Chapter 13 : Chapter 13
Chapter 13 - Arrival at the Mine
Although the Barbarian Race’s domain was merely an insignificant small world among the myriad worlds, its territory was vast and boundless, stretching across hundreds of millions of miles.
Across the continent, cultivators were countless, and cities and territories were as numerous as the hairs on an ox.
Among them, the most powerful forces here were the lands ruled by the Nuk Clan and the demon beasts that occupied various regions.
As for races such as the Human Race, they could only survive by attaching themselves to the Barbarian Race. Their status on the Barbarian Continent was truly low.
The destination of Lin Zhi and the others was a massive city built by the Nuk Clan—Furious Lion City.
This place had once been the territory of a Furious Flame Lion. Logically speaking, the Nuk Clan and these demon beasts should have kept to their own domains.
Although the Nuk Clan was nominally the ruler of this small world, demon beasts ran rampant in this region. Some of the stronger ones were so terrifying that even the Barbarian Race feared them.
However, the Barbarian Race discovered multiple Blackgold Mine caves in this region. Especially in the enormous pit at the center, the underground Blackgold Ore reserves were immeasurable.
Tempted by such enormous profits, the elders of the Nuk Clan mobilized in full force. After repeated fierce attacks, they eventually wore down the Furious Flame Lion that had occupied the area and seized control of all the Blackgold Mines.
To commemorate the elders’ great achievements, this place was named Furious Lion City, symbolizing the mighty power of the Nuk Clan.
However, the larger the mine, the greater the dangers inside.
After several hundred members of the Nuk Clan lost their lives, the Nuk Clan ordered their vassals to send people to mine the ore instead.
If someone died, they would simply send more to replace them.
Gradually, this practice became a long-standing tradition.
Furious Lion City was immense, spanning tens of thousands of miles.
The massive beast pulling the prison cart suddenly stopped before the city gate.
The gate towered into the sky, hundreds of meters tall, and the city walls were constructed entirely from gigantic stones weighing tens of thousands of tons.
Above the gate hung the skull of a Furious Flame Lion.
Its enormous jaws were wide open, revealing ferocious fangs that emitted a terrifying aura.
At that moment—
The space before the city wall suddenly distorted, and a powerful fluctuation of energy spread outward.
With a flash of light, two figures stepped out of thin air.
King Kong hurried forward to greet them, his face filled with a flattering smile.
From behind, Lin Zhi stared in amazement. He had never seen such a magnificent city gate.
The top of the gate seemed to pierce straight into the clouds, disappearing within them. Compared with it, Lin Zhi felt as tiny as an ant.
Judging by their appearance, the two newcomers were also humans. However, based on King Kong’s attitude, they must possess extraordinary strength or remarkable authority.
After King Kong finished speaking with them, the heavy city gate rumbled open with a deafening roar, causing even the ground to tremble violently.
Once the gate had fully opened, King Kong waved his large hand, directing the horned beetle to pull the prison cart slowly into the city.
After entering the city, Lin Zhi quietly began observing again.
Contrary to what he had expected, there was no bustling market immediately inside the gate.
Instead, there was an endless forest stretching in all directions.
The group was dragged along for more than an hour before they arrived directly at the mining area.
What appeared before them was a gigantic hole in the ground.
It looked like a monstrous mouth, leading straight down into the depths of the earth.
On both sides of the entrance were densely packed rows of houses, clearly built to serve as resting quarters for those entering the mine.
Their arrival immediately drew the attention of the people around the mine.
An old man suddenly descended from the sky and blocked their path.
Seeing this, King Kong, who was at the front, quickly cupped his fists and greeted him respectfully.
“Elder Lie.”
The smile on his face became even more ingratiating.
The old man called Elder Lie clearly recognized King Kong. He glanced at him with contempt, not giving him the slightest courtesy.
Given his lofty status within the Nuk Clan, if King Kong were not somewhat useful, Elder Lie would not have bothered with such a minor figure.
“Mm. Take them down. Work begins tomorrow.”
King Kong did not dare delay in the slightest and immediately ordered his subordinates to open the prison carts.
In an instant, the crowd poured out like a tide and gathered on the open ground nearby.
Lin Zhi also stepped down from the cart, holding the little girl’s hand with his left hand while supporting Ji Qingshan with his right.
Having gone several days without food, he simply did not have the strength to do anything else.
The group of more than a thousand people was divided into ten teams.
Each team was escorted into the mine one after another.
Soon, it was Lin Zhi’s team’s turn.
Fortunately, since the three of them had been standing together, they were not separated and remained in the same group.
The person leading Lin Zhi’s team was a seductive woman.
Her figure was voluptuous, with curves in all the right places, and she wore extremely revealing clothing.
She held a long whip in her hand.
The whip was red and black in color, like dried blood.
Swaying her hips, she walked ahead, directing everyone into the cave.
Inside the cavern, Lin Zhi discovered that the space was even larger than he had imagined.
Everyone lined up and received the equipment needed for mining.
Each person was given a bamboo basket, a pickaxe, and a small stone about the size of a palm that emitted a faint glow for illumination.
Whenever they encountered Blackgold Ore, they only needed to dig away the surrounding soil with the pickaxe and place the ore into the basket.
Blackgold Ore itself was indestructible and required extremely high temperatures to melt, so there was no need to worry about damaging it during excavation.
As Lin Zhi slowly stepped forward, the seductive woman’s gaze locked firmly onto him.
There was a simple reason.
Among the group, most were either old men with withered appearances or weak women and children.
A young man like Lin Zhi was extremely rare.
Moreover, Lin Zhi himself was handsome, and after cultivating, he carried a refined and elegant aura like polished jade, adding a touch of otherworldly charm.
“Oh my, little brother, you’re so young. How did you end up here as well?”
Looking at his pale and thin appearance, the woman continued teasingly.
“I wonder if you are free tonight. Perhaps I could personally help you restore your health.”
The seductive woman spoke softly, her expression filled with lust, showing no trace of shyness.
Lin Zhi was startled and nearly jumped.
“Damn, is she trying to ‘devour’ me?”
Looking at the alluring woman before him, Lin Zhi inwardly groaned.
“Thank you for your kindness, big sister. I appreciate it, but there is no need to trouble yourself.”
Lin Zhi quickly declined.
Judging by this woman’s gaze, she looked ready to drain him dry.
He still wanted to live a few more years.
Hearing his refusal, the seductive woman did not press the matter further.
However, her beautiful eyes continued staring at Lin Zhi, gleaming with excitement.
After everyone received their equipment, they were brought back to the surface and assigned living quarters.
The rooms were cramped, shabby, and crowded.
Looking at the narrow, dilapidated room in front of him, Lin Zhi could not help but sigh.
“You. This one.”
The seductive woman pointed her slender finger toward Lin Zhi.
Under the envious gazes of the others, Lin Zhi was assigned alone to a relatively better house.
The room was spacious and bright, with all necessary furnishings.
Unlike the uneven single beds in other rooms, this one had a large, clean bed.
There was even a wooden bathtub for bathing.
In this place, such a room was considered among the best.
After asking about the lodging of the grandfather and granddaughter traveling with him, Lin Zhi waved goodbye to them and reluctantly walked into his assigned room.
Sitting on the soft bed, Lin Zhi sighed bitterly.
He gently stroked Lin Hua, who was hidden in his clothes.
Feeling the warmth from his palm, his mood gradually calmed.
Of course he knew why he had been given this room.
Clearly, that seductive woman had no intention of letting him go.
Assigning him a private room was merely to make things convenient for her later.
“Who would have thought that one day, being handsome could become a crime?”
Lin Zhi muttered gloomily, as though protesting the injustice of the world.
Hearing Lin Zhi’s shameless remark, Lin Hua also remembered how that seductive woman had set her sights on him.
His future situation would surely become difficult.
Her heart could not help but sink.
Climbing slowly along Lin Zhi’s collar, Lin Hua settled gently against his collarbone.
Now she had no cultivation at all, and her injuries were still severe.
Like an ordinary little bird, she could only silently accompany Lin Zhi.
Before long, a servant girl softly knocked on the door.
When Lin Zhi opened it, he saw a thin, emaciated girl struggling to carry a large basin of food inside.
On top of the food were two jars of strong liquor.
Knowing that the seductive woman had taken a liking to Lin Zhi, the girl behaved very respectfully as she placed the food on the table.
“Young Master, this meal was sent to you by Lady Meiyao.”
Looking at the basin filled with beast meat, the girl could not help swallowing.
She turned and prepared to leave.
“Wait. That’s too much meat for me alone. Sit down and eat some with me.”
Lin Zhi noticed the girl’s longing gaze toward the food.
Following the hospitable traditions of his homeland on Blue Star, he smiled and invited her warmly.
The girl had never expected such an invitation.
She froze where she stood, completely at a loss.
“Come on, eat with me. I also have a few questions I would like to ask you.”
Lin Zhi was already seated at the table and called to her again.
His voice was gentle, like a spring breeze, making it difficult to refuse.
Hearing this, the girl nervously approached the table but did not dare make any move.
Lin Zhi reached into the basin, grabbed a piece of beast meat, and handed it to her.
After she accepted it nervously, Lin Zhi grabbed another piece and began eating without hesitation.
“Don’t be shy. Eat more!”
His mouth was stuffed full of food, his lips glistening with grease.
He chewed vigorously while speaking in a muffled voice.
Lin Zhi had been starving for days.
Now that he saw food, he devoured it like a hungry tiger, stuffing meat into his mouth.
At the same time, he tore off small pieces and gently fed them to Lin Hua resting against his collarbone.