Even from above, Han Yu could see the moisture.

The ground was not dry.

Not fully.

There was still water beneath.

Seeping.

Shifting.

Unstable.

Han Yu's eyes narrowed slightly.

'No wonder.'

No wonder the mining was so slow.

No wonder the operation was difficult.

This was not a simple excavation.

This was a battle against both terrain and composition.

He also realized something else.

'If one entry point alone was this large… What about the others?' The thought lingered in his mind as they landed.

The moment their feet touched the ground, Han Yu became aware of the people present.

Hundreds.

Workers.

Cultivators.

Supervisors.

From a glance alone, he could tell that most of them belonged to the three clans.

Qing.

Zhao.

Wen.

Their robes bore distinct markings, subtle but identifiable. The majority were focused on the work, moving materials, inspecting formations, or coordinating tasks.

In contrast…

The presence of the Blood Sect was minimal.

Two junior elders.

One inner court disciple.

That was all.

Han Yu found that interesting.

Very interesting.

Given the importance of the mine, the sect's direct involvement seemed… limited.

Which meant one thing.

The clans were heavily invested.

Perhaps even controlling much of the operation.

Hong Yao and Han Yu had barely settled when the inner court disciple approached. He moved quickly, his posture respectful but not overly submissive.

He bowed.

"Senior Hong Yao."

Hong Yao gave a slight nod.

The disciple's gaze shifted to Han Yu.

"May I know who this is?"

Before Han Yu could speak, Hong Yao answered.

"Ju Fan. Personal disciple of the Second Kidney Peak Head."

The reaction was immediate.

Surprise.

Han Yu felt the grey wisps of emotion almost instantly.

The disciple's posture straightened slightly.

"I greet Senior Ju Fan."

Han Yu returned the gesture lightly.

"This is Disciple Cao," Hong Yao added.

Han Yu observed him more closely now.

'An Inner court disciple stationed here...'

That alone meant something.

Either strong connections.

Or strong ability.

Possibly both.

Meanwhile, the two junior elders remained where they were, focused on their tasks. They did not come forward, nor did they show any interest in greeting Hong Yao or Han Yu.

Hong Yao did not seem to mind.

"They're supply overseers," he said casually. "Just call them First and Second Supply Elders."

Han Yu nodded.

It was a simple explanation, but it carried meaning. These were not combatants. They were logistical pillars. Important, but not directly involved in power struggles.

Hong Yao then gestured lightly.

"Ju Fan is here to work on a puppet for the mining operation."

Disciple Cao's eyes lit up slightly.

"I see."

His tone shifted.

More respectful now.

Not just due to status.

But due to purpose.

Han Yu did not waste time.

"I would like to observe the mine from the inside."

Direct.

Focused.

Hong Yao waved his hand.

"Go ahead."

He pointed toward a large tent nearby.

"I'll be there."

The tent he indicated was noticeably different from the others.

It was larger, better constructed, and even guarded by two Bronze Skin Jiangshi. It was clearly his personal space.

Disciple Cao stepped forward.

"I will guide Senior Ju Fan."

Han Yu nodded.

Without further delay, the two began walking toward the excavation site.

As they approached the entrance, Han Yu could feel it.

The density of the earth.

The instability beneath.

And the opportunity waiting for him.

The moment Han Yu stepped past the reinforced entrance and into the mine proper, the atmosphere changed.

The damp heaviness of the drained lakebed gave way to something denser, more suffocating. The air within the tunnels carried a metallic tang mixed with a faint, almost imperceptible bitterness. It was not just the scent of blood Qi, but something more complex, something that seemed to interfere subtly with perception itself.

Disciple Cao walked ahead with practiced familiarity, his steps steady despite the uneven ground.

Han Yu followed closely, his eyes scanning everything.

The tunnel was not natural.

Or at least, not entirely.

While its base structure clearly came from natural cave formations, it had been widened, reinforced, and stabilized with formations carved directly into the rock walls. Faint lines of red and black runes pulsed intermittently, maintaining structural integrity and suppressing the unpredictable shifts caused by the underlying minerals.

Torches burned along the walls, their flames steady despite the dampness. Every fifty meters, a spirit lamp was mounted, its glow far brighter and more consistent than the firelight.

These lamps illuminated intersections and branching paths, preventing workers from losing their way in the labyrinthine network as well as acting as a connection node for the arrays.

Han Yu spoke as they walked.

"What is your duty here?"

Disciple Cao did not hesitate.

"I am from the Curse Peak," he said. "My responsibility is to monitor the slaves."

Han Yu's expression remained neutral, but internally, his thoughts sharpened.

'A curse master.'

That meant direct control over the slave seals.

That meant oversight.

That meant…

An obstacle.

Han Yu had already expected resistance. But now he had a clearer picture. This man would not be easy to bypass.

"How is their work progressing?" Han Yu asked.

Disciple Cao let out a long sigh.

"Slow."

There was no hesitation in his answer.

"We cannot push them like normal slaves. The material is too fragile. If we rush them, they break the quartz. If they break too much, the entire operation suffers."

He shook his head slightly.

"Sometimes it doesn't even feel like they are slaves."

Han Yu listened.

"They work eighteen hours a day," Cao continued. "Three meals. Controlled rest. And yet…"

He gestured vaguely ahead.

"They barely produce enough to justify their upkeep."

His tone carried frustration.

Not cruelty.

But exhaustion.

"I spend more time working than they do," he added. "Every day I have to check their seals. Make sure there are no fluctuations. No instability. No attempts at interference."

Han Yu nodded slowly.

"How many slaves are assigned here?"

"In this section?" Cao replied. "Seven hundred and sixteen."

Han Yu's brows lifted slightly.

A precise number.

That meant strict accounting.