Chapter 340: A Method That Is No Method

Chapter 340: Chapter 340: A Method That Is No Method

It was an inspection day. Bai Mo brought Li Wuji with him into the black prison.

"The essence released by the Core Formation devil whose Golden Core I half-dissolved has all been used to nourish medicinal ingredients."

"But let’s not get into that."

They walked past the cell of the Core Formation Cultivator Bai Mo called Yi Si. The man’s aura was listless.

The plant on his head had already grown four-petaled leaves and was flourishing.

Yi Si didn’t even raise his head as the two walked past.

To have fallen to such a state, yet still be unwilling to choose a noble death over a disgraceful life, instead willingly cultivating medicinal ingredients for Bai Mo.

It was clear that even among Core Formation Cultivators, not everyone possessed an unyielding spirit; many still cherished their lives above all else.

Li Wuji suddenly spoke up. "Junior Brother, what is the name of the thing you planted on his head?"

"The Two Qi Flower. It embodies the mysteries of yin and yang and is rarely seen in the outside world."

"How long does it take to grow?"

Bai Mo thought for a moment.

"There’s no set time. It depends on the person’s ability. It could be as short as half a year or as long as over a year."

Li Wuji then reminded him, "Do you think this person plans to use this to evade his death sentence?"

"After all, if the flower fails to grow, you most likely won’t have him sent out to be sacrificed..."

Bai Mo faltered for a second, then smiled nonchalantly.

"So what if he does? Let him try."

"If the Foreign Affairs Hall really designates someone to be taken, anything I say will be useless. He still won’t be able to escape death."

After they had completed a full circuit of the prison, Bai Mo led Li Wuji to Xiao Lin’s cell.

This was Bai Mo’s first test subject. At the time, the foundation the man had built for Core Formation had been completely dissolved.

Upon seeing Bai Mo, the man’s eyes flashed with red light as he lunged forward.

"Give me back my path to Core Formation! You fucking bastard..."

BANG!

His sturdy body slammed against the wooden bars, making a huge noise.

Bai Mo’s brow furrowed slightly. He said to Li Wuji beside him,

"Senior Brother, take a close look at this man."

With his own cultivation at stake, Li Wuji paid no mind to Xiao Lin’s insolent words.

A moment later, he nodded and retracted his gaze.

This wasn’t the place to talk, so the two left the black prison and returned to the stone house.

Ah Er had now learned how to brew tea and was busy preparing it for them, serving them attentively.

Li Wuji was somewhat surprised by this but didn’t say much.

He took a sip of tea and said softly,

"Judging by that man’s clothes, he must have been imprisoned for a long time."

"But his spirit and energy are still decent. His movements subconsciously follow some sort of deadly offensive form. He’s surprisingly still got some fight in him."

For someone below Core Formation to be so full of life in prison was a rare sight indeed.

Bai Mo agreed. "That’s right."

"This man’s name is Xiao Lin. He’s very capable."

"When I used him for my experiment, I could tell he must cultivate an extraordinary technique. The path his Spiritual Qi follows in his body is profound."

Li Wuji was startled by this.

"Xiao Lin!? Is his master the Thousand Serpent True Monarch?"

Bai Mo’s hand paused. He hadn’t expected Li Wuji to know Xiao Lin.

"That’s him. But his master hasn’t reached Nascent Soul yet. I don’t know why he has the title of ’True Monarch’."

Li Wuji said, "He may not have reached it, but he’s not far off."

"I heard they were caught plotting and scheming for a breakthrough by disciples of our sect. That’s how they were captured."

His expression was dark and uncertain.

"This Xiao Lin stripped a friend of his Anomalous Meridians and implanted them into his own body. His cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, leaving him just one step away from the Core Formation Realm."

"Why can’t I see the slightest sign of Core Formation on him?"

This was a testament to Bai Mo’s skills.

Bai Mo gave a light cough.

"Xiao Lin’s foundation for Core Formation was dissolved by a Pill I created."

"Senior Brother, do you know how much pure Spiritual Qi was released after that, rushing into his limbs and bones?"

"Not to mention the essence produced when his Spiritual Qi converged and began transforming for Core Formation. Did you not see how ferocious he was?"

Li Wuji’s expression gradually changed as he guessed Bai Mo’s meaning.

Bai Mo, reading his expression, continued,

"If your cultivation is truly fast enough, Senior Brother, every time you reach the threshold of Core Formation, I will help you dissolve that foundation and use it to nourish your physical body instead."

"This way, your progress in the path of Body Refinement will surely not be slow!"

Li Wuji didn’t respond at once.

This method was, one might say, a last resort.

Although it was a roundabout path, the benefits were numerous.

He could imagine just how solid his foundation would become by not aiming for Core Formation, instead repeatedly dissolving his progress and re-cultivating to temper it.

Furthermore, he would be using his own talent in cultivation to compensate for his shortcomings in Body Refinement.

Given time, he might truly be able to forge a new path for himself.

"So be it." After long consideration, Li Wuji finally spoke.

"I will do as you say, Junior Brother."

"I am congenitally deficient. I’ve heard that if one reaches a profound level in Body Refinement, the body can undergo a transformation that might be able to compensate..."

Having received his agreement, Bai Mo was naturally delighted.

For one, he could study and refine his pill-dissolving methods. For another, he could observe the mysteries of Core Formation.

After entering the inner sect and seeing more Core Formation and Nascent Soul Cultivators, Bai Mo’s horizons had broadened considerably, and he had already begun to set his sights on Core Formation himself.

...

They couldn’t start on Li Wuji’s matter just yet. After all, besides preparing the ingredients, refining the golden pill also took time.

Bai Mo was already pondering when he could make another trip out to replenish his missing medicinal ingredients.

Unfortunately, heaven does not always grant one’s wishes.

With the matter of the Unpassable River Sea Eye settled, many demonic and heretical cultivators had been captured and brought back. He couldn’t get away.

「Five days later.」

Bai Mo heard that the advance party from the Unpassable River had returned.

Mi Mountain began to receive guests.

After several Core Formation Cultivators were sporadically locked up, Bai Mo once again saw disciples from the War Hall.

They had actually captured a member of the Sea Race equivalent to the Core Formation Realm, a truly impressive feat.

Bai Mo had heard much about the Sea Race, but he had never seen one in person and was quite curious.

Even Li Wuji came running over to have a look.

"What do you think? For someone who doesn’t travel far, it’s a rare chance to see such a creature."

A few of the War Hall disciples laughed, patting the tall body beside them, which was covered in a blue-green carapace and towering spikes.

A suppressed, irritable grunt came from the Sea Race creature’s mouth. One could tell it didn’t have a good temper.

Bai Mo faced the overpowering fishy stench and sized up the creature before him.

It had a pointed head, a narrow mouth, a body covered in a shell, and no neck. It seemed to be a mutated version of some marine crustacean.

If one ignored its four legs, it was roughly humanoid in shape.

Its tough body and terrifying appearance were of a different style from terrestrial creatures. When it charged into formations, it was no different from a weapon of war.

Bai Mo looked at the narrow, murky-yellow eyes visible in the slits of its face.

"Mi Mountain has no water cells. Can you imprison this fellow?"

A War Hall disciple spoke in a low voice.

"We wouldn’t dare let these things touch water. In the sea, they have the innate ability to stir up winds and waves."

"It was they who, in great swarms, attacked and killed the Cultivators originally at the Unpassable River. That’s how they opened the anciently sealed Sea Eye, causing widespread death and destruction."

Bai Mo didn’t understand the habits of the Sea Race, so he didn’t ask any more questions.

Following procedure, it wasn’t long before this Sea Race creature was sent into a vacant cell.

"Move me to another cell!"

The prisoner in the next cell, who had had his eyes closed, suddenly spoke, his face full of impatience.

"Don’t you know how bad the Sea Race stinks!?"

Bai Mo ignored him, closed the cell door properly, and left.

The War Hall disciple took back the command talisman, looking somewhat gloating.

"Once the poison in this fellow wears off, I’m afraid it’ll still have some energy left. It’s bound to make quite a racket."

"Also, once it’s tired itself out and there’s no water to sustain it, the smell from its body will be truly awful..."