First Entering the Earth Vein, Body Weighing a Thousand Pounds

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, one could not approach or depart 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, only a tiny little piece.

Once he infused it with a thread 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 he could command it as easily 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 freely, without the slightest obstruction.

Xu Changqing continued feeding it spiritual power as he leaped onto the paper crane's back.

He controlled it as it swayed and wobbled toward his own Spirit Fields.

At first, he was not yet very familiar with it.

But as time passed, he grew increasingly adept.

At a height of roughly ten meters above the ground, the Flying Paper Crane steadily flew forward at an extremely stable pace.

He was satisfied with everything else.

The only bad thing was that it had no means of blocking the wind.

Whenever it sped up, or when wind blew over.

There would always be a "whoosh, whoosh" in his ears.

Fortunately, the novelty concealed this shortcoming.

Before long, Xu Changqing arrived directly 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 spot him.

It was so anxious that it whimpered.

"Stupid dog." Xu Changqing did not know whether to laugh or cry.

After teasing it for a while, he guided the Flying Paper Crane down.

The moment he cut off the spiritual power, the thing immediately shrank back to its original size.

Then came the usual cooking, eating, and washing the dishes.

By the time everything was done, half an hour had passed.

Xu Changqing did not rest. Instead, he controlled the Flying Paper Crane into the air.

His next destination was the Earth Vein, a place he had never visited before.

Along the way, he became increasingly familiar with controlling the Flying Paper Crane.

It no longer rocked from side to side.

Even when he encountered strong winds, it remained as steady as an old dog.

As time passed, the surrounding scenery gradually changed, and all manner 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 another stretch of travel, a massive pit appeared in the open ground ahead.

Its interior was pitch-black, and nothing could be seen.

From time to time, pale yellow mist drifted up from its depths.

As he drew closer, the earth spiritual qi in the air surged sharply.

Fortunately, Xu Changqing did not feel the slightest discomfort.

Once he got close enough, he could see people stationed near the pit.

The moment they saw Xu Changqing approaching atop a Flying Paper Crane, they immediately stepped forward to stop him.

"Who goes there?"

"I am Xu Changqing, of the Wood Spirit Root. I have come specifically to complete a mission."

"Whose mission?"

"A Foundation Establishment Realm senior brother named Hu Man."

"Do you have a spirit talisman?"

"I have his Communication Talisman!"

The man who stopped him was a burly fellow with a tall frame and bulging muscles.

His hawk-sharp eyes swept Xu Changqing from head to toe.

Compared to the laxness around 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 some exchange, not only was it confirmed that there was no problem.

The man also learned from Hu Man how to care for the Earth-Spouting Lotus.

Although he no longer stopped Xu Changqing after that, he did not allow him to enter alone.

Instead, he personally led the way, and they could only travel on foot; the Flying Paper Crane could not be used.

Xu Changqing asked in confusion, "Senior Brother, why is the Earth Vein so strictly guarded?"

"My name is Shan Fei." After introducing himself, he continued, "Because the Earth Vein is very important."

Xu Changqing wore an expression of half-understanding.

Seeing this, Shan Fei explained, "There are spirit stone mines in the Earth Vein. If people could enter and leave at will, wouldn't everyone be able to dig up spirit stones?"

Thus, the Earth Spirit Root disciples in the Earth Vein were not only responsible for cultivation, but also for guarding and mining.

"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 replied, "Middle Qi Refining."

Shan Fei gave a slight nod. "Hu Man's cave abode is on the eighteenth level of the Earth Vein. Good thing you are at Middle Qi Refining. If you were only at Early Qi Refining, you would have to give up this mission."

"Why?" Xu Changqing asked in surprise.

Shan Fei said solemnly, "With every level deeper into the Earth Vein, the pressure increases by another ten percent.

"If your strength is insufficient, you simply will not be able to bear it."

Afterward, the two entered the pitch-black pit.

Once inside, Xu Changqing discovered in surprise.

The road downward was not straight.

Instead, it wound down in spirals, one circle wrapping around another.

When viewed from outside, it had seemed like a "black hole."

But after entering, he discovered that a bright lamp stood at every interval.

Though they could not illuminate everything, they at least made the road beneath their feet visible.

Xu Changqing followed behind Shan Fei while silently counting. 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, you may be disappointed.

"This pit is merely the entrance. We have not reached the Earth Vein yet."

The moment those words fell, Xu Changqing's mouth twitched several times.

Though he was rather speechless, there was nothing to complain about.

Since he had accepted this mission, 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 spacious, with excavated tunnels everywhere.

There were many Earth Spirit Root disciples constantly coming and going.

Strangely enough.

These people clearly carried nothing on them.

Yet every one of them looked as though they were struggling enormously.

Every step was heavy, and their faces were covered in fine beads of sweat.

They looked as though they were carrying invisible burdens.

What was worth noting was that their skin was yellower.

But it was not the sickly waxen yellow of poor health; rather, it glimmered with a yellow radiance.

Once they reached this place, Shan Fei stopped leading the way. Raising his hand, he pointed at a tunnel and said, "Go inside. You should reach the eighteenth level of the Earth Vein in about two hours."

"How long?" Xu Changqing's eyes widened. "Two hours?"

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 mission would be so arduous.

Though he could give up, points would be deducted from his own total.

Thus, he could only walk step by step toward the tunnel directly ahead.

No matter what, he would try first.

Shan Fei stood behind him with a teasing expression. "If just anyone could move through the Earth Vein with ease, what meaning would there be in Earth Spirit Roots?!"

Xu Changqing silently walked inward.

The tunnel 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 rejecting an outsider.

But as he continued downward, he gradually noticed where the problem lay.

The pressure on his body was constantly increasing.

At first, it was fine and did not feel too uncomfortable.

But as he went deeper and deeper, the pressure grew greater and greater.

His body felt as though it were bearing a weight of over a thousand jin.

He could barely breathe, 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!!!