Early the next morning, the Black Rock Tribe's camp became lively.
Everyone was buzzing about the commotion Wu Liang made in Wei Xian's tent last night, speculating about that earth-shaking power that had nearly overturned the tent.
The gazes many Female Warriors directed at Wu Liang became strange and surprised once again.
Was his strength truly that formidable?
Chief Wei Xian paid no mind to these rumors.
Early that morning, she personally selected fifty of the strongest elite warriors from the Tribe.
These people were gathered together, and no one knew what the Chief intended to do.
High Priestess Eliza was also called to the front of the group by Wei Xian.
Looking at this display, her heart was filled with doubt.
"Chief, what are you planning to do?"
Eliza asked with a frown.
"If you take away the Tribe's most elite warriors, what will happen to the camp's defenses?"
"Mining and smelting iron!"
Wei Xian's answer was simple.
Eliza's eyes widened in surprise, and she was ecstatic:
"Chief, you've mastered the secret art of iron smelting? That's wonderful! We can forge weapons and greatly enhance our strength!"
"After being blockaded by the roland people for a hundred years, we can finally hold our heads high!"
Wei Xian shook her head. "I don't know how, but he does."
As she spoke, she turned her gaze toward Wu Liang, who was walking over from not far away.
"Him again! Chief, can his words be trusted?"
Eliza hesitated, so Wei Xian immediately told her everything that had happened last night.
"How is that possible! This guy actually surpassed you? Unbelievable!"
Eliza's reaction was within Wei Xian's expectations.
"Fine, if he can truly help us smelt ironware, I certainly won't object."
Since the Chief had agreed, there was indeed no need for further argument.
"Is everything ready?"
Wu Liang looked at Wei Xian as he approached.
"We can set out at any time."
Wei Xian nodded, her expression much softer than before when facing Wu Liang.
The fifty Female Warriors looked at each other. Could the Chief have developed real feelings for this man?
Wu Liang nodded and looked at Eliza with interest. "Is the High Priestess coming too?"
"Of course I am, to see what on earth you're up to."
Eliza didn't give Wu Liang a friendly look.
She even felt for a moment that the Chief had been bewitched by this fellow.
"Then let's set out."
Wu Liang smiled, unbothered by Eliza's attitude.
"Now, everyone, take your tools and follow me."
Wei Xian and Eliza followed behind Wu Liang, and the fifty Female Warriors filed out through the Tribe's main gate.
The direction of their march was clear.
Wu Liang had already used the system's Ore Prospecting Technology to discover a small open-pit iron mine in a mountain hollow about five kilometers from the camp.
Although the reserves weren't large, they were sufficient for their current needs.
The group trekked through the rugged mountain forests.
The Female Warriors had excellent physical strength, crossing mountains and ridges as if walking on level ground.
To their surprise, Wu Liang's stamina seemed even more terrifying.
He stayed at the front of the line the entire time with a steady pace, not even breaking a sweat after walking for so long.
Eliza's stamina was considered poor within the Tribe; after walking for less than an hour, she was already panting, her forehead covered in sweat.
She looked at the relaxed back ahead of her, and her heart finally admitted a fact.
This guy's strength really was extraordinary, just as Wei Xian had said.
After walking for about two hours, Wu Liang stopped in front of a mountain hollow.
"This is it."
He said, pointing to a mountain wall ahead that looked unremarkable.
The Female Warriors all stopped, curiously surveying their surroundings.
There was nothing here but stones and weeds.
"I know what you're thinking."
Wu Liang walked to the mountain wall and pointed at some exposed reddish-brown rocks:
"Do you see these stones?"
The Female Warriors leaned in to take a closer look.
Most of the stones were reddish-brown, streaked with black veins and patches, indeed looking different from ordinary rocks.
"This is iron ore?"
Eliza stepped forward, panting, and asked with a frown.
"It seems the High Priestess already knows our purpose here."
Wu Liang glanced at Eliza and then said with certainty:
"Exactly. This is iron ore, the mineral used to smelt iron metal."
"Wei Xian, let me borrow your axe."
Wei Xian hesitated; it was the first time Wu Liang had addressed her directly by name in front of everyone.
However, she didn't make a fuss and tossed the stone axe to Wu Liang.
Wu Liang easily caught it and then, under everyone's astonished gazes, raised the massive stone axe.
Crack!
A chunk of reddish-brown rock was knocked loose, and Wu Liang picked it up.
"This is iron ore."
Wu Liang said calmly, "Once this stone is melted in fire, it will become something a hundred times harder than your stone axes."
"What?!"
"Stones melting in fire?"
"How is that possible!"
Wu Liang's words caused a stir among the crowd.
"Ironware is smelted from these stones?"
Wei Xian took the iron ore from Wu Liang's hand, looking somewhat surprised.
"Yes, but turning them into iron requires a special smelting method."
"In the future, we can use this iron ore to forge weapons—swords, axes, spears, armor, and everything else."
Wu Liang nodded, pointing spiritedly at the vast expanse of the mine before them.
"Our task today is to dig out as many of these stones as possible and bring them back to the Tribe."
Hearing this, Eliza's eyes lit up.
"If that's true, our Black Rock Tribe will become the most powerful Tribe in the Great Desolate Mountain region!"
Wei Xian nodded in deep agreement.
This was indeed a major event that could change the fate of her people and strengthen the Tribe.
"Everyone, identify clearly which ones are iron ore. Just as Wu Liang said, remember what the iron ore looks like."
Wei Xian immediately issued orders to her people.
"Everyone, start digging!"
"Yes!"
At Wei Xian's command, everyone began swinging their stone axes and pickaxes, creating a rhythmic clanging.
Although the iron ore was very hard and mining efficiency was low, not a single person complained of hardship or exhaustion.
Eliza stood to the side, watching the bustling mining scene, then looked at the man standing on high ground slacking off.
"Hey! Why are you slacking off here?"
Wu Liang, with a blade of grass in his mouth, shrugged. "I don't have to do any work; you said so yourselves."
"Ignore him. High Priestess, come and mine with us."
Wei Xian called Eliza away. Wu Liang was happy to be idle and found a flat patch of grass to lie down and bask in the sun.
The iron mining continued until the sun began to set in the west.
Through the efforts of the Black Rock Tribe's fifty elite Female Warriors, they eventually knocked loose over a hundred pieces of iron ore of various sizes.
The harvest was quite good.
The return journey was even more difficult than the way there.
Each piece was heavy, far weightier than ordinary stones of the same size.
Each Female Warrior carried dozens of pounds of ore, yet not a trace of exhaustion could be seen on their faces; instead, they were filled with excitement and anticipation.
They were all looking forward to seeing these iron ores forged into weapons.
Upon returning to the camp, the entire Tribe was stirred.
The women watched the heavy stones brought back by the Hunting Party and gathered around, buzzing with discussion.
"What kind of stones are these? Why are they so heavy?"
"I heard the Chief brought people to dig them up from a nearby mountain hollow; they're called iron ore."
"Why dig up these stones? You can't even eat them."
Facing the questions of her people, Wei Xian offered no explanation.
Following Wu Liang's instructions, she had people pile all the ore in an open space in the center of the camp.
Wu Liang had already chosen the location for building the Blast Furnace.
It was a slightly elevated earthen slope.
It was near a water source, and there were enough trees nearby for charcoal burning.