Huo Chengfeng’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected this person to be not only talented but also so meticulous.
After a moment of contemplation, Huo Chengfeng said, “First, we’ll refine enough antidotes to secretly aid a batch of poisoned individuals. Once the exits are secured, we’ll mobilize everyone to clear out all the demon guards within. Then, we’ll continue refining antidotes, starting with the poisoned in this mine, and then sending them to other mines. We’ll take control of them one by one, and detoxify them one by one.”
Mo Qi nodded, “That’s the plan.”
Just then, the mine supervisor, leading a team of about fifty people, arrived.
Earlier, a soldier had reported to the mine chief about troublemakers. They assumed this force would be more than enough to deal with a few people causing disruption.
The entire contingent landed on the open ground, staring menacingly at the busy people opposite and a standing overseer.
The busy people slowly stood up.
To the mine supervisor’s surprise, Huo Chengfeng, Niu Jiye, and the others had shed their usual dejected and humble demeanor. They stood tall, exuding an imposing aura that even overshadowed his own men.
What was going on? Weren’t they told a few troublemakers had arrived?
Looking at the situation, this wasn’t mere troublemaking; it was outright rebellion!
“You, what are you doing?” the mine supervisor shouted!
He intended to intimidate them, but as the words left his mouth, he realized his voice was trembling and hoarse. Instead of deterrence, it sounded like a plea for mercy.
The mine supervisor himself was startled. He wasn’t afraid, so why was his voice so hoarse?
“Rebelling!” Huo Chengfeng stated simply and forcefully.
These two words released all the pent-up emotions that had been suppressed in his chest.
These two words made his long-frozen blood surge with renewed vigor.
The mine supervisor’s legs went weak with fear!
The ease with which these weighty words were spoken revealed the immense determination he possessed.
And he not only had determination but also the strength!
Huo Chengfeng was at the late-stage Profound Immortal cultivation level.
Such a cultivation level was considered top-tier in the entire Demon Realm!
Lian Xin, with the same cultivation, could fight two opponents, holding her own against two Profound Immortals, Ge Xiang and Shui Han.
The former Slaughter Captain of the Demon Guards had gone to great lengths and effort to lure this great fish and another one.
Since Huo Chengfeng dared to utter these words so openly, he had already made up his mind to annihilate this group in one fell swoop.
Therefore, the moment the words fell, he made his move!
He pushed his hand forward, and a surge of phantom energy expanded, instantly enveloping the dozens of people.
Huo Chengfeng clasped his hands together, feeling the air being violently compressed, and the ground trembled.
Everyone within the phantom energy instantly turned into dust.
As the phantom energy dissipated, a faint mist drifted in the air…
The others resumed their work as if nothing had happened.
Mo Qi watched, dumbfounded. Who exactly had he saved?
“I’ll go inside to process the materials. You can send in the spirit stones one after another,” Mo Qi said, then hurried inside.
“Alright! Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Mo!” Huo Chengfeng said respectfully.
Mo Qi coughed dryly, not responding, and went directly into the cave.
He only began to pant once he was inside the cave. My heavens, that was terrifying!
There was enough Demon Azure Vine bark inside the cave, so this was not a concern.
What was concerning was the number of artifact refining furnaces. Although there were many in this cave, he still felt it was too few.
If there were enough furnaces, he could mobilize all the miners to help with artifact refining, thus saving the most people in the shortest amount of time.
But that would require many artifact refining furnaces!
In the next step, after taking control of the entire mine, he could search each level to see if there were any more furnaces.
For now, he would refine a batch of antidote spirit stones.
A moment later, the people outside began sending in spirit stones one after another. Mo Qi had also processed some raw materials and began placing them and the spirit stones into the artifact refining furnaces to begin the process.
He could oversee several furnaces at once, but not all of them. So, he called a few people from outside and taught them how to control the heat and watch the other furnaces.
Fortunately, the raw materials were scarce, and the refining time was short. About half an hour later, batches of antidote spirit stones were refined.
Mo Qi called everyone in and explained the division of labor. Huo Chengfeng was to block the exit, preventing the demon guards from leaving.
The mine itself had some spirit stones that could block communication spirit stones, so as long as people didn’t leave, the news shouldn’t get out.
Niu Jiye, along with the others, would carry the detoxifying spirit stones and go to each level to demonstrate their use. It would only take one successful demonstration per level to rally everyone.
During this process, they might encounter various obstructions from soldiers and overseers, so they had to proceed cautiously at first. Once they secured one or two levels and built a sufficient following, things would become easier.
Later, they could even have the rescued individuals stand in the pits to spread the word, which would surely draw a large crowd.
Mo Qi, meanwhile, would head to the second level to deal with the demon guard garrison.
Huo Chengfeng immediately raised an objection to this division of labor. “I have no problem guarding the exit on the first level. I will definitely complete the mission and ensure not a single fly gets out. The most powerful demon guard here is Mine Chief Lou, who is only at the mid-stage Profound Immortal level. The rest are insignificant. However, dealing with the garrison on the second level should wait. You definitely can’t handle them alone. Once we mobilize everyone later, we can deal with them, although the situation will be more chaotic and require a bit more effort. But I believe, Mr. Mo, you have more important matters to attend to. At the very bottom of this mine, a more formidable individual named Ye Zhixun is imprisoned, who is already a Golden Immortal. For us to succeed, we must rescue him first. Moreover, the enemy will know of our actions and will react immediately…”
“Alright, I’ll go immediately,” Mo Qi said, not waiting for him to finish. He grabbed a detoxifying spirit stone and floated out. “Everyone, split up and be careful.”
His reaction speed was incredible!
Huo Chengfeng smiled and told Niu Jiye to act quickly, while he himself hurried towards the first level.
At this moment, Mine Chief Lou on the first level was extremely anxious. Two batches of people had gone to the third level, and neither had returned, disappearing without a trace.
He felt the situation was very serious!
But who was the enemy? How many were there? He had no idea.
He considered going down himself to investigate but then decided against it.
The area below was so gloomy, and it always emanated a foul odor!
Therefore, his usual activities were confined to the first and second levels. He rarely ventured to the third level or below.
He was just about to send another team of soldiers down to check the situation, at least to figure out what was happening.
Just then, a patrolling soldier returned with a report, stating that there was indeed something happening on the third level, with a few people doing things outside of the prescribed routine.
Rebellion! It must be rebellion!
“What are the people on the third level doing? What is their condition?” Mine Chief Lou asked urgently.
“They seem to be moving spirit stones in and out. I can’t tell what they’re doing specifically. As for their condition, it’s too far to see clearly.”
Mine Chief Lou was confused. The key issue was not understanding whether there were external intruders or if the few workers on the third level had rebelled.
Logically, they shouldn’t rebel. The deterrence of the雀片 spirit stone was greater than any threat of death!
If they weren’t rebelling, then some intruders must have infiltrated. How many were there?
Or perhaps, those sorters had been detoxified?
Regardless, the priority was to quell the unrest.
So, he quickly sent orders for Yang, the mine supervisor from the second level, to go down and quell the rebellion. At the same time, he thought of Ye Zhixun, who was at the very bottom. Ye Zhixun was capable of causing immense chaos and was generally kept under lock and key.
The miners in the mine had two lifestyles: one for those with low cultivation and a low chance of escape, who could return home daily; the other for those with high cultivation and a greater potential threat, who had to be confined at all times, not allowed out even when not mining.
Ye Zhixun belonged to the latter category.
If Ye Zhixun escaped and was detoxified, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Although the possibility of him being detoxified was very small, almost nonexistent, it was better to be safe than sorry!
To prevent such an unlikely event, he needed to find a way to transfer him, or it would be more prudent to kill him.
He immediately dispatched Zhou, the mine supervisor, to handle this matter.
After making these arrangements, he immediately fled the mine.
He didn’t know exactly what was happening, but he knew that if Huo Chengfeng on the third level rebelled, even without Ye Zhixun’s involvement, the situation would be dire.
Let those inside die, but he himself must not.
Furthermore, bringing the news out to prepare the higher authorities was more important than guarding this mine.
Therefore, his priority was to escape first.
When Huo Chengfeng arrived at the first level from below, Ma San and the others were greatly surprised.
Huo Chengfeng had relatively more freedom compared to Ye Zhixun, but he had long resigned himself to his fate. If he didn’t die on the third level, he would work there. How could he possibly appear on the first level?
Without a word, Huo Chengfeng unleashed a phantom energy that enveloped the soldiers, and as expected, turned them into dust.
He strode forward and secured the main entrance.
A moment later, it seemed the action below had begun, and the sounds of fighting gradually intensified. Some overseers preparing to escape were ruthlessly killed by Huo Chengfeng.
Mo Qi floated upwards, heading towards the very bottom of the mine.
At this time, the lower mine levels were still orderly. Cages filled with spirit stones floated, forming lines that ascended. Empty cages, after unloading their spirit stones, descended in another set of lines, creating a peculiar spectacle.
Occasionally, patrolling soldiers would come up to intercept, seemingly wanting to question Mo Qi about his whereabouts. Mo Qi weaved through these lines, his movements mysterious and unpredictable.
Since he was wearing an overseer’s uniform, the soldiers pursued him for a while but eventually gave up.
Meanwhile, Niu Jiye and the others went to the fourth level first. This level was crucial, with many overseers.
Seeing so many people surging forward, the overseers were momentarily panicked.