"Brother Overlord Fist, you're incredible!"
In a collapsed mine tunnel, Cao Youqian shattered the rubble with a single punch, clearing the path once blocked by boulders.
Behind him stood a delicate young woman, slender as a willow that might bend in the breeze. She wore an exquisite emerald Liuxian dress, every tilt of her head and curve of her lips brimming with charm.
Cao Youqian withdrew his fist and said lightly, "That was just a small display, Sister Xiaoyi. Are you sure there's treasure in this cave?"
Song Zhaoyi nodded gently and produced a tiny white mouse from her sleeve.
"Xiao Bai told me—there's something delicious in here."
Cao Youqian glanced at the mouse. It was a Gold-Devouring Mouse skilled at finding rare ores. He realized he had been right to rescue this girl.
A few days earlier, after a hundred days of seclusion, he had finally broken through to the Heaven Origin Realm. Realizing two-thirds of his time in the Taixu Secret Realm had passed without a single treasure, he began to wander the realm.
Soon after emerging from his retreat, he spotted seven or eight cultivators hunting Song Zhaoyi. Though he initially ignored them—murder for relics was common in the Secret Realm—when they turned their blades on him, he had no choice but to eliminate them.
Grateful, the girl had followed him ever since. Cao Youqian remained ever vigilant, unmoved by her beauty.
Three days ago, Song Zhaoyi had sensed treasure in these mountains, so he led her here.
"I didn't expect you to have such a find," he said lightly.
Song Zhaoyi smiled. "Thank you, Brother. I was just lucky to earn Xiao Bai's favor."
"Let it guide the way," he replied.
"Mm," she agreed, setting Xiao Bai down. They followed the mouse deeper into the tunnel.
After a day's walk, the three came upon veins of iron ore. The mouse, thrilled, raced forward to gnaw on a chunk.
Cao Youqian pried out a piece of ore and examined it. A strong Yin-Cold aura emanated from it, and a smile lit his face.
"Top-grade Xuan-Yin Cold Iron Ore—perfect for forging spirit weapons. Little Xiaoyi, you've truly brought me a great surprise."
"As long as Brother finds me useful," Song Zhaoyi cooed in her enchanting voice, "I'm happy. Unlike my sisters, I can't fight alongside you."
Her flirty tone nearly overwhelmed the former playboy. He regarded her earnestly. "Sister Xiaoyi, let's get to work."
Song Zhaoyi stared in confusion. "Brother Overlord Fist, what should we do?"
"Dig, of course."
Seeing her puzzled expression, he asked, "Don't you have any mining tools?"
Song Zhaoyi blushed—how could such a fierce warrior ask this delicate fairy to do crude mining work? Yet she nodded.
"Don't worry. I'll handle this. I'll give you a surprise in a moment."
Cao Youqian rummaged through the storage bags of the defeated cultivators.
Song Zhaoyi watched him with anticipation, thinking: No matter how strong he is, he must dig for me!
"Aha!"
Scanning one bag with his divine sense, Cao Youqian pulled out a refined iron pickaxe and handed it to her.
"Sister Xiaoyi, with this pickaxe we can mine to our heart's content."
Song Zhaoyi fell silent. How could someone so powerful be so oblivious? Didn't he see I don't want to dig?
Noticing her dazed look, Cao Youqian asked curiously, "Don't you know how to mine? I'll teach you."
Song Zhaoyi's face filled with question marks.
Song Zhaoyi was stunned. She didn't know whether he was being deliberate or clueless—if he truly knew nothing of men and women, he could never have spoken like this.
"Please teach me, Brother."
Before long, Cao Youqian stood behind her, guiding her hand as she mined with the refined iron pickaxe.
An hour later, Song Zhaoyi was already proficient at using the pickaxe. Cao Youqian nodded in satisfaction. "Well done. Now it's my turn."
At her words, Song Zhaoyi paused. Cao Youqian positioned himself and smashed his fist into the rock wall.
With a thunderous boom, dust filled the tunnel, stinging Song Zhaoyi's eyes until she could scarcely open them.
When the haze cleared, she saw Brother Overlord Fist happily scooping up fragments of Xuan-Yin Cold Iron Ore.
I…
Song Zhaoyi's face turned green. He could have helped me, so why force me to do the work myself?
Cao Youqian didn't notice her reaction. After several more punches, he stopped.
He collected the ore into a storage bag, then looked at the still-dazed Song Zhaoyi and asked, "Sister Xiaoyi, don't you like top-grade Xuan-Yin Cold Iron Ore?"
Song Zhaoyi wanted to be angry, but no words came to her lips. She finally managed, "It's just… I spent too much spiritual power and I'm exhausted."
"That's true. Someone your size really isn't well suited for mining." Cao Youqian looked thoughtfully at the tunnel before him.
Song Zhaoyi thought: He's such a tease—why didn't he say that from the start?
Cao Youqian said, "Soon I'll clear a path. Then you can break the ore free from the stone."
"Ah?"
Song Zhaoyi hadn't expected any escape from mining. She could only nod. "Okay, Brother."
Cao Youqian then turned his gaze to the round-bellied mouse. "Lead the way to see if there's even better ore."
Having witnessed this man's terrifying power, the mouse hurriedly pointed ahead.
Cao Youqian resumed punching. Though each blow was devastating, he controlled his force perfectly, clearing only the path in front of him without causing any collapses.
Three days passed.
Song Zhaoyi was completely worn out. She lost count of the ore she'd broken free, and her emerald dress had turned black.
At first she used Dust Removal Technique to clear herself, but eventually she gave up entirely.
Cao Youqian, meanwhile, remained spotless. He threw another punch. This time the wall didn't give way, but his face lit up with joy.
"It's about to appear."
At those words, Song Zhaoyi snapped back to attention and cast Dust Removal Technique, restoring her fairy-like appearance. "Brother Overlord Fist, what's about to appear?"
"A place with so much Xuan-Yin Cold Iron Ore means there must be Xuan-Yin Cold Iron Essence nearby—a material for forging holy weapons. We came all this way; we can't leave empty-handed."
No sooner had Cao Youqian finished speaking than his aura surged, oppressive and mighty, filling the entire tunnel.
"Squeak…"
The mouse, terrified by the aura, scurried into his arms.
Song Zhaoyi looked at his imposing back and felt no fear—only a deep sense of safety.
"Extreme Dao Divine Fist!"
Cao Youqian unleashed a punch. A colossal fist-aura and its shadow smashed into the rock wall.
Boom!
With a crack, the wall gave way, collapsing in front of them.
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