1963 Marked!

Naturally, it was not due to luck Duan Ling Tian had obtained the extra-large wicker basket. It was due to the special treatment given by the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder. However, the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder did not explain any of this to Duan Ling Tian, so he was unaware of it as well. Moreover, he did not even know what the extra-large wicker basket represented in the First Mine's Punishment Zone.

"These are uniforms exclusive to the Four Symbols Sanctum's disciples serving their sentence in the Punishment Zone. Unlike the uniforms of ordinary Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples, the uniforms here doesn't distinguish between which Sanctum you are from," the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder explained, "For this reason, unless you mention that you're a disciple from the Black Turtle Sanctum, unless they know you, most disciples in the Punishment Zone won't know you're from the Black Turtle Sanctum."

Duan Ling Tian nodded. He had already noticed this when he was making his way here. Those Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples here wore a standardized uniform that did not distinguish between which Sanctums they were from.

"The Punishment Zone has a rule that disciples who arrive before noon will have to go to the mining cave on the day itself to mine. There's still an hour before noon so..." the Bronze Flame Elder said hesitantly before he finally said, "Or maybe you can stay here for an hour before you leave. It just so happens that I've only written down your name, I've not written down the time you arrived. As long as I write down the time an hour later, you won't have to go to the mine today. You can just find a residence to rest in."

It was very obvious the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder was abusing his power for Duan Ling Tian. It naturally made Duan Ling Tian feel warm inside. He thought to himself, 'There are indeed a lot of kind-hearted people in this world!'

If Duan Ling Tian's thought was heard by those other Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who came to register at the Punishment Zone fifteen minutes before noon but still had to go mining, they would definitely throw up blood. After all, they did not receive such special treatment.

Duan Ling Tian was unaware that he was given special treatment because the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder was cautious about his supposed strong background.

After all, in the eyes of the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder, Duan Ling Tian was merely a commoner with a yellow Innate Spiritual Root. The fact that he received protection from the Saint Land Enforcement Hall must have meant that he had an extraordinary background.

It was due to this reason the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder was so easygoing and polite.

If some other person came to register and it was a second before noon, he would still make the other person go to the mine with a cold face.

"Thank you for your concern, Elder. However, since it's still early, I'd like to go to the mine to familiarize myself with the surroundings first." Duan Ling Tian expressed his gratitude and gently rejected the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder's kind intention.

Since Duan Ling Tian had rejected his offer, the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder no longer said anything.

However, he added one last thing, "You can ask the others exactly how many Saint Stones you need to mine since the number of Saint Stones you have to mine changes from day to day! Apart from that, you can also follow them to the place where you have to hand in the Saint Stones."

"Alright." Duan Ling Tian nodded before bidding goodbye to the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder and left.

After he left the registration place, he changed into the uniform for the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples serving their sentence in the Punishment Zone and carried the extra-large wicker basket and joined the throng of people who were also carrying a wicker basket on their backs. Duan Ling Tian appeared particularly eye-catching due to the extra-large wicker basket on his back.

Soon after, Duan Ling Tian noticed many people were looking at him. "Is it very obvious that I'm new here?" Duan Ling Tian was confused. He was still unaware that it was because of the extra-large wicker basket on his back.

...

"I don't think I've seen this person who's carrying the extra-large wicker basket before."

"He might be new!"

"That's possible, but I'm not 100% certain!"

"However, if he's new, why would he possess the extra-large wicker basket? Judging by the time the last time an extra-large basket was issued, there are still another three months at least before an extra-large wicker basket will be issued."

"I'm not sure as well."

…

Duan Ling Tian was unaware that at this moment many of the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who were staring at him were communicating with each other through Voice Transmission.

The Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples were not certain that Duan Ling Tian was new. This was because the timing for when an extra-large wicker basket would be issued was not right!

Perhaps, this fellow who was carrying the extra-large wicker basket was an inconspicuous person who used to carry an ordinary wicker basket, and he finally showed his hand and snatched an extra-large wicker basket?

After all, there were thousands of Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples in the Punishment Zone, it was impossible for one to remember the appearance of everyone here.

They could only roughly remember the faces of the people who owned extra-large wicker baskets that did not exceed more than 100.

They were certain that among the 89 people carrying the extra-large wicker basket, there was no one so eye-catching.

If that was the case, there were two possibilities.

One, the young man in front was new and was lucky enough to receive an extra-large wicker basket.

Two, the young man used to carry an ordinary wicker basket and had recently snatched an extra-large wicker basket from another person.

Between these two possibilities, the group of Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples staring at Duan Ling Tian were more inclined to the latter.

This was because the appearance of an extra-large wicker basket was usually timed. They had even figured out the timing. Due to this reason, they were certain Duan Ling Tian was not issued the extra-large wicker basket.

However, it did not cross their minds that Duan Ling Tian was indeed a newcomer who had just stepped foot on the Punishment Zone a while ago. As for the extra-large wicker basket, it was all due to the special treatment given to him by the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder at the registration area.

"I really hope he's just a newcomer and merely obtained the extra-large wicker through luck!" Many of the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples stared at the extra-large wicker basket on Duan Ling Tian's back with bright eyes. It seemed as though they were going to drool as well as they looked at the extra-large wicker basket!

Once they obtained the extra-large wicker basket, it would reduce the time they had to travel to hand in the Saint Stones since it could hold two times more Saint Stones compared to the ordinary wicker basket.

For the time being, none of the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who coveted Duan Ling Tian's extra-large wicker basket made a move because they were uncertain of his background.

Due to this reason, Duan Ling Tian peacefully entered one of the mining caves in the Punishment Zone.

A magnificent view entered Duan Ling Tian's sight as soon as he went into the mining cave.

The mining cave seemed to be the main cave in the Punishment Zone. The number of Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples entering this mining cave was more than three times compared to other mining caves!

"Why are there so many people here?" With so many people coming in from behind him, it was only natural for Duan Ling Tian to notice this.

When he turned around, he happened to see numerous burning eyes that were trained on the extra-large wicker basket on his back. He was instantly baffled. "Why are these people staring at my wicker basket? Don't tell me they plan to snatch my wicker basket away?"

Subconsciously, Duan Ling Tian felt that the wicker basket was not that great. No matter how big it was, these Fire Worship Sect's disciples from the Four Symbols Sanctums should not covet it.

The truth was Duan Ling Tian had forgotten something important.

Perhaps, the wicker basket was nothing outside, but in the Punishment Zone of the First Mine, the extra-large wicker basket would cut half of their traveling time. This meant they could finish their tasks earlier every day.

For this reason, would there be anyone who did not want an extra-large wicker basket in the Punishment Zone?

Duan Ling Tian randomly looked at a few people and discovered they had the ordinary wicker basket.

"This extra-large wicker basket should not be enough for them to fight with me over it, right? It seems like I'm thinking too much." Duan Ling Tian shook his head and no longer thought about it as he walked deeper into the cave by following the throng of people.

The deeper part of the mining cave was situated underground.

The place Duan Ling Tian was currently at was a tunnel that had been dug to lead underground.

The deeper he went, the wider the tunnel became. Apart from that, there were many bumps and holes. 'It seems like something had been dug out before this. Don't tell me there was a Saint Stone ore here last time?'

As he continued to walk forward, Duan Ling Tian began to hear the noise resonating from the deeper part of the underground tunnel.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

…

Clang! Clang! Clang!

…

Smash! Smash! Smash!

…

There all sorts of noises as though an orchestra piece was being played.

As Duan Ling Tian went in deeper, he finally arrived at the place where the noises originated. He discovered many of the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples had already begun to mine Saint Stones.

Each of them used different Divine Abilities while they mined for Saint Stones. It was an eye-opener for Duan Ling Tian.

Some forcefully threw their punches.

Some used swords or sabers.

Some used their palms as though they were blades.

Some used spears or rods.

All sorts of inconceivable methods were being used here.

"There seems to be a lot of Saint Stones here…" At the same time, Duan Ling Tian saw all four sides of the tunnel were filled with Saint Stones.

The aura released by the Saint Stones belonged to first-grade Saint Stones.