Lou Gao's barrage of questions jolted Lin Xia fully awake, cold sweat breaking out across his back.
He now realized just how carried away he had been by the possibilities of Digging Hole, completely overlooking the terrifying unknowns hidden beneath the earth.
With that thought, Lin Xia lowered his head, lingering fear still evident.
"Teacher is right to reprimand me," he said sincerely. "This disciple was reckless and failed to think things through."
Seeing Lin Xia acknowledge his mistake so earnestly, the severity on Lou Gao's face gradually softened, his tone easing.
"Still," Lou Gao said slowly, "testing the actual effect and feasibility of this ability… that request, I approve."
He stroked his beard, a sharp, calculating glint flashing in his eyes.
"Your current strength is insufficient. You cannot venture into unknown underground regions. However, experimenting in a fully controllable and absolutely safe environment is another matter. What you said does have merit—it could serve as preparation for the future."
"Such a remarkable ability shouldn't be wasted."
Rather than shutting the idea down outright, Lou Gao paused, then continued:
"I know of an abandoned mine. I'm thoroughly familiar with its geological structure. There are no hidden dangers below, and there are even some ores that were difficult to extract back then."
"After we eat, I'll personally take you there. Right under my supervision, you and that little freak of yours can dig as much as you like. Let's see just how much substance this ability truly has."
"And let me broaden my horizons while I'm at it—see just how miraculous a Spirit ability can be without a spirit ring."
"Thank you, Teacher!" Lin Xia said immediately, his voice filled with excitement.
"You ji!"
Larvitar seemed to understand it would get to dig. It bounced in place, hugging its star cold iron and rubbing affectionately against Lou Gao's leg.
Lou Gao looked down at the rule-defying little creature, then at his astonishingly gifted disciple. The last trace of frustration in his heart dissolved completely, replaced by pride and anticipation.
He sat back down and waved his hand.
"Eat first. You won't have the strength to dig rocks on an empty stomach."
Lin Xia nodded, excitement bubbling inside him.
Meanwhile, Larvitar took advantage of the moment. While both Lou Gao and Lin Xia were distracted, it stealthily reached a small paw toward the storage pouch Lou Gao had set beside the stone stool—it could smell more star cold iron inside.
Lou Gao caught it from the corner of his eye and gently tapped its paw, half-amused and half-exasperated.
"You little glutton. You'll get your share. Dig well later, and you'll be stuffed."
"You ji~!"
---
After lunch, a spacious carriage pulled by two sturdy horned horses rolled out through Gengjin City's massive gates.
The wheels rattled over uneven dirt roads, kicking up fine dust.
Inside the carriage, Lin Xia swayed slightly with the motion, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the lush scenery outside the window.
Larvitar lay sprawled on his lap, small paws gripping the window ledge as it poked its head out. Its gray-green scales shimmered faintly in the sunlight, its nose twitching as it greedily inhaled the increasingly rich scent of earth and ore carried on the breeze.
About half an hour later, the carriage left the main road and turned onto a narrow, deeply rutted path.
The view ahead suddenly opened up.
A massive valley appeared before them, as though a gigantic beast had taken a savage bite out of the land.
The mountainside had been brutally carved open, exposing wide swaths of gray-white, yellow-brown, and rust-red rock layers. Broken stones littered the ground, while stubborn weeds forced their way out from every crevice.
Collapsed mine entrances dotted the area like gaping black maws, surrounded by rotted wooden supports and rusted iron debris—silent witnesses to past bustle and present desolation.
"You ji—!!!"
Larvitar abruptly sprang up, slapping its short paws against the carriage window. Its scarlet eyes were wide and shining, locked onto the exposed minefield.
The dense, earthy scent flooding the air was like the aroma of an exquisite feast, instantly igniting the instincts of the earth's darling within it.
Its tail thumped wildly as it let out a trembling, excited cry, practically vibrating with the urge to charge out and plunge headfirst into that sea of stone.
The carriage came to a halt at a relatively flat clearing near the edge of the minefield.
Lou Gao stepped down first. Standing before the abandoned site, his tall figure seemed to carry a quiet weight as his gaze swept over the collapsed tunnels and exposed rock walls.
"We're here," he said.
His voice was deep, heavy with emotion.
"This is the place, Xiao Xia. Once, this mine sustained countless families in Gengjin City. Back then, the sound of hammering never stopped, and convoys hauling ore passed through day and night…"
Lin Xia climbed down while restraining the still-overexcited Larvitar. Hearing the sigh in Lou Gao's voice, he couldn't help asking,
"Teacher… does this mine have a special history?"
Lou Gao looked at Lin Xia's youthful, curious face. A complicated smile crossed his features, tinged with bitterness.
He didn't answer directly. Instead, he patted Lin Xia's shoulder and glanced meaningfully toward the dark mine entrances.
"A story?" he said softly. "After you and that little fellow finish your experiment and see what's inside, perhaps you'll understand. For now, focus on the task at hand."
The vague response only deepened Lin Xia's curiosity, but he knew better than to press.
He nodded, setting aside his questions and refocusing on the upcoming test.
Lou Gao was clearly prepared.
From his storage soul tool, he took out a bundled package. Unwrapped, it revealed several well-made torches soaked in grease.
With practiced ease, he struck flint twice. Sparks flew, and two torches flared to life.
The flickering orange flames pushed back the gloom at the mine's edge, casting warm light and releasing a faint scent of pine resin.
He handed one torch to Lin Xia.
"Hold this. Once you're inside, your eyes alone won't help you much."
Lin Xia took the torch—it was solid and warm in his grip.
Larvitar leaned in curiously to sniff the flame, immediately sneezing from the heat before retreating to Lin Xia's feet with clear disdain.
"Follow me."
Holding his torch high, Lou Gao led the way toward the largest mine entrance—the one that showed the most obvious signs of collapse.
The entrance was choked with fallen rocks, barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through sideways.
The moment they stepped inside, everything changed.
Sunlight and outside noise vanished instantly. Cold air, heavy with the scent of damp earth and stone, rushed over them, raising goosebumps on Lin Xia's skin.
The torchlight felt pitifully weak against the darkness, illuminating only a few meters ahead. The surrounding rock walls cast enormous, distorted shadows that swayed with the flames like silent, slumbering giants.
The ground beneath their feet was uneven, strewn with fragments of broken rock.
As they moved deeper, Lin Xia clearly felt the temperature drop further and further. The chill seeped into his bones, even the torch's warmth seeming to be swallowed by the underground cold.
All around them was silence.
Only the crunch of gravel beneath their boots and the soft crackle of the burning torch echoed through the hollow tunnel—each sound unnervingly clear in the oppressive darkness.