Ba Country, Demon Star Cave.
This is a deep, dark cavern, bottomless, with countless stone steps spiraling downward, seemingly extending all the way to the Earth's core, never reaching an end.
Black Evil Qi swirls like smoke, emerging from the depths of the cavern, like a black Demon Dragon rushing toward the sky, baring its fangs and claws.
The air emits a hissing lament, as if heavily corroded by the black Evil Qi. Birds passing overhead flutter their wings a few times and then suddenly plummet, crashing straight into the depths of the cavern.
"Splat!"
The flesh falls, and the bird, as fragile as a sparrow, dies instantly.
As soon as the corpse lands, a pair of pale hands immediately reaches out, grasping the dead body tightly.
"Another foolish bird delivers itself to death. Looks like we can have an extra meal today..."
In the darkness, a deep voice resounds, as a young man in a cyan Daoist robe emerges.
The young man is tall but extremely thin, his hair dull and dry, his lips devoid of any color, his complexion pale as paper, as if he hasn't seen sunlight for a long time, his whole person utterly weak.
His eyes, too, are murky and lack luster, seeming to have lost their vitality.
Yet his steps remain steady, as if he has not lost hope in this eternally dark Demon Cave.
Picking up the bird, the young man skillfully skins and plucks feathers, cleaning it thoroughly, then a faint phantom appears on the palm of his hand.
The phantom is about the size of a palm but square, resembling a seal, shining brightly in the young man's palm, with a pattern of anomalies at the base, like seal characters, accompanied by a strange force surging from within the young man's body. The seal suddenly radiates brightly, drawing in the surrounding Spiritual Qi, as if a scorching flame is about to ignite.
But at this moment, a black iron ring on the young man's wrist suddenly vibrates, tightly clamping his wrist with a force so massive, it nearly embeds into his flesh.
The young man's forehead instantly sweats coldly, seemingly in extreme pain, yet he grits his teeth and forcefully conjures mana, activating the Dharma Seal.
"Whoosh!"
A scorching bright flame erupts suddenly in the darkness.
The scent of sizzling oil from the bird meat in the flame makes one's mouth water.
"Cough, cough!"
"Gu Yuan, stop using mana. This Spirit-Breaking Ring cuts into your veins and sucks blood; even if it doesn't drain your blood mana, the pain alone could kill you!"
"For a piece of cooked meat, it's not worth it!"
In the darkness, an old, weak voice accompanies a cough.
"Already trapped in the Demon Cave, if we resort to eating raw flesh and blood, we'd truly be no different from livestock!"
"It's just a bit of pain, I can endure it!"
Gu Yuan wipes away the cold sweat on his forehead, ignoring the scorching bird in his hand, tearing it apart, splitting it in half and handing one half to the old man who just spoke, then carefully tearing his own half into three small pieces, chewing it thoroughly, until no taste remains, only then cautiously swallowing.
In reality, the roasted bird, lacking seasoning, is tasteless, yet the aroma of cooked meat still brings a sense of long-lost satisfaction to Gu Yuan, confined for so long.
Recalling his past life, he wouldn't even glance at a roasted bird without salt; at the very least, it needed cumin, sesame seeds, chili powder, coated with oil and repeatedly grilled, served with lettuce to be edible.
But this half-year in another world has shown him the deepest and most terrifying prison suffering; a piece of cooked meat is enough to bring immense satisfaction.
Recalling all that happened in the past six months, he can't help but sigh.
Half a year ago, he had just traversed worlds, awakening here, replacing a Cyan Wood Sect Inner Sect disciple of Ba Country, Gu Yuan.
This identity allowed him access to the sect's True Inheritance Secret Technique, abundant cultivation resources, and a bright future.
Gu Yuan was delighted, thinking he hadn't started as a mere weakling and could cultivate well, making his mark in the new world with hopes of Immortal Path–when Demon Slaughter Sect attacked the mountain gate of Cyan Wood Sect.
The battle darkened the skies; the sun and moon lost their light. Cyan Wood Sect's Mountain Protection Array only lasted half a day before it shattered.
The Sect Leader died instantly, with other Elders and Stewards either dead or crippled. The once-great Cyan Wood Sect was instantly reduced to a Demon Cave.
The elite forces obliterated; how could Gu Yuan, merely an Inner Sect disciple with Qi Refining cultivation, escape?
Hundreds of disciples were all abducted to the Demon Star Cave of Demon Slaughter Sect, bound with Spirit-Breaking Rings, becoming miners in this cave.
Demon Star Cave, an ancient Spirit Ore site, produces Spiritual Objects, Demon Star Stones.
These stones can expand a cultivator's Dantian, enhancing cultivation, with significant effects. Demon Slaughter Sect's growth and deep foundation rely heavily on the production of these stones.
However, the ore veins within the production are accompanied by endless Demon Evil Qi, which erodes human flesh; mere mortals in this place would absorb the Evil Qi within days, their Five Viscera turning to blood sludge and dying.
Only cultivators can mine these ores.
Gu Yuan and others were bound with Spirit-Breaking Rings, restraining the exterior release of mana, losing spellcasting ability. But mana remained circulating internally, allowing them to neutralize some Demon Fiend Qi and gather Demon Star Stones.
This mining continued for over five months.
In the perpetually dark Demon Cave, hunger was constant, with only thin porridge and coarse small dishes daily, even often spoiled.
Life was extremely difficult.
Each day, one must collect at least three Demon Star Stones, or face a lashing of poison!
The bloodthirsty Evil Qi-laden rattan whip struck like hitting the Five Viscera, capable of killing through sheer pain.
Yet this Demon Star Stone ore has been mined for over a hundred years; the Star Stones are increasingly scarce, not so easily collected.
Even though Gu Yuan worked tirelessly daily, he frequently fell short, suffering harsh beatings, living in agony.
Nonetheless, this fueled the resilience in Gu Yuan's nature, increasing tolerance for pain, reaching even a frightening degree.
Thus, he could endure the terrifying confinement of the Spirit-Breaking Ring and forcibly activate the "Flame Flood Dragon Seal," inciting flames to roast the birds.
With cooked meat in his belly and swallowing several mouthfuls of saliva, Gu Yuan finally showed a faint smile. But looking at the motionless elder in the corner, he asked without revealing any emotion, "Senior Brother Yangg, why aren't you eating?"
This elder's surname was Yangg, also an Inner Sect Disciple of the Cyan Wood Sect, but his cultivation was much higher than Gu Yuan's Qi Refining Fourth Layer, already at the peak of Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
However, a tall tree catches the wind, and this cultivation level had already made him a target in the sect war. Senior Brother Yangg had been severely injured in that battle, his cultivation regressing, and was then sent into the mine to become a miner.
Though they were not brothers of the same lineage, they had formed a mysterious closeness, huddling for warmth within the mine. After two months of hardship, their bond had deepened, and they often shared resources and food.
But at this moment, Senior Brother Yangg didn't eat the meat; he merely spoke lightly:
"Junior Brother, I'm going to die!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the cave fell silent.
Gu Yuan couldn't help but step forward, staring intently.
In the corner was a grey-haired, dim-eyed, withered-skinned elder, curled up, showing signs of old age. Wisps of black Qi spiraled continuously around his skin.
Each cough brought enormous pain, causing his sparse white eyebrows to tremble incessantly.
"How did it come to this?"
Gu Yuan couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Though Senior Brother Yangg was over fifty, because of the mana in his body, he didn't appear old. On ordinary days, he looked no different from a thirty-something man, even if injured and made a miner, he was nimble and showed no signs of abnormality. But now, in just one night, he had become so old, nearing death?
"I was merely struggling to hold on before. My dantian is damaged, my mana doesn't flow smoothly, and I can't resist the Demon Fiend. Each day I mine Star Stone, a trace of Demon Fiend enters my body. The more Star Stone I excavate, the closer I am to my death..."
Senior Brother Yangg curled up against the stone wall, forming a ball, his tone full of bleakness.
"Senior Brother..."
"Don't speak anymore; I'm already a dead man, but you're different. You still have a glimmer of hope!"
Gu Yuan wanted to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Senior Brother Yangg interrupted him.
"Come closer!"
Senior Brother Yangg beckoned with his hand.
The mana within Gu Yuan's body flowed lightly, unobtrusively hiding the right hand equipped with the Spirit-Breaking Ring behind his back before stepping closer.
Senior Brother Yangg lowered his head, making his eyes hard to see, but his tone was filled with strong concern.
"Junior Brother, look!"
He bent over, struggling to uncover a stone slab beside the stone wall, revealing a pit.
The pit was covered with straw and tattered clothes, and after clearing these, one could see several peculiar ores the size of a fist, emitting specks of starlight.
Demon Star Stone!
A rough count showed there were more than twenty.
Senior Brother Yangg had secretly hidden over twenty Demon Star Stones!
"This is..."
Gu Yuan was slightly taken aback.
"Mining Demon Star Stones isn't easy, only cultivators can do it. Aiming to maximize efficiency is just a poor strategy. To mobilize the miners' enthusiasm, the Demon Slaughter Sect has established a rule: if one can collect one top-grade Demon Star Stone or submit thirty medium-quality Demon Star Stones, they can leave the Demon Cave and switch sects to join the Demon Slaughter Sect!"
Senior Brother Yangg, who had been coughing incessantly before, seemed to suppress the pain and explained a long passage in one breath.
"I know about this too, but wanting to change sects, you need an Oath of Allegiance..."
Gu Yuan shook his head slightly.
All the miners knew this, but wishing to change sects, the Oath of Allegiance was nothing less than the corpse of a Cyan Wood Sect disciple.
Kill a comrade, take the Demon Star Stone, and you can change sects to join the Demon Slaughter Sect!
"Under normal circumstances, I'd never let you do such a heartless thing. Even ants cling to life; I too do not wish to die lightly. But now, the Demon Fiend has entered my body, beyond saving, so you needn't have any burden..."
"Kill me, take the Demon Star Stone, join the Demon Slaughter Sect and seek a glimmer of survival!"
Senior Brother Yangg held Gu Yuan's left hand, his old eyes filled with tears, speaking with deep sincerity.
"Alright!"
"You needn't have any burden... hmm?"
Senior Brother Yangg wept, wanting to persuade further. But halfway through speaking, he suddenly reacted.
How was this different from what was expected?!
"Whoosh!"
Yet, the sound of the wind was already approaching his ears, with a scorching aura vaguely carrying the roar of a beast, suddenly striking.
Gu Yuan took action directly.
Ruthless and unfeeling.
The right hand hidden behind his back, enduring the confinement of the Spirit-Breaking Ring, swooped forward, striking Senior Brother Yangg's head.