Free Web NovelChapter 114: Chapter 114: Background
This creature was, in fact, born prematurely.
And it was a matter that concerned them all.
But he was just a visitor. He hadn’t announced his arrival, so no one could be blamed.
Liu Tong conferred with his brothers in hushed tones and quickly reached a decision. No one had any objections.
Only the Cultivator holding the small seal seemed somewhat displeased, but he didn’t say much.
One of them took a Scroll from his sleeve.
"I never thought we’d have to use this. Junior Brother Liu, this Scroll wasn’t cheap. Remember to reimburse me when we get back to the sect..."
Liu Tong agreed without hesitation.
He was about to ask Bai Mo to hand over the Qi Blood Pill, but to his surprise, Bai Mo shook his head.
"I’ll go with you, Senior Brother."
A Qi Blood Pill was a Pill that burned one’s own qi and blood. Bai Mo was very curious to see how the Mountain God would use it to replenish its own.
Liu Tong thought about the elder who had created the Talisman. Trusting in the elder’s skill, he granted Bai Mo’s request.
"Fine, we’ll go together."
He gave a warning, "Remember, do not cross the Nether Spring—not even by a single step. And don’t get too close."
’Given the power the Mountain God has displayed, it wouldn’t be difficult for it to seize an opportunity and drag them in.’
"Junior Brother Bai, we will compensate you for the Pill later."
As Liu Tong spoke, he had Bai Mo toss the pill bottle over.
Along with it, he threw the Scroll from his own hand.
"Heh. I may not have seen much, but you people certainly have plenty of these annoying little things."
The Mountain God clearly knew what the Scroll was. It spread the document open, gave it a cursory glance, and pressed its hand down on it.
Blood seeped from its palm, landing on the Scroll and forming an imprint.
On the other side, the handprints of Liu Tong and his group were already present.
"Take it back!"
The Mountain God flicked the Scroll, sending it flying out. Liu Tong’s hand shot out like lightning to catch it.
"Hmph!"
An immense force traveled up his arm. Liu Tong took a step back to dissipate the momentum.
Glancing at the Scroll, Liu Tong’s lips curved into a smile. He wasn’t the least bit angry.
"Heh, according to the rules, you’re entitled to half of the Scroll..."
The Mountain God was dismissive.
"What would I do with that thing!?"
"In half a month, we’ll have nothing more to do with each other. We’ll go our separate ways!"
It snatched the pill bottle, and with a slight squeeze, the vial shattered.
With a small toss, it swallowed the few Qi Blood Pills, porcelain shards and all.
Bai Mo’s eyes widened as he watched the Mountain God’s body shudder, its aura fluctuating wildly.
Two breaths later, the qi and blood within its body began to boil.
Two streams of red vapor shot from its nostrils.
It was like the exhalation of a great beast. A roaring, turbulent current, like rushing lead and mercury, surged through the Mountain God’s body.
The heat radiating from its body crossed the Nether Spring and washed over Bai Mo and Liu Tong’s faces, still noticeably warm. freewёbnoνel.com
"Such a powerful physique!"
Liu Tong said in a low voice.
Bai Mo watched the Mountain God’s features gradually relax, his own expression earnest.
"The bodies of non-humans are truly different!"
’Although I don’t know how its body works, the Qi Blood Pill is burning its vital life force.’
’The potential it unlocks causes all of its qi and blood to boil over.’
’But it’s just a temporary boost, a castle in the air. After the Pill’s effects wear off and its qi and blood cool, the Mountain God will have to find a way to replenish what it has lost.’
Seeing the Mountain God’s blissful expression, Liu Tong waited a moment before pulling Bai Mo back with him.
"Senior Brother, what is that Scroll?"
Bai Mo asked.
Liu Tong held up the Scroll and explained:
"This is a contractual agreement. Unlike mortal contracts, this one is tied to one’s own cultivation."
"If it doesn’t want to damage its cultivation, it won’t dare to break the agreement."
Bai Mo chuckled.
"I thought it was a contract overseen by the Celestial Dao, and that anyone who violated it would be struck by a Thunder Tribulation..."
Liu Tong shook his head.
"The Celestial Dao is supreme and ineffable. Why would it concern itself with our private affairs?"
When the two of them returned, the other brothers immediately gathered around.
"How did it go?"
"Did that Mountain God say anything?"
Liu Tong gestured for his brothers to be patient.
"That’s no Mountain God."
"I suspect we’ve run into some kind of formidable non-human."
He tossed the Scroll to one of the others.
"That creature recognized the Scroll on sight. It must have some kind of innate knowledge about them."
"I just don’t know if its parent instilled it, or if it was inherited through some other means..."
The men exchanged a look, a plan already forming in their minds.
’When we get back, we’ll have someone from the sect take a look immediately.’
’There’s blood on the Scroll. We might be able to trace its origins from that.’
As night fell, the Mountain God remained seated cross-legged. It seemed to be still developing, and the sounds of its bones and muscles stretching could be heard from time to time.
Waves of heat rolled off it, making it seem like a great ball of fire.
Bai Mo swallowed a mouthful of Golden Bear meat and drank from the Spiritual Spring, recovering some of his energy after the long day.
Qin Yu sidled up to him, grease splattering as he ate. He found a moment to ask quietly:
"How much longer is your job going to take?"
Bai Mo answered without hesitation.
"Ten days at most. Then we have to pull out."
Qin Yu was taken aback.
"Why?"
Bai Mo glanced over at the Mountain God.
"The agreement on that Scroll... the truce only lasts for half a month."
"Once the time is up, none of us will be able to withstand its revenge."
’When that time comes, the Mountain God’s first target will probably be me.’
The creature’s comment about him being "delicious" had filled Bai Mo with a profound sense of danger.
"Huh?"
Qin Yu was stunned and quickly leaned in closer.
The senior brothers weren’t very warm to him, so he could only get his information from Bai Mo.
He glanced around.
"Then what about the herbs we were supposed to get..."
"We’re almost done with that part," Bai Mo said.
"We’ll take the herbs and leave then."
Qin Yu made a chopping gesture. "And the flower..."
"The Mountain God won’t let us touch it."
"Get some rest. We have to be up early tomorrow."
With that, Bai Mo tossed aside the wooden skewer in his hand, wiped his mouth, found a random spot, and lay down.
Qin Yu didn’t seem to mind.
"I’m just here for the show, anyway..."
He remembered something and suddenly shouted at Bai Mo, whose eyes were already closed:
"Hey, is Brother Shui in Immortal Arrival City?"
"I’ll head back with you in a few days!"
Bai Mo let out a drowsy "mhm," which counted as an agreement.
Seeing this, Qin Yu knew he was exhausted and didn’t bother him any further.
...
「The next day.」
Everyone was up at the crack of dawn, while the dew was still on the ground.
Bai Mo quickly ate, drank, and washed up.
After a brief discussion with the Cultivator he was partnered with, he got straight to work.
With yesterday’s experience, the group worked with even greater proficiency.
All the while, the Mountain God watched from the sidelines.
Bai Mo didn’t know how its body was changing as it developed.
But he had a gut feeling that its oppressive presence had grown stronger.
"What are you people doing?"
"Simply extracting this flower’s essence?"
Bai Mo, busy with the task at hand, replied without looking up:
"We’re also delaying the day it withers."
"Do you have any wisdom to offer on the matter?"
The Mountain God chuckled. "It seems you people are also eyeing the surrounding herbs."
"They are good things, indeed. Those resources are enough to help a mere mortal Cultivator ascend to the higher realms."
"However, you have eight days at most. Once its time is up, the flower is fated to wither. This is a restriction set by the Celestial Dao!"
His words drew the attention of Liu Tong and the others.
"With your insight, can even you not change it?"
The Mountain God laughed heartily.
"I’ve only just been born into this world. What ’insight’ could I possibly have?"
"This flower absorbed the qi of the earth to grow and nourish this entire region. It is a creation nurtured by the Celestial Dao itself!"
"To be able to extend its limit again would be to receive too much grace! It would invite a backlash from the Celestial Dao!"
It glanced around at the group and smiled.
"However, if you lot can find some treasures to replenish my qi and blood, I could help you intercept a portion of its vital energy."
