Chapter 349: Miner Slaves, Turning Point

As night fell, Ye Fan walked alone on the desolate border. A few days ago, his beloved spirit boat was robbed by the starry sky thieves. Now that he had lost the support that once carried him to soar in the void, he had to give up the swift sailing and walk instead.

In the days without the spirit boat, his journey was extremely difficult, and every step seemed heavy and slow. In order to prevent any accidents, Ye Fan could only walk for a while and stop for a while, sometimes looking around vigilantly, and sometimes sitting down to rest tiredly.

However, this scattered and intermittent way of walking made him feel anxious, because he knew very well that he would not be able to reach his destination quickly in this state, not to mention the various dangers he might encounter along the way.

Along the way, he passed through a desolate Gobi Desert with yellow sand all over the sky and constant storms. Whenever a strong wind blew, he had to stop, tightly holding the talisman in his hand, and staring sharply at the sand dunes in the distance, fearing that the enemy would attack from there.

Every time he stopped to rest, he had to think over and over again: "It will take too long to keep going like this... If transportation is restored soon, we can travel faster." However, the reality now is that he has lost his spirit boat, the weapon that once helped him travel across the sky, and it can no longer reproduce its former glory.

After several days of arduous journey, Ye Fan finally arrived at a small town - a border market called "Guoyun Town". Although the town is not big, it is one of the few settlements in this desolate area. There are all kinds of shops in the town, and the vendors are shouting lively, with a strong atmosphere of life. The residents here have long been accustomed to loneliness and hardship, but in this complicated market, they can always find a glimmer of hope.

Ye Fan had great ambitions and designs, but fate played a trick on him and before long he was penniless. He was captured by the Li family and made a miner, falling into an irretrievable situation.

At that time, Ye Fan, with ragged clothes and haggard face, was forced to do hard labor in the gloomy and terrifying mine of the Li family, letting the scorching sun and severe cold corrode his body and will. Deep in the mine, rust and dust intertwined, machines roared, and the slaves dug ore with expressionless faces, as if they had lost their humanity.

Every day, Ye Fan toiled in the dark and damp mine. His hands were already covered with thick calluses and scars. His blood and sweat intertwined into a miserable life. He once dreamed of becoming rich and powerful, but now he can only silently endure the fate in the dark. The master of the Li family was cold and ruthless, with contempt in his eyes. He regarded the miners as worthless, spoke ill of them, and beat them up at will. Although Ye Fan was full of resentment in his heart, he could only endure it silently under the heavy pressure.

On such a desperate day, a message came from the miners by chance: the Li family needed a Dantong. Dantong, as the name suggests, is a young assistant who specializes in alchemy. Not only does he need to help refine pills, he also needs to have certain talents and skills. This news is like a ray of light in the darkness, which ignited a glimmer of hope in Ye Fan's heart. After all, although he has been enslaved for many years, he has studied the art of alchemy since he was a child. Although he is far from reaching a high level, he can still help people refine some basic pills.

Late one night, muffled conversations were heard outside the mine. Several servants of the Li family were sitting in a dilapidated camp shed and discussing, "Have you heard? The master of the Li family plans to recruit an alchemy boy starting today. It is said that this is to refine elixirs that can heal the miners' injuries. This will not only improve the miners' work efficiency, but also increase the profits of the Li family."

Ye Fan eavesdropped in the dim light, his heartbeat quickening. He secretly thought: If he could successfully win the position of Dan Tong, he could not only escape the hard labor of the miners, but also use his alchemy skills to gain freedom. However, opportunities are rare, and competition is bound to be fierce.

The next morning, the Li family's senior executive in charge of the mine announced in the mine hall: "The Li family is looking for an alchemy boy, whose duties include helping to refine pills to treat the miners' injuries. Although the conditions are harsh, those who are interested are welcome to come to the compound for an interview." This news quickly spread throughout the mine and also reached Ye Fan's ears. He had a glimmer of hope in his heart, but he also understood that this was full of risks.

On a dark and windy night, Ye Fan quietly left the mining area. He knew that if his identity was discovered, he would be punished more cruelly by the Li family. However, fate did not give him many choices. Ye Fan decided to risk everything and go to the Li family compound to participate in the Dantong interview.

In a quiet courtyard, Ye Fan put on his only remaining clean clothes to cover up the vicissitudes of his face. With the accumulation of alchemy knowledge over the years, he trained himself to be calm and firm. When he arrived at the Li family compound, he mixed in the crowd and said to himself: This time, I must strive for the position of Dan Tong, even if it is a risky move, I must change my fate.

On the day of the interview, the shopkeeper of the Li family set up a long table with various medicinal materials and alchemy equipment on display. The examiners looked serious and their eyes were sharp. Ye Fan stood among the many interviewees, feeling a little uneasy, but more determined. The questions raised by the examiner were extremely tricky, involving the method of alchemy, the nature of medicinal materials, and the harmony of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Ye Fan answered them one by one with his years of hard study. Although his tone was calm, his answer revealed an extraordinary insight and unique insights.

After the interview, an elderly examiner frowned and whispered to the shopkeeper next to him: "Although this boy is of low status, he has good knowledge and some talent for alchemy. Perhaps he can be used as an alchemy boy for trial." Another examiner added: "Indeed, although the Li family is known for its strictness, at a time when accidents frequently occur in the mines, if a good pill can be made, it will greatly improve the efficiency of the miners. Moreover, this pill has a healing effect, so it is worth a try."

After a moment's silence, the shopkeeper finally announced: "After this interview, it has been decided to hire Ye Fan as Dan Tong. Those who perform well during the probation period will receive a lifetime contract."

Hearing this news, Ye Fan was excited and hope flashed in his eyes, but he also knew that this was a new test. He knelt down to thank him and secretly vowed in his heart: I must rely on my own strength to completely change my fate, no longer be constrained by the oppression of the Li family, and I will definitely create a new world in the future.

During this short stay in Guyun Town, Ye Fan took every opportunity to inquire about the outside world, communicate with merchants, and even occasionally make a small profit. Although the outside world was full of dangers, he still maintained the calmness and determination that belonged to a strong man.

Gradually, his funds became more abundant, and the parts of the new spirit boat were gradually complete. Ye Fan began to plan to repair and upgrade the spirit boat, so that it would not only allow him to cross the boundary sea faster, but also become an important tool for him to fight in the future. Every part and every rune condensed his countless efforts and wisdom, and also made him full of expectations for the future.

However, the outside world is still full of dangers. The unknown terrifying creatures in the sea, the eagerness of the star thieves, and the unresolved forces of justice all make Ye Fan realize that the road ahead is destined to be bumpy and difficult. Even so, he did not retreat, because he understood that only by moving forward can he find the bright road to the future.

"There is no eternal peace in this world. Only the brave who keep moving forward can achieve true strength." Ye Fan said in a low voice, looking firmly into the boundless void, as if making a final oath to himself.

He knew that he was at a turning point. Losing the Spirit Boat was not the end, but a new beginning, an opportunity to reshape his future.