Chapter 329: The Road to Freedom

Under the leadership of Shen Mangxing, Zuo Qinghui and others carried mining tools that looked like rakes and baskets, entered one of the many mines, and came to a mine tunnel that could only accommodate one person.

The mine tunnel was dark and cold, and there were some glowing blue stones embedded in the rock walls along the way, allowing everyone to see the road ahead clearly.

Not far away, Zuo Qinghui saw a light blue light curtain blocking everyone's way.

Shen Mangxing took out a token from his arms and flashed it in front of the light curtain, and the light curtain immediately disappeared, allowing everyone to continue moving forward.

"This is the boundary of the mine formation. Only those holding the token can open the formation for a moment. After crossing it, we will no longer be protected by the formation. If you encounter a black wind, remember to follow closely and don't fall behind. If you can't get back in time, no one will save you." Zhou Peng turned his head and reminded Zuo Qinghui and the other two.

The mine tunnel behind the light blue light curtain had no lighting stones and began to become deep and dim.

The group continued to move forward with torches in hand. Not long after, the surroundings suddenly lit up with red light and the temperature rose.

As they went deeper and deeper, the red light became more and more dense, and the temperature rose to a suffocating level.

The group moved forward for about an incense stick of time, and the view in front of them widened. A huge and open mine cave suddenly appeared in front of them. There were also many small mine tunnels of different sizes in various parts of the mine cave.

The rock walls of this mine cave were almost all showing a flickering red color. Being in it was like being in a blazing furnace. The rolling heat waves almost burned all the hair on the body.

All the monks present were suppressed in their cultivation. Although the heat was unbearable, they were not in danger of their lives. If a mortal was here, he would probably faint on the spot.

Shen Mangxing was the first to stop and look around, and then he gave an order, telling everyone to start digging for ore.

Everyone went forward to dig the earth and rocks with ease, while Zuo Qinghui looked around and deliberately chose a more remote mine tunnel to avoid Shen Mangxing's sight.

Not long after, Xu Che followed suit and came over. The two of them mined and communicated in a low voice.

"Last night, the master had issued an order to me and explained your situation. In the next period of time, you will listen to my arrangements. When the time is right, the master will rescue us." Zuo Qinghui said in a low voice while waving the magic weapon.

"May I ask, since the Dark Moon God already knows the situation here, why doesn't he rescue us now?" Xu Che asked suspiciously.

"Because the master wants to liberate all the miners here, not just rescue you and me." Zuo Qinghui said without raising his head.

Xu Che said uneasily: "Is there any difference between the two? Or does the Dark Moon God not have a complete confidence in dealing with the monks stationed here?"

"That's wrong. With the master's ability, even if the Guiyuan Sect monks here rush in, it will be a bit troublesome, but it is not impossible to deal with them." Zuo Qinghui shook his head.

Xu Che frowned: "Then why..."

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Zuo Qinghui.

"The master told me that you have read "Childish Stories", so please tell me why the beast speaker inside finally opened the cage and let the sparrow out? If the sparrow had not stained its feathers with blood and showed its determination and will to the beast speaker, how could it have won freedom?"

Seeing Xu Che choke slightly and looking thoughtful, Zuo Qinghui continued to say slowly: "Freedom is never begged or given, but it must be won with your own hands."

Xu Che was shocked and his face was flying. He felt that these words touched his heart, but soon he realized some contradictions.

"Since we fought for our freedom, how can your master have the nerve to call himself a god and let us worship him?" Xu Che asked after a slight hesitation.

"The cage that a bird in a cage can't break even if it tries its best, but people outside the cage only need a key to open it easily, and my master is the one who handed us the key to freedom."

"He calls himself a god, but he is not the kind of god who is high in the sky and overlooks the ups and downs of all living beings, nor is he the kind of god who cuts his flesh to feed the eagle and sacrifices himself to satisfy the wishes of his believers, but a god who guides people to pursue freedom and allows everyone to dominate their destiny by their own will." Zuo Qinghui raised his head, looked directly into Xu Che's eyes, and said so.

Xu Che's eyes were shining, and he was obviously moved by Zuo Qinghui, but at this moment, a chuckle came from their side.

"Fellow Daoist Zuo said it very well. Even I, who was eavesdropping, felt excited. I wonder if you can include me in your plan?"

Xu Che turned his head and saw She Yu holding a mining tool and walking to him and Zuo Qinghui, with a smile on her dark face.

Zuo Qinghui had long noticed that she had intentionally or unintentionally come to the side. When he heard her words, he continued calmly: "Anyone who wants to fight for freedom with his own hands will be favored by the master. Whether Fellow Daoist She joins or not is entirely voluntary, and there is no question of whether or not."

Hearing this, She Yu seemed to have a little more joy on his face, and asked again: "Does Fellow Daoist have a specific plan now? Is there anything you need my help with?"

"In fact, it is not difficult to escape from here. After all, there are only four barriers: neck ring, formation, cultivator, and Dan formation."

When She Yu and Xu Che heard this, they both showed some contemplation in their eyes, especially the former, who still showed a trace of doubt in his eyes.

The two looked at each other, and then looked at Zuo Qinghui again.

"There is no need to say more about the neck ring. To unlock it, all you need is an unrestricted cultivator to forcibly break it with the magic power of the foundation-building period. There is no need to worry about this. The master has his own arrangements."

"Although I don't know whether the formation covering this place is effective in attacking, it is better to break it to avoid being controlled by the cultivators of Guiyuan Sect. I already know a few nodes. Then we can find a way to do some tricks in advance."

"There are many disciples of Guiyuan Sect guarding here. We can't deal with them alone. We need to mobilize more fellow Taoists, tell them the plan, and fight together. If the cultivation is restored, it should not be a problem."

"As for the most critical thing, the Jindan-stage cultivator stationed here, the master will take action to deal with it." Zuo Qinghui explained one by one.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Che took the initiative to say: "I have some research on formations, and I can participate in breaking the nodes."

"Then I will be responsible for contacting other cultivators?" She Yu smiled.

However, Zuo Qinghui shook his head at She Yu: "No, let me do this, you are responsible for another thing, there are still many mortal miners here who are suffering, you find an opportunity to preach among them, let them all believe in the Dark Moon God - that is, the Lord."

She Yu was stunned: "Is it necessary? What can those mortals do? They can't help us at all."

Zuo Qinghui shook his head: "Mortals are also qualified to be free, and they also have their own ways. Here, in addition to mortal miners who mine ordinary ores, there are also those who are responsible for sweeping and handling meals. They are not valued by the monks of Guiyuan Sect, and some taboo topics will not deliberately force them away. If we grasp this line, maybe we can have unexpected surprises."

Hearing this, She Yu and Xu Che nodded thoughtfully.

Then, seeing that Zuo Qinghui seemed to have arranged everything and had no other words to instruct, She Yu asked.

"When we are out of trouble, how should we repay your master?"

"No need, the master did not do this for any reward. If you really want to count, your gratitude is enough." Zuo Qinghui shook his head.

She Yu's eyes flashed, as if he couldn't believe it: "Going to the temple to burn incense requires incense money, and your master has saved so many people, so he really doesn't want anything? There is such a good thing?"

"Since the master calls himself a god, how can he ask for rewards from those who are grateful to him and believe in him? And how much of the so-called incense money is wanted by those gods? In the end, it also falls into the pockets of those temple priests and monks, isn't it?" Zuo Qinghui said with some disapproval.

Hearing this, She Yu seemed to be a little moved, but she quickly restrained her emotions, nodded, and didn't ask any more questions.

And Xu Che didn't have anything to say, so the three of them began to remain silent and focus on mining ore, so as not to fail to complete today's mining indicators.

…

In the arena, cheers and shouts mixed together, breaking the gap between the guards and the miners, giving them the same title: gamblers.

Every night, there are many fights in the arena, and before they start, the odds will be set up outside the arena for gamblers to place bets.

No matter who comes, whether they use spirit stones or contribution points, the dealer will accept everyone.

In the arena, there is a bloody contest between monks and miners and monsters, while outside the arena is a collision of desire and greed.

Because of this, sometimes, it is the guards who hope that the miners will win, and it is the miners who pray that the players will be buried in the beasts.

The players in the arena are not all forced. Every time they win a game, they can get a high income of contribution points. In this mine, in addition to dignity, miners can even redeem their daily mining share or even the monthly mining total by consuming contribution points.

However, this level of expenditure is too huge. Even those early monks and miners with more contribution points will only occasionally give themselves a day or two off and buy a large table of sumptuous food to rest.

And there is only one miner in the entire mine who can really rely on contribution points to completely offset the mining task.

The red-eyed pig beast snorted anxiously, sharp bone spurs drilled out of its body, two huge dirty yellow fangs, the tips of which were stained with black and red blood. I don’t know how many people have died from its piercing.

However, the monk standing in front of the pig beast did not have the slightest fear on his face.

He was nine feet tall and a circle larger than ordinary people. His long hair was split like a lion’s mane. His weather-beaten cheeks were like clay sculptures and stone sculptures, with sharp edges and corners as if carved by a carving knife. On his naked upper body, the bronze muscles were strong and powerful, but the scars on them were terrifying.

He stared at the uneasy pig beast, his eyes calm, as if he didn't take it seriously at all.

Outside the arena, Wu Lu looked at the man in the arena, turned his head and said to Zuo Qinghui beside him:

"How is it, Fellow Daoist Zuo, he is Feng Ling, who is famous in the entire mine. He has fought against monsters in the arena for a total of 271 times, never lost, and won countless contribution points. Now he hasn't been to the mine for several years."