"Lure out the Three-tailed Demon Fox and assist us at Wenshu Monastery in apprehending it," the leading monk said.
"Hahaha, Master, you probably don't know the strength of a Three-tailed Demon Fox, do you? I'm taking such a big risk just to have my monthly stipend waived for a month?" I couldn't help but laugh. This Shì Yánqīng was treating me like an idiot.
"Since Benefactor Cao is unwilling, we won't force you. Then, Benefactor Cao, please descend the mountain as soon as possible."
"Oh, and Benefactor Cao, if you encounter retaliation from the Three-tailed Demon Fox after descending the mountain, it will be none of our concern. I'm just reminding you, the fox clan is quite vengeful," the leading monk said with a smile, clearly thinking he had me cornered.
"Are these Shì Yánqīng's exact words?" I asked, my tone turning cold as I stared at the monk.
"Oh, no, that's not it. The latter part was just my own well-intentioned reminder," the leading monk seemed taken aback by my sudden change in attitude. He lowered his head, avoiding my gaze, and said.
However, his expression remained smug and irritatingly complacent.
"Tell Shì Yánqīng the cooperation continues, but I demand that my monthly stipend be waived for half a year after capturing the Three-tailed Fox Demon. Otherwise, I'll pack my things and leave Mount Wutai, this treasure land," I continued.
I have my own considerations. I have successfully completed the First Transformation, and both my physical body and soul have been refined into the state described in the heavenly scripture, allowing me to fully accept and generate Pure Yang Qi.
However, my Pure Yang Golden Core has not yet formed; I am one step away from complete success.
Although the small town at the foot of Mount Wutai has weak spiritual energy, it is still much better than other places.
I believe that in my current state, it will not take too long to form the core.
As for why I asked for half a year, I am considering Wu Dao.
Damaged meridians cannot be repaired; this is a universally acknowledged ironclad rule in the cultivation world, unless there is some heaven-defying immortal elixir that can regenerate them.
If such a spiritual elixir existed, its effects would be no different from ascending to immortality. How could it be found in the human world?
Therefore, under normal circumstances, meridians damaged to Wu Dao's extent would mean the end of his cultivation path.
But this ironclad rule does not apply to the supreme heavenly art of the Daoist sects, the Eight-Nine Arcane Art.
Once I form my Pure Yang Golden Core and combine it with the Primordial Yin substance, under the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, the fusion of Yin and Yang will generate an extremely powerful life force that can bring about recovery.
At that time, although I cannot help Wu Dao reshape his meridians, I can help him repair his damaged ones.
This is the basis of my confidence when I asked Wu Dao if he was willing to become my fellow disciple.
The most difficult part, the First Transformation, has been successfully completed, and the Pure Yang Golden Core is within reach. Now, I primarily need to find a suitable Primordial Yin substance.
So I'm giving myself half a year. If Wu Dao is fully recovered by then.
If I were to stay in this damned place any longer, it would likely cost me my life. If they didn't expel me, I would have to leave anyway.
"Heh, I will relay your request to Uncle-Master Shì Yán, Benefactor Cao. However, to gain more, it will depend on your contributions then. Our Wenshu Monastery will provide compensation based on your merits. But if Benefactor Cao, during the operation..."
The leading monk went on and on. I detest such people. How dare a mere monk in the Qi Gathering Realm blabber about 'our Wenshu Monastery'?
What right does a mere Qi Gathering Realm monk have to dictate what Wenshu Monastery decides?
What's infuriating is that such people find pleasure in lecturing others. Truly annoying.
After a long while, once the monk finished his rambling, I patiently saw them out of the small courtyard. I took a sip of cold tea and took a deep breath.
This is too damn annoying!
"Borrowing a knife to kill, and then pushing all the blame onto me? Or is it that this Three-tailed Demon Fox has a powerful background, and even Buddhism is unwilling to offend the people behind it?" Wu Dao analyzed as he walked out of the house.
"Heh, Brother Wu, have you ever considered that this Three-tailed Demon Fox might be kept by some high monk on Mount Wutai?" I retorted with a smile.
"You mean? The thief crying 'stop thief'? Then who are they putting on a show for? Oh, I see. It seems Wenshu Monastery isn't united either," Wu Dao, worthy of being the leader of the younger generation of the Zhengyi Sect, understood immediately.
"I must continue to play along in this scene. It's best if I can get to know other factions within Wenshu Monastery, so I won't be so easily betrayed by Shì Yánqīng," I said.
"Master often says that the Buddhist sects have deep waters, and they are likely not as simple as we think. You should be more cautious," Wu Dao advised.
"We'll talk about these bothersome matters later. There's a Wild boar cave not far from here. Accompany me there in a while," I said, walking to the well to fetch a basin of water.
After casually washing my face, I went to pick up Xiao Bai.
Although Wu Dao was a bit puzzled, he didn't ask further. He also fetched a basin of water and began to wash up.
Wu Dao washed up much more meticulously than I did. After waiting for a full ten minutes, Wu Dao finally finished, like a young lady tidying up.
Wu Dao put on his mask, got on my mountain bike, and Xiao Bai jumped onto my head. A peculiar trio of two people and one dog set off.
After buying some more food at the small supermarket in town, I took Wu Dao to the Wild boar cave I had discovered earlier.
There used to be a few wild boars in this Wild boar cave, but they were all eaten by me during my three months of cultivation.
Moreover, I found that the location of this Wild boar cave is extremely remote. If hidden here, even the local villagers would not find it in a short time.
Wu Dao's cultivation has severely declined, and his Dao energy is constantly dissipating through his damaged meridians. I need to find a way to temporarily seal the holes in his meridians, and his injuries can no longer be delayed.
The Wolf King's treasure, although magical, pulled him back from the brink of death, but his severe internal injuries were not healed. Even with Wu Dao's considerable cultivation and physical fitness far exceeding ordinary people, delaying further would put his life at risk.
The reason for choosing this Wild boar cave is also for safety. The three-month period has passed, and Shì Yánqīng and the Three-tailed Demon Fox might come looking for me at any time.
Furthermore, the process of Wu Dao's healing must not be disturbed by outsiders. After much thought, this place seemed the safest.
"It stinks here, what are we doing here?" Wu Dao asked, frowning slightly.
"The situation is special now, don't be so picky." Saying that, I cleared a patch of ground, placed the food and drinking water I brought aside, and sat down.
Then, I explained my treatment plan to Wu Dao.
His worsening injuries are largely due to his Dao energy constantly dissipating.
If Wu Dao's meridians were undamaged and his Dao energy abundant, even with such severe injuries, he would slowly recover with the nourishment of his Dao energy.
Now, let alone using Dao energy for nourishment, he cannot even stop the dissipation of Dao energy. Within a few days, he will be reduced to a complete ordinary person.
Therefore, I plan to first use my Pure Yang Qi to fuse the broken parts of Wu Dao's meridians together, temporarily sealing them to stop the dissipation of Dao energy, and then use my Pure Yang Qi to nourish and heal Wu Dao.
I estimate that this treatment plan will take five to six days to show results, and the process of treatment and nourishment cannot be interrupted during these five to six days, otherwise, all efforts will be in vain.
So I prepared enough food, ready for a protracted battle.
Moreover, this entire process will only stabilize Wu Dao's injuries. Complete recovery will require my continued long-term nourishment, but that will not be as urgent as it is now, and there will be no concerns about being disturbed by others.
"This method can only temporarily seal the fractured parts of your meridians. We still need to find other ways for complete repair, and the sealing process will be extremely painful. Brother Wu, you should be able to endure it, right?" I asked, looking up. I was not worried about Wu Dao's willpower holding up.
Someone like him, with a firm character and a Dao heart far superior to his peers, and this pain is not even a tenth or second of what I went through during my First Transformation. Wu Dao will definitely be fine.
"This pain is nothing. Won't this kind of energy-consuming method affect you?" Wu Dao asked.
"The impact is minimal; I recover quickly. Don't worry, Brother Wu," I replied nonchalantly.
After my First Transformation, my body is far superior to before, completely transformed. Not only is my speed and range of absorbing spiritual energy faster and wider.
I can quickly recover from the stars and moon in the sky, as well as the essence of the sun during the day.
"Brother Cao, we haven't known each other for long, why are you treating me so well? You don't dislike me for being half-human, half-demon? You don't mind that I'm a spy for the wolf tribe? You're even willing to expend your vital energy to save my life," Wu Dao suddenly asked after a period of contemplation.
"Heh. I'm not too fond of the Orthodox Daoist sects, and I particularly dislike how the Zhengyi Sect suppresses us minor Daoist sects. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to Mount Wutai. As for whether you are human or demon, does it really matter that much?"
"Brother Wu, have you forgotten the question I asked you last night? Are you willing to be my fellow disciple?" I asked sincerely.
"But..." Before Wu Dao could finish, I interrupted him:
"My enemy is a powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage. He should be actively searching for my whereabouts, wanting to seize my body for rebirth. If that old scoundrel catches me here, would Brother Wu stand by and do nothing?" I countered with a question instead of explaining.
"As I said, even if your enemy descends from heaven as a god, I will stand by your side and take a fierce bite out of him," Wu Dao declared.
"Then what are you waiting for? Quickly adjust your state, we're starting soon." I exhaled and looked at Wu Dao.
Wu Dao no longer refused. He gave me a deep look and said, "I wish you were a woman!"
"Get lost! Why aren't you a woman, then you could pledge yourself to me!" I was amused by Wu Dao, surprised that he had this side to him.
Wu Dao chuckled and then closed his eyes to adjust his state.
Time ticked by, and soon Wu Dao was in the right state. I did not hesitate, sat opposite Wu Dao, clasped his hands, and my Pure Yang Qi instantly surged into his body.