Free Web NovelChapter 40: Chapter 40: The Hidden Heart Vein
Qin Yuheng did not move for a long time.
From the cliff edge, he observed the underground cavity in silence.
The Iron Blood Heart Vein pulsed below like a sleeping organ of the earth. Each beat sent red metallic light through the surrounding stone. The ore here was far purer than the ordinary Iron Blood Ore they had collected earlier. Even from a distance, Qin Yuheng could see fist-sized crystals growing along the vein’s surface, some dark red, some black-gold, some almost translucent.
The value was enormous.
But the danger was just as clear.
Dozens of Iron-Claw Mine Beasts moved around the vein. Some were Level 10 or 11, but others were larger, likely Level 13 or 14 elites. At the center slept the Iron-Claw Mine Lord, Level 18, its massive body half-covered by ore. Its breathing matched the heartbeat of the vein.
Qin Mo leaned close and whispered, "We are leaving."
Qin Yuheng did not answer.
Qin Mo’s expression became pained.
"We are leaving, right?"
Qin Yuchen studied the cavity.
"Direct battle is impossible."
Qin Lian nodded. "Too many beasts. Even if we lure some away, the Mine Lord may wake."
Qin Mo pointed at them gratefully. "Listen to the reasonable people."
Qin Yuheng finally spoke.
"We do not fight."
Qin Mo relaxed.
"We extract a small amount and leave."
Qin Mo froze again.
"That is not leaving."
"It is leaving with proof."
"We already have visual confirmation."
"Visual confirmation is weaker than material proof."
Qin Mo stared at him.
"You are very good at making danger sound official."
Qin Yuheng looked at the cavity.
He was not being reckless. Fighting the Mine Lord was beyond their current ability. Even with the A Grade Spatial Retreat Talisman, engaging the entire nest would be foolish. But extracting a small piece from the outer vein might be possible if they used stealth, timing, and escape tools.
The key was not to wake the Mine Lord.
Qin Yuheng checked the terrain.
A narrow ledge curved down along the cavity wall toward an outer vein cluster. Only three Iron-Claw Mine Beasts patrolled near that section. The vein there pulsed weakly compared to the center, meaning it might be less connected to the Mine Lord.
He pointed.
"That outer cluster. We take one crystal. No more."
Qin Lian followed his gaze.
"Patrol interval around thirty breaths. I can approach, but mining will make sound."
Qin Yuchen said, "We can lure the three patrol beasts away first."
Qin Mo whispered, "Or we can not."
Qin Yuheng asked, "Can you create a sound-dampening formation?"
Qin Mo looked offended.
"In this unstable mine, near a giant sleeping Level 18 beast, with limited time and materials?"
"Yes."
"...Small range. Short duration. Maybe."
"Enough."
The plan formed quickly.
Qin Lian would scout the ledge and mark safe footing.
Qin Mo would place a small sound-dampening formation near the outer vein cluster using Fog Bone Shards, mineral dust, and a formation crystal. Qin Yuchen would prepare to intercept any patrol beast that turned back early. Qin Yuheng would extract the crystal with the Black Thunder Pattern Sword, using precise cuts.
If the Mine Lord stirred, they would retreat immediately.
If the patrol changed, retreat.
If the Earth Pulse Warning Stone reacted violently, retreat.
This time, Qin Mo forced Qin Yuheng to repeat the retreat conditions three times.
Only then did he agree.
They moved.
The ledge was narrow and uneven. Below them, Iron-Claw Mine Beasts crawled across the vein like insects around a carcass. The heartbeat grew louder with each step, not in their ears but in their bones.
Qin Yuheng felt the ore’s energy resonate faintly with the Black Thunder Pattern Sword.
Metal.
Blood.
Earth.
Pressure.
This vein was ideal for forging. freёwebnovel.com
At the outer cluster, Qin Mo worked faster than usual, fear sharpening his efficiency. He placed a formation crystal, three crushed Fog Bone Shards, and a ring of mineral powder around the target area.
A faint gray barrier rose.
"Sound dampening. Maybe thirty breaths."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
Qin Lian signaled from the ledge.
The three patrol beasts had turned away.
Now.
Qin Yuheng drew his sword.
He suppressed thunder completely, using only the blade’s sharpness.
The sword entered the stone silently.
The formation absorbed most of the vibration.
He cut around one black-red crystal the size of a fist. freёwebnovel.com
The heartbeat grew slightly faster.
Qin Mo’s face went pale.
"Faster."
Qin Yuheng remained steady.
Rushing would cause mistakes.
He completed the final cut and caught the crystal before it fell.
The panel appeared.
[B Grade Iron Blood Heart Crystal]
[Type: Hidden vein resource]
[Effect: High-quality forging material, body tempering catalyst, blood-metal formation core.]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
B grade.
From the outer vein alone.
Qin Yuheng stored it immediately.
Then the Earth Pulse Warning Stone flashed red.
Qin Mo whispered, "Move."
No one argued.
They retreated along the ledge.
Below, the Iron-Claw Mine Lord shifted in its sleep.
A deep rumble spread through the cavity.
Several mine beasts raised their heads.
Qin Lian moved first.
Qin Yuchen followed.
Qin Mo nearly slipped, but Qin Yuheng grabbed his collar and pulled him up.
They reached the upper tunnel just as a Level 14 elite mine beast climbed onto the ledge behind them.
Its eyes glowed red.
It opened its jaws to roar.
Qin Yuheng’s gaze sharpened.
If it roared, the nest would awaken.
Thunder Shadow Flash.
He appeared before it in an instant.
One hand clamped its jaw shut.
His sword pierced through the lower skull.
Violet-gold thunder erupted inside its head, contained and brief.
The beast collapsed without a sound.
Qin Yuheng caught the body and lowered it carefully to the stone.
Qin Mo stared at him.
"That was terrifying."
"Move."
They left the hidden cavity quickly.
Only after they were several tunnels away did the deep roar finally erupt behind them.
The mine shook.
[Warning]
[Iron Blood Heart Vein disturbed.]
[Mine instability increasing.]
[Guardian activity rising.]
Qin Mo looked at the warning stone.
"Now we run?"
"Now we run," Qin Yuheng said.
They moved toward the exit tunnel.
The mine began changing around them.
Cracks spread across walls. Dust fell from the ceiling. Distant roars echoed through side tunnels. Ore Burrowers fled from deeper areas, and several Iron-Claw Mine Beasts emerged aggressively from cracks.
The side mission to avoid severe collapse damage became harder.
Qin Mo used Reinforcement Spikes liberally now. There was no need to save them. Qin Yuchen cut down a beast blocking their path. Qin Lian scouted alternate tunnels whenever the main route trembled.
At one point, a ceiling section collapsed behind them, blocking pursuit but nearly separating Qin Lian. Qin Yuheng used Thunder Shadow Flash to pull her clear at the last moment.
Finally, the A Grade Return Path Anchor activated.
A faint golden line appeared along the tunnel, guiding them toward the exit route they had marked earlier.
Qin Mo almost kissed the air.
"I love that thing."
They followed the guide through dust and tremors.
Near the exit tunnel, four Iron-Claw Mine Beasts blocked the path.
No time for caution.
Qin Yuheng released a stronger burst of thunder.
Qin Yuchen and Qin Lian attacked with him.
Qin Mo used flash formations and talismans to disrupt the beasts.
The fight was short and brutal.
Two beasts died. One fled. One was crushed by falling stone.
The side mission updated.
Defeat 10 Iron-Claw Mine Beasts: Completed.
As they crossed into the exit tunnel, the Tower message appeared.
[Main Mission Completed.]
[Iron Blood Ores collected: 20 / 20]
[Exit tunnel reached.]
[Hidden Objective: Iron Blood Heart Vein confirmed.]
[Hidden Material acquired.]
[Collapse damage avoided.]
[Calculating evaluation...]
White-red light covered them.
The last thing Qin Yuheng heard before leaving Floor 3 was the distant roar of the Iron-Claw Mine Lord.
It was awake now.
And somehow, Qin Yuheng felt that this would not be the last time they encountered it.
