Just luck.

Zhao Tianyang stood where he was, watching Su Ji being pulled away by Zhang Kui, his cloudy eyes narrowing slightly.

He did not speak, only slowly shifting his gaze back to that massive piece of black-veined iron.

After a long while, a cryptic smile slowly crept up his deeply wrinkled old face.

...

Come, kid, eat up.

Zhang Kui tossed a large chunk of roasted meat from some unknown vicious beast in front of Su Ji.

Su Ji caught it in a slight flurry.

The surface of the roasted meat was still sizzling with grease, giving off a mouth-watering aroma.

Su Ji looked at the meat in front of him, which was larger than his face, and then glanced at the bowls of sticky black gruel in the hands of the ordinary miners in the distance. He put on a perfectly measured look of being overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

Brother... Brother Zhang, how... how could I accept this?

Cut the crap, just eat when you're told to!

Zhang Kui glared at him, tore off a large chunk of meat for himself, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed vigorously.

His mouth was covered in grease as he ate.

You really did me proud today, he mumbled with his mouth full. Those old timers always talk behind my back, saying the newcomers are all trash. Today, I'd like to see what kind of bullshit they have left to say!

Zhang Kui cast his gaze toward the others around the campfire: Speak up!

Hearing this, Su Ji shyly picked up the roasted meat and took a tentative bite.

The meat was firm, and a strange energy slid down his throat into his stomach, transforming into a warm current.

Good stuff, Su Ji silently evaluated in his heart.

He stopped holding back and, mimicking Zhang Kui, began to gorge himself.

Senior Brother, the energy contained in this meat can not only resist the erosion in the air, but it can even counteract the weakening effects of the Spirit-Locking Ring, Su Jiu's voice echoed in his mind, carrying a hint of surprise.

Yeah, Su Ji replied mentally. This meat probably comes from specially bred vicious beasts. Only a few overseers are qualified to eat it. It seems Zhao Tianyang was right; food is the key to controlling the mining slaves here.

Then aren't those miners wasting their effort resisting the Spirit-Locking Rings? Su Jiu was a bit puzzled.

No, it's not a waste, Su Ji countered in his mind. The Spirit-Locking Rings and the erosion are continuous. This meat is just a supplement; it can't solve the problem fundamentally. It merely allows you to maintain the status quo so you aren't drained dry like the others.

Su Ji swallowed a large chunk of meat, feeling the faint but steady replenishment of energy within his body.

Zhang Kui let out a burp, casually wiped the grease from his mouth, and turned his gaze to Su Ji.

Kid, what do you think about what happened today?

Su Ji, who was gnawing the last bit of meat off the bone, paused. He looked up, his face showing a perfectly calculated look of bewilderment.

What... what do you mean?

Keep pretending! Zhang Kui cursed with a laugh.

He leaned in closer, his bell-like eyes flashing with a gossipy gleam.

You brat, don't play dumb with me.

Was it really just a fluke??

Su Ji scratched his head: Just a fluke.

You kid! Zhang Kui pointed at him, getting annoyed. Still playing the fool with me! Do you take me for an idiot?

That piece of black-veined iron... I've been in this mining area for so many years, and I've never seen anyone mine such a massive chunk with a single strike of a pickaxe!

Zhang Kui lowered his voice, but he still couldn't hide his excitement.

Do you know that your strike even stunned Old Man Zhao!

What about Old Man Zhao? Su Ji feigned ignorance.

Zhang Kui looked around. Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, he leaned in even closer.

Old Man Zhao is usually incredibly arrogant. He wouldn't even spare a second glance at cultivators of the same Soul Formation realm. But when he saw the black-veined iron you mined, his eyes looked like he had just seen some precious treasure!

Zhang Kui continued: Kid, tell me the truth. Do you have some special secret mining technique?

Hearing this, Su Ji revealed a perfectly timed look of hesitation.

Seeing this, Zhang Kui blanked for a moment before bursting into loud laughter.

Hahahaha! You kid, don't tell me it really was just good luck.

Then you'll have to work even harder tomorrow.

He patted Su Ji's shoulder, laughing uproariously.

A moment later.

Zhang Kui's laughter gradually subsided. He picked up his wineskin and took several large gulps.

Then, he handed the wineskin to Su Ji: Come on, have a sip. I'm in a good mood today!

Su Ji waved his hand dismissively: I don't like drinking.

Zhang Kui didn't mind.

He simply took the wineskin back: You don't know what's good for you, kid. Normally, even if others begged for a drink, I wouldn't give them any.

I think you, kid, are a natural-born miner! Zhang Kui said, tearing off another piece of roasted meat and tossing it into his mouth.

Follow me from now on, and I guarantee you'll eat well and live comfortably!

Su Ji continuously voiced his gratitude: Then thank you very much, Brother Zhang.

Inwardly, however, he was secretly scheming.

Zhang Kui might have a rough and boisterous personality, but his mind was not that simple.

On the surface, he seemed to believe it was a fluke, but in reality, what he valued wasn't Su Ji's luck, but the potential he had displayed.

In this dog-eat-dog place, being able to mine a surplus of ore meant having value.

A person with value would naturally receive more preferential treatment.

Senior Brother, what are you planning to do next? Su Jiu asked in his mind.

Don't rush, Su Ji reassured her mentally. I have my own plans. Right now, the most important thing is to survive and figure out the rules of this place.

Su Ji looked at Zhang Kui's rugged face, then at the other burly men nearby who were also overseers, and a preliminary plan formed in his mind.

Brother Zhang, can I ask you something? Su Ji asked quietly.

What is it? Zhang Kui put down the wineskin and looked at him.

That... Old Zhao, why is he here? Su Ji feigned curiosity. He doesn't look like an ordinary miner.

And he doesn't have a Spirit-Locking Ring on his wrist like we do...

Hearing this, the smug smile on Zhang Kui's face instantly vanished.

His face darkened, and his eyes grew somewhat complicated.

You brat, stop asking questions! he scolded in a low voice, his tone carrying a warning.

There are some things you shouldn't know!

Seeing this, Su Ji quickly shrank his neck, putting on a frightened look.

Yes, yes, yes, Brother Zhang is right to scold me. I spoke out of turn.

Zhang Kui said nothing more, merely picking up his wineskin and taking a few more swigs.

Senior Brother, could that Old Zhao be the key to breaking this deadlock? Su Jiu asked softly.

How could he be? Su Ji responded in his mind. He's merely at the Soul Formation realm.

If I, your Senior Brother, were at my peak state, killing him wouldn't be difficult.

The main point is that since Zhao Tianyang managed to secure an overseer position here and has survived for so long, he definitely knows many hidden secrets.

Looking at Zhang Kui, a bold idea arose in Su Ji's mind.

Brother Zhang, then why... are all Ascenders treated as mining slaves?

To think that in the lower realms we...

Zhang Kui interrupted Su Ji.

Haha, where do you get all these questions from, kid?

Su Ji acted a bit unwilling to drop it: At least let me die understanding why, right?

Whether looking at it logically or reasonably, we shouldn't have been reduced to mining slaves, right?

Zhang Kui hesitated for a moment. "Then why don't you work a little harder and spare me another two hundred pounds tomorrow?"

"So I can trade it for some liquor."

"I have a bit of a bad habit, you see."

"When I drink too much, I tend to spout nonsense."