"It’s over. Long Chuan is going for the kill."
As Long Chuan’s furious fist came crashing down, everyone watching panicked.
Xiao Dong might have some strength, but he was just a child. There was no way he could block a full-power strike from a Half-Step Martial Monarch like Long Chuan.
Qingyunzi was helpless.
In truth, he had only wanted to teach Su Mo a lesson and expose his true colors, not kill anyone.
But now, he could no longer stop Long Chuan.
With Long Chuan’s temperament, once he flew into a rage, not even his own parents could stop him. All they could do was watch as Xiao Dong was smashed to death.
"Alas... I suppose this will teach them a lesson."
Qingyunzi sighed.
However, the bloody scene they had imagined never occurred.
THUD!
As Long Chuan’s fist descended, Xiao Dong swiftly raised his small right hand and, with a gentle grasp, caught Long Chuan’s fist.
"What incredible strength. I almost couldn’t block it."
Xiao Dong exclaimed in admiration.
Hearing his voice, the crowd looked up at Xiao Dong. They saw his small hand gripping Long Chuan’s fist, and two drag marks etched into the floor beneath his feet.
"This..."
Qingyunzi was shaken to the core, his face a mask of disbelief.
From that last strike, Xiao Dong had clearly been knocked back several meters.
But he had still caught Long Chuan’s fist.
As Long Chuan’s friend, he knew just how terrifying Long Chuan was. Defeating a master at the Grandmaster Great Perfection Realm was an easy feat for him.
Yet, against an eight-year-old child, this was the result.
Qingyunzi snapped, "Daoist Brother Longchuan, what the hell are you doing? Stop holding back! Don’t you know how humiliating this is?"
"I’m not holding back!"
Long Chuan replied, an aggrieved look on his face.
He had thrown that punch with the intent to kill Xiao Dong. He had never dreamed this would be the outcome.
"Uncle Long Chuan, I’m going to throw you now. You’d better be careful."
Xiao Dong warned.
Long Chuan was shocked to hear this and immediately channeled all his power to resist, but Xiao Dong still executed a shoulder throw, slamming him heavily onto the ground.
BAM!
A large crater appeared in the floor. Long Chuan lay flat on his back within it and spat out a mouthful of blood.
The entire hall shook.
Long Chuan’s face was deathly pale as he said, "I... I... have lost."
"Ah!"
Hearing Long Chuan’s words, everyone in the hall lost their composure.
The mighty Long Chuan, a Half-Step Martial Monarch, had been beaten by an eight-year-old child to the point of admitting defeat. It was utterly shocking.
"Young Master, I’m hungry."
Xiao Dong said as he ran up to Su Mo.
Su Mo smiled and said, "Go on, then. Go find your mother and get some milk."
Even though Xiao Dong was eight, he had been doted on since birth and still had the habit of drinking milk. Whenever he got hungry, he wanted milk.
"Yes, Young Master."
Xiao Dong turned back and said, "Uncle Long Chuan, you rest for a bit. I’ll come back to fight with you after I’ve had my milk. Wait for me!"
With that, Xiao Dong ran out of the hall, leaving behind a completely bewildered Long Chuan.
’This is so humiliating.’
’To be defeated by a milk-drinking child!’
’How can I possibly show my face in this world anymore?’
Long Chuan, utterly disheartened, said, "Forget it, forget it. Since I have no face left to live, I might as well just die."
With that, Long Chuan raised his right hand and thrust it toward his own heart.
"Brother Longchuan, wait!"
Daoist Xuanqing and Qingyunzi cried out in alarm at the same time, trying to stop Long Chuan from killing himself.
However, it was too late.
FWIP!
Just then, Su Mo snatched up a pair of chopsticks and threw them, knocking Long Chuan’s hand aside.
Only then did the crowd let out a sigh of relief.
Qingyunzi quickly comforted him, "Brother Longchuan, why must you do this?"
"How would you feel if you lost to a milk-drinking child?"
Long Chuan shot back.
Qingyunzi’s face was filled with embarrassment.
If he had lost to a milk-drinking child, he probably would have felt just as ashamed and attempted suicide, just like Long Chuan.
"Brother Longchuan, don’t worry about it. Victory and defeat are but the fortunes of war."
Daoist Xuanqing patiently persuaded him, "Besides, none of us are as strong as you. If we were to fight him, we would also lose to Young Master Xiao Dong. Wouldn’t that mean we’d all have to kill ourselves?"
"That’s right! If you kill yourself, what would we do?"
"Please don’t kill yourself."
"Where there’s life, there’s hope. Brother Longchuan, if you aren’t afraid of death, are you really afraid of living with a little humiliation?"
The crowd chimed in one after another to persuade him.
Long Chuan sighed, "Alas... Very well. Thank you all for your kind intentions. I am eternally grateful."
"You should be thanking Elder Su. It was he who saved you with those chopsticks."
Daoist Xuanqing said.
Long Chuan immediately knelt before Su Mo. "Thank you, Elder Su, for saving my life. For my offense, I ask for your punishment, Elder Su."
Su Mo waved his hand. "Rise and take your seats. I forgive you both."
’Everyone makes mistakes.’
’Besides,’ Su Mo could tell, ’Long Chuan and Qingyunzi were merely unconvinced; they had no murderous intent.’
’Their eventual anger was just because they couldn’t stand being challenged by Xiao Dong.’
’Put yourself in their shoes.’
’As an elder in your forties or fifties, how would you feel if you were challenged by an eight-year-old kid who was clamoring to teach you a lesson?’
The two of them returned to their seats.
Qingyunzi asked, "Daoist Brother Xuanqing, do you have any spare gifts?"
Long Chuan added, "If you have any spare gifts, please lend them to us. We wish to present them to Elder Su to thank him for saving our lives. We will repay you double afterward."
"You two didn’t bring gifts?"
Daoist Xuanqing’s face darkened.
When he invited them, he had specifically told them they must prepare gifts, but his words had gone in one ear and out the other.
"We are ashamed."
The two sighed.
Daoist Xuanqing shook his head. "I’m terribly sorry, but I’ve already presented my gift to Elder Su. I have no other presentable treasures."
"What do we do now?"
The two of them wore worried expressions.
Soon, Qingyunzi said, "I’ve got it! The two of us are skilled in the Earth Vein Divination Technique. Let’s give Elder Su an Earth Vein."
"That’s not a bad idea, but we’d be cramming at the last minute. Can we really summon a high-quality Earth Vein?"
Long Chuan hesitated.
Qingyunzi said, full of confidence, "What’s there to be afraid of? As long as the two of us join forces, and with Daoist Brother Xuanqing’s help, do you really think we can’t summon a top-quality Earth Vein?"
"Alright, let’s do as you say."
Long Chuan mustered his courage and said, "Elder Su, the two of us would like to offer you an Earth Vein. We hope you will accept it."
"An Earth Vein?"
Su Mo asked curiously, "What is that?"
Long Chuan explained, "An Earth Vein is also called a Spiritual Vein. It can improve feng shui, emit Spiritual Qi, and accelerate a Martial Artist’s cultivation."
"Oh? Such a treasure actually exists."
Su Mo’s face was full of surprise.
The Desolate Empire was already remote, and Qingyang City was located on its very fringes, making it even more so.
A place like this was fine for ordinary people to live in, but not for Martial Artists.
Without dense Spiritual Qi, it is very difficult for a Martial Artist to cultivate.
Even the greatest talent would be useless.
It was for this very reason that Qingyang City had never produced a master at the Grand Martial Artist Realm in its history, let alone a powerful Martial Monarch.
In contrast, the reason those major powers at the Holy Land Level could continuously produce experts was because of their superior Earth Veins.
Su Mo said curiously, "In that case, please bring it out and let me have a look."