As the largest producer of non-attributed magic crystals in the Augu continent, Xisai Crystal Castle is like the mouth of a giant beast, constantly devouring all resources.
But very few people know that the Crystal Castle is at best a large warehouse, and the "Rolling Stone Valley" to the west is the real place where non-attribute magic crystals are produced.
Therefore, Rolling Stone Valley has become a crystal fortress, and even a forbidden area of the entire Principality of Xisai. The outside is heavily guarded all year round, and it is absolutely impossible to let even a mosquito go.
It was noisy and noisy inside, with cartloads of raw magic crystals without attributes being transported out of the pits, and the tired and hunched bodies were bloodless.
The pale moonlight made them look even more lonely. The whips kept waving in the air, and the blood and wailing exhausted the last bit of strength.
The aura of despair rose into the sky as if it were real, but the dark sky was like a whirlpool, absorbing all this hatred.
The noise gradually decreased, and the iron trains on the track stopped moving. The supervisors drove the crowd back to the mine on time.
The hillside on the north side of Rolling Stone Valley is the residence of these people. It was originally the largest mine of non-attributed magic crystals, but now it has become a paradise to protect it from wind and rain.
"I'm so exhausted. I heard that the thunderstorm month passed yesterday, but why is the weather still so humid?"
"What's for dinner tonight? It'd be nice to have a few pieces of brown bread. It would be great to have a bowl of broth."
"Hey, the wound is bleeding again. I don't know how many months I can survive."
"Husband! Husband, don't sleep! Who still has potions? Just a little bit, a little bit..."
After a long day's work, people returned to their so-called "homes", and the joyful greetings were mixed with the sadness of losing their loved ones.
The so-called Rolling Stone Valley is such a place. There is only one reason for people to live, and that is to hand over a sufficient number of rough magic crystals without attributes.
Most of these people are poor people who have been abducted, or criminals in the four main cities. They gather here not to open up a new city, let alone some kind of journey of redemption, but to spend their whole life digging for demons.
Crystal.
This approach of Grand Duke Grylls is very inhumane, but if you consider it from the perspective of a superior, this approach not only alleviated the increasingly overcrowded city of the principality, but also gained a group of free labor force.
Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to call Rolling Stone Valley a "realistic version of purgatory on earth." Because tragedies are being staged here all the time, and the god of death is always watching.
The interior of the mountain was lit by countless torches, and the largest square in the center was where people gathered every day. The distribution of food and medicine had long ended, and more than a dozen corpses were thrown out of Rolling Stone Valley.
Everyone silently ate the black bread in their hands, with no trace of happiness on their faces. Life was so miserable yesterday, and it will be the same today and tomorrow.
However, at this moment, a thin figure walked out of the shadows. After everyone saw this person, not only did they not take the initiative to talk, but most of them chose to lower their heads.
"Uncle, this is the leftover food. If you don't mind, please eat some more."
"Auntie, this is the extra potion I made. Although it's only a little bit, you should need it."
"Sister, I have mended all my clothes today. Come on, praise me."
"Big brother, big brother, tell me about the outside world. I want to hear stories about High Court."
The little girl is like a beautiful butterfly, constantly shuttling among the crowd. She is the youngest child in Rolling Stone Valley, and one of the very few born here.
Therefore, in the hearts of everyone, they more or less regard it as their own flesh and blood. This situation is like some kind of spiritual sustenance, some kind of reason to persist in living.
Speaking of which, this little girl was also miserable. Her father died suddenly on the way to Rolling Stone Valley, and her pregnant mother also died of dystocia.
That night, the baby's cry echoed throughout the mountain. People scrambled to wrap it in rags, but then they only fed it some black bread soup.
Perhaps it was God's will that the baby not only did not die, but grew up day by day. Five years have passed, and the former slug has now become a cute little girl.
During this time, everyone in the mountain took great care of her. The men shared food rations with her, and the women taught her how to read and write.
However, the nightmare will not end because of an angel who fell into the mortal world. While the mine produced non-attributed magic crystals, it also brought bad luck.
Continuous digging and digging have filled the air with magic crystal powder, and moldy black bread and sour broth are the source of disease.
In addition, there is no daylight in the belly of the mountain all year round, and mold and maggots are rampant. As a result, the little girl suffered from a terminal illness, a terminal disease that would prevent her from surviving until the age of ten.
"Food is used to fill the stomach. You have to eat it even if you can't eat it. You can't vomit it out even if you burst your stomach."
"Put away these precious medicines. My husband died today and is free from here."
"Next time, remember to use needles and threads carefully. It must be very painful, there are so many bloody holes."
"The outside world is colorful, the air smells like honey, and there is no mold on brown bread."
Everyone cheered up and dealt with the little girl word by word. However, their faces were full of helplessness and struggle.
Cough cough cough! Cough cough cough! The little girl who kept running suddenly stopped, and everyone became silent. There was a dead silence in the entire mountain, and the sound of the air flowing was particularly noisy.
Her little chest heaved violently, and her chapped lips were bitten purple. The little girl quietly stuffed the handkerchief into her arms and tried her best to smile brightly.
But everyone is not a fool. We are all adults, so how can we be easily fooled by such children's tricks? Sighs and sobs spread everywhere, and many women had even turned their heads elsewhere.
Coughing up blood is just the beginning, this is just the initial symptom. It is estimated that within two years, it will deteriorate to the point of being bedridden and eventually turn into a cold corpse.
This disease is very dangerous because it can kill people. However, this disease is also very easy to eradicate. As long as a person with the level of a magic apprentice takes action, he can fully recover in half a month.
However, in Rolling Stone Valley, let alone a magic apprentice, even those moldy black bread are extremely precious and scarce resources.
"Now, people know that they can only live for five more years, but...but everyone still has to work hard, because only by living can there be hope!"
The little girl smiled and ran back to the crowd, continuing her daily greetings. Everyone looked at the elf in the mountain with a smile, even though there was a trace of blood hanging from the corner of its mouth.
Time passed slowly, exhausted people snored, and painful moans and wails appeared and disappeared. The little girl was always squatting in the square, wiping the wooden bowl and picking up food residue.
The blood-stained handkerchief covered her mouth again, and she tried hard not to make that desperate cough again, but warm blood slowly gushes out from between her fingers.
The moonlight was scattered around through the small vents. The little girl stretched out her palm, and a smile appeared on her face. In the silver-white halo, the magic mirror powder shone brightly, turning into familiar dreams.