The figure of the Zhang family receded until it vanished from sight.
Bai Yichen couldn't be bothered to linger further. Once things were settled, he said no more and simply bid farewell.
Zhang Feiyan then asked, "Father, do you think the Daoist will fulfill his promise?"
"Don't worry. I was foolish just now. Such a master from a major sect would certainly be mindful of his own reputation and that of his sect. It was indeed inappropriate to question him."
"However, this Daoist Shaochong is no less astute than those who have roamed the martial world for years. I thought that bringing you along would..."
Mr. Zhang's words carried both caution and a hint of disappointment.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Feiyan's cheeks flushed instantly.
...
Wushan is located on the northern side of the Great River, where many wild beasts and fierce birds roam. The forest is deep and unfathomable, which discourages ordinary people from daring to explore.
However, at this moment, Bai Yichen had not yet entered the mountains. Instead, he was staying in a guest room at an inn in a small unnamed town near Wushan.
Now that he was far from danger, with time to spare, Bai Yichen knew he needed to prepare himself, adjust his state, and then venture into the mountains to seek opportunities.
Therefore, he found a good inn in this nameless town near Wushan and rented a room to rest and recuperate.
The danger he referred to was, of course, the Heishi Organization, as a gold-tier assassin had been killed, disrupting their plans.
How could that not draw attention? He had only done some burial work to delay the inevitable.
Furthermore, the person who committed this act had previously thwarted the Heishi's grand scheme; if they discovered his specific location, assassination and ambush would surely follow.
By leaving early, he also avoided implicating the Zhang family. They should be thanking him, after all; he had taken fewer pills than expected.
After enjoying a feast of local delicacies and taking a bath, Bai Yichen took out the clear tea he had brought from Xuanzhen Temple.
With fluid motions, he brewed a pot of tea, inhaling its aroma as he savored it, then activated the Sitting and Forgetting Heart Refinement method to adjust his state of mind.
He then took out the heavy wooden box, retrieved a wax pill, peeled it, and found a bright red pill inside. Bai Yichen swallowed it down in one go, accompanied by the tea.
As soon as the Astragalus Rehmannia Pill entered his abdomen, it seemed to ignite a wave of heat that surged through his organs and limbs.
Sitting upright, Bai Yichen's body turned slightly red as he operated the Yellow Court Yin Symbol Scripture to refine the pill, using the Sitting and Forgetting Heart Refinement method to gather Essence Qi.
His internal strength was already perfected, and this added to his profound accumulation.
Exhaling deeply, he caused the window screen to tremble slightly.
The cicadas chirping outside seemed to pause for a moment.
Finishing his meditation, Bai Yichen felt a wave of refreshment wash over him. He glanced at the heavy wooden box, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
The Astragalus Rehmannia Pills were indeed impressive; they tonified Qi and invigorated blood, providing great benefits.
Though they wouldn't help him break through to the innate level, their efficacy was not inferior to that of the Xiaochi Shen Pill.
If only he had gotten his hands on them sooner, perhaps he could have broken through to the Acquired Full Circle even faster.
Fortunately, it was still a good time to adjust his state. With the remaining nine pills, if this trip went smoothly, he could use them to solidify his foundation.
As for the next ten pills, they could be used to slightly enhance his martial arts practice.
Gazing out the window at the dark, ink-like night, he knew the time had come.
So he packed his belongings, erased any traces, and set out under the cover of darkness.
Outside the inn, a shadow darted through the streets, speeding towards the city wall.
When he reached a spot with few guards, he suddenly exerted force and leapt into the air like an arrow leaving its bow.
In mid-air, he traced an arc, using his toes to push off the crevices of the wall bricks.
Approaching the top of the city wall, his right hand swiftly reached out, grabbing onto a protruding brick. With a slight effort of his arm, he easily flipped over the wall.
The entire process was clean and efficient, without any lingering movements. When he landed, he used his internal strength to ensure he made no sound.
Fortunately, the walls of the small town were not high, and the guards were lax, so it didn't take much effort for him.
Then, that dark figure moved towards Wushan, blending into the night.
...
When he had chosen the location back then, he had personally inspected it and even walked through it again after it was built.
Therefore, even after more than a hundred years, despite changes in the mountain paths, Bai Yichen found it easy to navigate, especially since he had brought a map.
Relying on his exceptional lightness skill, he circumvented trees and leaped over streams, making steady progress.
However, entering the mountain at night naturally carries risks. Besides the possibility of getting lost, the creatures that rule the nighttime forest begin to stir. If he encounters them, Bai Yichen would likely have to exert considerable effort to escape.
Fortunately, since he began practicing the Sitting and Forgetting Heart Refinement method, his senses had become increasingly sharp, allowing him to detect distant beasts ahead of time and avoid them.
Thus far, his journey had gone fairly smoothly. However, as he delved deeper into the forest, the vegetation grew denser, the darkness becoming oppressive, and even the chirping of cicadas on this summer night diminished significantly.
But this also meant he was nearing his destination, so Bai Yichen continued to hurry eastward.
Suddenly, a dark cave appeared ahead, its mouth gaping like a deep abyss, seemingly waiting to swallow every creature that dared to approach.
"Hmm, it doesn't seem to have changed much."
Bai Yichen was unafraid, even feeling a hint of familiarity as he entered the cave.
He casually took out a fire torch to illuminate the path, walking steadily through the cave, which was lined with familiar moss and stalactites.
Just as he was about to round a corner, a foul wind suddenly whipped through, and a yellow figure lunged at him.
"What a beast, I've been waiting for you."
Bai Yichen showed no signs of panic; he tossed the torch high into the air, then performed a Bagua step to dodge the brightly colored large insect, quickly following up with the perfected Sanyang Fumo Fist, striking with three times the power. Each punch landed solidly, causing the massive insect to howl in pain, its eyes filled with stars.
Finally, with a thunderous roar, the creature fell to the ground. Bai Yichen raised his hand to catch the falling torch.
The entire exchange happened in an instant.
However, Bai Yichen didn't eradicate the threat completely, not only because he followed the will of Heaven and had a kind-hearted nature, but also because killing the beast would create a bloody scent that could attract other wild creatures at night. Additionally, this large insect would serve as his guardian.
After navigating a winding, twisting path, Bai Yichen reached a dead end.
He bent down and used the torch to feel around, then chuckled softly as he pulled aside a patch of moss, pressing down on an uneven area beneath.
Boom! Boom!
The wall of vines that had once marked the dead end cracked open, revealing a bottomless crevice and a gust of long-sealed air.
After a moment, Bai Yichen tilted his body and slowly squeezed through, using the faint light from the torch to see around him as he ventured deeper.
After passing through an underground passage, he soon found himself in a spacious secret chamber.
In the center of the chamber stood a stone platform, upon which rested an iron box.