Seeing this, everyone’s eyes lit up.
Su Mo was the one with the real methods, obtaining a High-level Technique so effortlessly.
But it wasn’t enough.
A single High-level Technique wasn’t nearly enough for everyone to practice.
Su Mo commanded, "Keep writing. Write down every Cultivation Technique you know. If you don’t, I’ll perform a Soul Search on you. The sensation... I’m sure you don’t want to experience that, right?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The white-haired old man hunched back over and continued writing out the techniques.
Su Mo then ordered the Ma Yi Daoist and the beautiful woman, "You two, write as well. I’ll let whoever writes down the most Cultivation Techniques live."
"What?"
The three of them felt a jolt in their hearts and began to write for their lives.
This was their only chance to survive.
They had to seize it.
The three of them wrote for three full days and nights. Each transcribed over a hundred Cultivation Techniques from memory before they finally stopped.
Su Mo glanced at the Cultivation Techniques the three had transcribed. "The woman stays," he said. "Drag the two men out and bury them."
"Spare us..."
The Ma Yi Daoist and the white-haired old man were dragged out, leaving only the beautiful woman kneeling in place, trembling.
Su Mo asked, "Speak. Why did you come to Qingyang City?"
"We... We came looking for an Earth Vein,"
the beautiful woman said, her voice trembling.
Su Mo was completely unfazed.
’He had long since expected this. It was only a matter of time before someone came looking for the Golden Dragon Spiritual Vein.’
Su Mo continued, "Did just the four of you come?"
The beautiful woman answered, "Seven of us came in total. The other three, led by Elder Baiyun, an Early Stage Martial King, went elsewhere. The few of us just got lucky and found this place."
’A Martial King...’
A look of delighted surprise appeared on Su Mo’s face.
The beautiful woman nodded. "Elder Baiyun is indeed in the Early Stage of the Martial King Realm. The other two are at Martial Monarch Great Perfection. They shouldn’t be far from Qingyang City."
She had intended to use Elder Baiyun’s Martial King Realm status to intimidate Su Mo.
But in the next moment, she was left dumbfounded.
To her shock, Su Mo said excitedly, "A Martial King must know plenty of powerful Cultivation Techniques, right? Quick, get him over to Qingyang City. Have him transcribe his techniques for me."
"Huh?"
The beautiful woman stared blankly.
’Is this guy crazy? Can’t he tell who’s the real powerhouse here?’
’That’s a Martial King Powerhouse we’re talking about!’
Su Mo glared at her. "Are you going to call him or not? If you don’t, I’ll chop you to bits and feed you to the Demon Beasts. I have over thirty thousand Demon Pets, you know."
’What?’
’Over thirty thousand Demon Pets...’
Although the beautiful woman knew there were many Demon Beasts in Qingyang City, she was still stunned witless upon hearing the number. Her jaw nearly hit the floor.
’How could one person simultaneously tame thirty thousand Demon Beasts as his Demon Pets?’
’It was too outrageous!’
Su Mo said nonchalantly, "Ever since these Demon Beasts started following me, they’ve all switched to a diet of plants and wild game. It’s been a long time since they’ve had any fresh human flesh. If I were to toss you out to them..."
"I’ll do it! I’ll call him, alright?!"
The beautiful woman burst into tears from fright.
’He just wanted her to set a trap and lure Elder Baiyun here to write out some Cultivation Techniques. Did Su Mo really have to scare her so badly?’
’He’s so cruel.’
The beautiful woman took a Communication Stone from her robes and infused it with Spiritual Qi. Elder Baiyun’s voice immediately came from within. "Have you found the Golden Dragon Earth Vein?"
"We’ve found it. It’s right here in Qingyang City. You should bring your men over quickly," the beautiful woman said, her voice quavering.
Elder Baiyun’s voice was filled with excitement. "Qingyang City, you say? I happen to be not far from there. You all wait for me; I’m on my way now."
"There. Elder Baiyun has agreed to come over."
The beautiful woman looked at Su Mo with pleading, pitiful eyes.
Su Mo said coolly, "You’ll stay here for now. I’ll let you go after I’ve captured Elder Baiyun. Any objections?"
"None at all, as long as you don’t kill me,"
the beautiful woman replied, nodding obediently.
Su Mo summoned Xiao Zhan, the Desolate Old Monster, and several other Elders, and they went to the city gate to await Elder Baiyun’s arrival.
Elder Baiyun led two middle-aged men, traveling at top speed.
One of them, a man in brocade robes, spoke up. "Elder Bai, something felt off about Junior Sister’s tone. It sounded like she’d been frightened into tears. Her voice was trembling."
"I noticed that too!"
said the other man, who was dressed in lavish robes.
Elder Baiyun chuckled. "You’re both overthinking things. A godforsaken place like this won’t have any experts. Your Junior Sister is powerful enough to be a god here. As for her crying... I’d wager she was just overcome with excitement from finding the Golden Dragon Earth Vein."
"So she was crying tears of joy. And here we were, worrying for nothing."
The two men chuckled, their concerns assuaged.
The Golden Dragon Earth Vein was a legendary, top-tier Earth Vein, the kind one might encounter only once in a millennium. Getting emotional was perfectly normal; there was no need to make a fuss.
Elder Baiyun urged them on. "Let’s pick up the pace. If we’re late, they’ll take all the credit for themselves. Don’t forget, the other three are still there."
"Full speed!"
The three of them sped toward Qingyang City in a great rush.
「One hour later...」
The man in brocade robes pointed ahead. "Look! Qingyang City is just up ahead."
Elder Baiyun said excitedly, "What dense Spiritual Qi fluctuations! It seems the Golden Dragon Earth Vein really is here. Quickly, we’ll storm the city!"
"I’ll go on ahead."
With a flash of movement, the man in brocade robes was the first to arrive outside Qingyang City.
Elder Baiyun and the man in lavish robes followed close behind.
However, before the three of them could even enter the city, a cold voice drifted into their ears. "Heh heh. I’ve been waiting for you three for quite a while."
"Who’s there?!"
The three of them cried out in alarm.
Su Mo’s voice was laced with exasperation. "I’m sitting right here, plain as day. Did you really not see me? Are you blind?"
The three looked toward the source of the voice and saw Su Mo sitting atop the center of the gatehouse.
’Was that brat the one who was just speaking?’
’They hadn’t even recognized his voice.’
Furthermore, standing behind Su Mo were Xiao Zhan and several other Martial Monarchs.
Elder Baiyun sneered. "A few worthless Martial Monarchs dare to posture before me? You must have a death wish."
He was, after all, a master at the Early Stage of the Martial King Realm, with two cultivators at Martial Monarch Great Perfection at his side.
Naturally, he didn’t give Su Mo a second thought.
Su Mo didn’t get angry. He simply asked, "You must be Elder Baiyun, then?"
"I am!"
Elder Baiyun suddenly realized something was amiss. "How do you know my name?" he demanded.
Su Mo replied placidly, "A woman told me."
"A woman?"
The man in brocade robes cried out in alarm, "You captured our Junior Sister?"
Su Mo replied coolly, "Of course. If I hadn’t captured her, how else would I have tricked the three of you into coming here?"
The hearts of the three men sank.
No wonder their Junior Sister’s voice had sounded on the verge of tears during the communication. So she really had been captured by this brat.
Elder Baiyun asked in a grim voice, "And the others?"
"Buried,"
Su Mo said nonchalantly.
"What? You buried them?"
Elder Baiyun’s face was a mask of horror.
’Doesn’t this brat know we’re from the Profound Celestial Sect? How dare he bury our people? The audacity!’
Su Mo retorted, "If I didn’t bury them, what was I supposed to do, invite them to dinner?"
’He was already being merciful.’
’Otherwise, he would have chopped them into pieces and fed them to the Demon Beasts, leaving no corpse to be found.’
"How audacious!"
the man in brocade robes roared. "Brat, you dare bury men from my Profound Celestial Sect? Believe it or not, I’ll take your head!"