“Not bad. But I know you have more.” Gon broke the silence with a hand in his pocket.

  He had entered the secret pathway Bom had carved out and what y before him was a small cave, filled to the brim with Spiritual Jades. The glistening green-blue light momentarily blinded the pair.

  “You sly dog! How long have you been doing this?!” Gon nudged Bom with an elbow, causing him to wince in pain.

  Bom grabbed his stomach and replied slowly. “Boss Gon, please keep this a secret.”

  Gon raised an eyebrow before letting out a boisterous ugh.

  “You think I’m going to rat you out? Didn’t my riveting speech have any effect on your cold heart?” Gon faced Bom and pced his hands on his shoulders.

  “I thought we were beginning to get closer. You know what, we’re mates now. Scratch that. We’re partners in crime.” He said with a wide smile.

  Bom wasn’t sure whether to ugh with sarcasm or cry with despair. He made sure to be as careful as possible the whole time he had been here, yet he’d easily been caught in such a ridiculous manner by Gon.

  “We need to stock up even more reserves of hidden caches. Show me the other few you’ve got prepared so I can get a count.” Gon gave him a soft pat, but that was enough to get Bom walking.

  Bom realised his life was already in Gon’s hand. If Gon revealed this, his punishment would be severe.

  Yet, at the same time, Gon had also done crazy shit himself. He had already implicated everyone by spreading out that cultivation manual. Gon could easily be charged for inciting a riot or treason, being executed on the spot.

  Sensing Bom’s unease, Gon initiated a convo along the way.

  “Bom, do you know why I gave everyone that cultivation manual?”

  Walking along the mine hallways, Gon waited for a response.

  “Didn’t you say it yourself, Boss Gon? You’re getting sick of hunting all the beasts for food, and doing the heavy lifting. So you want us all to…” The thieving Bom had come to a realisation.

  “If everyone can get as strong as you, we can easily mine the quota needed for the sect in a fraction of the time. Then we can mine the rest and keep them hidden from the sect, using it for ourselves. You crazy b- I mean, you truly are one awesome boss.”

  “Yeah, enough brown nosing me. I need your help setting up hidden caches for every miner we have in unexpected areas. This way, the sect can’t find out even if they have occasional inspections, if they’re even bothered to send anyone to do that.” Gon saw another hidden cave, roughly the same size as the previous one, as Bom revealed the hidden pathway in the corner of the trine.

  Seeing the sight of another cave filled with a bunch of Spiritual Jades, Gon couldn’t help but give a compliment. “Not bad. You’re pretty good at this.”

  “Let’s just say I have quick hands.” Bom said, rubbing his nose.

  “Yeah, isn’t that why you tried to pilfer something off a damned cultivator? It’s a surprise you’re even alive.” Gon brought out the rumours he had heard.

  Bom looked down with his shoulders slouched, his expression mencholic. “Don’t remind me… I thought I was about to be publicly executed. Why was some elder of the sect pretending to be a mortal walking around town anyway?! Instead, now I’m basically a sve to the sect. I get no pay and have to work in the mines til I die.”

  Gon had figured out the intentions of Bom by now. But how was he going to escape the mines and take all of those jades with him? “What was even the pn? It would’ve taken you a long time to smuggle all this out. You have contacts?”

  Bom only shook his head in dismay. “Raw Spiritual Jade ores can’t be sold. The sects control all the currency in the region. So refined Spiritual Jade in the form of a crystal is the currency for cultivators, with their own grading system. But all the bronze, silver and gold coins we use for daily life are also made from the dregs of those Spiritual Jade ores. The sect circutes their branded currency that only their cultivators can forge to the region, so even the economy is in their control.”

  Thinking back to the banks in his prior life, Gon realised the connotation. So the sects also double as banks, controlling the currency and likewise having power over the economy over the regions they control. I’m assuming this is something other sects in other regions unanimously do, and it’s a tacit understanding to have more control over mortals.

  “Intel can’t be hidden forever. There’s a bck market for refining and money undering goods like this, right?” If there was one thing that was unanimous between worlds, that would be the existence of bck markets.

  “You sure know your thing. Here I thought you were just a vilger who never saw that part of the world. I guess that’s why I didn’t feel that judgemental gaze from you, Boss Gon.” Bom opened up another pathway, the st storage space he’d hidden. “The pn was to smelt these ores and refine them into exchangeable currency. There’s plenty of cultivators with a service like that who’ve learnt it from other sects. They take a hefty cut though, those pretentious bastards.”

  Walking through the tight pathway, Gon brought up Bom’s criminal status. “Well, stealing is obviously wrong. But everyone’s situation is different. I’ve seen enough wealth disparity, and most thieves live below the poverty line. If you could provide enough for yourself and your family, would you still be a thief?”

  Hearing that question, Bom couldn’t say anything. He thought of such a hypothetical situation. What if his life was like that, would he still be what he was now? “Family… Huh…” He could only mutter out to himself, to the point Gon could barely hear him.

  “It’s nothing deep. I’m just a thief that got caught one day. And now I’m stuck here, with a boss who knows my deepest secrets and my life in his hands.” He shrugged, leading out into a cave much smaller than the other two. Both of them couldn’t help but begin sweating.

  “Just a thief, aye.” Gon shook his head and moved on. “So why haven’t you made this pce rger?”

  Gon surveyed the small cave and noticed there was no more room to store any more jades.

  As his eyes circled around, they nded on an empty spot near the back wall.

  Lifting up his shirt, Gon wiped the sweat off his forehead. He noticed the slight discoloration of the wall, and came to his own conclusion.

  “There’s something off with that pce. Is that why you haven’t been able to expand further?”

  “That’s it.” Bom expined. He made his way towards the back wall and pced his hand atop it. “This area’s too hard. It’s some sort of deposit, but it’s too hard for me to mine through it.”

  “And you call yourself a miner. Step aside.” Gon pushed Bom back and brought out his pickaxe. He flexed his muscles, and smashed down with controlled might. The sound of rocks breaking echoed through the cavern. A smile appeared on Gon’s face as he raised his pickaxe again and continued to mine.

  The heat intensified, and Gon felt like he walked into a furnace. He was reminded of the sauna’s he had visited back on Earth. Gon stepped further inside and could feel the temperature rise.

  System announcement: Copper Physique (35%) is being upgraded… 36%...37%.

  Is this why I was stuck at this threshold for a while? Having my body face extreme situations will further temper it? It’s getting really damn hot, but I just have to bear with it!

  “This is why you’re the boss!” Bom gave Gon a thumbs up and cheered him on from the side.

  Gon rolled his eyes and ignored him. He maintained his pace and began to carve out a new tunnel. He could feel it…this area was different. The rocks here were much tougher than outside, which would expin why Bom had difficulty breaking it apart.

  38%...39%.

  Unlike Gon, who had stepped onto the path of a cultivator…nay…a true miner. Everyone else were still mortals who had not felt the breath of qi.

  40%.

  Old Tim keeps beeping in my head. The speed is far higher than usual. The different ways I train my body, the faster I can temper it to the next level. It’s like pulling weights while my entire body is being burnt and reforged.

  While Bom wanted nothing more than Gon to continue mining and disappear into the unknown, he couldn’t help but call out.

  “Boss! Is everything alright? It’s getting even hotter!” He raised his arm and wiped the sweat that had pooled on his forehead.

  Gon stopped his work and looked around. The surrounding rocks had changed from their usual grey-brown colour and switched to a light orange. He could feel his clothes stick to his skin as sweat poured from his body like a waterfall.

  “Hahaha, you’re right. I barely noticed.” Gon made his way back towards Bom and could feel the shift in temperature.

  “It’s cooler here.”

  “Boss…your pickaxe.” Bom pointed towards Gon’s hand. The iron pickaxe that Gon had been using without problem was now melted. The tips of the pickaxe had disappeared and the remainder dropped like jelly towards the ground.

  “The hell?!” Gon discarded the pickaxe and stared back into the tunnel.

  “This tunnel is the deepest in the mines, which is where I tried to make my first hidden cache. We’ve walked into a new kind of mineral deposit? Do we report this or what?”

  Bom’s brows furrowed and he fidgeted in pce as he realised they now had an obligation to inform the sect. And once the sect came to explore, his secret would undoubtedly be revealed.

  “Get your act together, why would we report it?” Gon said, bringing Bom out of his stupor.

  “We’ll keep this between us. There’s no need to inform the sect. And as for the jade, we won’t be able to store it in the tunnel, so let’s move it.”

  “I’m sure you got a few more hidden caves, but it doesn’t matter.” Gon nonchantly said.

  Bom didn’t reply, but this time beads of sweat formed on his forehead out of nervousness.

  Gon grinned and wrapped his arm around Bom’s shoulders. “A sly bastard like you wouldn’t put all his eggs in one basket.”

  “I’ll mention this to the rest of the guys and get them in on it. Let’s leave this area alone for a while. Stay vigint in your actions.”

  “The more jade we have, the faster everyone can train in the manual. We’ll extract some each night and use it to cultivate. As for me, I’m going to see where that tunnel takes me.”

  This tunnel reminds me of the cave that led me to the Onyx Shadow Gem. Maybe there’s something waiting for me at the end of this. But I’ll need a pickaxe that can withstand the heat to continue mining.

  Bom raised his hand and gave a salute. “You got it, Boss!”

  “Let’s head out and see what everyone else has been up to.” Gon exited the secret cavern with Bom and made sure to seal the entrance.

  The duo exited the mine and were confronted with a strange sight. The crew of miners were partaking in physical exercise. Guam and Quma could be seen assaulting a nearby tree. Their fists collided with the trunk and leaves fell like rain.

  Lil Hu was practicing martial stances. Though, he looked more like a clown that jiggled about than a seasoned martial artist. Mujiang stood off to the side, axe in hand. He stuck to his roots and focused on strengthening his body through chopping wood.

  Old Qiang was seated calmly, in the lotus position. He resembled an immortal cultivator as he slowly breathed in and out, cycling his qi.

  Finally, the st one was Persimmon. He stood off to the side under the shade of a tree and watched everyone else train. He looked as if he had no interest in training. Bom left Gon and approached Lil Hu, wanting to annoy him.

  Old Qiang sure is good at organising everything. If it weren’t for him, I would’ve had a lot more trouble doing this sort of thing with everyone. It’s a good thing he’s on my side.

  Persimmon stopped leaning under the tree, walking towards Gon instead.

  “What’s up, Persimmon?” Gon asked.

  Persimmon’s green eyes stared at Gon and he just shook his head, his orange hair swayed in the wind.

  “How can you give away a manual just like that? Do you know that wars are waged in the outside world just for a cultivation technique? People are killed for the slightest edge they want to gain in cultivation and you just gave away a complete manual…”

  Persimmon thoughts leaked out unhesitatingly. “Aren’t you a bit too nonchant about this?”

  “Why should I follow those norms?” Gon smiled. “I’ve known you all for a while now. Sure, I could’ve gotten stronger on my own and left, but I have my own pns. And I’d rather all of you guys get stronger with me. Why live to the constraints of others?”

  Persimmon couldn’t help but cross his arms, shaking his head like he heard something ridiculous. “You don’t get it since you’re just a miner. Cultivators would take you as a threat just for having such a deviant thought. If you start a trend, that alone would cause a risk to other sects who have set things in their own way. Someone who would give away their most valuable manuals to everyone for free? It’s just to stroke your own ego to be a selfless saint, without thought for consequences.”

  Gon lowered his eyebrows at the answer, staring down at Persimmon. Though they were both scrawny and the same height a month ago, Gon had now bulked up a decent amount, gaining plenty of muscle mass.

  “Yeah, honestly, I don’t give a shit. About all these cultivator norms or whatever. You call it whatever you want, I do things my own way. If you want to use these norms as an excuse to be weak, be my guest. See if that helps you when you get jumped by Kolomodor Samanders next time.”

  The atmosphere turned a bit awkward as Persimmon didn’t retort with any words.

  Gon suddenly gave a grin as he walked by his side, changing the subject. “Also, how are you still so scrawny? Everyone else has bulked up a decent amount but you’ve remained the same. Are you skimping out on meals? Even though I catch enough to feed everyone properly. This is why you gotta practice the Tradies Body Manual! It’ll fix you right up!” Gon smacked Persimmon’s back and wandered off.

  Watching Gon leave, Persimmon couldn’t help but have a wry smile. “How could someone change so much in just a month? But, I guess he’s right. I can’t be weak when I have an opportunity like this.”

  Strolling towards Old Qiang, Gon casually sat down and closed his eyes. He entered his Inner World and stood before the Mining Altar.

  “It’s time for a gambling session!”