Chapter 241: Selfless Cao Mao!?
Seeing so many immortal-grade pills and the four divine pills, everybody swallowed their saliva. Their hearts raced as they had the urge to seize the pills or steal them right away.
Zhao Bao's breath was short and rough as he had been fighting against his inner desire to kill everybody here and steal the pills. Yet, he kept reminding himself that he was supposed to be an honorable monk, not a villainous thief. He held his hands and chanted a sutra, calming his mind.
Ma Ping also looked around, checking everybody's cultivation strength and remaining Qi, thinking if it was worth betraying his employer and steal the pills. But after the second thought, he slapped his face, being ashamed for his immoral greed.
Cao Mao could read the mood. After all, divine pills were priceless treasures that could drive any immortal insane with greed. Therefore, no mortal would be able to restrain their greed for a long time even if they were disciplined monks.
Keeping all the pills wasn't a good idea. He had to throw these hot potatoes out of his hands before his friends and family started killing each other for the divine pills.
"Master."
Fortunately, Jia Shan was nearby as he had come to see the commotion. Cao Mao used this opportunity to give away one of the pills on the spot.
Jia Shan widened his eyes. His hands and legs trembled, thinking that everything was a dream, "This is not for me, isn't it?"
Cao Mao gazed at the four divine pills and contemplated.
'I have four divine pills, but they seem different. Which one should I give Jia Shan?'
Ding
[Kunwu intensely stares at the black pill with the Black Tortoise's soul.]
'Oh?'
Cao Mao vaguely remembered. Someone used to say that Jia Shan had the metal element Qi as it synergized with his sword arts.
Meanwhile, the Black Tortoise in this world had the power of water, metal, mineral, and longevity.
With so many potential elemental Qi and the supreme lifespan, Jia Shan would benefit from eating the pill. Not only Jia Shan's dantian would be healed, but he might even become stronger.
Thinking this far, Cao Mao made his decision. He directed the black pill toward Jia Shan.
"Master, this is for you."
"F-For me!? Really!?"
"I didn't give you Ma Moxi's simplified pill because I had planned to make this for you. Now that I've completed it, you can have it. Your dantian can be restored with this, and the bottleneck that you've gotten stuck for decades won't be a problem for you anymore."
"!!!"
Jia Shan turned toward Ma Ping and Ma Moxi. He had learned about how Ma Ping had recovered his dantian from the same poison, and he had been envious of the latter.
But now, Ma Ping gazed at Jia Shan in envy.
"Ha… Haha…" Jia Shan wiped his eyes, swiping the teardrops. He took a deep breath and proudly looked at his disciple, "Thanks, Miaomiao."
"You're welcome. Please eat the pill and recover your strength. Your dao god is worried about you. Also, please teach me a proper sword technique after you're healed, okay?"
"Stupid brat! You haven't mastered [One-with-the-Sword] state yet! How the hell will you learn my PROPER sword arts!? Now that you've completed the pills, you have no excuse to skip the sword training! If you have that much free time, go swing a sword 1,000,000 times, and do it every day! Once I'm healed, I'll come back to check your progress! If you don't improve, I'll increase your homework and make you swing it until your arms come off!"
"Eeep! A million!? Are you nuts!?"
"No excuses! If you can swing your sword 100 times within one breath, a million is fucking easy!"
Jia Shan laughed as he grabbed the black pill. Then, he walked back to his house, planning to enter a closed-door training and eat the pill.
One divine pill was distributed. Three remained.
Ma Ping, Ju Shoufen, Jia Wenhe, and all elders turned to Cao Mao, hoping to get one of the pills.
But before everybody could utter a word, Cao Mao directed the green pill toward Ma Moxi.
The green pill contained the soul of Azure Dragon, who was the governor of wind, lightning, sky, space, and luck. In the modern world, the Azure Dragon was also the symbol of strength, power, and fertility.
As Ma Moxi was once a protagonist, the power of the divine dragon should fit him.
"This is the payment for the gold element pallet. You can have it."
"Oh?" Ma Moxi was astonished as he hadn't expected to receive such favorable treatment from his boss, "Are you sure? This is more valuable than my gold pill."
"Your gold element pallet saved my life. This is a token of my appreciation and gratitude. Just take it."
"… Thank you, boss."
Ma Moxi nodded. He would never forget this favor since this pill might change his life forever. Also, he started seeing Cao Mao in a new light. No matter what Cao Mao would ask him to do in the future, he would never hesitate to complete it!
Seeing how Cao Mao had shown favor to Ma Moxi, the Ma clansmen were delighted. Even Ma Ping stopped having a sinister thought against Cao Mao.
"Good for you, Moxi. Your cultivation base and foundation will improve after eating this."
Ma Ping congratulated his grandson. Ma Shoucheng, Ma Xingjuan, and Pang Lingming were also happy that their family member had received a divine pill.
But Cao Mao hadn't finished yet. He directed three excellent-grade immortal pills to Ma Ping, Ma Shoucheng, and Pang Lingming.
"These pills are for the services and the help that you've given me so far. Thank you for helping me and my family."
"!!!"
Ma Shoucheng and Pang Lingming received each immortal pill in disbelief. As for Ma Ping, he bit his lower lips, feeling ashamed of his earlier greed.
Without caring about his status, cultivation base, and his pride, Ma Ping cupped his hand and saluted to Cao Mao.
"The Ma Clan will forever be in your debt!"
Cao Mao's face distorted, and the corner of his mouth twitched, "What's the formality for? I fucked your granddaughter, for god's sake! Am I not your grandson-in-law? Am I not your family!?"
"A family… Right! A family! HAHAHAHAHA!!"
Previous doubt, evil thoughts, and hesitation about serving Cao Mao disappeared like smoke. Ma Ping believed that he had entrusted his granddaughter to the right person.
From now on, Ma Ping swore that he would treat Cao Mao as his own son!
Being overjoyed, Ma Moxi, Ma Ping, Ma Shoucheng, and Pang Lingming excused themselves and returned to their houses. They, too, would eat the pills and enter closed-door training.
Now, two divine pills remained.
Ju Shoufen stared into Cao Mao's eyes, asking him to give her one of the pills. However, Jia Wenhe dragged his mother-in-law away as he believed that Cao Mao had a plan.
Cao Mao turned toward Mao Xueyan and her subordinates, who had been watching him from the top of a nearby building. He whistled, "Tsktsktsk! Come here, kitty kitty!"
Strangely, the white fur of Mao Xueyan reddened. She leaped from the top of the roof and gave him a dropkick to Cao Mao's face.
The soft feet of Mao Xueyan broke Cao Mao's nose and knocked him on the ground. Yet, the latter got back on his feet and returned to where he had stood as if nothing had happened.
Dandan carried the fox cub and jumped down from the rooftop. She stood next to her sister, looking at the hovering pills while drooling.
Cao Mao coughed and tossed the blue pill toward Mao Xueyan.
"This pill has the divine white tiger's soul inside. You take it."
"Huh!?"
Mao Xueyan was surprised. She didn't expect to receive the divine pill since she hadn't done anything to help him.
"But I didn't do anything…"
"Let's just say, I want to exchange the pill for the goblet."
"Didn't we have an agreement that we'll migrate here, and you'll use the goblet to generate whatever you've planned to create?"
"True. But I've changed my mind. I want it for myself now. Can I trade this pill for it?"
"…"
Mao Xueyan was reluctant as the pill was more valuable than the immortal-grade cup. However, she worried about her people, who were still in the forest.
"Promise me that you'll use the goblet to create a new source of medicinal water."
"I promise with my dao heart. You'll get something better than the hollowed spring water."
Cao Mao made a dao oath without batting an eye, which shocked Mao Xueyan and the two beast girls again.
The white cat gave Cao Mao a meaningful look. She took a deep breath and nodded before she left without saying anything. Dandan also bowed to Cao Mao and followed her sister.
Now, one divine pill remained.
Zhao Bao bitterly smiled as he didn't expect to get a divine pill. After all, Cao Mao might keep the last one for himself while the other immortal-grade pills should be for his family member.
As the monk was about to give up, Cao Mao directed the red pill toward him.
"Senior Zhao. This is yours."
"WHAT!?"
The red pill contained the soul of the Vermillion Bird, aka the phoenix. This sacred beast was the governor of fire, light, life, death, and rebirth, which fit Zhao Bao, who cultivated the Way of Peace.
"Junior, are you sure?"
"You had nothing to gain, but you helped me when I needed it the most. It's a token of gratitude from me."
"…"
Zhao Bao hesitated. Although he wanted to take the pill right away and put it in his mouth, he suppressed his desire and closed his eyes.
Then, the monk held his hands in a prayer position and bowed to Cao Mao, "Amitabha, this monk has practiced the Buddha's scripture of abstinence. This monk can't accept this gift since it will weaken his mind and increase his worldly desire."
The monk succeeded in controlling his worldly desire. Moreover, his Qi surged as he had overcome a great trial of greed, and he was one step away from breaking through to the 8th-stage.
Zhao Bao's unwavering willpower and righteous mind were as strong as ever.
Cao Mao admired the monk. Even though the latter showed a sign of greed earlier, he was mature enough to overcome his evil thoughts.
Still, something had to be done. After all, Cao Mao had received a certain quest from OG-Buddha.
…
Side Quest: Befriend with Huangjin Monastery
Quest Objective:
1. Gift one of the divine pills to Zhao Bao
2. Form an alliance with Huangjin Monastery
Failure Condition:
Refusing to donate a divine pill to Zhao Bao.
Quest Description:
OG-Buddha has believed that you can convert to the light side if you have the help of Zhao Bao and the Huangjin Monastery. However, you must not forget about your benefactors when you are successful. Please donate one of the divine pills to Zhao Bao to demonstrate that you won't forget those who had been supporting you.
Quest Reward:
1. Huangjin Monastery will protect you, your family, and your city.
2. OG-Buddha shall bless you and your family members once a month.
Failure Penalty:
None. Buddha is merciful. He shall forgive you.
…
Although this quest didn't have a failure penalty, missing the chance to gain the favor from OG-Buddha and the entire sect behind Zhao Bao would be unwise.
The price to pay for the alliance was expensive. However, as this world's hostile environment was tough for him and his children, getting more trustworthy friends was better than getting stronger alone.
Huangjin Monastery seemed to be a good choice since Zhao Bao and his organization seemed to be trustworthy. They also didn't discriminate against demons or beastmen, which made them an ideal prospect for being Cao Mao's ally.
Cao Mao took the red pill and shoved it in Zhao Bao's hands, "Let's do it this way. I wish to contribute this pill to Huangjin Monastery, and I would like to invite your sect to open another monastery in my city. I want my future citizens of my city to practice the teaching of Buddha."
Zhao Bao's eyes brightened. He nodded and revealed a wide smile, "Amitabha, this monk has understood your intention. This monk shall inform the abbot right away to get his permission."
Since bribing the monk was impossible, Cao Mao used the excuse of wanting to import the religion here to form an alliance with the monastery.
Zhao Bao didn't refuse this time. He gleefully accepted the pill.
But then, the monk remembered his purpose for coming back here. His smiling face changed, "Oh, Junior Mao. This monk has a piece of bad news for you."
"Bad news? What bad news?"
"An army of red orcs have landed north of here, and they started attacking nearby villages and cities. It's a matter of time before they come here, so this monk thinks that the plan for establishing a city here should be on hold."
Cao Mao raised his eyebrows, "Army of what?"
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