Free Web NovelChapter 52: Chapter 52: Coming to the Door
The Token was moon-white, etched with esoteric patterns.
From what Bai Mo could tell, it was some kind of Array Pattern, but he couldn’t discern its purpose.
"Brother, you’ve come a long way. Even if you won’t be dining with me, you should at least tell me your name..."
Bai Mo took the Token and used the opportunity to ask.
The disciple chuckled and said:
"If you ever come to the sect, just ask around for Shen Wanqing. That’s me."
Bai Mo quickly cupped his fists in respect and called out:
"Brother Shen!"
Inside, however, he was secretly pondering.
’I wonder if this Brother is actually well-known among the Xuandao Sect Disciples, or if he’s just a bit arrogant?’ freewebnøvel.coɱ
Shen Wanqing was very satisfied.
"I’ve been wandering around here for half the day. I was hoping to find some way to make money, but I came up empty."
"I did see a few petty thieves spying on this place, though. How about I take care of them for you?"
Bai Mo was startled.
"Brother, don’t be reckless. Immortal Arrival City is the Myriad Laws Sect’s territory. If you make a move, the consequences will be dire."
For a Sect Disciple to cross into another sect’s territory and attack one of their people was tantamount to a provocation.
If the Myriad Laws Sect didn’t retaliate, they would lose all standing among the sects.
Shen Wanqing let out a "Hah!" and said, "Brother Bai, you think too highly of me."
"I don’t have the power to just kill them. I’d just use a few tricks... for instance, there’s that gang of marauders here in your Celestial Barrier Mountain..."
A muscle in Bai Mo’s face twitched as he recalled the gang of marauders in the Celestial Barrier Mountain.
’This Brother of mine really doesn’t grasp the gravity of the situation. I can’t let him run wild.’
"I’m a Pill Master. I doubt a few petty thieves would dare to touch me."
"So I won’t have to trouble you, Brother."
Shen Wanqing finally nodded. Smelling the savory aroma wafting from Bai Mo’s room, he felt his stomach begin to rumble.
"Alright then, I’ll be on my way!"
"The way you cook Demon Beast meat here is quite something. I’m going to go get a taste!"
Shen Wanqing took a few steps away, then stopped and scratched his head.
"Brother, I’ve spent the last few days walking all over Immortal Arrival City. The trades here are pretty much all carved up and claimed."
"The Pill business is still decent, since it’s based on skill, but the overall environment here is poor. Cultivation requires resources, you know. If things don’t work out, you should get out..."
Bai Mo was slightly stunned. He had lived in Immortal Arrival City for a long time but had never heard anything like this.
However, this Brother didn’t seem like the type to speak idly.
Bai Mo watched him leave, committing his words to memory.
Back inside, Bai Mo saw the fire under the roasting meat hadn’t gone out yet. He leaped forward and pulled out the firewood.
He was relieved to see the meat wasn’t yet overcooked.
All in all, it had been a good day.
Bai Mo even deliberately ignored the few disciples from the Myriad Laws Sect who harbored ill intentions.
He wiped the Xuandao Sect Token clean before putting it away.
Even so, Bai Mo didn’t forget about his Alchemy.
He lit a fire and set up the furnace, and in moments, smoke began to rise.
’My Alchemy Skill has improved so much. The time it takes me to perform Alchemy has been greatly reduced, so I can balance it with my cultivation.’
’I can study the Pill Book and my Cultivation Technique during the day, and focus on both Alchemy and cultivation at night.’
As Bai Mo mulled this over, he sighed internally.
’It means I don’t have a single moment to spare.’
’I’ll just have to endure it for now. The moment I get some Spirit Stones, I need to make a change. I can’t afford to stay stagnant!’
Alchemy, meditation, rest.
Time passed just like this.
When Bai Mo awoke, the sky was already bright.
He retrieved the Pills he had refined the previous night and arranged them on the shelves.
Bai Mo then sat behind the counter, dozing off. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"Shopkeeper Bai?"
Hearing the soft call, Bai Mo looked up to see a familiar face at the door.
The lean, capable man, as renowned as Lanshan, was a long-time regular.
Bai Mo immediately stood up to greet him.
"What can I get for you today?"
As Bai Mo drew near, the lean, capable man subconsciously took a step back.
"Shopkeeper Bai, you’ve become a Pill Master?"
Bai Mo paused, then waved his hand dismissively. "I am a Pill Master, it’s true, but I’m still open for business. You’re a regular, no need to be so formal."
"Now, what can I get for you?"
The lean, capable man’s tense body finally relaxed, and he asked tentatively,
"Do you have any Evil Exorcism Pills, like the last time?"
Bai Mo’s hand, reaching for the shelf, froze. He replied with a helpless tone,
"I’m out."
"I’m trying to buy Climbing Vine from you all, but hardly anyone has any. Without it, how can I make Evil Exorcism Pills?"
The lean, capable man fell silent for a moment before replying,
"That stuff isn’t easy to find. At the current market price, it’s not worth the effort to search for it in the Celestial Barrier Mountain."
Annoyed, Bai Mo pulled out a sheet of paper and slapped it into the man’s chest.
"I’m offering a better price!"
The lean, capable man took the paper and glanced at it, his expression shifting.
"For a Demon Hunting Team, this is barely acceptable. But for those individuals who scavenge in the mountains, this should be a pleasant surprise!"
Bai Mo was surprised.
"Are the Demon Hunting Teams really that demanding?"
Normally, these people weren’t so ambitious. They calculated every little thing.
The lean, capable man’s gaze remained fixed on the paper.
"Weapon maintenance, Pills, Soft Armor, tonics for healing injuries, cultivation supplies, resources for practicing techniques..."
"Among the Loose Cultivators in Immortal Arrival City, only those in Demon Hunting Teams can manage all of these expenses."
The lean, capable man folded the paper and tucked it into his robes.
"Only hunting Demon Beasts brings in that kind of profit."
"Treasure hunting? That won’t cut it."
In the end, the man only bought two bottles each of Condensed Dew Pills and Righteous Qi Pills before leaving.
Bai Mo scratched his head, still vexed about the Climbing Vine.
The pure, righteous qi within that particular medicinal ingredient was unique, and he still hadn’t found a substitute for it.
He could only hope the bounties he’d posted would bear fruit.
In fact, the flyers Bai Mo had distributed were proving quite effective.
They had caused a considerable stir among the Loose Cultivator community in the Celestial Barrier Mountain.
At the acquisition prices listed, any Loose Cultivator entering the Celestial Barrier Mountain would only need to find a few stalks to make their trip worthwhile.
Few people questioned whether Bai Mo had the means to back up his offer.
The Pill Master’s jade medallion, which Bai Mo always wore at his waist, was genuine; that couldn’t be faked.
Seeing the Loose Cultivators clamoring for information, some opportunists even dug through their old books at home to find any relevant records.
Soon after, a booklet worth a sliver of a Broken Spirit Stone began to circulate on the market.
It not only described the herbs’ growth habits but also included illustrations of their appearance.
Its level of detail even startled Bai Mo.
"Where did this booklet come from?"
The booklet was crudely made—just a few sheets of paper bound on one side with hemp string and roughly cut to size.
The old stall owner took the booklet back from Bai Mo and carefully put it away.
"Someone came by selling them. It cost a sliver of a Broken Spirit Stone. Tell me, Brother Bai, is it accurate?"
Bai Mo nodded. "It’s actually quite good."
"There aren’t any real mistakes in it. If you follow its instructions, you can’t go wrong."
The old stall owner’s face lit up.
"Then that sliver of a Broken Spirit Stone wasn’t spent in vain!"
"I just wonder who was clever enough to earn money this way..."
Just as he was speaking, a loud BANG echoed through the shop.
"Where is the Shopkeeper of this establishment?"
Bai Mo frowned and looked up to see a few familiar, unwelcome faces swaggering in.
The man had deliberately slammed his palm against the doorframe as he entered, shaking loose a shower of dust.
"What can I get for you gentlemen?"
Bai Mo schooled his features and asked calmly.
Bai Mo’s calm reaction seemed to take them by surprise, much to their displeasure.
"Show some respect! We’re from the Myriad Laws Sect!"
"We’ve been watching you for a long time!"
Bai Mo unfastened the jade medallion from his waist and placed it on the counter.
"I know. For all your spying, both in the open and from the shadows, you’ve only graced my humble shop with the purchase of a single bottle of Condensed Dew Pills."
"How utterly cheap!"
Bai Mo said, looking directly at them.
"So, what pearls of wisdom do you have for me?"
Seeing the jade medallion, the men from the Myriad Laws Sect shifted uneasily, exchanging glances.
For a moment, they were unsure how to react.
The old stall owner watched the two sides in the shop. The atmosphere grew heavy. For reasons of his own, he did not leave immediately.
