Chapter 407: Return to Xianlin
Two months later, a Foundation Establishment disciple from the inner sect arrived.
She was a woman, arriving on a Flying Ship with a sword at her side. Her face was etched with displeasure.
"I was in the middle of seclusion when I abruptly received a summons from the Foreign Affairs Hall. I rushed here as fast as I could, but I’m still half a month late..."
Bai Mo reassured her, "It’s nothing, Senior Sister. Don’t let it bother you."
"This is a quiet place. You won’t have to worry too much, Senior Sister. You should be able to find some peace here."
Bai Mo could tell this senior sister was distracted. ’She must be at a critical point in comprehending some technique.’
But accepting and carrying out orders was the duty of a Sect Disciple.
After enjoying so many of the sect’s resources, one couldn’t simply shirk one’s duties just because they were at a critical point in their cultivation.
Bai Mo introduced the two Qian brothers to her.
"These are the descendants of one of the sect’s senior brothers. They’re both competent. If you need anything done, Senior Sister, you can have them do it."
The two Qian brothers hurried forward to pay their respects.
The female disciple’s expression softened slightly.
"Very good. Work hard, and I won’t treat you poorly."
Her clothes and accessories were clearly no ordinary items; they pulsed with spiritual energy, showing that she was someone who didn’t lack for Spirit Stones.
It seemed Bai Mo had found a good opportunity for the Qian brothers.
The two fellow disciples completed the handover of duties. From that point on, the disciple patrolling the route between Dagu Town and Black Mountain City had officially changed.
Bai Mo then departed.
The villagers of Xiaoao Village came to see him off, presenting him with a fire fox pelt as a parting gift.
Bai Mo accepted it and turned to Qian Qing.
"Over the past few days, I managed to refine five Outer Pills. They’re all semi-finished, but take them all back. They should still be of some use to your grandfather."
Qian Qing quickly cupped his hands in thanks.
Bai Mo sighed.
"To be honest, I’m ashamed. I used so many of the Qian family’s materials, yet I still couldn’t refine a complete Pill..."
Though Qian Qing felt it was a pity, he knew that matters of alchemy couldn’t be rushed.
It often took Alchemy Cultivators years to research a Pill.
How could one expect success in just a few short months?
But even without a finished product, they had still found a potentially useful path forward for their grandfather.
That alone was more than enough for them.
Qian Qing paused. Realizing Bai Mo was about to leave, he hesitated no longer and asked:
"The Outer Pill method of the Alchemy Dao is an ancient art. There aren’t many in this day and age who are skilled in it."
"And since the Qian family has long resided in this remote region, it’s even harder for us to find such connections..."
He trailed off, but Bai Mo already understood his meaning.
"Alright," Bai Mo said after a moment’s thought.
"In the future, you can continue to send those materials to the Xuandao Sect. Just tell them they’re to be delivered to the Black Prison."
"If I make any breakthroughs within the sect, I’ll send the Pills back to you."
Hearing this, Qian Qing’s body trembled. Overjoyed, he gave a deep bow.
"Immortal Master, you are truly benevolent!!"
Bai Mo smiled and waved it off. He summoned his Flying Ship, grabbed Ah Er by the scruff of his neck, tossed him aboard, and then stepped on to activate it.
"No need to see me off. All of you, head back now!"
The Flying Ship turned into a streak of green light and soon vanished from sight.
The villagers of Xiaoao Village felt a sense of loss.
While this Immortal Master Bai had seemed a bit aloof on a normal day, he was remarkably easygoing when it came to getting things done.
He rarely left his residence, yet he managed everything perfectly, without a single issue ever arising.
Now, a new person had arrived.
It was clear this new Immortal Master was not one to be idle. They wondered if she would even have time to look after the village once she settled in.
The villagers gradually dispersed.
The two Qian brothers, however, were still beaming with joy.
Qian Chen pumped a fist into his palm.
"Brother! That Immortal Master Bai is a truly righteous man!!"
"When Grandfather finds out about this, isn’t he going to be ecstatic?"
He spoke without thinking.
Qian Qing glanced at him and gave a slight nod, offering no further explanation.
Compared to the life-prolonging Nascent Soul Pseudo-Pill, re-establishing a connection with the Xuandao Sect was perhaps what would please their grandfather most.
...
Aboard the Flying Ship, Bai Mo spread out a map.
His finger traced a path across it before stopping on a city.
Immortal Arrival City.
"Do you want to take a trip into Celestial Barrier Mountain?"
Bai Mo looked toward Ah Er, who was scratching his back with one paw while hugging the Pill Furnace with the other.
"There are plenty of Demon Hunting Teams in Immortal Arrival City. I can ask one of them to take you inside for a tour. It wouldn’t be a problem."
Ah Er, who had been bored out of his mind, fell into thought upon hearing Bai Mo’s suggestion.
After a moment, it shook its head solemnly.
"URGH!"
Bai Mo nodded.
"The mountains are indeed dangerous. Staying far away from such perilous places is the sensible choice."
He said as much, but seeing the badger act this way was proof enough. ’He’s really lost most of his wild instincts.’
’From now on, he and the Demon Beasts of the mountains will be like complete strangers.’
Bai Mo focused on their journey, and the Flying Ship picked up speed.
The wind rushed past the ship, but it couldn’t budge Ah Er’s stocky frame.
He opened the lid of the furnace and peered inside. Submerged in the corrosive Pill Liquid was a flesh worm, broken in two, yet still wriggling.
Originally, Bai Mo had just wanted to toss it into the Pill Furnace to let the toxic waste liquid kill it.
He never imagined it would be so resilient.
That was when Bai Mo guessed the creature might be something special, so he decided to keep it.
The visiting Cultivators in Immortal Arrival City all had pockets lined with Spirit Stones, and they came to the city looking for novelties.
Perhaps someone would take a liking to such a peculiar worm.
Whatever Spirit Stones it fetched would go to Ah Er for his spending money in the city.
Ah Er extended his claws and spitefully pressed the flesh worm deeper into the Pill Liquid.
His claws were sharp, but even when he applied force, he couldn’t pierce the worm’s skin.
...
The Flying Ship soared through the sky. Bai Mo navigated without a moment’s rest.
After nearly half a month of travel, his face numb from the wind, the silhouette of Immortal Arrival City finally appeared on the horizon.
"We’re here."
The Flying Ship landed outside the city just as morning broke.
Large groups of Loose Cultivators, shouldering various goods, were queued up to enter the city.
The line was orderly, but no one was guarding their tongues.
All sorts of gossip and idle chatter flowed freely, filling the air outside the city with a cacophony of noise.
The guards at the city gate remained expressionless, letting people in after a check while listening to the chatter.
Not far away, Bai Mo put away his Flying Ship and vigorously rubbed his face before leading Ah Er toward the city gate.
A city like this had a completely different feel from the Xuandao Sect’s mountain gate, or even places like Xiaoao Village and Black Mountain City.
Ah Er clutched the Pill Furnace to his chest, his eyes wide as he followed Bai Mo through the city gate.
Bai Mo didn’t recognize the guards at the gate.
However, they had all seen him land his Flying Ship, and its design was familiar to them.
After a single glance at Bai Mo’s sect Token, they decisively waved him into the city.
Seeing this, the Loose Cultivators waiting in line immediately began to point and mutter.
"Who’s that? How can they just cut the line?"
"Tch. How many Cultivators have we seen enter the city like that these days? He’s a Sect Disciple. How can he be compared to the likes of us?"
"Exactly..."
Then, someone spotted the badger following Bai Mo and cried out in surprise.
"WOAH!"
"Look at that Demon Beast! Its fur is so glossy and sleek! What a prime specimen!!"
The Cultivators around here were experts at skinning and butchering Demon Beasts, so they were all connoisseurs when it came to judging an animal’s quality.
Naturally, they could tell at a glance that Ah Er was no ordinary creature.
Bai Mo paid their comments no mind, simply leading Ah Er toward the shops.