Proving God begins with the principle that no effort is wasted.

Chapter 96 Before Departure

It was before dawn.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, and the morning mist seeped into the bones.

The training ground was filled with figures, the wind howled from the guns, and the low hum of magic spells—a typical scene of morning practice.

However, all the cultivators in the arena secretly locked their gazes on that lone figure from behind.

Whispers mingled with the sound of the wind, layer upon layer, yet falling clearly into the ear.

Some people scoffed: "It's just a fisherman who got lucky and turned the tables. He thinks he can act all high and mighty just because he killed someone from the Youzhang Sect? Does he really think he can do whatever he wants?"

Some people watched the drama with a cynical eye: "Those from humble backgrounds who rise too quickly, with shallow foundations, are most prone to premature death. Yinshan, a deadly place, never relies on luck."

Some saw through the scheme and said indifferently, "The Zhen Sha lineage cherishes the lives of its direct descendants, and Master Qian is going along with it. This bet is essentially a test of his life."

Everyone has a different mindset, but the conclusions are highly consistent.

Everyone was waiting to see him perish in the desolate mountains and his life come to an abrupt end.

People only want to believe that the rise of the underprivileged is a matter of chance and luck.

They never want to admit that some people are mired in the mud, fighting to the death step by step, relying on their bone-deep forbearance, their ruthlessness in desperate situations, and the life they have scraped out from the cracks between life and death countless times.

Zhao Shi stood before the weapons rack, holding his spear, without making a single move for a long time.

He gazed at that slender yet upright figure, his lips trembling several times before he finally swallowed it all.

Throughout the entire lineage of incantations, some mocked, some lamented, and some watched with skepticism.

No one was truly certain that he could escape unscathed from the old territory occupied by the remnants of the Demonic Sect.

Jiang Lan walked steadily, neither hurried nor slow, without the slightest hesitation.

Rumors are like the wind, and contempt is like the fog.

You can sow discord among people's hearts, but you can't disrupt the path ahead.

At the corner of the stone corridor, dappled sunlight filtered through the thin mist.

Shen Ning, dressed in plain clothes, stood quietly under the eaves, holding a book in her hands, her posture elegant and serene.

She didn't go forward to see her off, didn't say a word of advice, and didn't even deliberately look up. She was quiet and aloof, as if completely cut off from the noisy rumors around her.

Until Jiang Lan's gaze swept over them.

She didn't move her shoulders or change her expression; she only nodded once, very lightly and steadily.

All that remains is absolute certainty and trust.

This single, silent trust, pure and clean, weighs more than a thousand pounds, able to withstand the storms and cold stares.

Jiang Lan nodded slightly, walked past him, and remained calm.

As they walked to the fork in the road leading to the mountain gate, the discussions among the disciples became increasingly frank and open, revealing the infamous reputation and secrets of the Yinshan mine.

An abandoned ancient mine from a previous dynasty, a thousand-year-old cursed abyss.

The earth's veins are chillingly cold, with years of accumulated malevolent energy accumulating underground, corroding everything. Ordinary cultivators who step into the mine will suffer from malevolent energy invading their bodies and blocked meridians within three days, and will be plagued by inner demons and mental disorder within five days. At best, their cultivation will be completely destroyed, turning them into mortals with mental breakdowns; at worst, their physical bodies will shatter, resulting in instant death.

Over the course of twenty years, seven elite exploration teams from the Daishan Sect, comprising forty-three cultivators from various sects, ventured deep into the mountains. Of these, only three survived and emerged alive from Yinshan.

Throughout the sect, generation after generation, they only spoke of the large number of bones buried and the perilous nature of the events, never going into detail about the fate of the survivors.

However, after surviving, all three of them used the overwhelming evil energy of the mine to break through the shackles of cultivation, broke through the peak of the Meridian Opening stage in one fell swoop, stepped into the Concentration stage, and their cultivation level soared, making them the core pillars of the sect!

……

The courtyard of the Zhensha vein is devoid of elegant flowers and trees, and lacks refined pavilions and terraces.

The bluestone ground, constantly eroded by malevolent energy, is cold, hard, and barren.

The beams and pillars of the palace were covered with densely packed ancient demon-suppressing patterns, and a chilling, oppressive aura descended heavily, enveloping the surrounding area and making it difficult to breathe.

Chen Xuan sat upright in the main seat of the hall, wearing an old ochre robe, his beard and hair were frosty white, his back was straight as a spear, and his gaze was calm as a deep pool, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

"Your initiative in coming here shows that you have already weighed all the pros and cons."

Jiang Lan stood below the hall, upright and neither humble nor arrogant, speaking each word with composure.

"There is no way behind me, only forward."

He not only revealed the fate of the lower-level cultivators, but also made it clear that he was going all out, letting those in power know that he was worth the investment and the bet.

Chen Xuan spoke calmly, his words plain, yet they contained the sect's most naked rules of balance.

"My bet with Qian Tong will always stand."

"If you return safely within three months, you will be allowed to cultivate both lineages of martial arts, and resources for suppressing evil and casting spells will be split equally. Your registration will remain unchanged, and your treatment will be exceptionally improved."

"If you perish in Yinshan, all agreements will be null and void. The sect will not erect a monument for you, nor will it hold you accountable. You will bear full responsibility for your life and death."

"This disciple understands the rules," Jiang Lan replied in a deep voice.

Chen Xuan raised his hand and pushed open the wooden box on the table.

The three objects are displayed quietly, simple and unadorned, without luster or shine, yet they are the most solid means of survival in dire straits.

The first item is a palm-sized jade pendant for warding off evil spirits. It is slightly cool to the touch and has a dark texture.

"With this amulet on your person, the baleful energy in the shallow layers of the mineral vein will not invade your physical body, it will stabilize your spirit and suppress your inner demons. Even if you go deep underground and encounter violent baleful winds, it can protect your meridians and dantian, ensuring that your foundation does not collapse."

The second item was three Dust Concealment Talismans, made of rough paper with refined ancient patterns.

"When faced with a powerful enemy or a desperate situation, one can use a talisman to conceal oneself and become invisible. Ten breaths is enough to escape and save one's life."

The third one is a milky white, warm-looking jade token for communication.

"Crushing it will send a message to the main peak. I have already set up demon-suppressing barriers and deployed secret guards to patrol the perimeter of the mine."

As he finished speaking, Chen Xuan's gaze darkened slightly, revealing his bottom line and indicating that he would stop short of making a direct statement.

"Prioritize survival, then exploration. If you can survive, there's no need for a direct confrontation."

Jiang Lan took the three items one by one and carefully put them into his cloth bag. His expression was calm, without joy, greed, or agitation.

He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Abbot."

"No need to thank me," Chen Xuan said indifferently. "Only by bringing back complete information about the demon's whereabouts will this opportunity truly belong to you."

"Remember our mission: explore, record, avoid, and survive."

"Do not be greedy for battle, do not covet treasures, and do not act rashly. If you sense danger, evacuate immediately."

He had seen many geniuses fall from grace, most of whom died from greed, recklessness, and overambition.

Jiang Lan raised his eyes, his words firm and resolute: "This disciple seeks only to break through realms, not to compete for victory."

Only by upholding the bottom line can we protect our lives and our only chance to turn the tide.

"Go ahead," Chen Xuan waved.

"I'll wait until March to see you return and fulfill your promise."

Jiang Lan turned around and steadily stepped out of the main hall of the Suppressing Evil.

Thick clouds parted, sunlight pierced through the gaps, and scattered across the vast earth.

In the distance, the Yinshan Mountains stretch for hundreds of miles, with black miasma hanging over the ground and a malevolent aura soaring into the sky. The heavy mountains stand silently, like a ferocious beast that has been dormant for thousands of years, waiting for intruders to enter the game.

……