Chapter 449: Fishing

Chapter 449: Chapter 449: Fishing

When Ah Er returned, laden with bags large and small, it saw Bai Mo busy in front of the mountain.

The surrounding area was strewn with bricks and wood, piled up haphazardly.

It had been ambling along, but upon seeing the sight, it immediately quickened its pace.

When it drew near, Bai Mo helped it unload the cloth bags one by one.

It had bought so many things that the market square disciples, eager to keep such a valuable repeat customer, had generously gifted it with carrying sacks.

"Ah, urk!"

Ah Er took out a small ledger, on which it had recorded its expenses from the many stalls and shops in the market square.

At the back were its own ratings, with notes on whether each vendor was honest.

The very model of a prudent housekeeper.

The trip had cost over ten thousand Spirit Stones in total, which startled it, so it couldn’t help but present the ledger for Bai Mo’s inspection.

Bai Mo gave it a cursory glance and nodded.

"Not bad. The prices are fair."

This was likely because Ah Er was such a major customer that the disciples wouldn’t dare cheat it.

Ah Er breathed a sigh of relief, took back the ledger, and carefully put it away.

"By the way, where’s your herb pestle? I couldn’t find it. Where’d you leave it?"

Bai Mo asked suddenly.

Ah Er froze, its eyes darting around.

"Ah, urk!"

It scurried back into the stone house, made a show of searching around, and then pulled the pestle from its chest pouch.

When it looked again, it saw traces of Azure Luan blood still on it, which made its fur stand on end.

It stuck out a paw and scrubbed it furiously. Noticing some leftover medicinal powder and stone fragments in the stone basin, it pounded a few more times.

Only then did it run back out and hand it to Bai Mo.

Bai Mo took it, noticed how dirty the pestle was, and shot it a look.

Ah Er just grinned back sheepishly.

Bai Mo pointed to a small, nearby pile of shiny black ore.

"These are Divine Concealing Stones. Go crush them."

Ah Er quickly took back the pestle, ran to one side, dragged over the stone basin, tossed in the Divine Concealing Stones, and began to pound them furiously.

Bai Mo, for his part, began constructing an altar nearby.

It was square-shaped and perhaps not built to regulation, but the materials were of the highest quality.

For instance, the Divine Concealing Stones set aside to fill the cracks were materials priced by the tael.

An altar covering nearly an acre would absolutely cost no less than five thousand Spirit Stones.

...

The man and beast worked busily for several days.

The altar was complete. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Just then, riding a hot wind, the Nai Daoist arrived, fashionably late.

"You brat, what’s the meaning of suddenly summoning me?"

Yuan Chu had returned to Divine Dao Mountain, and his first order of business was naturally to report the Great Suanni’s condition to his various martial uncles.

The Nai Daoist, concerned for his clan uncle, had naturally been listening in.

Who would have thought that after returning to his cave abode, he hadn’t even had time to sit down before he felt Bai Mo’s summons?

Bai Mo possessed a token from his Divine Dao Mountain, making it easy to summon him.

The Nai Daoist’s hair and beard bristled as his beast-like eyes fell upon Bai Mo.

"You brat! Why are you summoning me at the sect for no good reason?"

"Do you take the taboos of Divine Dao Mountain for mere decoration?"

Divine Dao Mountain had numerous rules, and the Nai Daoist intended to knock some sense into Bai Mo, to make the boy rein himself in a bit.

Bai Mo’s expression turned serious as he bowed to the Daoist.

"I invited you here, Senior, because I have an important matter to discuss."

The Nai Daoist sneered.

"A Dharma Protector of Divine Dao Mountain has official duties to attend to. Haven’t you heard of such a taboo?"

Bai Mo said earnestly, "Of course I have."

"Senior, your primary duty is likely related to combat, is it not?"

"It is! Now, explain yourself, boy!"

Bai Mo gestured for him to look at the nearby altar.

"Senior, what do you think of my altar?"

The Nai Daoist glanced at it and curled his lip.

"It’s a bit of a hodgepodge, but the materials are impressive. You’re more willing to splurge than some of the disciples on Divine Dao Mountain."

"What, is it an offering for me?"

Bai Mo gave a wry smile. "Not quite."

He took the silk cloth from his sleeve and presented it to the Nai Daoist.

"Senior, please take a look at this..."

The Nai Daoist patiently read it to the end.

"What kind of method is this? It’s riddled with flaws. You’re not seriously expecting to summon the main target, are you?"

At this, Bai Mo grinned. "Is Senior perhaps interested in finding some... snacks?"

The Nai Daoist was taken aback. His beast-like pupils dilated and then contracted as he stared at Bai Mo.

He suddenly broke into a wide grin.

"I knew you weren’t the type to stay out of trouble."

"Perfect. The food on the mountain is so bland it’s a crime. Why not join you for a little... snack hunt?"

Bai Mo breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just leave the scraps for me, Senior."

"It’s just... what if we summon something really powerful..."

He stole a glance at the Nai Daoist. The latter just shook his shaggy side-hair, the smile on his face growing more obvious.

"This kind of ritual is best performed in some forgotten corner of the world. A pity you’re not allowed to leave the mountain without permission."

"Still, it’s fine. I’m confident nothing will go wrong."

As he spoke, his large eyes darted a glance toward Mi Mountain.

’After all, with my own clan uncle here, is there anything that could possibly get out of hand?’

Bai Mo understood the unspoken meaning.

"Excellent. Please take a look at the altar for me. I’m going to start a round of Alchemy. I’ll be right back."

The Nai Daoist waved the silk cloth.

"This thing on here isn’t simple. You’re not prepared?"

Bai Mo shook his head.

"It’s a simple matter. The creator of this Pill probably wasn’t anyone special. The technique isn’t very refined..."

"You brat!"

Just as Bai Mo had said, the Pill described on the silk cloth was not particularly sophisticated.

Half a day later, Bai Mo had three Pills in hand.

Brushing the smoky smell from his clothes, he walked out to a startling sight.

The Nai Daoist was circling the altar. With a casual wave of his hand, a piece of timber flew over. He swiped his hand, cutting it to size, and slotted it into place.

On the altar, Ah Er was tied to a wooden post, blinking as it watched him work.

"What the—"

Bai Mo said, pointing at Ah Er.

Seeing him emerge, the Nai Daoist couldn’t help but look him up and down.

"Done already?"

"Relax. Someone has to be the blood bait. You won’t do, but this little thing is plump and sturdy—perfectly suitable."

"I’ve already made all the arrangements."

He was an honored Dharma Protector of Divine Dao Mountain. According to the customs of the Cultivation Realm, this meant he followed a righteous path acknowledged by the sect.

If he were to leave for the outside world, without proper patronage and polluted by turbid energies, he would become the very thing Bai Mo was trying to lure.

The Nai Daoist believed he had a decent understanding of these beings who had strayed from the proper path.

Bai Mo looked at Ah Er. The little creature looked uncomfortable, wiggling its body to find a better position, but its face showed no fear.

"Alright."

The Nai Daoist grinned, revealing sharp fangs.

"Then let’s not delay. Begin, boy."

With a wave of his great sleeve, eight large candles appeared at the eight corners of the altar. A hot wind swept past, and the candles flared to life.

He himself was wreathed in flame before quietly vanishing.

Bai Mo sat cross-legged before the altar, swallowed the golden, glowing Pill, and took out the silk cloth. He placed it before him and meditated on the being depicted upon it.

A being like a yaksha, holding a steel trident, materialized in his mind.

His Divine Thought seeped out, drifting upward with the wisps of black smoke from the candle flames.

Before long, black clouds began to gather a thousand feet overhead.

The black cloud was cautious, not daring to rise any higher, but the soul-shaking drone emanating from it was full of arrogance.

"Which little shit summoned this lord?! And what a fucking great place you chose to do it!"

"Must be some dejected little brat..."

The black cloud expanded, pressing down stealthily, like a cat creeping toward a stolen treat.

As it drew closer, a being well over a hundred feet tall emerged from the black cloud.

It was not a yaksha, but a monster covered in scales, its head as wide as its shoulders, holding a decaying spear.

The monster looked down at Bai Mo, who was breaking out in a cold sweat, and the altar, its eyes filled with contempt.

"He even prepared a little blood-food snack. How sincere..."

Its mouth split wide to the back of its head as it prepared to reach out a hand.

The next moment, the "terrified" blood-food snack suddenly stuck out its paws and swiftly undid the ropes binding it.

Then, on its short legs, it scurried to hide behind the Cultivator.