The Mine

The four continued forward. This stretch of forest was open, with the occasional fallen Elwynn Ancient Tree blocking the path, but it posed no major obstacle. After the spider attack, everyone moved with caution; the mage Moni had even activated Frost Armor, holding it overhead. The paladin also opened his aura, a sigil of light rising from beneath his feet. Instantly, Li Shaolin felt a sensation of toughening skin spread through his body—this must be Devotion Aura, he thought.

It seemed they had reached the depths of the forest. In just half an hour, they had killed four giant spiders. The rogue grinned from ear to ear, busily pulling out the spider fangs to collect them—these could save a lot of expenses later when making poison. Li Shaolin found it strange how that guy's pack could hold so much stuff, but he didn't dare ask, afraid of exposing himself. He thought to himself, it's probably some kind of spatial magic equipment.

Just then, Jack up ahead raised his hand in a stopping gesture and waved them over. Peering through the gap of a tall Elwynn Ancient Tree, they saw a hillock ahead, where a creature about a meter tall with dark, rusty iron-colored scaly skin and a rat-like tail appeared. "A Kobold?" Li Shaolin asked quietly. "Yeah, everyone be careful. That hill might lead down to Fargodeep Mine. Get ready for battle!" Jack gave the order.

A surge of excitement coursed through him—how could a game ever compare to this real thrill? The Kobold was squatting by an exposed copper vein, a small pack on its back, apparently fiddling with the copper ore. Then Moni shot a Frostbolt! With a crack, it struck the Kobold square in the waist. The creature's body dimmed instantly, a wound splitting open on its side, green blood oozing out. With a cry of "Ugh-ah," the Kobold charged. But hit by Moni's Frostbolt, its movements were sluggish, half a beat slow. Jack ran out, swung his hammer, and smashed it into the Kobold's head. With a thud, the small head shattered. At that moment, Li Shaolin felt his body shake; a beam of white light descended from the sky, shining on him—he leveled up! The rogue Mogaban quickly said, "Congratulations! You actually advanced. Pretty promising. But strange—you barely fought. Where did the combat experience come from for you to advance?" "So that's how it works—they need to keep fighting individually to advance. Could it be that, thanks to my transmigration blessing, I'm getting party experience?" Li Shaolin thought.

"Well, I was right on the edge of advancing anyway. Didn't expect it to happen now," Li Shaolin replied. His answer drew no further questions. Jack said, "Shaolin, take a moment to grasp the feel of this tier. I'll scout that copper vein. Mogaban, searching the Kobold corpse is your job." Mogaban's face turned green. The Kobold reeked of stagnant water, a foul stench detectable from afar. Though grumbling, he still went over to search.

Seeing everyone busy, Li Shaolin took out the Book of the Dead. The book was pitch-black, ordinary except for the blood-red skull on its cover. He flipped it open—sure enough, there was an extra skill point. Li Shaolin hesitated. For now, he was posing as a mage, so he ought to have at least one magic skill. He tapped on Fangs. Instantly, a strange feeling welled up in him; his consciousness sensed he could now cast this spell. Checking, it only cost three mana points, and he had over eighty—enough to cast more than twenty Fangs!

After packing up, they rounded the hillock. Beneath a massive Elwynn Ancient Tree, a steep slope appeared. At the bottom, huge rocks leaned against the mountain, with wooden house frames beside them. Below lay a vast mine, scattered with abandoned mine carts and wooden supports. Several sections of track were broken, looking like they hadn't been used in ages.

Jack said, "This used to be where the people of Goldshire mined the veins. After the Kobolds took over, it was abandoned. Most of those Kobolds are hiding inside the mine. Everyone, get ready—we're heading down." Seeing the steep slope, Mogaban pulled a rope from his pack, tied it to the Elwynn Ancient Tree, and slid down first. "Moni and Shaolin, you two go next. I'll take the rear," Jack said.

Gripping the rope and facing away from the mine, they descended slowly.

No sooner had they landed—the backward slide was exhausting—than a howl rang out. A Kobold burst from the mine, spotted them, and called out, summoning two more. Three Kobolds charged! The rogue leaped up, swung his dagger, and slashed at the nearest Kobold. With a hiss, green blood splattered; the Kobold went limp, stunned in place and unable to move. Kidney Shot? That's insane? Li Shaolin thought. The paladin moved, his hammer meeting the other two Kobolds. Meanwhile, Moni's hands flared with fire as she chanted a spell, apparently casting Fireball.

Li Shaolin focused inwardly, pointed a finger, and two sharp fangs shot out, twisting and spiraling through the air before striking a Kobold square in the head. With a sizzling sound, the Kobold's head was pierced clean through! Its skull cracked, it wobbled, and collapsed. Holy crap, that's too accurate—seems like it hits wherever I point, even better than a bullet. He felt a burst of joy. Meanwhile, Mogaban, after stunning one Kobold, appeared behind another, stabbed down, and slit its throat. With a heavy blow from Jack, it too died. Moni's Fireball finished charging; with a crackling hum, it blasted the stunned Kobold, charring most of its body. Before it could react, Jack and Mogaban rushed in, one hit each, and finished it off.

"Hey, Shaolin, your magic system is pretty weird. Is it Arcane Magic?" Mogaban asked Li Shaolin. "Uh, heh, I don't even know what school I am. Probably!" Li Shaolin replied vaguely, but inwardly sneered at the rogue: "Arcane my ass—this is Necromancy."

After dealing with the three Kobolds, Mogaban searched and found a pouch of gold sand and two large candles, getting excited. They rested briefly, then skirted the scattered mine carts and entered the mine.

Once inside, it darkened immediately. The mine's interior was well-reinforced, unlikely to collapse—though if an accident happened, Li Shaolin might end up a transmigrator buried alive. The mine was huge, with torches spaced at intervals, casting faint, eerie light. Barrels, carts, and ore were strewn about in chaos. A stench like rotten fish filled the air. Moni grew a bit scared and moved closer to them; a faint fragrance from her mingled with the mine's moldy, fishy odor.

The rogue Mogaban leaned forward and vanished, entering Stealth as he led the way inward. Jack put away his hammer, pulled out a shield and a short sword from his pack, equipped them, and followed. Then came the mage Moni, and naturally, Li Shaolin took the rear.

After walking a fair distance, they killed a few lone Kobolds, but not the horde they'd expected. Jack said, "Looks like another party of different classes has been through here. Still, don't let your guard down." Before he finished, Li Shaolin heard several howls from a side tunnel beside him. Since he was at the rear, the others were several steps ahead! He was about to call out to Jack when firelight flickered ahead, and four Kobolds burst out!

"Isn't this just messing with me? I need to get over there fast!" The sounds from the side tunnel suggested a dozen or more Kobolds lived there—if they all swarmed out, they'd tear the group to shreds! Suddenly remembering his two Skeleton Warriors, he quickly summoned them into the side tunnel, ordering them to hold the line, then hurried forward to catch up with Jack.

Jack swung his shield, blocking all four Kobolds, but the onslaught was wearing him down—he could only defend, unable to strike back. Li Shaolin flicked out a Fangs, but this time his aim was off, barely hitting a Kobold's arm and waist, making it howl in pain. Mogaban appeared, stabbed a Kobold repeatedly in the back, and dropped it in a few hits. In the dark mine, Moni dared not use Fireball, so she fired a Frostbolt at the wounded Kobold. With a crack, its arm took another hit, snapping clean off! Its waist split open, spilling guts and blood everywhere! With a thud, Jack's shield sent it flying—clearly dead. The remaining two Kobolds, sensing trouble, yelped and bolted.

The group gave chase. Li Shaolin had no time to mention the side tunnel; he let the skeletons be dragged down inside—he could always summon new ones—and sprinted after them.

Just as they were about to catch up, a clamor of noise came from ahead.