After buying the Flying Paper Crane, Xu Changqing quickly headed outside.
But he did not take off from Flat-Top Mountain. Instead, he followed the steps down to the foot of the mountain.
There were rules: unless one was an immortal master or a core disciple, they could not approach or leave this way.
After reaching the foot of the mountain, Xu Changqing found an open space and took out the Flying Paper Crane.
Its initial form was not large, just a tiny piece.
When he infused it with a wisp of spiritual power, the thing began to expand.
In the blink of an eye, it became over two meters long and more than three meters wide.
At the same time, he felt as though it moved as readily as an arm or finger.
It was as if this was not a Flying Paper Crane, but one of his own hands.
With a single thought, he could control it as he pleased, without the slightest obstruction.
Xu Changqing continued feeding it spiritual power as he jumped onto the paper crane's back.
He controlled it as it wobbled its way toward his own Spirit Fields.
At first, he was not very familiar with it.
But as time passed, he became increasingly adept.
At a height of roughly ten meters above the ground, the Flying Paper Crane steadily flew forward at a remarkably stable pace.
He was satisfied with everything else.
The only flaw was that it had no means of blocking the wind.
Whenever it sped up, or whenever the wind blew toward him,
there was always a whooshing sound by his ears.
Fortunately, the novelty covered up that shortcoming.
Before long, Xu Changqing arrived above his own Spirit Fields.
Perhaps having caught its owner's scent, the little yellow dog searched everywhere.
Though he was clearly nearby, it still could not see him.
It grew so anxious that it let out soft whimpers.
"Stupid dog." Xu Changqing did not know whether to laugh or cry.
After teasing it for a while, he controlled the Flying Paper Crane to descend.
The instant he cut off the spiritual power, the thing immediately shrank back to its original size.
After that came the usual cooking, eating, and washing dishes.
By the time everything was done, half a shichen had passed.
Xu Changqing did not rest. Instead, he controlled the Flying Paper Crane and took off.
His next destination was the Earth Vein, a place he had never visited before.
Along the way, his control over the Flying Paper Crane grew more and more practiced.
It no longer swayed from side to side.
Even when it encountered fierce winds, it remained as steady as an old dog.
As time passed, the scenery around him gradually changed, and all sorts of pits came into view.
This meant he was approaching the territory of Foundry Peak.
But Xu Changqing did not venture deeper. Instead, he turned right.
After some more time passed, an enormous pit appeared in the open ground ahead.
Its interior was pitch-black, and nothing could be seen within.
From time to time, pale yellow mist drifted up from its depths.
As he drew closer, the Earth Qi in the air surged sharply.
Fortunately, Xu Changqing did not feel any discomfort.
Once he came nearer, he could see people stationed around the pit.
The moment they saw Xu Changqing approaching on a Flying Paper Crane, they immediately stepped forward to stop him.
"Who goes there?"
"I am Xu Changqing, of the Wood Spirit Root. I came specifically to complete a task."
"Whose task?"
"A Foundation Establishment Realm senior brother named Hu Man."
"Do you have a spirit talisman?"
"I have his Communication Talisman!"
The one stopping him was a burly man with a towering build and bulging muscles.
His hawk-sharp eyes swept up and down Xu Changqing.
Compared with the laxness of the Spirit Fields,
the Earth Vein was much stricter.
Xu Changqing handed over Hu Man's Communication Talisman, and the other man infused it with spiritual power.
After a brief exchange, not only was everything confirmed to be in order,
but he also learned from Hu Man how to care for the Earth-Spouting Lotus.
Though he was no longer stopped, Xu Changqing was not allowed to enter alone.
Instead, this man personally led him in, and they could only walk; the Flying Paper Crane could not be used.
Xu Changqing asked in confusion, "Senior Brother, why is the Earth Vein so strict?"
"My name is Shan Fei." After introducing himself, he continued, "Because the Earth Vein is important."
Xu Changqing wore an expression of half-understanding.
Seeing this, Shan Fei explained, "There are spiritstone mines in the Earth Vein. If people could enter and leave freely, wouldn't everyone be able to dig for spiritstones?"
Therefore, Earth Spirit Root disciples in the Earth Vein did not merely cultivate; they also bore the duty of guarding and excavating.
"So that's how it is." Xu Changqing suddenly understood.
As Shan Fei led the way, he asked, "What is your cultivation realm?"
Xu Changqing answered, "Middle Qi Refining."
Shan Fei nodded slightly. "Hu Man's cave abode is on the eighteenth level of the Earth Vein. It's fortunate that you're at Middle Qi Refining. If you were at Early Qi Refining, you would have to abandon this task."
"Why?" Xu Changqing asked in surprise.
Shan Fei said solemnly, "For every level deeper into the Earth Vein, the pressure increases by ten percent.
"If your strength is insufficient, you simply won't be able to withstand it."
Afterward, the two entered the pitch-black pit.
Once inside, Xu Changqing discovered in surprise
that the path downward was not straight.
Rather, it wound around and around in spirals as it descended.
From outside, it had seemed like a "black hole."
But after entering, he discovered that there was a bright lamp at every interval.
Though they could not illuminate everything, they at least made the path beneath their feet visible.
As Xu Changqing followed behind Shan Fei, he silently counted. Seeing that they had already circled downward eighteen times, he could not help asking, "Are we not there yet?"
Shan Fei glanced back, a teasing expression appearing on his face. "Fellow Daoist Xu, I'm afraid you may be disappointed.
"This pit is only an entrance. We haven't reached the Earth Vein yet."
At those words, the corners of Xu Changqing's mouth twitched several times.
Though he was somewhat speechless, there was nothing to complain about.
Since he had accepted this task, he could only try to complete it.
After about the time it took for an incense stick to burn, they finally reached the bottom of the pit.
This place looked very spacious, with excavated passageways everywhere.
There were many Earth Spirit Root disciples, constantly coming and going.
The strange thing was
that these people clearly carried nothing on them,
yet every one of them looked as though they were struggling terribly.
Every step was exceedingly heavy, and their faces were covered in fine beads of sweat.
They looked as if they were carrying invisible burdens.
It was worth noting that these people's skin was more yellow.
But it was not an unhealthy sallow yellow; rather, it glimmered with a yellow radiance.
Once they reached this place, Shan Fei stopped leading the way. Raising a hand, he pointed toward a passageway and said, "Walk inside. You'll reach the eighteenth level of the Earth Vein in about one shichen."
"How long?" Xu Changqing's eyes widened. "One shichen?"
Shan Fei shrugged. "If you had an Earth Spirit Root, your resistance to pressure would be stronger, and the time would be cut in half, but..."
Though Shan Fei did not finish his sentence, Xu Changqing understood.
Clearly, only those with Earth Spirit Roots were suited to entering the Earth Vein.
He had never imagined that his very first task would be so arduous.
He could abandon it, but his points would be deducted.
Thus, he could only walk step by step toward the passageway directly ahead.
No matter what, he would try first.
Shan Fei stood behind him with a teasing expression. "If just anyone could move freely through the Earth Vein, what meaning would there be in the existence of Earth Spirit Roots?!"
Xu Changqing silently walked inward.
The passageway was not level, but a continuously descending slope.
From time to time, he encountered one or two Earth Spirit Root disciples.
But they were extremely silent.
At first, Xu Changqing thought they were excluding outsiders.
But as he continued downward, he gradually noticed what was wrong.
The pressure on his body was continuously increasing.
At first, it was fine, and he did not feel too uncomfortable.
But as he went deeper and deeper, the pressure grew heavier and heavier.
It felt as though his body carried a weight of over a thousand jin.
He could barely catch his breath, much less find the strength to speak.
Within the Earth Vein, only Earth Spirit Roots could withstand the pressure.
With any other Spiritual Root—metal, wood, water, or fire—it was all but impossible to endure!!!
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