Chapter 476: All Set
Ah Er still didn’t understand the nuances of social etiquette.
But when Bai Mo said to prepare a gift, it began to recall stories told by its companions.
These were tales of their masters’ interactions with others—amusing anecdotes that the Spirit Beasts deemed worthy of sharing amongst themselves.
Some even used their experiences from visiting friends or paying respects to masters as bragging rights.
So Ah Er prepared an assortment of pastries, selected several aged and exceptionally high-quality medicinal herbs, and placed them in a brocade box.
When Bai Mo saw the gifts, he was momentarily taken aback before nodding.
‘There’s nothing wrong with this…’
‘Visiting someone’s home with an overly valuable gift could seem presumptuous.’
‘But a selection like Ah Er’s isn’t too forward, nor is it impolite. Perhaps it’s just right?’
…
They left, turning left and journeying across mountains and over rivers.
After covering a hundred li, they finally reached the place An Caiwei had inquired about.
It was a low hill, no more than fifty zhang high.
A stream flowed around its side, and the entire hill was covered in Arrays that gathered Spiritual Qi, giving it a certain impressive air.
Of course, compared to the illustrious peaks of his own sect, this place was rather humble.
As they drew near, the man and beast caught the attention of a man raising chickens at the foot of the hill.
“Are you here to purchase Array Plates?”
The chicken farmer asked excitedly, holding a tray of feed.
The roosters and hens at his feet clucked in dissatisfaction, occasionally leaping up to peck at the feed.
Bai Mo stepped forward and clasped his hands in a salute.
“I have come today to pay a visit to Senior Gong.”
‘The Array Plates he mentioned must be the main source of Spirit Stones for this hill.’
‘They need some kind of livelihood to support the disciples’ cultivation and cover the hill’s daily expenses.’
The man looked a little disappointed but remained enthusiastic. After all, they rarely got visitors.
He casually brushed aside a large, red-combed rooster that leaped toward him and pointed the way for Bai Mo.
“Master Gong’s residence is in the heart of the mountain. He excels in the Alchemy Dao. A fire spring is diverted to his dwelling, so it’s very hot there…”
Following the man’s directions, Bai Mo and Ah Er quickly found the location.
It was a cave-dwelling carved into the mountainside.
In front of the entrance were two mu of medicinal fields, planted with numerous herbs, all bursting with life, their leaves a lush, dewy green.
Ah Er stared, utterly dumbfounded.
The main door to the cave-dwelling was open. A white-haired old man, holding a flat basket, was about to spread out the tea leaves within it to dry in the sun.
He was rather surprised to see guests arrive so suddenly.
“You are…”
Bai Mo quickly stepped forward.
“This humble junior, Bai Mo, has long heard of Senior’s renown and has made a special trip to visit.”
…
「A moment later.」
Inside the cave-dwelling, the two were seated. The old man, whose surname was Gong, still held the basket, from which the bitter aroma of tea leaves wafted.
Upon learning of Bai Mo’s reason for visiting, the old man was very pleased.
“I’ve long heard that a Grandmaster has emerged from Mi Mountain, a fellow practitioner of our Dao.”
“Unfortunately, my health isn’t what it used to be, and with so many matters to attend to on this mountain, I was never able to pay a visit. I didn’t expect we’d meet today.”
Bai Mo smiled. “You are the elder, Senior. It is only right that this junior comes to visit you.”
After they exchanged a few more words, several children crept up to the entrance of the cave-dwelling, peeking in with innocent curiosity.
The old man smiled and pointed to the pastries Bai Mo had brought, and only then did the children approach.
They first bowed solemnly to the old man and Bai Mo, then took some pastries and, with a whoosh, scampered away.
The old man smiled faintly. “They are all promising youths I found outside. By raising them from a young age, it’s easier to guide their character.”
“By the way, you mentioned you are skilled in the path of the Outer Pill?”
Bai Mo shook his head.
“I don’t specialize in it exclusively. It’s just that I recently learned an Outer Pill Method and was struck by the profundity of this path. Thus, I wish to use it as my way to achieve Core Formation.”
“Core Formation…”
The old man stirred the tea leaves in his basket.
“When I was young, I also eschewed the mainstream method for Core Formation. I used an Alchemy technique, refining my own Golden Core as if it were a Pill.”
“I nearly died. Fortunately, I have some skill in the art of survival, otherwise…”
Bai Mo thought for a moment before saying:
“This junior lacks Senior’s ambition and vision. I simply wish to integrate my own cultivation of the Alchemy Dao into my Golden Core, forging it into an Alchemy Dao Golden Core.”
“Refining a good batch of Outer Pills is merely a catalyst to advance my cultivation and affirm my chosen path.”
Ah Er was completely lost, but the old man was already full of praise.
“An excellent method indeed! If you truly succeed, the Pills you refine in the future will likely be unlike any other…”
As a senior in the Alchemy Dao, the old man did not hold back his advice.
“The matter of the Golden Core is monumental. No amount of caution is too much.”
“When you attempt Core Formation, you must prepare a fallback plan. That way, if the worst should happen, you won’t be left helpless.”
“It’s a pity I don’t understand the path of the Outer Pill. Otherwise, I could have offered you more advice.”
Bai Mo waved it off with a smile.
“I can simply explain it to you, Senior. All methods are interconnected at their core. You might offer a unique perspective. I’ve just hit a bottleneck, and perhaps you can help me resolve it…”
The two then began to converse in low voices.
Ah Er listened from the side. Although it caught a few familiar words here and there, it was completely lost for the most part.
Its head began to bob, and soon, with its paws resting on its belly, it drifted off to sleep.
The mountain hadn’t seen a visitor in a long time. That evening, the chicken farmer from the foot of the hill came up.
He had intended to ask about the guest’s tastes and prepare a few nice dishes, but when he arrived outside the cave-dwelling, he saw the old man and Bai Mo deep in a joyful conversation, utterly oblivious to their surroundings.
Such a deep discussion was clearly not something an outsider should disturb.
The man quietly withdrew.
Time flowed on. The moon rose and set, and quietly, the next day arrived.
The old man’s face was flushed and he was in high spirits, but Bai Mo could tell something was wrong with his condition.
The moment he heard the old man let out a cough, Bai Mo seized the chance to bring their conversation to a close.
“Senior, you seem to be unwell?”
“Our conversation has already resolved at least twenty percent of my questions. That is more than enough for now. Perhaps I should come again another day…”
The old man suppressed his excitement and gave a wry, helpless smile.
“It’s an old ailment from my youth, which has now become a chronic affliction.”
“However, regarding your questions, young friend, I’ve shared all I can based on my life’s experience. Even if you came again, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have much more to offer…”
He was not versed in the Outer Pill Method; it was only through Bai Mo’s explanation that he had gained a basic understanding.
He couldn’t truly be said to be guiding Bai Mo, but merely providing him with new lines of thought.
Before they parted, the old man took out a Pill Formula and handed it to Bai Mo.
“Take this formula, young friend.”
“It is for a Pill that protects the heart and saves one’s life. Prepare one for your Core Formation. As long as nothing catastrophic happens, it will ensure you don’t lose your life.”
He forced a smile and added in a low voice:
“I hear the Suanni Ancestor is currently residing on Mi Mountain. As long as you don’t die instantly, you can be saved by the Ancestor’s power.”
The hand Bai Mo used to accept the Pill Formula paused for a fraction of a second.
‘This Pill Formula is quite valuable.’
The old man saw his hesitation and immediately spoke up.
“This Outer Pill Method is no trivial matter. I can’t let you explain such a profound method to me for nothing.”
“There must be give and take. This way, we can visit each other more often in the future…”
Only then did Bai Mo accept the Pill Formula.
By the time Bai Mo rose to leave, Ah Er had already enjoyed several naps and was now awake and refreshed.
As it followed Bai Mo away with large strides, Ah Er waved a greeting to the man who was up early feeding his chickens.
When it looked at Bai Mo again, it saw his brow furrow in thought before his expression cleared into a smile.
“It’s about time.”
“After we return, I’ll make some brief preparations and then enter seclusion for a long time. All the affairs here, both inside and out, will fall to you.”
Ah Er gave a mighty stretch.
“AHR-ER!”