Chapter 462: Defective Products

Chapter 462: Chapter 462: Defective Products

Half a month later, another twelve prisoners were taken from the black prison.

One of them was a Nascent Soul.

When asked the reason, it turned out they were needed by Immortal Arrival City.

"Did something happen in Immortal Arrival City?"

Bai Mo couldn’t help but ask.

The Foreign Affairs Hall disciple taking the prisoners knew Bai Mo was from Immortal Arrival City and replied with a smile:

"It’s nothing serious. Immortal Arrival City is a major city backed by the mountains, and many of the Cultivators there make a living hunting beasts. As a result, the bloody Evil Qi has grown too thick." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"We have to take precautions to prevent any mishaps. As you know, Junior Brother, we can’t afford for anything to go wrong over at the Celestial Barrier Mountain range."

’The sect must have its reasons for such a plan.’

Bai Mo didn’t dwell on it, merely sending a letter to his shop staff telling them to be extra careful.

He had just given the letter to a carrier goose when he turned and heard a commotion from the black prison.

With prisoners being taken so frequently, the Cultivators in the black prison had grown quite restless, stirring with unease.

Upon entering, he saw a Cultivator who had lost his composure and was muttering curses to himself.

Bai Mo paid him no mind.

Arriving before the mad Cultivator’s cell, Bai Mo asked:

"How are you feeling today?"

The mad Cultivator sat up straight and said solemnly:

"Very well."

"They’ve been taking people away so frequently of late. Has something happened outside?"

Bai Mo nodded. "The incessant snow has brought about a natural disaster."

"But the various sects outside are keeping it under control."

"That’s good, then," the mad Cultivator said with a sigh of relief.

"All living beings suffer. I hope this calamity ends soon."

"Yes, suffering..." Bai Mo replied perfunctorily.

"Do you have anything to teach me?"

"I have a copy of the Sutra of the Vajra in the World of Peace. Warden, listen as I recite it for you!"

’It was a good sutra, but it wasn’t what I was looking for.’

After listening to a few lines, Bai Mo put on an expression of profound enlightenment and took his leave.

The mad Cultivator was quite gratified by this.

Back in his room, the Pills in the furnace were ready.

Bai Mo extinguished the flame beneath the Pill Furnace and opened the lid.

A cloud of steam billowed out, and the Pill Fragrance filled the air.

Bai Mo took out three Pills the size of pigeon eggs. They were perfectly round and gleamed a pleasing white.

Looking inside the furnace again, he saw that, as expected, there were some byproducts.

There was half of a malformed Pill, a pool of pure white fluid that hadn’t congealed, and a good amount of discolored medicinal dregs.

Bai Mo took out the malformed Pill, then summoned a flame to dry out the fluid, kneading it into a paste.

"Come."

Bai Mo called, beckoning with his hand.

Nearby, Ah Er was working briskly, sending sliced and diced herbs flying everywhere.

Its body was covered in bits of herbs. Only when it heard Bai Mo’s call did it stop its work.

Bai Mo waited for the little guy to approach, then suddenly raised his hand and smacked it on the top of its head.

Ah Er shuddered, shaking off a shower of herb clippings.

Its eyes darted to the ground, and then it gave a sheepish laugh.

Bai Mo snorted in annoyance and handed over the paste and the malformed Pill.

"Put these away safely."

Ah Er quickly took the cloth pouch from its chest and put the two items inside.

After stowing the items, it paused, then held up the pouch for Bai Mo to see.

With Bai Mo’s persistent Alchemy practice these past days, the bag had accumulated quite a collection of similar items.

Bai Mo looked at it, then thought for a moment.

"You can go and sell these."

"You’ll have to leave the sect for this. Are you worried?"

Ah Er shook its head and patted its chest confidently.

It had plenty of Pills on hand that would explode when thrown; it truly had no fear of common thugs.

Bai Mo nodded.

"Alright. Don’t go too far from the sect."

Ah Er began to pack, preparing to leave.

But first, it had to clear the dregs out of the Pill Furnace.

It grabbed a shovel, scraped the furnace clean with a series of grunts, put the residue into a bag, and carried it outside.

These dregs were not entirely useless; they still contained medicinal power, but had also generated some toxins.

Bai Mo didn’t want such things getting out.

Ah Er went to a forest not far from the mountain, casually dug a pit, and poured the dregs inside.

After patting its paws clean, it began to walk back at a leisurely pace.

A moment later, a rustling sound came from the woods. RUSTLE, RUSTLE...

A wild boar emerged, its snout sniffing the ground. Before long, it reached the spot where Ah Er had buried the dregs.

It rooted at the ground, flipping up the soil, and began to munch on the dregs with grunts of enjoyment.

Ah Er had noticed the commotion behind it long ago.

Digging its claws into a nearby tree, Ah Er scrambled to the top in a few movements and looked off into the distance.

’The pig is back for the dregs again.’

It was the same pig it had bought and later released. The divine nature it once had had almost completely dissipated.

Ever since the first time it caught the creature digging up the dregs to eat, Ah Er had been secretly observing it.

Seeing that the creature had an excellent appetite and never suffered from diarrhea, vomiting, or any other ill effects, Ah Er just let it be.

By the time Ah Er returned to Mi Mountain, Bai Mo had already begun refining a new batch of Pills.

It reported the matter of the pig eating the dregs, but Bai Mo was similarly unconcerned.

So Ah Er packed its bags and departed, piloting its own Flying Ship.

...

Ah Er was no longer a stranger to the paths between the inner and outer sect areas.

It was even more familiar with some places than Bai Mo was.

Lacking sufficient Spiritual Qi, it had to fly and rest in intervals. After several days, it finally flew out of the mist, officially leaving the sect’s territory.

Leaving the sect on its own for the first time, it felt a little dazed.

It took out the map Bai Mo had given it, but found it just as confusing. Fortunately, a few routes had been drawn on it.

The routes connected several towns and cities.

Choosing one that was neither too far nor too near, Ah Er headed toward it.

The destination was a gathering place for Loose Cultivators.

Most of the Loose Cultivators who could make a living here, so close to the Xuandao Sect, were those with connections, wealth, or special skills.

The Flying Ship landed, kicking up a puff of dust, and a Daoist Child jumped down from it.

The moment he landed, the cold air pierced his body, and Ah Er stiffened slightly.

’This human form is so inconvenient.’

With that thought, he cupped his hands, blew on them for warmth, and walked toward the town.

The Loose Cultivators in town mostly made their living off the scraps left by the Xuandao Sect, either by accepting commissions from Sect Disciples or by buying low and selling high, trading sect-related goods to earn a profit.

Upon suddenly seeing a Daoist Child walk into town, the eyes of many Loose Cultivators lit up.

In a place like this, a Daoist Child traveling alone was, nine times out of ten, someone from the sect.

No one dared to have any ill intentions, however. In a territory like this, anyone who tried to cause trouble likely wouldn’t make it two miles out of town.

There was no need for the Sect Disciples to lift a finger; other Loose Cultivators would gladly kill the offender to curry favor.

Before Ah Er could even pick someone to approach, a dozen people had already swarmed him from the nearby shops and streets.

"Immortal Master, do you have an errand for us? Let me, Niu, handle it! I guarantee it’ll be done right!"

"Me! This calf next to you is unreliable. How could he possibly be as dependable as I am!?"

"What are you looking for, Immortal Master?"

"..."

The crowd chattered all at once, making Ah Er’s head spin.

"STOP!!"

Ah Er pointed to a simple and honest-looking Cultivator—it was Niu.

"You. I’ll go with you!"

Niu, who had been about to start a fight with the man who insulted him, was suddenly overcome with joy.

"What brings you here, Immortal Master?"

He pushed aside the other resentful Loose Cultivators and walked up to Ah Er.

Ah Er clasped his hands behind his back, feigning a mature and worldly air.

"My master is skilled in the Alchemy Dao and has a batch of defective products he wants to sell. Are you interested?"

Niu’s eyes lit up, while the crowd of Loose Cultivators nearby grew even more frustrated.

"Pills used by the Immortal Masters? Of course we want them! How many do you have?"

’Judging by his words, this one clearly isn’t a proper Sect Disciple.’

’But being able to serve a master of the Alchemy Dao is considered even more prestigious around here.’