BXBX NOVEL Chapter 45 - 45: Returning to Yuntai Mountain
Observing Cheng Xu’s evident interest in the vast Southern Wilderness, Master Yuntai took the initiative to speak, “To be completely honest, 1 happen to know a secure route that leads to the depths of the Southern Wasteland.”
Cheng Xu responded with a smile, his skepticism preventing him from easily believing such claims.
What a ridiculous proposition. What if this elderly spirit deceived him by leading him to a dead end?
“Is the Blood Demon Church also rooted in the Great Southern Wasteland?” Cheng Xu continued his inquiry.
“Yes, but not entirely,” Master Yuntai replied.
“What do you mean?”
“As far as my knowledge extends, the Blood Demon Cult appears to have expanded from their initial cultivation grounds located farther north into the Great Southern Wilderness. Their background is likely not insignificant.”
“There’s an even larger cultivation ground to the north of the Great Southern Wilderness?” Cheng Xu was taken aback.
“Yes, it is said to be a place teeming with abundant spiritual energy. However,
I, an old man, have only heard rumors about it and never set foot there.”
Cheng Xu nodded, getting straight to the point. “Then, shouldn’t you disclose your familial background now?”
*Cough cough*… This old man’s family has long been lost, just like my physical form. What family do 1 have left to reveal?” Master Yuntai responded.
“You won’t tell me, will you?”
Cheng Xu activated his Ten Thousand Arts Evil Eye and directed a mental assault at the flying sword.
Master Yuntai let out a scream from within the flying sword.
“I’ll tell you, 1’11 tell you!” Yuntai Zhenren hurriedly spoke up, obediently explaining, “In reality, 1 do possess some hidden assets within the Immortal Mansion of Yuntai Mountain. If you are interested, 1 can bestow it all upon you. Just spare my life.”
“Tsk, why didn’t you mention this earlier?”
Cheng Xu sneered, retracting his flying sword, contemplating his departure for Grand Cloud Mountain the following day.
Late into the night, he spent his time cultivating the Crimson Brilliant Mystic Scripture.
“Oh, by the way, have you refined the formula for the Muscle Tendon Cleansing and Marrow Changing Pill?”
Cheng Xu opened the [Medicine Refinement) section and checked. The optimization had indeed been completed, reaching the peak of medicinal refinement.
The good news was that the Marrow Changing Flower had been successfully optimized. However, the bad news was that it had been replaced by a rare material called Dragon Bone Grass.
Although the Dragon Bone Grass hadn’t completely vanished, it was on the brink of extinction, resulting in exorbitant prices.
“It’s fine. At least there’s still a chance to refine it.”
On the bright side, the cost of the other ingredients had been significantly reduced.
Having finished the task, Cheng Xu began cultivating peacefully. The activation of his Ten Thousand Laws Evil Eye noticeably accelerated his cultivation.
As his mental power was consumed, traces of spiritual qi seeped into the vacant space outside his sea of consciousness. They flowed through his meridians, transforming into spiritual qi as his cultivation technique circulated, ultimately streaming into his sea of qi.
A night of cultivation was equivalent to an entire day’s worth.
Early the next morning, as Cheng Xu stepped out of his cave dwelling, he encountered his junior brother, Miao Changsheng, who had recently achieved the Foundation Establishment realm.
“Senior Brother, you’re finally out!” Miao Changsheng exclaimed with excitement, showcasing his cultivation progress.
“Congratulations on reaching Foundation Establishment,” Cheng Xu congratulated him.
Miao Changsheng nodded, gratified. “I’m heading to the library cave. Would you like to join me, Senior Brother?”
“I still have some matters to attend to, so I’ll pass for now.”
Politely declining, Cheng Xu turned around and made his way to his master Perfected Yuntai’s cave.
Upon entering, Cheng Xu overheard the conversation between Yuntai Zhenren and Martial Uncle Ma.
“Dear Second Senior Brother, oh, my dearest Second Senior Brother, you really spent a copious amount of spirit stones to acquire these ostentatious trinkets?” Senior Master Ma’s voice resonated with a mix of helplessness and resentment. “If I had foreseen this, i would never have allowed Senior Brother to attend the Magical Equipment Exposition.”
“How can you speak to your Senior Brother in such a manner? What’s wrong with me making a purchase?” He retorted, continuing, “I exchanged these spirit stones using my hard-earned merit points, not a single coin of yours,” Yuntai Zhenren scoffed.
“Yes, Senior Brother, you didn’t use my money. But can’t you exchange for such an enormous number of spirit stones all at once?” Martial Uncle Ma questioned.
“Can’t i convert my well-deserved merit points into some spirit stones?”
“Of course you can, but couldn’t you do it gradually? You exchanged an overwhelming amount of spirit stones all at once. The sect’s supply of spirit stones is nearly depleted.”
“That can’t be true, can it? You can’t possibly be running out of funds just like that, right? Tell Senior Brother the truth, did you accept bribes?” Daoist Master Yuntai inquired with confusion.
“…!” Martial Uncle Ma exclaimed in disagreement, feeling wronged. “Don’t you know the kind of person Junior Brother Wu is?”
“Then why is it so dire?”
“Hey, aren’t we in the same boat already? Last time, in order to ensure the safety of the children’s experiential learning, the sect leader utilized more than half of the sect’s financial resources in one go. Originally, the remaining spirit stones could have sustained a stable turnover, but now, with your actions, they have been frozen directly.”
Yuntai Zhenren finally comprehended the situation. “Alright, 1 still have plenty of spirit stones in my possession. You can take them for now.”
“Alright, i’ll convert them into contribution points for Senior Brother later.” Only then did Martial Uncle Ma heave a sigh of relief. “Once the production of the Foundation Establishment Pill increases, the sect’s capital turnover should slow down.”
When Cheng Xu entered, he coincidentally encountered Martial Uncle Ma, who was sighing as he left.
Observing the contribution points on his identity card, Cheng Xu seemed to grasp something.
Previously, he had assumed that merit points could be effortlessly exchanged for an abundance of spirit stones. Now, it appeared that he had oversimplified matters.
The sect’s merit points resembled a distinct form of “bond” within the sect. Under normal circumstances, they could be redeemed without issues. However, when the sect encountered a financial crisis, cashing them out became far more complicated.
It seemed that in the future, it would be wiser to directly acquire spirit stones.
“Little Cheng, what brings you here?” His master, Yuntai Zhenren, gazed at a heap of magic treasures that held little value. Upon seeing Cheng Xu enter, a tinge of regret flickered in his eyes.
“Disciple is preparing to venture out and hunt a few demonic beasts. 1 came to inform Master so that you wouldn’t worry.”
“Hunting demonic beasts?” Yuntai Zhenren didn’t dwell on it too much.
“Engaging in actual combat is beneficial. Just be cautious.”
“Disciple will remember.”
After bidding farewell to his master, Cheng Xu departed from the Medicine Celestial Valley on his trusty flying sword.
Two days later, they arrived successfully at Grand Cloud Mountain.
Returning to Grand Cloud Mountain once more evoked mixed emotions within him.
With the downfall of Yuntai Zhenren, the Grand Cloud Mountain market had become a mere facade. The lively market that once thrived had vanished without a trace.
The once opulent immortal mansion belonging to Yuntai Zhenren atop the mountain peak lay in ruins.
From a distance, one could still observe itinerant cultivators scouring the remains of the market, searching for treasures.
“Hiss- 1 arrived too late!” Gazing upon the dilapidated state of the Grand Cloud Mountain market, Cheng Xu inwardly lamented.
He certainly wasn’t the sole individual who coveted Yuntai Zhenren’s wealth. Following the news of his demise, the Grand Cloud Mountain had been thoroughly ransacked.
“Damn it, I only just died a few days ago, and my abode has already been razed to the ground?”
The virtual image of the Grand Cloud Immortal within the flying sword couldn’t help but curse.
Cheng Xu sighed, intending to erase any remnants of Yuntai Zhenren’s existence. “Since that’s the case, you are no longer of any value.”
“Wait a moment, young friend. 1 can sense that my true ancestral heritage might still remain,” Yuntai Zhenren urgently interjected.
“With the state the mansion is in, how can anything possibly remain?” Cheng Xu harbored doubts.
“Naturally, we wouldn’t store truly valuable items within the immortal mansion,” Yuntai Zhenren explained with a wry smile. “To be honest, I possess a highly concealed treasure chamber within the immortal mansion. Cultivators below the middle stage of the Jindan realm wouldn’t be able to locate it at all.” “Fascinating.” Cheng Xu’s spirits lifted. “Zhilu, don’t play any tricks!”
“Alright, alright.”
Under Immortal Yuntai’s guidance, they arrived at a cliff situated behind the Immortal Mansion.
The cliff appeared smooth and steep, seemingly unremarkable at first glance.
However, as Yuntai Zhenren led the way and cleared away a few weeds from the cliff, its true form gradually unveiled.
“You cunning old man, quite the artful dodger!”
Cheng Xu playfully remarked as a secret passageway materialized on the cliff..