Chapter 397 - 398: Purple Qi From the East

"Elder Su, you may not be aware, but the Purple Cloud Palace’s Earth Vein is the exceptionally rare Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein," the Ninth Floor Master explained with a smile.

"The Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein?"

Su Mo looked astonished.

He had learned a fair bit about the Earth Vein Divination Technique from Long Chuan and Qingyunzi, but he had never heard of any "special" Earth Veins.

’Perhaps it’s just because Long Chuan and Qingyunzi weren’t very skilled.’

’With masters of limited ability, it’s only natural that I, the student, would know so little.’

’Besides, my focus wasn’t on Earth Vein divination anyway.’

"Legend has it," the Ninth Floor Master began, his expression serious, "that the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein was formed after the Purple Qi Saint passed away. All of his Essence Qi flowed into the ground, merging with an Earth Vein. It now contains the Saint’s Qi, which helps people comprehend the Path of the Saint and accelerate their cultivation."

"Fu Tianbo was nurtured from a young age by the influence of the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein and had his physical body tempered by the Nine Heavens Green Fall Spirit Liquid. That’s how he forged a talent powerful enough to rival the Saint Heirs of the Sacred Lands."

"I see!"

Su Mo said in a moment of realization, "No wonder that kid’s talent is so terrifying."

The Ninth Floor Master gave Su Mo a strange look.

’Fu Tianbo’s talent is terrifying?’

’Is it more terrifying than yours?’

’Anyone in the entire Cangxuan Realm has the right to say that, but you, Su Mo, are the one person who doesn’t.’

This, however, only made Su Mo covet the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein even more.

’If I could bring it back to Qingyang City, wouldn’t it accelerate the cultivation of the Xiao Alliance disciples?’

’Even a small boost would be great.’

’Besides, the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein contains the Saint’s Qi, which can help one comprehend the Path of the Saint.’

’This thing is too precious.’

"Tell your people to wait," Su Mo said impatiently. "I’m going to claim this Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein first."

"Claim an Earth Vein? Elder Su, don’t tell me you also know the Earth Vein Divination Technique?" the Ninth Floor Master asked in surprise.

"I learned a trick or two from some people. I’m no expert," Su Mo said. "Step back. I’m about to begin."

"Yes!"

The Ninth Floor Master promptly retreated behind Su Mo.

Su Mo’s hands formed an incantation seal, releasing a brilliant Spirit Seal.

’The Earth Vein Summoning Technique?’ the Ninth Floor Master thought in astonishment.

But his brow quickly furrowed.

’This Summoning Technique doesn’t look very profound, does it?’

’To claim a powerful Earth Vein, you need an incredibly profound Summoning Technique to cast the summoning Spirit Seal.’

’Otherwise, it’s impossible to stir the Earth Vein at all.’

’You might even startle it and make it flee.’

’Should I try to talk Elder Su out of it?’ The Ninth Floor Master hesitated.

’If he startles the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein and it escapes, the loss would be far greater than any potential gain.’

BOOM!

However, before he could say a word, Su Mo slammed his hand down toward the earth.

The Spirit Seal sank into the ground.

Instantly, an ocean of purple Spiritual Qi erupted from the earth, blanketing heaven and earth.

"Come out!"

Su Mo said coolly.

WHOOSH!

A purple figure dozens of yards tall erupted from the ground, standing before them like a giant.

"This..."

The Ninth Floor Master was stunned speechless.

’Did Su Mo really just summon the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein?’

’How is that possible?’

’The Summoning Technique Su Mo used was so simple. It should only be able to summon a small-scale Earth Vein.’

’But now...’

"So this is the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein? It’s huge!" Su Mo marveled.

Generally speaking, the larger an Earth Vein’s manifested form, the higher its grade.

Compared to the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein, Su Mo and the Ninth Floor Master were as insignificant as the tip of a single strand of hair.

"This thing is way too big. How am I supposed to carry it?" Su Mo lamented.

WHOOSH!

The moment he finished speaking, the Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein rapidly shrank, transforming into a fist-sized purple figurine that landed on his shoulder.

"Hey, this thing can actually understand me!"

Su Mo cupped the purple figurine in his hands.

The purple figurine’s face was exquisitely detailed, complete with a beard and wrinkles. It looked just like a lifelike old man.

"The Purple Qi Saint!" the Ninth Floor Master cried out.

"It certainly looks like the Purple Qi Saint," Su Mo nodded. "It must have formed from his Essence Qi."

Just then...

RUMBLE!

The earth began to tremble once more. Spiritual Qi gushed out, and a torrent of bright moonlight erupted from the ground like a geyser.

"Moonlight? Could that be the Haoyue Sect’s Bright Moon Earth Vein?" the Ninth Floor Master exclaimed.

This time, even Su Mo was shocked.

’I haven’t even been to the Haoyue Sect. How did I end up summoning their Bright Moon Earth Vein too?’

WHOOSH!

The Bright Moon Earth Vein transformed into a crescent moon and landed before Su Mo.

But before Su Mo could collect the Bright Moon Earth Vein, another tremendous roar echoed from deep within the earth, followed by a massive eruption of Spiritual Qi.

"Is that... the Celestial North Gate Earth Vein?"

"The Celestial North Gate Earth Vein is just an ordinary Earth Vein, but it’s no less powerful than the Bright Moon Earth Vein."

"Look! The Cangxuan Sect’s Earth Vein is here too."

"And ours from the Drunken Immortal Tower!"

The Ninth Floor Master stared, dumbfounded, at the procession of Earth Veins emerging from the ground.

’Heavens!’

’A single Spirit Seal cast so casually by Su Mo summoned the Earth Veins of all Nine Great Forces?’

’And besides those, there was a whole assortment of others.’

The Earth Veins took on various forms and gathered before Su Mo, staring up at him with wide, teary eyes.

"This..."

Su Mo was stunned too.

He had only intended to summon the Purple Cloud Palace’s Purple Qi Eastward Earth Vein. He never meant to summon the Earth Veins of all the other sects.

"Elder Su, you..."

The Ninth Floor Master looked at Su Mo, completely at a loss.

’What is the meaning of this?’

’Surely he isn’t planning to snatch our Drunken Immortal Tower’s Earth Vein too, is he?’

’That’s a price the Drunken Immortal Tower can’t afford to pay.’

Su Mo scratched his head awkwardly. "Sorry," he said. "That wasn’t intentional."

The Ninth Floor Master looked at Su Mo, confused.

’Not intentional?’

’Then why did you summon everyone else’s Earth Veins here, not even sparing our Drunken Immortal Tower’s Sword Spirit Earth Vein?’

Little did he know, Su Mo truly hadn’t done it on purpose.

If anyone was to blame, it was his own Soul Power for being far too strong.

Su Mo pointed at the Sword Spirit Earth Vein. "This is the Drunken Immortal Tower’s Earth Vein, isn’t it? I’ll give it back to you now. Go on, take it."

"Give it back? Thank you, Elder Su!"

The Ninth Floor Master joyfully collected the Sword Spirit Earth Vein, letting out a heavy sigh of relief internally.

’Thank goodness Su Mo returned the Sword Spirit Earth Vein to us.’

’Otherwise, I’d have no idea how to explain this.’

But Su Mo now faced a dilemma.

Aside from the one he had returned to the Drunken Immortal Tower, there were still dozens of other Earth Veins here, and all of them had owners.

’How am I supposed to return all of these?’

’An Earth Vein is a sect’s lifeblood. If I take them all, their owners will hunt me down in Qingyang City and fight me to the death.’

’That would be an endless pain in the neck.’

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before people arrived in pursuit.

"Thief! Don’t you dare run!" one of the arrivals shouted furiously.

Su Mo looked toward the voice and saw hundreds of masters appearing in the sky. They swarmed forward like a hornet’s nest, completely surrounding him and the Ninth Floor Master.

Every single one of them was furious beyond measure, their crimson eyes practically spitting fire.

"Well... I seem to have provoked public outrage," Su Mo muttered with a helpless shrug.