He changed Tiwat

The lethal dose of toxic gas varies depending on the size of the creature. For a human, it might require inhaling a relatively large amount of toxic gas to be fatal, but for a small finless fowl, a certain dose is enough to kill it. Once miners notice something amiss with the finless fowl, they realize the presence of toxic gas in the air and are usually able to retreat in time.

"So, Qi Ding needs these two pieces of equipment when he goes down into the mine, right?"

As Han Fulai spoke, he struck a pose, holding a birdcage in one hand and a miner's lamp in the other. Before going down into the mine, Qi Ding had indeed taken his equipment, which included a miner's lamp and a birdcage.

"But Qi Ding also took a box of gunpowder with him. How could he possibly carry so much stuff through the deep abyss of rock all by himself?"

"Ah! That's right!" Zhiqiong suddenly realized.

For a seasoned miner, navigating a deep abyss with a headlamp and birdcage in hand isn't too difficult, but if you also have to carry a box of gunpowder, it becomes quite strenuous.

Moreover, Qi Ding was not a strong man like Lao Tu. With his round and fat physique, it would be doubly difficult for him to do such a thing.

Just imagining Qi Ding carrying a box of gunpowder in one hand and a miner's lamp and a birdcage in the other... makes Zhiqiong shake her head.

Even if Qi Dingzhen could manage to walk for several hours to reach the location of the "spirit stone" with sheer willpower, he would be exhausted.

“And he also needs to carry supplies with him at all times,” Jiang Xue said coldly.

He and Han Fulai both possessed the God's Eye storage space, which allowed them to easily carry dry food and water, but Qi Ding was just an ordinary person.

For example, Zhiqiong's bulging travel backpack is filled with food and drinking water, at least half of which is used for her.

Even with his physical abilities, he would feel somewhat tired after walking through the towering abyss of rock, let alone a mortal like Qi Ding.

Long journeys are extremely physically demanding. The Abyss of Layered Rocks is vast, and the distance from the main mining area of ​​Black Rock Factory to the "Spirit Stone" takes several hours. Let alone such rugged and difficult mine tunnels, even walking on flat ground requires food and drink to replenish one's strength for such a long distance.

If Qi Ding was carrying dry food and drinking water with him, then his burden was undoubtedly increased by another layer.

In other words, it was impossible for Qi Ding to have walked to the "spirit stone" alone with the gunpowder box.

In fact, miners usually operate in teams, not only for mutual support but also for ease of movement. A division of labor—one person carrying a headlamp and birdcage to clear the way, another carrying supplies, and yet another carrying tools—is the ideal combination.

Moreover, Qi Ding took away not only the basic miner's lamp and slingshot, but also the tools for placing gunpowder.

He was a member of the demolition team, but he wasn't the only one in the team, and blasting rocks required more than just gunpowder.

Excavating blasting points from rock strata, calculating the amount of explosives, and laying detonators are all highly specialized tasks that usually require the coordinated efforts of a team. Although Qi Ding is an experienced blasting expert, it would still be extremely difficult for him to complete these tasks alone.

Even if he could really do all this work by himself, how did he manage to carry so many things all the way to the "Spirit Stone" by himself?

Although Qi Ding could secretly descend to the bottom of the giant abyss, it would be too much to ask him to carry so many things on foot to the "spirit stone".

“Maybe he found a mine cart, put the stuff in it, and pushed it along the way… No, that’s impossible.” Zhiqiong had just thought of a possibility when she quickly dismissed it.

Along their previous journey, many sections lacked minecart tracks, especially areas with underground rivers or water veins. Furthermore, the Laminar Abyss had been sealed off for several years, leaving the minecarts and tracks unmaintained and damaged, far less functional than before.

Therefore, the conclusion is...

“Qi Ding probably came down into the mine with other people; they were a team! Considering the distance and physical strength, it would be impossible for Qi Ding alone to blow up the ‘spirit stone’!” Zhiqiong waved her hands, almost throwing the birdcage away, and the little sparrows inside were startled and fluttered around.

"Compared to that, the distance and physical exertion are minor matters," Han Fulai said in a deep voice. "Don't forget what we just saw."

"Ah... black mud, and monsters corrupted by the black mud!" Zhiqiong finally realized the key.

She had been so preoccupied with the excitement of exploring the Abyss of Layered Rocks and the urge to save her companions that she hadn't thought of this aspect. But upon closer examination, she realized that there was something strange about Qi Ding's disappearance.

Even if Qi Ding had the ability to transport the necessary gunpowder and tools to the location of the "spirit stone," and even if his memory was as precise as a map and he could find the way, the difficulties Qi Ding faced were not limited to this.

The rest camp where they are now, where Lao He left his logbook, is also on the only way to "Ling Shi".

The black mud and monsters were clearly not new. Qi Ding had neither Han Fulai's "Luminous Stone" catalyst nor Jiang Xue's martial arts skills. How did he get through this dangerous area?

Moreover, no one knows whether there are more black mud and monsters on the road ahead.

How will Qi Ding overcome these obstacles and reach his destination?

"Our deduction that Qi Ding wanted to blow up the 'Spirit Stone' is based on what Lao Tu and the others said. According to them, Qi Ding was worried that the 'Spirit Stone' would cause the Layered Rock Abyss to close again, and he even said things like he wanted to blow up the Spirit Stone after drinking. So Qi Ding wanted to take advantage of the release of the Layered Rock Abyss seal to secretly eliminate the 'Spirit Stone' as a hidden danger—this is certainly a possibility."

“But now we have seen the true state of things beneath the abyss of layered rocks. It is clear that Qi Ding will not be able to overcome these obstacles.”

“If Qi Ding really acted on impulse and wanted to blow up the ‘spirit stone,’ then he should have turned back long ago. He would either have returned to the camp last night and pretended that nothing had happened, or he would have returned to the main mining area, or waited for rescue in a safe area along the way. But we haven’t seen Qi Ding along the way.”

"Could it be... that Qi Ding has been killed by a demon..." Zhiqiong thought of the rock dragon lizard from earlier.

"No. Because there is no trace of Qi Ding's existence here."

Han Fulai denied Zhiqiong's guess.

"Suppose Qi Ding was attacked here, whether it's bloodstains, the various tools he left behind, or gunpowder... in short, we should find some traces left by Qi Ding here. But the results of the investigation just now prove that Qi Ding has never been here."

“Never been here before…” Zhiqiong noticed Han Fulai’s choice of words. He wasn’t saying “Qi Ding is still alive” or “Qi Ding isn’t here,” but rather that Qi Ding had never been here. That meant—

"Qi Ding went somewhere else! His goal wasn't to blow up the 'spirit stone,' so he didn't come this way!"

“That’s right.” Han Fulai smiled, pleased that Zhiqiong understood so quickly.

Although Zhiqiong is somewhat naive and impulsive, she is not stupid. Of course, a naive fool wouldn't be able to learn how to draw a map well.

"But then, where are we going to find Qi Ding?" Zhiqiong frowned.

The reason they formed this search and rescue team with such a small, elite force was precisely because of the premise that Qi would definitely go to "Ling Shi".

Once the direction of the search is determined, a large number of people are naturally not needed.

But if Qi Ding didn't go to the "Spirit Stone," then their search area would expand to the entire Layered Rock Abyss—not to mention that there were only three of them, even if they called up all the dozen or so people in the entire exploration team and searched the entire Layered Rock Abyss for a year, they might not be able to find Qi Ding.

The terrain of the Layered Rock Abyss is extremely complex, with naturally formed caves and tunnels dug by miners crisscrossing the area, much like the burrows dug by a treasure-hunting weasel. It's easy to get lost. Even in the explored mining areas, people often get lost, let alone the many unexplored areas within the Layered Rock Abyss.

Miners like Lao He were abandoned in rescue efforts a few years ago because the rescue operation was too difficult. Conducting search and rescue operations in places like the deep abyss could potentially wipe out the entire rescue team, causing even greater losses.

Even though Han Fulai was a renowned martial arts master of the Guhua School, highly skilled in combat, Zhiqiong didn't think he could find Qi Ding in unfamiliar surroundings. Of course, she herself couldn't either. If you were to ask Zhiqiong who might be able to find Qi Ding…

"Let's go back and find Sister Jinwu. She'll definitely have a way to find Qi Ding."

"Oh?" Han Fulai was slightly surprised by Zhiqiong's suggestion.

He could tell that Zhiqiong's expression was serious when she said this, not because of her close relationship with Jinwu, but because she genuinely believed that Jinwu was capable of doing it. Her confidence in Jinwu must have real reasons.

Zhiqiong hesitated before speaking, "Well, just like you, Master Han... Sister Jinwu is a legendary figure in the mine! Although she doesn't allow others to talk about it."

"The legend of Sister Jinwu?" Han Fulai blinked, quite interested.

"Yes, back when the Abyss of Layered Rocks underwent its transformation, it was Sister Jinwu who led the Thousand Rock Army's search and rescue team, saving many miners from danger. The reason everyone respects Sister Jinwu so much is not just because of her seniority... As for the details, Master Han, you should ask her yourself. If she knew I was telling her story to others, she would definitely knock me on the head again."

It turns out that this exploration team relied on Jinwu!

Han Fulai suddenly realized why Haidifu hadn't asked for any combat personnel to guard the exploration team; it turned out that Jinwu, who had saved a large number of miners during the anomaly, was in the team.

He had just witnessed part of the changes in the Abyss of Layered Rocks. Back then, he was able to save the miners from danger by the black mud and monsters, so Jinwu must be quite skilled, although it's not obvious from his appearance.

Moreover, this "Luminite" catalyst was made by Jinwu. This catalyst was originally intended for people with elemental power. During the creation of the catalyst, it was necessary to test its effects. If there was no elemental power or immortal power, what would Jinwu use to test the effectiveness of the catalyst?

—Perhaps Jinwu, like Jiang Xue, is hiding a divine eye in his bosom.

However, now is not the time to ask Jinwu for help.

Han Fulai smiled and said, "Don't rush back to ask Sister Jinwu. If you want to find Qi Ding, just come with me."

"Eh? Master Han, do you know where Qi Ding is?" Zhiqiong asked in surprise.

Han Fulai revealed a confident expression.

"If I'm not mistaken, we just need to follow this road to the end. Qi Ding will definitely be waiting for us near the 'Spirit Stone'."

Zhiqiong expressed her doubts: "But didn't you just say that Qi Ding had never been here? And Qi Ding's goal wasn't to blow up the 'spirit stone'?"

"However, in the fabricated narrative created by Qi Ding, or rather, by his accomplices, Qi Ding was 'acting on impulse, carrying gunpowder to blow up the spirit stones.' Don't forget, Qi Ding didn't come to the Layered Rock Abyss to 'disappear,'" Han Fulai said.

“Ah…you mean…” Zhiqiong’s eyes widened.

"Qi Ding needs a suitable reason to take gunpowder down into the Abyss of Layered Rocks, and then he needs a suitable reason to be exempt from the crime of operating a private mine and to continue living on the surface—isn't the influence of the 'Spirit Stone' a perfect reason?"

Chapter 136 Rescuing the Missing Miners (Part 5) [4k]

Zhiqiong immediately understood what Han Fulai was referring to.

"You mean, Qi Ding will pretend to be affected by the 'spirit stone' and wait for us to find him in that area?"

“Yes. Qi Ding won’t disappear, or rather, it’s not Qi Ding who will disappear.” Han Fulai nodded. “I think what will really disappear is the gunpowder that Qi Ding brought.”

Just as mentally ill people don't have to bear criminal responsibility for their crimes, if Qi Ding is affected by the "spirit stone" and becomes mentally confused, he can blame the "spirit stone" for whatever he does—after all, the "spirit stone" won't plead its case.

Why he went down into the mine in the dead of night without telling anyone, and why he brought gunpowder—Qi Ding could make up any reason he wanted. The Abyss of Layered Rocks was so vast that if Qi Ding simply said he'd lost the gunpowder box while in a daze, no one would be able to find it.

Everything about the "spirit stone" is shrouded in mystery, and no one can be certain of its exact influence on a person's mind. Even if Qi Ding claims that he was controlled by the "spirit stone" in some mysterious way to do these things, no one can deny that possibility.

"So, Qi Ding's real purpose was to bring gunpowder to others?" Zhiqiong asked.

"Yes, very likely," Han Fulai replied. "Qi Ding is a member of the demolition team, responsible for guarding the gunpowder depot—if he has any vested interests, it's obviously related to gunpowder. He secretly brought such a box of gunpowder down the mine; if it wasn't to blow up the 'spirit stones,' it couldn't have been to use it as a weight to train his body, could it?"

"Ah... I see!" Zhiqiong suddenly connected the dots. "Someone wants the gunpowder in our warehouse, but Sister Jinwu is very strict with security. If the gunpowder in the warehouse is missing, Sister Jinwu will definitely find out. Even if Qi Ding stole the gunpowder, he will still be held responsible for the loss..."

"To avoid responsibility, he thought of using the property of 'spirit stones' to affect people's minds to escape punishment. He was a veteran miner and knew the properties of 'spirit stones' very well. How could he be so whimsical as to go and blow up 'spirit stones' all by himself? It was just an excuse," Han Fulai interjected.

“Everyone drank last night, and the management was lax. This was the perfect opportunity for Qi Ding. If he hadn’t acted last night, he would have had to work with the exploration team from now on, and it would have been much harder to smuggle the gunpowder out then.”

"But...why would Qi Ding do this? And who is he cooperating with?" Zhiqiong pressed, her curiosity now completely piqued.

She eagerly awaited an answer from Han Fulai.

Han Fulai couldn't help but chuckle, "Miss Zhiqiong, do you really think I can predict the future...? I only met Qi Ding yesterday, how would I know what he's thinking? I'm just making a reasonable guess based on the information I have so far."

"Ah...yes, sorry." Zhiqiong patted her forehead sheepishly.

"The reason I changed the formation is to guard against potential danger from Qi Ding and those with him, precisely because I still don't know their purpose or identity," Han Fulai explained. "Although the possibility is relatively small, if Qi Ding's reason for doing this involves some big secret, the other party is very likely to take extreme actions."

There are some things Han Fulai can't say to Zhiqiong openly, but it's very necessary to be on guard.

Although he couldn't be sure what Qi Ding and his accomplices were planning, it would be a lie to say that he had no ideas at all.

For example, although he doesn't know who Qi Ding's accomplices are, he knows at least one thing—Qi Ding's accomplices probably know much more about the Layered Rock Abyss than Zhi Qiong does.

The basis for this judgment is that, in order to avoid responsibility, Qi Ding would definitely go to the vicinity of the "spirit stone" and pretend to be affected by it.

The abandoned camp where they encountered the rock dragon lizards was the only way to reach the "Spirit Stone"—at least that's what Zhiqiong remembered. Qi Ding, however, had never been there, indicating that he and his companions knew of other paths leading to the "Spirit Stone."

The Abyss of Laminaria had been sealed off for several years, yet this group managed to find a new path in the complex environment of the Abyss on the very day the seal was broken!

Either they were incredibly lucky and stumbled upon a new path, or... it wasn't the first time they'd taken this path.

Currently, the latter seems more likely. This means that Qi Ding's accomplices were able to operate in the mine when the Abyss of Layered Rock was sealed, and knew many paths that the miners and exploration teams of that time were unaware of.

Han Fulai can currently think of three forces that possess such capabilities.

One of them, of course, is their old friend, the omnipresent Fools. Anyway, it's not surprising that the Fools appear anywhere...

Secondly, there are the forces to which the Seven Stars belong, such as Ye Lan and her intelligence agents. Yan Fei had previously helped him find out that Ye Lan was preparing to explore the Layered Rock Abyss.

Thirdly... it might be related to Jiang Xue's personal affairs. When Yuehui, a miner from the Layered Rock Abyss, consulted Mu Ning about the strange behavior of the Hilichurls, Jiang Xue once said something that left a deep impression on Han Fulai—"Someone inside broke the formation and let those Hilichurls in."

The "someone" Jiang Xue mentioned is probably the Abyss forces... or perhaps the Kanria forces?

In short, regardless of which faction Qi Ding's accomplices belong to, one cannot expect them to be too friendly.

"Then... Master Han, shouldn't we go back and explain the situation to Sister Jinwu first?" Zhiqiong asked with some concern.

Searching for missing miners is a simple matter in itself, but if it involves crime or conspiracy, then things become anything but simple. In such a situation, Zhiqiong's first reaction was naturally to consult with her very reliable sister Jinwu before making a decision.

“Miss Zhiqiong, didn’t you want to know why Qi Ding did this? Find Qi Ding and ask him, and you’ll find out. Rather than going back without doing anything, I prefer to solve the problem myself,” Han Fulai said with a smile. “And don’t forget, there’s also the real missing miner, Lao He, who might be waiting for our rescue.”

“Old He…” Zhiqiong pursed her lips and made up her mind, “Okay, then our next target is the location of the water filter that Old He mentioned.”

Before explaining his ideas to Zhiqiong, Han Fulai had already prepared several contingency plans for different situations in his mind, and then chose the one he thought was the most suitable.

Actually, their safest option right now would be to give up on finding Qi Ding and turn back to explain the situation to Jin Wu. They weren't a professional search and rescue team, nor did they have the obligation to find Qi Ding. They had also encountered monsters and black mud blocking their path, so turning back for safety reasons was perfectly reasonable.

Moreover, Qi Ding is now clearly suspected of colluding with outsiders to plot something sinister. Theoretically, it would be their job to go back, report the situation, and have the Qianyan Army arrest him.

Zhiqiong's suggestion to turn back earlier was likely based on this line of thinking.

However, Han Fulai still decided to prioritize finding Qi Ding. On the one hand, suspicion is just suspicion. If something unexpected or illogical had happened to Qi Ding, he might really need timely rescue. On the other hand, he had full confidence in himself and Jiang Xue and believed that they could take the opportunity to obtain more information.

With their combined combat prowess, ordinary monsters would be no match for them. Even those berserk monsters corrupted by the black mud would be nothing more than a few sword strikes from Jiang Xue. While his regular combat strength might not match Jiang Xue's, defensively, he possessed both the Jade Shield and the Salt God's power, so there shouldn't be much in this Rock Abyss that could break through his defenses.

With one attacking and the other defending, they could handle most situations. Even if they encountered danger, as long as he activated his shield to protect Zhiqiong, they could simply win after Jiang Xue attacked.

In conclusion, Han Fulai made the decision to move forward.

With Han Fulai leading the way, Zhiqiong guiding the way in the middle, and Jiang Xue bringing up the rear, the three of them maintained this formation as they moved toward the next location.

Because they had to be wary of the black mud, monsters, and potential enemies, the group's pace slowed considerably.

Of course, another reason was that Zhiqiong was drawing maps as she walked, recording the terrain of the layered rock abyss along the way.

Previously, because Zhiqiong was in charge of clearing the way and the search and rescue mission was quite urgent, she didn't have time to do these things.

Now, Han Fulai and Jiang Xue, the two "heroes," are protecting her closely. Moreover, this trip is more about investigating the truth of the incident than a search and rescue mission. Naturally, Zhiqiong has time to do some work related to exploring the Layered Rock Abyss, and drawing maps is one of her main tasks.