True Martial World, Feather Transformation Sect, Mystic Crystal Mine.

"Ding ling dang lang!"

In the pitch-dark mine, a group of young men and women dressed in gray linen clothes were diligently chiseling away with picks, hammers, and shovels.

The air was filled with a mix of dust and the smell of ore. Sweat soaked through everyone's clothes as they worked tirelessly, like a colony of ants, chiseling and hauling...

Among them, a thin, dark-skinned boy wiped the sweat and grime from his forehead and sighed.

"Damn, this place is no place for humans. Being a corporate drone working 996 would be better than this!"

The boy's name was Zhao Heng. Originally a white-collar worker in the city, three months ago, on his way home from work, he accidentally picked up a silver dice.

He had casually rolled it, but to his surprise, the dice emitted a flash of light, and he inexplicably found himself transported to another world.

Now, he was a menial disciple of the Feather Transformation Sect, one of the seven major orthodox sects.

Zhao Heng's job was to mine. Day and night, he toiled away, earning only a meager monthly stipend that barely kept him fed.

"Monthly stipends are here."

Suddenly, a shout came from outside the mine.

A middle-aged man with a pale complexion and a portly build, dressed in an overseer's robe, walked in, followed by a few burly men.

This was Overseer Liu Hong, the man in charge of the mine's menial disciples. He covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief and called out to the menial disciples in the mine.

"Come over and verify your workload to receive your monthly stipend."

The crowd surged forward. A skinny young man handed over fourteen red bamboo slips, his face full of hope.

"Overseer Liu, this is my workload for the month. I've mined one hundred and forty dan of ore."

Overseer Liu took the bamboo slips, pulled out five, and casually snapped them in half.

"Fifty dan of the ore you mined were subpar. Your stipend will be deducted accordingly. You'll receive nine mystic crystals."

With that, one of the burly men beside Overseer Liu took out nine pale blue crystals of varying sizes from a cloth bag and tossed them to the young man.

"Mystic crystals" were the universal currency of the True Martial World. They contained pure mystic energy and could be used for transactions or cultivation.

The young man took the crystals but couldn't hide his dissatisfaction. "Overseer Liu, I was very careful when mining. I checked the ore, and it was all up to standard. How could..."

"Hmm...?"

Liu Hong glanced sideways at the young man.

"What, are you saying I'm deliberately making things difficult for you and withholding your stipend?"

"Uh... I wouldn't dare!"

Seeing the cold glint in Liu Hong's eyes, the young man shuddered and didn't dare say another word. He obediently walked away.

The other menial disciples around them watched this scene with blank expressions.

It was common for Overseer Liu to skim off their stipends. Anyone who dared to protest would either be scolded or beaten.

When it was Zhao Heng's turn, his workload was also deducted, and he received only ten mystic crystals.

Ten mystic crystals weren't even enough to buy the most basic body tempering potion in the sect.

This was the life of a menial disciple. Without other means of income, these crystals were barely enough to survive.

"Sigh... With only this many mystic crystals, how am I supposed to pass the assessment in two months?" A square-faced young man beside Zhao Heng sighed.

Zhao Heng recognized this person. The original owner of his body had few connections in the Feather Transformation Sect, but he was somewhat close to this 'Du Changqing.'

They had entered the sect on the same day, and their dormitories were next to each other. They often worked together on menial tasks and had a decent relationship.

"Brother Du, what assessment are you talking about?"

Du Changqing looked worried. "Junior Brother Zhao, don't you know? In two months, it's the triennial menial disciple assessment.

I heard that those who perform well will receive sect rewards, better assignments, and even a chance to be promoted to outer sect disciples.

Those who fail will either be expelled from the sect or have their stipends cut and be assigned to even harder labor."

Hearing this, Zhao Heng's heart tightened.

The Feather Transformation Sect was a major sect in the southern region, and internal competition was fierce. Even among menial disciples, it was survival of the fittest.

The path of martial arts was divided into 'Postnatal' and 'Prenatal.'

Postnatal had three realms: 'Body Tempering, Bone Forging, and Organ Refining,' each with nine levels.

Zhao Heng was only at the fourth level of Body Tempering, while Du Changqing was at the fifth level.

To pass the menial disciple assessment, one generally needed to be at least at the sixth level of Body Tempering. Their chances were slim.

Du Changqing sighed. "I've been stuck at the fifth level of Body Tempering for over half a year, and I don't have enough cultivation resources. I doubt I'll be able to advance. What about you, Junior Brother Zhao?"

"Brother Du, I'm only at the fourth level. If even you don't have a chance, I have even less hope."

Zhao Heng forced a bitter smile, but inwardly he thought, "It seems I'll have to rely on that thing!"

...

After parting ways with Du Changqing, Zhao Heng returned to his dormitory on Menial Peak.

It was a low, narrow thatched hut. Inside, aside from a cold wooden plank bed, there was nothing else.

Zhao Heng locked the door and sat on the bed. With a thought, a silver light flashed between his eyebrows.

"Whoosh...!"

A silver dice the size of a fist quietly floated in front of him.

At the same time, a message appeared in his mind.

"Ten mystic crystals can activate the 'Dao Seed' once. Activate?"

"What Dao Seed? It's clearly just a dice!"

Zhao Heng muttered to himself, then felt his waist pouch. Including the stipend he had just received, he had a total of thirty-three mystic crystals.

He took out ten mystic crystals and brought them close to the dice.

"Whoosh...!"

The dice emitted a silver light, absorbing all the crystals, and then floated into Zhao Heng's hand.

Zhao Heng threw the dice with force.

"Clatter...!"

The dice spun in the air for a few seconds.

"Buzz...!"

As the dice's surface flashed with light, a red dot appeared on the top face.

"One point!"

Immediately, another message appeared in Zhao Heng's mind.

"Skill 'Steal' activated. Can randomly steal an item within a ten-mile radius. Use immediately?"

At the same time, above the "one point," a phantom number "x7" appeared.

This indicated that Zhao Heng had used the "Steal" skill seven times.

"Another one point."

Three months ago, Zhao Heng had rolled the dice for the first time and got a one.

Miraculously, he had stolen a thirty-year-old "Blood Coagulation Grass," which he sold for a hundred mystic crystals.

Back then, Zhao Heng had been ecstatic. He used the crystals from selling the herb to roll the dice multiple times.

However, the next six rolls all resulted in the "Steal" skill, and the items he stole were all useless junk.

As a result, Zhao Heng had been reluctant to use this "gold-devouring beast" again.

But today, after hearing Du Changqing talk about the menial disciple assessment, Zhao Heng decided to take a gamble for his future.

Looking at the bright red dot, Zhao Heng decisively gave the command.

"Use skill."

In the next moment, the dice's surface shimmered with a faint light.

Zhao Heng felt a warm, soft sensation in his hand.

Looking down, he saw that he was holding a pink, gold-embroidered "red belly band."

The belly band was made of high-quality ice silk, soft and delicate to the touch. It carried a faint, alluring fragrance, as if it had just been taken off someone's body, still warm.

At the same time, the number above the one point changed to "x8."

Staring at the belly band in his hand, Zhao Heng was stunned.

"Damn, ten mystic crystals for a belly band?"

At the same time, deep within Violet Mist Peak, adjacent to Menial Peak, a woman's startled cry rang out.

"Ah... Thief!"

...

After a while, Zhao Heng calmed down.

He thought to himself that the belly band was of exceptional quality and exquisitely crafted. Maybe he could sell it for a good price.

"One more try!"

Gritting his teeth, he took out another ten mystic crystals.

Ten seconds later, the dice stopped spinning. It was another "one point."

"Clack!"

A moss-covered green brick fell to the ground at Zhao Heng's feet.

Steal count: "x9."

"Ugh...!"

Zhao Heng was utterly speechless. Twenty mystic crystals for a belly band and a brick?

Looking at the remaining dozen or so mystic crystals, his heart ached.

Just as he was hesitating...

"Bang bang bang...!"

Suddenly, someone kicked his door hard.

Zhao Heng quickly put away the dice and opened the door. Outside stood three people.

The leader was a fat man with a big head and ears, dressed in a blue robe. It was Overseer Liu, who had distributed the stipends in the mine earlier.

"Overseer Liu, it's you. What can I do for you?" Zhao Heng forced a smile.

The Feather Transformation Sect had a strict hierarchy, and menial disciples were at the very bottom.

Overseer Liu was his direct superior and a Bone Forging realm martial artist. Zhao Heng didn't dare offend him.

Before Overseer Liu could speak, a tall, burly menial disciple beside him snorted.

"Enough nonsense. You've received your stipend. Hurry up and hand over the tribute to Overseer Liu!"

In the mine, aside from skimming off the menial disciples' workload, Overseer Liu had also established an unwritten rule: thirty percent of their stipends had to be handed over as tribute.

The original owner of Zhao Heng's body had been beaten to death three months ago for refusing to pay the tribute.

Even though Zhao Heng was indignant, he knew better than to pick a fight he couldn't win. He took out three mystic crystals.

Overseer Liu pocketed the crystals in a purple pouch at his waist before speaking unhurriedly.

"Zhao Heng, in two months, it's the assessment. I doubt you'll pass.

But since you've always been obedient, if you can come up with a hundred mystic crystals, I can assign you a better job."

"A hundred mystic crystals!"

Zhao Heng was shocked. He nervously rubbed his hands and said, "Overseer Liu, I don't have that many mystic crystals. You must be joking."

Hearing this, Overseer Liu's face darkened, and his gaze turned cold.

"Heh... Kid, don't say I didn't warn you.

If you fail the assessment and don't pay up, you might be assigned to some dangerous places where you could lose your life. You'd better think carefully.

Also, my patience is limited. Don't keep me waiting too long."

Overseer Liu patted Zhao Heng's shoulder heavily, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"Let's go."

"Ah... Overseer Liu, take care!"

Zhao Heng continued to smile obsequiously.

Once the group was far enough away, Zhao Heng closed the door.

The smile on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a dark expression. He paced back and forth in the room.

In his previous life, Zhao Heng had suffered from mild "persecution paranoia," always fearing that those around him would harm him.

Overseer Liu's threats had only heightened his anxiety, making him fear that the man might try to kill him for his money.

This pathological anxiety forced Zhao Heng to take action to counter the potential danger.

Finally, Zhao Heng's gaze fell on the ten mystic crystals left in his waist pouch.

After a moment of internal struggle, he made a decision.

"I can roll the dice one more time. I'll gamble everything. If I don't succeed, I'll accept my fate!"

Zhao Heng summoned the dice again and, without hesitation, took out his last ten mystic crystals.

"Roll!"

"Clatter...!"

The dice spun rapidly before coming to a stop. A bright red dot appeared!

"Another one point!"

Zhao Heng nearly collapsed to the ground, his eyes blank.

"Huh...?"

Just as Zhao Heng was on the verge of despair, he noticed that the number above the one point had changed to "x10."

Unlike before, when the numbers were gray, this one emitted a faint silver glow.

At the same time, a prompt sounded.

"Luck Steal accumulated successfully. Can consume at least nine ordinary steals to perform a Luck Steal. After use, luck resets to zero. Use?"

"Luck Steal!"

Zhao Heng was shocked. Based on the prompt, it seemed that each steal accumulated a certain amount of luck.

Once he accumulated nine or more, he could consume this luck to perform a "special steal," potentially obtaining something valuable.

"Is this the legendary 'ten-roll summon' to summon the God of Luck?"

Though skeptical, Zhao Heng, now at the end of his rope, decided to use the skill.

"Luck Steal, activate!"

As the dice's surface shimmered with silver light, the "x10" reset to "x0."

"Thud!"

A deep purple pouch materialized out of thin air and landed in front of Zhao Heng.

[--------------------------------------------]

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