Chapter 350: Benefits

Chapter 350: Chapter 350: Benefits

「The next morning.」

Bai Mo’s eyes flew open. He shot up in bed, gasping for air.

He reached up to touch his forehead; it was covered in a cold sweat.

He had been running all night in his dream but still hadn’t reached Mi Mountain. ’Is that a good thing or a bad thing?’

As he walked out of his room, Ah Er stirred awake at the sound.

Bai Mo asked directly.

"Did I make any noise last night?"

Ah Er grunted.

He shook his head.

Honey badgers are nocturnal, so Ah Er was a light sleeper at night, always hovering in a state between sleep and wakefulness.

Bai Mo trusted his word.

’It seems unlikely that the prisoner is behind this...’

After a long moment of thought, Bai Mo crushed Li Wuji’s Jade Talisman.

About six hours later, Li Wuji arrived and knocked on the door.

He was in high spirits, a faint aura of vigorous blood-qi rising from his body. He had likely been forced to exit his seclusion when Bai Mo interrupted his cultivation.

"Senior Brother, are you all right?"

Bai Mo asked.

Li Wuji managed to suppress his roiling blood-qi.

"Not bad. I’m so full of energy I could go pick a few fights!"

As he spoke, he keenly noticed the weariness etched between Bai Mo’s brows.

"Junior Brother?"

Bai Mo began, "Something has come up."

"I didn’t want to disturb your meditation, Senior Brother, but I had no other choice."

Seeing Bai Mo in such a state for the first time, Li Wuji’s expression immediately turned solemn.

"Official business is what matters. Don’t worry about that, Junior Brother."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Just keep watch here. I need to make a trip to the Foreign Affairs Hall."

Leaving Mi Mountain, Bai Mo boarded his Flying Ship and pushed it to its maximum speed.

The sun climbed higher, and the air began to warm.

Below the Flying Ship, the landscape blurred past.

After a long flight, Bai Mo finally saw the plainly decorated Foreign Affairs Hall, standing alone in the desolate countryside.

The Flying Ship landed, and Bai Mo strode quickly inside.

The hall was as crowded and noisy as ever.

This time, however, Bai Mo had no time to listen to the news and gossip being exchanged by the disciples.

He hurried through the hall, looking no different from any other disciple anxious to accept a mission.

A disciple from the Foreign Affairs Hall who had been to Mi Mountain recognized Bai Mo at a glance and hurried over to greet him.

’This is the guard of the Black Prison,’ the disciple thought. ’He looks so rushed. I hope nothing’s gone wrong.’

Especially with the recent arrangements on Mi Mountain—the sect had invested considerable resources, and there was no room for error.

The moment Bai Mo met him, the disciple gestured with his hand.

"This is no place to talk. Junior Brother Bai, please follow me."

A moment later, Bai Mo was led into a private room where he saw a managing disciple who looked even more haggard than he felt.

The documents on the man’s desk were piled higher than his head. Beside his hand, the lid of a teacup was askew, steam rising from the strong tea within.

"Please have a seat, Junior Brother."

The managing disciple asked in a calm voice, "You seem to be in a hurry. What brings you here, Junior Brother?"

Bai Mo composed himself and recounted last night’s dream, leaving out no detail.

It was strange. Usually, when he had a dream, the details would be fuzzy upon waking; remembering even thirty to fifty percent was an achievement.

But he remembered last night’s dream with perfect clarity.

The managing disciple’s expression grew grave as he listened.

"A dream-entering technique?"

"This is beyond our authority. Please wait here, Junior Brother."

He stood up and left, returning shortly with a portly elder.

The elder had a ruddy complexion and a cheerful, approachable smile.

Bai Mo recounted the story again for him, but the elder’s expression remained unchanged.

"I have already notified Fellow Daoist Shang Wunian of Divine Dao Mountain. He should be on his way now."

Shang Wunian was the middle-aged cultivator who had visited Mi Mountain that day, the martial uncle of Yuan Chu and the others.

Bai Mo asked cautiously,

"Senior, may I ask your name? And what exactly is happening with my dream?"

The portly elder loosened the collar of his robe and chuckled.

"Qiu Talai. I’m just the humble manager of this Foreign Affairs Hall. You can call me Elder Qiu, just like everyone else."

"As for what you experienced last night, I’m afraid someone invaded your dream. A technique like that is not something a simple Core Formation cultivator like me can handle."

This was why he had notified Shang Wunian.

However, Bai Mo observed that he didn’t seem particularly anxious, and guessed this might not be a major crisis.

’Or perhaps... the sect had anticipated this sort of thing all along?’

「Less than an hour later.」

A figure in red robes entered the Foreign Affairs Hall. Without a single glance to the side, he walked straight into the main chamber.

Disciples who had heard of this particular senior unconsciously took a few steps back.

When the portly elder saw Shang Wunian, however, he seemed completely unfazed, warmly welcoming him into the room and ordering the managing disciple to serve tea.

A moment later, after being briefed on the situation, Shang Wunian just grunted, "Hm."

The man was clearly not one for pleasantries.

He pondered for a moment.

"It seems that mighty expert is preparing to make a move. With the Black Prison’s restrictions in place, he couldn’t reach his own successor."

"He likely latched onto you through some karmic connection, intending for you to lead the way in your dreams."

Bai Mo never imagined that simply by watching a prison, he would become entangled in someone else’s karma.

"What should I do?"

Shang Wunian already had a plan. "Just let it happen naturally."

"The moment you reach Mi Mountain in your dream will be the moment he locks onto its location and prepares to strike."

The portly Qiu Talai reminded him from the side.

"You need to be clear about whether this dream ordeal will affect the young disciple, Fellow Daoist Shang. Otherwise, how can he be at ease?"

Shang Wunian paused slightly, then looked at Bai Mo and said coolly,

"It’s nothing serious. You’ll just have some restless nights."

"If you’re willing, you can try to resist the fear in your dream. It’s induced by a Divine Technique, not your own creation. It could be an excellent opportunity to temper your mind."

Bai Mo breathed a sigh of relief.

"That sets my mind at ease."

His words showed no sign of panic, nor any intention of refusing or abandoning his post.

Pleased with his response, Shang Wunian said, "You won’t be able to return tonight. Since you are not on Mi Mountain, do not sleep."

"There’s no point in rushing back anyway. You can take a walk around outside."

Bai Mo agreed.

"I was actually hoping to look for some Pill Books. This is a perfect opportunity..."

"You are skilled in the Alchemy Dao?" Shang Wunian asked suddenly.

Bai Mo was taken aback for a second, then nodded.

"I have some small attainment in it."

Shang Wunian then said, "You’ve made a sacrifice for the sect by getting involved in this. I’ll give you a little reward."

"Are you interested in the ancient Alchemy Dao?"

Bai Mo’s eyes widened.

Although Yuan Chu had said it was best to have as little to do with this senior as possible, this was not the time to be shy.

"You have such a legacy?"

Shang Wunian glanced at him, already knowing what was on his mind.

"It’s not in my hands. There are two Fellow Daoists who cultivate this path. They’re not quite dead yet and wish to trade their legacies for something."

"Whether you succeed or not is purely a matter of luck. I’ve told many cultivators about this; only three or four have succeeded."

Bai Mo cupped his hands and said respectfully,

"Please, Senior, enlighten me!"

Shang Wunian pointed east.

"Gather the violet qi of sunrise, combine it with the splendor of the moon, add the necessary materials, and refine a Sun and Moon Pill. That can be traded for one of the legacies."

Bai Mo had read about the Sun and Moon Pill in a Pill Book. He knew it was a life-extending pill.

The violet qi of the rising sun was far more potent than the moon’s splendor.

Those who wished to extend their stay in the mortal world would naturally desire a stronger dose of yang energy.

However, those who used a Sun and Moon Pill had to endure the grinding trial of its medicinal power.

They had to draw upon the knowledge and experiences of their entire lives to pass through a long illusion created by the pill’s effect—reliving a lifetime, in a sense—before they could fully absorb its power.

The key to success, it was said, was all a matter of age.

So Bai Mo asked, "May I ask, how old are those two seniors?"

Shang Wunian replied, "Others have asked about the crux of the matter before. You don’t need to worry about it."

"Those two are both over a thousand years old."