Chapter 413: Searching for the Nest
The massive, golden-scaled fish was covered in injuries.
They were all powerful, heavy blows from a blunt weapon. The fact that it had still been alive and kicking was surprising.
Its shattered scales hadn’t even begun to grow back yet.
Not many people around Immortal Arrival City possessed such capabilities.
Considering what Brother Zheng had said, it was most likely the work of someone from the Child Altar.
"This species of Demon Fish digs incredibly deep nests. With a few modifications, one would make an excellent hiding spot."
"The Cultivators from the Child Altar must have driven the poor thing out of its own nest."
It might have even been that young man with the dual maces. After all, his fighting style matched the wounds on the fish perfectly.
A Cultivator from the Weapon Peak jumped down, pried off a golden scale from near the fish’s gills, and stowed it away.
The scales were the only useful part of the fish, being a top-grade material for crafting Soft Armor. The rest of it was far inferior.
The group made their way to the shore.
A family of Cultivators made their living here. Their old fishing boat was moored nearby.
A weather-beaten old Cultivator with a dark, ruddy complexion stood there anxiously with a young boy and girl.
Families like this were not an uncommon sight around Immortal Arrival City.
The able-bodied Cultivators often had greater ambitions; once they entered the Celestial Barrier Mountain, there was no guarantee they would ever return.
Seeing the Flying Ship approach, the old Cultivator’s expression became exceedingly humble.
"To what do I owe the honor of your visit? Is there anything this old man can help you with?"
Bai Mo was the first to speak.
"We are disciples of the Xuandao Sect, here to hunt a fugitive Cultivator."
"Sir, do you happen to know the location of the golden-scaled fish’s nest?"
When the old Cultivator heard their background, his expression grew even more deferential.
’Whether they’re telling the truth or not, these are people I can’t afford to offend.’
"This fish has been running rampant in the Azure Dragon River for quite some time. With its thick hide and tough flesh, no one has been able to deal with it."
"Even a Demon Hunting Team that came out of the mountains ended up as a meal in its belly."
The old Cultivator said,
"However, the beast is also worth a good deal of money, so some Cultivators have tried their luck with it before. As a result, many people have kept an eye on its whereabouts..."
Bai Mo pointed directly at the fish carcass floating on the water’s surface and said,
"Lead us to the Demon Fish’s nest before tomorrow, and this fish is yours."
"This..."
The old Cultivator froze. He’d never imagined such a reward would fall from the heavens. He suddenly felt a tingling sensation spread through his body.
He took a sharp breath.
"Please, wait here for a moment. I’ll go make some inquiries right away!"
No one was willing to give up information for free.
But a Demon Fish this large could easily be partially shared.
The remainder would be more than enough for the old Cultivator’s family to have a prosperous year.
His grandson and granddaughter had followed him to make a living, so they were certainly not the pampered type.
Fearing the carcass would drift away, they got Bai Mo’s permission and began wrapping harpoon ropes around its parts, attempting to haul it back to shore.
Many of the families along the shore had witnessed the disciple from the Weapon Peak kill the massive fish just moments ago.
Seeing the boy and girl’s actions, no one dared to approach and try to claim a piece of the prize.
While they waited, Bai Mo turned to Brother Zheng for advice.
"If I may ask, Brother, what benefits do ordinary Cultivators gain by joining the Child Altar?"
Bai Mo had seen that the Cultivators on the flying leopard weren’t just from the Child Altar.
Two of the others, based on their attire, were from an Immortal Arrival City Demon Hunting Team. Only they would hang so many tools from their waists.
They were all tools for butchering Demon Beasts.
And judging by their panicked expressions as they urged the Child Altar Cultivators to flee, it didn’t seem like they had been coerced.
’They were probably dead set on joining that great sect.’
Brother Zheng narrowed his eyes.
"The Child Altar doesn’t consider background or talent when recruiting disciples, only ’destiny.’ If someone truly fits their needs, they’ll take them."
"Frankly, any Cultivator fortunate enough to join their ranks can be considered to have ascended to the heavens in a single step. The benefits they receive are far better than what we miserable sods get."
Bai Mo chuckled.
"The Holy Dao Sect’s reputation isn’t exactly stellar. Why would they treat people so well for no reason?"
"Exactly."
Brother Zheng sighed.
"Once you join them, they aren’t worried about you progressing too slowly. They’re worried about you progressing too quickly."
"The moment you become ’useful,’ your body will be seized by one of the old monsters from the Child Altar, so they can live a new life."
A thought crossed Bai Mo’s mind.
"Our sect has an ancestor who is rumored to have a cultivation level approaching immortality."
"These old monsters from the Child Altar..."
Brother Zheng quickly waved his hand to clarify.
"You give those old freaks far too much credit. They’re merely at the Core Formation or Nascent Soul realms."
"The rumor is that they are the true core members of the Child Altar. When their lifespans run out, they seal away their Divine Souls and wait for a suitable vessel to come along."
Bai Mo nodded slightly as he listened.
He had read about similar incidents in the journals of various Pill Masters.
’But no matter how sophisticated the possession technique, it has its limits.’
’Each possession places a heavy strain on one’s Divine Soul.’
’Once a certain threshold is crossed, the Divine Soul will collapse, and that means true and utter annihilation.’
Brother Zheng continued, "I don’t know how the Child Altar does it, but they manage to make their disciples’ cultivation advance by leaps and bounds, as if divinely assisted."
"Even the cultivation base they forcibly instill is astonishingly solid. Tsk, tsk..."
’This must be their foundation, part of what the Holy Dao Sect has relied upon to stand for countless years.’
Bai Mo didn’t ask whether the disciples could escape.
A sect of this caliber, with so many years of history, would naturally have its own systems and methods.
’An ordinary Cultivator who joins them can only be led by the nose. It’s almost impossible for them to exert their own will or act on their own desires.’
As dusk approached, the old fisherman Cultivator returned with several other burly, sun-darkened men.
They were all men who made their living on the river, their skin ravaged by the sun.
Their conversation could be heard from a distance.
"Old Yu, are you telling the truth?"
"How could a prize this big just fall into the lap of an old coot like you?"
"Could it be a trap? I’ve heard about scams like this going around..."
The old Cultivator grew flustered and exasperated.
"Shut your mouths! Those masters killed that giant fish in plain sight for all to see. It can’t be a fake."
"Now be smart about this! If we serve them well, we’ll all be rewarded!"
When the men saw the massive fish moored by the shore, their bellies full of doubt emptied instantly.
The old Cultivator hurried over to Bai Mo.
"Sirs, I’ve brought a few fellow Cultivators. They’re all river folk who’ve been keeping an eye on that fish for a long time."
"If we make a sweep, we’re sure to find its nest!"
Staring at the wounds on the fish’s carcass, which had already been drained of blood, the men hardly dared to breathe.
Now, hearing the old Cultivator’s guarantee, they hastily chimed in.
"Yes, yes, that’s right!"
"In fact, we’ve had our suspicions for a while now, we just lacked the means to confirm them..."
A moment later, one of the men, having called in some kind of favor, managed to procure a large boat.
"Please, sirs, come aboard. I’ll take the helm..."
The large boat, now full of people, headed downstream along the Azure Dragon River.
Ripples spread across the surface of the Azure Dragon River.
A cool breeze was blowing.
One of the disciples from the Weapon Peak spoke up, "What do we do if we actually find them?"
"Should we try to lure them into an ambush?"
Brother Zheng sneered.
"I brought some nice toys with me. We’ll ’plow’ the area over first, then we can talk!"
"We need to make sure we wipe out at least half of the Child Altar Cultivators’ strength."
Bai Mo let out a breath.
"I can help with that."