The pit was a hundred meters deep.
At sixty meters deep, a network of mine tunnels, like spider webs, appeared.
At this sight, even Old Dog was stunned.
The crisscrossing mine tunnels made it impossible to tell one from another.
The guide was obsequious; after all, Zhuang Yan had adopted that attitude, so he didn't dare to be too afraid.
Zhou You gave Old Dog a meaningful look.
Old Dog, being experienced, immediately understood Zhou You's intention, and quickly stepped forward to put his arm around the guide's shoulder, "Brother, this place is so vast, it's hard to inspect it all. How about you take me down one of the tunnels alone?"
The man hesitated, "But..."
Old Dog smiled, "Don't worry, no matter what we find, we'll handle it privately."
The man, constrained by the 'identities' of the group, could only nod.
As the two of them followed the outer rock wall to another passage, Zhou You, Xiao Jing, and Zhou Chen continued deeper.
Zhou Chen nervously asked, "Is Lu Renjia really here?"
Zhou You nodded, "According to the clues we got earlier, he should indeed be here. However, this place is so vast that finding him won't be an easy task."
After coming down, he noticed it.
The air here was filled with a blood-like scent; this scent was that of Blood Crystal.
Even if he remembered Lu Renjia's scent, it would be useless, let alone not remembering it.
Under the cover of the mixed bloody Qi, it was impossible to distinguish anything.
Xiao Jing whispered, "Let's search first; this is just the outermost part."
Completely excavating a mine requires time.
And the existence of this Blood Crystal Mine might span decades, even centuries.
After walking about fifty meters, the path ahead branched into a complex network of passages. After randomly choosing one and walking for a while, they could hear the clanging sounds from within.
Oil lamps were placed every twenty meters along the walls of the mine tunnel.
A scrawny man was pushing a cart to transport Ore out. From the moment they entered, he had no chance to escape.
Not to mention his strength being sealed, even if it wasn't, it would be useless.
Most of those sent in were Cultivators below the Spirit Connection Realm.
The instinct of all living things is that as long as there is a breath of Qi to live, most of them will choose to survive in hardship.
Zhou Chen watched the numb man leave, a look of unbearable pity in her eyes, "Second Master."
Zhou You shook his head, "Let's find the person first. Right now, only Ou Ye is stalling up there."
If Ji Hao truly came, Ou Ye would very likely be killed directly.
Therefore, the most urgent task was to find Lu Renjia first, and then see if there was a way to destroy this place and release everyone.
He had considered acting directly before, but the strength of Evil Cloud Pavilion was unknown, and he didn't want to bring trouble to the Zhou Family.
However, seeing the miserable state here now, he immediately became displeased.
Zhou You was definitely not someone who meddled in others' affairs, but he was definitely someone who acted according to his mood.
More and more people appeared ahead, each one emaciated and with depleted Qi.
Even if they were released, they would be cripples, making it difficult to cultivate again.
Whenever they excavated a piece of Blood Crystal Mine, their own Qi would deplete. This was the special characteristic of Blood Crystal Mine, completely different from Spirit Stone.
The 'blood' of Blood Crystal Mine was not actual blood, but a naturally formed special mineral that could refine the body's Qi, having great efficacy.
The group of people swinging hammers didn't even raise their heads as the others approached.
Their entire faces were etched with numbness and despair.
Zhou You's gaze fell on a bamboo shed in the corner, where some blood-colored Ore twinkled. He casually picked up a piece.
This was Blood Crystal Mine, like a blood-colored crystal.
Zhou You waved his hand and directly put all the Blood Crystal Mine into his storage ring.
In response, those people still showed no reaction.
A prominent figure with a storage ring was definitely a top existence in the Evil Cloud Pavilion.
There was nothing to doubt!
Furthermore, even if someone came to steal Blood Crystal Mine, what did it have to do with them?
Immediately, Zhou You led the two to another passage and continued searching for Lu Renjia and the West Street Blood Crystal Mine.
Half an hour later, even with the three of them continuously moving, they had only covered a very small portion.
Decades, even a century of excavation, had already made the area very large.
"The situation above is unclear, and I don't know how much longer we can stall."
A hint of anxiety appeared in Zhou You's eyes, and his Left Hand touched the Zhu Xie Sword.
But at present, the only thing he could do was to continue searching for Lu Renjia.
Another hour passed, and Zhou You also began to feel irritable.
He now even wanted to directly shout Lu Renjia's name.
Meanwhile, above, beneath Ou Ye's fierce exterior, his heart began to panic.
Why hadn't they come out yet?
In these nearly two hours, Zhuang Yan had mentioned reporting to the Evil Cloud Pavilion Master three times.
If the Evil Cloud Pavilion Master arrived, wouldn't his cover be blown directly?
If the other party mentioned it again, he would truly have no more excuses to stall.
Zhuang Yan, with excited feelings, said, "Envoy, the Pavilion Master has quite a bit of Blood Crystal prepared. I will inform him now to bring the Blood Crystal, so you can go back and report. What do you think?"
Ou Ye sneered, "Za Yu, you've thought very well. If the quantity is sufficient, I will report it truthfully to Master. Also, headquarters very much needs a vigilant person like you."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yan was even more overjoyed, "I'll go send the message right away."
Ou Ye nodded. As Zhuang Yan left, he was already restless.
Isn't it just finding someone?
Why is it so difficult?
Should he escape first?
This was not a bad idea.
Or, should he first trick the Blood Crystal from the Evil Cloud Pavilion Master's hands? And then quickly escape before his identity was exposed?
Ou Ye took several deep breaths, feeling that coming here this time was too risky.
That Zhou You was simply too strange, his strength unknown.
...
Outside the mountain.
A figure stumbled.
Ji Hao spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes ruthless, "Damn Fairy Yun Ni, how dare she attack me directly. Very well, you disrespectful Za Yu, once I report this to Master, I will kill you!"
With that thought, Ji Hao looked ahead, "I should have found the Evil Cloud Pavilion Master first, but now I'd best quickly use some Blood Crystal to recover from my injuries."
"Stop."
The middle-aged man from before ran out of the jungle and was stunned when he saw Ji Hao.
Had this person already been here?
Ji Hao straightened his body, took out a token with his Left Hand, "Ji Hao of the Evil Forces headquarters, immediately notify your Pavilion Master to come see me."
Ji Hao?
The previous one was also named Ji Hao, right?
The middle-aged man looked at Ji Hao suspiciously, but the token seemed similar to the previous one, yet also had some differences.
Could it be Ou Ye, who had a thousand faces?
Involuntarily, he recalled Zhuang Yan's instructions and quickly drew his sword, "Passcode."
"Passcode?"
Ji Hao was stunned, then enraged, "Za Yu, are you blind? You dare ask me for a passcode in front of my Master's token?"
The middle-aged man said in a deep voice, "What's for dinner tonight?"
"I'll eat your mother!"
Ji Hao was furious, taking a step forward, his black blade in hand, and with one strike, he chopped off the man's head. "A mere Za Yu dares to block my Dao, death is not to be regretted!"