Consuming the Vermillion Dawn Pill could strengthen one's blood and vital energy. By refining this enhanced blood and vital energy with the spiritual power within the spiritual aperture, it could be transformed into more spiritual power. This was the only cultivation method Leaf Gray could currently use, all thanks to the legacy left behind by Manager Miller.

During the earlier inventory, he counted two hundred and fifty-three Vermillion Dawn Pills—a considerable number. Leaf Gray initially thought these pills would be enough to sustain his cultivation for some time. However, once he truly began cultivating, he realized that these Vermillion Dawn Pills probably wouldn't last very long.

During his first attempt at refining essence into energy, he could only refine two Vermillion Dawn Pills. Having never been exposed to such methods before, everything was explored through trial and error. Merely sensing the flow of blood and vital energy and guiding the spiritual power to refine it consumed a significant amount of his time.

By the second session, he could already refine four pills at once. His movements gradually became more skilled, and his control over spiritual power began to take shape.

During the third session, it increased to six pills...

By the fourth session, he had reached ten pills...

As his cultivation deepened, the rate at which the Vermillion Dawn Pills were consumed grew increasingly faster. This was entirely due to the spiritual power within his spiritual aperture becoming more abundant. The stronger the spiritual power, the higher the efficiency of refining blood and vital energy, and naturally, the consumption of pills also increased accordingly.

Leaf Gray gradually came to understand that the Vermillion Dawn Pill was probably not a top-tier pill. If it were truly high-quality cultivation resources, there was no reason a newly enlightened cultivator like him would have such a high consumption rate.

Genuine cultivators likely used specialized spiritual pills for their cultivation. Unfortunately, Leaf Gray didn't recognize any, nor did he dare to experiment recklessly.

Inside the mine shaft, there was no daylight, and Leaf Gray had no idea how much time had passed. When the last Vermillion Dawn Pill was exhausted, he knew it was time to leave this place.

What prompted this decision wasn't just the lack of cultivation resources but also the fact that his food supplies were nearly depleted. After beginning to refine essence into energy, his appetite had become enormous. Manager Miller had originally brought plenty of dry rations—if used sparingly, it could have lasted over two months. He had prepared thoroughly, intending to hide here long-term.

Though he couldn't accurately calculate the time, Leaf Gray estimated that only about ten days had passed since he started cultivating.

These days of arduous cultivation couldn't be said to have yielded great progress, but they weren't entirely without gains either. The spiritual power in his Origin Spiritual Aperture was now full and overflowing—in other words, he had qualified to open a second spiritual aperture and formally cultivate the "Cicada's Transcendent Metamorphosis."

However, when he followed the guidance of the cultivation method and attempted to locate and impact the second spiritual aperture, he repeatedly failed. Not only did he fail to open the spiritual aperture, but he also wasted a considerable amount of the spiritual power he had painstakingly accumulated.

"No wonder it's often said that cultivation requires guidance from a master. Exploring alone like this, who knows how many detours I'll have to take," Leaf Gray couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Thus, despite exhausting all the Vermillion Dawn Pills, he remained a cultivator with only one opened spiritual aperture.

The injuries on his body, however, had completely healed, and he could move without hindrance.

What troubled him now was how to deal with Manager Miller's storage bag.

Leaving it here was something Leaf Gray couldn't accept. After all, this was Manager Miller's lifelong savings, containing many rare items. Not to mention anything else, just those rare minerals alone were immensely valuable. In this world, he had no relatives or anyone to rely on. In the future, his cultivation would inevitably require vast resources. With these remnants as a starting fund, at least in the early stages of cultivation, he wouldn't have to worry about resources.

But carrying it with him also posed significant risks. This was a dog-eat-dog cultivation world where killing for treasure was hardly uncommon. As a mere one-aperture cultivator, possessing something as valuable as a storage bag would inevitably attract envy and could bring about fatal disaster.

After much deliberation, Leaf Gray ultimately decided to carry the storage bag with him. Fortune favors the bold; if he missed this opportunity, he might never come across such a windfall again.

Once resolved, Leaf Gray returned to the spot where he had killed Manager Miller and picked up the mining pick that had been shortened by a section.

Since he had decided to take the storage bag, he naturally couldn't leave the Metamagnetic Ore here. This type of mineral was quite precious and could always be exchanged for resources outside.

Swinging the mining pick, Leaf Gray worked up a sweat.

He had been mining for a year and was already proficient. Now, with spiritual power as his foundation, his efficiency was incomparably faster than before. The mining pick flew, and piece after piece of faintly glowing Metamagnetic Ore was excavated and loaded into the storage bag.

Only after mining all the Metamagnetic Ore did Leaf Gray finally drop the pick and let out a long sigh.

"If all goes well, I shouldn't need this thing in the future."

He took off his outer garment, hid the storage bag close to his body, and carefully bound it securely with cloth strips. This way, as long as he wasn't stripped and searched, the storage bag's presence wouldn't be easily exposed.

However, he had taken out Manager Miller's long sword in advance and held it in his hand. The road ahead was uncertain, and danger was inevitable. Having a sharp weapon in hand would allow him to cope in critical moments.

With all preparations complete, Leaf Gray took a deep breath and headed out of the mine shaft based on memory.

He proceeded cautiously along the way, staying highly vigilant, afraid that cultivators from The Lunar Blight might suddenly emerge from some dark corner. Therefore, he didn't dare move too fast to avoid exposing his whereabouts.

Yet, often what one fears most tends to happen. As he turned a corner and entered another mining tunnel, his body suddenly froze.

Not far ahead, leaning against the rock wall, a figure sat there, breathing lightly. In the air, a faint scent of blood lingered...

Leaf Gray instinctively wanted to retreat, but it was already too late.

The person turned their head upon hearing the sound, and the next moment, exclaimed in surprise, "Leaf Gray?"

Leaf Gray's heart tightened immediately. In such dim lighting, the other party could recognize him at a glance, indicating they must be a cultivator. And anyone who knew him was undoubtedly from The Lunar Blight.

Indeed, if Manager Miller had thought of taking refuge in the mine, other Lunar Blight cultivators could naturally think the same. Who knew how many Lunar Blight members were hiding in this mine vein now?

In that fleeting moment, Leaf Gray quietly circulated spiritual power, gathering it in his eyes, and finally saw the other's face clearly—it was a cultivator named Ryan Carter from the mine, under Manager Miller's jurisdiction. His status and cultivation level were likely inferior to Manager Miller's.

This Ryan Carter seemed injured; the scent of blood was coming from him.

"Come here!" Ryan Carter whispered, beckoning to him.

"Alright," Leaf Gray responded, stepping toward Ryan Carter, his pace quickening.

Ryan Carter immediately sensed something was wrong—mainly because Leaf Gray was holding a long sword, which was clearly a Lunar Blight cultivator's weapon! He couldn't help but frown and shout, "Where did you get that sword?"

Leaf Gray didn't answer. He was now less than three zhang away from Ryan Carter.

Ryan Carter finally sensed the killing intent emanating from Leaf Gray. Struggling to his feet, he gritted his teeth and growled, "You little brat, seeking death!"

Before the words faded, he thrust his sword straight at Leaf Gray. Spiritual power infused the long sword, causing it to gleam faintly in the darkness.

This thrust wasn't particularly skillful, relying solely on spiritual power to enhance its force. In Ryan Carter's view, dealing with a mere mortal like Leaf Gray would be effortless.

The last one who thought that way, Manager Miller, was now beginning to rot.

The sword's gleam rapidly enlarged in Leaf Gray's eyes. He channeled all his spiritual power, concentrating it in his eyes. Instantly, everything around him seemed to slow down.

Unlike the previous ambush on Manager Miller using the Metamagnetic Field, this was Leaf Gray's first direct confrontation with a cultivator. There was no room for hesitation or retreat.

Fortunately, the opponent's cultivation wasn't high, and he was severely injured—this was Leaf Gray's confidence in daring to act.

As the sword tip was about to reach him, Leaf Gray abruptly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the sharp edge. Simultaneously, he swung his own sword upward in a backhanded motion. On the blade, a mysterious and intricate pattern flashed briefly.

Sharpness Enhancement!