CHAPTER 481: CHAPTER 463 CAGE

Returning to the dark and sunless mine to continue digging.

Day and night, with no time for rest.

Everyone was focused on digging the ore, as they had to complete the task assigned by the Watcher within a year.

However, as the output of the Broken Core Stone became increasingly low, everyone grew worried.

"Brother Han, what should we do?"

The scar-faced middle-aged man named "Han Kui," at the Peak Initial Celestial God Realm, was naturally the strongest here and became the leader.

The output of the Broken Core Stone was decreasing, causing great concern among the people.

Everyone’s hopes were pinned on Han Kui.

"Continue digging."

Han Kui’s decision was simple and clear.

"Brother Han, the output of the Broken Core Stone is decreasing, at this rate, I’m afraid we won’t be able to complete the task assigned by the Watcher in a year!"

The young man in a white robe said anxiously.

"Brothers, it’s not that the output of the Broken Core Stone is too low, but the amount of ’waste’ has greatly increased."

Han Kui said, "We can choose to avoid the areas of mass waste production and change our digging direction, perhaps this way, we can gather enough Broken Core Stone before the deadline."

Waste refers to ores with no Celestial Value, meaning ores without Divine Spirit Qi.

Without Divine Spirit Qi, how could it be called a Divine Stone?

Even if this ore looked exactly like a Broken Core Stone on the outside, without the most crucial Divine Spirit Qi, it had completely lost the qualification to become a Divine Stone, naturally rendering it worthless to these laborers at the Celestial God Realm.

"Wang Xu, that area is a mass waste production site, no need to continue digging there, change direction and dig in another direction."

Han Kui said to Wang Xu.

"Okay."

Having quickly integrated into their group, Wang Xu’s relationship with them became much more harmonious.

Changing direction, Wang Xu continued to dig.

After only ten days.

"Clang!"

Han Kui’s face turned solemn as his Great Saber struck a rock, barely leaving a scratch.

Everyone else also looked grim.

They had hit a dead end!

The rocks here were as hard as a Supreme Treasure, without using Secret Techniques, relying purely on physical strength, it would take immense effort to break a rock, and continuing to dig would be a waste of time.

"Brother Han, that area is also a dead end."

"Brother Han, I’ve also hit a dead end."

"Brother Han, there are no more paths."

The Celestial Gods who had split in four directions returned, each looking pale and extremely uneasy.

Every direction had led to a dead end.

Their eyes focused immediately on the direction of mass waste production.

"Brothers, we have no other choice, let’s dig in the mass waste production area, reducing punishment even a little is something."

Han Kui’s voice was filled with helplessness.

Everyone trembled in their hearts, simultaneously thinking about the consequences of failing the task.

As Han Kui said, even achieving a little is something, the punishment degree depends on the task completion, so enduring less suffering is better.

Immediately, everyone increased their efforts to dig in the waste mass production area.

This location didn’t betray their calculations.

Of the Broken Core Stones produced, forty percent were waste with no Divine Spirit Qi.

But no one dared to slack even a bit, continuing to dig tirelessly.

As the deadline approached, they no longer had time to hesitate.

Wang Xu mingled with them silently, digging quietly.

The continuous high-intensity digging was becoming unbearable for the youth in white robe and others.

Although they practiced "Nine Transition Body Refining," which made their physical strength stronger than the average Initial Celestial God Realm cultivators,

the continuous high-intensity digging day and night was hard to endure even with such powerful physical strength.

"From now on, we’ll split into two teams, one digging for ten days, and another resting for ten days, then switch after ten days."

Seeing the situation, Han Kui said, "However, missing one team for ten days will decrease efficiency, so to compensate, everyone must be at their best and perform the work of two people, understand?"

Everyone nodded.

The first team, Wang Xu’s group, took a ten-day break.

Han Kui, leading a few others, continued with high-intensity digging for ten days, and by the end, everyone’s physical strength was exhausted to the limit, leaving them weary and weak.

It was Wang Xu and his group’s turn to dig; the ten-day rest had fully restored them to peak condition, greatly speeding up the digging progress.

Thus, alternating the two teams gave them hope to complete the task assigned by the Watcher before the one-year deadline.

A year passed.

The green-skinned man arrived as promised.

"Hand over the Broken Core Stone."

The green-skinned man spoke without a trace of emotion.

Han Kui handed over all the Broken Core Stones, the green-skinned man glanced over them and nodded.

"Return now."

Instantly, everyone sighed in relief.

Led by the green-skinned man, they returned to the underground cave.

"Remember, you have nine years of free time, after nine years, I will return to count, if you unfortunately lose your number, be ready to face death."

With this, the green-skinned man resealed the Thunder Array and vanished into the void.

"Phew... finally, we can have a good rest."

"Every time I return from mining, I’m more exhausted than after a fierce battle. I need a good rest to recover."

"When will these days ever end..."

Some feel grateful, others sigh. After a round of mining, many people in the Celestial God Realm feel as if they have fought a life-and-death battle, with no will left to care about anything else.

Only Wang Xu still has energy left, both in mind and body, continuing to ponder.

After a year of grueling mining, everyone gets nine years of free time.

In these nine years, they can use the time to cultivate Secret Techniques, train in the Nine Transition Body Refining, or simply waste the years away.

But that’s a matter for the future. For now, what they want is to enjoy a moment of doing absolutely nothing.

However, Han Kui’s next words dragged everyone back to reality.

"Even though the mining is over, don’t forget what’s going to happen next."

Han Kui’s face was solemn.

Without a hint of delight or relaxation, he frowned deeply, a fierceness glinting even more sharply in his eyes.

Everyone also turned serious at this moment, a flash of fear flickering in the eyes of the young man in a white robe.

What is about to happen is far more brutal than the mining.

"What’s going to happen next?"

Wang Xu asked.

Here, everyone had lived for tens of thousands or thousands of years, surviving from seas of bloodshed, but Wang Xu had just entered here, knowing nothing.

"Something extremely terrifying will happen,"

Han Kui said gravely, "Wang Xu, you’re still in the Elite stage, whatever you do, don’t get involved in the fights, or you’ll just die in vain."

Die in vain?

Could it be that the Watchers are going to attack them?

But that doesn’t make sense.

Wang Xu was puzzled, unable to fathom it.

Han Kui didn’t explain either, and when Wang Xu asked the young man in white, he got no response.

Seeing others either resting or cultivating, Wang Xu simply took out the Nine Transition Body Refining and began to read it.

The Nine Transition Body Refining, as Wang Xu expected, was like the Emperor’s Extreme Divine Suppression Record, a Chaos Secret Scripture for the physical body.

But unlike the Emperor’s Extreme Divine Suppression Record, this Secret Technique is not pure.

The Emperor’s Extreme Divine Suppression Record requires Constant Force from the First Realm to cultivate. Without Constant Force, one can’t even get started.

The Nine Transition Body Refining allows using Primordial Qi for the first three transitions, only needing other means after reaching the Fourth Layer.

Such a cultivation method naturally yields results inferior to the Emperor’s Extreme Divine Suppression Record.

But for these Celestial God Realm individuals, it’s more than suitable.

"So that’s it, the forces behind this have this intention..."

Wang Xu finally understood why this major force offered the Nine Transition Body Refining as a reward for their mining.

One must know, a Chaos Secret Scripture is extremely precious.

An ordinary Initial Celestial God, even if they spend their whole life, would find it hard to touch a Chaos Secret Scripture.

But this major force, with a Chaos Secret Scripture in the name of a reward, is ultimately for their own benefit!

"Their plan is flawless..."

Realizing all this, Wang Xu sighed inwardly.

Imagine, a Celestial God captured and imprisoned in a ’cage,’ what would they desire most?

That’s right, freedom!

And the only way to that freedom is to become stronger and defeat the Watchers!

Only then can one leave the ’cage’ and obtain freedom.

But without cultivation resources, for a Celestial God, growing stronger is harder than reaching the heavens, so this major force gives them a hope, which is the Nine Transition Body Refining in Wang Xu’s hands.

As long as one cultivates to the Fourth Layer, they will have the potential to challenge the Watchers!

This is the hope for the Celestial God Realm, and the wit of the force behind it.

They need laborers, those who can help them mine more ores!

Once the Celestial God Realm individuals cultivate the Nine Transition Body Refining and their physical strength increases, they can mine more ores faster...this is their ultimate goal.

And as for reaching the Fourth Layer to challenge the Watchers?

Such matters do not concern them, and they are indifferent.

"Since you are so adept at scheming, I will play the fool this time and let you have your way!"

Wang Xu immediately sat cross-legged and began cultivating the Nine Transition Body Refining.

...

A year later.

Wang Xu has been in this ’cage’ for an entire year.

The Fifth Layer of Nine Transition Body Refining can hold up against the Second Realm of the Emperor’s Extreme Divine Suppression Record.

With exceptional comprehension and a Mechanical Ancient Eye, Wang Xu found practicing the Nine Transition Body Refining effortless.

In just one year, he had already advanced to the Fourth Layer, gradually moving toward the Fifth Layer with the scant Constant Force inside him.

But he found that to break through to the Fifth Layer, much like the Emperor’s Extreme Divine Suppression Record’s Second Realm, required a significant amount of Constant Force.

Buzz~~

"Hmm?"

During cultivation, Wang Xu opened his eyes, lifted his head in confusion, and saw the red Thunder Array at the cave entrance starting to gradually dissipate.

"What’s happening?"

Wang Xu was puzzled.

However, seeing this, everyone else’s faces changed drastically, and Han Kui even drew his Great Saber, ready for combat, while shouting:

"Everyone, prepare for battle!" (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)