Free Web NovelChapter 158: Chapter 158: The Letter Arrives
On Celestial Justice Peak, Cultivators moved forward slowly, like a trail of ants.
Wei Xianxing spent over a day finally visiting all the inner sect senior brothers.
"With so many disciples, how long will it take to see them all?"
Bai Mo said as he descended the mountain with him, looking back over his shoulder.
Wei Xianxing was unconcerned.
"It’s fine. The other disciples from Celestial Justice Peak will come help once their hands are free."
"More importantly, about your matter, Junior Brother. I asked several senior brothers, and they all said there’s no way to make Old Gai spill the beans. The old man has no interest in women or wine..."
Bai Mo had already expected as much.
He had overheard a bit when Wei Xianxing was talking with a few of the senior brothers.
The little old man who read people’s fortunes couldn’t keep his mouth shut in his younger years and could now barely protect himself.
Now he was holed up in a stone house on the mountain peak, not daring to come out even for natural disasters or calamities.
It was said that even the purple robe he wore was a disaster-averting artifact obtained from some great tomb.
Something stripped off a dead body.
’In such a state, how could he possibly reveal the karma attached to me?’
"It’s alright. Since Old Gai said the Thousand-Mile Soul-Chasing Talisman is nothing to worry about, it must not be that important."
"Senior Brother, please don’t let it weigh on your mind."
The two descended the mountain and mounted the red-eyed wolf-mastiff, riding away against the flow of arriving Cultivators.
"Oh, right. I’ve heard that Suspended Blade Cliff is quite profound. I’d like to ask Senior Brother to teach me about its intricacies."
Bai Mo suddenly spoke up.
Wei Xianxing nodded.
"I’ll tell you all about it. We need to break that Thousand-Mile Soul-Chasing Talisman as soon as possible."
"No matter how great the karma, it won’t be able to touch you. That way, you can cultivate without any worries or hindrances!"
...
「Several days’ journey from the Xuandao Sect.」
In Immortal Arrival City, it was another beautiful day, thick with the scent of spring.
Cultivators bustled in and out, the flow of people much denser than before.
Thanks to the Spirit Beasts that occasionally flew over the city, many Cultivators who were originally headed elsewhere would make a detour to visit Immortal Arrival City.
Han Meng stepped back, dodging a giant ox that was lumbering forward behind him.
The Cultivator driving the cart brandished a whip, urging the giant ox out of the city.
Behind him was a bizarrely shaped boulder, as tall as two men, bound by hemp ropes as thick as an arm.
A few workers stood at the corners of the stone, helping to keep it from tipping over. They looked rather pitiful, unsure of how to get a proper grip.
Such a massive thing couldn’t be allowed to block the city gate.
The Xuandao Sect disciples guarding the gate heard the commotion and were already looking over with furrowed brows.
"Demon Beast parts have become scarce in the city recently. The prices are going up again."
Han Meng delivered this piece of good news in a low voice.
Lanshan thought about the Demon Hunting Teams he had seen entering and exiting the mountains.
"Everyone has been entering the mountains quite diligently lately. Few have returned empty-handed. You could say everyone’s smiling."
"So why are Demon Beast parts still scarce?"
Han Meng thought for a moment, then said:
"A group of people arrived in the city. They seem to be large-scale traveling merchants, buying up beast hides and other materials in massive quantities."
"There aren’t enough Demon Beast parts circulating in the city to meet the demand."
Lanshan walked out of the city gate, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sun as he headed toward the group of brothers waiting outside.
"No wonder the clerk dared to charge me two Spirit Stones for a wolf’s flank the other day."
Lan Ru was still in the city, running around with fellow sect members who were stationed in Immortal Arrival City.
Since she was busy with official business, Lanshan didn’t interfere, though he made sure she was well taken care of.
"At this time of year, more and more Demon Beasts are appearing in the mountains."
"Tell all the brothers: when hunting Demon Beasts in the mountains, don’t get into prolonged fights. Only target lone Demon Beasts."
It was the time of year when the Demon Beasts were in heat—irritable, aggressive, and roaming everywhere.
If they made a scene and attracted a group, it could lead to a major disaster.
Han Meng agreed, then recalled yesterday’s beast hide transaction.
"According to the market price, we were probably cheated yesterday..."
He was just about to discuss it with Lanshan when he suddenly heard a commotion in the distance.
Turning his head, he saw several Cultivators in sea-blue robes approaching with dark expressions.
Their auras were suppressed, like a torrent of fire waiting to erupt, needing only an outlet.
Wherever they passed, bystanders all moved out of the way.
"They’re disciples of the Mystic Law Sect."
Han Meng said, "Judging by their clothes, I’m afraid their status in the sect isn’t low."
"What are they doing in Immortal Arrival City now? The city has already been handed over. Surely they’re not here to cause more trouble..."
The Xuandao Sect disciples at the gate didn’t pay much mind to the blue-robed Cultivators. They gave them a cursory glance, then let them pass as a matter of routine.
Lanshan said in a low voice, "I heard a disciple from the Mystic Law Sect was murdered. One of the so-called ’Thirteen Prodigies,’ even."
"So now they’ve sent people over to investigate."
Han Meng rubbed his head.
"Good heavens. Don’t tell me they were killed on our turf?"
The two didn’t know the details, so they paid it no more mind.
The sect’s drama was just that—drama. It wasn’t as important as their own next meal.
The two walked toward a man nicknamed Lame Ma, who was urging them on.
"By the way, at Shopkeeper Bai’s store, the clerk is a greenhorn. Have someone look out for him."
"Don’t worry. With the Xuandao Sect backing him, no one will dare cause trouble..."
Meanwhile, in the city, Wei An, who was watching the shop, put down the Pill Book with a worried expression.
’There are so many people from other cities lately. The shop is almost out of Pills. How am I supposed to restock?’
’Forget it. I’ll just send a letter to the Immortal Master.’
He took out a letter and quickly penned a message.
’A batch of Spirit Beasts is departing soon. I’m sure some of the Immortal Master’s fellow sect members will be returning, so I can ask them to carry it for me.’
He had already inquired about this matter.
Wei An waited quietly in the shop for a moment, and sure enough, Xu Ruyuan arrived on time.
"Today’s medicinal herbs have arrived. Take them, kiddo Wei."
Wei An came out, weighed the bundles of herbs, and handed over the Spirit Stones.
"Senior Xu, are you free? Could I trouble you to watch the shop for me? I need to go deliver a letter to the Shopkeeper."
Xu Ruyuan nodded.
"Of course. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Brother Bai. I wonder how he’s doing."
"Say hello for me in your letter."
The two completed the handover with practiced ease, and Wei An hurried out.
Xu Ruyuan unhurriedly dragged the herbs and tossed them into the storeroom.
Inside, several cuts of Demon Beast meat were hanging to be cured, and the piled-up medicinal herbs were already nearly as tall as a person.
...
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Bai Mo sat cross-legged on a cleared stone on the cliff face.
Looking up, the cliff’s edge was perfectly straight, as if it had sliced open a piece of the sky.
The sky was clear and sunny.
Yet, peals of thunder echoed from the bottom of Suspended Blade Cliff.
"It’s not time yet."
Bai Mo said softly.
The thunder he heard was merely the roar of a strange beast at the bottom of the cliff, mimicking a clap of thunder from the sky.
Bai Mo looked toward a spot at the cliff’s bottom, where a strange beast with a feathered crest spread open like a large flower was roaring with its mouth wide.
Its roar was indistinguishable from the sound of thunder.
Seeing Bai Mo look its way, the strange beast’s roar abruptly stopped.
It tilted its head to glance at Bai Mo before quickly retreating into its nest.
"Junior Brother Bai?"
Half of a body leaned out from the cliff’s edge as Wei Xianxing called out.
"Senior Brother, I’m over here."
Bai Mo quickly stood up and waved.
Having located him, Wei Xianxing leaped down, reaching out mid-descent to use the vines on the cliff face for leverage.
After a few agile movements, he landed in front of Bai Mo.
Bai Mo watched, his heart pounding. He took the beast meat Wei Xianxing handed him and took a bite.
"Senior Brother, what brings you here?"
"You have a letter. It was forwarded from the Beast Taming Peak."
Wei Xianxing pulled an envelope from his robes.
"How are you doing here?"
In no hurry to open the envelope, Bai Mo tucked it away and just gnawed on the beast meat to sate his hunger.
"For several days now, there hasn’t been any real thunder."
"But this place is deserted and isolated from the outside world. After staying here for a while, you get a different kind of feeling."
Bai Mo said.
While meditating at the bottom of the cliff, his mind felt exceptionally clear and his spirit soared. He had made progress in several of his Cultivation Techniques.
It was an unexpected gain.
