NineClouds
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Calm before the Storm
🕑 Added 2023-09-22 19:59:37 +0000 UTC--- Chapter 179 ---
Less than a week left before the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree exposed itself, and many people tried to forcibly break the barrier around the legendary tree, finding no way through.
Under Baek Ain's order, the Pill Tower placed a Restriction Array around the perimeters of the Pill Region to prevent greedy people from causing chaos. And yes, They also evacuated the civilians.
Of course, that doesn't mean the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree is "automatically." owned by the Pill Tower.
The Ancient Clans, Magical Beast Tribes, Demonic Factions, and many others have contacted the Pill Tower about this issue. Since the Pill Tower couldn't refuse their advance as it would be no different than courting death, they proposed for only five people from each faction to visit the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree.
Five people aren't much, but considering how many factions exist in the Dou Qi Continent, there would be over a thousand people when the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree's barrier vanished.
The floating island that supported the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree is bound to be a bloody battlefield.
One week. Everyone who wanted the treasures from the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree prepared themselves for the worst.
...
Baek Ain watched the floating island from the top of the Pill Tower and rubbed his chin in deep thought. A ripple appeared in the Wormhole portal in the city nearby, and Baek Ain glanced there and saw some familiar individuals.
Xue Rongrong, the Elder of Sun-Swallowing Nether Bird Tribe.
Yao Ling, the Elder of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe.
(Author note: Don't be confused between Yao Ling and Yao Ling'er. They are two different people. I added "er." to Baek Ain's 1st disciple as it would be more endearing and avoid confusion)
Yao Ming, the Acting Leader of the Black Corner Region.
Number 1 Series or Bai Linglong, the Acting Leader of the Behemoth Paradise.
They lead four people each behind them, eagerly wanting to support Baek Ain's plan.
Unfortunately, Baek Ain's concubines in the Fallen Orchid Sect didn't join as they decided to improve the sect and themselves with the legacy of the Yin Yang Orchid Clan.
Cai Lin and Yafei also couldn't participate in this matter as the condition of the Northern West Region needs to stabilize first. They could not afford to fight over the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree and left the Northern West Region unattended.
Baek Ain was about to wave his hand at them when Alicia's voice suddenly warned him.
[Host, He's here!]
Baek Ain halted his hand and checked the system map, seeing a bright dot mark stopping several miles away from the Pill Tower.
He activated Origin Ashen's Eyes and followed the direction, discovering two people in a dark robe. There is also an ethereal being hovering between them.
"Xiao Yan." Baek Ain smirked slightly.
"As expected of the protagonist, he also wants to covet the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree just like the original story."
The setting might have changed, considering the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree was supposed to appear in the Ancient Wasteland Region. Yet here we are, in the Pill Region.
"Oh, and they are gone." Baek Ain watched Xiao Yan and his companion disappear into thin air. The red dot in the Pill Region Map Alicia showed also vanished.
"Did they notice my gaze?" He raised his brow but then shook his head.
Although Xiao Yan has a Dou Saint on his side, that Dou Saint couldn't possibly sense Baek Ain's presence. It likely has something to do with a woman's intuition because the Dou Saint is a Female Ghost.
As dumb as it sounds, Baek Ain feels his guess was correct.
...
Outside of the Pill Region, inside a dark cavern, Xiao Yan and his companion landed on the ground with a solemn expression.
"Why did you pull us back!" Xiao Yan screamed at the Female Ghost.
"With your strength, we could easily enter the Floating Island!"
The Female Ghost shook her head and replied, "It's not that simple."
"Although I could try to break the barrier, it doesn't stop others from stopping us. Just now, I felt a gaze focused on us."
"Since I felt we were getting targeted, I decided to retreat..."
"It was dangerous..."
"That might be just your feeling!" Xiao Yan didn't want to lose in the conversation and berated her instead.
Beside Xiao Yan, the newly revived Yao Chen sighed and commented while shaking his head, "Calm down, Xiao Yan."
"I was once a Half-Saint, so you shouldn't doubt her instinct as a Dou Saint who is higher than I am."
"I knew you were anxious to grow and prove yourself to the world. But remember, being too hasty isn't good for your growth."
Xiao Yan clenched his hand and gritted his teeth. After stealing the Miraculous Medicinal Pill from the Gu Clan, he was "constantly." tracked by countless people.
They wanted the bounty on his head.
Only by becoming more powerful could Xiao Yan prove himself to the Gu Clan and take Gu Xun'er back!
He'd prove how fortunate the Gu Clan was to have such a good son-in-law like him. His teacher's status as the 9th Alchemist also would eliminate the wrongdoings.
It also includes the matter of Fallen Heart Flame escaping. Xiao Yan believed that.
"Fine..." Xiao Yan heaved, exhaling the turbid air from his chest.
"I'll meditate. Notify me when the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree's barrier disappears."
As Xiao Yan sat down and meditated, three wisps of flames(white, red, and yellow) came from his body. If Baek Ain saw Xiao Yan's state, he would be surprised to see the protagonist with three Heavenly Flames.
Even though his eventful fortune got taken away, Xiao Yan's luck still allows him to experience a fortuitous encounter and become stronger.
Well, it would be weird if he didn't get any fortuitous encounter when there is a mysterious Female Ghost with the cultivation of Dou Saint.
Yao Chen shook his head helplessly and sat not far from Xiao Yan, meditating to recover his former cultivation base.
Meanwhile, the mysterious Female Ghost casts a wary gaze in the Pill Tower's direction.
'Just what was that gaze...'
...
The guests from far away arrived at the Pill Tower, and they immediately greeted Baek Ain.
"Saint!" Xue Rongrong uttered with an excited smile.
"Ain!" Yao Ling added with a grin.
"Blade Master!" Yao Ming bowed to Baek Ain.
"Tower Master!" Bai Linglong(Series: 1) kneeled.
Baek Ain smiled warmly at them and replied, "Welcome, welcome everyone."
"Yao Ming, Number 1, get up."
"Let's go inside." He continued, leading them into the Pill Tower.
Baek Ain caught up with them for an hour, enjoying tea and snacks, before returning to his room.
He has a tight schedule, after all.
But meeting with these people elevates his mood.
Baek Ain checked his disciple and discovered Huo Zhi and Gu Xun'er could form their Lightning Armor already. He was satisfied and told them to work harder.
If they keep this pace, He'd bring them to the Floating Island later.
Returning to his room, Baek Ain summoned the Three Thousand Burning Flame and stared at the Little Dragon.
"Let's start, Little Dragon. I want to see how powerful the Three Thousand Star Constitution/Undying Body is."
"Are you sure, Master? It's going to be painful..." Little Dragon gazed at Baek Ain.
"Are you questioning my decision?" Baek Ain narrowed his eyes at the Heavenly Flame.
"I didn't dare! I didn't dare!"
"Forgive me, don't bully me again!" Little Dragon covered its head with its little hand.
[Wow, What a bully~!] Alicia teased Baek Ain.
"..." Baek Ain.
"Just do it."
Little Dragon nodded and enveloped the whole room in dark purple flame, breaking Baek Ain's body with the extreme heat of stars.
Baek Ain has already possessed extreme Life Force due to attaining the Myriad Behemoth Sage Physique. Now, he wondered what would happen when the Undying Body merged into it.
"Not enough, increase the flame's intensity!"
"O-Okay!" Little Dragon panicked.
And that is Baek Ain's schedule for the next six days.
At the beginning of the day, he'd roam around the Pill Realm and Star Region, signing in to get precious rewards.
In the following hours, he would spend quality time with his lovers and temper his body with the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
Baek Ain obtained rare Pill Recipes, Dou Techniques, and the ingredients for the Rebirth Pill and Enlightenment Pill, lacking the Bodhisattva Heart and Bodhisattva Seeds.
At the end of the 4th Day, Baek Ain attained the infamous Undying Body and obtained two new skills.
[Ding! You have attained the early stage of "Undying Body."]
[Ding! Due to Special Physique: Undying Body, you obtained Passive Skills: Star's Absorption and Star's Vitality]
After attaining the Undying Body, Baek Ain could feel an endless supply of Life Force. Even his Healing Factor's effect boosted to the limit, allowing him to regenerate instantly.
Still, Baek Ain wasn't satisfied.
Until the day of Bodhisattva Ancient Tree's revealing, Baek Ain tempered his body with other Heavenly Flames and raised the Undying Body to the Intermediate Stage.
Sixth Day.
Baek Ain stood in the room, shirtless. His muscles and skin seemingly gained a black starry gleam, flashing with a purple hue.
An image of 1,000 Ancient Mammoths appeared in the sky.
"This is it." Baek Ain reached the 2-Star Dou Saint Realm, and 1,500 more Ancient Mammoths emerged alongside the previous image, adding the number to 2,500 Ancient Mammoths.
