Longevity with My Offspring

Some days passed, and there were hardly any people in the area where the mine was located. The collapsed mine resembled a large pit made of random stones, with just some roads dug out by humans visible at the edges.

Ding ding dang dang.

At the edge of the collapsed mine, the sound of stone being struck rang out intermittently.

Paper Kite was leading a group of about ten people digging a pit. The underground here was mostly stone, resulting in slow excavation, which made her frown.

The situation inside the mine was complicated, and no one dared to dig within. She could only have people dig at the relatively safe edges.

At this moment, Shen Wang appeared and glanced at the mine: "Let's seal this place first and take our time handling it."

Hearing his voice, Paper Kite turned excitedly: "Husband, you're here."

"Yes, I went to the trade office looking for you, heard you were here, and came to take a look."

Shen Wang nodded: "Let them continue, I'll go check the center of the mine."

"Husband, I'll go with you."

Paper Kite ran happily over, following Shen Wang to the center of the collapse, saying: "I've purchased the ten-mile area around here for a small sum. The previous owner didn't really want this mostly-excavated mine."

"You did well; this place might become an important asset for our family in the future."

Shen Wang revealed a satisfied smile, holding Paper Kite's soft hand: "Do you know why I fancy this abandoned mine?"

Paper Kite's eyes lit up, whispering: "Husband saying so makes me even more certain there's something good here."

"Smart, once we find it, you'll understand. I can't completely confirm it now."

Shen Wang appreciatively pinched Paper Kite's cheek: "Arrange for people to guard this mine, prohibit others from entering under the guise of safety, and let those at the edge continue digging. I'll dig here myself."

"Ah, husband digging personally, won't it be too tiring? I can go find some strongmen."

Paper Kite said heartfully. Strongmen are low-level Body Refining Cultivators, mainly enhancing their bodies with drugs. Apart from being strong and having thick skin, they have few advantages, living by selling their strength or guarding homes.

Simply put, strongmen are the hired guards and fighters of major forces in the Cultivation Realm, divided into ordinary strongmen and Yellow Turban Warriors who have refined Divine Techniques. Ordinary strongmen usually sell their strength for Spirit Stones needed for their cultivation due to their generally low status.

"Forget it, I'll start by myself—it's safer and more discreet. We'll consider it if needed."

Shen Wang shook his head, glancing back. Here was several miles from the edge; as he dug deeper, the outside couldn't see the situation anymore.

"The collapse here hasn't fully stabilized; could it be dangerous?" Paper Kite thought of many things.

"I'll stabilize as I dig. You go find accommodation in town or have someone build a small hut nearby to rest."

Shen Wang smiled; as a Cultivator, he naturally has various means to solve excavation issues.

"Alright, following husband's instructions, I'll arrange it now."

Seeing Shen Wang's confidence, Paper Kite wisely didn't say more and obediently went to arrange things.

Shen Wang then landed at the original location of the Spiritual Qi pillar and picked up a stone.

His physical strength exceeds ten thousand pounds; stones weighing several thousand pounds are no problem, being picked up and tossed aside to accumulate and block the sight.

After he threw away the outer layer of random stones, the stones below were compressed and hard to move. Shen Wang took out a white short blade, activated it with a hand sign.

Pointing at the stone, the short blade flashed sharpness, slicing the stone as if cutting tofu, easily cutting away a circle of it.

With part of the stones cut away, the pressure between them lessened. Shen Wang quickly picked up a layer of stones and then repeated the process.

As he dug, he also reinforced the surrounding passage to prevent collapses.

In just a joss stick's time, Shen Wang had dug over ten feet, faster than ten people combined.

However, the deeper he dug, even Shen Wang began to slow down despite his great strength.

After the recent collapse, the mine was still unstable, and the deeper one went, the more it needed reinforcement, making digging more challenging, and removing dug-out stone and earth difficult.

"More people would make a difference; going solo isn't enough."

Shen Wang stopped, stretching his arm, slightly sore from the intense activity, contemplating how to use an energy-saving method.

Thinking it over, if he insisted on not finding people, he could only buy something that wouldn't leak his secrets yet act as a substitute for human labor.

Puppets.

These things could achieve many things humans can do, similar to robots, consuming Spirit Stones to help him dig.

"Sell some talismans to exchange for puppets, saving time for other tasks."

Shen Wang wasn't in a hurry to leave, continuing to dig for a moment.

He needed to understand the mine's internal situation before arranging puppet operations.

He determined the mine would collapse again in the future and more preparations were necessary for reinforcement.

"Talismans could be used for reinforcement. There are ones specifically for civil engineering; I need to buy a Talisman Collection."

Shen Wang jumped out of the dug passage, considering that puppets, like arrays, are intricate and costly, he shook his head helplessly.

Wanting to save effort and time would require spending money, which seemed quite fair.

He overlooked the mine, calculating the needed items. Initially, three puppets were necessary: one for digging, one for transporting soil, and one for handling the stone and earth outside.

"Husband."

Paper Kite walked over, carrying a basket.

"Husband, drink some water quickly."

Paper Kite smiled gently, tiptoeing on the rocks like a dragonfly, appearing light and nimble, joyfully running to Shen Wang's side, her small face red and adorable.

She opened the basket, took out a porcelain pot, and poured a cup of water for Shen Wang.

He drank a sip, stroked Paper Kite's soft cheek: "Make a trip to Baixi and buy some puppets for digging."

"Puppets."

Upon hearing, Paper Kite smiled gently: "Puppets are good, so husband won't be too tired."

She reached out to dust off Shen Wang's clothes a few times, "I've bought the tavern in town, husband can go wash up and change clothes first."

"Alright."

Shen Wang thoroughly enjoyed Paper Kite's arrangements. Having a virtuous wife indeed saves a lot of worries.

Thinking about the morning's events, he returned the water cup to the basket, walking away while speaking: "What do you think of Du Juan?"

"Strong-willed, somewhat unscrupulous..."

Paper Kite thought: "Is she offending you, husband?"

"How do you get along with her?" Shen Wang inquired.

"She's just a cousin from my clan, we've only known each other since she joined this local branch. We haven't interacted for long." Paper Kite felt Du Juan might have done something improper.

"She tried to seduce me, drugged me, wanting to sleep with me and become your true sister."

Shen Wang said teasingly.

Paper Kite's expression changed, like a child whose toy was taken away, she said angrily: "She actually did such a thing."

She anxiously asked: "Husband, did you..."