The Stone Tablet Bleeds (Part 2)

Zhang Chen looked at the Stone Tablet before him, thoughts flashing through his mind. The temptation of gaining skills and Experience Points through blood sacrifice was immense.

"If I could get some blood from large livestock for the offering, there would definitely be a bigger surprise. But even if I hunted a large animal, I wouldn't be able to move it here. There are Sika Deer, Antelope, and even Wild Horses nearby, but with my current physique, I can't carry anything for long." Zhang Chen muttered to himself, then began preparing the Wild Ducks, making Beggar's Chicken (Duck) directly.

After a hearty meal and plenty to drink, Zhang Chen rolled up his sleeves and started digging diligently in the underground cave again.

Today's digging was for a better life tomorrow. With a Fox Spirit chasing him, Zhang Chen dared not slack off in the slightest, working diligently without any laziness.

One by one, Experience Points appeared before his eyes, constantly being picked up by Zhang Chen:

[Experience Points +16]

[Experience Points +5]

[Experience Points +17]

[Experience Points +3]

[Experience Points +3]

[Experience Points +51]

[Experience Points +41]

Zhang Chen dug happily, a look of joy in his eyes as he watched the constantly soaring Experience Points panel. The continuously growing Experience Points were his motivation for digging, his hope.

He dug until the afternoon, then crawled out of the cave to bask in the sun. Looking at the setting sun and then at the Experience Points he had gained today, he couldn't help but frown. "Today's Experience Points are only three hundred?"

[Name: Zhang Chen]

[1 Skill (Second Tier): Light of the Righteous God (0/5000)]

[2 Skill (Unranked): Dragon Qi (0/2000)]

[Points: 2750]

Zhang Chen frowned. "The deeper I dig, the slower the speed, not only because transporting the soil becomes more troublesome, but also because the soil is getting colder and colder, freezing more and more solid. Digging seems no different from directly chiseling stone. No wonder the legendary Emperor's Daughter's tomb is frozen so solid; it's truly not easy to dig open."

Zhang Chen rubbed his hands. The reason the digging speed had slowed down was also because it was getting colder and colder below. Before, Zhang Chen, wrapped in animal skins, might only come out to bask in the sun after two hours. Now, Zhang Chen was frozen after half an hour and could only run out to bask in the sun.

Of course, he hadn't thought about starting a fire in the cave, but how much firewood would that require?

Moreover, the cave space was small, and the oxygen supply was simply insufficient unless he dug a chimney through the top of the cave.

"Let's just keep digging for now, no need to rush into considering roasting."

Zhang Chen shook his head, brushed off the dust on his body, and then went to the Stream, jumping in to wash off the mud. However, Zhang Chen quickly frowned because he found that the water level of the Stream had dropped again.

Although he didn't rely on farmland for survival, the prey in the mountains also relied on the river water to survive. Once the Stream dried up, who knows how many prey would migrate with it, and then he would only starve. This was definitely not good news for him.

"Not good!" Zhang Chen looked at the water level of the Stream and then at the Great Sun in the sky. After a rough estimate, it hadn't rained for a month, and his heart sank. "Is a drought going to happen?"

Droughts were a fatal blow in any era, especially in underdeveloped ancient times. Once a drought occurred, it would be followed by mass migration, and even widespread chaos and foreign invasion.

Perhaps it was the sensing brought by the Dragon Qi, but Zhang Chen always felt that the water vapor in the world was constantly decreasing, and even the sky was cloudless and a clear blue.

Thinking about the Old Farmers who forged weapons, Zhang Chen couldn't help but feel bitter. "I only hope it rains soon, otherwise, with all the conditions ripe, a great chaos is right before our eyes."

Zhang Chen didn't stay idle but returned to the溶洞 (cave). He needed to prepare to make more explosives to deal with more unknown crises.

By the time he finished, it was already evening. Zhang Chen went down the mountain and checked the traps, surprisingly catching two more Rabbits.

Zhang Chen carried the Rabbits back and saw the Fox Spirit standing outside the gate, looking eagerly. The Fox Spirit was listlessly lying in front of the gate, as if she had been ravaged. Upon seeing Zhang Chen, the Fox Spirit's eyes lit up, and then she scurried into the house.

Zhang Chen found the Fox Spirit's actions a bit strange but didn't say much. Instead, he walked into the house to rest.

That night

Zhang Chen slept soundly. In the next room, the Scholar and the Fox Spirit stared intently at the scripture scroll with eyes full of tension.

Fortunately, the scripture scroll did not emit light tonight. The man and the fox stayed up until dawn, then finally couldn't keep their eyelids open and fell into a groggy sleep.

The next day

As soon as Zhang Chen opened the door, he saw two sturdy young men with sticks tucked into their waistbands standing outside the gate.

Looking at the two, Zhang Chen frowned slightly, recognizing their origin. They were the stewards from Rich Man Li's household.

Rich Man Li was the owner of this mountain forest and a prominent local family. It was said that his ancestors had even produced a Vice Minister in the current dynasty, making him a local tyrant in this mountain forest. Even before, Wang Wu had caught the Fox Spirit and wanted to skin her to make a fur collar, all to please Rich Man Li.

The two men before him were guards from Rich Man Li's household, specifically responsible for guarding this mountain forest.

"May I ask what business you two stewards have?" Zhang Chen looked at the two stewards, showing an honest smile.

"This year's rent is increasing by 30%, and it needs to be paid next month. Also, in the middle of next month, Rich Man Li is celebrating his sixtieth birthday, and you people need to show some respect, lest you displease the master. If the master is unhappy, all of us will suffer, and life won't be easy." The steward looked at Zhang Chen with a smiling face.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen's face immediately fell. "Steward, how many prey can this humble one sell in a year? If the rent increases to five taels of silver, this humble one simply cannot survive!"

"We're not discussing this with you, we're here to inform you. If you think it's too high and don't want to pay, that's fine, as long as you change your profession and stop hunting, we naturally won't bother you." The steward gave Zhang Chen a cold glance, turned his head, and left proudly, seemingly not putting Zhang Chen in his eyes at all.

Watching the backs of the two leaving, Zhang Chen silently calculated in his heart. "Five taels of silver for rent, one tael of silver for head tax, plus other miscellaneous taxes, it won't be less than seven taels of silver a year. This is not giving the common people a way to live! In previous years, it was only three taels of silver, but this year it's increased to five taels. Coupled with the drought year where the common people can't survive, this is forcing the common people to rebel!"

"Huh, forcing the common people to rebel?" Zhang Chen suddenly froze, then quickly fell silent, quickly extinguishing that thought in his mind.

Thanks to "Ancient Moon Spring and Autumn Warring States Period" for the 100 Points reward.

Thanks to "Yuan Ye Ming Xin" for the 100 Points reward. Thank you both.