Free Web NovelChapter 113: Chapter 113: Strange Tidings
"Me?"
Bai Mo pointed at himself, eyeing the other being with suspicion.
’This creature is definitely after me!’
’Could it have overheard what I said before we started?’
The eyes of the other Cultivators also fell upon Bai Mo.
Liu Tong waved Bai Mo over, a look of surprise on his face.
"Come here, Junior Brother. This creature is bound by the Talisman; there’s no way it can break free."
Bai Mo did as he was told and walked over. Not far away, Qin Yu also drew closer to watch the spectacle.
His face was a mixture of fear and excitement, his eyes wide.
Liu Tong pushed him aside and asked Bai Mo in a low voice,
"Brother Bai, did you bring any strange or unusual items with you on this trip?"
Bai Mo shook his head.
"I don’t have any spatial storage items. Everything I have is in my pack, as you’ve seen, Brother."
Bai Mo often rummaged through his pack, which contained a booklet where he had written down his observations of the Azure Sky Flower.
No one doubted him, but a question lingered in their minds.
’Could it be that this junior brother has some special constitution that makes him... appetizing?’
Liu Tong turned his head and spoke to the Mountain God in a clear voice,
"Why are you looking for my junior brother?"
"A captive has no room to make demands!"
The Mountain God remained noncommittal. It tapped its foot, and a stream of green energy, mixed with the earth’s qi, rose from the ground and was absorbed into its body.
The wounds on its body healed at a visible rate, making the Cultivators’ eyelids twitch.
"Heh. A sixty-year accumulation of power... is that something you Human Race Cultivators can even imagine?"
"As long as I am in this mountain, I can hold out until every last bit of life force here is depleted..."
Hearing this, Liu Tong’s expression grew grim.
Just then, the Cultivator who was examining the small seal spoke up in anger.
"Damn it! My master lent me this protective treasure, and now who knows how many years it’ll take to restore it!"
He had only managed to borrow it because of his connection to Qin Yu.
"Brother Liu, let’s find a way to refine this bastard!"
Liu Tong paid him no mind. After his decisive action earlier, Liu Tong now clearly held the most authority.
Bai Mo tugged on his sleeve and gestured toward the Azure Sky Flower.
"That Mountain God, it’s using the Azure Sky Flower’s green energy to heal itself."
In other words, the Mountain God wasn’t all-powerful. Even when drawing on the mountain’s power, it likely still needed the Azure Sky Flower as a medium.
Bai Mo looked closely and could see that the Azure Sky Flower was growing even more withered. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
This was a point they could exploit.
Liu Tong shook his head. "That goes against our original objective."
Besides, the Talisman wouldn’t hold for long—seventy-two hours at most.
Therefore, they had to find a way to balance their interests as quickly as possible.
"Why are you looking for my junior brother?"
After some thought, Liu Tong asked again.
The corners of the Mountain God’s mouth curled up.
"That kid... he has something on him that replenishes qi and blood!"
"Bring it to me, and we can all go our separate ways peacefully."
Meeting everyone’s gaze, Bai Mo’s face showed a thoughtful expression.
’I definitely don’t have anything that replenishes qi and blood.’
’The only thing I have related to qi and blood is...’
"It must be this Pill."
Bai Mo took out the vial containing the Qi Blood Pill.
"But this Pill doesn’t replenish qi and blood. It burns qi and blood to stimulate one’s potential."
The others nodded in understanding. It was a desperation Pill, and many people liked to carry one when traveling.
The Mountain God’s nostrils flared as it declared,
"That’s right! That’s the one!"
Liu Tong said in a low voice, "To be frank, did you really target my junior brother just for this item?"
"Of course!"
the Mountain God said emphatically.
As soon as the words left its mouth, the swirling waters of the Nether Spring suddenly rippled.
The Mountain God grunted, feeling its mind invaded and its soul shaken.
It quickly shook its head to steady its mind.
Liu Tong smiled faintly.
"Your state of mind is unstable. It seems your lying skills are worse than those of a common scoundrel."
The Mountain God exhaled, a look of impatience in its eyes.
"That kid’s mind is pure. The flesh of a Cultivator like that is the most delicious!"
Bai Mo’s expression froze.
"You can tell that just by looking?"
The Mountain God grinned, revealing its fangs.
"When you of the Human Race select a pig for slaughter, can’t you tell its quality?"
Liu Tong glanced at Bai Mo, a strange look on his face. freēwēbnovel.com
"I’ve heard it’s possible. Some experts who understand physiognomy can even determine a person’s aptitude from their physical appearance."
According to the sect’s teachings, a Cultivator like Bai Mo was one of those with legendary comprehension.
Setting aside cultivation level for a moment, when it came to miscellaneous cultivation-related tasks, these people had an almost intuitive ability to grasp related concepts from a single example.
Bai Mo’s face darkened.
’So, does this mean from now on, I’ll be a tasty morsel in the eyes of every Demon Beast?’
"Don’t panic, Junior Brother. Not all Demon Beasts have such sharp senses..."
Liu Tong reassured him.
"Heh, ignorant natives!"
the Mountain God suddenly scoffed.
"I am not what you call a Demon Beast!"
Everyone’s attention shifted to it.
"With a head like that, what’s the difference between you and a Demon Beast?"
one of the disciples challenged.
The Mountain God stared at him, its pupils glowing with a faint light.
"Are you talking about those things that carry the Blood Curse?"
"Why don’t you cut off my head and see if you get tainted by a Blood Curse?"
This Mountain God clearly had a short temper. Seeing it glance at Liu Tong, Bai Mo quickly spoke up to de-escalate the situation.
"I can give you the Pill."
"But before I do, can you tell us your origins?"
"When making a deal, one should show some sincerity!"
The Mountain God sat down cross-legged and said casually,
"What do you want to know?"
Bai Mo said decisively, "Your origins. And also, how can you speak the human tongue?"
In all these years, no one in Immortal Arrival City had ever mentioned a Demon Beast that could speak.
As the tension eased slightly, the other Cultivators didn’t stay idle. They took out Pills and medicinal powders and began treating their wounds.
The Mountain God wasn’t the silent type. It pondered for a moment, searching through the muddled memories from its dazed state.
"Human speech isn’t difficult."
"During my time inside the flower, I heard people talking all day long. Over time, I just learned it."
Liu Tong’s head shot up, his gaze sharp.
"Who was talking?"
’Could someone have been deliberately cultivating this creature!?’
The Mountain God gestured vaguely at the surroundings.
"All the broken souls on this mountain... they wail and curse all day long, or else they just mutter to themselves. There’s never any peace and quiet..."
"Oh, right. Now that I’ve been born, I can’t see them anymore."
After hearing this, Bai Mo and Liu Tong couldn’t help but look at each other in bewilderment.
’So the rumors passed down by the elders are actually true?’
The Mountain God glanced up slightly.
"With your mortal eyes, you can forget about seeing them. You’d have better luck trying back in your mothers’ wombs."
The Mountain God’s words were insolent, but in just a few sentences, it had revealed a shocking depth of knowledge.
No one dared to underestimate it now. Liu Tong asked again,
"Your origins..."
The Mountain God said coolly, "I am not a Demon Beast. As for where I come from, that is something I must find out for myself. Only when I find my kin will I know my true name."
Bai Mo looked at the Azure Sky Flower.
"You grew alongside the Azure Sky Flower. Does this plant also have such an extraordinary origin?"
He recalled the legends about the Azure Sky Flower.
’If that’s the case, then we were the ones in the wrong to begin with.’
But the Mountain God shook its head.
"It’s just that my father was passing by and saw this flower gestating. He casually tossed me inside to grow along with it."
"It’s like the Bixi carrying a mountain. When one of my kind finds a compatible plant, it is a joy like that of the Bixi finding a great peak."
"After my father had me replace the thing in the flower’s stamen, he left."
Its eyes grew brighter and brighter as it finally pieced together the scattered memories in its mind.
Qin Yu was listening as if to a storyteller, utterly captivated.
"Then why do you need to replenish your qi and blood? Does your race have some kind of congenital deficiency?"
Hearing this, the Mountain God glanced around at the Cultivators.
"What do you think?"
