Published: February 10, 2025
Elder Yan was not old; he was far from the age of becoming a grandfather. However, in this mine, especially in the third mine, he was a figure of authority.
At this moment, Elder Yan's expression was not good, as a person stood in front of him, a person who made him feel threatened. Sitting in his chair, Elder Yan's face changed between various emotions, unsure of how to respond.
"What's wrong? Can't I use your freedom to exchange for this little thing?"
Ye Zhongming leaned against the stone wall, looking at Elder Yan and his tense subordinates, his eyes revealing a contemplative look. He had been brought here by Zhang Xintai and the others to meet Elder Yan, the boss of the Lone Gatherers in the third mine, and had proposed his conditions.
In Ye Zhongming's view, the price he offered was very high; the core of it was just two words: freedom.
He wanted them to leave this dark mine and return to the surface.
Of course, there were other benefits, such as the abundant Low-Level Magic Crystals, meat, materials, and more in the mine.
His requests were also very simple: first, to gather all the stone beads from that mine for him. Second, to hand over the stock of stone beads. Third, they could only leave after a specified time.
From any angle, Ye Zhongming's conditions were not a big deal. Trading freedom for these seemingly useless stone beads, what was there to hesitate about?
"I don't believe you." Elder Yan suddenly said, looking darkly at Ye Zhongming. "You are an outsider; you have never lived here with us for even one day, so you are not worthy of our trust."
Ye Zhongming nodded, no longer looking at Elder Yan but instead at the roughly three hundred Lone Gatherers present. He pointed upwards and said, "Have you ever thought about the possibility that there are spies among you from the people above?"
This single sentence caused many faces to change dramatically.
Had they thought about it? Naturally, they had, but later on, they felt that no one would want to stay and suffer here. So, that thought faded.
Now, hearing Ye Zhongming mention it, doubts began to rise again, especially among Zhang Xintai and his two companions. They had already been completely conquered by Ye Zhongming's strength along the way; their trust in him had exceeded that of Elder Yan. Given what they knew about Ye Zhongming, he would never speak without reason, and they instinctively looked towards Elder Yan.
Could this craftsman master be the spy who had been their boss for so long?
Elder Yan suddenly stood up, glaring at Ye Zhongming, "Outsider, don’t speak nonsense! The people here are brothers who live and die together; they’re not something you can provoke with just a few words. I see you like someone sent by the outside; otherwise, how could you come down here with such good equipment? How could those people let you go?"
Others also felt that it made sense, and their previously wavering hearts became resolute again.
"That’s because he has spatial equipment that those people haven’t discovered!" Zhang Xintai defended Ye Zhongming from the side.
He had witnessed Ye Zhongming seriously studying the stone stalks. If he were someone sent from above, how could he not know the uses of the stone beads? Even if he didn’t know, wouldn’t it be better to study it on the surface? Why come here?
Moreover, from their previous conversations, it was clear that Ye Zhongming knew nothing about this place. Would someone sent from the surface act like this?
"Zhang Xintai, don’t forget your identity!" Elder Yan was even less polite to his subordinate, his expression as if he wanted to eat someone.
Ye Zhongming chuckled lightly and suddenly charged forward. With a burst of speed, he almost instantly reached Elder Yan.
The other evolvers were too low-level and had no chance to prepare, but Elder Yan was ready. Seeing Ye Zhongming move, his body began to change; muscles swelled, his skull cracked and expanded, and his mouth elongated. He completed the activation of his lineage in an instant.