Chapter 420: The Arrival

Chapter 420: Chapter 420: The Arrival

A wave of heat surged from the horizon.

A blast of heat hit Ah Er full in the face. It let out a sharp cry, spun around, and ran to the gate, pounding on the door with all its might.

BOOM!

The stone gate ground against the floor as Bai Mo pushed it open and stepped out.

Ah Er was trembling uncontrollably, as if it had sensed some kind of incredibly oppressive aura.

In a flash, it ducked behind Bai Mo, its claws digging painfully into his leg.

The hot wind washed over his face. Bai Mo could only marvel at the grand scale of the arrival.

He shot Ah Er a glare before announcing in a clear, loud voice:

"All of us at the Mi Mountain Black Prison respectfully welcome Your Excellency’s arrival!"

"What?!"

A louder voice boomed in response from the distance.

"You say ’all of you’ at the Black Prison, but is this handful of living beings all you have?"

’Who is this guy, taking things so literally? So tactless!’

Bai Mo felt the voice was somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it.

He quietly looked up and saw a figure in a Daoist robe approaching from the distance, its features growing clearer.

It had a coarse, beast-like face of red and yellow. Its beard and hair flared out like flames, and the hair at its temples was only brought under control where it met the collar of its Daoist robe.

Bai Mo was both surprised and delighted. He recognized the Divine Being-like figure as the Nai Daoist from Divine Dao Mountain, another great power who was worshipped by mortals.

"It’s you, Senior?!"

Ever since a disciple from Divine Dao Mountain had gifted him the God-Summoning Casket, which allowed him to call upon the worshipped beings on the mountain for aid, Bai Mo had used it once.

In the Celestial Barrier Mountain range, he had summoned this very Nai Daoist and received quite a few benefits.

Beneath the man’s wild yet restrained appearance was an easygoing personality.

The Nai Daoist landed, and the spot where he touched down became instantly dry, sand and dust flying into the air.

"Hmph..."

The pupils of his beastly eyes dilated and then contracted. He gave a slight grin.

"I remember you. You’re not one of the Divine Dao Mountain brats. You summoned me not long ago..."

Bai Mo bowed respectfully with his hands clasped.

"This junior offered you a meal of meat afterward. Could it be that it wasn’t to your liking, and that’s why you’ve arrived with such a grand display today, Senior?"

"Ha!" The Nai Daoist strode closer, his large, furry hand grabbing Bai Mo by the shoulder.

With a slight lift, he pulled Bai Mo upright and forced him toward the gate of Mi Mountain.

"You’ve got no eyes in your head, kid! This overwhelming firepower and the divine might contained within it—how could that possibly be from me?"

As he spoke, the Nai Daoist shot a glare at Ah Er, making it flinch.

"This Spirit Beast of yours is sharp, though. It knows who’s in charge..."

They had just stepped inside the gate when the Nai Daoist’s brow furrowed, making his already imposing face even more intimidating.

"What kind of environment is this?!"

"The gloomy, sinister aura given off by the vermin in this prison is truly unpleasant. This is no place to receive a guest."

In a few strides, he dragged Bai Mo back outside. Ah Er followed closely behind.

Bai Mo said helplessly, "Senior, please explain what’s going on."

The Nai Daoist then asked, "Didn’t you receive the transfer order?"

"I did."

"Then that’s it. The one coming here is my clan uncle."

The Nai Daoist’s eyes widened.

"The old man was on duty at the Foreign Affairs Hall before. He’s recently passed on from old age and needs to come here to take a nap."

"You’d better serve him well!"

’So it’s true,’ Bai Mo thought. ’I just didn’t expect that the Nai Daoist from Divine Dao Mountain would be related to the one from the Foreign Affairs Hall.’

"As it should be."

Bai Mo replied naturally.

"When will he arrive?"

Seeing his earnestness, the Nai Daoist’s expression softened slightly.

"My clan uncle is a slow-tempered one. We’ll just have to wait for the old man. When the clouds on the horizon look like they’re on fire and spread over here, he’ll have arrived..."

Hearing this, Bai Mo gazed into the distance and sure enough, he saw a scene in the far-off sky that looked like burning clouds.

This wasn’t for show.

Bai Mo suddenly remembered.

According to the books, this was what happened when a being of extremely high cultivation passed away. The Spiritual Power and essence within their body became unstable and dispersed.

As he thought of this, a flash of joy crossed Bai Mo’s face.

’If a great power like this takes up residence in Mi Mountain, I won’t have to worry about the fire for my Alchemy anymore.’

’Just capturing a tiny bit of his fiery aura will be enough to get the Pill Furnace burning red-hot.’

The crimson clouds in the sky swept over, covering everything.

In no time, the fiery red light easily enveloped Bai Mo, the Nai Daoist, and Ah Er.

In a daze, Bai Mo seemed to see the surrounding earth, trees, and stones all burst into flame.

The raging flames seemed heavy, unmovable by the wind.

Against the backdrop of fire, an exotic beast with a flowing mane strode closer. It was as tall as a mountain, with the body of a lion and golden scales.

This was the very definition of magnificent and grand.

"So this is my new residence..."

The rumbling voice was soul-shaking.

The Nai Daoist beside him wore a subservient expression, full of the reverence one shows an elder. He quickly looked up.

"This is the place. In terms of the sinister yin energy here, few places within the sect can compare."

"Excellent..."

The mountain-sized beast swayed its body, which seemed somewhat ethereal, and gave a lazy yawn.

"I have only recently died. I’ve heard that common mortals have a tradition for the first seven days after death, and they take it very seriously."

"So how come when it’s my turn, there’s no fuss at all?"

The Nai Daoist was taken aback by his words. He opened his mouth, but only spoke after a long pause:

"When I passed away, I don’t recall those little brats who worshipped me making a big deal out of it either."

"They sent me up to Divine Dao Mountain the very next day."

He said with difficulty, "Perhaps it’s because beings like us don’t enter the cycle of reincarnation and linger in the world, so we don’t need a send-off?"

"Is that so?"

"Never mind..."

The mountain-sized beast smacked its lips, seeming rather disappointed.

"Just escort me this far. I am tired as well."

With that, it leaped. Its massive body, trailing a cloud of fire, passed over Bai Mo’s head and plunged directly into Mi Mountain behind him.

The fiery red in his vision receded like the tide, and the flames were extinguished by a strong gust of wind.

Bai Mo collected himself. When he looked again, everything before him was exactly as it had been. Where were there any flames?

The earlier heat had vanished completely, replaced by a cool breeze drifting from the mountain forest.

He turned to look at Mi Mountain behind him. Everything was normal; he couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Bai Mo was stunned.

"I didn’t even get a chance to greet the old gentleman..."

The Nai Daoist was unconcerned.

"My clan uncle prefers quiet over commotion. Don’t bother with such unnecessary pleasantries."

"Then where is the old gentleman?" Bai Mo asked again.

"He is of dragon lineage, after all. He can hide in a mustard seed or sit enthroned on a mountain,"

the Nai Daoist replied.

The general meaning was that this Great Suanni was now everywhere and nowhere, and Bai Mo shouldn’t try to find him on a whim.

And so, the Great Suanni who had once guarded the Foreign Affairs Hall settled down in Mi Mountain.

On the surface, nothing seemed to have changed, but Bai Mo was now largely unconcerned about the prisoners in the black prison trying any outrageous stunts.

All in all, there was no downside.

Looking at the Nai Daoist, Bai Mo extended a cheerful invitation:

"It’s been a long time, Senior. This junior has missed you greatly."

"As it happens, I’ve brought back a good deal of meat from my travels, and the wine is excellent as well. Why don’t you stay and share a meal with this junior?"

The meat was good meat, brought back from Celestial Barrier Mountain by a Demon Hunting Team, and the wine was a medicinal wine Bai Mo had brewed himself.

"Oh?"

The Nai Daoist’s beastly eyes flickered; he was clearly tempted.

But he suppressed this flicker of interest almost instantly.

"Never mind. If it were any other time, I would definitely drink to my heart’s content with you, kid."

"Unfortunately, I have a match with Kunwu True Monarch tomorrow. I can’t afford any mistakes, and drinking would interfere."

The Nai Daoist shook his head and sighed.

"When I come to visit my uncle another day, we’ll have that drink then..."