Chapter
'During the journey here, I don't see any elders in the Punishment Zone monitoring us. However, there's no way they're not monitoring us!' The moment Duan Ling Tian thought of this, he glanced right and left before he looked to the front. He thought to himself, 'They must be lurking in the dark, hiding where we can't see them!'
Despite being only being a Bronze Flame Elder, the Punishment Zone's elders were all at the Saint Celestial Stage and above.
It was easy for such a powerhouse to conceal their presence from the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who were below the Mastery Quintessential Saint Stage.
Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who were at the Mastery Quintessential Saint Stage or above could pa.s.s the Saint Land a.s.sessment and enter the Saint Land to become a disciple there. For this reason, Duan Ling Tian was certain the strongest Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples serving in the Punishment Zone was only at the Mastery Quintessential Saint Stage.
"n.o.body is there!" Duan Ling Tian suddenly discovered a Saint Stone ore nearby without people around. His eyes brightened immediately as he made his way there.
As soon as he arrived at the Saint Stone ore, he raised his hand and pointed his index and middle finger at it.
Swoos.h.!.+
At this moment, a sword ray that was formed from Sun Saint Energy shot out from his fingers before it hit the Saint Stone ore.
However, as he shot the energy out, he discovered the Saint Stone ore he was aiming at that was only very small crumbled completely the moment the energy hit it. There was no Saint Stone at all.
"What the —?" Duan Ling Tian was puzzled when he looked at the stone that crumbled to the ground.
Initially, he thought he could get eight to ten first-grade Saint Stones from this Saint Stone ore. He did not expect that this Saint Stone ore looked promising on the outside but had nothing inside.
d.a.m.n it!
As Duan Ling Tian cursed, the eyes of many people following behind him brightened up immediately.
"It's so obvious there's nothing there, but he didn't realize it?"
"As long as he extends his Divine Consciousness, he would sense that the small Saint Stone ore has nothing inside. He doesn't even know such an easy way to search for Saint Stones?"
"Newcomer! He must be a newcomer!"
"Looks like it's really due to luck he got his hands on the extrlarge wicker basket. Although I have no idea why the basket isn't issued according to time, I'm certain he's a newcomer!"
"Hurmph! A newcomer shouldn't have this extrlarge wicker basket!"
…
At the same time, the group of Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples following Duan Ling Tian all these while transmitted their voices among themselves. Based on their words, it was obvious they did not think Duan Ling Tian was qualified to have the extrlarge wicker basket.
A greedy light shone in their eyes immediately.
Whoos.h.!.+
Just as a few Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples decided to make their moves, a gust of wind suddenly blew past them. Someone else had beaten them to it and made a move first. He arrived next to Duan Ling Tian in just a flash.

Duan Ling Tian had already noticed this person when he was making way over.
When he appeared near Duan Ling Tian, Duan Ling Tian took a few steps back in a neither hurried nor slow manner and calmly looked at the middle-aged man standing in front of him. He asked indifferently, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
The middle-aged man standing in front of Duan Ling Tian had a huge build. He was stout and looked imposing like a tower.
Despite being more than 1.8 meters tall, Duan Ling Tian still appeared weak and tiny in front of this man who was 2 meters tall. Naturally, he only looked weak on the surface.
"You're new, right?" The middle-aged man asked. His voice was as loud a church bell, causing the eardrums of many people whose cultivation base was lower to rattle.
More and more people came to watch when the middle-aged man spoke. Even the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who were originally mining the Saint Stone ores had also stopped working and came to join in the fun.
All the disciples from the four Sanctums who were sent to the First Mine's Punishment Zone were obviously bored after being here for so long. For this reason, they were always excited whenever a fight was about to break out. It could be considered as a rare entertainment in the Punishment Zone. Moreover, it did not cost them anything to enjoy this show.
"What's going on?"
"Isn't it Niu Kong? Did someone pick a fight with Niu Kong?"
"Huh? This young man who dares to oppose Niu Kong has an extrlarge wicker basket on his back? I don't remember seeing him before!"
"Don't tell me he's new! Wait a minute! Even if he's new, it's impossible for him to get an extrlarge wicker basket, the timing isn't right! In that case, did he s.n.a.t.c.h the extrlarge wicker basket from someone else?"
"If he's strong enough to s.n.a.t.c.h an extrlarge wicker basket from one of the 89 people, then Niu Kong can't compare to his strength. What's Niu Kong trying to do? Seeking trouble for himself?"
The group of uninformed people gathered and whispered among themselves.
Soon after, they learned about what happened from some of the Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who were in the know.
"He doesn't even know how to use his Divine Consciousness to probe the Saint Stone ore? He actually picked a Saint Stone ore bed that was merely as thick as a nail to mine?"
"This is a newcomer's mistake, right?"
"He's a newcomer?"
"If he's a newcomer, then the extrlarge wicker basket is given to him in vain. However, the timing seems wrong."
"Leave the timing aside. Based on his actions, it's obvious he's a newcomer. No wonder Niu Kong dares to go forward. He already has his eyes on the newcomer's extrlarge wicker basket!"
"This newcomer is going to be doomed. It's said that Niu Kong's cultivation base has already entered the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage some time ago!"
The group of Four Symbols Sanctum's disciples discussed among themselves. They thought Duan Ling Tian was doomed and the extrlarge wicker basket on his back would be taken away soon.
'The peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage?' Duan Ling Tian burst out laughing as soon as he heard the discussion in his surroundings about the cultivation base of the middle-aged man with a huge build.
A Four Symbols Sanctums' disciple at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage actually wanted to s.n.a.t.c.h something that belonged to him? Did he look weak?
However, Duan Ling Tian was also slightly shocked. It really did not cross his mind that someone would covet the extrlarge wicker basket on his back.
Was it not just a lousy wicker basket?
Until now, Duan Ling Tian still did not know how rare and valuable the extrlarge wicker basket on his back was in the Punishment Zone.
He thought that everyone got to pick their own wicker basket. It did not occur to him that not everyone was lucky enough to be given an extrlarge wicker basket. Naturally, Duan Ling Tian did not remain ignorant for long.
As the discussions in the surroundings turned even more heated, he learned that there were only 89 extrlarge wicker baskets before he came to the Punishment Zone in the First Mine.
There was no exception, all 89 extrlarge wicker baskets were in the possession of Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples who were at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage or the Quintessential Saint Stage.
Apart from that, although newcomers might be given an extrlarge wicker basket, there was a timing to it.
Based on the last time someone had been given an extrlarge wicker basket, Duan Ling Tian should not have been given an extrlarge wicker basket.
'Did the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder give me special treatment when he gave me this extrlarge wicker basket?' Duan Ling Tian smiled wryly when he realized what had happened.
Did the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder look down on him? Did he not think Duan Ling Tian would be able to s.n.a.t.c.h an extrlarge wicker basket with his own strength?
Although he complained a little in his heart, he knew he owed a favor to that Vermilion Bird Sanctum's Bronze Flame Elder. If he was given a chance in the future, he would definitely return this favor.
"Are you deaf? I'm asking you if you're new?" A thunderous voice sounded, causing Duan Ling Tian to regain his senses. He saw Niu Kong looking at him with ill intent.
"Does it matter if I'm new or not?" Duan Ling Tian asked indifferently.
Put aside that Niu Kong was merely at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage, even if Niu Kong was at the peak of the Quintessential Saint Stage, he was not enough to make Duan Ling Tian fear him.
"Good! Good! Very good! Lad, you're really brave! Originally, I thought I'll leave you unharmed if you obediently hand the extrlarge wicker basket over!" Niu Kong's gaze was extremely cold as he looked at Duan Ling Tian. "However, I've changed my mind. I will teach you a lesson even if you willingly hand the extrlarge wicker basket over. You'll have to learn that newcomers have to be respectful toward their seniors in the Punishment Zone!" Niu Kong said angrily.
As soon as he finished speaking, a vast aura surged out of his body. He was mobilizing the Saint Energy in his body!
"Senior Brother Niu Kong is really angry now!"
"This newcomer is really courageous! To think he actually dares to anger Senior Brother Niu Kong! He's doomed!"
"Niu Kong originally has a bad temper. Now that he has made him angry, I don't think things are going to end well for him."
"I just hope that Senior Brother Niu Kong will show some mercy. Otherwise, I'm afraid this newcomer will be bedridden for quite some time."
The group of Four Symbols Sanctums' disciples watching from the side discussed among themselves as they looked at Duan Ling Tian sympathetically.
"You're Niu Kong, aren't you?" Under the watchful eyes of the others, and faced with the furious Niu Kong, Duan Ling Tian merely looked at him coldly. "I'll give you a chance! Get out of my sight in the span of three breaths. Otherwise, you'll have to bear the consequences!"
Although Duan Ling Tian did not speak loudly, his words were still heard over everyone's discussion.
The entire place fell silent immediately.