He acted immediately.
Lin Ping instantly gathered many small gravel from the ground.
Then, he aimed at a washbasin-sized stone five steps away and began practicing Flying Locust Stone.
Once he could hit the target with all the small gravel in his hand, he picked up another large pile of gravel, retreated eight steps away, and continued practicing Flying Locust Stone.
When he started practicing Flying Locust Stone from three zhang away, his accuracy clearly decreased.
Therefore, Lin Ping stopped retreating and continued to practice diligently from a distance of three zhang.
He burst forth with unprecedented enthusiasm for practicing Flying Locust Stone.
It wasn't until his arms ached and his strength weakened that a flicker of insight arose from the depths of his heart, allowing him to clearly perceive how to adjust his throwing technique.
Following the sensation in his heart, Lin Ping's throwing technique also changed accordingly.
When he once again forcefully threw the small stone in his hand, the entire motion immediately became smoother and more effortless, and the small stone thrown also had more force.
He continued to experiment for a while, and it was the same every time, with a clear improvement in accuracy.
"I've comprehended!"
Lin Ping stopped, his mind stirring.
The gray stone slab appeared in his mind.
【Mining: 5 / 200 / Minor Achievement.】
【Flying Locust Stone: 1 / 100 / Entry Level.】
"Good, it's finally started."
Lin Ping took a deep breath.
Next was the part he was familiar with.
Grind!
...
In the days that followed.
After Lin Ping finished Mining the daily quota of Ore he had to turn in, he began to discreetly grind Flying Locust Stone.
With his current Mining speed, the quota of Ore could be completed without spending too much time.
But to avoid attracting attention, every time he transported Ore to the supervisor's location above the main Ore tunnel with a wooden wheelbarrow, he would appear very weak, stumbling as he walked.
This behavior was no different from that of other miners and did not arouse the supervisor's suspicion.
However, once, as Lin Ping passed a branch tunnel, he unintentionally saw Zhao Tie, who was squatting on the ground whispering with several other miners; when they saw him, they just sighed regretfully and did not greet him.
Lin Ping also did not initiate conversation; after personally witnessing the burly, fierce-looking supervisors, he naturally understood that the chances of small-bodied individuals like Zhao Tie and others successfully escaping the Ore tunnel were probably extremely slim.
He continued to stay hidden in the Ore tunnel as usual, becoming a minor transparent person.
Except for showing his face when turning in Ore daily, he spent the rest of his time hiding in unmanned branch tunnels, grinding Flying Locust Stone.
Whoosh... Bang!
Whoosh... Bang!
A series of low whistles and explosive sounds rose within the Ore tunnel.
The tunnel walls had numerous pockmarked indentations, which were made by the Flying Locust Stone.
An hour later, Lin Ping stopped, rubbing his sore arms.
With a thought, he brought up the gray stone slab.
【Mining: 30 / 300 / Proficient.】
【Flying Locust Stone: 25 / 200 / Minor Achievement.】
After a month of grinding.
The Mining skill had advanced to Proficient, and the Flying Locust Stone skill had also advanced to Minor Achievement.
At this point, Lin Ping clearly felt that, whether it was Mining or Flying Locust Stone, the increase in proficiency points became slower and slower thereafter, not as rapid as he had imagined before.
But even so, he was already very satisfied.
As the Mining skill advanced to Proficient, the most obvious change was that during Mining, he seemed to have transformed into an elite miner; each time the pickaxe fell, it could accurately strike the weakest point of the Ore vein, using the least force to break off the largest pieces of Ore; it was as if there was a power akin to spring vines growing wildly within his body, with endurance and tenacity as deep as a profound pool, making him feel no fatigue at all when Mining.
Another obvious change was that the original body's skinny, bony frame actually developed noticeable muscle definition.
And after he practiced Flying Locust Stone to Minor Achievement, its power gradually emerged.
Within six zhang, it was a hundred percent accurate, and the impact force was also very strong, even comparable to small-caliber firearms from his previous life.
Although it was a bit exaggerated, the power was indeed considerable.
To say it without exaggeration, he could now completely rely on the Flying Locust Stone skill for self-defense; dealing with a few small miners was not a problem.
He even dared to try it against those fierce, lone supervisors.
Of course, that could only be thought of in his mind; if he were truly that stubborn, the outcome would definitely be tragic.
Because just a few nights ago.
During the break, Zhao Tie and a dozen others, led by Wang Zhu-feng, quietly escaped, but all of them were caught back by numerous fierce supervisors, not a single one missing.
On the spot, gongs and drums were beaten, gathering all the miners, and Wang Zhu-feng, Zhao Tie, and a dozen others were publicly whipped to death with leather whips embedded with barbs, as a warning to others.
The extremely brutal and bloody visual impact still made Lin Ping feel a nauseating urge to vomit when he thought about it.
That night, he deeply realized how cruel this world was.
At the same time, it also made him have an urgent desire to improve his strength.
It should be mentioned here that at the end of each month, all miners could leave the Ore tunnel and rest for three days in a specific area; this was the break.
Otherwise, anyone who stayed in the Ore tunnel for a long time would go crazy.
And the plan of Zhao Tie, Wang Zhu-feng, and others was to escape during the break.
But unfortunately, it failed completely, and they ultimately met a tragic end.
After a short rest, Lin Ping lifted the Ore he had Mined, placed it on the wooden wheelbarrow, and pushed it towards the main Ore tunnel.
After exchanging for cakes and clear water from the supervisor, he returned the same way.
But just as he passed a dim branch Ore tunnel, his heart suddenly felt something, and his steps abruptly paused; he turned his head to look, and not far away, a pair of eyes were hidden in the darkness, watching him eerily.
Lin Ping merely glanced at it, then lifted his feet and continued to walk forward.
"Young friend, please stop."
"I observe that your bones and muscles are extraordinary; you are a peerless martial arts genius among ten thousand..."
Listening to these somewhat familiar lines, if it were in his previous life, he would have walked away immediately.
But now, his steps stopped.
The other party also said no more, directly turning and walking towards the winding depths of the Ore tunnel.
So it was a middle-aged cripple?
Lin Ping's heart stirred slightly; he bent down and picked up some small gravel, then followed, maintaining a safe distance from the other party.
When he reached the end of the Ore tunnel, he finally saw the other party's somewhat frightening face clearly.
His originally well-defined face had two hideous and terrifying scars slashed onto it with a knife, and his lame leg also had a hideous scar, clearly indicating that his Achilles tendon had been severed.
"Young friend, I have been secretly observing you for several days; your steps are steady yet agile, truly a raw jade for learning movement techniques."
Lin Ping stopped two zhang away from the other party, leaning against the tunnel wall, looking as if he was waiting for him to continue his story.
Seeing this, the other party was somewhat surprised, and a hint of approval appeared in his eyes.
To be so wary of a sick and disabled person, yet without any intention to harm, was truly rare in this Ore tunnel.
"Cough! Cough!"
After two awkward coughs, the other party continued: "I can teach you a movement technique; if you are diligent enough, perhaps you can escape from here."