Chapter 418: Human-shaped Pill Furnace

Chapter 418: Chapter 418: Human-shaped Pill Furnace

"Hm?"

Bai Mo raised an eyebrow, taking the document and examining it closely.

"Mi Mountain has never had a precedent like this before..."

Li Wuji replied, "I heard that individual requested it themselves. Said something about using the Black Prison’s gloom to balance yin and yang and stabilize their Divine Soul."

"Oh, and apparently, that individual doesn’t have a human body."

Bai Mo was inexplicably reminded of the news he’d heard from the Foreign Affairs Hall disciples, and he couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

’Could it really be such a coincidence?’

Li Wuji sensed the fluctuation in Bai Mo’s mood and found it a little strange.

"What is it?"

"Mm," Bai Mo replied after quickly finishing the document, "Nothing."

"The document doesn’t say we need to welcome them. Given the Black Prison’s unique nature, there’s no need to do anything extra. We just have to wait."

Li Wuji nodded.

"That makes sense. Since Junior Brother is the master of the Black Prison, I won’t interfere."

He bid farewell and left immediately.

During the days Bai Mo was away, Li Wuji had not returned to his own residence for a long time. After a long period of arduous cultivation, he had made some gains and was now at the stage of consolidating them with the help of medicinal baths and Arrays.

Bai Mo flipped through the register and found that not much had changed in the Black Prison. The prisoners were still the same, and none were missing.

The exhaustion from the long journey was something no one could withstand.

He had Ah Er heat up the Spiritual Spring, and after washing up, the man and the beast fell straight to sleep.

When they woke up, it was already the next day.

The stone house hadn’t been tended to in a long time, and the medicinal herbs inside needed to be moved outside to air out and get rid of the dampness.

This kind of work was mainly done by Ah Er.

It carried the herbs to the outskirts of Mi Mountain, spread them out one by one, then set down a small stool and sat there, dozing off while keeping watch.

It did this to prevent any witless birds, beasts, or bugs from being drawn by the herbs and stealing or ruining them.

As the sun gradually rose, the various herbs basked in its warmth, releasing a unique, fresh fragrance.

Having followed Bai Mo for so long, Ah Er had also grown to like this scent. It found it refreshing and relaxing, which made its nap even more comfortable.

Meanwhile, Bai Mo was inside the stone house, pulling out some unused Pill Books.

After sorting them, he also tossed them by the entrance to air out.

By the afternoon, a sleepy haze began to rise.

It wasn’t just Ah Er; even Bai Mo felt the fatigue from the past few days creeping back, making him drowsy.

When several disciples from Medicine Peak arrived, this was the leisurely scene that greeted them.

"Whoa!"

"Look at Mi Mountain! How did the peak end up like this?"

one of them said in astonishment, pointing at the mountain.

Untended for many days, the plants on the mountain had grown wild, creating a messy yet imposing expanse of dense green.

But in the impression of these Medicine Peak disciples, Mi Mountain was supposed to be the desolate place they’d heard about in sect legends.

It was no wonder they were surprised.

"Scorching Fire Spoon, Serrated Flower, Tiger-Eating Lord..."

"Mm, he’s growing all sorts of rare things. It seems this Warden Bai is a true practitioner of the Alchemy Dao."

As they drew closer and saw the two acres of herbs Ah Er was guarding, they became even more certain of their assessment.

"As expected of the man who saved so many of our fellow disciples. He’s clearly skilled. Even the Spirit Beast he raises values herbs so highly."

"It is a bit of a slacker, though..."

As if it had heard them badmouthing it, Ah Er’s ears twitched. It jolted awake and shot the men a hostile look.

Once the sleepiness faded and its brain started working again, it remembered that Mi Mountain wasn’t like Immortal Arrival City.

Having outsiders arrive was not a common occurrence.

Realizing this, it quickly ran back into Mi Mountain’s interior to fetch Bai Mo.

Bai Mo was also a little surprised to hear that there were visitors.

He got up from his bed and went outside. It was only from the scent of herbs on them that he identified the visitors as disciples from Medicine Peak.

"Senior Brothers, what guidance do you have for me today?"

Bai Mo asked politely, clasping his hands.

The Medicine Peak disciples were even more polite than he was.

"We wouldn’t dare presume to offer guidance."

"If anything, we’re the ones who came uninvited and disturbed your peaceful slumber, Junior Brother."

"Indeed, indeed..."

Bai Mo paused for a moment, then smiled as he realized what they meant. He neatened his slightly disheveled clothes, a result of his oversleeping.

"Then, Senior Brothers, what brings you here?"

"Well..." one of the Medicine Peak disciples began.

"We heard that a few months ago, Junior Brother purchased some herbs from disciples of our peak."

"We were wondering... are you still in need of them?"

Understanding dawned on Bai Mo, and he answered without hesitation.

"The herbs from Medicine Peak are of the highest quality. One can never have too many."

"If you Senior Brothers are interested, how about we follow the same procedure as last time?"

"Of course!"

The Medicine Peak disciples readily agreed.

They had received the news from the Foreign Affairs Hall and happened to be nearby, so they had set off immediately.

Seeing that Bai Mo was so easy to talk to, they felt the trip was worth it.

Bai Mo’s thoughts churned.

"Senior Brothers, you seem to be in a hurry to sell your herbs. Could it be that you’re also in a hurry to leave?"

"Yes," a disciple sighed.

"The senior and junior brothers who went to the Celestial Barrier Mountain last time were gathered in the encampment when they were unfortunately hit by a breath of poisonous gas from a Four Elements Beast."

"Nearly half of them are still bedridden and have to be sent back for treatment. Naturally, we have to fill the empty spots."

Bai Mo had heard of this Four Elements Beast.

It was said that the beast possessed four abilities—demonic, toxic, murky, and baleful—each housed in one of its four heads. With a body as large as a small mountain, it was truly formidable.

But this beast only lived in places where the earth’s veins were dark and turbid, making it extremely rare. To think it appeared at the encampment.

Just as this thought passed, Bai Mo remembered something.

"When is the flying ship transporting our fellow disciples scheduled to return?"

"In seven days. Two days after they get back, we have to depart."

A Medicine Peak disciple said, "Junior Brother, remember to come take a look at the herb fields."

Bai Mo chuckled and nudged Ah Er’s sturdy, unmoving body with his foot.

"Ah Er can go back with you Senior Brothers."

"Just tell me the acreage of the herb fields, and I’ll estimate a price. Once it has gone to check and confirms everything is in order, we can settle the payment directly..."

Ah Er, standing beside them, was still a little confused.

But upon hearing Bai Mo’s words and recalling a similar past event, it puffed out its chest and confidently accepted the task.

In just a few words, Bai Mo had sealed a deal.

He then watched as Ah Er left with the senior brothers from Medicine Peak.

Only then did he return to turning over the drying herbs by himself.

As he worked, his thoughts turned to An Caiwei.

’With Senior Sister An’s cultivation level, even with fellow disciples protecting her, it should be about time for her to return.’

’She should be among this returning batch of disciples. I wonder if she managed to find anything...’

Just then, a messenger bird from the Foreign Affairs Hall passed by, delivering a letter from Old Man Bai and snatching a Feeding Pill from Bai Mo on its way out.

Bai Mo decided to write a letter as well, having the bird deliver it to Silkworm Valley.

...

「Nine days later.」

This was the day the Medicine Peak disciples had spoken of—the day they would follow the giant ship out of the sect and journey to the distant Celestial Barrier Mountain.

Ah Er had gone to inspect the herb fields and had not yet returned, but An Caiwei arrived first.

She had gone to Celestial Barrier Mountain again, intentionally seeking out techniques related to the Outer Pill, and the effort had clearly taken a toll.

Visibly, her face was much thinner and more haggard.

Judging by her aura, she was likely nursing some hidden injuries.

Bai Mo quickly welcomed her into Mi Mountain and pressed two detoxification Pills into her hand.

"Senior Sister, you must have just returned to the sect. Why rush over here?"

An Caiwei popped the Pills into her mouth, swallowing them with the water Bai Mo offered. She immediately felt the chaotic Spiritual Qi in her body quiet down significantly.

She let out a breath of relief.

"You sent a letter to check on me. I knew you were on Mi Mountain, so I hurried over."

"But enough of that. See if this is useful to you."

With a wave of her hand, An Caiwei summoned a Pill Furnace.

The Pill Furnace was shaped like a human figure. It was made of bronze, stood as tall as a person, and its surface was covered in a thick patina of verdigris.