Supervisor Wu's words left the miners present somewhat shocked, and they looked at Yang Ling with eyes full of jealousy and envy.

"An inspection by the big shots above? They want miners from several mines to compete in skills?"

Yang Ling's heart skipped a beat.

The background of this Fire Crystal Rock Mine was indeed unusual.

During this period, he had been secretly collecting map information about the "Divine Realm," trying to figure out where he was.

Unfortunately, he hadn't even figured out the background of Qingshan City and this Fire Crystal Rock Mine outside of it, let alone a large map.

The miners here were all illiterate and couldn't explain clearly.

This opportunity might allow him to come into contact with higher-level figures.

Perhaps, he might even have a chance to obtain the Black Tiger Fist practiced by Supervisor Wu?

Among the crowd, Zhang Wei regretted so much that he slapped his thigh, his eyes guilty and his heart in turmoil.

"Supervisor Wu, how can such an important matter be entrusted to him!? He's only been in our mine vein for less than a month..."

Fifth Brother was shocked.

Supervisor Wu gave him a cold glance:

"Shut up."

Fifth Brother's face turned somewhat pale.

"Do your best."

Supervisor Wu patted Yang Ling on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Fifth Brother hurriedly followed him.

The miners, seeing there was no more excitement to watch, went back to their own work.

"Brother Yang, that Fifth Brother is really too hateful. Luckily, Supervisor Wu came in time. You weren't hurt just now, were you?"

Zhang Wei approached with a fawning expression.

Yang Ling smiled, "Zhang Wei, do you think I'm a fool?"

Zhang Wei forced a smile, "What do you mean, Brother Yang..."

"Since we're both players, I won't hold today's matter against you for now.

In the future, don't provoke me, and I won't provoke you. As for the Fire Crystal Rock Mine, you'll have to dig it yourself."

After saying this, Yang Ling turned and walked towards the mine vein.

Zhang Wei's face turned ugly, his fists clenched tightly, and he stared at Yang Ling's back:

"What's so great about you? You're just a bit earlier into the game than me, with slightly better physique. I refuse to believe I can't survive without you!"

Fire Crystal Rock Mine Vein.

Yang Ling spent a short while and found an undeveloped Fire Crystal Rock Mine.

He gripped the Refined Steel Pickaxe, and his strength instantly increased by 3 points.

Now his total strength had reached a whopping 10 points.

Even compared to Supervisor Wu, he was only 2 points short.

In this mine vein, only the Mine Vein Guards had strength attributes similar to his.

"Let me see your power."

Yang Ling glanced at the Refined Steel Pickaxe in his hand and then struck down hard!

At that moment, all his strength surged within him, flowing out through his arm.

Bang!

A piece of Fire Crystal Rock fell to the ground.

"Before, it took at least three to five hits, but now it's done in one..."

Yang Ling was very satisfied with his change and continued to mine the Fire Crystal Mine in front of him.

When the area in front of him was exhausted, he went to search for the next target.

The cloth pouch at his waist grew fuller and fuller.

Five hours later, the pouch was almost filled with a pound of Fire Crystal Rock.

"Compared to when I first arrived, my efficiency has increased nearly tenfold."

"A pound of Fire Crystal Rock can be exchanged for a hundred copper coins, and a thousand copper coins can be exchanged for one tael of silver."

"When I was caught, I heard that with just five taels of silver, one could buy a formal identity."

Yang Ling recalled the day he was caught as a vagrant and brought to the mine vein.

As a player, he had no identification when he first arrived.

In such cases, one would be treated as a vagrant, not protected by the laws of Qingshan City.

Among the miners living in the Miner Village, about eighty to ninety percent were vagrants without identity.

Only the remaining ten to twenty percent were natives of Qingshan City.

Uncle Wang was one of them.

For these natives, Fifth Brother wouldn't dare to bully them casually.

"With my efficiency improved so much, if I dig for another five hours, I can gather another pound. Two pounds of Fire Crystal Rock can be exchanged for two hundred copper coins..."

"In less than a month, I can buy a formal identity!"

"According to the nature of previous games, having a formal identity is probably the first threshold of the 'Divine Realm,' and only after that might one qualify to acquire martial arts."

Thinking of this, Yang Ling continued to search for Fire Crystal Rock Mines.

He now had two goals.

Level up and allocate points!

Obtain a formal identity!

Fortunately, both goals could be achieved through mining.

To read the uncut version, go to [p𝘢wread.com].

Nearly tenfold efficiency also meant that the experience points he gained were nearly ten times what they were before!

Unfortunately, the attribute panel didn't show the details of experience points, so he couldn't determine how much more he needed to level up to 5.

Time passed little by little.

There were fewer and fewer miners on the mine vein.

Yang Ling continued to wander around the mine vein.

"These Fire Crystal Rocks are really too scarce. It's impossible to mine for long. Searching for mines everywhere is really a waste of time. If only there was a big one."

Thinking of this, he suddenly looked around at the pitch-black mine tunnels.

The Fire Crystal Rock Mine was an open-pit mine, but after years of mining, many unfathomable mine tunnels had also appeared.

These mine tunnels were different from the open areas. The latter would have some Fire Crystal Rocks on the surface, not many, but enough for miners to survive and even make a small profit.

But occasionally, large pieces of Fire Crystal Rock would appear in the mine tunnels.

Logically, going to the mine tunnels was more profitable.

But Yang Ling, through Uncle Wang's warning, knew there were three major risks in going to the mine tunnels!

First, the mine tunnels were intricate and complex, making it easy to get lost. If you fell and broke a leg inside, you were likely to die there, and there was also the risk of a mine tunnel collapse!

Second, there were many people in the mine vein who would secretly harm others. They wouldn't dare to commit crimes in open areas, but the mine tunnels were a very suitable place for such acts.

Third, rare but potentially deadly poisonous Mine Bugs!

"Uncle Wang said that sometimes if you're bitten by a Mine Bug, you might die before you can even get medical help."

"Although I haven't seen one, I still have to be cautious."

Thinking of this, Yang Ling gave up the idea of entering the mine tunnels.

He wanted to level up steadily.

Even if he were to go to the mine tunnels, it would be best to have his strength reach around 15 points.

At that time, with 150 points of health, several times thicker than an ordinary person's, he would have the qualification to take a risk in the mine tunnels.

Besides, going to the mine tunnels required adequate preparation, which he wasn't ready for now.

"Who's there?"

Yang Ling suddenly turned his head, ready to strike with the Refined Steel Pickaxe in his hand.

"You're Yang Ling, right? I saw what happened in the village today."

The newcomer was a lean middle-aged man.

Yang Ling knew him; he was a native of Qingshan City, with a formal identity, not a vagrant.

The person's attribute panel slowly appeared:

Character: Zhao Hou

Occupation: Miner

Strength: 7

Agility: 8

Spirit: 2

The man's agility was as high as 8 points, 3 points more than Yang Ling, exceeding the range of ordinary people.

"Uncle Zhao, do you need something?"

Yang Ling asked politely.

"You know me?"

Zhao Hou was somewhat surprised.

Yang Ling smiled, "Uncle Wang mentioned you, said you're a capable person."

"Oh, so old Wang told you about me."

Zhao Hou realized, then smiled:

"Just now, you seemed like you wanted to take a risk in the mine tunnels?"

"No."

Yang Ling immediately denied it.