The Divine Emperor nodded slightly and said, "Now we also stand on a unified front.
I hope you can tell me the news of the Red Lotus as soon as possible."
"Once I return to the Sect, I will check it out for you," Xu Zimei replied, "In addition, call me Your Majesty from now on."
The Divine Emperor nodded slightly.
Several people walked out of the palace, which was at the core location of the Divine Gate.
Xu Zimei looked out at the Sect Gate, which was shrouded in many mysteries.
In his past life when he came here, the Divine Gate had already been breached by the martial army, and it had long become a ruin of broken walls and debris.
Surrounding the palace were towering structures, and the Divine Gate was not built on the ground but hidden in an abyss within the Old Land.
Because it was eternally night in the Old Land, many of the buildings were constructed using the luminous Void Bright Stone.
All the buildings, whether it was the palace or the thousand-cell towers, even the isolated islands floating mid-air—
All of the structures emitted a splendid radiance.
Against the backdrop of darkness, they were especially eye-catching.
Like waterfalls plummeting, like stars brightly shining, or like the Milky Way hanging upside down in the sky.
There was no sunlight here, and the plants grown were all species that thrived in darkness.
Pale Ghost Trees, Netherworld Grass, Bloodscale Flowers…
"Is Your Majesty leaving?" the Divine Emperor inquired.
"Not in a hurry," Xu Zimei said with a smile, "Besides, are you going to let me leave empty-handed?
Won’t you prepare some Taoist Vein Crystals for me? Wouldn’t you feel embarrassed?"
Hearing Xu Zimei’s words, a string of grumbles went through the Divine Emperor’s mind, "Even I am your subordinate now, isn’t the Sect under your command? Who should really feel embarrassed between the two of us?"
Naturally, these thoughts the Divine Emperor could only mutter to himself for a moment.
On the surface, he still smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you may not be aware.
The mining of these Dao Vein Crystals is very difficult, and apart from what some people in the Sect use for cultivation, there’s actually not much left."
"I understand," Xu Zimei nodded and said, "We’re all on the same side; there’s no need to be so formal.
A few hundred thousand pieces will do."
The Divine Emperor looked at Xu Zimei and suddenly realized how shameless this person was.
"Your Majesty, actually, these Dao Vein Crystals should not be used in excess by any one person.
One’s body can develop a resistance to them, and most people can only absorb about a thousand pieces at most.
Any more than that would be useless to you even if you absorb them."
"I know. If I can’t use them all, I can trade with others.
Don’t be so stingy. Those who aim to achieve great things should not dwell on trivial matters," Xu Zimei patted the Divine Emperor on the shoulder, shaking his head with a sigh, "Young man, you’re thinking too narrowly."
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
"Never mind that, take me to see the Dao Vein Crystal mining site," Xu Zimei said.
The group passed through multiple layers of space, and the perimeter of the Dao Vein Crystal Mine was guarded by several formations.
Moreover, many patrolling disciples were stationed around the area.
It could be said that it was a place where even birds would find it hard to escape, with a very meticulous defense.
The Divine Emperor did not reveal his identity as, apart from a few power-holders within the Sect, his presence was unknown to others.
They found an Elder to lead the way and arrived here without any obstacles.
Within sight, this secret area was brightly lit, and the surroundings were hung with a very special type of lamps.
The lamps were lit with a special type of resin, which burned for a long duration.
The entire land was marked by pits and uneven cavities.
At this moment, many disciples, dressed in dirty clothes, stood within these holes, and the sound of mining echoed from below.
Some were pushing carts full of Dao Vein Crystals out from inside the holes.
Xu Zimei took a look; these Dao Vein Crystals were quite ordinary and didn’t seem as eye-catching as the regular crystal stones.
It radiated a subdued light, its surface seeming ordinary and unremarkable.
Each Dao Vein Crystal was about the size of a fist, and Xu Zimei picked one up to hold in his hand, absorbing it bit by bit.
He then felt a very weak force entering his body, rushing straight to the position of the seventh Vein Gate.
Although this force was very weak, it was the accumulation of little to much, perhaps.
"This is one of our mining spots," said the guiding Elder beside him, "There are dozens more one within the Sect Gate.
Usually, the disciples who come here to mine are those without any aptitude.
Every time they finish mining, they can also get some Dao Vein Crystals to make an attempt at their Vein Gate.
I suppose there are advantages and disadvantages."
Xu Zimei nodded slightly, and at that moment, he heard a series of exclamations not far away.
The Spiritual Energy between heaven and earth underwent a tremendous change, all converging ahead, with storms of Spiritual Energy sweeping around.
"It seems someone is about to breakthrough," Xu Zimei said with a smile upon seeing this scene, "Let’s go and see."
When several people arrived, they saw that the mining disciples had already surrounded the area.
People were whispering among themselves.
"The Saint Heir has made another breakthrough, now he must already be a powerhouse in the Esteem Vein Realm."
"Of course, the Saint Heir’s aptitude isn’t something we can compare with, perhaps this world’s Destiny belongs to the Saint Heir."
"But I heard that the Saint Heir, like us, used to be a miner."
As the people around him discussed, Xu Zimei’s gaze shifted to the center of the area.
There sat a black-robed youth, cross-legged on a large rock.
The surrounding Spiritual Energy was roaring, and his black hair fluttered with the storm of Spiritual Energy.
On his body, a streak of black light flickered, and this situation continued for a long time.
With a "bang", it seemed as if something had been opened.
At the position on his back, belonging to "Illusion Blood", the fifth Vein Gate was completely opened.
An endless momentum formed around him, especially the black light on his body, which became brighter and brighter.
"He also has a Battle Body?" Feeling the power within, Xu Zimei curiously looked at the Elder nearby, asking.
"This is our Divine Gate’s current Saint Heir, named Jiang Tianbai," the Elder said with a smile, "He was just like the other disciples here before, assigned to mining due to poor aptitude.
But no one expected that he would find the Blackrock Crystal Body, ranked 22nd among the Hundred Great Battle Bodies here.
Later, he devoted himself to cultivation and defeated others in the Sect’s grand competition to be chosen as the current Saint Heir.
Because the Blackrock Crystal Body multiplies his cultivation efforts in this Dao Vein Crystal Mine, he often comes here to cultivate."
"Quite interesting," Xu Zimei commented with a smile.
At that moment, the breakthrough of the black-robed youth in the center was completed.
He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing past them, as he let out a long breath.
"Tianbai, come here," the Elder beside called out to the black-robed youth.
This Elder was also highly respected within the Divine Gate, holding a status similar to that of the True Martial Holy Sect’s Seven Great Elders.
"Disciple greets Elder Pang," the black-robed youth hurried over and greeted respectfully.
"Cultivation should be balanced with ease and hard work.
I’ve seen your effort, try to go outside more when you have the time and train your mindset."
"Disciple understands," Jiang Tianbai replied promptly, his tone serious yet filled with immense confidence, "Elder Pang, rest assured, I will carry this world’s Destiny.
All obstacles and thorns ahead will eventually become mere dung under my feet."
"Dung?" Xu Zimei chuckled softly.
He waved his right hand, and Spiritual Energy surged around him.
Layers of space shattered, as his index finger, carrying boundless waves of force, pressed down.