Fang Mushan's gaze looked past Xu Yunfan, focusing on Li Haomiao on his back.
"What's the deal with him?"
"Someone broke three of his limbs. He looked pitiful, so I decided to help him out."
Li Haomiao opened his mouth, itching to curse him out, but he knew this wasn't the time to speak up. So, he just turned his head away.
Upon hearing this, the sharp look in Fang Mushan's eyes softened considerably. After all, anyone who would still help others in an environment as harsh as the Ninggu Tower Mine, and had managed to survive this long, couldn't be a bad person.
He sized up Xu Yunfan. "Your Body Technique is impressive. You must have reached the Minor Achievement Realm."
"I've just been practicing on my own for a few days. I wouldn't call it Minor Achievement yet."
The physical boost from his Copper Body Skill made his Flying Leg technique seem on par with the Minor Achievement Realm. But he knew his own limits; 'true Minor Achievement in Flying Leg should be faster and require less effort.'
Fang Mushan just took it as modesty and thought nothing of it. He himself was exceptionally talented, with an astonishing physique and particularly deep reserves of Endurance, so he had no fear of being exhausted by a long journey.
The other four or five people had long since grown exhausted and unable to keep up, falling far behind. Now, only Xu Yunfan and Fang Mushan remained.
Well, and one Li Haomiao.
Fang Mushan mulled it over for a moment before speaking. "Ninggu Tower is protected by Grand General Lian's Killing Array. Since Zhang Shuyang's strength is only comparable to mine, he can't overcome it. If nothing unexpected happens, he shouldn't be able to find us right away."
He did a quick mental calculation. "We've traveled hard all night and covered at least sixty li, but that's not a safe distance from Ninggu Tower. We'll rest for a bit, but we have to keep going. Do you intend to keep following me?"
A Martial Master at First Level Great Mastery has incredibly deep reserves of Endurance and can run for more than a hundred li in a single night. For safety's sake, they couldn't afford to linger.
Xu Yunfan nodded without the slightest hesitation. "If Brother Fang doesn't mind, an extra person means extra help."
Fang Mushan inclined his head. "I won't slow down for you. Keep up if you can. If you can't, you're on your own."
"Thank you!"
Xu Yunfan found a spot sheltered from the biting wind and began to rest quietly. At the same time, making sure Fang Mushan couldn't see him head-on, he discreetly took out a Grain Avoidance Pill and swallowed it.
Li Haomiao saw this but said nothing. He had taken one himself two days prior. Since he wasn't doing any strenuous exercise, he could conserve his body's energy consumption to the absolute maximum. A single Grain Avoidance Pill could last him at least ten days.
Due to his high-intensity training, Xu Yunfan needed one every two to three days.
After an hour, Fang Mushan stood up, wind seemingly at his feet as he sped off down the path.
Xu Yunfan didn't hesitate, following right behind him.
The pair traveled from morning until the last rays of the setting sun, covering another sixty li before finally stopping. The path was rugged, the mountain ridges lined with sheer cliffs, and the ground split by icy crevices and ravines. Considering the terrain, their pace was already incredibly fast.
Steam billowed from his body and his chest heaved violently. Fang Mushan glanced back at Xu Yunfan, who didn't even seem flushed, and said in astonishment, "I never expected your Endurance to be this good."
He was panting raggedly. Having gone a full day and night without eating, he was now at his limit and in desperate need of food.
Xu Yunfan replied casually, "My main focus is footwork, and I'm particularly good at long-distance treks, so I can manage to keep up."
Fang Mushan understood. He then casually asked about Xu Yunfan's background. Upon learning that he had been a servant of the Jiang Family, he showed no trace of disdain, merely giving a slight nod.
"In that case, let's find a place to spend the night. It's getting colder, and without proper shelter from the wind, we'll have a hard time surviving until morning."
Xu Yunfan said, "I have some experience building shelters. You can leave that to me."
Fang Mushan nodded in agreement. At a time like this, cooperation would naturally save them a great deal of time.
The two and a half men found a sheltered spot. Fang Mushan said, "Stay here. Figure out how to build a shelter and gather some firewood. I'm going to hunt."
Xu Yunfan was speechless.
Watching Fang Mushan leave without a backward glance, Xu Yunfan set Li Haomiao down. He took the Iron Pickaxe from his waist, found a depression in the ground, sized it up, and then began to dig.
Then, under Li Haomiao's utterly stunned gaze, Xu Yunfan dug a pit in the hard, rocky soil large enough for four people in less than half an hour. He even had time to level the floor and carve out a simple hearth.
His efficiency was simply monstrous. Every swing of the Iron Pickaxe dislodged a huge chunk of earth and rock. His movements were fluid, without the slightest pause, each strike faster than the one before until the Iron Pickaxe became a blur in his hands.
Li Haomiao felt like he had only blinked a few times before Xu Yunfan's entire body had already disappeared into the pit.
By the time Xu Yunfan hauled him into the pit, Li Haomiao was flabbergasted. "Are you part mole or something? You dug a hole this big in the time it takes to drink two cups of tea."
Xu Yunfan frowned. "What do you mean, mole? Can't you say something nice for a change? They say you're a man of immense learning and talent, yet you have such a crude way with words."
This efficiency was, of course, due to a special effect he gained after his mining skill reached Minor Achievement: a perk called 'Digging Through Earth Like Mud'.
With every strike, Xu Yunfan instinctively knew where to dig for maximum efficiency and minimum effort. If not for this, he wouldn't have shattered the Ancient Jade Pendant with a single blow.
'I wonder what kind of amazing effects mining will have once it reaches Great Success.'
Xu Yunfan thought to himself, 'It seems the Skill Bar on my Attribute Panel isn't limited to just Martial Arts. I can train all sorts of life skills, and they might have some unexpected benefits.'
Like right now, for instance.
He climbed out of the pit to gather enough firewood to keep them warm for the night, then quickly returned and started digging again, this time at a downward angle.
Not only did this train his mining skill, but with every movement—the shifting of his stance, the power flowing through his arms—his entire body's core muscle groups were engaged by the specific motions of mining, each one a repetition that tempered his Copper Body Skill.
You are struck by a flash of insight. Lifting the Iron Pickaxe in your hand, you swing it like a Heavy Hammer, smashing loose a large swath of earth and rock. You feel your power efficiency has increased. Your mining Skill Level has increased.
You are Concentrating Spirit and calming your breath. Copper Body Skill circulates through you as your Blood Qi surges. The Iron Pickaxe in your hand feels like an Iron Hammer, whipping up the wind with each swing. The transitions between your movements become increasingly fluid, and the power within you roils. Your Copper Body Skill Skill Level has increased.
...
Seeing these notifications, Xu Yunfan was instantly filled with motivation. He swung the Iron Pickaxe relentlessly, and within a few breaths, he had already disappeared deep into the tunnel he was digging.
Seeing Xu Yunfan start digging again, Li Haomiao couldn't help but curse, "You're addicted to this, aren't you? Good heavens, I see it now. You truly were born to be a slave. You're a masochist.
"Just look at you go, digging that hole so well. In the blink of an eye, you've buried yourself in the ground. Just burrowing right in there."
Xu Yunfan poked his head out of the tunnel and snapped, "What the hell do you know? The swinging and smashing motions temper the body for the Copper Body Skill. It makes my techniques fluid and my stances correct."
Glancing at the system notifications appearing in his field of vision, Xu Yunfan felt a smug satisfaction. He couldn't be bothered to deal with Li Haomiao's taunts. 'At this rate,' he thought, 'I might actually be able to get the Copper Body Skill to the Great Success Realm within a month or two.'