Something to Look Forward To

"Fine Steel Crane Beak Hoe, +5 Strength"

When the players received their Fine Steel Crane Beak Hoes from Chen Xu and Chen Guoqing, they were all stunned.

Wang Haodong stared in disbelief and blurted out:

"My strength seems to have increased a lot!"

He instinctively swung the Fine Steel Crane Beak Hoe a few times, and it cut through the air with a whoosh!

This was definitely not the strength he'd had before!

"Mine too!"

"The Fine Steel Crane Beak Hoe can boost our strength!?"

"Doesn't that mean our mining efficiency will double!?"

"Our Experience Points will double too. That's amazing!"

All the players present were overcome with joy.

"I'll share something I've learned about the 'Divine Domain' with you."

Yang Ling's voice rang out.

The players immediately fell silent and looked toward him, their eyes full of excitement.

"We can bring up our Attribute Panels here."

"They show detailed attributes like level, strength, agility, and spirit."

"Also, if you've practiced Martial Arts, you can see your Proficiency on the Attribute Panel."

His words made the players even more excited!

"I knew it! There had to be an Attribute Panel!"

"Brother Yang, how do we bring up the Attribute Panel?"

One player asked, unable to wait.

"Become a Martial Artist."

Yang Ling explained, "Only Martial Artists can see their own Attribute Panels.

"This has already been confirmed by a Player I know."

"Become a Martial Artist?"

The players felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over them.

"Boss Yang, I've been here for over a month, and I've asked around about Martial Artists."

A young man said calmly:

"What I've learned is that becoming a Martial Artist is extremely difficult. The Martial Skills and Cultivation Methods are all controlled by the Sects in the 'Divine Domain.'

"Getting into one of those Sects is about as hard as skipping straight from elementary school to Tsinghua or Peking University."

"..."

The vivid comparison made the players feel a little despair.

"But... I used to think it was impossible, but now I'm not so sure."

The young man changed tack, a glint seeming to flash in his eyes:

"With Boss Yang leading us in mining and leveling up, and equipment like the Fine Steel Crane Beak Hoe speeding up our progress, our levels are bound to rise quickly. Our strength will keep increasing.

"When that happens, we'll be different from the local natives.

"The Major Sects aren't blind. They'll naturally notice our exceptional talent, and the rest will fall into place!"

"That's right! As long as we can level up, our strength will grow. Those Sects will definitely be willing to take disciples like us!"

"Then we can practice Martial Arts, become Martial Artists, and bring up our Attribute Panels. That'll help us get a firmer foothold in the 'Divine Domain.'"

"Even if nothing else, at least we'll be able to live in peace. Don't laugh, but I haven't had a single good night's sleep since I came to the 'Divine Domain'!"

Gradually, a glimmer of hope appeared in the players' eyes.

As long as there was something to look forward to, there was hope for the future.

Yang Ling glanced at the young man's Attribute Panel:

Character: Li Tianye

Profession: Miner

Level: 4

Strength: 8

Agility: 5

Spirit: 5

Health Points: 80

"His three base attributes are all at 5. That's exceptional. His spirit is also well above average, so he'll learn Cultivation Methods faster in the future."

"He's a talent."

Yang Ling nodded to himself.

"Brother Yang, shall we head down into the mine?"

Chen Xu was a little excited.

Seeing the group suddenly swell in size, he could hardly wait.

The players all looked to Yang Ling, waiting for his orders.

"Let's go. Down into the mine."

Yang Ling swept his hand forward.

At the entrance to the Ore Vein, Fang Qingyang and the other stewards stood respectfully to one side.

Xu Qing was speaking with a young man who looked a little older than him.

"Junior Brother Xu, you promised the Sect that the Red Gold Mine's monthly output would reach three thousand five hundred catties."

"That was a little rash."

"How about this? I'll go back and explain things to the people in charge. Let's settle on three thousand catties instead."

"Senior Brother, I said three thousand five hundred catties. How could I take it back now?"

Xu Qing smiled. "If I really became a man who went back on his word, the Sect wouldn't trust me with important responsibilities in the future.

"How could I dare take charge on my own then?"

"Senior Brother Xu, with the Red Gold Mine in its current state, producing three thousand five hundred catties in a month is practically impossible."

Fang Qingyang spoke slowly, his expression tinged with emotion:

"Just over two thousand catties a month would be the limit."

"We still have to try."

Xu Qing glanced at Fang Qingyang.

Just then, everyone sensed that something was off.

They turned around and saw a huge group of miners approaching.

At their head was Yang Ling.

Fang Qingyang had a sharp eye. The moment he saw the miners carrying Fine Steel Crane Beak Hoes, he understood what was going on.

"Yang Ling has already recruited a group of miners?"

Xu Qing's expression shifted.

By then, Yang Ling had also sensed that the atmosphere here was unusual.

"Why is the man beside Xu Qing looking at me so strangely?"

Yang Ling glanced at him and opened his Attribute Panel:

Character: Yang Zhiwen

Profession: Martial Artist

Strength: 32

Agility: 25

Spirit: 10

Martial Arts: Mountain River Drawing Sword Technique (Entering the Hall and Room), Mountain River Twelve Fists (Entering the Hall and Room), Mountain River Heart Method (Mastery Through Practice)

Faction: Mountain River Sect

"Strength 32? Agility 25? Even his spirit is 10?"

Yang Ling felt a faint chill.

He hadn't broken 30 in any single attribute yet.

The closest was his spirit at 27.

As for strength and agility, neither had even broken 20, much less reached 30.