Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

The Deep Mines truly was deep. When they were brought beside one, he looked down and could feel a sensation of endlessness and despair. The sheer darkness of it was extraordinary. If one had keen senses, they could hear painful moans, repetitive groans, and death throes from time to time. He could feel that the number of lives in this one deep hole likely exceeded the millions. He couldn't even imagine the others.

They were ushered into a small box where they had to cluster together, and Tao stood next to him. His expression had a slight smile. This calmness was a stark contrast to the tears of the children, women, and even the men who were with them. As for him, he didn't believe he could be held by something like this. He looked up to that massive formation that spanned miles, and couldn't help but grow curious.

Being as perceptive as always, Tao explained, "The formation is categorized as being a rank nine. However, its strength is closer to the rank eight. The reason for its rank nine is because of its sheer scope and uses. It's called the Deep Mine God Formation. It was dubbed that by the residents of the Deep Mines, as it stays there like a god looking down at them from up high. There's even a cult group that believes in the spirit of the Deep Mine God Formation. Lunatics."

Tao's knowledge was rather useful to him and answered many of his questions. If it wasn't for him, he would be wildly ignorant about many things, including the dao.

They kept descending in the small box. An initial-Qi Unification Cultivator was escorting them downwards. As they got further and further, it got darker and darker. It was like someone was slowly extinguishing the lights, and despite the sun still being as high as it could be, it seemed to slowly vanish as they descended deeper.

1 li.

10 li.

100 li.

They stopped at about 320 li down. This was terrifyingly deep inside the earth. It took an entire seven days of descension to do so. That was the length of the distance of the basilisk forest. Luckily, the box they were in was like a flight armament and soared down quickly. One thing he felt from these mines was that it truly felt endless.

As they kept descending and the light disappeared, the box lit up in violent brilliance. He could see small lighting crystals embedded into the walls that seemed to be connected to a formation. There was a 100 around every meter of depth. Despite this, the light wasn't very intense. It did reveal tunnels and in these tunnels were haggard people going in and out with various tools. Every so often, there were groups of individuals who were carrying dead bodies, and instead of sending them up, they would just throw them deeper into the mine.

It was a depressing sight. Their bodies would fall and there would be no sound, as if endless. "What is at the bottom?" He couldn't help but ask softly. However, his words captured the attention of the Qi Unification Cultivator, and the man couldn't help but sneer with a trace of disdain and contempt. "If you're so curious, jump and see."

Even though the man said it as a way to mock Yan Zaizen, he genuinely felt tempted. He felt like there was something living down there. His understanding of the life law reached the force-level, and he could sense lifeforce signatures. When he looked downward, he felt a faint one that seemed exceptionally vague. However, as he descended downwards, the signature grew clearer. He didn't know how far he was from that odd lifeforce, but it urged the natural curiosity in his bones.

He made himself a promise, if he gets stronger, he'll come down here and see what truly lies in these holes.

They were sent off onto a platform, next to them were three tunnels of the same size, and three boxes attached to it. The Qi Unification Cultivator started explaining the rules.

For one, everyone has to deliver a certain number of materials into the box. They have to put it into their own spatial boxes, and then put it in the box for it to be shipped and counted. If they fail to do so, a member will come and end their life. If they fail to put in the right number of quota each day, a member will come and end their life. If they fight against the overseers, a member will come and end their lives. Essentially, follow the rules, or someone will come and reap away your life.

After that, he ascended in the box they left. In each of their hands was a small box, and on it was numbers. If they each looked at their cuffs, the numbers matched the boxes. "So this is how it is, doesn't seem too bad." He remarked. It seems pretty straightforward, do the job, stay alive.

However, Tao couldn't help but shake his head at such naive thoughts. He explained, "In the cave, you're given the bare minimum of food. No essence material will be given and the essence in the air cannot be condensed because of these cuffs. Body cultivation requires resources we do not have. As you continue, you'll get weaker and weaker. Not to mention, every day, your quota increases by a tiny bit. In the end, everyone sooner or later ends up…" As his words trailed off, he looked at the cliff that was seemingly bottomless.

The implication of his words caused everyone to shiver.

"However, they wouldn't let you work without some assurance. As long as you last the number of years assigned, you can get your freedom. Otherwise, who would work?" He lightly chuckled, but no one felt the desire to laugh.

"All I have to do is work for ten years, ain't much. You can even reduce the time if you put more ore into your box by a few days." He said, shrugging, but the others couldn't help but be shocked at the number of years. Most of them only had a few years of work, and even then they may not make it, let alone ten years.

"Ten years…?" Was it always so short? Yan Zaizen was surprised, if so, why was he given five hundred years? He looked at the box that was given to them and indeed, he had five hundred years.

"How long were you given, kid?" Tao was curious, peeking at the number represented on his box. His eyes widened in surprise and shock. "Fi-Five Hundred?!" When his words escaped his lips, everyone's expression turned terrifying. That was essentially a death sentence!

Yan Zaizen's expression fell. "I see." His teeth gritted, and his dao aura manifested causing the air to feel stifling. "You truly wish to kill me. I'll make sure you regret it." The amount of killing intent caused the despair they were feeling about the Deep Mines to dissipate, many stepped away in overwhelming fear. Yan Zaizen's eyes were far too dangerous at this moment.

Tao couldn't help but shake his head. He felt that anyone who could formulate their own dao was not to be messed with, and if one had no choice, they should be immediately killed. Whoever made this choice was likely going to be washing their neck for him to claim it should he survive.