Chapter 68: Coal Mine and Iron Mine |
With over two hundred people working together, the previously devastated valley quickly transformed. The scattered corpses and severed limbs were all collected and transported to the eastern depths of the valley, where they were cremated using branches and wood scraps. Though everyone watched the towering flames with pained expressions, this was the only way to prevent disease outbreaks.
Although the giant wooden puppet had perished, its massive body remained. Shang Ping led a team to salvage usable timber, swiftly constructing a square wooden house over thirty meters wide. A furnace was promptly set up inside, and Shang Ping's team brought in hundreds of black coal stones from a small cave on the valley's southern side to fuel it.
As the fire blazed, warmth quickly filled the wooden house. Xia Hong withdrew his gaze from the southern cave and picked up a fist-sized coal stone from the ground. After weighing it in his hand, his expression shifted slightly.
"This coal stone is unexpectedly heavy!"
What appeared to be merely fist-sized coal actually weighed about forty jin in Xia Hong's estimation. Remembering Wang Ming's massive blade—only one and a half meters long yet weighing a full six hundred jin—Xia Hong quickly accepted this reality. Clearly, coal and iron in this world couldn't be measured by his previous life's standards.
"Can be converted into two units of coal resources—twenty jin equals one point."
Through the system, Xia Hong soon understood the conversion ratio for coal resources. This calculation likely reflected each resource's relative value. From previous tests, wood required about a thousand jin for one point; coal twenty jin; and iron ten jin.
As Xia Hong pondered, Yuan Cheng approached.
"Leader, coal generates several times more heat than wood when burned, with wider radiation range. I asked people from Rogge Camp—their previous five large wooden houses only needed one hundred fifty jin of coal per house daily, supplemented with some wood, to maintain heating."
Yue Feng also approached, eyeing the coal with excitement. "Beyond heating, if we had iron ore, we could use it for forging, casting, and weapon-making. I also heard from them that Li Hu mentioned coal can soften soil for crop transplantation."
Xia Hong's interest was piqued, and he turned to inquire further.
"Young friend, I hadn't finished earlier," came a voice. "According to Li Hu, softening soil requires massive coal quantities. When we had five Digging Realm members, we could only mine one thousand jin daily. Now with just three, it'll be even harder."
Luo Ming had quietly joined them after finishing his tasks. Yue Feng and Yuan Cheng scratched their heads sheepishly—they'd clearly gotten this information from Luo Ming earlier and were now caught red-handed retelling it.
Luo Ming waved off their embarrassment with a smile before addressing Xia Hong: "Leader Xia, you must be troubled about locating coal and iron mines?"
Xia Hong admitted frankly with a nod. "After breaking through to Digging Realm, I've searched all around Redwood Ridge and our camp's vicinity—hills and mountains included—without finding a trace. I'd appreciate any guidance, Leader Luo!"
Noticing Luo Ming's distracted expression and prolonged silence, Xia Hong stood and bowed deeply. This startled Luo Ming awake, who quickly rose to stop Xia Hong mid-bow. "Leader Xia, don't misunderstand! Rogge Camp owes you immense gratitude—how could I withhold repayment? Besides, it's no great secret. I was just distracted by other matters earlier."
Without elaborating on those matters, Luo Ming invited everyone to sit, then summoned the other four camp leaders—Hong Gang, Huang Zhao, Chen Ying, and Lu He. The four had been sitting separately with their people. Upon arrival, they first greeted Luo Ming, then nodded to Xia Hong before sitting opposite the two leaders.
The makeshift wooden house offered no furnishings, so everyone sat on the ground. Interestingly, when the four leaders sat opposite, their followers clustered behind them, leaving only Luo Ming and Xia Hong on one side. While Xia Hong remained unfazed and others showed no reaction, Luo Ming observed this arrangement thoughtfully.
"Everyone," Luo Ming began, "Leader Xia inquired about locating coal and iron mines. Since you're all likely curious, I've gathered you to explain. This knowledge will help when you eventually break through to Digging Realm and need to find these resources."
Hong Gang and the other leaders, along with some Lumberjack Realm members their age, shook their heads with smiles—clearly doubting they'd ever reach Digging Realm. But the younger Lumberjack Realm members behind them appeared eager and more confident than their elders. Most striking was the reaction of Yue Feng's group behind Xia Hong—except for Lin Kai tending to Xia Chuan, Yuan Cheng, Yue Feng, Qiu Peng, and Lu Yang leaned forward attentively, clearly keen to absorb Luo Ming's wisdom.
After observing these reactions, Luo Ming spoke deliberately: "First, coal mines—you all know golden frost trees, correct?"
Xia Hong's expression turned peculiar as a suspicion arose.
"Generally, where golden frost trees grow, coal mines exist beneath. The thicker the tree, the richer the coal deposit beneath!"
Exactly as suspected. Xia Hong shook his head inwardly. During his extensive searches around Redwood Ridge, he'd wondered why—in this world where flora and fauna far surpassed his previous life's—mineral resources seemed scarce. Turns out he'd been looking in wrong places all along—coal was hidden under golden frost trees.
"Leader Luo, what about iron mines?" Xia Hong pressed on.
"Iron mines are simpler—look for a plant called black tribulus. It typically grows in rock crevices and mountain cracks, serving as an iron ore indicator plant. Finding it means you've found iron."
To ensure understanding, Luo Ming signaled Shang Ping, who hurried out and returned with a specimen. Luo Ming displayed the peculiar black plant—a single stem with twenty-some feathery leaves arranged in even pairs.
"Truthfully, black tribulus is hard to find. Rogge Camp's current iron mine was passed down generations ago—we've never discovered another..." Luo Ming paused, then added: "Not that we need more. Given our region's camp capabilities, finding one vein lasts multiple generations."
This drew light laughter from the crowd. Indeed, Rogge Camp's iron mine had been excavated for generations, yet iron tools still weren't universally available—proof of extreme mining difficulty.
While others chuckled, Xia Hong frowned gravely. Locating iron mines was hard enough, but Luo Ming's words suggested extraction was exponentially harder—bad news for his massive resource needs.
"Leader! Chuan's awake!" Lin Kai's voice interrupted Xia Hong's thoughts, prompting him to hurry over with Yuan Cheng's group close behind.