, the aura of soldiers that only an elite army could forge.

When Wang Chao was in school, he was handsome and had many girls chasing after him. But after joining the army, he was tanned to the point of looking like a bronze statue under all kinds of grueling training.

After undergoing a baptism of cleansing and rejuvenating, Wang Chao regained his fair complexion and even surpassed his former demeanor.

"I wouldn't say I'm riding high, but I am Wang Chao."

Facing Zuo Qiuzhen, the dynasty dared not be too presumptuous. Although Zuo Qiuzhen was not as skilled as the White-Robed National Preceptor Li Wenshu, he was still far superior to ordinary innate masters.

Wang Chao sensed a kindred spirit in Zuo Qiuzhen; the iron will and strict discipline of a soldier were impossible to conceal.

"My name is Zuoqiu Zhen, formerly the Grand General of the Eastern Expedition of Wei. I wonder if you would be willing to join me, young friend, in exploring the path to immortality together?"

Zuo Qiuzhen extended an olive branch, wanting to win over the dynasty.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chao suddenly realized that Zuo Qiuzhen had once been the Grand General of the Eastern Expedition of Wei, a true soldier. No wonder he had a sense of familiarity.

"Hmph! He's just a defeated prisoner of war, what's he trying to prove?!"

A discordant voice rang out from the side, and Zuo Qiuzhen's face turned slightly angry upon hearing it.

Wang Chao knew that this matter could not be resolved peacefully. These two were mortal enemies, and today he was bound to offend someone.