However, he did not take off from Flat Top Mountain. Instead, he walked down the steps to the mountain’s base.

There was a rule: unless one was an Immortal Elder or a core disciple, one could not approach or depart in this manner.

After arriving at the mountain’s foot, Jiang Chen found an open area and then took out the Paper Crane.

Its initial form was not large, just a small piece. When a strand of spiritual power was infused into it, the thing began to expand. In the blink of an eye, it became over two meters long and more than three meters wide.

At the same time, a feeling of effortless control arose. It was as if this wasn’t a Paper Crane, but more like an extension of his own hand. With just a thought, he could control it freely, without any hindrance.

While continuously infusing spiritual power, Jiang Chen jumped onto the Paper Crane’s back. Controlling it, he wobbled unsteadily toward his own Spirit Farm.

At first, he wasn’t very familiar with it. But as time passed, he became increasingly adept. At a height of about ten meters above the ground, the Paper Crane moved forward at an extremely steady speed.

He was quite satisfied with everything else. The only downside was the lack of any wind protection. When the speed increased, or when the wind blew against him, a constant “whooshing” sound filled his ears. Fortunately, the novelty of the experience overshadowed this drawback.

Before long, Jiang Chen arrived directly above his own Spirit Farm.

Perhaps catching its master’s scent, the little yellow dog searched everywhere. Even though Jiang Chen was right nearby, it couldn’t see him, whimpering anxiously in frustration.

After teasing it for a while, he controlled the Paper Crane to land. The moment he cut off the spiritual power infusion, it immediately shrank back to its original size.

Then came the usual routine: cooking, eating, washing dishes.

By the time everything was done, half an hour had passed.

Jiang Chen did not rest. Instead, he controlled the Paper Crane to take off again. His next target was the Earth Vein, a place he had never been to before.

Along the way, his control over the Paper Crane grew more and more familiar. No more swaying left and right. Even when encountering strong winds, it remained as steady as an old dog.

As time went on, the surrounding scenery gradually changed. Various pits and holes came into view. This meant he was approaching the area of Fire Peak.

But Jiang Chen did not venture deep inside. Instead, he turned right.

After some more time passed, a massive pit appeared in an open area ahead. It was pitch black inside; nothing could be seen clearly. Occasionally, pale yellow mist drifted up from its depths.

As he got closer and closer, the concentration of Earth Spiritual Energy in the air skyrocketed. Fortunately, Jiang Chen didn’t feel any discomfort from it.

Getting closer now, he could see people stationed near the pit’s edge. Seeing Jiang Chen approaching on a Paper Crane, they immediately stepped forward to intercept him.

“I am Jiang Chen of the Wood Spirit Root. I’ve come specifically to complete a task.”

“I have the other party’s communication talisman here!”

The interceptor was a tall man with well-developed muscles. His eyes were sharp like an eagle’s as they sized up Jiang Chen from head to toe.

Compared to the Spirit Farm’s laxness, the Earth Vein side was much stricter.

Jiang Chen handed over Jin Man’s communication talisman. The other man infused it with spiritual power.

After some communication back and forth, not only was everything confirmed to be in order, but he also learned from Jin Man how to care for Earth Lotuses.

Although there was no further obstruction after this, he did not allow Jiang Chen to enter alone. Instead, this man personally led him in. Furthermore, they could only proceed on foot; using the Paper Crane was not allowed.

Jiang Chen asked puzzledly, “Senior Brother here… why is the Earth Vein so strict?”

“My name is Shan Fei,” the man introduced himself before continuing, “Because the Earth Vein is very important.”

Hearing this, Jiang Chen wore an expression that seemed both understanding and not.

Seeing his look, Shan Fei explained, “There are Spirit Stone veins in the Earth Vein. If people could come and go freely, wouldn’t everyone be able to mine Spirit Stones?”

Therefore, Earth Spirit Root disciples in the Earth Vein weren’t just cultivating; they also had duties of guarding and mining.

As Shan Fei led the way, he asked, “What is your cultivation realm?”

Jiang Chen replied, “Mid-stage Qi Condensation.”

Shan Fei nodded slightly. “Jin Man’s cave dwelling is on level 18 of the Earth Vein. It’s good that you’re at mid-stage Qi Condensation. If you were at early-stage Qi Condensation, you’d have to give up this task.”

Shan Fei said with a serious expression, “For every level deeper into the Earth Vein, the pressure increases by ten percent. If your strength isn’t sufficient… you simply won’t be able to withstand it.”

Afterward, both entered this pitch-black pit.

Once inside, Jiang Chen discovered with surprise that the downward path wasn’t straight. Instead… it spiraled down in coil after coil.

Although from outside it felt like a “black hole”, once inside, he found that there was a bright lamp placed at regular intervals. While they couldn’t illuminate everything completely… they at least allowed one to see the path underfoot clearly.

Following behind Shan Fei, Jiang Chen silently counted. Seeing that they had already spiraled down eighteen times, he couldn’t help but speak up. “Aren’t we there yet?”

Shan Fei glanced back, revealing an amused expression. “Fellow Daoist Jiang… you might be disappointed. This pit is just an entrance… we haven’t reached the Earth Vein yet.”

Hearing this, Jiang Chen’s mouth twitched several times. Though somewhat speechless… there wasn’t much to complain about either. Since he had accepted this task, he could only try to complete it.

After roughly enough time for one incense stick to burn, they finally reached the bottom of the pit.

It looked quite spacious here, with excavated tunnels everywhere. There were many Earth Spirit Root disciples constantly coming and going.

What was strange… these people clearly had nothing on their bodies, yet all appeared extremely strained. Each step seemed very heavy, their faces covered in fine beads of sweat. They looked as if they were carrying invisible heavy loads.

Notably… these people’s skin was yellower. But not an unhealthy sallow yellow… rather, it had a yellowish glow.

Upon reaching here, Shan Fei stopped leading him further. He pointed toward one tunnel and said, “You go inside that way. It will take about an hour to reach level 18 of the Earth Vein.”

Shan Fei shrugged. “If you were Earth Spirit Root… your pressure resistance would be stronger. The time would be cut in half. But…”

Although Shan Fei didn’t finish his sentence, Jiang Chen understood perfectly well. Clearly… only Earth Spirit Roots were truly suited for entering the Earth Vein.

He never expected his very first task would be so strenuous. Although he could give up, doing so would deduct points from his own record.

Therefore, he had no choice but to walk step by step toward that tunnel directly opposite him. No matter what, he would try first and see how it went.

Shan Fei stood behind him wearing that amused expression again. “If anyone could easily move around freely within the Earth Vein… then what would be the point of having Earth Spirit Roots?!”

Jiang Chen silently walked inward.

The tunnel wasn’t flat inside; instead, it was a continuous downward slope. Occasionally he encountered one or two Earth Spirit Root disciples along its length, but they remained extremely silent.

At first, Jiang Chen thought perhaps they were excluding outsiders. But as he continued descending further down, he gradually began to perceive the problem lay elsewhere.

Pressure upon his body kept increasing steadily.

At the start, it was okay enough; not too uncomfortable yet. But as he kept going deeper down, the pressure grew greater and greater.

His body felt like it was bearing a weight of a thousand jin.

He could barely catch his breath; he simply had no strength left to speak words aloud anymore.

Within the Earth Vein itself… only those possessing Earth Spirit Roots could withstand such pressures fully intact. For any other type of spiritual root—whether metal, wood, water, or fire—all found it difficult to endure!