Chapter 257: Going Down the Cave

Yan Buji, who was sweeping the ground, saw Niu Long hurrying over and shouted, "Junior Brother Huang, hurry to the earth vein and help!"

"Ah? Senior Brother, haven't all the missions already been assigned?" Yan Buji exclaimed in surprise.

"I can't explain it clearly, that useless thing... Hurry over, don't delay things! Forget it, I'll take you there!"

Yan Buji nodded, put down his broom, and followed Niu Long all the way to the earth vein area.

"Get to work... no, hurry down into the cave!" the Mission Hall disciple saw Niu Long coming and immediately greeted him.

Then seeing Yan Buji beside him, the Mission Hall disciple's face darkened instantly: "Niu Long, I tell you, down here the use of spiritual power is forbidden; if this person... shows any lack of stamina or breathing difficulty, you will personally go down and open a cave dwelling for me today."

Niu Long put on an apologetic smile and said, "Yes, yes, Senior Brother Hu, rest assured, I can definitely do it. Junior Brother Huang, why aren't you going down yet?"

"Yes. But how deep do we need to dig to be enough?"

Yan Buji took an iron shovel and walked into the underground cavern.

"Thirty meters deep, three meters wide and high is enough," the Mission Hall disciple said impatiently.

"Alright."

Yan Buji gave a slight smile.

Even without using spiritual power, his qi and blood, though weakened by age, could still be slightly invigorated with a bit of True Essence to fill his vigor, making digging a hole quite simple.

Niu Long breathed a sigh of relief, looked at the Mission Hall disciple, and said, "Senior Brother Hu, you watch this side for now; I'll go back to handle my affairs."

"Hold on, let me tell you. The development of this earth vein cave dwelling is a top-priority matter for the sect. Right now the sect has just stabilized the earth vein; all the cave dwellings previously opened at random by disciples must be closed and refilled. From now on, only the cave dwellings opened by the sect around the earth vein may be used—this is no small project. If you assign me another one or two people, if we fail to finish in three months, you'll have no excuse; anyway, if I suffer, you'll definitely be implicated..."

"Done digging."

Yan Buji pulled out the last cart of earth and piled it into a small mound beside him.

The two were stunned, and the Mission Hall disciple hurried down into the cavern to inspect.

"Holy shit, you actually finished digging?! Old man, are you a former miner?"

Niu Long's expression changed as he looked at Yan Buji.

Could this old coot have used some breath-concealing technique to hide his spiritual power fluctuations, otherwise how could he be so fast?

However, there are elders watching over the earth vein below; if something really went wrong, they couldn't bear the responsibility!

Niu Long hurriedly asked, "Junior Brother Huang, you didn't use spiritual power to dig, did you? I tell you, don't try to cut corners—if you disturb the earth vein's qi and something happens, you'll be expelled from the mountain gate!"

The Mission Hall disciple reacted as well, giving Yan Buji a doubtful look.

Yan Buji rolled up his sleeves while holding the iron shovel and laughed, "What are you saying, Senior Brother Niu? I'm just strong; don't judge by my aged face—I was born with divine strength back then."

"But you...."

"Alright, Niu Long, this old... this junior disciple indeed has abundant vigor, different from ordinary cultivators. But just in case, that area hasn't been dug yet; this time I'll personally supervise you. If you keep up this speed, from now on the junior disciple will come here, and I'll count each day as a task quota for you!" the Mission Hall disciple said directly.

Niu Long's face darkened, and he dared not say more.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Yan Buji took a shovel and went to the other side to start digging from scratch.

He dug until dark, and Yan Buji finally excavated a fifteen-meter-long passage!

"Quality and quantity assured!"

"Just saying, this work—one person does the job of ten!"

"Holy cow! Junior Brother, you really are born with divine strength! Good, good, good—today you go rest; tomorrow come straight here without needing to report to anyone. Niu Long Junior Brother, please tell the Elder Wang Duo over at the Menial Hall that I want this person!" the Mission Hall disciple said excitedly.

At this pace, at most two months and the sect's required cave dwelling passage will be completely dug!

Niu Long glared, looking at Yan Buji.

"Well played, you old coot—I misjudged you!"

Yan Buji clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother!"

While accompanying Niu Long to the Menial Hall, Yan Buji stepped forward and handed over two bags full of Spiritual Stones.

One large, one small; Niu Long stared blankly: "Junior Brother, what is this?"

"Ah, thanks to Senior Brother I could take on this good mission; the task quota is also considered fulfilled. From now on we're all fellow sect members, and I hope Senior Brother Niu and Elder Chao will look after me." Yan Buji smiled, placing the Spiritual Stone bags into Niu Long's bosom.

With the Spiritual Stones, Niu Long's face immediately improved considerably.

"Junior Brother Huang has this ability; becoming an official disciple is just a matter of time. Senior Brother here wishes you early attainment of disciple status and diligent cultivation."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Returning to his quarters, Yan Buji took a shower and didn't feel tired.

To be honest, if it weren't for the task quota holding him back, he alone could dig at least three tunnels today.

Moreover, if he employed the Shaking Dragon Classic, completing their task within a day would be as easy as turning over one's hand.

But since we're putting on a show, we'll go through the whole routine.

Sometimes being overly competitive isn't a good thing; it only makes one's task quota grow heavier.

All Yan Buji needs is the status of an official disciple; as for how he obtains it, does it matter?

It doesn't matter.

What matters is the subsequent handling.

Giving Spiritual Stones to Niu Long and Elder Wang Duo, although not much, also represents an attitude.

With this gift, we can ensure that when the time comes to become official, we won't be stuck at the Menial Hall.

"The Qing Shan Sect has many rules, but there are even more loopholes to exploit! I really like this place."

Yan Buji smiled, sat contentedly on the bed, and began cultivation.

Until half a month later.

The commotion from Yan Buji's digging attracted many inner sect disciples to watch; seeing that white-haired, bare-armed, muscular figure wielding a shovel and digging earth, his muscle lines were distinct, and with each digging motion the rise and fall of his latissimus dorsi drew considerable attention.

"Holy shit, is this still an old man?"

"He's stronger than me, just looks old in the face."

Wow, this muscular body—too bad he's too old to eat.

Hu Bing of the Mission Hall looked around and shouted, 'Eh eh eh, aren't you doing any work? You're all just standing around watching people dig dirt, right?'

Hu Bing walked over, looking at the sweat-drenched Yan Buji, and said, 'Junior Brother Huang, pause a moment.'

Yan Buji set down his shovel, puzzled, and asked, 'What's wrong, Senior Brother Hu?'

Hu Bing glanced around at the female disciples staring at Yan Buji's muscles, then sighed, 'You should put your clothes back on.'

Yan Buji's expression turned odd, he glanced around and chuckled, 'Do I, an old man, really still have this many people who enjoy looking?'

'These days cultivators spend their days meditating to refine their magical power, so their bodies are at most just well‑toned. It's rare to see a cultivator like Junior Brother Huang with such clearly defined muscle lines.'

'No wonder none of them can handle this work.' Yan Buji laughed, untied the clothing at his waist and put it back on properly.

Hu Bing nodded: 'At this rate, we should be able to finish within three months.'

'As long as it doesn't hold up Senior Brother's important business.'

'Eh, we can't say that—we still have to rely on you. What would you like to eat today?'

'Thank you, Senior Brother—just the usual will do.'

'Okay, okay, I'll go get it ready right away.'

Hu Bing is a sensible person; he knew that to keep Yan Buji motivated he needed to give him a daily task target, sufficient to fulfill the entry requirements.

Besides, in his day‑to‑day dealings he would also chat with Yan Buji about sect matters, and he gave strong support in terms of food, worried lest Yan Buji become unable to work.