Four-Eyes' Invitation, Zhong Bai Enters the Deep Mountains

When the elder of the Yang Family heard that Zhong Bai wanted to sell a Yuan blue-and-white official kiln plum vase, he didn't hesitate at all and immediately settled on three hundred taels of gold.

For the Yang Family, perhaps the plum vase wasn't worth that much at the moment.

But buying the plum vase showed that Zhong Bai and his senior brother, Four-Eyes, were currently short on money.

The Yang Family understood the principle that offering help in a time of need is better than adding to what one already has.

Buying a plum vase of decent value and gaining the goodwill of Zhong Bai and Four-Eyes was a good deal for the Yang Family.

In the small courtyard, when the full three hundred taels of gold were delivered, Four-Eyes was almost blinded by the dazzling golden light.

He picked up a piece, bit it lightly, and then gave a thumbs-up!

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, that's the taste! Junior Brother Qianhe, this Yang Family is truly considerate!"

Zhong Bai merely smiled at this. In truth, both he and Four-Eyes knew that the Yang Family hadn't lost out.

However, Zhong Bai didn't want to continue this topic.

"Senior Brother Four-Eyes, we have the money now. Will Senior Brother Four-Eyes be returning today to establish the Daoist Temple?"

Hearing this, Four-Eyes paused for a moment, then vigorously shook his head, saying, "No, no, no, it's not time yet. Junior Brother Qianhe, we have the money to build the Daoist Temple, but we can't find any workers!"

At this, Four-Eyes uncharacteristically became serious.

"Junior Brother Qianhe, you don't know, but recently, a Snake Demon has appeared near where I want to establish the Daoist Temple, devouring passersby.

I secretly tracked it, and it's a true Demon Soldier!

Even though I have defensive measures bestowed by my sect, it would be too much of a loss to use them against just a Demon Soldier.

This time I came out, besides wanting to borrow some money from you, I also wanted to ask you to come with me. With the combined strength of the two of us, we can kill that Snake Demon!

Only then can I feel at ease establishing the Daoist Temple, and also bring peace back to the surrounding common folk, don't you think?"

Hearing about a Snake Demon at the Demon Soldier realm, Zhong Bai was somewhat moved. After swallowing, he was still hesitant.

"Senior Brother Four-Eyes, Snake Demons usually appear in dens. This Snake Demon..."

"I understand your concerns, Junior Brother Qianhe. But from what I've seen, only one Snake Demon has appeared. Therefore, I deduce that there shouldn't be any other Snake Demons nearby."

Hearing Four-Eyes say this, Zhong Bai had to admit that he was tempted.

"Senior Brother Four-Eyes, let's do it!"

At this moment, Zhong Bai seemed to envision the Exorcism Points flowing in. It was just a mere Snake Demon, after all.

"Sir, don't worry, Xiahe and I will look after the house. We'll also take good care of that fat chicken."

"Mhm, mhm, that's right, Sir, just go. Chunhua and I can look after the house!"

Outside the small courtyard, in front of Zhong Bai.

Chunhua and Xiahe waved goodbye to Zhong Bai. After walking a few hundred steps, Four-Eyes, who was beside him, said with a hint of sourness, "Sir~!"

"Tsk, tsk, I have to say, Junior Brother Qianhe, you really live the good life. Chunhua and Xiahe are both pretty and sweet-mouthed, and their cooking is top-notch.

Sigh, I wish I could find girls like that too.

It's a pity, but my life is destined to be a hard one."

Listening to Four-Eyes' complaints, Zhong Bai smiled faintly.

"Senior Brother Four-Eyes could totally take on a disciple. As the saying goes, 'when the master has a task, the disciple performs the labor.'"

"Me? Take a disciple?

Heh, forget it. I don't have much skill myself; my studies aren't complete. How can I just casually take on disciples like others?

Besides, my master, True Immortal Changsheng, had the same idea as you back then, hehe. Now my master is almost annoyed to death by me..."

Hearing this, Zhong Bai could only say that Four-Eyes had self-awareness. Yes, his self-assessment was very objective.

The sun rose in the east and set in the west.

Three days later, after passing through a dense forest.

Ahead was relatively flat grassland, and from the distant mountains, the sound of flowing water could still be faintly heard.

"Next to mountains and water, Senior Brother Four-Eyes chose a good spot. Establishing a Daoist Temple here is indeed very suitable!"

Zhong Bai had a high opinion of the place; it was serene yet elegant, convenient for water, and spacious.

"This place of mine, it only has these few advantages."

Four-Eyes didn't refute Zhong Bai's praise. In fact, apart from the initial lack of funds, Four-Eyes himself quite liked the idea of establishing a Daoist Temple here.

Later, when he had his Lifespirit Corpse, raising it here wouldn't cause any harm to people.

"Oh, right, Junior Brother Qianhe, that Snake Demon basks in the sun in the mountains every morning. This is also when its mobility is at its weakest.

If we seize this opportunity and cooperate, the chances of us killing it are very high!"

Zhong Bai thought this suggestion was good.

Although the Snake Demon had become powerful, it was still a cold-blooded reptile.

It's hard to change ingrained habits quickly; liking to bask in the morning sun is one of them.

"So, Four-Eyes, does that mean we just need to ambush the Snake Demon in the mountains early tomorrow morning?"

"Exactly, that's the plan…

However, ahem, Qianhe, I'm not entirely sure about the Snake Demon's exact strength.

Although it's at the Demon Soldier stage, a late-stage Demon Soldier can be comparable to a cultivator at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Condensation.

If it's truly that powerful, I might have to use some of my trump cards."

Four-Eyes felt a bit awkward saying this. He hadn't been completely forthright, afraid that if he told Zhong Bai everything, he wouldn't want to help exorcise the demon.

Listening to Four-Eyes's honest confession, Zhong Bai's mouth twitched slightly. He really hadn't expected Four-Eyes to be so audacious, but then again, what's done is done, right…?

Night fell.

Zhong Bai dared not be complacent in the slightest.

He might face the Snake Demon tomorrow, and who knew what tricks it had up its sleeve.

If they were truly forced to use their trump cards, both Zhong Bai and Four-Eyes would feel the pain.

"I should use all my Exorcism Points while I have the chance!"

[Consumed 300 Exorcism Points, exchanged for 300 days of cultivation for the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art.]
[Day 9: You recently broke through to the fifth level of Qi Condensation. After intense cultivation of the Divine Firmament Five Thunder Art, you feel your understanding of it deepen.]
[Day 128: After four months of diligent practice, the True Essence in your body is incredibly profound, and your cultivation shows signs of further advancement.]
[Day 252: The True Essence in your body has reached a bottleneck. Smoothly, you have entered the mid-stage of the fifth level of Qi Condensation.]
…
[Exorcism Points consumed.]

It took Zhong Bai a full three hundred Exorcism Points, nearly a year, to advance to the mid-stage of the fifth level of Qi Condensation. While the current difference wasn't significant compared to reality, Zhong Bai keenly noticed the impact of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on his cultivation.

Clearly, with scarce spiritual energy of heaven and earth, even with the cheat-like Exorcism Points, it would be useless if the influx of spiritual energy couldn't keep up…

"Damn it, this slow grind is already getting tedious at the Qi Condensation stage. When I reach Foundation Establishment, will it just drain all the spiritual energy within a hundred li?"

The three hundred days of cultivation just now had drained the spiritual energy within a ten-li radius.

Who knew what effect the cheat would have after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage…

Zhong Bai could only offer a helpless smile in response.

Having a cheat was better than not having one. Anyway, in this era, if he couldn't reach the absolute peak himself, then it probably meant there wouldn't be a single drop of spiritual energy left.

Otherwise, Zhong Bai could rely on the Exorcism Panel to embark on a broad and prosperous path!

The scoundrel Four-Eyes is about to come onli