Never mind the pullers waiting to see Xiangzi falter.

At this moment, Xiangzi had no time for idle gossip.

Barely a few steps into his stance work, a line of text flashed in his consciousness:

[Four-Square Horse Stance +2]

[Progress: 246/500 (Minor Mastery)]

Xiangzi’s heart leapt.

Since reaching Minor Mastery in Four-Square Horse Stance, even a grueling afternoon’s practice would yield only seven or eight proficiency points at best.

Yet a few steps here had gained him two points?

Could practicing stance work near the mine grant extra benefits?

Xiangzi pressed forward steadily, and soon enough, another line appeared:

[Four-Square Horse Stance +2]

Amid his joy, a theory formed: the mine’s suppression on a martial artist’s vitality was intense, making his vitality circulation far more taxing than usual.

The principle was akin to athletes in his past life using “weighted training.”

For martial artists, wasn’t this mine a natural “weight”?

No wonder the training effect was so pronounced.

With this realization, Xiangzi doubled down on his stance work, leaving several pullers scratching their heads in confusion.

The guards who’d broken the Vitality Barrier, however, regarded Xiangzi with newfound respect. This kid’s known for training like a madman in the east building, and even on the mine run, he’s still at it!

More astonishing was how quickly Xiangzi’s initially unsteady steps became precise and measured.

Even Liu Tang couldn’t help but marvel inwardly: This kid adapts fast!

But Jin Fugui, watching from the side, grew darker by the moment.

Further along, a clamor of voices rose.

The surrounding trees had been felled, opening the view to distant, misty mountains where a thin yellow line emerged.

As they drew closer, the line sharpened into an imposing city wall.

Three zhang high, built with glutinous rice-mixed rammed earth, it was impervious to fire and water, unyieldingly tough.

Spiked with iron caltrops to deter climbers, the wall was dotted with watchtowers every few steps, daunting to behold.

This was their destination—the Li Family Mine Camp.

More fortress than camp.

Beyond the walls, countless mine shafts sprawled, the nearby woods reduced to stumps. Wooden tracks snaked from dark tunnel mouths.

Thick dust billowed from the entrances.

The roar of drilling machines echoed, rattling eardrums from afar.

It was hard to imagine anyone making a living in such a place.

A portly man in silk robes approached, frowning. “Why so late today?”

Xiangzi hurried forward. “Master Gui, we ran into refugees and got delayed.”

This man, Li Gui, was a branch member of the Li family, overseeing ore dispatch. Uncle Jie had warned last night that Li Gui was sharp-tongued and not to be crossed.

Seeing an unfamiliar young face, Li Gui’s thin lips pursed, ready to snap.

But spotting Liu Tang behind, his greasy face morphed into an eager smile. “Well, Master Tang! What brings you here?”

Liu Tang stepped up, clasping his fists with a grin. “Master Gui, this is Xiangzi, our new lead puller. He’ll handle the mine route from now on. I had some free time, so I tagged along.”

Li Gui froze.

Lead puller? This kid?

Seeing Liu Tang, a Ninth-Rank Bone-Forging martial artist, vouch for him, Li Gui realized this young man was no small fry.

His small eyes flicked to Jin Fugui, who’d previously managed the mine route, then to Liu Hu.

For years, Liu Hu had run the mine route single-handedly.

Yet now, he stood aside, playing the bystander.

And the critical lead puller role had gone to this youth.

Li Gui’s mind turned, piecing things together—Harmony Rickshaw Yard’s internal struggles must be fierce.

He wouldn’t meddle. Turning to Xiangzi, his plump face warmed. “So, Brother Xiangzi. I’ll be counting on you.”

Xiangzi smiled genially, presenting the ore receipt.

Li Gui examined it, then waved.

With a creak, the camp gate opened—an iron gate, Xiangzi noted.

In swirling dust, miners hauled out baskets of ore, stacking them at the gate.

Five-colored ores came in gold, wood, water, fire, and earth varieties.

The Li Family Mine produced gold ore—not true gold, but five-colored gold ore.

Rumor had it, when crushed and mixed with iron ore, it forged superior iron alloy, like the frame of the steam airship Xiangzi had seen in West City.

As for other uses, a mere lead puller like Xiangzi had no way of knowing.

It was his first time seeing five-colored ore up close.

Despite the name, it was encased in dark soil, with only a faint glimmer hinting at its uniqueness.

The ore was precious, and the handover process meticulous.

Two nail-studded side gates flanked a narrow path, allowing only one cart through at a time.

Inside, miners bustled; outside, yard pullers waited. Miners, clad in short tunics, were searched entering and exiting to prevent smuggling.

Each basket was counted before the yard took over.

A centuries-old Li family rule—slower, but foolproof.

Xiangzi watched the process silently, his brow furrowing.

The loading and unloading were flawless.

But… were they really?

If the process was so tight, where did the ledger’s ore shortages come from?

Xiangzi’s heart sank—this mine route is trickier than I thought.

After half an hour, over thirty carts were loaded.

Only a dozen ragged miners remained in the camp.

Suddenly, Li Gui’s brow shot up, and he stopped the last miner.

Tall and brawny, the man stood out among the others.

He set down his final basket at the gate, looking puzzled.

Li Gui, whip in hand, barked, “Open your hands!”

The miner frowned, spreading calloused palms—empty.

Li Gui’s eyes narrowed. “Open your mouth!”

The miner’s face paled, panic flashing.

Li Gui sneered, his whip cracking. “You dog! Stealing Li family property!”

Realizing he’d been caught, the miner bolted.

But in such a heavily guarded camp, where could he go?

Guards tackled him, landing heavy punches until he went limp.

One pried open his mouth, fishing out a blood-streaked, round object.

The guard paused, then grinned, offering it to Li Gui like a treasure. “Master Gui… it’s a demon beast bone!”

“This fool hid it in the ore and actually got it out of the mine.”