"Alright, those who have met their quotas, collect your rations and return to your rooms to rest."
"In seven days, be ready to head down to the mines... those who are late... hmph!"
The cold, piercing voice echoed once more.
Bai Sheng glanced over all the servants who had submitted their quotas, and with a flick of his wrist, bags of coarse grain flew out, landing in front of each person.
Lu Li picked up one of the bags and silently followed the crowd back to the wooden huts outside the mine shaft.
As for those who hadn't met their quotas...
Lu Li turned back to look, seeing about seven or eight ragged servants waiting, pale-faced, for judgment...
"Bang!"
The door opened, revealing a large communal kang bed.
The servants trudged in with heavy steps.
No one spoke; each found a corner on the bed to begin their cultivation.
Every trip to the mine was mentally exhausting, a constant dance with death.
Finally having time to cultivate, no one had the energy to chat.
"Seven days... in seven days, we'll have to go down to the mines again."
"Need to be careful not to arouse Bai Sheng's suspicion..."
Recalling Bai Sheng's bloody methods, Lu Li felt a surge of crisis.
With his current abilities, the only way to escape this predicament was to rely on the power of the state.
Though the Qingchi Demon Sect was a demon sect, its rules were strict, and outer sect disciples were considered official disciples.
Under the sect's protection, even if he managed to kill Bai Sheng, it would surely provoke an investigation by the sect.
"Unless... I can do it without anyone knowing, or advance to the Qi Refining 4th Layer and enter the outer sect in a short time..."
"Sigh..."
Taking a deep breath, Lu Li felt a mix of emotions.
It had been three months since he crossed over to this world called the Qiulong Realm.
He had experienced many things.
When he first arrived and learned this was a world of cultivation, he was overjoyed, thinking he had a chance at immortality.
After much hardship, he finally joined a sect, only to discover it was a demon sect.
It wasn't entirely his fault for misjudging; the Qingchi Sect was known outside not as the Qingchi Demon Sect, but as...
"The Qingchi Holy Sect..."
"Of course, how could a demonic sect openly call itself a demon sect?"
Lu Li couldn't help but shake his head; the situation in this world was extremely complex.
The Holy Sect's name, yet it engaged in demonic practices, but the common people under its rule were all respectful and worshipful.
In the three counties and six districts, which common farmer didn't know of the Holy Sect's deeds, subduing demons and ensuring good weather?
Because of this, Lu Li joined the sect, thinking it was a good opportunity.
But who knew...
For cultivators, especially those with poor aptitude, the Qingchi Sect's malice was overwhelming.
"Forget it, with my current strength and insight, I can't discern the depths within."
"I should find a way to quickly contact the state."
Scanning the wooden hut, seven or eight servants were sitting cross-legged, practicing the basic techniques issued by the sect.
Lu Li walked out with light steps, openly and confidently.
Outside the hut, the sky was growing dark.
There was no one around, only patches of blood on the ground telling of the recent tragedy.
Lu Li pulled his robes tighter around himself and walked toward a quiet, desolate corner of the distant mine.
Once he confirmed the area was safe and empty, he took out the fish-shaped jade pendant from his chest.
"Sigh..."
Looking at the dim jade pendant in his hand, Lu Li took a deep breath.
The next second, the thin spiritual power within him surged, flowing slowly into the jade pendant.
Buzz~!
A soft hum, and the jade pendant trembled.
Rays of light flickered out...
Blue Star, Jing City.
The security at the National Security Bureau had never been this tight.
Ever since Li Yuanchao returned from the Jingnan Sea.
He received the highest directive and immediately put the entire bureau on Level One situation!
The entire building was sealed off.
The Capital Guards stationed an entire reinforced regiment.
The fish-shaped jade pendant was transferred overnight to the underground main control hall, monitored 24/7.
And when the jade pendant lying quietly on the metal platform began to flicker again.
The staff in charge of monitoring were instantly shocked.
They quickly picked up the intercom to report.
"Attention! Attention! Level One situation!"
"Level One situation! The jade pendant is flashing!"
"All personnel, prepare immediately!"
The voice echoed through the intercom, resounding throughout the building.
In one minute, eight cameras and various recording devices were ready.
In three minutes, the standby PhD scholars and academicians from various disciplines rushed to the scene.
In five minutes, Li Yuanchao, accompanied by his guards, descended directly to the underground main control.
Nearly a hundred people poured into the underground main control hall like a tide.
Everyone looked excitedly and expectantly at the glowing jade pendant.
Until Lu Li's voice echoed through the hall via the amplifying equipment.
"Leader... are you there?"
Swish!
Hearing Lu Li's voice, Li Yuanchao grabbed the jade pendant.
Standing straight, he suppressed his excitement, speaking in a steady, trembling voice: "Comrade Lu Li, I'm here!"
Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
Hearing Li Yuanchao's slightly authoritative voice, Lu Li's initial nervousness inexplicably calmed a bit.
Indeed, no matter when.
'Home' is always the source of confidence!
He held the jade pendant, suppressing the tremor in his heart.
"Hello, Director Li. First, I want to thank the state for its help and support last time."
"It helped me through a difficult time, and now I am temporarily safe."
"That's good! Comrade Lu Li, you should not feel burdened."
"I have received the highest directive to fully support your survival and development in the other world."
"No matter what problems you encounter, the state will unconditionally support you!"
Li Yuanchao's voice followed closely, announcing the highest directive.
This made Lu Li's heart tremble even more.
"The... highest directive..."
"The state... unconditionally supports me?!"
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Lu Li's breathing became heavy.
He never expected to receive attention from the highest directive one day.
"That's right!"
"Comrade Lu Li, the last meeting was rather rushed."
"This time, if you can ensure your safety, please provide detailed information about your situation."
Li Yuanchao's voice was somewhat anxious, as if fearing Lu Li would suddenly disconnect again.
Hearing this, Lu Li quickly regained his composure and calmed his mind.
He must quickly explain his intentions and detailed situation to escape the current predicament.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Li recounted everything he knew and had experienced.
"Hello, Director Li, let me explain my current situation in detail."
"This world is called the Qiulong Realm, and it's not a single continental world."
"The cultivation civilization here is thriving, and even ordinary people know that the Qiulong Realm spans several planetary continents."
"The place I'm in is just a region under the Qiulong Realm, called the Eastern Wilderness Star."
"Eastern Wilderness Star is vast in area; I don't know the specifics, but I know this star is divided into five states."
"East, West, South, North, and Central... the Qingchi Demon Sect is located in the border area of the Western State..."
Lu Li tried to be as detailed as possible with what he knew.
To enrich the state's understanding of this world.
And his next words left Li Yuanchao and others stunned.
The entire main control hall fell silent in an instant.
"I once heard from sect cultivators... this world is considered a standard Middle Thousand World."
"Which means there's still the legendary Great Thousand Immortal World above!"
Proofreader: Peter Pan