Chapter 365: The Return Journey
The next day, in a refined and elegant pavilion on the mountain.
Yin Lang pushed several old books in front of Bai Mo and the others.
"These are the texts I promised you all, a secret manual of the West Pole Sect."
The cover read: Fire Department Celestial Artisan.
The group flipped through them briefly, confirming that they were indeed supplementary texts for the Alchemy Dao.
They contained methods for crafting various types of Pill Furnaces, techniques for controlling, creating, and summoning fire, as well as some obscure Secret Techniques.
Overall, they were high-quality texts—the real deal for professionals in the field.
"In addition, here are your Spirit Stones…"
The Spirit Stones, held in storage bags that were themselves Magical Artifacts, were pushed toward the group.
Jing Heng inspected his share.
"We previously agreed on twenty thousand Spirit Stones…"
But the bag now contained at least four or five thousand more than that.
Yin Lang cupped his hands toward the group and said with a wry smile,
"My apologies for this embarrassing display."
"There seems to be a mole in our sect. We've already taken measures to deal with it, but we hope you will not leak any news about the Pill Ghost."
Seeing as they were getting an extra five thousand Spirit Stones for nothing in return, the group certainly had no objections.
However, with turmoil brewing within the West Pole Sect, they had no desire to get involved and wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Finally, Jing Heng asked, "That Pill Ghost... what does your sect intend to do with it?"
Yin Lang replied, "We'll sell it to the Xuandao Sect."
Jing Heng mulled it over for a moment before speaking tentatively.
"If it's just a matter of Spirit Stones…"
He was also interested in the Pill Ghost.
"My apologies." Yin Lang cupped his fist.
"The truth is, the Xuandao Sect's Pill Peak has already called for it…"
'In that case, there was nothing to be done.'
Jing Heng could only feel a pang of regret.
Plenty of people wanted to study such an ancient creation of the Alchemy Dao, hoping to catch a glimpse of the alchemical arts of that bygone era.
Although the Pill Ghost couldn't be controlled at will and didn't function like a Spirit Beast, it surely had its uses.
After all, it was a terrifying creation, its power nearly flawless.
And if one could take it a step further and obtain even a shred of its creation method…
...
The Spirit Beast Yin Lang had rented was still at the West Pole Sect, where it had been fed until its coat was sleek and glossy.
He piloted it once more, taking Bai Mo and the group back to Celestial Mountain City.
As for the Pill Ghost, he still had to contact the Xuandao Sect again to negotiate the price.
The Spirit Beast soared into the sky and flew away, the fierce wind beneath its wings rustling the treetops.
At the mountain gate of the West Pole Sect, two stewards watched from afar, their expressions grim.
"According to that guy Gong, the Pill Ghost isn't easy to pacify. It's still raising a fuss."
"But once those alchemists go back and find some treasure, they'll be able to suppress the Pill Ghost…"
The other man listened, growing more irritated.
"So what? Didn't you sense the cultivation level of that guy in the blue robe?"
"He's not someone we can touch. Chen, don't do anything rash. Let's just drop it while we haven't been exposed. We'll find another chance later."
"No." Chen shook his head.
"We can wait, but those bastards trying to stir up trouble and steal the sect's inheritance can't. If we want to profit from this, we need to rely on them."
"I've recently gotten to know a group of people who specialize in dirty work. I doubt they'd be afraid…"
Not long after, a group of people from the West Pole Sect descended the mountain and went their separate ways.
The steward known as Chen departed by himself. As he passed through a patch of old woods, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"…Who's there!?"
Steward Gong's tall, sturdy figure emerged from behind a tree, his face completely grim.
Chen's eyelid twitched, but he instantly got his reaction under control.
Steward Gong stared at him intently and spoke slowly.
"The sect is in need of all hands at the moment. Is there some urgent matter that requires Steward Chen to travel so suddenly?"
Steward Chen assumed a serious expression.
"For your information, Steward Gong, I've received news about the two Direct Disciples of our sect who fell into the hands of bandits."
"My abrupt departure is to rescue them. I hope Steward Gong will not complicate matters…"
As he said this, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked all around.
"What is the meaning of this!?"
Numerous disciples holding Array Plates emerged from the woods, silently activating them as they walked out.
A pair of shackles materialized in Steward Gong's hands as he spoke in a cold voice.
"I brought the restraints with me. And you're telling *me* not to cause trouble?"
...
「After a month, Bai Mo and the others returned to Celestial Mountain City.」
The group stopped by the branch hall of the Pill Pavilion, mainly to help submit the results of Bai Mo's evaluation.
Once their business was concluded, the white-haired old man and the others left their contact information and prepared to head back.
Old Man Gai, a smile on his face, pointed to the white-haired old man and said to Jing Heng,
"This old friend of mine has his own way of doing things. He plans to take the scenic route home, so he won't be traveling with anyone."
"Why don't you travel with me, City Lord Jing? I have a small donkey that is exceptionally fast; ordinary folk can't keep up with it."
"That is, if you don't mind my humble donkey…"
Jing Heng was immediately interested.
"How could I possibly mind? In that case, I'd be honored to accept. Today, I'll have to impose on Daoist Gai and his prized treasure!"
Among the several Grandmasters, Old Man Gai had arrived the quickest, even finding time for sightseeing and leisurely strolls through towns along the way.
Such a carefree journey was likely all thanks to that donkey of his.
The journey was perilous, so Jing Heng had to be vigilant.
Bai Mo saw them to the city's outskirts and watched them depart before turning back into the city.
Back in the branch hall, there were still some Pill Masters he knew whom he needed to visit. They had all offered him guidance in the past, and he could not afford to be disrespectful.
These social calls took a full two days. Finally, seen off by the several Pill Masters who were temporarily staying in the hall, Bai Mo departed at a leisurely pace.
Two newly promoted Pill Masters happened to arrive at that moment. Seeing Bai Mo's retreating back, they couldn't help but feel curious.
"Who is that person?"
"Why are the seniors giving him such an earnest send-off?"
The old Pill Master leading them shook his head.
"He is, after all, a proper Pill Sect. What's so surprising about him being personally seen off?"
Ignoring the two newcomers' shocked expressions, the old Pill Master sighed.
"This year, only the two of you were promoted. Each year is worse than the last. What is to be done?"
"Could it be that the fortune of the Celestial Mountain City branch has finally run out…"
The evaluation for a Pill Sect would certainly cause some waves.
But that had nothing to do with Bai Mo anymore. Once he returned to Mi Mountain, he would be free from all worldly troubles.
Just as he stepped out of the gates of Celestial Mountain City, Bai Mo received a message from the disciple on duty.
"According to a report from the West Pole Sect, members of the Seven Beasts Sect have been in our territory abducting Pill Masters, committing all sorts of crimes, and even accepting bounty commissions."
"Acting on the information they provided, our sect has now cleared out one of their strongholds and rescued several renowned masters of the Alchemy Dao…"
"Apparently, those villains came here because the Seven Beasts Sect leadership ordered every branch to offer up fifty true Alchemy Cultivators as tribute."
Bai Mo didn't know how the West Pole Sect had gotten involved with the Seven Beasts Sect.
'But after this, the Seven Beasts Sect will probably quiet down for a while.'
Bai Mo went to the foot of the mountain to retrieve his Flying Ship and then followed a convoy of Spirit Beasts from Beast Taming Peak that was transporting goods, heading back toward the Xuandao Sect.
'This trip took quite a bit longer than I expected.'
During a moment of leisure, Bai Mo took out the Fire Department Celestial Artisan and began to leaf through it.
It was a very practical book. An ordinary Cultivator who obtained it and learned the crafts within could easily become a famous artisan.
'Presumably, many an Alchemy Cultivator would be willing to hire such a person to build them a fine lodge or a complete Alchemy Room?'
For Bai Mo himself, the most useful content was the art of fire summoning.
Refined to a high enough level, it was said that one could conjure flames from thin air, formed from the fire qi of the world itself, and that these flames were in no way inferior to those from burning Spirit Wood.
'Honestly, the value of this book isn't much less than twenty thousand Spirit Stones,' he thought. 'It's just not that important to me, personally.'