Chapter 003: Peril
As he looked back at the approaching lava, Xiao Hong, in a frantic run, murmured in despair, "Is this really how it ends?"
Xiao Hong glanced at the gossiping Li Le, said nothing, and quickly walked towards the second floor. However, Li Le was undeterred and continued to ask questions from behind.
After taking stock of the items and reflecting for a moment to ensure nothing was overlooked, I picked up the whetstone and began sharpening one end of my commonly used pickaxe. Although this may affect the lifespan of the pickaxe, it allows for better penetration into the rock.
Upon returning home, Xiao Hong pushed open the humble door and lifted the worn wooden bed, beginning to search beneath it in preparation for descending into the extremely dangerous fifth level of the mine tomorrow
At this moment, Xiao Hong, witnessing such a scene, wore a serious expression but did not panic. Gritting his teeth, he forcefully pried the pickaxe inserted in the crevice, dislodging the Sakurai stone from the rock wall. Grasping the stone, Xiao Hong then rose and sprinted wildly in the opposite direction, deeper into the fifth layer
A river of lava instantly formed beneath the entrance he had entered, surging towards him with great force
Thus, rather than being described as a mine shaft, the five levels are more accurately characterized as natural underground caverns. Upon reaching this point, the miners discovered the conditions below and ceased their excavation.
In the past, Xiao Hong would never have taken a single step forward, but now, not advancing would mean certain death, while moving forward might still hold a glimmer of hope
This action can be described as instinctual or as Xiao Hong's desire to survive a little longer; in any case, Xiao Hong only wishes to distance himself from the approaching lava
Different levels of magic runes require different types of carrier stones
In just one more minute, no, in only thirty seconds, Xiao Hong will be engulfed by the lava, leaving no trace of his body!
What Xiao Hong is currently looking for is how to find Sakurai stone and the details regarding the extraction process.
After approximately five minutes, Xiao Hong had already delved deep into the fifth layer. His damp body had dried out, and he felt a burning sensation all over. The thick soles of his boots showed signs of melting, and with each step forward, a black footprint was left behind.
With one end of the rope tied to the rock pillar, Xiao Hong firmly grasped the rope, gritted his teeth, and jumped into the fifth layer. The entire process appeared very resolute, without any hesitation or a trace of indecision.
Boom
After everything was settled, it was already past ten o'clock in the evening. However, Xiao Hong did not go to sleep; instead, he stood in front of the bookshelf, his index finger continuously gliding over each book. After a moment, he took out a book titled "On the Loading of Stones" and then sat down at the desk, beginning to search and study it carefully.
Hmm?
Chirp
"Listening to the tone of the adults, could it be that you think that young man will succeed?" Xu Qing asked cautiously, in a probing manner
This. Xiao Hong only made this sound, then suddenly crouched down, quickly raised the sharp hoe, and tapped it a few times on the surface, revealing a hint of fluorescent green in Xiao Hong's line of sight
Xiao Hong did not hesitate for long; he crouched down and began to quickly carve out a circle of grooves around the white print. Then, he increased his strength and started chiseling vigorously, trying to remove the piece of Sakurazaka stone as quickly as possible. He was well aware that this was not a place to linger, and as long as he had this piece of Sakurazaka stone, he would have hope for survival
Soon, as Xiao Hong intensified his efforts, the grooves along the edge of the white print began to crack. What Xiao Hong needed to do now was to completely pry it off and then leave this cursed place
Although the midsummer weather has become somewhat hot, this layer of cotton clothing can help Xiao Hong withstand the scorching heat of five layers and a small amount of lava droplets. Of course, if faced with a large flow of lava, such protection is hardly worth mentioning, but in any case, it can be considered better than nothing
In the luxurious reception room of the office building, the sunlight of the rising sun streams through the bright windows, illuminating the room, making everything appear so clean and so magnificent
Sang Hongyun said nothing, gently cutting a small piece of beef and placing it in his mouth. His expression was calm, making it difficult for others to discern his true thoughts from his demeanor, always giving a sense of being deeply reserved.
After taking two of the painkillers he had prepared himself, Xiao Hong picked up the established pickaxe and a small cloth bag, and walked out of the house. Before leaving, he cast a brief glance at the furnishings inside. As he departed, Xiao Hong himself was uncertain whether he would ever return. He had lived in this dilapidated house for three years, and to say that he had no feelings for it would be a lie.
When the clean water was delivered, Xiao Hong poured it over himself from head to toe, feeling a refreshing chill. Without further hesitation, he descended into the fourth level. A wave of heat rushed towards him, but Xiao Hong paid it no mind. With a serious expression, he wielded the pickaxe and swiftly navigated through the fourth level. Although his physical condition was not ideal, his steps remained steady.
Hurry, hurry. Such thoughts echoed continuously in Xiao Hong's mind, as he was well aware that he could not survive long in this environment
Soon, a small mound of debris formed on the ground, consisting of a tattered cotton coat, a pair of already moldy thick-soled leather boots, a whetstone, and so on
The so-called "carrying stone" refers to the stone blocks used for carving magical patterns, such as white jade, and also the *Tushu* Sakurai stone that Sang Hongyun asked Xiao Hong to find, both of which are types of carrying stones
At this moment, Xiao Hong's eyes appeared exceptionally calm, revealing not a trace of panic. After glancing around briefly, he quickly moved forward, avoiding the pools of lava while unfolding a small cloth bag and sprinkling handfuls of white ash onto the wall.
fifty meters, thirty meters
After a loud explosion, Xiao Hong saw in the distance, from the direction he had come, a massive orange-red pillar of fire suddenly erupting, resembling a ferocious beast; it was the magma spewing forth from the depths of the earth
Sprinkling white ash on the wall, areas where the white ash does not fall off are likely to indicate the presence of Sakurai stone
In the early morning, Xiao Hong, who had just gotten out of bed, was already dressed in a padded coat and padded trousers, along with thick-soled leather boots. His head was also wrapped in a worn-out cotton hat, making every effort to keep his body thoroughly bundled up
Xiao Hong still did not pay any attention, glancing slightly at the entrance to the fourth level. The heat wave had receded, but within the mine of the fourth level, there were only a few fixed hours each day during the calm period. Therefore, regardless of what happened, Xiao Hong had to return during this time; otherwise, he would undoubtedly perish. Moreover, there was one prerequisite: he had to be alive to emerge from the fifth level.
"Go and fetch me a bucket of clean water," Xiao Hong suddenly turned his head and said to Li Le
However, at that moment, Xiao Hong's expression slightly changed, as he felt the ground beneath his feet suddenly begin to tremble
Until he followed Xiao Hong to the third level of the mine, Li Le did not ask a single question. However, Li Le remained undeterred and continued, "Brother Hong, what was the matter when Sang Hongyun looked for you yesterday?"
However, at that moment, Xiao Hong, with a face full of despair, suddenly showed a change in expression!
The situation is extremely critical
There is no doubt that this is what Xiao Hong is most concerned about. In this situation, the possibility of escaping through the map book is nearly zero
Based on the study of the book yesterday, Xiao Hong realized that the Sakurai stone, covered with ordinary rocks, is difficult to detect with the naked eye. However, it possesses a distinctive feature: its strong adsorption capability. Thus, Xiao Hong conceived a method.
In the blink of an eye, the scorching lava was less than one hundred meters away from Xiao Hong. He could feel the surging heat wave behind him, and his cotton coat had already begun to show signs of scorching.
As Xiao Hong's feet stood on the fifth layer of the ground, wisps of white smoke began to form beneath him, accompanied by the sound of food frying. The smell of burning also wafted into Xiao Hong's nostrils, while the damp cotton clothing started to emit white steam, and his face felt a burning sensation.
Xiao Hong's expression suddenly changed, as he noticed a white mark, about the size of a palm, that had suddenly formed on the dark brown rock wall covered in white ash, without a single grain of it falling off.
Sang Hongyun did not respond, his expression remaining calm and serene.
Sang Hongyun was sitting at his desk, holding a knife and fork, with a delicate steak, a perfectly cooked egg with distinct yellow and white, and a steaming cup of milk in front of him
Oh. Li Le responded readily and then confidently instructed his companions behind him, "Go, bring a bucket of clean water for Brother Hong."
"Lord Sang, in this remote and impoverished area, our food supply is limited, and our hospitality may be lacking. I hope for your understanding. I have already dispatched a special envoy to Taiwu City to procure food for you," said Xu Qing, the person in charge, slightly bowing and speaking respectfully.
"Ha, I didn't expect that kid to be quite experienced." Through the bright window, looking at Xiao Hong, who was bundled up tightly, carrying a sharp pickaxe, quickly crossing the open space in front and heading towards the mine on the hillside, Sang Hongyun said softly, then disregarded it, picking up the milk beside him and taking a small sip
"Oh no." The figure in the illustrated book, Xiao Hong, involuntarily uttered this sound, his face turning pale as he watched the surging lava rush towards him like a fierce flood.
The night wind carries a slight chill. Retracting his gaze and adjusting his collar, Xiao Hong tucked his rough hands into his pockets. His solitary and desolate figure gradually became engulfed by the darkness
Leaving the office building, the night had grown considerably heavier. Walking along the desolate and dimly lit path, I looked up to see the sky dotted with stars. Occasionally, orderly points of light could be seen flashing across the night sky; these were the magical rune warships of the Rutan Empire, passing by with a fierce and proud demeanor. However, for the Rainy Star where Xiao Hong resided, they often received nothing more than a disdainful glance.
Once it erupts, Xiao Hong will undoubtedly be reduced to ashes.
After seven or eight minutes of travel, Xiao Hong arrived at the entrance of the fifth level. Looking down, he saw waves of heat rising, with pools of lava visible everywhere, resembling a large furnace, with temperatures at least above 50 degrees.
As he skillfully descended into the mine, Xiao Hong saw Li Le and several companions standing on the first level of the mine. Their eyes gleamed with excitement as they asked Xiao Hong: "Hey, Hong Ge, did Master Sang meet with you yesterday? Wow, that's the renowned Sang Hongyun! You are quite fortunate, my friend."
This is Sakurai Stone
His relationship with Xiao Hong was relatively close on a daily basis, at least compared to other miners. The main reason was that he and Xiao Hong had entered the Dongcheng Quarry together as part of the same group. At that time, as a newcomer, Li Le was often bullied, and Xiao Hong had once stepped in to help him. In Li Le's impression, Xiao Hong was somewhat reclusive, disliking communication with others, which was in stark contrast to his own personality.
A more important point is that the underground lava could erupt at any time, unpredictably, possibly within one or two hours, or even one or two minutes