Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 211: Chapter 211: Plotting Against the Senior

A cool mountain wind blew, carrying with it the faint roars of beasts.

The blurry figure of the old man tilted his head and gently waved his wooden staff as if pulling on something. After a moment, he spoke.

"Then what have you all come here for?"

"Surely you haven’t come to scheme for the wood I live in? What can you even do with this thing? Carve it?"

Brother Wu bowed and said softly,

"Nothing of the sort. My sect is currently the host here, so we’ve simply come to greet you, Senior."

The blurry old man’s eyes widened.

"This place isn’t under your jurisdiction, is it? Why are you trying to manage me?"

Brother Wu paused.

’According to custom, everything within the sphere of influence of Immortal Arrival City is indeed under the jurisdiction of the controlling sect.’

’Previously, the disciples of the Yin Puppet Sect had even put on a show of filing a formal notice, giving a heads-up about their intent to excavate the ancient wood.’

But this was a lawless land near Celestial Barrier Mountain, so the distinction wasn’t clear.

Perhaps the old man saw something in the slight hesitation on his face, for something seemed to trigger him.

He suddenly jumped to his feet, shouting,

"Bullshit!"

"When I got here, that city of yours was just a rundown village! You dare try to boss me around!?"

The group didn’t know how they had offended him and hurriedly tried to soothe him.

"Senior, you’ve misunderstood. How could we possibly presume to give you orders?"

"We simply learned of your existence and came to pay our respects, and perhaps ask if there is anything you need..."

The old man caught his breath and waved a hand.

"It’s fine. We’ll mind our own business. Just leave quickly!"

Brother Wu felt helpless and looked at Bai Mo, the local among them.

Bai Mo’s eyes widened, but seeing his senior brother’s signal, he reluctantly stepped forward.

"I’ve heard of your noble deeds, Senior, how you call back the remnant souls of those who perish in the mountains. This junior wishes to ask for your guidance on a few matters..."

"Most people don’t know the truth of the matter. If this junior can get a clear understanding, I can help spread the word when I return."

"That way, we can avoid the awkward situation we had today, where no one stood up for you."

The old man used his wooden staff to leap onto a tree stump and sat down, a slight frown on his face.

"How can I speak of such matters in detail? It’s better to only know the gist of it. Otherwise, people will lose their sense of reverence!"

Seeing the man was willing to engage, Bai Mo felt a surge of delight.

"Even a general idea would be good. Right now, there are only rumors in the city that you can summon remnant souls. No one is certain."

"Few people even know that there are remnant souls trapped in the mountains."

The old man paused, then, as if realizing something, he suddenly sighed.

"Right. There are no more wandering souls charging the city these days. So many years have passed, and those who knew are almost all dead."

"No wonder the prayers of the faithful have dwindled so much..."

’He talks just like those statues in countryside temples. Does this guy have an ability similar to absorbing the power of incense offerings?’

An idea sparked in Bai Mo’s mind.

"The legends about you, Senior, have indeed been mostly lost."

"How about you fill me in, and I’ll spread the word for you in return?"

Seeing that Bai Mo was able to get a conversation going, Brother Wu and the others stopped talking and took a couple of steps back, quietly watching the two interact.

The old man raised an eyebrow. He looked like a difficult person to deal with.

An Caiwei didn’t say anything, but the corner of her mouth twitched. She was clearly displeased.

"What do you want to know?"

Bai Mo chose his words carefully and asked tentatively,

"During the day, I spread my Divine Thought here. It was only for a moment, but I still suffered a massive impact."

"I was fortunate enough to see a bright yellow banner. What was that?"

The old man sneered.

"What, trying to probe my methods?"

Brother Wu coughed.

"We must know the origin of your techniques, Senior."

The old man understood the reasoning. He knew some things couldn’t be avoided. No one could sleep soundly with a tiger crouching by their bedside.

He said flatly,

"That is a Great Divine Technique I have painstakingly woven over many years, using the thoughts of mortals as thread!"

"It is the foundation of my soul-summoning."

Bai Mo had only felt a transcendent and vast aura from that banner, with no hint of evil.

This made him believe the old man a little more, and he grew more curious about the matter of souls.

"Senior, after you call back the remnant souls, where do they go...?"

"I don’t know."

The old man shook his head, prodding the ground with his wooden staff.

"In matters of life and death, the most we can do is lend a hand."

"As for the source of life and the destination of death, unless you see it with your own eyes and experience it yourself, you can never truly comprehend it."

He said leisurely,

"Life in Celestial Barrier Mountain is bitter. I merely pull these poor souls out."

"They then scatter on their own. My connection with them is already severed."

Brother Wu was presumably able to tell if the old man was speaking the truth.

Hearing the old man’s words, he clapped his hands in praise and sighed with admiration.

"What a fine ’welcoming and seeing off,’ without getting entangled in karma. That is a state countless Cultivators fail to achieve."

An inexplicable look of joy appeared on Brother Wu’s face, causing the old man’s eyebrows to furrow.

"Cultivators who perform such acts do so either to rectify their own hearts, to achieve a clear and unobstructed mind, or to walk the righteous path..."

"I wonder, for what purpose does Senior do this?"

"For no other reason," the old man said.

"Simply to accumulate merit."

"I’m afraid of karmic retribution after death, afraid I won’t end up in a good place."

Everyone was slightly taken aback.

The old man continued, "If your sect has a thousand-year history, you can go back and look into the events of a thousand years ago."

As he spoke, his figure transformed into a wisp of green smoke and silently vanished.

Watching him disappear, Bai Mo had a sudden realization.

’So he’s been on guard this whole time, using an avatar to communicate with us.’

He respectfully cupped his hands in a bow.

"We apologize for disturbing you tonight, Senior. This junior will explain the situation to others upon my return."

"When I have free time in the future, I will come to trouble you again."

The others also bid their farewells.

Only An Caiwei narrowed her eyes, studying Bai Mo closely.

The group departed.

When they were halfway back, Brother Wu suddenly spoke.

"Alright, he can’t hear us anymore. If you have something to ask, go ahead."

Bai Mo finally spoke up.

"Brother Wu, that senior..."

Brother Wu smiled. "You’re already calling him ’Senior’."

"He naturally bears no ill will."

"What is it? Do you want something from him?"

An Caiwei interjected with a cold laugh,

"I knew it. You Pill Masters are always so respectful. You must be scheming something."

Bai Mo didn’t dare to argue, saying with some embarrassment, "I do have a request."

"It’s about the Pill for our brother from Divine Dao Mountain. I finally have a lead."

With that, he asked, "Are there any other brothers from Divine Dao Mountain still in the city?"

...

About an hour later, Bai Mo found a medical hall. After knocking and being let in, he found the brother he was looking for.

All the other cultivators from Divine Dao Mountain had gone into the mountains. Only this one had his leg broken and had retreated to recuperate.

"Junior Brother? What brings you here?"

It was rare to have a visitor, so this senior brother was delighted. He half-reclined on an armchair, pulling Bai Mo over to talk.

Bai Mo told him about the old soul-summoning man outside the city.

At first, the senior brother was a little confused.

"Are you asking me to subdue him?"

"It’s true that the Divine Dao Mountain lineage excels at such matters, but I can’t move around easily right now..."

Bai Mo was startled and quickly explained,

"Not at all! He is a highly respected and virtuous senior. Please, Brother, let me explain..."

The senior brother nodded repeatedly as he listened.

"He does indeed sound like a good senior. In that case, Junior Brother, your reason for coming here is..."

Bai Mo chuckled.

"I’ve seen a glimmer of hope for your Pill, Brother. Since that senior can weave a soul-summoning banner from mortal thoughts, he can surely spare me a single thread."

"If I can obtain it, the Pill can be made!"

Refining formless qi into a Pill—Bai Mo had thought he would never have the chance to attempt such a thing, but now he was being forced into it.

"Oh!?"

"Junior Brother, you have an idea? Tell me, quickly!!"

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