Chapter 596 - 486: His Life Had Long Not Been His Own

When Xiao Mo awoke, he found himself back in his room.

He recalled the effects of the Great Dream of Yellow Millet Cultivation Technique from the night before.

More than likely, it was Jing Ci who had brought him back.

Shaking his head, Xiao Mo sat up in bed.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and inspected his body with his spiritual sense.

Sure enough, the Spiritual Power within him was nourishing itself.

This was especially true for his Root Bone.

His Spirit Root seemed to be undergoing a transformation, like a chrysalis becoming a butterfly or a snake shedding its skin.

This took Xiao Mo by surprise.

He hadn’t expected that cultivating the Great Dream of Yellow Millet to an advanced stage would actually improve his Root Bone.

This aspect alone made the Great Dream of Yellow Millet an immeasurably valuable Cultivation Technique.

Xiao Mo couldn’t even imagine what kind of prodigy it must have taken to create such a technique!

"I can’t wait any longer. It’s time to go into seclusion."

Xiao Mo muttered to himself.

His cultivation of the Great Dream of Yellow Millet had reached its limit. His current Spiritual Power, Spirit Vein, and Root Bone could no longer support its continued practice.

He had to enter seclusion and use the Great Dream of Yellow Millet to temper his own being, allowing his body and Spirit Vein to break through to a higher level.

Otherwise, if he continued to cultivate, he wouldn’t just make no progress—he might even cause irreparable damage to his body.

However, Xiao Mo didn’t know how long this period of seclusion would take.

Moreover, so-called seclusion was as much a risk as it was an opportunity.

After all, not every chrysalis emerges as a butterfly, and not every snake sheds its skin successfully.

So, before entering seclusion, Xiao Mo felt he needed to make some preparations. At the very least, he had to inform Jing Ci and the others.

Beyond that, Xiao Mo also needed to find a suitable place to enter seclusion.

The location needed to be sufficiently secluded.

’If someone tries to kill me again halfway through my seclusion, I won’t even know what hit me.’

After gathering his thoughts, Xiao Mo went to Cold Mountain City. He bought two jugs of the finest Nu’er Hong wine, along with some side dishes to go with it—marinated beef, peanuts, and spicy tofu skin sticks. Then, he flew toward Fuyue Peak.

He arrived before a courtyard.

Inside, a scholar was engrossed in a game of chess against himself.

The scholar was so absorbed in his game that he failed to notice Xiao Mo’s arrival.

Standing at the courtyard gate, Xiao Mo clasped his hands in a bow and announced clearly, "Xiao Mo pays his respects to Mr. Xian. I have come uninvited and hope you will forgive my intrusion, Sir."

Hearing Xiao Mo’s voice, Xian Xichun’s hand, which was about to place a piece, paused slightly.

Turning his head, Xian Xichun looked at the dashing young man at his gate, a hint of surprise in his expression.

"This is the first time you’ve come to visit me, young Xiao. Please, come in."

Xian Xichun opened the wicker gate and warmly welcomed Xiao Mo inside.

"Thank you, Sir."

Xiao Mo walked into the courtyard and placed the gifts on the table.

"This junior heard that you enjoy the Nu’er Hong from Xianming Pavilion in Cold Mountain City, Sir, so I took the liberty of bringing two jugs, along with a few small dishes. I hope they are not beneath your notice."

"Hahaha... You’re a thoughtful one, kid. If you’d brought me some expensive gift, I wouldn’t have accepted it."

Xian Xichun flicked his green robes, sat down without ceremony, and gestured for Xiao Mo to join him.

"Drinking alone is the most boring thing. Come, let’s drink together!"

"Yes, Sir." Since the master of the house had spoken, Xiao Mo, as the guest, didn’t stand on ceremony and took a seat beside Xian Xichun.

"During my lectures, whether in the Book Hall or out, you were always the most attentive student. No matter what I spoke of, you grasped it instantly. Years ago, I already thought you were a promising talent for cultivating the Confucian Dao."

Xian Xichun poured Xiao Mo a cup of wine.

"But you, Xiao Mo, you cultivated Daoist Skills instead. This is truly a pity."

"Then again, it seems your talent for Daoist Skills is even greater. In comparison, having you cultivate the Confucian Dao might have been something of a waste."

"You flatter me, Mr. Xian. I have no such talent for the Confucian Dao." Faced with Mr. Xian’s praise, Xiao Mo simply smiled and shook his head.

"Hahaha, you don’t need to be modest with me. If you have no talent for the Confucian Dao, then what does that make me? I’ve just read a few hundred more years’ worth of books than you." Xian Xichun raised his wine cup and lightly clinked it against Xiao Mo’s. "Besides, Xiao Mo, do you know what I admire most about you?"

"What is that?" Xiao Mo asked.

"Your name," Xian Xichun said with a humorous twinkle after taking a drink. "Surprised, aren’t you?"

"I certainly am." Xiao Mo shook his head. "But is there something special about my name?"

"Nothing particularly special, I suppose," Xian Xichun explained. "It’s just, there is a scholar whom I greatly admire. I’ve never met him, only heard stories of his deeds, but I have always been inspired by his actions. And your name is very similar to his."

"To be admired by you, Mr. Xian, that scholar’s learning must be profound, wouldn’t you say?" Xiao Mo said, following the thread of conversation.

"Profound!" Xian Xichun nodded with great seriousness. He stretched out a hand and pointed to the vast sky. "No matter what the world thinks! No matter what those charlatan scholars say! In my heart, that man’s knowledge is vaster than the heavens themselves!"

"It’s just a shame..." Xian Xichun poured himself another cup of wine and downed it in one gulp, his expression tinged with melancholy. "A shame that I never had the chance to meet him, not even once, before he passed away..."

Seeing Xian Xichun’s look of loss and regret, Xiao Mo didn’t know what to say. He could only take the initiative to pour him another cup.