Jiang Sheng's brain calculated at a microsecond speed. He does not have all the time to consider because the Spiritual Energy he gathered from that one hour of meditation is coming to an end. His connection with the Devil's Mark would be cut off once the Spiritual Energy is exhausted.

Personally considering, Jiang Sheng knew that there would only be a slight difference between the two items. But he also knew the significance of a good and perfect choice.

A good choice will benefit his growth, but only a perfect choice would carry him further. And with the three "orioles" checking him from afar, Jiang Sheng knew his days here in the Western Spirit Vein was not simple.

With two breaths left to decide, Jiang Sheng finished his calculation and made up his mind.

The Devil's Mark on his wrist revealed a dim shine to indicate it was being used. In the next moment, a book appeared in his hand.

Simultaneously, the three "orioles" checking on him also moved at the sight of the dim light. Just as Jiang Sheng has been worrying about, these old-timers are indeed eyeing something he had in his spatial storage.

These people had been on the verge of their nerve since a hundred newcomers came to the 17th layer with Head Miner Luan. To them, robbing these juniors on their first day of arrival was customary.

This also explains why Head Miner Luan kept most of the information on hold. After all, there's no benefit in knowing more if the outcome of these newcomers is getting robbed by the old-timers.

Still, no matter how lenient the higher-ups could be, there's a limit on how much an old-timer can do to the newcomers.

They could only take action once and on the newcomers' first item from the Devil's Mark. As for success or failure, it will depend on their luck and target.

Unfortunately for these three, the item they coveted didn't appear in Jiang Sheng's hand. It was a book that none of them would bother looking at. However, how can these people leave Jiang Sheng alone after such a disappointment?

There might be a limit on what they can do, but it does not include bullying.

"Damn! To think we wasted our once-a-year chance to rob newcomers at this brat's hand. Furthermore, three people's chances at once," said one of them.

"Beat him! Although it is forbidden to kill someone here, there's no saying that we can't beat him to a pulp!" another old-timer with a fiery temper added.

The third miner remained silent, but that didn't mean he had a different thought from the other two. He simply felt it was unnecessary to speak like them.

Although Jiang Sheng had already steeled his resolve, it still felt terrible to be ganged by several people and beaten to black and blue. And there's no choice except to take everything in because the current him was much weaker than them.

At the same time, he's grateful for his cautiousness. His losses could have been much greater if he had chosen the medicinal pill or the pickaxe instead.

The beating goes on until the three miners leave five minutes later. And only the bruisedly beaten Jiang Sheng was left on the spot he had chosen. He might be alive, but the trio left no part of his body unbattered.

Something like this was unacceptable to once a peak-level existence back where Jiang Sheng originated. But right now, he was simply a nobody in this place.

(I'll let the three of you smirk for now. I will reclaim this debt with ten times the payment in the future...)

Jiang Sheng whispered to himself and struggled to get into a meditating posture to recuperate and heal his injuries. By forcefully absorbing the pitifully thin and chaotic Immortal Spirit Qi in his surroundings, Jiang Sheng tried his best to filter and take only what he could assimilate and use.

It was said there are three different types of Spiritual Qi in the lower realm, with the Immortal Spirit Qi at the lowest quality. But because these Spiritual Qi were merged uniquely, this made refining the Spiritual Qi from the surroundings several times more challenging.

Unless properly separated and refined, forcefully assimilating this Spiritual Energy would result in more damage than benefit. And hence, a byproduct like this Immortal Spirit Qi Crystal was in high demand.

Formed by the Immortal Vein rooted in various places on this Wanshan Continent, a location like this Western Spirit Vein

Formed by the Spirit Vein rooted in various places on this continent, plenty of Mining Veins were scattered in the Wanshan Continent. Even the High Heaven Sect was said to possess several Immortal-Grade Spirit Vein and one Empyreal-Grade Spirit Vein.

(Author's Note: Just as an early spoiler, the three grades of Spiritual Qi were Immortal-Grade, Empyreal-Grade, and Celestial-Grade. As the story was still in its early stage, for now, all there was to them was just a name.)

His recuperation progressed at a snail's pace. But better compared to the rest of the newcomers in a certain way. The manual that nobody wanted seemed to have some sort of deterrence effect on the old-timers.

Meanwhile, things were worse for the others, especially those who lost their monthly supply of medicinal pills. Apart from them, those who chose to withdraw their pickaxe also failed to avoid getting robbed, as the tools were also perishable goods.

Made from a special material, this perishable pickaxe was a treasure that could efficiently conduct Immortal Spirit Qi and could break the durable earth near the Immortal Spirit Qi Crystal.

One's progress won't be hindered even if he didn't come with a special pickaxe, but with one in their hand, their result would definitely be twice to thrice better. Furthermore, buying a pickaxe would cost them some High Heaven Sect's contribution points, and the process of obtaining them is definitely one laborious task.

Five hours later, Jiang Sheng's recovery had finally ended. And to his surprise, the racket between old-timers and newcomers also ended. After what happened, the newcomers now come together to avoid getting bullied further.

But their realization comes slightly late as it is already pointless for them to stay defensive and alert at every passing old-timer. With the annual "induction" process ended, the old-timers had no more reason to waste their time with these poor newcomers.

After all, the most they had would be the few medicinal pills or a pickaxe left in their hand. And with everyone yet to be robbed now knowing what the old-timers were here for, they wouldn't be so foolish to withdraw sensitive items before their eyes.

Seeing that nothing else was worth his concern, Jiang Sheng's attention came down to the blue manual that got him a serious beating. Because he wasn't given the opportunity to read the words on the cover earlier, Jiang Sheng was kept in the dark about the book's title and content from the moment he took it out of the Devil's Mark.

After turning the book around to his view, Jiang Sheng immediately recognized the four words printed on the cover.

High Heaven Immortal Foundation.

Even a fool could understand the importance of this manual in this world. Without a doubt, bringing this book out first is definitely the best choice Jiang Sheng could make.

As a nobody with nothing, getting a cultivation technique at the Immortal Grade is definitely a game changer. Possessing this manual and being allowed to cultivate it would help hasten the process of refining Immortal Spirit Qi and activating the first-grade treasures in the Immortal Grade.

With a tinge of excitement, Jiang Sheng flipped the first page open and began to memorize the content.

The book, with nearly a hundred pages, was quick to finish in Jiang Sheng's hand. And even with all the content fully memorized by him, Jiang Sheng didn't stop there and began browsing the book the second time.

Third, fourth, and fifth. Jiang Sheng stops when he finally finishes memorizing the book for the ninth time.

To many, repeatedly reading a fully memorized book was nothing but meaningless work. Still, to Jiang Sheng, known as the Technique Ancestor where he came, this was where his expertise lies.

(I wonder how many of the hundred people noticed that this High Heaven Immortal Foundation was merely one-fifth of the entire technique?)

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