I built a safe house in the eerie night.

After setting up the crematorium and assigning Zhou Lei to oversee it, Jiang Ning began preparing for the next step of the plan.

He then crafted several tools specifically for logging and gave them to Yu Niu, instructing him to lead the village's young men to the outer area of ​​the dead forest outside the village.

The village has limited space, and future development requires expanding beyond the village.

That grove of dead trees will see an unpredictable and bizarre number of infestations at night; sooner or later, it will be leveled.

Why not take advantage of the daytime safety and start clearing and developing the land from the perimeter first?

Not only can it obtain Yin Wood and Black Stone resources, but it can also broaden the view outside the village in advance, reducing blind spots and hidden dangers at night.

Even the strange remains left behind by the person who died in the forest last night can be brought back and put into the crematorium. Who knows, there might be some rare treasures and lucky bags hidden inside.

Jiang Ning explained this part of the arrangement to Yu Niu.

Yu Niu accepted the order, his eyes full of enthusiasm. He called out to his men, gathered the new tools, and set off in a grand procession.

Afterwards, Jiang Ning took Erhu with him, and the two set off for Xishan Mountain Valley.

We need to go and check on the collection of black oysters.

Currently, the efficiency of harvesting *Tai Sui* (a type of fungus) remains one of the bottlenecks.

Although killing monsters every night can replenish materials, it cannot be relied upon entirely.

The strange occurrences seem endless, but the probability of resource drops is very unpredictable, and there's no guarantee of a bountiful harvest every day.

Therefore, we need to develop a stable and continuous resource acquisition capability as soon as possible.

The Changyin Mountains are a dangerous and perilous place, but also a treasure trove, rich in resources, and we should not overlook any potential for development.

I chose to bring Erhu along because he's a sturdy guy with a broad back and thick waist; having him by my side makes me feel secure.

The eeriness during the day stems from the fact that most animals lie dormant, making the mountains and forests relatively safe.

But walking alone in the gloomy forest still made Jiang Ning feel a little uneasy, as if there was something lurking in the shadows.

Having a reliable person by your side greatly increases your sense of security.

Throughout the journey, Erhu remained silent and followed closely behind Jiang Ning, acting exactly like a bodyguard.

They would occasionally scan both sides of the road, looking for any movement.

Jiang Ning had no doubt about his seriousness; if they were really in danger, this chubby boy would risk his life to stand in front of him.

Jiang Ning also observed the mountain environment as he traveled.

Yesterday, I had a conflict with Qingniu Village and was in a hurry to get on my way, so I didn't take a closer look. Now that I've slowed down, I've noticed many unusual things.

The mountain vegetation is sparse. Although the trees are tall, most of them are withered branches and fallen leaves, and fresh green leaves are rarely seen. It is a desolate and lifeless place.

Apart from the occasional chilly mountain wind, there was no sound of birdsong or animal roars; life was extinct, and the silence was terrifying.

From the village to Xishan, one has to cross a rugged hill, a journey of several miles.

The mountain road was difficult to traverse, but what made one feel even more empty inside was the omnipresent sense of being stared at.

It seems that in the depths of the shadows, invisible to the naked eye, lurks an indescribable existence.

This unease stems partly from people's instinctive fear and vigilance towards the bizarre.

More than anything, Jiang Ning felt the oppression of the mountain itself.

He couldn't help but look up again towards the center of the mountain range.

There, no matter where you are in the mountains, as long as your view is not completely blocked, you can see that huge ancient tree that reaches for the sky.

It stands majestically like a mountain, its massive canopy seemingly supporting the entire sky, exuding an ancient and wild aura.

Just gazing at it from afar for a long time can stir up deep-seated fears, making one tremble with fear.

Jiang Ning only glanced at it a few times before hurriedly looking away, still feeling lingering fear.

According to outsiders, the Changyin Mountains suddenly appeared on this land more than two hundred years ago, as if they had sprung up out of thin air.

The giant tree in the center, known to outsiders as the "Mountain God" of Changyin, has stood for over two hundred years, and no one has ever been able to get really close to it.

Its enormous size could even be seen in some cities relatively close to the mountains.

For two hundred years, external forces have continued to explore Changyin Mountain, but with little success.

Now, the passage in and out of the mountains has been inexplicably blocked again.

The forces outside the mountains may have already sensed something.

However, Jiangning, located in the mountains, is isolated from information and does not understand the reactions of the outside world.

"Being trapped in the mountains isn't a solution..."

Jiang Ning is plagued by lingering anxiety.

It's like being trapped in a cage, unaware of the ever-changing world outside.

If an even greater upheaval were to occur someday, no matter how well the village is defended, it might not be able to keep up with the pace of change.

"Once the crisis at the altar is over in the next couple of days, I'll need to find some time to check on the blocked mountain roads and see what's going on..."

Jiang Ning secretly made his own plans.

It's not that I'm in a hurry to go out, but rather that I need to understand the situation first and have a clear idea of ​​what's going on.

Being in the mountains right now is fraught with danger, but it's also an excellent environment for secretly developing our strength and maintaining stability.

Once the village is fortified and possesses the power to defend itself and even retaliate, then it can make a strong return to Danhua City.

Then, the situation was different.

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Ning's eyes, then he exhaled deeply, suppressing his thoughts.

Before long, the two arrived at the valley in the west.

It was still the same desolate scene as yesterday, with jagged rocks and sparse weeds, showing no sign of life.

Scattered throughout the mountain valley basin are many small holes of varying sizes, all traces of excavation made by villagers in their search for the Tai Sui Cave.

Jiang Ning instructed Erhu: "Huzi, go and look around the neighborhood, and bring back some Yin Wood and Black Stone. I'll make some tools later."

"Alright, young master!" Erhu turned around and ran off with sturdy steps.

Jiang Ning then headed towards the entrance of one of the larger caves.

This is the Tai Sui Cave where Wang Fu and Xiong Meng discovered reserves yesterday.

Outside the cave entrance, some women and elderly people were sorting through the black fungus pieces, which were still wet and sticky, and putting them into wicker baskets and burlap sacks.

The morning's work yielded a decent harvest.

Upon seeing Jiang Ning, everyone stopped what they were doing and greeted him respectfully and warmly.

Jiang Ning smiled and responded, exchanging a few brief pleasantries before asking:

"Where are Uncle Wang Fu and Uncle Xiong Meng?"

"It's inside, Young Master Jiang," an old man said, pointing to the deep cave entrance.

Jiang Ning nodded and then stepped into the cave.

The cave was dimly lit, damp and cold, with the air filled with earth and a smell similar to fungi.

The cave was newly dug yesterday; it is neither large nor deep.

With the help of the sliver of sunlight filtering through the cave entrance and the simple fluorescent stones held by the men inside, one could barely make out the figures and outlines of people.

The so-called fluorescent stone is actually just a stone that can emit a little light, with a negligible lighting effect, only allowing people to see a small area at hand.

A group of shirtless men were bending over, using the dim light to cut away large chunks of black, fleshy growths that were squeezing out of the cave walls and the ground.

That is the "Black Tai Sui".

The Tai Sui is like a lower form of life, wriggling slightly as people cut it.

Although the cave is small, the air is relatively well-ventilated, possibly because the Black Tai Sui itself can "breathe" and regulate the gas inside the cave.

Wang Fu, with his sharp eyes, saw Jiang Ning enter and quickly put down his machete, rushing to greet him.

Xiong Meng and the other men stopped what they were doing, turned around, faced Jiang Ning, and waited for instructions.

Jiang Ning waved his hand, "Everyone, keep working, don't worry about me."

The men then bent down again and continued their tedious harvesting work.

"Uncle Fu, how much did you harvest this morning?" Jiang Ning asked in a low voice.

"Young master, it weighs about a hundred pounds. The new batch of tools made yesterday are very useful, much faster than before, and everyone is working more smoothly."

Jiang Ning nodded, his gaze sweeping over the figures toiling away in the shadows.

Seeing them sweating profusely and struggling so hard, he couldn't help but feel a little pity and compassion.

If there's an opportunity in the future, we should try to develop automatic or semi-automatic collection mechanisms and tools.

If efficiency can be greatly improved, there's no need to work so hard.

Wang Fu continued his report:

"Young master, judging from the amount of Tai Sui in this cave, I estimate that if we mine it all, it will probably weigh over ten thousand catties. Even if all of us work at full capacity, it will still take several months."

"Tens of thousands of kilograms, over several months..."

Jiang Ning pondered.

The reserves are considerable, but relying solely on manual labor would take too long.

However, there is no better way to mine at the moment, so we can only proceed step by step like this.

"Young master, the item has been found!"

At this moment, Erhu, carrying several pieces of yin wood and a few black stones, walked in from the cave entrance, slightly out of breath.

"it is good."

Jiang Ning took the materials and, in a more spacious corner of the cave, focused his attention on activating the [Heavenly Craftsman] and unfolded the "Tool Compendium".

Black smoke rose from his hands, enveloping some Tai Sui on the ground. He then rapidly shaped the Yin wood and black stone in his hands.

Soon, several well-designed machetes with gleaming blades were completed.

The blade is lightweight and the edge is thinner and sharper, making it extremely suitable for cutting black oysters.

Jiang Ning handed the knife to Wang Fu, "Distribute all these new tools and replace all the old ones."

"Yes, young master!"

The men each took their new knives, tried them out, and were satisfied, which boosted their morale even more.

Seeing that everything was arranged, Jiang Ning prepared to leave the cave and wanted to explore the valley again to see if there were any other possible Tai Sui caves.

But as he turned to leave, something in his arms suddenly trembled slightly.

Jiang Ning paused, puzzled, and reached into his robes to pull out the "Pulse-Seeking Compass" that had been silent all along.

At this moment, the compass is trembling slightly, as if attracted by something.

Jiang Ning focused his attention and tried to open the interface to check, but there was no prompt information.

"What's going on?" he wondered, and held the compass up to his eyes for a closer look.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Ning's pupils contracted slightly.

The compass surface, which was originally smooth as a mirror and had no markings, now showed a faint, illusory pointer.

The pointer swayed gently, eventually pointing straight in a fixed direction.

Jiang Ning looked in the direction of the pointer.

The discovery was made deep within the cave, on a rough cave wall that looked quite ordinary.

He raised an eyebrow, his heart beating a little faster.

Based on the name of the compass and its unusual appearance, he immediately had a guess.

Jiang Ning turned around and spoke to the men nearby:

"Hey guys, grab your tools and dig this hole open!"