Free Web NovelChapter 118: Chapter 118: The Return Journey
The commotion from the Mountain God’s theft affected countless surrounding peaks.
The cries and roars of birds and beasts echoed without end.
’I just hope no Cultivators from any Demon Hunting Teams are nearby,’ Bai Mo thought, gazing at the sky.
’Then again, this is deep within the Celestial Barrier Mountain.’
’Given the strength of the Cultivators from Immortal Arrival City, there probably aren’t many who could reach this place.’
When the disciples from Broken Blade Peak arrived, they were a sorry sight.
Not only were they stained with the blood of dozens of different creatures, but they were also covered in mud, dust, broken feathers, and stray hairs.
The array master Xin Meng eagerly went to greet them.
"Brothers, you’ve worked hard. Come, come, let me help you clean up..."
With deft movements, he helped his brothers brush the debris off themselves.
They accepted it as their due, looking very pleased.
"We heard, Junior Brother Xin, that you said a whole cartload of bad things about us behind our backs."
"The brothers back at the peak are quite unhappy with you, but seeing you now, you’ve certainly mastered the art of sucking up..."
Xin Meng’s expression didn’t change.
"Is that so?"
"Who would spread such rumors about me? My master and Broken Blade Peak are as close as can be!"
"Every time we’ve explored ancient ruins, haven’t we always asked for your assistance...?"
As he spoke, he flipped his hand and produced several dark green Spirit Stones.
"On this trip, we’ve acquired some good things. I’ll be sure to share some with all of you later!"
The lead brother from Broken Blade Peak walked past them.
"We don’t accept rewards we haven’t earned. Junior brothers, you are not to accept this!"
The disciples from Broken Blade Peak replied in unison.
Xin Meng quickly said, "The fact that you all came is a gesture of goodwill in itself..."
"And how much is goodwill worth?"
The group from Broken Blade Peak remained unmoved.
Bai Mo moved closer to the well-fed youths.
"What kind of arts do those brothers from Broken Blade Peak cultivate?"
"They seem to be very close with Brother Xin."
One of the well-fed youths spoke in a low voice.
"They cultivate the arts of slaughter. Grand, sweeping movements, fighting to the death. Truly formidable."
"Those Array Dao Cultivators aren’t skilled in combat, much like us. They often have to hire them for protection..."
The few of them whispered amongst themselves.
Liu Tong walked over, scanned the area, and announced:
"Our business here is concluded. Everyone, pack up. We’ll leave as soon as the situation in the mountains stabilizes a bit."
"We don’t want any unexpected trouble from delaying!"
After he finished speaking, he nodded to his fellow cultivators from Broken Blade Peak.
"It must have been a lot of trouble for you brothers, rushing over here..."
The lead brother from Broken Blade Peak waved his hand, his expression casual.
"It was nothing. We owe Brother Shui a favor, so we rushed over as soon as we were done with our business."
"Even though we didn’t get to help, having extra protection on the way back is always the safer bet!"
He sighed and added,
"It’s really been too long since we’ve been out. Even the plants in these mountains are ridiculously powerful. Truly..."
His injured junior brother, whose entire face was swollen and discolored to the point his eyes were mere slits, hung his head low at his senior’s words, looking rather aggrieved.
"Huh?" Liu Tong was a little confused.
Bai Mo quickly explained what had happened.
"The Sky Azure Flower actually left behind a seed, which was parasitic within the Mountain God’s body..."
The other Alchemy Cultivators chimed in, each adding a piece of the story.
The few Cultivators who had gone to provide backup and missed the event were amazed.
"There’s actually a method of propagation like that!?"
Bai Mo remarked with a sigh.
"Yes. The moment the Mountain God possessed the flower, the plant had likely already set a contingency in motion."
"Now that the main body has withered and the earth’s qi is in turmoil, it was the perfect time for the juvenile to emerge."
The disciples from Broken Blade Peak overheard this and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Even the juvenile has decades of accumulated power. Who knows what other tricks it might have up its sleeve to ensure its survival."
’The fact that it managed to escape is clear proof!’
"Losing to that thing was no disgrace," one disciple said, consoling the injured Cultivator.
And with that, the matter of the Sky Azure Flower was finally settled.
Although the area around the flower’s remains had become a dead zone, it was at least quiet.
Even the startled snakes, insects, and vermin scurrying about refused to approach the area.
So, the group rested on the spot for two days.
During that time, the team split into two groups.
Most of them were to return to the sect.
Only Liu Tong, Qin Yu, and a few others were to follow Bai Mo back to Immortal Arrival City.
"Sigh, we’ve been cooped up in the sect for so long, I’d love to go see Immortal Arrival City. But alas, we have to go back and report..." the well-fed youths lamented.
A few Alchemy Cultivators, feeling a sense of kinship, said to Bai Mo,
"Master will probably want to check our progress!"
"When you come to the sect in the future, Junior Brother Bai, we must sit down and have a proper chat..."
Bai Mo readily agreed.
’But with Immortal Arrival City having just changed hands and things only now starting to settle down, I won’t be able to get away anytime soon.’
"In three months at the earliest, six at the latest, I’ll make my way to the Upper Sect. I hope you brothers won’t find me a bother then."
As they were exchanging pleasantries, they attracted the attention of one of the Broken Blade Peak disciples.
"You’re heading back to Immortal Arrival City, Junior Brother?" the unremarkable-looking senior brother asked.
Bai Mo quickly saluted.
"That’s right. I’m a native of Immortal Arrival City."
’Over the past two days, I’ve heard plenty about just how formidable the disciples of Broken Blade Peak are.’
The disciple nodded.
"Mm. Shui Ziming, Brother Shui, is in Immortal Arrival City right now. Help me take something to him."
He flicked his sleeve.
THUD!
A heavy, clay-pot-sized object wrapped in black cloth smashed onto the ground, kicking up a ring of dust.
Liu Tong hurried over and lifted the heavy object.
"Junior Brother Bai doesn’t have a storage artifact yet."
"What is this?"
The Broken Blade Peak disciple chuckled. "It’s something for Brother Shui. It’s not my place to say, and you’d be wise not to ask."
He looked at Bai Mo.
"Disciples of the Alchemy Dao are usually well-off; it’s strange you don’t have a storage artifact. Are you a new disciple?"
Bai Mo nodded.
"I’m still just a Daoist Child of the sect. After I break through in a few months, I’ll head to the Upper Sect."
"Mm, not bad."
The disciple thought for a moment.
"Now that Immortal Arrival City belongs to us, the sect should be stationing some pack Spirit Beasts there. They’re excellent for both transport and personal travel. Your journeys will be much faster in the future, Junior Brother..."
Bai Mo’s eyes lit up. He was about to ask a few questions, but the other disciple simply waved his hand and walked away.
"That’s not my department, so I can’t say for sure. You’ll find out when you get back."
The disciples weren’t ones to dally. With the matter settled and an eagerness to return home, they exchanged farewells, found their bearings, and departed.
Bai Mo’s party was the same as when they had arrived, with the sole addition of Qin Yu.
The group was familiar with the path, and they made good time.
To keep up, Qin Yu had to break into a small trot every so often.
Bi Ming would occasionally reach out to pull her along.
After being helped a few times, Qin Yu grew embarrassed and forced herself to pick up the pace.
Only Li Dao, clutching a black brocade bag tightly in one hand, never offered to help.
"Brother, what’s in your hand?" Qin Yu asked.
Li Dao grinned.
"Something good, of course. I’ll let you see it when we stop to rest."
The return journey was largely unaffected, and everything proceeded as usual.
Traces of their earlier battle with the Golden Bear were still visible, but any remaining flesh and blood had been licked clean.
Ghastly white bones were scattered everywhere.
Liu Tong turned his head and said to Bai Mo beside him,
"We’ll be back in the city in a few days."
"Junior Brother Bai, be quick about it. Get your affairs in order and use those Spirit Stones from Xin Meng to cultivate."
"Breaking through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer shouldn’t be difficult."
Although the Spiritual Qi within a Spirit Stone won’t leak, the life force it contains will continuously evaporate and dissipate.
It’s absolutely crucial to store them in a specific environment.
Bai Mo nodded, showing he understood.
But Liu Tong offered another piece of advice:
"Brother Shui will be guarding the city for a few months. It would be best for you to return to the sect with him when the time comes."
He shot Bai Mo a meaningful look.
"There are always benefits to be had."
Bai Mo understood perfectly.
"I’ll be sure to remember that."
The mention of Brother Shui sent Bai Mo’s thoughts drifting.
’Brother Shui is helping me watch the shop... I wonder how he’s doing.’
