Source Ancient Jade Wall

One man's expression changed. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Yunfan strode forward menacingly. The man hurriedly untied the flatbread and waterskin from his chest and left without a moment's hesitation.

When the other man saw Xu Yunfan looking his way, his body trembled. Enduring the searing pain in his abdomen, he promptly removed his food and water, then scrambled away on hands and knees.

Seeing this, He Changgong, whose face had been slapped into a pig's head, efficiently took the food and water from his clothes and set them down.

"Xu... Master Xu, please spare me."

Seeing He Changgong, once so unruly that he had even dared argue with Jiang Yu, now kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy, Xu Yunfan revealed a faint smile.

"I remember you saying I was shortsighted, a coward, and a lazy good-for-nothing. You told Jiang Yu to kill me. Afterward, Jiang Yu nearly beat me to death, saying I'd made him lose face."

A strained smile appeared on He Changgong's swollen face. He had no recollection of this at all. He had done countless things like it.

"Master Xu, that was all ancient history. Why bring it up now? You're the master now. This lowly one will follow wherever you point."

Xu Yunfan nodded slightly. Picking up the Iron Pickaxe, he turned and walked over to Cui Ye, who was struggling slowly on the ground. Meeting Cui Ye's terrified gaze, Xu Yunfan remained cold and expressionless. He raised the pickaxe, then brought it down.

Squelch!

The sound of the pickaxe point piercing flesh rang through the cramped mine tunnel, making everyone's hearts skip a beat.

Cui Ye, who had still been struggling moments before, went completely still.

Xu Yunfan pulled the Iron Pickaxe from Cui Ye's body and walked over to He Changgong.

At the sight, He Changgong was nearly scared pissless. His lips trembled.

His body kept shrinking backward.

"Master Xu, Master Xu, spare my life!"

Xu Yunfan's expression was calm. He simply stood before him, towering over him and looking down.

"Tell them this: from now on, they must bring a portion of food and water every day. Otherwise, I'll search mine tunnel by mine tunnel. Every one I find, I'll kill."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

A weight lifted from He Changgong's heart, and he knelt there, kowtowing like a pounding pestle.

"Get lost."

At his words, He Changgong used both hands and feet, scrambling and rolling as he fled from the mine passage.

Li Haomiao, who had quietly watched everything from the corner, remained calm.

"If you don't kill them, they may cause you trouble later."

"If I kill them all, where will I get enough food and water? If I had to rely on just those flatbreads, I could train myself to death and still accomplish nothing."

Li Haomiao's expression turned slightly strange, and he nodded faintly.

"These people are nothing but clay chickens and porcelain dogs. Their minds are weak; after being frightened like that, they've already lost their wits. They'll most likely obey. I misjudged you. I never expected a mere servant like you to see so far ahead, nor to lose yourself after gaining a little strength."

Xu Yunfan glanced at Li Haomiao.

"People say the Yan King is incomparably benevolent and charitable. Yet those few scourges in Jade Capital harmed the common people terribly."

Li Haomiao fell silent for a moment before saying, "Some matters, some people, need to keep each other in check for things to endure, for the vast majority to be protected. If these people died, the balance would be broken. I had intended to settle accounts with them afterward, but I didn't expect that Bewitching Woman to suddenly make her move..."

At this point, Li Haomiao stopped speaking. His expression was full of desolation. He had sacrificed too much and done too much for this.

No emotion showed on Xu Yunfan's face. He merely continued loading ore into the mine cart.

'You used the Crimson Flame Copper Body Art to exert force and successfully killed a person with the Iron Pickaxe. Crimson Flame Copper Body Art proficiency increased.'

'While circulating the Crimson Flame Copper Body Art, you successfully avoided your opponent's fatal strike. Crimson Flame Copper Body Art proficiency increased.'

"..."

Glancing at the skill notifications in his vision, Xu Yunfan was somewhat surprised. It seemed that fighting others increased the efficiency of martial arts improvement far more.

Time was unknowable within the mine. Xu Yunfan only knew that the torches on the mine walls had gone out three times, and He Changgong's group had delivered food and water three times. Xu Yunfan had also exchanged several cartloads of decent ore for ample food and water.

Not only had his body not grown thinner from all the labor, it had instead become increasingly sturdy.

'Crimson Flame Copper Body Art 132/500 (Beginner)

Effects: Initial Vitality, Strength Rises Throughout the Body, Power Concentrated in Meridians, Unaffected by Light Shocks'

Xu Yunfan sat on the ground, gnawing flatbread as he looked at the Crimson Flame Copper Body Art's proficiency in his vision, thoroughly enjoying himself.

He only needed to persist a little longer before this martial art could enter the minor mastery realm. Moreover, his mining skill had also gained a tremendous amount of proficiency.

The game-like growth in proficiency, along with the ability to retain it forever once learned, had utterly engrossed him.

He swallowed the flatbread in his hand in a few bites, still wanting more.

Li Haomiao said from beside him, "What a pity. If you had enough meat, medicinal supplements, and nourishing meals, with your aptitude, you should be able to train this martial art to minor mastery within three months."

He watched Xu Yunfan change every day. At this moment, Xu Yunfan swung the Iron Pickaxe as fluidly as drifting clouds and flowing water. Every time it came down, empowered by the Crimson Flame Copper Body Art, it was like a heavy hammer, carrying ferocious force.

It could be said that he had already mastered thirty percent of the Crimson Flame Copper Body Art.

Xu Yunfan did not care much. After taking a large gulp of water, he rose and resumed swinging the Iron Pickaxe.

Not long afterward, a collision like pearls and jade striking metal suddenly rang out.

Clang!

The sound was crisp, clear, and far-reaching, its echoes unending.

Li Haomiao's expression abruptly changed upon hearing it. He was both excited and unable to believe it.

"What is this?"

Xu Yunfan looked at the corner of a jade wall that had appeared before him.

Deep within the excavated mine, the exposed corner of the jade wall was extraordinarily strange. Merely looking at it gave one the feeling of having crossed the long river of endless years, as an ancient and weathered aura rushed toward him.

The sediment of ages and its mysterious charm seemed to contain boundless life force. Beneath the mottled surface of the jade wall, a dim light flickered, faintly revealing an uncanny aura.

Xu Yunfan shuddered and retreated several steps in quick succession, swiftly circling behind Hao Miao.

Li Haomiao: "..."

Li Haomiao drew a breath. Though his face tried its utmost to remain calm, he could not conceal the excitement in his eyes.

He slowly moved closer. Raising his sole remaining left hand, he stroked that corner of the jade wall, unable to suppress his excitement any longer.

"This should be the Source Ancient Jade Wall. Legend says that if someone is buried within it, after endless years, they can shed their mortal shell and ascend as an immortal."

"...Really?"

Who did not wish to become an immortal?

If immortality truly existed in this world, then naturally, he wished to pursue it.

Only after quite some time did Li Haomiao calm himself. Staring at the Source Ancient Jade Wall, his expression became subtly complicated. He sighed and shook his head slightly.

"What a pity. The timing is wrong. The Great Zhou's inner treasury has records: to bury oneself within the Source Ancient Jade Wall, one must enter a state neither alive nor dead. The heavenly timing, terrain, and stellar signs must all align one by one. Then one must coat the entire body with a secret medicine that stirs the Source Ancient Jade. Only then can the jade wall be liquefied, allowing one to enter it and slumber within. After that, the secret power of the world is drawn forth to cleanse the body, beginning the ritual of ascension."

Li Haomiao stepped aside.

"Keep digging and let's take a look."

Xu Yunfan said, "We won't dig up some great ominous thing, will we?"

"Probably not. Even if we do, it'll be dead. The time has not come."

He stared fixedly at the jade wall radiating a faint, ghostly green light, wanting to see through it.

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