313: The miners are going crazy with the Body Tempering Spirit Fruit as a reward!

Less than five minutes later, Lu Mingyuan, slender and with sharp eyes, knocked on the door and entered.

"My Lord, you called for me."

"Sit," Mo Yan said, pointing to the chair opposite him, and got straight to the point.

"How are things at the First and Second Mine Areas now? What stage is the mining at?"

Lu Mingyuan had prepared before coming. Hearing Mo Yan's question, he immediately pulled a report from his folder and began to report clearly and concisely.

"My Lord, since you stationed the mining team there last time, the output has been very stable. Captain Zhang Hu divided the fifty miners into three shifts, mining in rotation, which is very efficient."

"Especially for the fire crystal stone, which you focused on, we have already accumulated fifty-three thousand pieces."

"Additionally, the reserves of obsidian and iron ore have reached eighteen thousand and sixty-four thousand pieces, respectively."

"Hmm, not bad." Mo Yan nodded, quite satisfied with the numbers.

These were all resources, indispensable whether for crafting equipment or as Materials for buildings.

Especially the fire crystal stone, which was his main goal for this trip.

But, it was not enough.

Far from enough.

"This speed is too slow."

Lu Mingyuan was stunned, a little confused.

In his opinion, this production efficiency was already quite astonishing.

One must know that these were high-risk volcanic mines. To maintain zero casualties and such stable output, the miners were practically risking their lives.

"My Lord, do you mean...?"

Mo Yan looked up at him.

"I need fire crystal stone, a large amount of fire crystal stone."

"From now on, the focus of all mining areas will shift entirely towards fire crystal stone. obsidian and iron ore can be temporarily slowed down."

He held up two fingers.

"Two days."

"Within two days, I want to see one hundred and fifty thousand units of fire crystal stone in the Warehouse."

"What?!"

Lu Mingyuan shot up from his chair.

He thought he had misheard.

"My... My Lord, one hundred and fifty thousand? Two days?"

He quickly calculated in his mind, and his face turned a little pale.

"My Lord, this... this is absolutely impossible!" He stood up, losing his composure, and said urgently, "My Lord, our total reserves are only a little over fifty thousand pieces right now."

"To produce nearly one hundred thousand pieces in two days means increasing the current efficiency by more than five times!"

"The structure of the mine is complex; forcibly accelerating the progress could easily cause collapses."

"Moreover, the miners are already at their limit with three shifts; adding more pressure will cost lives!"

"Tool wear will also increase exponentially, we..."

"I know." Mo Yan interrupted him, "I'm not asking you to sacrifice lives."

He looked at the anxious Lu Mingyuan and smiled instead.

Having a sense of responsibility and caring for his people was a good thing.

He wanted a flesh-and-blood manager, not a machine that only executed orders.

"I will solve the problems you're worried about."

Mo Yan raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling him to calm down.

"You're worried about people, tools, and safety. Listen carefully."

"For manpower, I will give you another hundred Soldiers. They won't mine, only handle transportation and logistics, so your miners can focus on their work."

"As for tools, you'll go to the forging workshop later and find Great Master Gongshu. Have him rush a batch of high-quality steel picks overnight; that will solve most of the wear and tear issue."

"Finally, and most crucially."

Mo Yan leaned slightly forward, lowering his voice: "In the Second Mine Area, that zone previously designated as forbidden can now be mined without restrictions."

Lu Mingyuan's pupils constricted.

He, of course, knew that area. According to Zhang Hu's report, the Fire Crystal Stone Vein there was the richest, almost exposed on the surface, easily broken off by hand.

But it was also the most violent area for fire elements, strictly forbidden by the Lord to approach.

"Has the... problem there been resolved?" Lu Mingyuan asked cautiously.

"It has been resolved." Mo Yan's answer was light and airy, "Now, the entire volcanic mine has no more restrictions for us."

"You can go all out, and empty it for me as quickly as possible."

Lu Mingyuan's brain was working rapidly.

If it were truly fully open, the Ore reserves and ease of extraction there could indeed lead to a qualitative leap in efficiency.

Plus the new manpower and better tools...

"Finally, incentives." Mo Yan seemed to read his thoughts and threw out the last bargaining chip, "Tell everyone involved in this task, whether miners or logistics personnel."

"Upon completion of the task, everyone's contribution points will be tripled. Those with outstanding performance will receive an additional Body Tempering Spirit Fruit."

Lu Mingyuan's breath hitched.

That was the lowest-grade Spirit Fruit produced in the Spirit Fruit Garden, but even the lowest grade was a treasure for ordinary people that could completely transform them!

One could cleanse marrow and strengthen the Physical Body!

Within Cangming City, only the high-ranking officials knew about this, and there were quite a few of them!

But it had never been released.

Lu Mingyuan could imagine the astonishing enthusiasm that would erupt among the miners when this news reached the mine area.

All his concerns vanished at this moment.

"I understand!" Lu Mingyuan nodded heavily, his eyes no longer troubled, only resolute. "My Lord, rest assured, in two days, not a single piece of the one hundred and fifty thousand fire crystal stone will be missing!"

"Very good." Mo Yan leaned back in his chair, satisfied. "Go, I await your good news."

Lu Mingyuan turned and left the study in a hurry.

Mo Yan watched his retreating figure, a slight smile on his lips.

"Next, it's time to Cultivate a Cultivation Technique."

He opened his personal panel, his gaze falling on the line for Star Body Tempering Art (Beginner).

......

Enlightenment Stele.

The Spiritual Qi here was abundant, and Laws intertwined. Only a few authorized residents were meditating and Cultivating here, not disturbing each other.

Mo Yan walked to the back, sat cross-legged, his mind as calm as water.

His goal was clear.

To Cultivate the Star Body Tempering Art from beginner to proficient.

This Cultivation Technique was not merely about sitting and practicing Qi; it was about Body Refining the Physical Body with Star Power, a domineering and painful process. Each advancement to a higher level was akin to a complete transformation.

He closed his eyes, and the general outline of the Mind-Cultivation Technique appeared in his mind.

Drawing Star Power into the body, transforming it into a furnace, using one's own flesh and blood as fuel, and bones as pillars, repeatedly forging, refining, and removing impurities.

This was a process of breaking down to build anew.

Buzz—

With a thought, the dark, star-dusted Starfall Sword appeared out of thin air, resting across his knees.

[Hidden Trait · Star Power Guidance: When you use Star-type Cultivation Techniques, this longsword can serve as a guiding medium, increasing Cultivation efficiency by 30% and power by 50%.]

This was his greatest reliance for daring to break through the Bottleneck in a short time.

He reached out and placed his hand on the sword's body.