Under the leadership of Shen Mangxing, Zuo Qinghui and others, carrying mining Magic Artifacts similar to pitchforks and shouldering baskets, entered one of the many mine tunnels, reaching a narrow mine passage that only allowed for single-file passage.

Within the mine passage, it was dark and chilly, with some glowing blue stones embedded in the rock walls along the way, enabling the group to see the path ahead clearly.

Not far into their walk, Zuo Qinghui saw a faint blue light screen blocking their path.

Shen Mangxing took out a Token from his bosom and waved it in front of the light screen, which immediately virtualized and vanished, allowing everyone to continue moving forward.

"This is the boundary of the mining Formation. Only those holding a Token can momentarily open the Formation. Once we cross over, we will no longer be under the protection of the Formation. Should Black Wind strike, remember to stick close and do not fall behind. If you can't make it back in time, nobody will come to save you," Zhou Peng turned his head, cautioning Zuo Qinghui and the other two.

After crossing the faint blue light screen, the mine passage was devoid of the illuminating stones, becoming deeply dim and obscure.

The group continued walking with torches in hand, and soon the surroundings lit up with specks of red light, with the temperature rising accordingly.

As they delved deeper, the red lights became denser, and the temperature rose to a stifling level.

About thirty minutes later, the group's vision widened, and a vast and spacious mine cave appeared before them, with numerous small mine passages of various sizes.

The walls of this mine cave almost all flickered with an unsteady red glow, being in it was like being in a huge furnace ablaze with fire, with intense heat waves nearly scorching the hair off the skin.

Everyone present was a cultivator with suppressed Cultivation; while the heat was unbearable, it posed no threat to their lives. Common folks, however, would probably faint on the spot.

Shen Mangxing was the first to stop, looking around before giving an order, instructing everyone to start excavating ore.

The group, skilled and practiced, stepped forward to chisel at the earth and rock while Zuo Qinghui looked around and deliberately chose a more secluded mine passage, in an attempt to stay out of Shen Mangxing's line of sight.

Not long after, Xu Che followed suit and ambled over. The two of them dug and exchanged whispers simultaneously.

"Last night His Lordship has decreed to me, making me aware of your situation. For the time being, follow my arrangements, and when the right time comes, His Lordship will save us," Zuo Qinghui, while swinging the Magic Artifact, said in a low voice.

"May I ask Fellow Daoist Zuo, since the Nether Moon God is already aware of the situation here, why not save us right now?" Xu Che asked with heavy suspicion.

"Because His Lordship intends to liberate all the mine slaves here, not just the two of us," Zuo Qinghui said, head down while continuing his work.

Xu Che anxiously responded, "What's the difference between the two? Or is it that the Nether Moon God actually isn't fully confident in dealing with the cultivators stationed here?"

"You speak in error. With our Lord's ability, even if all the Guiyuan Sect cultivators here were to attack en masse, it would cause some trouble, but they are not too difficult to handle," Zuo Qinghui shook his head.

Xu Che frowned, "Then why..."

He didn't finish his sentence before Zuo Qinghui interrupted him.

"His Lordship told me that you have read the Children's Storybook. Then, please tell me, why in the end does the Beast Talker unlock the cage to free the sparrow? Without the sparrow's blood-stained feathers demonstrating its determination and will, how could it win freedom?"

Seeing Xu Che come to a pause, with a pensive look on his face, Zuo Qinghui continued slowly, "Freedom is never begged for or given as charity; it must be fought for with one's own hands."

Xu Che was greatly moved, feeling as if the words struck a chord within him. But soon, he recognized some contradictions.

"If we are fighting for our freedom ourselves, then what face does your master have to call himself a god and expect us to worship and be grateful?" Xu Che hesitated before asking.

"The cage that the bird inside cannot break through even with all its might can be easily opened by someone outside with a key. And my master is the one who hands the key to freedom over to us."

"He calls himself a god but is not one who sits high in the sky, looking down on the rise and fall of all living beings; nor is he one who sacrifices himself like feeding flesh to eagles, satisfying the wishes of believers. He is a god who guides people to pursue freedom, allowing everyone to command their own destiny with their will," Zuo Qinghui raised his head, gazing directly into Xu Che's eyes while speaking.

Xu Che's eyes shone with inspiration, clearly moved by Zuo Qinghui's words. However, just then, they heard a light laugh nearby.

"Fellow Daoist Zuo speaks so beautifully, even I, who have been eavesdropping, feel a surge of emotion. I wonder if your plan has room for one more?"

Xu Che turned his head to see She Yu standing beside them with a mining Magic Artifact, a hint of mirth on his dark face.

Zuo Qinghui had long noticed her deliberate approach, and hearing her question, continued with a calm face, "Anyone who wishes to fight for freedom with their own hands will receive His Lordship's favor. Fellow Daoist She's joining is voluntary; there is no question of 'can or can't'."

Upon hearing this, She Yu seemed even more delighted, asking, "Does Fellow Daoist have a concrete plan now? Is there somewhere I can help?"

"Actually, escaping here isn't difficult. All in all, there are but four barriers: the collar, Formation, cultivators, Core Formation."

Upon hearing this, both She Yu and Xu Che showed contemplative expressions, with the former revealing a hint of skepticism in her eyes.

Both of them exchanged a glance, then turned their eyes back to Zuo Qinghui.

"As for the collars, there's no need to talk much about it. To unlock them, we just need an unrestricted Cultivator who can forcibly break them open with the Mana of the Foundation Establishment Stage, so there's no need to worry about it. Our lord has his own arrangements."

"Even though I'm not sure if the Formation that envelops this place has any offensive capabilities, it would be best to break it just in case, to avoid it being controlled by the Cultivators of Guiyuan Sect. I have already identified several nodes. When the time comes, we can try to tamper with them in advance."

"There are many Guiyuan Sect disciples guarding this place, and just a few of us definitely won't be enough to handle them. We'll need to rally more Fellow Daoists, inform them of our plan, and act together in rebellion. If our Cultivation has recovered, it shouldn't pose any problem."

"As for the most crucial issue, the Core Formation Stage Cultivator stationed here, the lord himself will take action to deal with it," Zuo Qinghui explained one by one.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xu Che took the initiative to say, "I have some research on Formations. I can help disrupt the nodes."

"Then shall I take responsibility for contacting the other Cultivators?" She Yu chuckled.

However, Zuo Qinghui shook his head at She Yu, "No, leave that to me. You are to handle another matter. There are also many commoner mine slaves here who are suffering. You should find an opportunity to preach among them and have them all believe in the Nether Moon God — that is, our lord."

She Yu was taken aback, "Is that necessary? What can those commoners do to help us? They can't really assist us."

Zuo Qinghui shook his head, "Commoners also have the right to freedom, and besides, they have their own doorways. Here, aside from the commoner mine slaves who mine ordinary ores, there are those responsible for cleaning, those in charge of meals. They are not valued by the Cultivators of the Guiyuan Sect, and they won't be deliberately excluded from certain taboo discussions. If we can control this line, we might have unexpected gains."

Upon hearing this, She Yu and Xu Che both nodded thoughtfully.

Seeing that Zuo Qinghui seemed to have everything arranged and had no further instructions, She Yu then asked,

"Once we're free, how shall we repay your master?"

"There's no need. The lord's intervention isn't for the sake of any reward. If we really must count it, your gratitude alone is more than enough," Zuo Qinghui shook his head.

A flash of sharpness appeared in She Yu's eyes as she seemed to not believe what she was hearing, "Even lighting incense in a temple requires incense money, and your lord saves so many people without wanting anything in return? Is there really such a good deal?"

"If the master claims to be a god, how could he demand a reward from those who are grateful to him, who believe in him? And as for 'incense money,' how much of it is actually demanded by those deities? Doesn't it end up in the pockets of those temple monks as well?" Zuo Qinghui said with a hint of disdain.

Upon hearing this, She Yu seemed to be moved, but she quickly reined in her emotions, nodded, and did not ask anything further.

Xu Che had no more to say either, so the three of them fell silent, focusing on mining ore so as not to fail to meet the day's mining quota.

...

In the Combat Arena, cheers and curses were intertwined, obliterating the class differences between the guards and the mine slaves, labeling them all with the same title: gamblers.

Every evening, multiple fights were held in the Combat Arena, and before they started, betting stations would be set up outside the arena for the gamblers to place their bets.

No matter who came, whether they used Spirit Stones or contribution points, the bookies turned no one away.

Inside the arena, it was a bloody contest between monk slaves and demon beasts, while outside, a collision of desire and greed took place.

Because of this, sometimes, it was the guards who hoped for the mine slaves to win, while those who prayed for the contestants to end up in the bellies of the beasts were often their fellow mine slaves they interacted with day and night.

Not all contestants in the Combat Arena were there by force. For every fight they won, they would earn a substantial income in contribution points. In this mining camp, aside from their dignity, the mine slaves could even use contribution points to exchange for their daily and monthly mining quotas.

However, such expenses were too great, and even those early monk slaves with more contribution points would only occasionally take a day or two off, indulging in a lavish feast, as a form of rest.

The only mine slave in the entire mining camp who could completely offset his mining tasks through contribution points was but one person.

The Zizhu Beast, with its red eyes, snorted restlessly. Sharp bone spikes protruded from its body, and two huge dirty yellow tusks, tips stained with black and red blood, had caused the death of who knows how many people through their piercing.

However, the cultivator standing in front of the Zizhu Beast showed not the slightest trace of fear on his face.

Standing nine feet tall, his physique was larger than an average person's. His long hair split like a lion's mane, roughened cheeks resembled mud sculptures or stone carvings with clear-cut and chiseled features, and on his strong, bronze muscles of his bare upper body, dense scars and wounds evoked alarming concern.

He gazed steadily at the restless Zizhu Beast, his eyes betraying no hint of troubled waters, as if he didn't regard it as a threat at all.

Outside the Combat Arena, Wulu turned to Zuo Qinghui and said,

"What do you say, Fellow Daoist Zuo? He is Feng Ling, who has a resounding reputation throughout the entire mining camp. In the Combat Arena, he fought 271 battles against demon beasts without a single loss, winning countless contribution points. He hasn't gone down to the mines for years now."

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