"What are you doing here, old man?" Austin asked. He was curious on seeing an old acquaintance after such a long time.
He didn't expect that he'd run into the Earth Hermit in the Northern Mine District. It was like meeting the most unexpected person in the most unexpected place.
"I came to know that something happened in here. And may happen again!
So here I am.
Many things have been buried here for long. I'd like to see what those are," the Earth Hermit replied as he smiled at Austin.
The Earth Hermit had disguised himself as a middle-aged man with tanned skin. The smile on his face was harmless and sincere.
"Why did you infiltrate the miners? You are so powerful. I don't think you need to bother about anything anymore. You can explore this area directly," Austin blurted out.
He had doubts as to why the Earth Hermit was in a disguise.
"The reason is quite simple.
These newly recruited mine workers will be sent to dig in that area where the flying demonic monkey was spotted.
And I believe that as we speak, the elders from the holy lands and prominent clans are investigating that area.
If I break into that place in my true state, I will be spotted by them.
But if I pretend to be a miner, I can get into that area without exposing my identity,"
the Earth Hermit explained it all to Austin.
"I see!" Austin replied with a nod.
The Earth Hermit was right about it.
On the other hand, Elder Jordan from the Rudimentary Holy Land rounded up over seven thousand miners. With a wave of his sleeve, he got them into the warship. The ship flew towards the area where the perilous mines were located.
A few minutes later the warship landed in a desolated area.
Mines could be seen here and there in that area.
The location had become important as the flying demonic monkey had come back to life in this place.
People thronged from various places after hearing about the return of the flying demonic monkey.
Many ships, warships, chariots and monstrous beasts which were used to pull the chariots floated above the mines.
Austin sensed the waves spread in all directions. There was a terrifying amount of vital energy present all around.
It was evident that many strong cultivators had gathered there.
He also spotted lots of mine workers there. Some were going in while others were walking out of those countless mines.
"It looks like apart from the Rudimentary Holy Land, the top forces have also sent their miners to dig here,"
the Earth Hermit said to Austin through his spiritual sense.
Austin nodded agreeing to his statement. 'There are at least tens of thousands of miners working here, ' Austin thought to himself.
And soon more than seven thousand miners followed Elder Jordan out of the warship. The team reached an area which was vacant, and there was no one from other sects around.
"All right! You're going to work here,"
Elder Jordan said to the miners, showing them the place where they were supposed to work.
A few stewards and a bunch of principal disciples of the Rudimentary Holy Land joined in. They started to divide those workers into groups and showed them spots where they had to dig.
Luckily, Austin and the Earth Hermit were put in one group.
The two of them followed the other miners to the mine and started working. They didn't want to invite anyone's attention so they quietly joined the miners.
A day passed off in this manner.
Austin and the Earth Hermit were about a thousand meters deep in the ground.
All of a sudden, a mine worker who was in front of the group let out a scream.
"I think there are crystals ahead of us!"
he gushed in excitement.
An experienced, old miner reached that man and looked in the distance, in the direction he was pointing at.
"He is right. I can feel dense spiritual energy. Come on, guys! I'm sure there are crystals ahead of us. Perhaps we will find a crystal vessel," he said excitedly as he turned to look at other miners.
The other mine workers cheered up instantly. Suddenly they were filled with a new energy and started digging at a faster speed.
A few moments passed and the miners were filled with a new zeal to find out what lay ahead.
Just then, the wall in front of them which was made of mud collapsed.
Bright lights ahead of them illuminated the channel.
"Look, it looks like there is a lobby over there,"
the Earth Hermit shouted as he dashed forward.
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