WHOOSH!
At that mont, Zhang Chi silently chanted an incantation, his hands forming a seal. A cool breeze imdiately began to swirl around him.
Then, his entire body felt light and nimble as he sped off into the distance.
This was the Wind Manipulation Technique.
Boosted by this technique, he soon neared the area where the Mining Slaves were active.
He then deliberately used the Qi Concealnt Technique, causing all the Spiritual Power fluctuations around his body to disappear.
With this technique active, he didn’t have to worry about being exposed, even if the Mining Slaves saw him.
For one, they wouldn’t be able to tell he had a Cultivation.
For another, he had always kept a low profile, so not many of the Mining Slaves were truly familiar with him.
Besides, his complexion was much healthier now, and he’d even grown a bit taller.
After his Cultivation of the Demon Technique, his aura had also taken on a sowhat sinister quality.
Furthermore, he used the robe he had taken as a trophy to cover his feet.
This way, the Mining Slaves wouldn’t be able to see that he wasn’t wearing shackles.
SWIPE!
He then brought his index and middle fingers together, circulated his Spiritual Power, and swiped them across his eyes. The Celestial Eye Technique was instantly activated.
Using this technique was like opening a divine eye.
A faint red light glinted in the depths of his eyes, and the world before him grew sharper. Their Blood Qi, Spiritual Qi, and Cultivation levels—all of it was clear at a glance.
In his sight, the Mining Slaves were now wreathed in a Spiritual Light of varying colors and intensities.
The color represented the elental attribute of the Cultivation Technique they practiced, while the intensity reflected the level of their Cultivation.
Incidentally, the Celestial Eye Technique and the Qi Concealnt Technique directly countered one another.
The Celestial Eye Technique could see through the Qi Concealnt Technique, but the Qi Concealnt Technique could also fool the Celestial Eye Technique.
Which one triumphed depended on the user’s mastery of the technique and their Cultivation level.
The Mining Slaves were forbidden from using magic, and their physical abilities were suppressed by their shackles, weakening their eyesight considerably.
Furthermore, Zhang Chi was hidden in the shadows, while his targets were all illuminated by mining lamps.
Thus, Zhang Chi could see through the Mining Slaves’ strengths and weaknesses, while they couldn’t even see him.
"Hm?"
Using the Wind Manipulation Technique, Qi Concealnt Technique, and Celestial Eye Technique, Zhang Chi quickly scanned all the Mining Slaves.
He found a fair number of Demon Cultivators and those practicing Fire Elent Cultivation Techniques, but not a single person was cultivating the Blood Fla Technique.
And he was certain he hadn’t made a mistake.
Having cultivated the Blood Fla Technique himself, he knew exactly what kind of Spiritual Light it produced.
Apparently, his old roommate who practiced the Water Spirit Technique had been lying.
This Demon Technique wasn’t common at all.
Or rather, it was simply too difficult to cultivate.
Any Cultivator who could master it was no ordinary person and most likely wouldn’t have ended up in a place like this.
Of course, it was also possible so Cultivators possessed the technique but, like his roommate, had never practiced it.
But that was sothing he couldn’t tell at a glance.
’If only I could control Brother Zhou. It would be so much easier if he could secretly help collect Cultivation Techniques and other magic, and provide intelligence.’
An idea suddenly struck Zhang Chi.
But he quickly dismissed it.
From his observations, Brother Zhou was clearly at the Qi Cultivation Peak and had also trained in a Body Refining Technique. Even with his power suppressed, he was still a tough opponent.
What was more troubleso was the man’s extre caution; he was always surrounded by seven or eight lackeys.
Unless he used the conspicuous Fire Bomb Technique, Zhang Chi had no confidence he could take him down quickly.
And even if he did capture him, he had no way to control him.
But Zhang Chi wasn’t discouraged. Soon, he picked out a lone, ordinary Mining Slave.
This slave was only at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, but he practiced a Fire Elent Demon Technique. At the very least, he should know so Fire Elent Techniques.
The slave was standing in a remote corner, relieving himself against the rock wall.
With the aid of the Wind Manipulation Technique, Zhang Chi moved like a bolt of lightning, suddenly appearing behind him.
THUMP!
Zhang Chi struck the back of the man’s neck with the edge of his hand.
The Mining Slave didn’t even have ti to cry out before his vision went black and he crumpled to the ground.
Phew!
Zhang Chi let out a sigh of relief.
He had been worried he would either use too much force and kill the man, or use too little force and fail to knock him unconscious.
Fortunately, his luck wasn’t half bad.
’So small.’
With that thought, Zhang Chi imdiately lifted the Mining Slave, picked up his tools, and quickly hurried away.
He soon reached an abandoned mine tunnel, where he used the slave’s own pickaxe to dig a pit. He buried the man inside, leaving only his head exposed.
Then, he used strips torn from his old, ragged clothes to blindfold the Mining Slave and gag his mouth.
Only then did he press on the man’s philtrum to wake him.
The Mining Slave awoke in terror and struggled with all his might, but it was useless.
"If you don’t want to die, be quiet. I just need you to answer a few questions. Cooperate, and I won’t kill you. Behave, and I’ll even give you so Ore as compensation."
"But if you try anything funny, don’t bla for being ruthless! Nod if you understand," Zhang Chi said quickly, deliberately altering his voice.
"Mmph... mmph..."
Hearing this, the Mining Slave finally quieted down and nodded frantically.
"Good."
Only then did Zhang Chi remove the gag from his mouth.
"What’s your na? What’s your Cultivation level?" Zhang Chi began his interrogation.
He started with inconsequential questions to establish a pattern of compliance.
Soon, he steered the conversation toward matters of Cultivation.
The Mining Slave was surprisingly cooperative.
Clearly, compared to his life, a re Cultivation Technique was insignificant.
The mine’s rules strictly forbade it, but as long as the Guards didn’t find out, he’d be fine.
Besides, the Mining Slave believed his captor wouldn’t reveal this either, or he wouldn’t have gone to such trouble.
His captor hadn’t hurt him, only burying him alive to control him, which showed he really didn’t intend to kill him.
It was all very logical.
After all, coercing soone for a Cultivation Technique was a minor offense, but killing another Mining Slave was a different matter entirely.
That’s right—the Mining Slave was sure his captor was just another Mining Slave like himself.
Otherwise, how could he be here? And why would he need to hide his face?
He’d seen plenty of Mining Slaves like this, all of them dreaming of escape one day. Even if they couldn’t practice Cultivation, they were always trying to get their hands on Cultivation Techniques and magic.
In fact, this was the exact misunderstanding Zhang Chi had intended to create.
Soon, Zhang Chi concluded the interrogation, having obtained the Sound Transmission Technique and the Fire Shield Technique.
Finally, he raised his hand and knocked the man unconscious again. He then dug him out and tossed him, along with his tools, back where he’d found him.
Since he’d gotten what he wanted and the man had been cooperative, he even left him a decent-sized piece of Low Grade Ore.
After all, that stuff was easy for him to co by.
There was plenty of it in the Poisonous Miasma Mine Tunnel.
As a Cultivator whose Spiritual Power wasn’t suppressed, it wasn’t difficult for him to get so, even without proper tools.
’He really let go? And he even gave Ore? This is great! But that was way too dangerous. Next ti I need to relieve myself, I’m definitely not going so far away.’
After waking up, the Mining Slave breathed a sigh of relief. He was pleasantly surprised to see the Ore.
Then, rubbing the still-sore back of his head, he quickly left.
’Not bad. It looks like this plan will work!’
Observing from the shadows, Zhang Chi saw the man make no unusual moves. Only then did he give a slight nod and truly depart.
He imdiately got back to work.
To avoid being discovered by the Guards, he would sotis interrogate several Mining Slaves in a single day.
Other tis, he would lay low for two or three days without making a move.
As ti passed, the number of techniques he collected grew and grew.
Then, one morning half a month later, while interrogating a Mining Slave, he finally had a huge breakthrough!
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