Chapter 47 As a mount?

The three words "Little Loach" fell into his ears, and his tail, covered in slag, curled up.

He raised his head, his eyes filled with shock and suspicion.

"Lead the way?"

The Old Dragon King's lips trembled.

He certainly knew the way. He had been tapping this underground maze with the pickaxe in his hand for three thousand years. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel which fork led to the water pool and which fork connected to the abandoned mine.

He braced his hands against the rock wall and, using the weight of the shackles on his wrists, pushed his body up.

The Old Dragon King nodded, just about to speak, when his peripheral vision caught the dark depths where the two laborers had dragged the overseer away.

"Ah—! You beasts! My ass!"

A scream came from along the mine tunnel.

The Old Dragon King shuddered. He withdrew his gaze and looked at the young man in white before him.

"This... Senior."

The Old Dragon King lowered his voice. "As for the way, this old one naturally knows it. It's just..."

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his gaze sweeping over the overseer's token at Gu Heng's waist.

"Senior, regarding that thunderous method you used just now, although this old one doesn't know how you did it, but... you have now brought a great disaster upon yourself.

The one you crippled just now was merely a leader on the outermost perimeter. Deep within this Blood-Vein Mine, there are dozens more overseers like him, not to mention the Heavenly Immortal commanders guarding the upper levels."

The Old Dragon King gestured with both hands: "The Formation here is connected to the Demon Race veins of the entire city. Once those commanders discover the disturbance here, they only need to descend a single Law, and we'll be done for! Senior, while they haven't been alerted yet, you should hurry and find a way to break through the boundary wall and escape!"

Gu Heng listened to the Old Dragon King's advice.

He smiled relaxedly.

"Run? Why?"

He waved his hand, his eyes scanning the surroundings of the mine tunnel. "I've come all this way, it's not easy. Although this place is a bit dark, it's quite interesting. I'll just wander around; it won't be a problem."

Wander around?

The Old Dragon King stood frozen in place, his eyes wide.

You call this wandering around?

Wandering into this Hellish Demon Race mine where people are eaten without a trace, and hundreds of those who have undergone Ascension die miserably every day?

Gu Heng looked at the Old Dragon King's expression.

He nodded. "Don't make that face. There are many people here, it's actually quite lively.

It's mainly because I just underwent Ascension and am unfamiliar with the place.

However, you people in the Upper Realm are actually quite nice. As soon as I landed, those two who received me were too enthusiastic, insisting on dragging me here.

I couldn't refuse their kindness, so I just followed them to take a look."

The Old Dragon King's mind buzzed, and he became completely numb.

The ones who received him? Too enthusiastic?

What do you mean by the ones who received him! Those were the Demon Race's Prisoner Envoys who transport slaves!

The Old Dragon King rolled his eyes; he really couldn't hold it in anymore.

For three thousand years, he had seen countless peerless Geniuses who had just undergone Ascension, and also those poor wretches who broke down and went mad after realizing the reality.

But he had truly seen a freak like the one before him for the first time, one who treated the Demon Race's Prisoner Envoys as enthusiastic tour guides and the Hellish mine as his own backyard.

The Old Dragon King was completely stunned.

Cold winds blew through the mine tunnel, and the screams gradually weakened, replaced by gasps and whimpers.

Watching Gu Heng's calm and indifferent appearance, a completely absurd thought suddenly arose in the Old Dragon King's mind.

He had originally thought that since this person dared to cripple the overseer, he must be some Upper Realm expert hiding his identity, who had come down specifically to save those of them who were suffering and enduring the Ascension.

But now, listening to these words, the other party was just a confused fool who had been escorted over.

"So..."

The Old Dragon King opened his mouth, his voice dry. "You didn't come specifically to save us?"

Gu Heng frowned slightly.

He turned his head to examine the Old Dragon King. His gaze moved from the dirt-covered face, to the scales, and finally landed on the tail dragging in the muddy water.

A trace of disgust appeared in the depths of Gu Heng's eyes.

"Come specifically to save you?"

Gu Heng picked his ear with his finger and sneered. "I say, your imagination as a loach is too rich, isn't it? Do I have nothing better to do than to run to this broken place to save you?"

Gu Heng pointed at the Old Dragon King's tail.

"First, wipe the slag off your tail before you speak."

The Old Dragon King was choked until his face turned red.

He turned around and looked at his dragon tail, covered in mud and filth.

A sense of humiliation surged in his heart, but he still stretched out his hands, grabbed the corner of his clothes, and vigorously wiped the grime off his tail.

Gu Heng stood to the side, watching this old man squatting on the ground wiping his tail, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.

He stroked his chin, examining the Old Dragon King's physique and frame.

"However..."

Gu Heng nodded, speaking as if to himself. "Taking a loach as a mount is actually quite good. At least I won't have to walk myself when going out."

The action of wiping the tail stopped abruptly.

The Old Dragon King trembled all over, turned his head, and stared at Gu Heng with wide eyes.

Three thousand years.

In countless days and nights, he had fantasized about one day seeing the light of day again, regaining freedom and new life.

Just a moment ago, this young man in white had crippled the overseer with a flick of his finger, rescuing him from torture worse than death.

At that moment, he really thought he was finally free.

Yet now, in the blink of an eye, he was being asked to be a mount?

"You—"

The Old Dragon King stood up abruptly, the last shred of dignity belonging to the Dragon Clan burning in his chest.

He instinctively wanted to start cursing, "This King is the dignified master of the Far North Dragon Clan, ruling over the four seas and eight wildernesses, with ten thousand races coming to pay homage! How could I possibly become a mount for a Human Race like you! This is simply taking advantage of a crisis and kicking someone when they are down!"

Countless angry roars surged in his heart, but when the words reached his lips, he forced them back.

He dared not say it.

Because in his mind, which had been clouded by anger, a scene from just a moment ago suddenly flashed—the seemingly harmless young man in white before him, whose hands were still tied by the Immortal Binding Rope, had merely raised his hand slightly, and an Earth Immortal Realm Demon Race overseer had become a cripple.

Even more terrifying was that this young man had just undergone Ascension, didn't know the depth of this Demon Race realm at all, had nowhere to go, and had just casually come here and dealt with the overseer.

Would a normal person do such a thing without considering the consequences?

No.

Only a lunatic who completely disregarded the Demon Race's Law, or... some kind of monster that exceeded the limits of his understanding, could do it.

The Old Dragon King swallowed those curses.

But he still wouldn't give up.

The dawn of freedom was right before his eyes; he didn't want to just come out of the Demon's den only to be put in chains again.

The Old Dragon King hunched his body, pressed his hands together, his tone pleading, his voice trembling: "Sen... Senior. This old one has been tortured by those Demon Race beasts in this Blood-Vein Mine for a full three thousand years. Every day I ate blood-stained Ore slag and drank poisonous muddy water. This old one finally hoped for you to act, finally regained freedom..."

He raised his head, his eyes welling up with tears, looking at Gu Heng.

"You... you want me to be a mount?"

"Hm?"

Gu Heng raised an eyebrow, emitting a nasal sound.

He did not release any pressure at all.

But this light, airy word fell into the Old Dragon King's ears, making him shudder all over.

"Ahem—"

The Old Dragon King cleared his throat, straightening his back.

"Senior is joking!"

"My life was saved by you in passing! Not to mention being a mount, even if it were to work like an ox or horse for you, that would be this old one's honor!"

As he spoke, he slapped his chest hard.

"Being a mount is great! This mount must be served! Whoever dares to stop me from being a mount for Senior, I'll fight them!"

The Old Dragon King spat as he spoke, raising his head high.

A cold wind blew through the mine tunnel, and the Old Dragon King maintained his chest-out, head-high posture, motionless.

Gu Heng just watched him like that, arms crossed over his chest, saying nothing.

One second.

Two seconds.

Time passed.

The Old Dragon King felt his heart crawl with unease under Gu Heng's gaze.

"Uh... Senior?"

He spoke, his voice very small. "What do you... think?"

Gu Heng still didn't speak, just staring into the depths of the dark mine tunnel.

Seeing that Gu Heng had no reaction, cold sweat dripped down the Old Dragon King.

He was just preparing to find more words to express his loyalty when a movement came from the depths of the mine.

That was the direction where the two laborers had just dragged the Demon Race overseer away.

"Gently... please... gently..."

A weak moan drifted over, accompanied by the sound of stones falling to the ground, which was exceptionally piercing in the mine.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Blood-Vein Mine.

A deep blue Formation light curtain flowed, isolating the bloody stench inside the mine.

Two gatekeeping Demon Cultivators leaned against the rock wall.

The One-Horned Demon Cultivator slammed his mace onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of black dust.

He opened his mouth to yawn, narrowed his eyes, glanced into the depths of the entrance, and listened intently.

The commotion in the mine came through the Formation.

One could only vaguely distinguish that someone was screaming, mixed with garbled discussions.

The One-Horned Demon Cultivator raised his hand to scratch his scalp, leaned close to the edge of the Formation, and listened to the commotion inside.

Then he chuckled, leaned back against the rock wall, and crossed his legs.

"Listening to that sound, the guy inside must already be tortured to the point of being worse than dead."

The One-Horned Demon Cultivator grinned. "Tsk tsk, that fair-skinned, tender-faced guy who went in just now, one look and you can tell he's never suffered. I reckon by now a layer of his skin has been peeled off."

The Skinny Bamboo Demon Cultivator on the other side snorted coldly, took a piece of dried meat from his bosom, put it in his mouth, and took a bite.

"This bunch of trash from the Lower Realm, each and every one of them in the Lower Realm, made their Ascension ceremony more lively than anyone else, all thinking that once they crossed the boundary wall, they would become Immortals and enjoy a life of ease."

The Skinny Bamboo Demon Cultivator chewed the dried meat. "And the result? They can't even withstand a single whip from the lowest-level overseers in the mine. It's truly a joke."

"Isn't that right."

The One-Horned Demon Cultivator rubbed his hands. "I reckon that kid just now, in the Lower Realm, was probably some Old Ancestor who founded a sect, pampered and adored by a group of disciples every day. Now that he's entered our Demon Race mine, hehe... the contrast is too great, he's probably scared out of his wits."

Just as the two were talking, the One-Horned Demon Cultivator suddenly sat up straight.

He turned his head, pressed his ear close to the Formation light curtain, and frowned.

"Hm? Third Brother, did you hear that?"

The One-Horned Demon Cultivator pointed to the light curtain.

The Skinny Bamboo Demon Cultivator swallowed the dried meat and walked up, frowning.

The two held their breath, capturing the syllables leaking from the depths of the Formation.

"...Being a mount is great... must be served..."

"...Gently... please... gently..."

A few sparse words penetrated the Formation and fell into the ears of the two Demon Cultivators.

They exchanged a look and revealed meaningful smiles.

...

Deep within the Formation.

Gu Heng had his hands behind his back, walking along, following the screams, and brought the Old Dragon King to a fork in the road deep in the mine tunnel.

The air was filled with a bloody stench.

Gu Heng stopped and looked at the ground ahead.

That Earth Immortal Realm Demon Race overseer was sprawled in a pile of rubble.

The two laborers picked out by Gu Heng were clutching waste Ore in their hands.

The edges of the Ore were stained with dark red Demon blood.

The overseer's Demon armor had been smashed, and his flesh was mangled.

Hearing footsteps, the two laborers paused, threw the Ore aside, and prostrated themselves on the ground.

They looked up, their eyes filled with awe as they saw Gu Heng.

Gu Heng walked up to them, looked down at the body still twitching on the ground, and shook his head.

He did not speak to stop them, but turned his head to look around.

The dozens of laborers on both sides of the mine tunnel who were swinging their pickaxes all stopped their movements upon seeing the person who had arrived.

Their gazes fell on the overseer's token at Gu Heng's waist.

I don't know who started it, but with a thud, an old man in rags knelt on both knees.

Immediately after, dozens of laborers on both sides of the mine tunnel knelt and prostrated themselves.

"Greetings, Overseer!"

Dozens of hoarse voices echoed in the mine tunnel, their faces filled with extreme respect.

"..."

Gu Heng looked at this crowd of Lower Realm experts kneeling in a dark mass, his mouth twitching.

The Old Dragon King, standing behind Gu Heng, looked at this scene, his heart stirred with great waves.

He looked at the Demon Race overseer lying in a pool of blood, and a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

"Brilliant! Simply brilliant!"

The Old Dragon King sighed in his heart, looking at Gu Heng's back, his eyes adding a few more points of admiration.

He had originally been worried that crippling an Earth Immortal Realm overseer would surely alert the Formation hub deep in the mine.

But now he understood everything.

This Senior deliberately did not kill the person himself, but crippled the other party's cultivation, borrowing a knife to kill, letting the laborers beat this overseer until he was half-dead.

As long as this overseer still had a breath, his life soul tablet left in the mine's main control room would not shatter.

If the soul tablet didn't shatter, those Heavenly Immortal commanders wouldn't notice that a change of power had occurred in this corner.

"This Senior is not only terrifying in strength, but even his mind is so meticulous, watertight. He has grasped the rules of this Demon Race realm even more thoroughly than a drudge like me who has stayed here for three thousand years.

No wonder he dared to say he was just here to wander around; with this kind of calculation, where can he not go?"

The Old Dragon King couldn't help but feel secretly relieved in his heart; fortunately, his action of kneeling and showing loyalty just now was fast enough.

He straightened his back, stood behind Gu Heng, and scanned the laborers kneeling on the ground.

How could Gu Heng know what this old loach was thinking in his head?

He waved his hand casually, just about to speak.

His hand was only half raised.

His movement suddenly paused.

Gu Heng's relaxed expression faded, his brows furrowed, and his Divine Sense projected into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness.

At that instant, he perceived that a violent fluctuation was coming from within the heaven-reaching tower that had already been refined.

It originated from inside the tower body, a vibration of the Small World's Origin.

Gu Heng closed his eyes, and his Divine Sense surged into the heaven-reaching tower.

In the Chaos space inside the tower, Spiritual Qi churned like boiling water, forming a vortex of spiritual power.

The aura of a Quasi-True Immortal was majestic and vast, and it seemed that a supreme aura was brewing within it.

Gu Heng opened his eyes, a flash of surprise appearing.

"Someone in the heaven-reaching tower is... breaking through to True Immortal?"