Abandoned Ore Cave!

Lin Xia was jolted awake by Lou Gao's string of questions, and a cold sweat broke out across his back.

Lin Xia had indeed been carried away by the possibilities brought by the move Dig, overlooking the unknown and terrifying complexities beneath the earth.

Realizing this, Lin Xia lowered his head with lingering fear.

"Teacher is right to reprimand me. This disciple was reckless and failed to think things through."

Seeing how sincerely Lin Xia admitted his mistake, Lou Gao's stern expression softened, and his tone became gentler as well.

"However, as for testing the actual effects and feasibility of this ability... I permit it!"

Lou Gao stroked his beard, a shrewd gleam flashing in his eyes.

"You are still weak, so you cannot go prospecting in unknown dangerous places for now. But you can experiment in an absolutely safe and fully controllable environment. It might help prepare you for the future. After all, what you said does make some sense!"

"Such a good Soul Skill cannot be left to waste!"

Rather than rejecting the idea outright, Lou Gao pondered for a while before continuing.

"I know of an abandoned mine. I know its geological structure like the back of my hand, and there are absolutely no dangers below. There are also some mineral ores inside that are difficult to extract!"

"After lunch, I'll personally take you there! You little monster and Larvitar can dig to your hearts' content right under my nose! Let's see how much substance this move of yours truly has!"

"And let me broaden my horizons too. I want to see just how miraculous this Soul Skill without a Soul Ring really is!"

"Thank you, Teacher!"

"Yoji!"

Larvitar seemed to understand that it could go dig, dig, dig. It gave an excited cry and rubbed against Lou Gao's feet while clutching the Star Cold Iron.

Lou Gao looked at the Little Guy at his feet, one that defied all common sense, then at the monstrously talented disciple before him. The last traces of frustration in his heart completely turned into pride and anticipation.

He sat back down and made a Wave of the Hand.

"Eat! You need to eat your fill to have the strength to dig stones!"

Lin Xia nodded, unable to put his excitement into words.

Meanwhile, while Lou Gao and Lin Xia were talking, Larvitar stealthily stretched its Small Claws toward the Storage Pouch Lou Gao had placed beside the Stone Stool—it had smelled more Star Cold Iron inside!

Lou Gao caught sight of it from the corner of his eye and could not help feeling both amused and exasperated. He gently smacked its Small Claws.

"You Little Glutton! There'll be plenty for you! If you dig well later, I'll make sure you're full!"

"Yoji~!"

After lunch, a spacious carriage pulled by two sturdy Horned Horses passed through Gengjin City's heavy gates.

The wheels rolled over the somewhat bumpy dirt road, kicking up fine dust.

Lin Xia sat inside the carriage, feeling its gentle swaying as he occasionally looked out at the lush scenery beyond the window.

Larvitar lay across his lap, its Small Claws gripping the Car Window as it curiously poked its little head outside. Its Gray-green scales shimmered faintly in the sunlight, while its Small Nose twitched as though greedily catching the increasingly rich scent of mineral ore and soil carried on the wind.

About an hour later, the carriage left the main road and turned onto a narrower path deeply grooved by wagon wheels.

The view ahead suddenly opened up—a vast valley, as though it had been gnawed apart by a Giant Beast, appeared before them.

The mountainside had been brutally cut open, exposing vast stretches of gray-white, yellow-brown, and even rust-red rock layers. Rubble littered the ground, while weeds stubbornly grew from cracks between the stones.

Several collapsed Ore Cave entrances resembled gaping black Giant Mouths. Rotten wooden supports and rusted iron remnants lay scattered about, silently telling of the place's former bustle and current desolation.

"Yoji—!!!"

Larvitar sprang up from Lin Xia's lap, its two short claws excitedly slapping the Car Window. Its Scarlet Eyes widened into perfect circles as it stared fixedly at the exposed rock quarry.

The rich scent of Earth Stone in the air was like the fragrance of the most tempting food, instantly igniting the instinct within it as a Child of the Earth.

It let out an uncontrollable, trembling cry inside the carriage, its tail whipping back and forth with loud slaps. It wished it could rush out at once and plunge headfirst into that sea of rock.

The carriage stopped in a relatively flat clearing at the edge of the mine.

Lou Gao was the first to get down. His tall figure stood before the desolate mine as his gaze swept over the abandoned Ore Caves and exposed rock walls. A complicated, indescribable nostalgia and melancholy appeared in his eyes.

"We're here!"

Lou Gao's voice carried a weighty solemnity.

"This is the place, Xiao Xia. Do you see this mine?"

"Back then, it was the livelihood of many commoners in Gengjin City. It fed quite a few families. In those days, the clanging here never stopped, day or night, and carts hauling mineral ore came and went without end..."

Lin Xia got down from the carriage while holding the still-restless Larvitar. Hearing the wistfulness in Lou Gao's voice, he could not help asking curiously.

"Teacher, does this mine... have some special story behind it?"

Lou Gao turned to look at Lin Xia's young face, so full of curiosity and thirst for knowledge. A somewhat complicated smile appeared on his face, one that seemed to contain a trace of bitterness.

Lou Gao did not answer directly. Instead, he patted Lin Xia's shoulder and cast a meaningful glance toward those deep, shadowy Ore Cave entrances.

"A story? Once you and this Little Guy finish your experiment and see inside for yourselves, perhaps you'll understand. For now, let's handle the important matter first."

Lou Gao's evasive answer stirred even greater curiosity in Lin Xia, but he understood that now was not the time to press the matter.

After nodding, he suppressed his doubts and refocused on the experiment about to begin.

Lou Gao had clearly come prepared.

He took a bundle from his Storage Soul Tool. After untying it, several well-made torches soaked in oil were revealed inside.

With practiced motions, Lou Gao took out a flint. Two soft "clicks" rang out, sparks flew, and he soon lit two of the torches.

The flickering orange flames dispelled some of the gloom at the edge of the mine, giving off warm light and a faint scent of pine resin smoke.

He handed one of the torches to Lin Xia.

"Take it and watch your footing. Once we enter the cave, your eyes won't be much use."

Lin Xia accepted the weighty torch, which felt warm in his hand.

Larvitar curiously leaned close and sniffed the flame, only to be hit by the heat and sneeze. It drew back in distaste to Lin Xia's feet.

"Follow me."

Holding his torch high, Lou Gao took the lead toward one of the largest Ore Cave entrances, which also showed the most obvious signs of collapse.

Quite a few fallen rocks were piled up at the Hole, leaving only enough room for one person to barely squeeze through sideways.

The moment they stepped into the Ore Cave, everything felt different.

The afternoon sunlight and noise outside were instantly shut away. A cool draft carrying the scent of damp earth and rock rushed toward them, raising tiny bumps on Lin Xia's exposed skin.

The torchlight appeared especially feeble within the deep darkness, illuminating only a few meters ahead. The surrounding rock walls cast huge, warped, shifting shadows beneath the flickering firelight, like silent Giant Beasts.

The path beneath their feet was uneven and scattered with loose stones.

As they ventured deeper step by step, Lin Xia could clearly feel the surrounding temperature steadily dropping. The icy chill grew heavier and heavier, as though it seeped into his bones. Even the heat given off by the torches seemed to have been swallowed mostly by the cold beneath the earth.

Deathly Silence filled the surroundings. Only the "rustle" of their feet crunching over gravel and the "crackle" of the burning torches echoed through the hollow tunnel, sounding exceptionally clear—and even a little chilling.