Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 298: Chapter 298: The Ritual

That night, a wind swept across Stone Peak.

"You’re taking your sweet time, kid!"

Bai Mo, a smile on his face, was consulting with the displeased, yellow-robed old Daoist.

"If you’d delayed a few more days, I would’ve gotten a whim to go on a long journey, and then how would you have found me!"

Bai Mo cupped his hands respectfully.

"You jest, Elder."

"I was so focused on receiving your guidance that I dared not make any mistakes. That’s why I spent so much time carefully looking for helpers."

The yellow-robed old Daoist had clearly seen a young woman looking for people. Hearing this, he didn’t expose Bai Mo’s fib, but simply let out a cold snort.

"Hmph! That motley crew you found isn’t anything special!"

Bai Mo smiled and said,

"I must disagree. They are all elites of the sect. How could they possibly be called subpar?"

"Besides, to be on the safe side, I’ve also prepared some Pills to ensure their safety."

"Oh?"

The yellow-robed old Daoist held out his hand.

"What kind of Pills? Let me see."

Bai Mo took out a pill bottle, poured out a single Pill, and offered it to him.

"This is one of them."

The Pill was brown and had a foul, fishy stench.

The yellow-robed old Daoist looked disgusted. After taking the Pill, he flicked it with his fingernail, and a corner of it chipped off and flew into his mouth.

Bai Mo said nothing.

’For a great Cultivator of the sect, this little bit of medicinal power is nothing.’

Sure enough, after a moment, the old Daoist’s face soured, and his features twitched.

"ACHOO!"

He sneezed, and his complexion returned to normal.

"It’s not a very good Pill."

"You kid... to think you even know about this kind of Pill. It has the scent of corpse-refining arts."

Sweat immediately beaded on Bai Mo’s forehead.

"You jest, Elder."

The yellow-robed old Daoist stopped teasing him. His expression turned serious as his right hand formed a sign and performed a quick calculation.

"Paper!"

He barked the command. Bai Mo was a little stunned, but his hands moved quickly as he passed over a sheet of paper.

He carried it with him to jot down Pill Formulas he came up with in flashes of inspiration.

But unexpectedly, the old Daoist snatched the paper, and before Bai Mo could pull his hand back, the Daoist’s fingernail pecked at his finger.

Bai Mo yelped in pain and instinctively pulled his hand back.

A bead of blood had already welled up on his fingertip, and the yellow-robed old Daoist opposite him was already using it to write and draw.

How much could one bead of blood be enough for? Under the old Daoist’s sidelong glance, Bai Mo obediently offered up his hand again.

In the end, Bai Mo received a pattern that looked like a Ghost Talisman.

It looked like writing, but Bai Mo didn’t recognize it. He felt it was more like a drawing, resembling a demonic face.

Paired with Bai Mo’s congealing blood, it looked even more bizarre.

Bai Mo studied it for a long time, suspecting it might be some form of ancient script.

"May I ask, Elder, what is this...?"

The yellow-robed old Daoist shook his head.

"The secrets of heaven must not be revealed. Ask no more. Just have your people take this into the Secret Realm."

"They will naturally find where their fated opportunity lies."

Bai Mo didn’t dare to be negligent, immediately folding the paper and putting it away carefully.

As soon as he looked up, the yellow-robed old Daoist was gone without a trace.

Bai Mo looked all around but saw no one. He called out twice, but there was no reply.

He had no choice but to give up. After a few leaps, he descended the rather chilly Stone Peak.

The thirty-three people he had gathered were already waiting below the portal. Bai Mo hurried over.

"I’ll be counting on all of you for this endeavor."

"This is the guidance an elder of the sect gave me. If you carry this with you, you will find a fated opportunity in the Secret Realm."

Bai Mo held out the paper.

"Don’t ask me what it is; I don’t know the mystery behind it either. I only suspect it’s some kind of guide."

The paper was ultimately taken by a disciple from Divine Dao Mountain.

"I am proficient in the art of traversing Yin and Yang. The sights I see are different from others. Perhaps I can glimpse the mystery within."

Bai Mo was overjoyed and earnestly urged him,

"Then I’ll be relying on you, Senior Brother!"

"You’re too kind. Junior Brother, you brought Kunwu True Monarch to our Divine Dao Mountain. That was an even greater gift."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, then Bai Mo took out the Pills, distributing five bottles to each person.

"These Pills can detoxify, heal injuries, balance the Yin and Yang in your body, and remove malevolent curses..."

"I believe they should be able to handle most situations."

"If your backs are against the wall, Senior Brothers, take the Pill in this bottle. It will give you a better chance. In any case, please be careful..."

The last Pill Bai Mo mentioned was in a separate bottle, and there was only one.

Everyone understood. This was likely their final, life-or-death trump card.

"Inside the Secret Realm, you should run into a Senior Brother from Feather Peak named Yin Zhen. He is your ally."

Someone asked, "Is this Senior Brother not departing with us?"

Bai Mo shook his head.

"I’m still refining a particular Pill for him. He’ll be a little later."

"Alright. Since we’ve been entrusted with this task, we will not spare any effort. Rest assured, Junior Brother Bai."

And so, the thirty-three of them departed.

They each held onto the shoulder of the Cultivator in front of them to avoid being separated upon entering the Secret Realm.

The jade wall shone with a brilliant, soft light, and the group vanished into the portal.

Bai Mo had no time to see where they appeared. Instead, he hurried to the appointed meeting place and saw Yin Zhen.

Yin Zhen was waiting at the meeting spot, looking up at the moon with great patience.

Bai Mo rushed over.

"Senior Brother, I’ve kept you waiting."

Yin Zhen’s gaze shifted back from the sky.

"It’s no matter."

"I’ve gathered the materials you wanted, Junior Brother. Would you like to take a look?"

Bai Mo’s eyes lit up.

"Senior Brother, please let me see the Dragon Transformation Bone!"

Yin Zhen handed over a section of bone. It looked like a fossil that had been buried for ages, its surface pitted and uneven.

From its ferocious and thick appearance, it was likely a piece of the spine from the flood dragon that underwent the transformation.

’One could imagine that if the original flood dragon hadn’t possessed a method for regenerating its flesh, its fate wouldn’t have been good, even if it had successfully transformed into a dragon.’

Bai Mo’s eyes shone. Spiritual Power burst from his hands, and in just a moment, he had already passed it over the Dragon Transformation Bone.

Finally, in a shallow pit on the bone, he sensed a trace of a startling aura.

It was ancient and carried a murderous intent.

"It’s perfect!"

"I’m afraid thirty percent of the Immortal Pill’s mysteries lie within this Dragon Transformation Bone!"

Bai Mo couldn’t help but say.

This was exactly what puzzled Yin Zhen.

"It’s such a crucial ingredient. No wonder that expert back then gave up on finding a substitute."

"How will you do it, Junior Brother Bai?"

Bai Mo smiled.

"While this wondrous object is profound, it’s not impossible for other items to possess a similar aura."

"It’s just that to refine a similar aura, I’ll need to perform a ritual. Only then is there a chance of success."

"A ritual?" Yin Zhen was greatly surprised.

"That’s right."

Bai Mo said slowly.

"Among the people I know, probably only disciples from Golden Jade Peak and Divine Dao Mountain could do it."

"Which do you choose, Senior Brother?"

Yin Zhen’s expression didn’t change as he said softly,

"I’ve heard that your friendship with Divine Dao Mountain runs deep, Junior Brother. I imagine they will spare no effort."

"Let’s go to Divine Dao Mountain, then. If this succeeds, I will also owe them a favor!"

"Excellent! We’ll pay them a visit tomorrow!"

Bai Mo nodded.

The next day, the sun shone brightly.

The two of them arrived before Divine Dao Mountain early in the morning.

Even with the blazing sun overhead, the fog surrounding the mountain was still thick—even denser, it seemed, than the fog on other peaks.

There was no one at the foot of the mountain.

Bai Mo took a step forward and announced in a clear voice,

"Bai Mo of Broken Blade Peak has come to visit! Please announce my arrival!"

The sound of whispers came from within the fog. The pitch was sharp, not sounding human.

After a moment, the fog at the foot of the mountain parted to form a path.

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