Chapter 529: Chapter 529: Remuneration

Upon returning to the sect, the disciples dispersed.

It was Youling’s first time leaving the sect for an external assignment. There were some rewards to be collected from the Foreign Affairs Hall, so he left first.

Bai Mo had intended to return home, but Yuan Chu stepped forward and stopped him.

"Junior Brother, those three Divine Techniques—let’s go get them first. If we delay, I won’t be able to fulfill my promise."

He had just spoken a few words with some familiar senior and junior brothers, and now seemed a little nervous.

Although Bai Mo was curious, he still went with him to Divine Dao Mountain.

Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, Bai Mo finally saw the Dharma Protector that Yuan Chu revered.

It was early morning when they arrived.

An old ape was meditating on a steep cliff face. It inhaled the passing clouds, and after a short while, exhaled them from its mouth and nose.

The mist rushed out, coiling into a long shape like a flood dragon.

This single cycle of breath took a full quarter of an hour.

Only when the sun had risen did Yuan Chu dare to lead Bai Mo forward to pay his respects.

This old ape was ancient, its entire body covered in white fur.

Bai Mo could tell this wasn’t due to its breed, but a natural whitening from age.

"Disciple Yuan Chu, with Junior Brother Bai Mo, pays respects to the Dharma Protector!"

Yuan Chu bowed respectfully and announced in a clear voice.

Just then, the old ape finished exhaling. The long flood dragon of air bared its fangs and brandished its claws before vanishing into the mist.

Bai Mo’s expression faltered slightly. As he bowed, he discreetly glanced toward where the flood dragon had disappeared.

His Divine Thought was sensitive, so he knew the flood dragon formed from the breath had truly gained life, and was not a mere phenomenon.

The old ape slowly opened its eyes, looked calmly at the two visiting disciples, and spoke:

"Yuan Chu, are you the one who spoke of the disciple who wishes to take three Divine Technique seeds?"

The old ape’s voice was like that of an ordinary old man, but without any sense of gravelly obstruction; it was much clearer.

Yuan Chu took a step forward and said in a low voice:

"Indeed. This disciple was injured during my Core Formation. While I was recuperating, Junior Brother Bai often went on missions in my stead."

"That Duke Mo Hai harbored treacherous intentions. He has been brought back, and his capture has revealed many hidden matters..."

Bai Mo tilted his head slightly, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

But he saw Yuan Chu looking straight ahead, head raised, as he said, "I implore the Dharma Protector to bestow the Divine Technique seeds!"

The old ape lowered its gaze, the fur between its brows trembling in the morning breeze.

"You are two good children..."

He flicked his wrist, shaking out three objects of different colors, their bodies like glazed glass.

Yuan Chu’s expression changed. He leaped up, his arms hooking onto pine branches and treetops as his figure flashed through several movements.

His momentum spent, he landed on the ground and opened his palm. Within it lay the three glazed objects.

The old ape took in his recent movements and couldn’t help but shake its head.

"You’ve been slacking lately. You’ve regressed a little."

Beads of sweat formed on Yuan Chu’s forehead. He admitted his fault, saying:

"Please calm your anger, esteemed elder. This disciple will definitely practice more diligently from now on."

The old ape’s action had been a test. Yuan Chu had already reached Core Formation, and his control over his body surpassed that of ninety-nine percent of the people in the world.

Once a Body Technique is mastered, there’s no reason for it to regress in just a few short years.

Yuan Chu gave a wry smile and whispered to Bai Mo, "He’s saying my progress has been poor, that I’m not as steady as I used to be."

Seeing that he understood, the old ape nodded and said:

"Leave, now. Do not disturb my meditation."

The two then withdrew, heading down the mountain path.

Along the way, heavy footsteps echoed from within the mist bordering the path, and tall shadows loomed.

Bai Mo heard the HUFFING and PUFFING of heavy panting, as if someone was carrying a great weight.

Ah Er, by his feet, was quite frightened.

Yuan Chu, however, thrust the three glazed, gem-like objects into Bai Mo’s hand.

"These are the three Divine Techniques you wanted. As for what specific techniques they are, I don’t know either."

Bai Mo accepted them, took one out, and examined it repeatedly in his hand.

"What are these Divine Technique seeds?"

Yuan Chu pointed to the sides of the mountain path.

"Not all the spirits in the mountains are mischievous. Some yearn to follow the Dao."

"These are the crystallized forms of the Divine Techniques they nurture. By refining one, you might be able to grasp the essence of the Divine Technique within."

Bai Mo found this fascinating.

"If this object is removed, what happens to the spirit?"

Yuan Chu knew what he meant and explained:

"This is formed from their very essence. If it’s removed, the spirit must cultivate that Divine Technique all over again. In a mild case, the Divine Technique becomes incomplete or flawed."

"But some spirits don’t want certain Divine Techniques, so they’ll remove them for circulation, either as a gift when seeking guidance or as a wager."

He looked around and whispered:

"The Dharma Protector has quite a few Divine Technique seeds. He is an old veteran of this mountain with extremely profound cultivation. Many spirits like to come to him for guidance."

Understanding dawned on Bai Mo, and he asked about the flood dragon formed from the breath of air.

After Yuan Chu’s explanation, he learned that it was created from a Divine Technique seed. The old ape had refined the seed and infused its mystery into the flood dragon of air.

And that was how the flood dragon gained life.

Many years from now, somewhere, a white flood dragon might achieve the Dao.

As they were nearing the base of the mountain, Bai Mo glanced at the cautiously alert Ah Er and suddenly realized something was different about this trip.

"Where are the usual mischievous mountain spirits? Why don’t I see them?"

"See those strongmen moving about on the sides? The mischievous types were scared away long ago."

The strongmen he mentioned were the tall figures walking along the sides of the path, carrying heavy loads.

Bai Mo asked, "What are they all doing?"

"That cannot be said."

With that, Yuan Chu escorted Bai Mo down the mountain, only telling him not to shut himself up at home all the time.

Leaving Divine Dao Mountain, Bai Mo let out a breath.

He calculated the time spent and smiled in satisfaction. "It didn’t take much effort. This trip wasn’t a waste."

He released his Flying Ship, which carried the man and his beast toward the sheer cliff.

...

The sheer cliff lay before them.

The ship sailed through the air. Before he had even returned, he saw a swan goose landing in the bamboo forest outside his courtyard.

Other birds would occasionally land and squawk at it for a bit before being chased away.

Both Bai Mo and Ah Er were stunned and hurried back.

When the swan goose saw them, it adopted an expression of dissatisfaction from its long wait. Ah Er had to use three Feeding Pills to placate it.

Numerous letters fell from its body, which Ah Er picked up and carried back into the courtyard.

Most of them were from Immortal Arrival City.

Recently, there had been a great deal of unusual activity in the Celestial Barrier Mountain range. The Demon Hunting Teams were well aware of the dangers within the mountains—dangers that went beyond the usual Demon Beasts—so fewer people were venturing in.

This was especially true for the usually active Lanshan and his people. Having learned some news from Bai Mo, they were focusing on tempering their bodies and didn’t dare to go up the mountain.

Their peers in the city observed their behavior and grew even more reluctant to act rashly.

The remaining letters, aside from those sent by Baitouweng, were from some Sect Disciples he knew.

After Bai Mo left Mi Mountain for this even more remote location, he had become quite difficult to find.

Those who sought his pills now had to correspond by letter.

Bai Mo gave them a cursory glance, then had Ah Er put those letters away. He took out the letter from Baitouweng and began to read it carefully.

The letter spoke of his recent travels to the East Sea, where he had a chance encounter that resolved a long-held regret from his youth. His Alchemy Dao had greatly advanced, taking another step forward.

It was a lost medicinal garden, suspected to have appeared with a Divine Being, and within it were fragmented Chapters of a scripture.

Baitouweng had copied them and included them with the letter for Bai Mo to read.

As Bai Mo read the letter, his heart trembled slightly. He said to Ah Er:

"To have a companion like him on the path is enough for one lifetime!"

With that said, he began to pore over the fragmented scripture Chapters in the letter.

Ah Er waited for a moment. Seeing him completely motionless, having reverted to his usual state...

...it shook its head and went off to prepare a meal on its own.

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