In the depths of the mining tunnel, Leaf Gray tightly gripped the blood-stained long sword, his chest heaving violently. The life-and-death struggle just moments before, though brief, had drained all his mental and physical strength.

Ryan Carter's corpse lay not far away, the gruesome wound on his neck still bleeding profusely, dyeing the grey-brown rock a dark red.

Leaf Gray wasn't sure of Ryan Carter's exact cultivation level, but he was certain it far surpassed his own. If the man hadn't been severely injured and caught off guard, the one lying dead today would likely have been Leaf Gray himself.

In this dog-eat-dog world of cultivation, the intent to kill was important, but it needed corresponding strength to support it. His greatest reliance at the moment was that mysterious "Sharpness" spirit pattern.

During the recent clash where his life hung by a thread, Leaf Gray had verified this discovery once again—the Sharpness spirit pattern could not only be applied to his own palm but could also work perfectly on weapons. When that mysterious pattern flashed briefly on the sword's surface, he clearly felt an intense sharpness emanating from the blade, as if it could slice through anything in the world.

The moment their swords met, Ryan Carter's weapon snapped with a crisp sound. The fleeting glow of the spirit pattern left Ryan Carter utterly stunned; until his dying breath, he couldn't comprehend how this former mining slave had become a cultivator, let alone mastered such a bizarre spirit pattern.

The shock of having his weapon destroyed caused Ryan Carter a momentary lapse in focus. In that split second, Leaf Gray's second strike followed immediately.

This blow was unadorned, merely a simple slash, yet empowered by the Sharpness spirit pattern, it broke through the protective spiritual power Ryan Carter had hastily gathered and cut deep into his neck.

Warm blood splashed onto Leaf Gray's face, carrying a metallic, rusty scent. Ryan Carter roared in anger, mustering his last bit of strength to throw a palm strike, but Leaf Gray had already released the sword hilt and fled headlong deeper into the mine tunnel without looking back.

The sound of Ryan Carter's stumbling pursuit echoed behind him but soon grew faint. Not daring to let his guard down, Leaf Gray ran until he was exhausted before stopping to listen carefully. The tunnel was silent except for his own panting and the drip of water seeping from the rock walls.

He cautiously retraced his steps and halfway back, found Ryan Carter's body sprawled on the ground. To confirm the man was truly dead, he picked up a few stones and threw them at the body. Ryan Carter showed no reaction. Even so, Leaf Gray gripped his broken sword tightly and approached slowly.

A pool of blood had gathered beneath Ryan Carter. The long sword was still lodged in his neck, the blade having cut through most of it. With such a fatal injury, no one could possibly survive.

Only after confirming Ryan Carter was dead did Leaf Gray finally let out a long sigh of relief. This brush with death made him understand even more profoundly the cruelty of this world. Here, the slightest misstep could lead to eternal damnation.

He stepped forward and grasped the sword hilt, intending to pull out his weapon, when he suddenly froze stiff. Unnoticed by him, another person had appeared in the tunnel, and he hadn't detected them at all!

Cold sweat instantly soaked his back. Leaf Gray could clearly sense the newcomer's power. That unfathomable spiritual power made him realize that if this person wanted his life, it would probably require minimal effort. Even with the aid of the Sharpness spirit pattern, he stood no chance against such an absolute difference in cultivation level.

Forcing down the fear in his heart, Leaf Gray abruptly pulled out the sword and held it horizontally in front of him in a defensive posture. His arm trembled slightly from extreme tension.

Sensing his hostility, the newcomer let out a soft laugh. "I detected spiritual fluctuations in this area and came to investigate. There's no need to be nervous, young friend."

As he spoke, the man stepped forward slowly and stopped before Ryan Carter's corpse. By the faint light in the tunnel, Leaf Gray could make out the person's appearance—a ruddy-complexioned man in his later years, tall in stature, with a deep, slightly hoarse voice that carried a strange affinity.

The elder looked down at Ryan Carter's body and nodded slightly. "So it's a remnant of The Lunar Blight." Then he lifted his gaze to Leaf Gray. "Might I ask which sect you belong to, young friend?"

This question prompted a quick assessment in Leaf Gray's mind. He replied respectfully, "I am from The Profound Sect."

"The Profound Sky Sect?" The elder seemed slightly surprised. "The one that was annihilated a year ago?"

"Indeed," Leaf Gray confirmed.

The elder couldn't help but look him up and down. "So you were a mining slave captured and brought here?"

"Yes," Leaf Gray nodded.

A look of astonishment flashed in the elder's eyes. For a mining slave to kill a cultivator from The Lunar Blight was something probably no one would believe unless they saw it with their own eyes.

"What is your current cultivation level?" the elder asked further.

"Just opened one aperture," Leaf Gray replied truthfully, then explained, "He was already severely injured, and I ambushed him."

The elder stroked his beard and smiled. "Calm in the face of danger, courageous and resourceful. Quite rare."

"Senior, are you from The Firmament Palace?" Leaf Gray, though he had his suspicions, felt he needed confirmation.

The elder nodded slightly. "Correct, I am from The Firmament Palace."

Hearing this, Leaf Gray felt a surge of joy. It seemed just as Manager Miller had feared before his death; The Firmament Palace had attacked, and The Lunar Blight simply couldn't hold this mine vein. Given that this elder could penetrate deep into the tunnels, the entire mine had likely already fallen into the Alliance's hands.

As for whether the elder was deceiving him, Leaf Gray saw no reason for it. With the other's cultivation level, if he truly meant harm, there would be no need for lengthy conversation.

"Please, Senior, help me escape this sea of suffering!" Leaf Gray hurriedly pleaded.

He knew well the dangers of traveling alone through the mine tunnels. Now that he had encountered such a senior expert, it was natural to seize the opportunity. Following the other would significantly increase his safety.

The elder nodded readily. "In that case, follow me out. I was just about to return to the surface anyway."

"Thank you, Senior!" Leaf Gray expressed his gratitude profusely.

The elder turned to leave, but Leaf Gray didn't follow immediately. He crouched down and carefully searched Ryan Carter's body. Soon, he found a storage bag. In the cultivation world, storage bages seemed to be standard equipment for cultivators, not particularly rare items, but for Leaf Gray now, it was a much-needed possession.

Tucking the storage bag into his robe, Leaf Gray was about to stand up and follow when he saw the elder turn back, smiling, and extend his hand. "Hand it over."

Leaf Gray's heart sank immediately, but he obediently presented the storage bag. He understood the principle all too well: when under someone else's roof, one must bow their head.

The elder took the storage bag, lightly passed his finger over the opening, and a spiritual light flashed—the restriction on the pouch was released. Just as Leaf Gray was silently grumbling to himself, the elder tossed the storage bag back to him, keeping only a jade vial that he had taken from it.

"I'll gladly accept this vial of Dragon Tiger Pills," the elder said, shaking the jade vial in his hand. "The nature of this pill is too potent and fierce. With your current shallow cultivation, you couldn't withstand its effects. Consider it a respectful offering to an elder."

Holding the unexpectedly returned storage bag, Leaf Gray finally understood the elder's intention. It turned out he wasn't trying to seize the spoils of war but had noticed Leaf Gray's low cultivation level and inability to unlock the pouch's restriction, and had specifically helped him.

"Thank you, Senior!" Leaf Gray thanked him sincerely, his favorable impression of the elder greatly increasing.

His mood was once again blissful...