"Hahaha, don’t worry, if anyone’s going to die, it won’t be me," Ye Luo said confidently.
"Enough talk, I’m out of here." Saying so, he summoned his donkey and rode away with a bray and a bounce.
Back in town, Xiao Jie sold off the junk equipment he had looted that day. He double-checked the supplies in his backpack, and felt unsure.
Tomorrow was the day he would officially enter the mine. It was impossible not to be nervous.
Having played so many games, Xiao Jie knew very well that although surface monsters were limited in strength, the most fearsome enemies and the riskiest traps were usually hidden within maps like caves, tombs, and underground cities.
Maybe it’s better to ask someone.
Thinking this, Xiao Jie opened up his QQ group.
Hidden Moon Following Wind: Guys, I’m heading into the mine with the guild tomorrow. Any advice?
Liu Xingyu: Wow, badass, level 17 and going into the mine? Take it easy, bro.
Northern Spear King: Exactly, I’m level 21 and I haven’t even been into one yet. You’re really brave.
Wentian Wuji: My advice is to always have a Tunneling Light Talisman on hand just in case. It’s a bit pricey, but really useful.
Tunneling Light Talisman... Those things cost over a million each and are hardly available for sale. Ordinary folks can’t even think of buying them.
They are pretty much like Town Recall Scrolls, capable of instantly teleporting you out of the underground city, although there is a few seconds casting time when using it, but overall, it’s still considered a lifesaver.
But these talismans are generally not available for purchase. Only by increasing sect reputation or completing Worldly Expert tasks can one possibly be rewarded with one.
Master Qingfeng almost gave one to I Want to Be Immortal, but sadly he gave it up to join Xuanxu Palace...
It’s not just about not having the money; I wouldn’t even know where to get one.
Hidden Moon Following Wind: Anything more practical? I can’t get my hands on one of those.
An Ran: If you can’t get a Tunneling Light Talisman, get some Godspeed Talismans. Anyway, if you encounter danger, just run. Don’t hesitate. Also, remember to clear the monsters as you go, and remember their respawn times. It’s troublesome but it ensures an escape route which makes it easier to flee.
Wentian Wuji: Exactly, oh, and if you can, bring some Light Condensing Talismans.
Hidden Moon Following Wind: Light Condensing Talisman? Aren’t those expensive? Aren’t torches enough?
Anything related to talismans and elixirs is never cheap. Torches on the other hand, extremely affordable, 100 Wen each.
Wentian Wuji: The light from a torch isn’t strong enough and it creates blind spots. Most importantly, holding a torch requires one of your hands, which could impair your combat abilities at critical moments.
Xiao Jie took the hint, hurriedly bought three at the auction house.
As he shopped, he continued chatting with the group members.
An Ran: Don’t be too nervous. As long as you don’t go too deep, it should be fine in the mines. Remember to progress in a graded manner and explore slowly. Don’t just barge in recklessly.
Niu Baoguo: I haven’t been into a mine, but I’ve heard from those who have that zombies are especially plentiful inside. Remember to bring some glutinous rice cakes.
Everyone was talking at once, a ton of suggestions coming forth. It was clear that only An Ran and Wentian Wuji had real experience in mines. Their advice was indeed useful.
Hidden Moon Following Wind: Haha, thanks everyone for the advice, now I have a clearer picture.
Xiao Jie logged out of the game, shut down his computer, and went to bed early that night.
The next morning, Xiao Jie got up early.
At eight o’clock, Xiao Jie arrived on time at Black Rock Village, which was very close to Old Iron Mountain Mine. This was also why the Dragon Soaring Knights had chosen to reclaim this village previously.
He met up with Ye Luo, and then the two rode together towards Luotie Mountain.
The closer they got to Luotie Mountain, the sparser the vegetation became. By the time they arrived at their destination, the surrounding area had become desolate.
Luotie Mountain was a bare stony mountain range, scattered with broken stones. Because it was a mining area, the mountain itself was a dark bluish-black color, with several huge black mine entrances dotting the mountain.
There was a small mine where no monsters spawned, and it was shallow. Many players mined there on a normal day, though its yield was only slightly better than that found in the wilderness.
Still, it had become a coveted spot among many players.
But the real Luotie Mountain Mine, no one dared to enter.
At that moment, they arrived at the entrance of the main mine. The rugged terrain and the pitch-black cavern entrance, from which strange winds could be heard, unnervingly stirred their emotions.
Several people had already gathered near the mine, clearing out the minor monsters—Stone Spirits. These were Earth Element spirits, thick-skinned and highly defensive, requiring heavy weapons to deal effective damage. They were annoying to kill but because they occasionally dropped gems, they were favored by players wielding axes and hammers.
Xiao Jie even saw Dongfang Sheng, fiercely smashing a Stone Spirit with his Ghost General Iron Spear.
Boom! The Stone Spirit was shattered into pieces.
"Haha, it dropped a piece of jade! Scored—oh, Feng, you’re here too, and Ye Luo as well," Dongfang Sheng exclaimed.
Xiao Jie glanced at the others around him, all of whom were core members, and it was evident they were already familiar with fighting these creatures.
"You’ve joined the core members too?"
"Not yet, I’m still being evaluated. You don’t mind, do you, Feng?"
"Eh? Why would I mind?"
"That’s good to hear."
As players kept arriving, the few Stone Spirits quickly were defeated. Everyone gathered at the cave entrance, looking inside, each of them a mix of excitement and nervousness, anticipation mingled with anxiety.