Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Harvest

Bai Mo looked out the window and saw that the stone forest was heavy with moisture.

A shallow layer of clear water covered much of the ground, and countless silver flashes darted about within it at incredible speeds.

The water had overflowed from the common channels within the stone forest, submerging all the slightly lower-lying areas.

Bai Mo squinted, but he couldn’t make out what the darting silver lights were.

As for the depth, it was at most knee-deep, like a farmer’s paddy field. So, the reason they were stopped must be something else.

"What are those shimmering silver things?"

Bai Mo asked.

Zhao Jingyu said, "They’re a fine delicacy called Lin Fish."

"You can only find them here in the sect’s stone forest. They have a fierce temperament and often attack passersby."

He sounded tempted as he spoke, but his spirits fell when he thought of the high price of Lin Fish.

"It’s not just people who love to eat them. For Spirit Beasts, they’re also a top-quality bait."

"Junior Brother, look. The disciples from Beast Taming Peak haven’t had a moment’s rest these past few days!"

Seeing Bai Mo listening intently, he let out a sigh.

"Damn it, Spirit Beasts are eating better than people."

Bai Mo gave a dry laugh. Without closing the window, he tidied himself up a bit and fell right asleep.

After trekking for so many days, they hadn’t had a proper rest.

The others were in a similar state, all deeply weary and not bothering with anything else.

They passed the days sleeping on and off, interspersed with bouts of cultivation.

Seven days later, the floodwaters receded, and the countless Lin Fish vanished.

The group of five entered the stone forest, asking for directions as they went, and finally arrived at the sect’s Spirit Mirror Platform.

The so-called Spirit Mirror Platform was a large stone dais. It looked like a raw gemstone that had been sliced open, its center having the translucent quality of a gem’s core.

As the five of them walked across it, the smooth, gem-like surface reflected five skeletons, revealing their very bones.

Wan Shenxiu studied his reflection with great seriousness for a long time before finally sighing in relief.

Zhao Jingyu gave him a sidelong glance.

’Disciples of the Gold and Jade lineage are always so suspicious. I wonder what they get up to out there.’

Mo Tianshu and Shui Ziming had already arrived and were discussing sending more disciples to the Fire Cave Dynasty for training in the future.

The Douchen Sect valued the Fire Cave Dynasty, and it was entirely possible some disciples might sneak off there to forge Combat Puppets.

"You’ve all worked hard."

The Eldest Brother’s smile was warm.

"The sect’s elders have praised your efforts on this trip."

The group was flattered and could only say:

"It was all thanks to Brother Mo’s divine might."

Shui Ziming shook his head.

"Everyone has their own merits and hardships. The sect remembers them all."

"This matter is of great importance... but never mind. The inner details are complicated, so I won’t explain everything to you."

Since it involved two major sects, there were likely still some loose ends to tie up, but those were no longer important.

"Let’s talk about the rewards the sect has for you."

"Each disciple who participated will receive two hundred Spirit Stones and be exempt from two years of sect service."

"One Spirit Stabilizing Pill, and your choice of one book from the Collection Pavilion!"

Everyone’s body jolted when they heard this.

Although Bai Mo was new, he understood the weight of these rewards and asked directly:

"Is the sect always this generous?"

Shui Ziming chuckled.

"The book from the Collection Pavilion is a little something extra from the inner sect senior brothers. They all pitched in to add it."

Zhao Jingyu was overjoyed.

"I knew it! A mission with such heavy implications was bound to have a worthy reward!"

Such a reward had clearly exceeded the expectations of the others as well. They were all smiles, discussing it eagerly.

Shui Ziming turned his gaze to Bai Mo.

"I heard you’ll be returning to Immortal Arrival City soon, Junior Brother?"

He wasn’t surprised by Bai Mo’s decision.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Bai Mo bowed and said, "I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother, to help me sell this..."

As he spoke, he took out the Son of Heaven’s skin and handed it to Shui Ziming.

Shui Ziming glanced at the strange patterns on it. He seemed to understand their meaning and said without hesitation:

"The sect is the best buyer. What do you want for it, Junior Brother?"

"..."

...

「Five days later.」

On Beast Taming Peak, a giant Hengyuan bird was crouched and waiting.

Bai Mo bid farewell to the fellow disciples who had come to see him off, then climbed onto the giant bird’s back.

Brother Wei Xianxing from Broken Blade Peak, as well as Xin Meng and others, had all come to see him off.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, with a sharp cry, the giant Hengyuan bird took flight. Bai Mo had finally left the sect gates.

He had been in a rush these past few days. Besides visiting some disciples he knew, he had been busy with the matter of selecting a Pill Book.

In exchange for the Son of Heaven’s skin, Shui Ziming had secured him a copy of a Pill Book.

Bai Mo was allowed to choose any Pill Book copy from the Collection Pavilion to take with him.

A Pill Book deemed worthy by the sect could not be any simple thing.

In a place like Immortal Arrival City, it was likely that no Pill Book of such a high caliber had circulated in many years.

It was the kind of thing that could serve as the foundation of a legacy, passed down through generations.

The Pill Book that Wei Xianxing had lent Bai Mo had already been returned.

From it, Bai Mo had learned the mysteries of ore Pills, and he had recently delved into the methods of Feeding Pills.

As a result, he had developed a strong interest in the many branches of the Alchemy Dao.

’The joy in this is simply wonderful!’

The Cyan Pouch Pill Scripture that Bai Mo had chosen was now tucked away on his person, and he would take it out to glance at it from time to time.

This scripture contained a full thirty pages of Pill Formulas, covered numerous schools of pill-making, and even delved into the art of medicine.

Bai Mo estimated that even with two years, he might not be able to fully master this book.

"Heh, you’re quite obsessed, Junior Brother. I can see you’re another fanatic for the Alchemy Dao."

The Beast Taming Peak disciple piloting the giant Hengyuan bird said with a chuckle.

"There are people like you on Beast Taming Peak, but they can’t even refine Feeding Pills properly!"

Bai Mo shook his head.

"The Alchemy Dao requires accumulation. It’s a path where you build up a deep foundation before you can flourish. Tell those fellow disciples not to lose heart."

"Sigh, you’re so young, Junior Brother. How much of a foundation could you possibly have? It’s clear this path is heavily dependent on talent..."

On the back of the giant Hengyuan bird were only Bai Mo and this Beast Taming Peak disciple. The rest of the space was taken up by goods piled up like a small mountain.

Much of it was feed for Spirit Beasts.

Bai Mo didn’t recall a market for such business in Immortal Arrival City; it must be a new development.

He had been in such a hurry precisely to catch a ride on this trip.

But at least he had seen the people he needed to see and learned what he needed to learn.

All that remained was the quiet accumulation of experience on his path of cultivation.

The Beast Taming Peak disciple was quiet for a moment, then suddenly spoke up again:

"By the way, are you sure you won’t sell that Spirit Stabilizing Pill?"

"A senior brother is offering up to ninety Spirit Stones for it!"

Bai Mo shook his head decisively.

"I’m definitely not selling. Tell that senior brother of yours to give up on the idea!"

This Pill, mixed in among the other rewards, hadn’t seemed particularly eye-catching.

Later, Bai Mo inquired and learned that the Spirit Stabilizing Pill was a unique Pill exclusive to the sect. After consuming it, it had the effect of absorbing and suppressing spiritual energy.

If the user handled it well, those below the Qi Refining Stage could often use it to advance to the next level!

’My cultivation has been delayed for a long time. This Pill is exactly what I need to make up for it!’

Priceless was the perfect word to describe the Spirit Stabilizing Pill.

The Beast Taming Peak disciple wasn’t annoyed. With the business concluded, he started chatting with Bai Mo about trivial matters.

These disciples traveled far and wide and rarely had free time, so their knowledge was quite extensive.

Bai Mo watched the mountains and rivers recede into the distance, his heart churning with emotion. He was in a talkative mood, so the journey wasn’t boring.

After many days of traveling and sleeping in the open, Immortal Arrival City was finally in sight.