Overjoyed, Su Mo immediately took out a Jade Bottle and collected all the Holy Spirit Spring Water.
It didn’t look like much, but it still filled nearly half the bottle.
It would be enough for his Alchemy.
Su Mo put away the Jade Bottle and turned his attention to the Holy Spirit Spring Eye.
’This is a Top-Grade Spiritual Spring Eye!’
’If I could transplant this to the Xiao Family, they’d have an endless supply of Holy Spirit Spring Water.’
CRACK!
Su Mo forcefully broke off a piece of the Spring Eye.
However, before he could even examine it, the piece he’d broken off turned to dust and scattered to the wind.
"This thing turns to dust so fast?"
Su Mo’s face was filled with disappointment.
’It seems I can’t take this Holy Spirit Spring Eye with me.’
’Then again, it’s my own fault for being greedy.’
’Taking its water and then trying to dig up the spring itself... that was going a bit too far.’
Moreover, some top-tier Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures could only grow continuously in specific locations.
The Holy Spirit Spring Water was one such example.
Su Mo said nonchalantly, "Oh well. In the future, I’ll just have the Holy Spirit Manor collect a few drops each year and send them to the family. No need to go through the trouble of digging up the spring eye."
Leaving the Holy Spirit Celestial Palace, Su Mo returned to the cave of the Eight Great Demon Kings.
The Ink Flood Dragon asked in surprise, "Huh? Elder Su, why are you back so soon? Don’t tell me... you didn’t manage to get the Holy Spirit Spring Water?"
When it had first arrived in the Holy Spirit Secret Realm, it had also coveted the Holy Spirit Spring Water and had even made a trip to the Holy Spirit Celestial Palace itself.
The Illusion Array in there was truly terrifying; even it hadn’t been able to get through.
The first trial wasn’t too difficult for it.
But every time it reached the second trial, a vision of Su Mo pinning it to the ground and beating it senseless would appear. He’d chase it relentlessly, leaving it in such a miserable state that it could only flee.
And yet, to its surprise, it seemed Su Mo had failed as well.
’What a pity.’
The Ink Flood Dragon suggested, "Elder Su, if you wouldn’t mind, I am willing to accompany you to the Holy Spirit Manor. We can teach those old geezers a lesson and make them hand over a few drops of Holy Spirit Spring Water."
"That’s not necessary!"
Su Mo said, waving his hand.
The Ink Flood Dragon puffed out its chest and said, "Elder Su, don’t stand on ceremony with me. If we team up, we can definitely take down that old fossil from the Holy Spirit Manor."
Su Mo was speechless. "They haven’t done anything to you, so why are you always looking to pick a fight? Besides, I already got the Holy Spirit Spring Water."
"What? Elder Su, you got the Holy Spirit Spring Water?"
The Ink Flood Dragon was stunned for a moment, then shook its head. "Elder, you’ve got to be joking. That Illusion Array..."
Su Mo nodded. "Yeah, that Illusion Array was certainly something, but I shattered it with a single slap."
"Huh? You shattered the Illusion Array?"
The Ink Flood Dragon’s face was a mask of sheer astonishment.
When it had gone in, it had also tried to shatter the Illusion Array. But after five days and five nights of relentless attacks, it had failed and was left half-dead from exhaustion.
And now, Su Mo had gone in for just a few minutes and shattered it with a single slap.
"This..."
The Ink Flood Dragon was utterly incredulous.
Su Mo said impatiently, "What’s with all the ’this’ and ’that’? If you don’t believe me, go take a look for yourself. Just stop bothering me."
"Yes, yes, of course!"
The Ink Flood Dragon hastily retreated from the cave.
Su Mo muttered to himself, "The Holy Spirit Secret Realm doesn’t close for another three days, and I’ve got nothing else to do... Sigh... Might as well get some sleep."
Zzzzz...
Soon, Su Mo’s snores were as loud as thunder.
The Ink Flood Dragon stepped out of the cave and ordered a Demon Beast, "Go quickly and see if the Illusion Array inside the Holy Spirit Celestial Palace is still intact."
It had to stay behind and stand guard itself to make sure no one disturbed Su Mo.
The Demon Beast acknowledged the order.
About half an hour later, the Demon Beast returned to the cave entrance and reported respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Flood Dragon King, the Array at the Holy Spirit Celestial Palace has been shattered. We can now come and go as we please."
"What? So Elder Su was telling the truth?"
The Ink Flood Dragon was dumbfounded.
...
Meanwhile, Ren Fan was leading several of his lackeys on a frantic search for Treasure throughout the Holy Spirit Secret Realm.
Ren Fan barked, "All of you, look sharper! Don’t you dare miss a single piece of Treasure, or I’ll beat you all to death."
"Yes! Yes!"
The lackeys desperately activated their searching Secret Techniques.
One of them, a follower nicknamed Skinny Monkey, said obsequiously, "Young Master Ren Fan, why don’t you go get some rest? By the time you wake up, we’ll have found plenty of Treasure for you."
"You want me to go to sleep?"
Ren Fan stared at Skinny Monkey and sneered, "Heh, you’re just hoping I’ll fall asleep so you can pocket my Treasure for yourself, aren’t you?"
"You’ve got it all wrong!"
Skinny Monkey’s face froze.
SLAP!
Before he could explain, Ren Fan’s palm cracked across his face. The blow sent Skinny Monkey stumbling, spitting blood and completely disoriented.
Ren Fan raged, "Get back to work! If you don’t find any Treasure, I’ll fucking kill every last one of you."
"Yes! Yes!"
Skinny Monkey immediately scrambled away to search for Treasure.
He’d only been trying to suck up, but it had completely backfired. Not only did he fail to gain any favor, but he’d also earned himself a vicious slap.
’So damn unfair.’
The other lackeys couldn’t help but chuckle.
’Serves him right for being a suck-up.’
Skinny Monkey said coldly, "Laughing at me? Hmph. If we don’t find any Treasure, Young Master Ren Fan won’t just kill me. He’ll kill all of you, too."
At his words, everyone fell silent, their fear palpable. They immediately redoubled their efforts, searching desperately for Treasure.
Watching them scramble about, Ren Fan’s face was a mask of contempt.
’Telling me to go to sleep?’
’Heh!’
’Do they take me for a fucking idiot?’
If he actually fell asleep, these lackeys would definitely hoard Treasure for themselves. They might even get greedy and try to chop off his head in his sleep.
That’s why he had to keep a close eye on them.
Just then, one of the lackeys exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, I think I sense the aura of a Treasure! It’s a mineral vein!"
"I sense it too."
"Me too! I sense it too!"
Hearing that his lackeys had sensed a mineral vein, Ren Fan was instantly overjoyed. "Where? Take me there at once!"
"It’s just two hundred meters ahead!"
Skinny Monkey said, pointing.
Soon, they arrived at the site of the mineral vein and saw a cave entrance leading deep underground.
Skinny Monkey said excitedly, "See, Young Master Ren Fan? We were right! There’s a mineral vein here, and the tunnel has already been dug for us. All we have to do is go in and start mining!"
Ren Fan urged, "Then what are you all standing around for? Get in there!"
The group filed into the cave.
Soon, they reached the depths of the mineral vein, its walls covered in ore.
"So much ore!"
"Young Master Ren Fan, if we mine all this, you might even take first place in the second round of the assessment!"
"Congratulations, Young Master Ren Fan."
They all looked at Ren Fan with excitement.
Ren Fan said with satisfaction, "The ranking is secondary. The main thing is that I get to have this entire vein to myself. I’m going to be rich."
"Get rich?"
Everyone’s eyes lit up.
Just as they were about to start mining, Skinny Monkey suddenly pointed ahead. "Hey, are those... a few Demon Beasts over there?"
Ren Fan asked, confused, "Demon Beasts? What would they be doing in a mine?"
Skinny Monkey stammered, "They... they look like they’re mining."