At the end of the mine tunnel, a "T"-shaped excavation had been formed.
This was due to hitting a skeleton, leading to digging along its horizontality from the middle of the body left and right.
The end of the skeleton had been completely unearthed and currently, efforts were focused on unearthing the head.
Judging by the size of the skeleton, the digging would take at least half a day with the current pace.
The excavation efforts had paused at this moment.
A group of people gathered around, buzzing with conversation.
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, who were hurrying over, could hear them from a distance as they moved between the ribs of the skeleton.
The skeleton was massive and long, with no limbs like feet or claws found yet.
It seemed like a giant serpent, with only the already unearthed length measuring close to thirty zhang.
The color of the bones was also peculiar, half black and half translucent, resembling dark jade.
“What’s this thing that's glowing?”
“You think what we're supposed to dig up is this glowing thing?”
“Maybe it's worth a lot of money?”
Two men, one tall and one short, arrived behind the crowd, eavesdropping on the various conversations and hidden whispers, catching sight of the curious and speculating onlookers.
Eventually, there were so many people watching that those in the back couldn't see anything.
Some tiptoed, some jumped like long-armed apes, hanging on the skeleton for a better view.
It was a spectacle and clearly blocked the latecomers from seeing the front.
Shi Chun started patting people on the shoulder, saying, “Make way, let me through…”
Some moved, while others were slow to react.
Some shrugged, indicating that being crammed didn’t allow them to move, and some shot him the look of “Why should we make way for you?” It was apparent that a casual assembly does not foster compliance with rules.
Shi Chun didn’t tolerate their nonsense, so he cracked his whip, which produced oohs and ahhs along with grunts of protest or indignation questioning why they were being struck.
Shi Chun didn’t care to answer, eager to see what was going on upfront.
Sometimes, force works better than courtesy, and soon a path was awkwardly cleared amidst the crowd, allowing him through.
That whip stroke certainly carried the authority of the Eastern Nine Plains being his domain.
Following behind, Wu Jinliang felt a slight tremor in his heart, working up a small sweat.
Sneaky actions were one thing, but such public misconduct seemed excessive.
He realized the Big Boss truly didn’t consider himself an outsider—being so unconcerned and lacking the mindset of a thief moving in the shadows.
When he initially decided to infiltrate, he thought it would be a journey filled with heart-pounding stealth.
Yet upon entering, he found he might have overthought it.
The approach seemed a bit off, bent by the Big Boss’ antics, and right now was bent in an outrageous manner.
The crowd was indeed thick, and even as he trailed behind the Big Boss, he couldn’t push to the very front, squeezed by those before him.
Being tall enough, however, he managed to see over heads, and as his gaze captured the scene ahead, his eyes widened instantly!
Shi Chun naturally forced his way to the front.
As the overseers, hearing the commotion from beating behind, turned to look at him, seeing him as one of their own, they quickly returned their focus upward.
Following their gaze, Shi Chun’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Upon the rib-like dragon skeleton, another skeleton had emerged, resting upon the dragon bones, not entirely excavated, half-buried in the soil.
Even so, from its partially exposed, gruesome outline, it could be identified as a serpent’s head, unsure if it was indeed the head of that dragon skeleton.
Whether it was or not didn’t matter; the crucial part was, besides the two eye sockets on the serpent head, there appeared to be another one on the forehead, possibly an eye socket as well.
What captured everyone’s attention was within that presumed third-eye socket, where a floating purple mist resided, appearing like a miniature nebula composed of countless tiny purple sparkling stars, which continuously transformed its shape.
Sometimes drifting like clouds, resembling numerous watchful eyes at others, or appearing like a myriad of enchanting butterflies fluttering gracefully—truly mesmerizing.
The purple sparkling nebula was about as tall as a person, considering there was someone standing on the serpent head skeleton attempting to touch the nebula serving as a scale.
Indeed, how bold; not knowing whether the purple nebula was harmful, there were numerous individuals holding their breath, intensely watching.
All who could see understood this nebula was anything but ordinary, certainly some kind of treasure, and likely the primary goal the employer had set for this excavation.
Some speculated quietly, considering how bold the employer must be to leave such a rare item unattended, trusting it wouldn’t be snatched away easily.
On both sides of the serpent head skeleton, people were excitedly swinging picks, aiming to completely unearth the serpent head.
Soil and rocks cascaded down continuously; fortunately, the heavy moisture underground suppressed any dust.
The overseer caressing the nebula swiped his hand back and forth within the nebula, stirring it without apparent effect, occasionally exclaiming with intrigue, “Wow, wow, wow.”
Shi Chun felt itchy with curiosity at his exclamations and mentally cursed, demanding he articulate what was happening.
Finally unable to resist, Shi Chun secured his whip at his waist and prepared to leap up for a personal attempt.
However, one overseer in the front suddenly called out, “Everyone get down, stop digging. You too, stop touching. All come down and wait for Mr. Shen to make a decision.”
The overseer with his hand in the nebula and the miners swinging their picks quickly jumped down in turn.
This directive cooled Shi Chun’s itchy excitement, as he eyed the one who issued it, wondering about his authority.
Defying orders openly could be detrimental, risking exposure.
Anyhow, like everyone else, he had assumed that the moment he saw the beautiful purple nebula, this was the true objective of this excavation, a conclusion reached after previously investigating the skeleton which revealed no secret.
The answer had indeed been hidden until now.
Although the Exile Lands are famed as a legendary place where many heroic figures once roamed, filled with countless awe-inspiring legends, Shi Chun had never seen anything like this captivating purple star-like nebula.
The appearance of this object made Shi Chun realize that time was indeed limited.
He initially assumed Shen Youkun targeted the gigantic dragon bone, a difficult artifact to relocate, potentially a lengthy affair.
However, if the goal was the nebula, retrieving it might be simpler—implying the excavation might conclude here soon.
The result of stopping work would be the regrouping of personnel, making his sneaky maneuvers difficult, and any reduction in people would quickly expose his presence.
This wasn’t his main concern, though.
Brave enough to come, he was prepared for exposure.
The real problem was failing to achieve his purpose in infiltrating—about to wrap up like this?
He knew Shen Youkun came for a shady deal, but he hadn’t caught him red-handed.
Once out of the Exile Lands, they wouldn’t spare him.
Finding treasure underground isn’t usable as leverage; many delve for mining prospects here for profit.
Without concrete evidence, persuasion fails.
Could leveraging suspiciously acquired supplies threaten Shen Youkun? Maybe someone influential could pull it off, but as a small fry against a powerful entity with reach into the gates, it's laughable.
Hence, Shi Chun’s interest remained on the purple nebula; understanding its use might yet offer an opportunity.
Though realistically, even touching the nebula might not immediately reveal its purpose.
Out of options, the next step might be to seize this treasure and hold it; determining its secret afterward.
That being said, he remained uncertain about retrieving the treasure, the overseer's interaction with the nebula vividly lingering in mind.
Since Shen Youkun targeted the item, he presumably had a way of retrieving it; failing which, the alternative was daring a snatch post-retrieval from Shen Youkun.
However, facing a considerable force, inciting a melee seemed troublesome.
Yet, perhaps the slain overseers’ bodies could be leveraged, suggesting Shen Youkun intended to silence them all, stirring agitation among them…
In a brief whirl of thought, Shi Chun swiftly shifted strategies and resolved to try interacting with the nebula first.
Facing the unknown without attempting isn’t his style.
Time was of the essence, with little left.
The overseer they met en route had already gone to alert Shen Youkun, who would soon arrive.
Fortunately, he possesses verbal skills.
With a shifted thought, Shi Chun called out loudly, “Mr. Shen will arrive shortly. He instructed only two would stay here while the rest must move to the corner and wait.”
He swung his whip, making his way to the front, facing the crowd, slightly waving the whip, demonstrating little regard for them.
The multitude surrounded him, and should the attempt to retrieve this purple nebula succeed, pilfering it publicly seemed inappropriate.
Uncertain whether the bluff would work, he decided to try, nevertheless.
The crowd remembered him as the whip-wielding path-clearer, some faces holding visible displeasure from the whip marks.
Wu Jinliang, witnessing this, felt a headache coming.
The audacity returned.
“You’re…” The overseer previously issuing orders hesitated to inquire.
Catching doubt in his eyes, Shi Chun’s gaze flickered, promptly switching tactics, aiming to quell his suspicion first by swiftly pointing with the whip, interrupting, “You’ll stay with me to oversee this. Everyone else, move to the corner and wait.”
He swung his whip again, directing other overseers, “Mr. Shen has business here. Ensure nobody peeks.”
They reckoned he’d handle the purple treasure, forbidding them to witness the collection method.
The overseer felt assured being included on-site eased his concern and expressed, “Let’s follow Mr. Shen’s instruction, move aside everyone!”
Obliging, the other overseers herded people away.
Shi Chun, whip poised at his back, exhaled; fortunately, it worked.
Standing among the dispersing crowd, Wu Jinliang was bewildered.
He thought he’d be the one remaining.
What’s going on?
Meeting Shi Chun’s subtle glance, though confused, he aligned, accompanying the crowd away.