For Su Zhan, keeping a low profile was the smartest way to grow. The rewards of steady development were huge—so why be flashy and draw unwanted attention?
Of course, if someone pushed him too far, he wouldn't hesitate to strike back… Even if it meant sacrificing his Clone, he would make sure to reclaim his dignity!
"Master, there is… something new."
At that moment, the Clone pulled out a token-like object from the flesh and blood covering it.
After wiping it clean, he handed it to Su Zhan.
"This is… the assessment token of the Sun Sect?!"
Su Zhan's eyes widened in surprise.
He had once possessed such a token before. With it, one qualified to take part in the Sun Sect's annual disciple recruitment trials, and upon passing, could officially join the sect.
Back then, however, Su Zhan's strength had been far too weak, and his opponents far too formidable. He wasted that chance in vain.
If he wanted to try again now, he could purchase another assessment token from someone else and discreetly give the examiners a small "favor" to secure another opportunity.
This was an open secret—an unwritten rule the Sun Sect had never officially forbidden. After all, the sect's true aim was to recruit promising talents—strong, skilled, and gifted. How one obtained the token was of little concern to them.
Of course, if the candidate's ability didn't meet the requirements, no amount of bribes or repeated attempts would help—unless their background was powerful enough to force the sect's hand.
"It must have belonged to some unlucky fellow who was on his way to take the sect trial but was intercepted and killed by this guy… And judging by the condition, the victim was nearly middle-aged.
Even with the token, it'd be useless—one of the Sun Sect's conditions is that they don't accept anyone over eighteen years old."
"Normally, this token would just end up in Myriad Treasures Pavilion or the black market, fetching a good price."
"But now that it's in my hands… things will be different."
A sharp gleam flashed in Su Zhan's eyes.
There was one crucial step to taking over the mine—earning the official recognition of the Sun Sect.
His original plan had been to rapidly increase his strength over the course of a year and then take the trial next year, while still seventeen.
But fate had brought him an unexpected gift—a bandit's ambush had delivered this perfect opportunity right into his lap!
"There's no need to rush. I'll wait a month or two—by then, I'll be at least at the third or fourth level of the Mortal Realm. Passing the trial will be easy."
"The mine's current owner is a seventh-level Mortal Realm cultivator. By the time I join the sect, I can challenge him directly and take over the mine as an official disciple!"
Su Zhan had already investigated the mine's entire structure.
The mine owner—also head of the Punishment Hall, holding the power of life and death—was a seventh-level Mortal Realm disciple of the Sun Sect.
Below him were several captains at the sixth level of the Mortal Realm, each overseeing the third-level Mortal Realm miners in their assigned regions.
Further down were captains at the fifth level of the Mortal Realm, who managed the second-level Mortal Realm miners.
Whenever trouble arose in Su Zhan's current area, it was the fifth-level Punishment Hall members who would be dispatched to resolve it.
The lowest tier of management consisted of the fourth-level Mortal Realm enforcers, like Zhou Yueshan, who oversaw the largest workforce—first-level Mortal Realm laborers.
Seizing the mine outright by force was unrealistic.
The Sun Sect ruled this land, its ranks filled with powerhouses—Origin Realm, Core Formation Realm, Profound Realm… countless and unmatched.
The only feasible path for Su Zhan to take the mine quickly was to first join the Sun Sect. With an official disciple's identity, he would gain the right to formally challenge the mine's owner.
Because of this, Su Zhan resolved to head to the Sun Sect in the near future, laying the foundation to secure both his place in the sect and the qualification to claim the mine.
Now with this token, even the bothersome arrangement process was skipped.
"Clones, head to Clear Breeze Town again and exchange all the low-grade spirit stone vouchers for low-grade spiritual tools.
If more than twenty Clones were each equipped with a low-grade spiritual tool, then—
Even without skill enhancements, their basic attacks alone would still be enough to kill an enemy!
"As for the rest of you, return to your duties and continue training!"
The Clones quickly obeyed.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed.
"Mining in the mine all day?"
Inside the exchange room, after hearing the report from the man in blue, the bald man frowned.
Zhou Yueshan, seated nearby, remained silent.
"Yes," the man in blue confirmed. "I've been watching him for days. Every morning he goes into the mine, and every evening he comes out. I observed him closely—he never left for even half a step."
The man hesitated before continuing. "One day during that time, I heard him laughing—very loudly. It sounded like he was overjoyed about something big."
"Just laughing? What's strange about that?" the bald man scoffed. "I've also made some inquiries. Su Zhan has been exchanging five or six low-grade spirit stones every day for several days in a row. Normally, even a second-tier miner only earns three. He's probably just had a lucky gain this time."
"Master Zhou, I thought this kid had some big secret. Looks like we were overthinking it."
Zhou Yueshan silently took a sip of wine without answering. But from the flash in his eyes, it was clear he was still wondering if he had truly been overthinking…
There seemed to be nothing remarkable about the young man named Su Zhan.
"Master Zhou, should we still keep watch?" the man in blue asked cautiously.
"Starting tomorrow, get a few more people. Don't just observe from afar—follow him directly, and stay close. Whether he's working or resting, stay on him at all times. You stop only when I give the order."
"Yes, Master Zhou!" The man in blue bowed and immediately left.
"Master Zhou," the bald man remarked, "if you couldn't find anything from a distance, watching from close up might not help much either… To you, he's just an ant—you could crush him with a finger!"
"No," Zhou Yueshan replied flatly, "he's not an ant, but a big fish—one that might be hiding treasure."
"And if you want to catch a big fish, you need patience… and a little bait."
"Bait? What kind?" the bald man asked, puzzled.
"Life," Zhou Yueshan said coldly. "Life is the best bait."