Seeing the two chat warmly, Wen San hurried over to explain to Xiangzi.

The guard leader, Chen Fan, was hired by the Li Family Mine at great expense. His skills were formidable, having reached the Ninth-Rank Bone-Forging Realm.

A disciple of Baolin Martial Hall, he was technically Liu Tang’s junior brother.

But Chen Fan was arrogant, rarely showing respect even to Liu Hu.

Xiangzi tucked these details away.

His gaze settled on Liu Tang’s upright figure.

It seemed Liu Tang had come today to smooth these connections for him.

Whether or not it was Fourth Master’s order, Liu Tang was giving Xiangzi full support.

Without him here, things might not have gone so smoothly.

The brothers had their own duties, so after a brief chat and a promise to drink in the city later, they parted.

As they did, Chen Fan cautioned, “Brother, the mine outskirts aren’t safe lately. Stay sharp. If anything happens, come find me.”

Liu Tang paused.

Chen Fan hesitated, then lowered his voice. “Brother, you know what these ores are for. Lately, some tigers have been prowling outside the mine.”

Tigers? Xiangzi, nearby, frowned inwardly.

Ordinary tigers were no threat—with his current strength, he could fell one in moments.

But Chen Fan’s face showed a trace of fear as he whispered, “Demon beasts.”

“Demon beasts?

” Xiangzi’s heart skipped.

The last time he’d heard “demon beast” was outside the apothecary, from a scarred man.

Wasn’t the vitality tonic brewed from demon beast meat?

Having spent months in this world, Xiangzi had learned a few things.

Demon beasts existed because of the mines beneath the Li Family operation.

Unlike ordinary gold or silver mines, these produced rare five-colored ores.

Each of the five types had unique properties, though Xiangzi didn’t know the specifics.

One thing was certain: where five-colored ores were, demon beasts followed.

Some old pullers said these beasts mutated under the ore veins’ influence.

Such secrets were closely guarded by the mines, beyond the pullers’ knowledge.

But demon beasts near the Li Family Mine? That was unusual.

Having operated here for centuries, the Li family should know the land inside out.

And with so many robust guards, how could demon beasts roam freely?

These beasts must be extraordinary.

Xiangzi kept that in mind.

Led by Li family guards, the convoy entered the mine area.

The trees here grew lusher than elsewhere.

Though early spring, the towering, nameless trees already blotted out the sky.

The light dimmed.

Sunlight filtered through dense leaves, faint golden rays slicing the gloom.

Ahead, platinum-colored dust danced in the light—ore dust from the veins.

“Brothers from the yard, we’re nearing the mine camp. Put on your masks,” a Li family guard called.

The pullers set down their carts, pulling out white gauze masks with wire nose clips.

Years ago, during the northern plague, these “hygiene masks” proved their worth and became standard.

Xiangzi, having reviewed the mine route with Uncle Jie last night, pulled out his prepared mask, though he didn’t fully understand why.

By rule, no living creatures except people could enter the mine area.

Liu Tang tethered his black horse outside, donned a mask, and approached.

Patting Xiangzi’s shoulder, he said, “It might feel off soon. If your vitality surges, treat it like stance training.”

Xiangzi nodded.

A few steps away, Liu Tang’s usually docile horse grew restless, pawing the ground, its back taut, trembling with heavy breaths.

The closer to the mine, the wilder the horse became.

Xiangzi, thoughtful, noted the mine’s effect on living things.

Abandoned mine shafts lined the path, their timber tracks rotted to husks.

The deeper they went, the thicker the ore dust’s scent.

Damp mineral ash, like tiny needles, pierced through the masks into their noses.

A surging pressure hit Xiangzi, nearly piercing his mind.

It felt like drunkenness. In moments, he stumbled, barely standing.

Biting his tongue, the sweet tang of blood cleared his head.

Xiangzi grounded himself, silently channeling his stance work.

In his dantian, his Pillar of Vitality spun.

After a while, he steadied, marveling inwardly—the ore veins’ suppression on vitality is terrifying.

No wonder only martial artists who’d awakened their vitality could enter.

Even with his Pillar of Vitality, far beyond a novice, he’d nearly been caught off guard.

Thankfully, Uncle Jie’s warnings and Liu Tang’s reminder had prepared him.

“Xiangzi, holding up?” Wen San, dragging his cart, asked with concern.

First-time miners often couldn’t handle the vitality surge from the five-colored ores.

Wen San’s first trip had him vomiting halfway, nearly earning Liu Hu’s wrath.

But seeing Xiangzi’s face, Wen San froze.

Xiangzi looked calm, his face only slightly flushed.

Wen San clicked his tongue. “Xiangzi, after your time in the east building, your vitality’s strong! You’re handling the ore dust like it’s nothing.”

Xiangzi glanced around. Aside from Liu Tang, whose face was unchanged, the others were red-faced and listless.

His own first-time performance seemed almost too remarkable.

With that thought, he sped up his Pillar of Vitality’s spin.

His dark face took on a drunken flush, and with deliberate, dragging steps, he looked suitably disheveled.

Seeing this, the pullers waiting for a laugh perked up—ha, Xiangzi’s crumbling already?

Let’s see how he stands when we load the ore!