Buddy, your fate… is truly bitter.

After that drinking session, Su Ji's days became unexpectedly leisurely.

Zhang Kui didn't come looking for him to drink anymore, nor did he urge him to work.

The overseers, who usually looked down their noses at everyone, squeezed out stiff smiles when they saw Su Ji again, politely calling him Brother Su.

Su Ji was happy to enjoy the peace and quiet. Every day, besides sleeping soundly in his shack, he wandered around the mining area, euphemistically calling it familiarizing himself with the environment.

His idle appearance naturally drew the jealousy and secret criticism of many mining slaves who hadn't yet become completely numb.

But no one dared to say anything to his face.

After all, this was someone under Zhang Kui's protection.

Forming a stark contrast with Su Ji's leisure was Qin Feng.

This former Golden Core genius had now completely transformed into the model worker of the mining area.

He got up before dawn every day, heading out even before the bell rang.

He wouldn't drag his exhausted body back until it was pitch dark. Besides finishing his own quota, he worked like a madman to exceed it.

He was always cursing and muttering something under his breath.

The harsher he cursed, the more vigorously he swung the iron pickaxe in his hands.

When Su Ji occasionally passed by and heard his suppressed, angry muttering, he would just grin, treating it as a source of amusement.

Senior Brother, you're too wicked. Aren't you exempt from handing in iron ore now?

Is he still mining for you?

Su Jiu's voice echoed in Su Ji's mind.

How can you call it wicked? Su Ji lazily retorted in his mind. I am tempering our ally's willpower, laying a solid foundation for our shared great cause in the future.

Su Jiu: ...

She felt it was best not to discuss the topic of being wicked with her Senior Brother anymore.

Such leisurely days lasted until the third day.

Zhao Tianyang returned.

The nominal highest authority of the third mining area went straight back to his shack upon his return, seeing no one.

That was until Zhang Kui, like a cat smelling fish, immediately went looking for him.

The two stayed in the room for a full half-hour.

When Zhang Kui came out again, the excitement on his face could be felt from far away.

He practically trotted all the way to find Su Ji, who was sunbathing in a corner.

Brother Su! Quick! Old Zhao wants to see you!

Zhang Kui's voice cracked slightly due to his excitement.

Su Ji reluctantly opened his eyes and yawned.

Not going. Let him come over himself.

The smile on Zhang Kui's face stiffened as he looked at Su Ji, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

My good brother, please don't act foolish at a time like this!

He leaned in and lowered his voice, his tone almost pleading.

I told Old Zhao everything about how you saved that person the other day! This is a tremendously good thing!

Only then did Su Ji slowly stand up, patting the dust off his behind.

You should have said so earlier.

Of course, all of this was just an act for outsiders to see.

Subsequently, Su Ji followed Zhang Kui to that simply furnished shack.

Zhao Tianyang was sitting behind the stone table, his face devoid of any expression.

He didn't stand up, merely raising his cloudy eyes to look at Su Ji.

It didn't feel like he was looking at a person, but rather inspecting a piece of cargo.

Zhang Kui said you can neutralize evil energy?

His voice was hoarse, lacking even the slightest hint of emotion.

Su Ji nodded, wearing his signature honest and simple smile.

Just a stroke of luck. This lowly one has a special constitution and understands a little bit.

Zhao Tianyang didn't speak, but his cloudy eyes narrowed slightly.

He remained silent for a long time.

So long that even Zhang Kui beside him began to feel restless.

Finally, Zhao Tianyang gently placed the stone he couldn't bear to part with on the table.

Words are no proof.

He stood up, and his scrawny figure suddenly exuded an irresistible aura of authority.

Come with me.

Zhao Tianyang walked out of the shack. Zhang Kui hurriedly followed, not forgetting to shoot Su Ji a meaningful glance.

Su Ji followed them out as well.

Zhao Tianyang didn't go anywhere else but headed straight for the mining area belonging to the newcomers.

At this moment, Qin Feng was swinging his iron pickaxe, smashing the ore like a madman.

He was still cursing under his breath.

Once I gather eight hundred pounds...

Before he could finish cursing, he saw three figures approaching from a distance.

When he saw the scrawny old man in the lead, Qin Feng's movements abruptly halted.

Zhao Tianyang!

Why was he here?

Qin Feng's heart skipped a beat, and a bad premonition quietly surfaced.

Zhao Tianyang walked up to him and stopped.

He didn't say a word, just reached out his withered, claw-like hand and grabbed Qin Feng by the neck.

Before Qin Feng could even muster the thought to resist, he felt an irresistible, massive force, and his entire body was forcefully lifted off the ground.

What... are you doing?!

Qin Feng struggled in terror.

Zhao Tianyang ignored him, simply carrying him like a chicken waiting to be slaughtered, and turned to walk deeper into the mine.

Old Zhao! This...

Zhang Kui was also dumbfounded.

Zhao Tianyang didn't even turn his head, just coldly leaving behind a single sentence.

Seeing is believing.

Zhang Kui's footsteps instantly froze in place.

He looked at Zhao Tianyang's back, then at Su Ji beside him, the expression on his rugged face shifting unpredictably.

Finally, he stomped his foot and followed.

The depths of the mine were completely different from the outer edges.

The evil energy permeating the air was so thick it almost materialized, cold and tyrannical, as if countless resentful eyes were peeping from the darkness.

Zhao Tianyang casually tossed Qin Feng onto the ground.

Ah!

Qin Feng let out a shrill scream.

Almost the moment he touched the ground, the visible black evil energy, like sharks smelling blood, madly drilled into his body.

His already pale face instantly turned ashen. His body spasmed violently, and black blood began to seep from his seven orifices.

From start to finish, it took no more than three breaths of time.

Qin Feng completely lost consciousness, leaving only his body instinctively twitching, looking as if he was about to die.

Only then did Zhao Tianyang grab him back.

Afterwards, he returned to the outside.

He threw Qin Feng onto the ground.

Those cloudy eyes calmly fell upon Su Ji.

Save him.

His voice was still in that same tone, without a single ripple of emotion.

As if the one lying on the ground wasn't a living person, but an irrelevant tool.

Looking at Qin Feng on the ground, who was almost completely cold, Su Ji felt a wave of speechlessness in his heart.

Bro, your life... is truly miserable.

He didn't hesitate, stepping forward and crouching down.

Under Zhao Tianyang's scrutinizing gaze, Su Ji reached out his hand and slowly pressed it against Qin Feng's chest.

This time, he didn't hide his abilities anymore.

Zhao Tianyang clearly noticed.

After this Su Hao made his move, the surrounding tyrannical evil energy retreated instantly, like mice encountering a cat.

Zhao Tianyang's cloudy eyes, which were usually as placid as an ancient well, suddenly lit up at this moment!

He stared fixedly at Su Ji's palm. His wrinkled old face twitched slightly from absolute shock.

Su Ji paid no mind to Zhao Tianyang's astonishment.

The malevolent aura that had invaded Qin Feng's heart meridians and was frantically devouring his lifeforce proved to be as fragile as thin paper. In an instant, it was washed away completely.

Qin Feng's body, which had already begun to stiffen, regained its flexibility.

His ashen face also recovered its rosy complexion at a visible rate.

Under the nourishment of this spiritual energy, that cracked, near-shattered ninth-grade Golden Core actually began to slowly heal.

After finishing all of this, Su Ji slowly withdrew his palm and stood up.

On the ground, Qin Feng groggily woke up.

He looked around in a daze. When he saw Su Ji standing in front of him and the deeply shaken Zhao Tianyang not far away, his mind buzzed as he instantly understood everything.

He had been used as experimental fodder again.

An unprecedented wave of humiliation and anger rushed straight to his crown.

You...

Zhao Tianyang, however, could not even be bothered to spare him another glance.

He merely waved his hand casually at Zhang Kui beside him.

Well done, Kuizi. You have made a great contribution in this matter.

If this succeeds...

I will apply to the higher-ups to grant you your freedom.

After saying that, Zhao Tianyang's gaze fell back onto Su Ji.

There was no longer the slightest bit of doubt in those turbid eyes.

It was replaced by an unprecedented burning intensity and... greed.

Step by step, he slowly walked up to Su Ji.

His hoarse voice carried an imperceptible tremble of excitement.

How did you do it?