Seeing that Elder Huang couldn’t even budge the tunnel wall with his full strength, the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley said, unconvinced, "Let me give it a try."
BAM!
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley slammed his fist into the tunnel wall with all his might.
The wall didn’t budge in the slightest!
Now, the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley was utterly shocked.
Elder Huang was only at the Martial Master Great Perfection realm. It was perfectly normal for him to lack the strength to budge the tunnel wall.
’But I’m a Late Stage Grand Martial Artist, and even I can’t move it.’
’Not even a fraction of an inch.’
’And this tunnel... Su Mo created it by ramming open a spatial node and forcing his way through with his own body.’
’So, just how tough is Su Mo’s body?’
The very thought was horrifying.
Just then, Su Mo’s voice came from up ahead. "Everyone, we’ve arrived at the Ancient Medicine Garden."
Everyone looked ahead in unison.
It turned out that while they were testing the hardness of the wall, Su Mo had already finished forging the entire spatial tunnel.
Now, Su Mo was standing at the entrance to the Ancient Medicine Garden.
BAM!
Su Mo took a light leap, jumping down into the Ancient Medicine Garden and smashing a huge crater into the ground.
The ground trembled violently.
Unable to keep their balance as they landed, the others tumbled to the ground in a heap. They were left bruised, battered, and bleeding, a truly pathetic sight.
Seeing this, Su Mo said awkwardly, "My apologies. I didn’t control my strength well when I jumped down and made you fall."
"No, no, no!"
Elder Wang scrambled up from the ground, struggled to steady himself, and said with a placating smile, "It’s our Martial Dao foundations that are too weak. It’s not your fault, fellow Daoist. We’ve made a fool of ourselves in front of you."
SLAP!
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley smacked Elder Wang on the back of the head and berated him furiously. "Who told you to call him ’fellow Daoist’? Don’t you have a goddamn clue what you should be calling him? Address him as ’Lord’!"
Elder Wang hurriedly bowed. "Yes, yes, yes! My Lord, I was wrong. Please forgive me, My Lord."
Just then, Elder Huang’s disciple cried out, "Master, look at the spatial tunnel!"
Elder Huang looked up and was instantly thunderstruck.
’What?’
’Ten thousand meters high!’
’Even a Demon Beast without the ability to fly would be smashed to a pulp falling from ten thousand meters.’
’Not only was Su Mo alive, but he had even smashed a huge crater into the ground.’
’This... this is... unbelievable! It’s like seeing a ghost!’
Su Mo asked, "Valley Master, is our previous agreement still valid?"
"It is! Of course, it is!"
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley said respectfully, "My Lord, please sit and rest. You can leave a small matter like picking Spiritual Medicines to us at Medicine King Valley. Elder Wang, you will personally lead the team to harvest the Spiritual Medicines. I will massage My Lord’s back."
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley stood deferentially behind Su Mo and began to massage his back.
’Putting aside the fact that Su Mo had done Medicine King Valley a great service by opening the spatial tunnel...’
’The tyrannical strength Su Mo had just displayed was reason enough. He couldn’t possibly pass up the chance to latch onto a backer this powerful.’
’With a patron like him, Medicine King Valley could do as it pleased in the Desolate Empire.’
’They wouldn’t even have to fear the Royal Family.’
Elder Huang said, "My Lord, allow me to massage your feet."
THUD!
Before Su Mo could refuse, Elder Huang dropped to his knees before him and began to massage his feet with the utmost reverence.
Elder Huang asked, "My Lord, why are you barefoot? Let me wipe the dust from your feet."
Elder Huang’s disciple was dumbfounded.
’His master, who was usually so incredibly proud, was now kneeling before Su Mo with a fawning expression, wiping the man’s feet with his own sleeve.’
’Wasn’t this taking self-debasement too far?’
Elder Huang snapped, "What are you standing there gawking for? Go fetch some water to wash the Lord’s feet!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Elder Huang’s disciple scurried off to get water.
Su Mo was mortified!
’In my previous life, I’d often gone to foot massage parlors and spent a fortune of my hard-earned money, but I’d never received treatment like this.’
Before long, Elder Wang returned from harvesting the Spiritual Medicines and approached the Valley Master. "Valley Master, I have retrieved the Ten-thousand-year-old He Shouwu."
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley took the Ten-thousand-year-old He Shouwu and presented it to Su Mo with both hands. "My Lord, this is the Ten-thousand-year-old He Shouwu you requested. In addition, Medicine King Valley would also like to gift you eight million Spirit Stones. Please, accept them."
’Eight million Spirit Stones... That was equivalent to the Xiao Family’s total income for three years.’
’As expected of Medicine King Valley!’
’They’re loaded!’
"Thank you. Don’t mind if I do."
Su Mo put the Ten-thousand-year-old He Shouwu and Spirit Stones away.
THUD!
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley suddenly dropped to his knees before Su Mo and pleaded, "My Lord, this humble one has an impudent request. I beg you to grant it."
Su Mo said coolly, "What is it? Speak. As long as it isn’t excessive, I can agree."
The Valley Master said with utmost sincerity, "Please, My Lord, accept our Medicine King Valley."
’Huh?’
’Accept Medicine King Valley...’
’What does he mean by that?’
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley explained, "With our strength, Medicine King Valley is simply incapable of defending this Ancient Medicine Garden. Sooner or later, all our efforts will be for someone else’s benefit, and we will likely invite a disaster that annihilates our entire valley. It would be far better to give Medicine King Valley to you, My Lord. All the elders and disciples of Medicine King Valley are willing to serve you as our new master."
Su Mo was completely baffled!
’I came to Medicine King Valley to ask for some medicine, and now I’m somehow becoming its master.’
’Could there really be such a good deal in the world?’
Elder Huang chimed in, "And me! I, Huang Xu, am also willing to serve you, My Lord. I will follow you and offer my humble service."
Su Mo was floored.
’Medicine King Valley was afraid the Ancient Medicine Garden would bring them ruin, so they wanted to make me their master to ensure their safety.’
’But why was an Array Master like him getting in on this?’
Elder Huang sighed. "To be honest, My Lord, although I am quite skilled in the art of arrays, my personality has led me to offend many powerful experts. So... seeing how sincere I am, please, take me as your slave."
Su Mo said gravely, "Once you become my slave, your life will belong to me, to do with as I please. You can never betray me, for all eternity, or the consequences will be tragic. You had better think this through."
Huang Xu said decisively, "This old slave is willing!"
’He could tell that Su Mo wasn’t a bloodthirsty man. Otherwise, they would have already been dead for offending him earlier.’
Su Mo sighed. "Very well. From now on, I am the master of Medicine King Valley. Everyone in the valley, and you, are my servants."
’Taking over Medicine King Valley had no downsides for me; in fact, it came with a great many benefits.’
’For instance, there was the Ancient Medicine Garden.’
’In the future, if I need Spiritual Medicines, I can just harvest them directly from the Ancient Medicine Garden. And if the garden doesn’t have what I need, I can have Medicine King Valley search for it elsewhere, saving me a lot of trouble.’
’An Array Master isn’t a bad addition, either.’
’All I have to do is guarantee their safety.’
’This deal was pure profit.’
Huang Xu said respectfully, "Master, this old slave is the president of the Desolate Empire’s Array Master Guild. In the future, should you have need of me or lack any materials, simply send someone with this token to the Imperial City to inform me. I guarantee I will do everything in my power to handle it for you."
"Good!"
Su Mo put away the token and gave his first command. "I have a task for you right now. While I’m away, I need you to look after the Xiao Family in Qingyang City and ensure their safety."
"We obey our master’s command!"
Huang Xu and the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley knelt in unison.
Su Mo said, "All right, let’s head out."
"After you, Master!" the two said respectfully.
SLAP!
The Valley Master of Medicine King Valley was just about to take flight when Su Mo suddenly clapped a hand on his shoulder. The Valley Master’s face drained of color in terror. "Master, you...?"