1961 The First Mine

There was only one reason for Li An to head to the White Tiger Sanctum, and it was to look for Duan Ling Tian's companion, Zhu Lu Qi!

He still remembered Duan Ling Tian had two companions when he first came to the Fire Worship Sect. After further investigation, he learned that Duan Ling Tian's companions' names were Gu Li and Zhu Lu Qi respectively. The former was in the Vermilion Bird Sanctum while the latter was in the White Tiger Sanctum.

'Hurmph! I refuse to believe that Zhu Lu Qi and Gu Li would be in closed-door cultivation all the time like Duan Ling Tian,' Li An thought to himself with a snort. His expression was solemn.

Since three months ago, after Duan Ling Tian had killed Yuan Hong, Li An's grand disciple in the Vermilion Bird Sanctum, Li An had always been lurking in the vicinity of the residence of the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples' residence, waiting for Duan Ling Tian to be alone so he could cast the Soul Searching Secret Tactic on him! He did not dare to kill Duan Ling Tian in the Fire Worship Sect even if Duan Ling Tian was alone.

The punishment from the Saint Land Enforcement Hall was far beyond what one could imagine. Moreover, they might even make him swear on the lightning penalty oath that he did not kill Duan Ling Tian if they suspected him. He did not dare to take this risk!

However, if he performed the Soul Searching Secret Tactic on Duan Ling Tian without anyone around and did not affect Duan Ling Tian much, with his position as a Silver Flame Elder, the Saint Land Enforcement Hall usually would not take action even if they found out about it.

Unfortunately, during these three months, Duan Ling Tian had been in closed-door cultivation so he could not find a chance to cast the Soul Searching Secret Tactic on Duan Ling Tian.

Today, Duan Ling Tian would be going to the First Mine of the Four Symbols Sanctums to serve his time. The Black Turtle Sanctum's Enforcement Elder Guo Xiong would be escorting him there. Li An knew he would not be able to cast the Soul Searching Secret Tactic on Duan Ling Tian for the time being.

Since Li An could not cast it on Duan Ling Tian, he decided he would look for a chance from Gu Li and Zhu Lu Qi.

The White Tiger Sanctum that Zhu Lu Qi was in was nearer to the Black Turtle Sanctum so he decided to head to the White Tiger Sanctum first.

Perhaps, it was it luck. As soon as he arrived in the White Tiger Sanctum, he immediately discovered a familiar White Tiger Sanctum's disciple who was just leaving the White Tiger Sanctum's altar and was returning to the residence of the White Tiger Sanctum's disciples. Moreover, there was no one around him at all. That disciple was none other than Zhu Lu Qi.

Whoosh!

Li An instantly charged toward Zhu Lu Qi. His speed was so fast it was as though he had transformed into a gust of wind.

"Who is it?!" The sound of wind whistling rang in Zhu Lu Qi's ears, causing horror to dawn on him since he could tell the sound was headed for him.

However, before Zhu Lu Qi could even react, a vast and terrifying energy from Li An had already shrouded him. It caused him to lose all mobility. He was completely under Li An's control at this moment!

Zhu Lu Qi discovered the scenery before his eyes kept changing as someone carried him and flew swiftly to who knew where. After a while, the person who carried him finally slowed down before coming to halt.

"Li An?" Although he could not see the other person's appearance from the beginning until the end, it was not difficult for him to guess who it was.

It was obvious Li An had intentionally brought Zhu Lu Qi away. Zhu Lu Qi suddenly recalled Duan Ling Tian's warning from three months ago. He remembered the Secret Tactic that had been passed to him that could combat the Soul Searching Secret Tactic.

In just a flash, an old man appeared before him. Zhu Lu Qi had seen this man once when he first entered the Fire Worship Sect. He was none other than the Black Turtle Sanctum's First Silver Flame Elder Li An!

He had guessed correctly.

When Li An performed the Soul Searching Secret Tactic on Zhu Lu Qi, before Zhu Lu Qi lost consciousness, a thought appeared in his mind. 'Lucky I've been using the Secret Tactic Duan Ling Tian had passed to me.'

Li An stood in front of Zhu Lu Qi as he stared at Zhu Lu Qi's eyes that had turned dim before he asked indifferently, "Who are you?"

"Zhu Lu Qi." Zhu Lu Qi whose eyes had lost their light seemed like the walking dead. As soon as he heard Li An's question, he instantly answered him without any hesitation.

"Who's Duan Ling Tian?" Li An asked again.

"My friend," Zhu Lu Qi replied.

"What's his background? Where did he come from?" Li An asked again. This time a hint of excitement appeared in his eyes. This was what he wanted to know the most.

As long as he could find information about Duan Ling Tian's background, he could pass the information to Yang Chong, the fifth elder of the Northern Plethora Sect. Naturally, Yang Chong would deal with all the people who had connections to Duan Ling Tian.

Perhaps, if they capture Duan Ling Tian's close friends and families, he might be able to force Duan Ling Tian to leave the Fire Worship Sect!

Once Duan Ling Tian left the Fire Worship Sect, he would become like meat on their chopping boards. They would be able to kill him however they liked!

"I don't know." Zhu Lu Qi's answer made the smile on Li An's face freeze immediately. He continued to ask in a grim voice, "Aren't you friends? Why don't you know his background?"

"I only met him a few days before I came to the Fire Worship Sect. I don't know his background. He has never mentioned it before, and I didn't ask as well," Zhu Lu Qi answered Li An lifelessly.

"Damn it!" Upon hearing Zhu Lu Qi's words, Li An's expression turned grave immediately. He knew he had felt happy too soon.

Zhu Lu Qi did not know anything about Duan Ling Tian's background at all!

"Hurmph!" Since he could not get an answer from Zhu Lu Qi, he no longer wasted his time on him and left immediately.

As soon as Li An left, Zhu Lu Qi's eyes regained its liveliness. When he regained his senses, he discovered he was in a secluded forest in the White Tiger Sanctum now.

As soon as he regained his senses, he remembered what had just occurred as he muttered under his breath, "Li An must have cast the Soul Searching Secret Tactic on me. I hope the technique to combat the Soul Searching Secret Tactic that Duan Ling Tian passed to me worked. Otherwise, I'm afraid I've already unknowingly betrayed him!"

Meanwhile, Li An had already left the White Tiger Sanctum when he realized Zhu Lu Qi did not have the answer he wanted. He was currently making his way to the Vermilion Bird Sanctum!

He was prepared to sit and wait for a chance to catch Gu Li so that he could perform the Soul Searching Secret Tactic on him. Li An was obviously unaware that Gu Li had already left the Vermilion Bird Sanctum and the Fire Worship Sect three months ago.

...

Duan Ling Tian was, naturally, unaware of Li An's sneaky actions.

Currently, he was being escorted by the Black Turtle Sanctum's Enforcement Elder Guo Xiong as they drew closer to the Four Symbols Sanctum's First Mine.

"Elder Guo Xiong, I heard there are many first-grade Saint Stone reserves in our Fire Worship Sect. Moreover, we even have a quasi Celestial-grade Saint Stone reserve! Is the quasi Celestial-grade Saint Stone reserve located in the First Mine?" Duan Ling Tian asked as he looked at Guo Xiong.

"Of course not!" Guo Xiong shook his head before continuing to say, "To our Fire Worship Sect, the quasi Celestial-grade Saint Stone reserve is very important. Naturally, it's not in the Four Symbols Sanctums. Even if the location of the quasi Celestial-grade doesn't have any Spirit Gathering Formations, the cultivation environment is still very good. It's hidden underground in the Saint Land's central district and is usually mined by the slaves of Saint Land elders and disciples who are banished to the mine as punishment. Due to its presence, our Fire Worship Sect's Saint Land has one of the best cultivation environments in the Upper Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land! Coupled with the help of the Spirit Gathering Formation, the cultivation environment is even better!"

Duan Ling Tian finally understood what a quasi Celestial-grade Saint Stone reserve was.

Just like the Secundus house in the residence of the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples, each of the five Spirit Gathering Formation had a few quasi Celestial-grade Saint Stones as their foundations. Due to this reason, it was very efficient for one to cultivate in a Secundus house.

The other forces in the Upper Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land could not compare to it. Only the other two great sects in the Upper Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land like the Fire Worship Sect would be able to use quasi Celestial-grade Saint Stones on their outer disciples.

Because of the Spirit Gathering Formations, there was no need for one to cultivate by holding the Saint Stone in one's hand anymore since the Spirit Gathering Formation would extract the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy from the Saint Stone for the cultivators to absorb.

"Other than that quasi Celestial-grade Saint Stone reserve, the remaining first-grade Saint Stone reserves are in our Four Symbols Sanctums… The First Mine of the Four Symbols Sanctums you'll be serving at is the largest first-grade Saint Stone reserve in the sect!" Guo Xiong said.

Duan Ling Tian learned a lot about the Four Symbols Sanctums' First Mine from Guo Xiong.

Apart from learning that it was the biggest first-grade Saint Stone reserve in the Fire Worship Sect, he also learned it was divided into two zones. One zone was big and the other small.

The big zone was called the Slave Zone since it housed many slaves from all over the place in the Upper Province. Their destiny was set in stone the moment they arrived in the sect. If they did not want to die, they had to obediently remain in the sect and spend their whole lives mining Saint Stones for the sect.

The small zone was also known as the Punishment Zone. The people mining here were disciples from the Fire Worship Sect's Four Symbols Sanctums who had committed crimes.

Among the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who were serving there, there were some who were sentenced with a short term ranging from three to five years, and there were those who were sentenced with a long term that could go up to hundreds of years.

"Only the First Mine has a punishment zone. The remaining mines are mined by slaves," Guo Xiong explained.

Duan Ling Tian nodded. He also learned that the Four Symbols Sanctums' First Mine was monitored by two Golden Flame Elders. The remaining mines were also being put under the care of a Golden Flame Elder.

As for the two Golden Flame Elders in the Four Symbols Sanctums' First Mine, one of them was in charge of the Slave Zone while the one was in charge of the Punishment Zone.

"Our Four Symbols Sanctums' First Mine is just right in front." Guo Xiong's voice rang in the air, causing Duan Ling Tian to regain his senses.