Loose cultivators live in a world without strict rules.
In the wilds, powerful loose cultivators have absolute dominion over their weaker counterparts.
Family cultivators and sect cultivators might still consider the impact on their reputation before engaging in acts of murder and bullying.
But for those like barefoot wanderers who are loose cultivators, there's no such concern.
At worst, they can simply walk away and continue making a living somewhere else.
Thus, although Zhou Chun repeatedly stated that he would provide compensation afterwards, the old man he approached dared not entertain such thoughts.
All he hoped for was that Zhou Chun would spare their lives after obtaining the treasures within the Golden Armored Piercing Mountain Beast's lair.
Zhou Chun had no interest in correcting this misunderstanding.
Now assuming the identity of loose cultivator Han Sanjue, he found no need to explain.
He would just do as he pleased afterwards.
Such unbridled behavior was the very freedom enjoyed by loose cultivators.
By the time Zhou Chun and the three men reached the sealed entrance in the mine shaft, he reopened it, and let Baibai, the Silver Lightning Python, lead the way with the old man to the correct lair of the Golden Armored Piercing Mountain Beast.
Loose cultivators like the old man were naturally unfamiliar with rare mid-level demon beasts like the Silver Lightning Python.
They only sensed that Zhou Chun truly possessed unfathomable strength, owning such a powerful serpent spirit pet.
"What's the relationship between you three? I see Taoist Friend Jiang seems to take good care of you," Zhou Chun asked idly while waiting for the old man to return, curious about the origins of the two young men.
Due to prior instructions from the old man, the two youths dared not ignore Zhou Chun's questions.
After all, it wasn't a secret that needed to be hidden.
So they quickly began a back-and-forth with Zhou Chun, telling him about their origins.
It turned out their relationship was much as Zhou Chun had guessed: they were like master and disciple without the formal titles.
The old man was named Jiang Buping, a wily old fox in the cultivation world, now over seventy.
The taller young man was Luo Dong, originally a mortal adventurer who met Jiang Buping and was discovered to have Spirit Root Aptitude; he then followed him and cultivated.
The shorter, chubbier young man, Wu Youfu, was the son of a good friend of Jiang Buping; after the friend perished, Jiang took him under his wing.
All three had low cultivation levels—Jiang himself was over seventy and yet only at the eighth layer of the Qi Refinement Realm.
Luo Dong was at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, while Wu Youfu was merely at the third layer.
It was precisely because Luo Dong and Wu Youfu were low-level cultivators that Jiang Buping brought them to the abandoned mines to make a living.
Although not peaceful, his eighth layer of Qi Refinement was still considered strong here, and the trio normally wouldn't face any safety issues.
Unfortunately, today they encountered the ruthless Zhou Chun, and after assessing the gap between them, they could only obediently admit defeat.
Zhou Chun couldn't be certain if Luo Dong and Wu Youfu's story was true, but if it was, then Jiang Buping might actually be a compassionate person, a rarity in this world.
After about two hours of casual conversation with the two, Jiang Buping finally emerged from the mine opening, covered in dust.
Climbing out, he didn't bother to wipe the dust off his face or head; he immediately beamed and reached to hand over his storage pouch to Zhou Chun, saying, "Taoist Friend Han, I have successfully fulfilled the task and brought out all the spiritual-power-infused treasures from the demon nest for your inspection."
After speaking, he even patted his pocket and took off his outer coat, wearing only a short undershirt, presenting himself for Zhou Chun to check.
His practiced demeanor suggested this wasn't his first time engaging in such affairs.
This was the awareness an old loose cultivator should have!
Family cultivators and sect cultivators might never understand the hardships of life for lower-level loose cultivators.
Their understanding of such cultivators probably only extends to things like living without a fixed abode, the uncertainty of meals, and the lack of security, all heard through the grapevine.
It might not reach the level of "why not eat meat porridge," but indeed, they're clueless about the miserable and demeaning experiences a true lower-level loose cultivator might go through in a lifetime.
Fortunately, Zhou Chun was no ordinary family or sect cultivator.
Although he had not witnessed the life of lower-level loose cultivators, his time spent in the marketplace allowed him some insight.
Moreover, in his previous life, he had witnessed firsthand the poverty of the underprivileged in remote rural areas and, by comparison, had a clear concept of the life of a bottom-tier loose cultivator in this world.
So at this moment, despite being internally moved by Jiang Buping's "righteousness," his expression revealed nothing.
He simply nodded lightly, "Taoist Friend Jiang has worked hard. Please take a seat and have some water."
Then he casually emptied the contents of the storage pouch.
Suddenly, "clatter clatter" a pile of items fell to the ground, forming a small heap.
Mostly, they were pale gold Pure Gold ores.
The Golden Armored Piercing Mountain Beast would eat some Pure Gold ore, but its main diet consisted of various underground insects, mice, and other small creatures.
Thus, it brought the ores back to its lair not mainly for consumption but to slowly absorb the Golden Qi spiritual power within them to strengthen itself.