Chapter 525: Open and Aboveboard
Chapter 525: Chapter 525: Open and Aboveboard
As Ah Er carried the two Cultivators inside, Youling poked his head out to take a look.
"What was that just now?"
He had seen many strange and bizarre things on Divine Dao Mountain, some even more domineering.
But these centipedes and scorpions had transformed from something completely ordinary into *that* right before his eyes.
This made him intensely curious.
Bai Mo said calmly, "Creations of the Alchemy Dao."
Youling praised, "Incredible. The two men outside were utterly powerless against them."
"Senior Brother, could you spare a few for me to protect myself?"
Bai Mo held out his hand.
"Those insects are a special breed from the Celestial Barrier Mountains. Ordinary Cultivators wouldn’t dare provoke them. I only managed to get them because I have people."
"They’re worth four to five hundred Spirit Stones each, depending on market fluctuations."
Bai Mo counted it out for him.
"Then there are the medicinal ingredients—a wide variety, including many rare items. All told, they’re worth another two thousand Spirit Stones."
The most expensive part should have been the refinement technique, but since Bai Mo had done it himself, he didn’t factor that in.
Youling was stunned by the cost.
With his entire net worth, he could afford to make two at most.
"So expensive. No wonder they could handle those two men."
But Bai Mo knew the origins of the visiting Cultivators. He had occasionally spied on the cultivation of the Core Formation Cultivators in the temple.
"Don’t overestimate them."
Bai Mo shook his head. "Cultivators like them only managed to achieve Core Formation with Duke Mo Hai’s help."
"Their Divine Thought and physical constitution are far inferior to others at the same realm. The only thing they have going for them is the divinity mixed into their Spiritual Qi."
If he weren’t so unskilled in combat, he wouldn’t have needed to resort to such methods.
If one of his martial brothers from Broken Blade Peak were here, capturing these two would have been effortless.
Just then, Ah Er dragged the two Cultivators through the door, slung over its shoulder.
The lingering Spiritual Qi from the two men caused a stinging, needle-like pain all over its body.
Once inside, it hastily dumped the men on the floor and backed away.
Youling was about to step forward and search their belongings, but Bai Mo stopped him.
"They’ve been subjected to a potent toxin and then two potent tonics. The poison and nourishment have created a fatal cycle. Not even an Immortal could save them now."
"Don’t touch them. Be careful not to get contaminated."
Startled, Youling took several steps back, then kept glancing over at Ah Er.
Ah Er was scratching its shoulders, front and back, with its claws, but showed no other abnormalities.
That beast normally popped Pills like they were candy; it had long since developed an immunity to all poisons.
Bai Mo walked over to the two Cultivators. They were no longer conscious.
One of them mumbled deliriously, forcing out the words:
"Upper God... The Upper God will not spare you."
"How dare you harm us..."
He placed his fingers on their foreheads and felt for a moment, then lost all interest in questioning them.
The divinity in their minds was especially thick; it was the area most heavily corrupted by Duke Mo Hai’s divine power.
He definitely wouldn’t get any information out of them.
Not only that, but he couldn’t even take their belongings. Duke Mo Hai could use the residual divinity on the items to track them.
After feeding each of them a Pill, Bai Mo turned back to Youling and Ah Er.
"We can’t stay here any longer. Pack your things. We leave before dawn."
Hearing this, the man and the beast immediately got busy.
Bai Mo, however, went out and headed straight for the grand temple, expertly navigating to the small, hidden shrine behind it.
Duke Mo Hai was not present tonight; he had been invited to a banquet by the emperor. Captain Su, a frequent visitor, also hadn’t come.
The moment Bai Mo arrived, the master of the small shrine sighed.
"My guest has come so many times. Do you not intend to show yourself?"
Bai Mo’s heart stirred, but he wasn’t surprised. He stepped out from behind the wooden wall and bowed to the shrine’s master.
"Old Sir."
The shrine’s master was an old man with white hair and a wrinkled face, looking very ancient.
"Exalted Immortal."
The old man rose from the divine niche and returned the bow, his voice trembling.
"Exalted Immortal, you are leaving tonight, aren’t you? This old one heard that someone went to cause you trouble."
Bai Mo nodded and sat down opposite the old man.
"Old Sir, why do you call me ’Exalted Immortal’?"
The old man sighed.
"This old one once received incense offerings myself. I have seen disciples from the great sects and clans coming and going in Shuofang Country."
"On occasion, it was even this old one who received them."
"But times have changed, and the world with them. The incense for this little shrine dwindled, and after the earth dragon turned over, it was buried underground, forgotten by all..."
He sounded quite melancholic.
"After all, a Sect Disciple is quite different from the disciples of the Loose Cultivator families here in Shuofang. This old one believes I can still tell the difference."
"Exalted Immortal, are you here because of Duke Mo Hai?"
Bai Mo nodded, curious about the old man’s thoughts.
"Old Sir, you’ve had dealings with both Duke Mo Hai and Captain Su. I wonder what your thoughts are?"
The old man shook his head and waved his hand dismissively.
"Duke Mo Hai’s intentions are sinister. I only dare to feign compliance with him."
"Captain Su is the descendant of a dear friend. He wishes to help me, but I fear he lacks the power to do so."
"Exalted Immortal, could you perhaps help this old one?"
Bai Mo fell silent, his thoughts churning.
’This man before me is an old, local god. As a Divine Being who has had many interactions with Duke Mo Hai, he might actually be useful.’
"Old Sir, are you aware of the situation outside?"
The old man nodded, his expression grave.
"I have heard some things from Duke Mo Hai. I never thought the conflict between the Divine Beings and the sects would escalate to this point."
"But minor gods like us have little to do with those so-called ’celestials,’ nor do we have the power to get involved."
As he spoke, his gaze met Bai Mo’s.
"Exalted Immortal, do you intend to deal with Duke Mo Hai?"
Bai Mo nodded.
"Originally, I was only here to investigate the local Divine Beings, to distinguish the good from the evil, the close from the distant. I didn’t expect this fellow to be so blatant."
"When the time comes to act, I may require your cooperation, Old Sir. I hope you will not refuse."
"Please be quick, then." The old man didn’t agree directly, only saying:
"This old one was originally powerless, but recently I’ve been able to hear the commotions outside, sense your movements, and even conceal Captain Su’s presence. This is a sign of a final flicker of life before the end."
Bai Mo agreed.
"Don’t worry. It won’t be long."
After speaking a while longer with the old god, Bai Mo finally took his leave.
This old god had been cut off from the outside world for a long time. He had no means of self-preservation left and was extremely cautious.
He could only cling to his past experiences and hope for help from a Sect Disciple.
Bai Mo wasn’t wary of him. If he could prove to be a useful ally, so much the better.
He made his way back to the residence. Seeing the two Cultivators lying in the house and knowing they only had a few hours left to live, Bai Mo called out to Ah Er and Youling.
"Once those two die, Duke Mo Hai will be alerted. We need to leave as soon as possible."
Youling and Ah Er quickly boarded the Flying Ship. Piloted by Bai Mo, it streaked across the sky as a green light, leaving the city behind.
Several hours after they left, the two Cultivators in the residence let out a final groan. Their bodies dissolved into puddles of pus, which then evaporated, leaving no trace.
Not long after, a group of men rushed to the scene.
"The clothes of Dharma Protectors She and Chong have been found in the house!"
The Cultivator who had gone in to investigate came out holding a pile of clothes and personal belongings.
The leading Cultivator’s face was grim.
The death of a Core Formation Dharma Protector was a major event at the temple. The Upper God would surely be furious.
Just as he reached out to take his colleague’s belongings, the Cultivator holding the clothes froze. He let out a dry retch and collapsed to the ground.
Everyone present was shocked. Looking over, they saw the man’s face had turned a deathly blue. He was no longer breathing.