The Sole Inheritance

The deep, winding mine tunnels stretched into the earth like a labyrinth. The air was thick with a damp, chilly atmosphere, mixed with the distinct smells of iron rust and wet soil. Water droplets seeped from the rocky walls, occasionally falling and creating tiny ripples in the puddles below.

Leaf Gray hunched his back under the weight of a heavy mining basket, the pickaxe in his hand scraping against the stone with a grating sound. With each step, the ores in his basket clanked together, their dull, heavy echoes unnaturally loud in the deathly silence of the mine.

The young man's refined features were covered in a layer of coal dust, but it couldn't hide his unusually bright eyes. Sweat traced clean lines down his soot-streaked temples. His palms were calloused, with fresh cuts on his knuckles—marks left by over a year of life as a mine slave.

At this moment, he was staring intently into the empty space ahead, his pupils reflecting the faint image of a tree. The tree appeared semi-transparent and grey, with lush branches and leaves, its canopy spreading out like a majestic parasol, emanating a hazy glow. The shadowy image flickered, sometimes clear, sometimes blurred, as if it could vanish into the air at any moment.

It had been a year and three months since he arrived in this world called The Novem Lands, and Leaf Gray still hadn't figured out the origin of this shadow tree that only he could see. He only remembered that whenever he concentrated, this mysterious tree would appear. Sometimes it remained visible for the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, other times it was gone in an instant.

Over the past year, he had tried every method to communicate with it, but never received any response. The tree shadow was like a silent observer, coldly watching him struggle for survival in the lightless mine.

"What is this? A special perk for a transmigrator?" the youth muttered bitterly to himself, his voice echoing in the empty tunnel, tinged with self-mockery and, more so, helplessness.

He could still vividly recall the scene when he first arrived in this world a year ago: waking up in an unfamiliar forest, his whole body aching, memories of another world still fresh in his mind. Before he could even understand his situation, he was caught in a sect conflict.

The Profound Sect he belonged to was just an insignificant minor sect under The Firmament Palace, while The Lunar Blight that captured them was an important branch under The Ophidian Covenant.

The Firmament Palace and The Ophidian Covenant, as the two major opposing factions in The Novem Lands, had been locked in covert and overt struggles for hundreds of years.

Over the years, the continent of The Novem Lands was constantly embroiled in war. Every day, small forces like The Profound Sect were uprooted, but simultaneously, new forces sprang up like bamboo shoots after rain. The conflict between order and evil, the rise and fall of powers, played out in a bloody cycle on this land.

"How ironic," Leaf Gray shook his head and continued his difficult trek forward.

The weight of the basket pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe, but he was long accustomed to the burden. During his more than a year as a mine slave, he had learned how to survive in these extreme conditions.

He knew which tunnels were most likely to yield high-quality ore, how to avoid the dangerous areas prone to collapses, and which corners were often used by other slaves for ambushes.

Staying alive was already a fortune. Leaf Gray knew well that The Lunar Blight kept young captives like them alive precisely because they hadn't opened their spiritual apertures yet and were easy to control.

In this world, only by opening one's spiritual apertures could one embark on the path of cultivation.

There was an old saying in The Novem Lands: "Monsters cannot take form without opening their apertures; humans cannot cultivate without opening theirs."

For ordinary people, the probability of opening their apertures was no more than one in a hundred. Those from cultivation families or sects, with guidance from elders, might have a slightly higher chance. But for slaves like them, toiling all day without even enough to eat, opening their apertures was simply a pipe dream.

"Opening spiritual apertures is as difficult as ascending to heaven," Leaf Gray sighed, adjusting the strap on his shoulder.

The rough edge of the basket had worn a thick layer of callus on his shoulders, but it still hurt every time he carried a load. How he wished he could open his apertures and escape this lightless life as a mine slave.

However, The Lunar Blight did offer a glimmer of hope: any slave who successfully opened their apertures could take an assessment. Those who passed could become outer sect disciples.

For this, they even provided basic Vermillion Dawn Pill. Although this was just bait to make the slaves work harder, for Leaf Gray, it was his only hope.

Vermillion Dawn Pill were very low-level pills, not something that assisted in opening apertures. But to open apertures, one needed abundant blood and qi. Although the pills were low-level, they were perfectly suited for someone like him who hadn't opened his apertures.

Over the past year, aside from ensuring his daily sustenance, all the contribution points Leaf Gray earned from trading ore were exchanged for Vermillion Dawn Pill. In total, he had consumed no less than thirty pills.

This had resulted in a physique stronger than the vast majority of mine slaves. Though not burly, the strength contained within his body already surpassed that of an ordinary person. This was also why he consistently had the upper hand in conflicts with other slaves.

Ahead, the tunnel gradually widened, and faint light filtered in from the exit. Leaf Gray hefted the basket on his back; today's harvest was good, should be worth three contribution points. Combined with what he had accumulated the past few days, it was about twelve points.

Two points could be exchanged for two steamed buns, and the remaining ten were just enough for one Vermillion Dawn Pill. Thinking of the pill soon to be in his possession, his footsteps unconsciously quickened.

About thirty yards from the exit, Leaf Gray's gaze suddenly turned sharp. He noticed movement—a dark shadow—behind a familiar large rock to his left front. This boulder had been here for some time, often used by malicious slaves for ambushes.

Leaf Gray's nose twitched slightly, catching a faint scent of sweat and tension in the air. His ears picked up the sound of suppressed breathing, very soft, but unmistakable in the silent mine.

Leaf Gray continued forward without changing his expression, but his right hand secretly tightened its grip on the pickaxe. His steps remained steady, but all his muscles were tense, ready to respond to any sudden danger.

In his over a year as a mine slave, he had seen too many tragedies and learned one lesson early on: in this dog-eat-dog world, any negligence could be fatal.

The slaves were not a harmonious group; those from different factions were destined to be unable to unite. Over a piece of good ore, slaves often fought until they were bloody.

People died in the tunnels every day. Every stretch of the path might reveal scattered skeletal remains on the ground.

Ten yards, five, three… Just as he neared the boulder, Leaf Gray suddenly exploded into action! He sidestepped, planted a foot on the tunnel wall, and used the rebound force to launch himself behind the rock like a leopard.

He had practiced this move countless times, precisely for such situations.

"Ah!" Two cries of surprise sounded simultaneously. The two men hiding behind the rock clearly hadn't expected their ambush to be discovered. In their panic, they tried to rise and defend themselves, but it was too late. One was skinny, the other somewhat fat; they were the Reed brothers who often operated in this area.

The ore in Leaf Gray's hand struck Elder Reed square in the face; the sound of a breaking nose was unmistakable. The pickaxe swung toward Younger Reed next; though the second strike was dodged, Leaf Gray's kick followed immediately, landing hard on the other's abdomen. The force was substantial, sending the man flying backward to kneel on the ground, vomiting a mouthful of sour liquid.

"The Reed brothers, you again!" Leaf Gray sneered, grabbing Younger Reed by the hair and forcing his head up. "Was the last lesson not enough? I remember saying, don't let me see you again, or I'll kill you!"

These two were disciples of the Reed family, who, like Leaf Gray, had become mine slaves. But they were unwilling to endure hardship, specializing in robbing other slaves. Their last attempt to rob Leaf Gray had ended with them being taught a lesson. He hadn't expected them to return to their old ways so soon.

The Reed brothers lurking sneakily near the mine exit obviously had ill intentions. Before being captured, these two had been spoiled. Even as mine slaves, they were unwilling to endure hardship.

"Gray… Brother Gray, spare us!" Elder Reed pleaded, clutching his bleeding forehead. "We didn't know it was you… We thought it was someone else…" His voice trembled with pain, blood continuously seeping through his fingers.

Leaf Gray's eyes turned cold. He picked up a stone and smashed it down hard. Amidst the screams, both Reed brothers fell unconscious.

He didn't kill them, not out of mercy, but because he knew injured slaves rarely survived long in the mines. Moreover, if discovered by cultivators of The Lunar Blight, the consequences would be unthinkable.

The lives of slaves were worthless in the eyes of cultivators, but The Lunar Blight had strict rules; killing slaves without authorization would also be punished.

After rearranging his basket, Leaf Gray was about to leave when a figure suddenly rushed in from the exit. The person looked panicked, stumbled in his steps, and carried a faint smell of blood. Seeing Leaf Gray, he didn't say a word but immediately swung a palm at him.

This palm strike came suddenly, the palm wind was fierce, and a faint blue light could be seen flowing!

A cultivator! Leaf Gray was horrified.

In his over a year here, he had seen cultivators act and knew how terrifying they were. Even the lowest-level cultivator could easily kill ten ordinary people like him. This faint blue light was the distinctive manifestation of a cultivator's spiritual power.

Only by opening spiritual apertures could one qualify to cultivate and be called a cultivator. A cultivator's spiritual power was an extremely miraculous force.

Leaf Gray had once seen a cultivator from The Lunar Blight make a move. Though it didn't seem overwhelmingly powerful, the person had shattered a piece of ore with a light slap.

At this critical moment of life and death, Leaf Gray forcefully twisted his body backward, all his muscles tensing instantly. Using the narrow space of the tunnel, he tried to deflect some of the force. But he was still grazed by the palm wind on his chest. A sharp pain shot through him as he slammed heavily against the rock wall. A sweet taste rose in his throat; he nearly vomited blood.

'My ribs might be broken,' Leaf Gray assessed immediately. The intense pain almost made him pass out.

"Oh?" The attacking cultivator was clearly surprised. Although he hadn't used his full strength, this palm strike shouldn't be something a mine slave could withstand. When he got a clear look at Leaf Gray's face, his surprise grew. "Leaf Gray?"

"Manager Miller?" Leaf Gray was also astonished.

This Manager Miller was in charge of the mine's miscellaneous affairs. Leaf Gray often dealt with him to exchange ore for Vermillion Dawn Pill.

Manager Miller thought highly of Leaf Gray; after all, mine slaves who could endure hardship like him were rare. Although Manager Miller was relatively polite to him, the chasm between a cultivator and a mortal remained insurmountable.

Usually, Manager Miller appeared calm and composed, but today he seemed exceptionally flustered.

At this moment, Manager Miller looked panicked, his clothes stained with traces of blood, completely unlike his usual self. He stepped forward quickly, grabbing Leaf Gray by the shoulder. "Perfect timing I found you. Come with me, now!"

His grip was powerful, leaving Leaf Gray no chance to resist. He pulled Leaf Gray along, running deeper into the mine tunnels.

Leaf Gray's heart was full of doubt and suspicion, but he didn't dare ask more. From Manager Miller's flustered expression and the strength in his grip, something major must have happened.

The ores in the basket clanked noisily against each other as they ran, the sound particularly jarring in the silent mine. Leaf Gray endured the sharp pain in his chest, barely keeping up with Manager Miller's pace.

Countless questions flashed through his mind, but in the end, they all turned into silence. In his over a year as a mine slave, the most important lesson he had learned was: the less you know, the longer you live.

Manager Miller hurried along, glancing back from time to time as if evading pursuit. His breathing was somewhat rapid, fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

Leaf Gray noticed that Manager Miller's right hand constantly rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, ready to draw it at any moment. This posture of facing a formidable enemy made Leaf Gray's heart pound in his throat.

As they turned a corner, rapid footsteps and shouts suddenly came from afar. Manager Miller's face instantly turned pale. He abruptly pulled Leaf Gray into a hidden side tunnel.

"Not a sound!" Manager Miller warned in a hushed tone, cautiously peeking out to observe the situation.

Leaf Gray held his breath, his heart pounding. He faintly heard words like "search carefully" from outside, immediately understanding the seriousness of the situation.

The footsteps drew closer. Leaf Gray could even hear the clashing of weapons. Manager Miller's hand tightly gripped the sword hilt, his knuckles white from force.

Leaf Gray also secretly tightened his hold on the pickaxe. Although he knew this weapon was useless against cultivators, it offered at least some psychological comfort.

Just then, a loud boom suddenly came from a distant tunnel, followed by exclamations and the sounds of fighting. The footsteps outside immediately became chaotic, seemingly all drawn by the commotion over there. Seizing the opportunity, Manager Miller pulled Leaf Gray and quickly fled in the opposite direction.

The two navigated the complex maze of tunnels. Manager Miller seemed very familiar with the terrain, always finding the most hidden paths.

Leaf Gray silently memorized the route, realizing they were heading deeper into the mine, towards tunnels that had been abandoned for years and were rarely visited.

Finally, in the depths of a remote tunnel, Manager Miller stopped. He released Leaf Gray, leaning against the rock wall to catch his breath.

Leaf Gray also took the chance to put down his basket and check his injury. The pain in his chest was still intense, but thankfully there was no bleeding—probably just cracked ribs, not completely broken.

"You..." Leaf Gray started to ask, but Manager Miller raised a hand to stop him.

"Don't ask too much," Manager Miller's tone was grave. "You just need to know it's very dangerous in the mines now. Coming with me might be your only chance of survival."

Leaf Gray nodded silently. He knew Manager Miller was telling the truth. Judging by the earlier situation, something major must have happened in the mine.