In the Northwest Hills, just as Fang Zhou was hesitating, a burst of joyful barking erupted from the Kobold camp. He immediately raised his night-vision binoculars, silently observing their every move. Following a series of barks from a Kobold Warlock, about thirty Kobolds rose amid the commotion, led by three or four Middle Rank Apprentice elites. They held crude mining picks, their equipment similar to that of the Kobold squad Fang Zhou had previously tracked—the one that had defeated the goblins.

In a loose formation, the Kobold squad waved their crude picks as they began to climb the hills behind the camp. Fang Zhou's heart stirred. Are these Kobolds going mining? This is a godsent opportunity!

He decisively circled around them from a distance and began to follow quietly. As he tailed them, Fang Zhou observed the group carefully, and the more he watched, the stranger they seemed. This Kobold squad definitely isn't just out for mining. Their eyes were extremely vigilant, especially those of the few elite Kobolds in the lead. Their furry ears were pricked high, as if wary of an imminent attack.

Fang Zhou was puzzled. These Kobolds haven't gone far from their camp. By all rights, they should have cleared out any nearby threats long ago. Why are they still on such high alert?

His initial plan had been to follow the Kobolds, find the ore vein, and then take them out piecemeal. But now it seems there are other variables at play. Realizing this, he proceeded with even greater caution.

Fortunately, Fang Zhou had prepared thoroughly before entering the Cave. Not only did he use a scent eliminator to mask his odor, but he could also track them from a distance with his night-vision binoculars. He had also left the conspicuous Skeleton Army far behind. This was how he avoided being discovered by the keen-nosed Kobolds.

After a long trek, the Kobold squad Fang Zhou was following finally arrived at their destination. A cacophony of fierce barking and the clang of weapons immediately followed, as if they were fighting something. Could there be other Demons here besides these Kobolds?

Hiding in the bushes, Fang Zhou lifted his binoculars and observed the distant battlefield, a flash of joy lighting up his heart.

An undeveloped, open-pit mine lay upon this hill!

The mine was like a great wound upon the earth, exposing rock strata rich in iron ore, its texture a tapestry of deep iron-gray and rust-red. Mounds of jagged ore formed a natural barrier around the vein's perimeter. Scattered around the mine were several deep, pitch-black cave entrances that seemed to lead into an endless subterranean labyrinth, faintly exuding an oppressive and dangerous aura.

From its appearance, Fang Zhou made a preliminary judgment: this was a rich, open-pit iron ore vein. This also explained the large number of iron weapons and tools in the Kobold camp. Of course, this didn't mean his relentless search for a Refining Stone vein was a lost cause. As an extremely rare mineral resource, Refining Stone was often found alongside common metal deposits. It was possible that this iron mine held a considerable reserve of Refining Stone.

At this point, Fang Zhou also got a clear look at what the Kobolds were fighting in the mine. They were several enormous Fierce Ants.

These Fierce Ants from the mine were far more Demonized than the ordinary ones Fang Zhou had encountered before. Their massive bodies were the size of wolfhounds. Each was clad in a thick, tough carapace, and they moved with agility and attacked with ferocity, like unstoppable miniature tanks. Their giant, sickle-like mandibles shimmered with a cold light—truly terrifying natural weapons. Every powerful swing could easily shear through rock, to say nothing of fragile flesh.

However, the Kobolds had clearly dealt with these Fierce Ants many times before. They had accumulated extensive combat experience and had a deep understanding of the giant insects' attack patterns. In this skirmish, the Kobolds displayed an uncanny level of teamwork and tactical coordination, fully leveraging their absolute numerical superiority. The elite Kobolds, in particular, were exceptionally brave and skilled, leading the charge again and again.

The few Fierce Ants that scurried out from the mine's cave entrances were no match for the well-prepared Kobolds. They were quickly surrounded and fell one by one under the squad's relentless assault. The leading elite Kobolds excitedly brandished the Fierce Ant corpses, inciting a frenzy of barks from the rest of the squad.

After the celebration, the Kobolds began mining with a clear division of labor. Over twenty regular Kobolds swung their heavy picks, their strikes against the rock face echoing through the hills. Meanwhile, the highly vigilant elite Kobolds stood guard near the cave entrances, their sharp eyes fixed on the darkness within, ready to repel any more Fierce Ants that might appear.

Fang Zhou watched all of this unfold from his hiding spot in the grass, the puzzle in his mind finally solved. No wonder this Kobold squad is so well-equipped and vigilant! The mine is infested with Demons like these Fierce Ants.

It was obvious that while the Kobolds weren't highly intelligent, their cunning was more than enough to overwhelm the instinct-driven Fierce Ants. As Fang Zhou watched, the occasional Fierce Ant that emerged from the anthill within the mine was swarmed and swiftly eliminated by the Kobold squad, posing no threat at all.

Seeing that the struggle between the Kobolds and the Fierce Ants had a predictable outcome, a bold idea began to form in Fang Zhou's mind. These two types of Demons are both enemies I need to eliminate to get to the Refining Stone. Why not exploit their conflict and play a game of setting the tiger on the wolf? Since the Fierce Ants lack a brain, I might as well act as the "strategist" for these bugs. It would spare them such an ignominious death.

His mind raced, and a plan quickly took shape.

He drank a bottle of Spiritual Recovery Potion and activated his [Calm and Relaxed] skill, restoring his Spiritual Power—which had been depleted by the continuous fighting—back to its peak. He then silently maneuvered the 40 Skeletons he had previously stationed in the rear toward the mine. At the same time, he summoned an additional 20 Skeletons to bolster his forces, ensuring he held an absolute numerical advantage.

The stage is set. I just need to give the signal.

Fang Zhou raised his Magic Staff and decisively issued the command to attack. Just as the elite Kobolds began to sense something was wrong, he was already leading his Undead Army of 60 Skeletons, which surged into the open-pit mine like a black torrent.

Fang Zhou had already amassed a wealth of experience dealing with groups of Demons that were far inferior to his Skeleton Army in both numbers and strength.

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