Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Going Out

「Several days passed in a flash.」

In the blink of an eye, it was the ninth day of the month, and there was still no progress regarding the Pill.

Bai Mo didn’t feel disappointed. After his morning patrol of the Black Prison, he brought Ah Er out and sealed the gates to the Mi Mountain facility.

It would not be opened for the next few days.

Next to Ah Er was a small shoulder pole with wooden buckets.

Bai Mo patted its head.

"You’ve eaten too many Pills. If you don’t move around more to digest their medicinal power, I’m afraid it will hinder your cultivation."

"I’ll be counting on you for the next few days."

With that, Bai Mo straightened his robes and strode away.

Ah Er cried out a few times. After watching Bai Mo disappear into the distance, it grabbed the shoulder pole, placed it on its shoulder in a practiced manner, and headed up the mountain along a familiar path.

Bai Mo took a deep breath, the Spiritual Qi mingling with the fragrance of grass and trees as it filled his lungs.

"This inner sect is really nice. The number of medicinal herbs growing everywhere must be astronomical."

He had changed out of his jailer’s clothes. Now, dressed in a white robe, he looked like a clean-cut scholar from an academy.

However, Bai Mo didn’t have a Flying Ship, so he could only walk, looking for any sign of civilization where he might be able to hitch a ride.

When An Caiwei had come here before, she had seen a market nearby. Although it was desolate, there were always some disciples around.

Bai Mo remembered the direction and headed that way.

Half a day later, just when Bai Mo was starting to think he had gone the wrong way, he finally saw the market An Caiwei had mentioned.

To call it a market was an exaggeration.

It was just a few sheds cobbled together from wooden planks, alongside five or six dilapidated houses.

He could see a few disciples walking, lying, or sitting around, none of whom seemed very energetic.

Regardless, it was a rare sign of human activity.

Bai Mo quickened his pace and, in less than an hour, arrived before the market.

The disciples in the market were very surprised to see another Cultivator arrive.

"Someone else is actually coming here?"

The disciple lounging on a chair removed the cattail-leaf fan from his face, glanced at Bai Mo, and spoke lazily.

"Junior Brother, you’ve come at a bad time. We aren’t selling any incense beads these days."

"You’ve made a wasted trip."

"Incense beads?"

Bai Mo paused, unsure what those were. He guessed they were the market’s main product.

Seeing the look on Bai Mo’s face, the few Cultivators who were looking over immediately realized something.

"You’re not here to buy incense beads?"

"Then what are you doing in this godforsaken corner?"

Bai Mo looked at the empty wooden tables under the sheds and the randomly discarded steamer baskets and other items, realizing this market had likely been deserted for a long time.

"It’s like this. I’ve come from Mi Mountain."

"I don’t have a Flying Ship, and I don’t know how long it would take to walk out of here. I heard there was a market, so I came looking for it."

Bai Mo cupped his hands and spoke in a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing.

Hearing this, the Cultivator with the cattail-leaf fan nodded.

"Then you’re in luck. Our boss is heading out tonight and can give you a ride."

"Right, Brother Chen?"

The Cultivator he called Brother Chen had a mature face and calloused hands, looking like someone who was used to manual labor.

He walked over and handed Bai Mo a stool.

"Have a seat."

"I am indeed going to Silkworm Valley tonight. I have an appointment. I just don’t know if it’s on your way."

Bai Mo nodded hurriedly.

"Silkworm Valley is bustling, with many markets and shops nearby. That’s perfect!"

There was still some time before dark, and with nothing else to do, everyone gathered to chat.

There were seven people stationed at the market in total, and all of them came out.

Bai Mo looked around.

"Senior Brothers, why is this place so desolate?"

Without getting up, the Cultivator on the lounge chair fanned himself and said:

"This place of ours specializes in selling incense beads. We had our boom days, you know."

"But for the past two years, the spirit clams have been busy breeding. They’ve lost their essence and haven’t produced any more incense beads."

He sighed sorrowfully.

"Damn it all. The sect sent the seven of us here to raise clams and sell beads."

"You can’t hit the spirit clams, and you can’t curse them. We’re terrified of accidentally provoking them."

"And what’s the result? We accommodate them in every possible way, but they’re so inconsiderate! They all went into heat in droves, leaving us with no income."

He thought for a moment, then added:

"I haven’t taken any Pills for my cultivation in half a year. I’ve even had to downgrade the Spirit Stones on my cultivation Array by a whole level."

Bai Mo hadn’t seen the place where they raised the clams, so he asked curiously.

The disciple who was speaking pointed to the right.

"In the river ravine over there."

"Unless it’s absolutely necessary, we usually don’t go near there. The spirit clams don’t like to be disturbed."

Just then, a chubby disciple came over with a tray, offering tea to the speakers.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

"Don’t mention it."

Bai Mo took the tea, sipped it lightly, and his eyes immediately lit up.

The tea was brownish-red, and the leaves in it were nothing special.

But as the tea entered his mouth, it carried a unique, clear fragrance that refreshed his mind and spirit.

"This tea..."

The chubby Cultivator said, "It has incense bead powder in it. That gives it a unique flavor."

"Oh?"

"These incense beads have such a miraculous effect?"

"That’s not all." The Cultivator with the cattail-leaf fan shook his head smugly.

"It enhances beauty, repels insects, and wards off poisons. It has many such effects."

"Otherwise, how could it attract so many young ladies from the sect to buy it?"

Bai Mo took another sip of tea and praised it.

"I think it would also be a fine ingredient for Alchemy."

The chatting men were stunned.

"Uh, it probably would work. I’ve heard of people using it in medicine. Since medicine and Pills are somewhat related, I suppose it could be used for Alchemy."

Bai Mo then asked, "Do you Senior Brothers have any in stock?"

"I’m willing to pay to buy some to try."

"So you’re an Alchemy Cultivator, Junior Brother?"

The disciples shook their heads repeatedly.

"Unfortunately, we’re really out of stock. We only have a few jars of incense bead powder for our own use."

"Our boss couldn’t even scrape a few together when he was trying to woo the Daoist partner he fancies."

Disappointed, Bai Mo started asking them about the local geography and population.

The Cultivators, in turn, asked Bai Mo about matters on Mi Mountain.

They were even more surprised to hear that right after entering the inner sect, he had been assigned to guard a crucial location on Mi Mountain.

Before they knew it, the sky grew dark.

Brother Chen took out his Flying Ship, ready to leave with Bai Mo.

Bai Mo bid farewell to the others.

"Go on, Junior Brother. No need to be so polite."

"Your Mi Mountain is even more remote than this place. We’re about the only neighbors you have, so we’ll definitely be seeing each other again."

His words made sense.

Bai Mo smiled and stepped onto Brother Chen’s Flying Ship.

The Flying Ship parted the headwind and swiftly sped away.

Brother Chen wasn’t very skilled at piloting the Flying Ship, and he flew in a flustered, clumsy manner.

After a good while, the Flying Ship finally stabilized.

Only then did Brother Chen have a moment to ask Bai Mo a question.

"Junior Brother, where do you want to land?"

"Silkworm Valley is fine!"

Bai Mo said, "I know someone in Silkworm Valley, too. It’s a good chance to pick up the things she prepared for me, so she doesn’t have to make another trip."

The wind howled past.

Riding on Brother Chen’s unreliable Flying Ship, Bai Mo barely avoided an accident.

After flying for a full four hours, the two of them finally reached their destination.

The lights burning in the distance were proof of civilization nearby.

"It’s much better than our place."

Brother Chen remarked with a sigh.

He took a few steps forward and called out to the female Cultivator guarding the valley gate.

"An old friend has come to visit. Please announce my arrival..."

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