Chapter 522: Refined to Death
Chapter 522: Chapter 522: Refined to Death
Their voices had gotten a little too loud.
In the courtyard of the family on the verge of prosperity, the incense being ravenously devoured paused, then drifted toward the two of them.
A shiver ran down Youling’s spine.
Just as he was about to warn Bai Mo, Bai Mo turned and left, with Ah Er following his every step.
Soon, the two had left the county town’s limits and were heading toward the prefectural city, following the map.
Youling said, "That Duke Mo Hai must be a real glutton, the type who’ll eat anything and everything."
"When a Divine Being interacts with mortals and consumes their incense, a karmic link is forged."
"The human heart is fickle. This kind of wish-fulfillment can easily turn that karma into a baleful bond, which is detrimental to a Divine Being’s cultivation!"
The two men and one beast boarded a Flying Ship, which whistled as it sped toward the city.
Youling, however, was still going on about the taboos of a Divine Being’s cultivation.
"If they become entangled in too much of that baleful karma, the Divine Being will be corrupted and become what people call an Evil God!"
In that case, this wanton fulfillment of wishes was ultimately an act that harmed the god to benefit mortals.
Youling couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so he simply let Bai Mo lead the way toward the prefectural city.
From time to time, they would spot signs of civilization, descend to ask for water, and pick up some trivial bits of news.
Rumor had it that Duke Mo Hai, in his second life, had been so beloved by the common folk that he had intended to settle in a different prefectural city to avoid any suspicion of vying for power with the emperor.
But the emperor had insisted, and all the court officials had followed suit, which led to the current situation where his and the emperor’s temples shared the same city.
As the Imperial City, Yellow Sand City had prospered under the rule of many generations of the royal family.
The amount of Gold used in its construction was staggering.
Bai Mo didn’t appreciate the style of the place, but he still rented a residence to serve as a foothold.
The rental had to be processed through a government office.
"Please demonstrate your financial standing, sir,"
the clerk in the black uniform said earnestly.
"In the Imperial City, all residences are required to be decorated with at least three and a half pounds of Gold. Those who fall short will be punished in accordance with the law."
Ah Er took out several dozen Spirit Stones and flashed them before the clerk.
The latter, who had little cultivation himself, became even more respectful at the sight. After stamping the document, he prepared to take his leave.
Bai Mo called him back.
"I hear there is a Divine Being in your esteemed city, one who is quite potent and can grant wishes?"
"I wish to go and offer a stick of incense."
"Well..."
The clerk stopped, a troubled look on his face.
"Sir, you are a great Cultivator with a bright future. I fear your request would be a grand one, and the Divine Being in the temple may not be able to help."
Bai Mo chuckled lightly.
"One must at least test the great power of a Divine Being. Otherwise, how could I be satisfied?"
The clerk pointed to the northwest.
"It’s over that way, not far from the Jingxi Restaurant. It’s magnificently built, and the crowds are immense..."
After he left, Bai Mo stopped the landlord, who was about to strip the gold foil off the building.
The landlord had originally intended to take the Gold with him to use elsewhere.
Bai Mo paid him in Spirit Stones, sending him on his way and saving himself the trouble of redecorating.
「After resting for a day」
Bai Mo took Ah Er and the young man to wander around the city.
Commerce was thriving in the Imperial City. There were well over a hundred types of incense, including many rare varieties Bai Mo had never seen before.
After purchasing a good number of finished products and seeds and experiencing the local customs, Bai Mo finally made his way leisurely toward the temple.
Just as the clerk had described, he found the temple in the southwestern corner of the Imperial City.
The entire structure was covered in gold foil. The tall temple was so bright under the sun that it was almost impossible to keep one’s eyes open.
Outside, a constant stream of worshippers created a clamor of voices.
Following the crowd, Bai Mo entered the temple and saw the statue of the Divine Being, which stood over thirty feet tall.
It was in the likeness of a handsome scholar holding a scroll, his somber gaze looking down upon the masses below.
The statue was the work of a common mortal, so there was nothing remarkable about it.
"Are you going to offer incense or not? What are you doing just standing there? Don’t block the people behind you!"
As Bai Mo was examining the statue, a group of men in short tunics behind him began to heckle him.
This group looked like a bunch of ruffians, their faces full of impatience.
"If you want something, just say it! You can even ask for a beautiful maiden. You’re already here, why act all shy?"
Ah Er turned and glared at them.
Seeing this, the men weren’t afraid at all. They just said:
"Ooh, a Cultivator with a Spirit Pet. But what are you gonna do? Start a fight in here?"
Bai Mo glanced at the temple attendant. The attendant, who wore a red kerchief around his head, gave Bai Mo a heavy nod, his eyes holding a clear warning.
Bai Mo chuckled softly and looked away from him.
Above the statue, the incense smoke swirled. An unseen mouth was feasting wantonly upon it, and from time to time, there seemed to be sounds of swallowing and chewing.
Youling whispered from the side, "It’s best not to get involved with a Divine Being like this."
"Then let’s go."
Without offering any incense, Bai Mo turned and left with Ah Er and Youling.
The temple attendant behind them was somewhat surprised.
He glanced left and right, and two Cultivators immediately stepped forward.
"Go check them out. They’re probably Cultivators from the Grand General’s faction. That troublesome bunch of stubborn pigs!"
"Yes."
The two Cultivators pushed through the crowd and pursued Bai Mo’s group.
Once they reached a less crowded area, their figures gradually sank into the ground, leaving only their shadows behind to move swiftly.
Youling noticed the movement behind them and saw the two shadows tailing them, darting from left to right.
"Senior Brother?"
Bai Mo said, "It’s a rather impressive technique. It’s just that the people using it are a bit lacking."
Youling said sheepishly, "I don’t know any stealth techniques. It would be difficult for me to force them out."
He had heard that Bai Mo excelled in the Alchemy Dao and guessed his combat skills weren’t as refined, which made him feel the situation was tricky.
"It’s fine."
With that, Bai Mo ducked into an empty alley. A cold sneer came from the two shadows as they followed him in, reeking of killing intent.
The moment they entered, a muffled grunt was heard. The two Cultivators emerged from their shadows, their bodies swelling uncontrollably.
"So... exhausting..."
Their faces flushed red as the Spiritual Qi in their bodies ran wild, more active than ever before.
"Someone put something in the ground... a powerful tonic!"
Bai Mo rubbed his fingers together, brushing off the last bit of Pill powder.
With a mere thought, two Pill Furnaces enveloped the two Cultivators, and flames appeared beneath them.
WHOOMP! WHOOMP!
「A short while later」
two muffled thuds echoed from the alley.
Someone went to investigate, only to find two piles of black ash on the ground.
Youling still wore a strange expression all the way back to their residence.
Ah Er brewed a pot of tea, trying to pair it with the local spices.
Bai Mo took a small sip. The taste wasn’t bad, just not to his liking.
"What’s wrong?"
Youling gave a shy smile.
"Senior Brother, what kind of Cultivation Technique was that? I’ve never seen it in the sect before."
Bai Mo said casually, "It’s just something I cobbled together."
They got back to business.
"I refined those two Cultivators to death. The Spiritual Qi I produced by refining them contained a divine attribute, which shows that their own cultivation wasn’t pure."
"And it seems the temple isn’t universally beloved in Shuofang Country. The people running it seem like a ramshackle operation."
Bai Mo looked at Youling and asked:
"Where is the Divine Being’s true body located? Do you know? I want to go and investigate."
Youling said, "It’s behind the temple, underground."
"But there are probably many Cultivators guarding it, and the Divine Being’s senses are sharp. How will you sneak in, Senior Brother?"
Bai Mo was unconcerned.
"I have my ways."