Transforming the Earth-Spouting Lotus, but It Costs Extra

Faced with this pressure, Xu Changqing did not retreat.

For now, Middle Qi Refining could indeed withstand it.

The pressure was there, but it was not particularly great.

It had not reached an unbearable level.

As he walked, a signboard appeared ahead.

Four large characters were written on it: [Earth Vein Level 1].

Below was a line of small print: (Every 100 meters downward +1 level).

He had not expected that after going this deep, he was only at Earth Vein Level 1.

After some thought, Xu Changqing took out the Communication Talisman from his small storage pouch.

He had intended to contact Hu Man again.

But the signal was poor.

Several consecutive attempts all ended in failure.

"Forget it. I'll talk to him after I'm done." Xu Changqing put away the Communication Talisman again.

Then, he continued downward along the passage.

Every 100 meters deeper meant one more level.

Before long, he reached Earth Vein Level 10.

Converted to depth, that was a full 1,000 meters.

And this was not measured from the surface, but from after entering the pit.

In other words, the true depth was definitely more than 1,000 meters.

The crushing pressure had already made Xu Changqing break into a light sweat.

But fortunately, he was not at Middle Qi Refining.

He was at Late Qi Refining.

He had more spiritual power to support him.

After arriving at Earth Vein Level 10, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

It was no longer a dim passage.

Instead, it was a vast underground world.

Xu Changqing continued forward and stepped onto a plank path at the edge of a cliff.

If he took even one step to the left, he would fall into the bottomless abyss and be smashed to death.

He could only press himself against the cold rock wall on the right to ensure his safety.

Strangely, this underground world was not pitch-black.

Instead, it shimmered with multicolored light.

Xu Changqing barely managed to make out the scene in the distance.

Rolling mineral veins stretched one after another, like slumbering earth dragons.

Some were white dragons.

Some were yellow dragons.

The exposed portions alone were at least several hundred zhang long.

From time to time, a wisp of yellow mist drifted out from the corners.

If he listened carefully, he could also hear the sound of "ding ding dang dang" from the depths.

"This... is the Earth Vein?" Xu Changqing felt a powerful visual shock.

This was completely different from the [Earth Vein] he had imagined.

He had thought it would be mine tunnels running one after another.

He had never expected a scene like this.

It took him a full minute to recover from his astonishment.

Then he continued downward along the plank path.

[Earth Vein Level 11]

[Earth Vein Level 15]

[Earth Vein Level 18]

He had finally reached his destination.

But by now, the pressure had become unimaginably heavy.

Every step he took left a clear footprint in the ground.

Huff!

Huff!

Panting heavily, Xu Changqing took out the Communication Talisman again.

Very soon, light began flashing across its surface.

Following its guidance, he arrived before a rock wall.

At first glance, there seemed to be nothing there.

But when Xu Changqing approached, it opened with a rumbling crash.

A spacious inner chamber immediately came into view.

If he was not mistaken, this should be Hu Man's cave abode.

If the other man stayed here every day,

it meant he had to endure immense pressure at every moment.

Someone with any other kind of Spiritual Root simply would not be able to withstand it.

All he could say was that an Earth Spirit Root truly had some skill.

Xu Changqing swept his gaze around and discovered that the target he needed to tend this time was on the other side of the cave abode.

There was a spring there.

What surged out of it was not springwater, but Earth Qi.

It rose continuously, then rippled outward.

Gradually, it formed an earthy-yellow lotus.

Clearly, this was the [Earth-Spouting Lotus].

"Does this count as a spirit plant?" Filled with doubt, Xu Changqing sat down cross-legged and released his spiritual power.

As everyone knew, different Spiritual Roots absorbed different kinds of spiritual energy.

Thus, the spiritual power within their bodies also possessed different attributes.

Xu Changqing had a Wood Spirit Root and wielded wood spiritual power.

When released, it glimmered with a pale azure light.

Once it was injected into the Earth-Spouting Lotus, its original earthy-yellow color began to fade.

It gradually transformed into a Green Lotus, radiating dazzling spiritual light.

At that moment, Xu Changqing discovered in surprise

that the aura released by the Earth-Spouting Lotus had already changed from earth to wood.

On one side was wood spiritual power.

On the other was Earth Qi.

Not only did they not repel each other, they gradually fused together.

Little by little, it changed from its original gaseous state and became tangible.

But after that, no matter how much wood spiritual power Xu Changqing poured into it, there was no further change.

It seemed that this was as far as he could tend it.

Or perhaps it had reached its current threshold.

Then, bit by bit, he reduced the flow of wood spiritual power.

Until he severed it completely.

Yet the Earth-Spouting Lotus still remained a Green Lotus, showing no signs of reverting.

It was as though it had already taken shape.

"It should be fine." Xu Changqing climbed to his feet.

He did not linger.

He did not even spare a glance at the things around him.

He headed straight out of the cave abode.

The instant he stepped out, the entrance immediately closed.

It sealed without a crack, as though it had never been opened.

An hour later, Xu Changqing returned to the bottom of the pit.

Once he came out, the crushing pressure covering his body instantly lessened by more than half.

He felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted.

Shan Fei asked with a half-smile, "You're out?"

Xu Changqing lowered his head and examined himself. "Why haven't I turned yellow?"

Shan Fei shrugged. "You haven't awakened an Earth Spirit Root, so you can't contain Earth Qi."

Xu Changqing suddenly understood.

So that was why those disciples with Earth Spirit Roots had yellowish skin.

It was because their bodies contained Earth Qi.

"If there's nothing else, hurry up and go back," Shan Fei urged.

But Xu Changqing waved his hand. "No rush."

He took out Hu Man's Communication Talisman again.

He injected a wisp of spiritual power into it.

Sure enough, the signal was unaffected here.

"Hello?"

"Senior Brother Hu, it's Xu Changqing!"

"How did it go?"

"I've already tended the Earth-Spouting Lotus."

"So quickly?"

"But..."

"But what?"

"It costs extra!!!"

Xu Changqing was not someone who would swallow a loss in silence.

From the Spirit Fields to the Earth Vein, then down and back up again,

each trip took two shichen, or four hours.

If it was only:

(1 day of points +10)

(1 day of compensation +10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones)

then what was the difference between that and being an exhausted beast of burden?

"Paying extra is fine." Hu Man was not surprised in the slightest upon hearing this, nor did he care.

In its gaseous state, the Earth-Spouting Lotus was not a spirit plant at all.

Only after spiritual power of a different attribute was injected into it would it solidify.

It would transform into forms such as a Green Lotus, Fire Lotus, Water Lotus, and so on.

The current price of a single plant was 50 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Converted into Low-Grade Spirit Stones, that was a full 5,000 stones.

But that was not all. It was also one of the main ingredients of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

If refined into pills, its price would increase fivefold.

One pill alone would cost 250 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

Thus, Hu Man was not afraid of Xu Changqing asking for more money. He would still make a profit regardless.

Of course, cultivating this Earth-Spouting Lotus was not simple either.

It took three years just to take shape, and it had to be watered with one's own earth spiritual power nearly every day.

Only after it formed into a lotus in its gaseous state could it be transformed.

However, Xu Changqing's next words left him utterly dumbfounded.

"1 day of points +100!"

"1 day of compensation +1 Mid-Grade Spirit Stone!!!"