Chapter 347: The High Cost of Cultivation

Chapter 347: Chapter 347: The High Cost of Cultivation

The three of them, Yuan Chu included, had been prodigies in the outer sect, favored by the Dharma Protectors.

Now, it seemed their cultivation had advanced, and they had entered the inner sect with achievements to their name. They were clearly still held in high regard.

Bai Mo’s eyes narrowed.

"This ’commotion’ you mentioned... could Brother Yuan tell me a little more about it?"

"Hmm..."

Yuan Chu mulled it over for a moment before speaking.

"The sect masters haven’t told us the specifics. They’re just worried you might be reluctant, or that you might get flustered and interfere with their plans."

"The inspecting elder is from the Golden Jade lineage, and he’s come to our master for assistance..."

"It seems they’re trying to set a trap—weaving karmic threads, clouding one’s judgment, and luring someone into a snare!"

As Bai Mo listened, his brow furrowed, and a suspicion began to form in his mind.

’They want to set a trap on Mi Mountain.’

’Don’t tell me they’re certain someone is coming to stage a prison break?!’

Bai Mo found the idea absurd.

While Mi Mountain had seen some minor incidents in recent years, a brazen, full-frontal prison break was unheard of.

But Yuan Chu said, "We are, after all, dealing with a mighty figure from a bygone era..."

He explained the situation to Bai Mo, who then understood the full story.

This so-called mighty figure had died long ago, but perhaps it now existed in some special form.

Whether its consciousness remained or it was driven by pure instinct, this entity could be summoned, descending from some unseen realm.

It was similar to the methods of Divine Dao Mountain.

"That mighty figure has saved the heir to his lineage from dire situations on several occasions."

"Now that his sole descendant is imprisoned, it’s highly likely he won’t stand idly by. He’s almost certain to make a move."

"So..."

Bai Mo sighed. After a moment of thought, he made his decision.

"Fine. I’ll stay on Mi Mountain. Whatever the elders require, I’ll do my best to fulfill."

Yuan Chu and Gong Gui exchanged a glance, then rose to leave.

"We know what kind of person Brother Bai is."

"Since you’ve made up your mind, we’ll return and report to our master."

Bai Mo nodded and personally saw the two out.

This was the inner sect of the Xuandao Sect, and more than that, it was the dark prison that held demonic fiends.

The sheer number of restrictive formations was enough to make one’s skin crawl, and over the years, they had withstood the assaults of many Nascent Soul-level fiends.

’That so-called ancient mighty figure probably can’t stir up much trouble here.’

’Besides, how could a great sect like this stand by and watch one of its own disciples come to harm?’

Bai Mo still remembered the debt of gratitude he owed the yellow-robed Daoist for his guidance.

The opportunity in the Alchemy Dao that the man had guided him to was so profound that even now, Bai Mo felt he had only scratched the surface.

Since this elder had tasked him with guarding the dark prison, Bai Mo was genuinely unwilling to leave his post.

「Three days passed after he saw off Yuan Chu and Gong Gui.」

There must have been a hitch, as the inspecting elder had yet to arrive.

Yin Zhen, however, arrived before him.

A streak of golden light descended, startling Ah Er, who was heading down the mountain with a carrying pole.

When Yin Zhen saw the Spirit Beast, he keenly sensed that it was different from before.

With a flicker of understanding, he immediately knew where the rare treasures he had sent had ended up.

Bai Mo came out to meet him, choosing not to talk inside the doorway.

Without a word of greeting, Bai Mo stepped outside, paused, and gave Yin Zhen a thorough look-over.

He looked no different than before.

Yin Zhen smiled.

"That Celestial Favor Pill of yours truly has a wondrous effect, Brother Bai."

He gestured to the left side of his chest.

"That ’vortex ear’ you mentioned grew right inside here. It’s about the size of a chicken egg and shaped like a human ear, but you can’t see it from the outside."

"It increases my cultivation speed by twenty percent. While it might not be enough to defy heaven and alter my destiny, it’s not far off."

Bai Mo didn’t take the credit, saying only:

"It is the Primordial Beast Egg that is precious. It’s truly worthy of being called a heaven-favored creature."

Yin Zhen remained noncommittal.

Just then, Ah Er emerged, carrying a wooden table. It set it down beside them and then deftly brought over a pair of stools.

It bustled about for a moment and soon had tea prepared.

It had taken Bai Mo’s instructions on how to brew tea for guests to heart.

The tea was astringent at first, but it left a long, sweet aftertaste.

When the door had opened earlier, Yin Zhen had caught the strong scent of medicinal herbs.

"Have you started Alchemy again, Brother Bai?"

Bai Mo nodded.

"Things have calmed down, so I have some free time again."

Yin Zhen then spoke of several types of Pills and pushed four Pill Formulas toward Bai Mo.

"These are the Pills I’m allotted each month. Do you think you could concoct a more affordable equivalent?"

Bai Mo accepted the Pill Formulas and examined them carefully.

They were all excellent Pills, but their refinement required rare and unique herbs as catalysts, making them an exclusive business.

"Give me some time. I’ll have to look into it."

Bai Mo put the Pill Formulas away and asked casually,

"I’ve heard that some disciples purchase Pills from Pill Peak every month to aid their cultivation."

"You don’t have to wait for me, Brother Yin."

Yin Zhen waved the thought away.

"The disciples on Pill Peak sell Pills for the sake of their own cultivation, for their own path."

"And their prices are much higher than yours."

This Prince, who came from a royal dynasty, actually began counting on his fingers, haggling with Bai Mo over the cost of Spirit Stones.

After a lengthy calculation, he finally downed the tea in his cup.

"For a Cultivator like myself to reach Core Formation, it costs more than a million Spirit Stones."

"How could I dare not be frugal?"

"Please, Brother Bai, give it some thought and help me out!"

Yin Zhen rose to his full height and departed at a leisurely pace.

Bai Mo remained seated, his tea still not finished.

Ah Er came out with a tray of melon seeds and snacks, only to freeze when it saw the guest was gone.

Only when Bai Mo tapped the table lightly did it resume its task and bring the snacks over.

Bai Mo took out Yin Zhen’s four Pill Formulas again, looked them over one by one, and laid them flat on the table.

A supply of four different types of Pills a month, even if it was just one of each, was enough to make many other disciples green with envy.

It was likely because Yin Zhen’s faction within the sect had few members.

Bai Mo understood this perfectly.

’Even someone like Brother Yin is this anxious,’ he thought. ’No wonder so many inner sect disciples dare not rest.’

Looking back at the new specks of green that had appeared on the slopes of Mi Mountain, Bai Mo chuckled lightly.

The root of his own Foundation Establishment lay in the Sutra Platform and the three Daoist scriptures upon it.

As long as he perfected the contents of those scriptures, his own cultivation would advance.

Now, he had finally managed to link the Alchemy Dao to his own cultivation.

For anyone else, this path would have been fraught with difficulty, but not for Bai Mo.

He vigorously ruffled the scalp of Ah Er, who was learning to slurp its tea with a GURGLE GURGLE sound. The scars that had been there had long since vanished thanks to the Pills.

"You’re doing great."

"Keep up the good work, and we’ll see when we can turn this entire mountain into a medicine field!"

"Ah-uh!"

Ah Er opened its mouth and cried out.

Bai Mo’s expression froze, and he looked troubled.

"When are you going to refine your hyoid bone?"

...

Bai Mo started going up the mountain to check on the growth of his medicinal seedlings more and more frequently.

The seedlings had grown to the point where they required constant tending.

Ah Er helped with the work, occasionally wondering where the person who used to come to Mi Mountain to help had gone.

Bai Mo understood what it was thinking and couldn’t help but feel a little concerned himself.

’Maybe I should go check on him.’

"You go out sometimes, so you know the area."

"Do you know where Brother Li’s cave abode is? The one he carved out himself."

Hearing this, Ah Er thought for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

And so, at dusk that day, after finishing his work on the mountain, Bai Mo boarded the Flying Ship under a sky ablaze with the colors of sunset.

With Ah Er pointing the way, the Flying Ship transformed into a streak of green light and shot across the sky.