158 Strange Crystal (1/2)
Underground Mines,
”Old Book, it looks like you are proficient in mining now, eh? Not straining yourself anymore.” Old Cook commented, as the clinks and clanks of pickaxes hitting hard earthen minerals could be heard resounding throughout the Underground.
”You are not bad yourself either, Old Cook.” Old Book said smugly.
It's only been a few days of mining, but they had all cultivated a masculine spirit that could only be found from doing strenuous labor. It was startling and earthshaking, how much these ordinary folks undergone in such a short period.
Such changes were attributed to their simple cultivation. Although none of them had achieved the first layer of Body Tempering Realm, they could already be considered cultivators.
”Anyhow, why are we also mining these strange crystals? I thought we only need metallic ores.”
”I don't know either. Just follow the superior's order. They said to mine everything, so that's what we should do. We don't need to worry about anything else as long as we are getting paid well. I think someone would come to collect and sort out these resources later.”
Ever since their group had started the mining, no one had yet to come and collect the resources they gathered. All the natural resources mined in the underground in the last 3 days were all piled like a mountain in one corner, at the end of an incomplete railway that would eventually lead outside.
”That's true. The Queen treats us well.” Old Book placed his pickaxe down and wiped his sweat, before he began flexing his muscles in front of a noticeably large crystal with reflection. ”Check out these babies. Where else can we get paid well, eat well, sleep well and train well?”
Old Cook paused his work with sweat oozing form his own body, before taking a glance at Old Book. He immediately laughed, ”What do you want me to check out with that scrawny body and flimsy arms of yours? You should be checking out mine.”
Old Cook proceeded to making his own masculine poise. The difference between the two of them was like day and night.
Old Book had never involved himself in any strenuous work prior to becoming a miner employed by the royal family. He was tall but skinny to a point where it wouldn't be excessive to say that he was skin and bones. Under his fatless body, whatever muscles he had was easily seen and traced.
For someone like Old Book, it wouldn't be strange if his body was wrecking with pain within first day or two on the job from the strenuous work. As they say; no pain, no gain.
However, while he still feels some muscle aches, it wasn't enough to affect his work. This is attribute to their cultivation and diet. Compared to the jobless commoners that eaten plain gruel, the miners have some beast meat in theirs, which was greatly nourishing for the body; relieving fatigue and promoting muscle growth.
At this moment, a group of palace guards arrived under the lead of a captain to collect the resources. This was not their job, but since they were lacking able men with strong physical strength to carry the load, they were delegated for the task.
Once the railway is complete, the royal family would no longer require these strong Awakeners to work like common laborers.
”May I speak with the person in charge here?” The captain said.
Old Book and Old Cook looked at each other. Who was in charge here? It certainly wasn't them. They had a superior overlooking the place.
”They weren't sure how to answer as the question was directed at them. However, they weren't put on the spot for long, before their superior arrived. ”I am in charge here. What can I do for you, Hudson?” The Overseer inquired.
The person answered was a captain of another squad of palace guards, delegated to keeping the stability of the mines and prevent the miners from both the royal family and noble families from smuggling the goods.
”I am under her majesty's order to deliver a batch of the gathered resources to the palace for her majesty's cultivation.” Hudson stated frankly.
”En, I see. These minerals were all scheduled to be delivered to the Lancaster's workshop for processing once the mine railway. However, since it is her majesty's orders, you may take away as much as her majesty's require.” The Overseer nodded cooperatively. Who would dare to defy the Queen's orders? The Overseer glanced at the pile of minerals and crystals, before adding, ”I don't suppose her majesty requires these strange crystals as well?”
”Strange crystals?” Hudson followed his line of sigh on a crystal and was bewildered. ”Aren't these just regular crystals used for crafting trinkets? Why would her Majesty need non-metallic item for her cultivation?”
There were red, blue and grey crystals. They shared similar appearances to common rubies and sapphires. Hudson couldn't see why the Overseer called them strange. It couldn't appear anymore ordinary than ordinary.