Carving out a cave abode

The thought of soul crystals immediately reminded Mu Bai of the Crow Cauldron and the Artifact Spirit Ancestor. Inspiration flashed, and he was about to take it out and try using a soul crystal when he suddenly remembered that wealth should not be flaunted and walls had ears. There might well be a surveillance formation in his room. Although the Spirit Taming Sect's master devoted himself wholeheartedly to his great Dao of mastering women, that was no reason to conclude that he ignored worldly affairs or loosened his control over the elders. Besides, perhaps that boorish sect master even had a taste for voyeurism.

"A cautious hand keeps a ship sailing for ten thousand years. I must be careful, must keep a low profile..."

After pondering for a while, Mu Bai could only give up and practice the Flying Immortal Scripture instead. Before long, he entered the proper state, feeling the surrounding essence of heaven and earth whirl toward him and burrow into his body through his seven apertures and every pore. Turning his divine sense inward, he discovered that the essence flowing through his meridians had grown considerably stronger, forming a lively, surging current like mist.

Mu Bai was delighted, his confidence in practicing the Flying Immortal Scripture growing all the stronger. What he had yet to realize was that great sects like the Spirit Taming Sect, with a Dao Zun presiding over them, often ended up situated in places rich in the essence of heaven and earth, whether intentionally or otherwise. Although the people of this world did not deliberately cultivate essence or refine qi into a core, they were absorbing essence at every moment, subtly transforming their flesh and constitutions.

Early the next morning, Mu Bai opened his door to find six or seven beautiful concubines standing neatly in a row outside.

"Let this concubine help you wash, husband..."

Sure enough, the power of soul crystals knew no bounds. As long as the soul crystals were provided, Elder Qing Mao's treatment was immediately restored.

"Well, aunties and big sisters, look, I'm still a child. I can't be your husband..." As he spoke, Mu Bai made sure to twist around a few times to show them. "I'll give you the soul crystals as agreed. Just go about your own business."

"When I was born, you were not yet born; when you were born, I was already old..."

At Mu Bai's words, the beautiful concubines actually began weeping and wiping away tears.

Does their acting have to be this good...? Mu Bai thought. They're even better than that little eagle!

"But since you were kind enough to prepare clothes for me, I won't stand on ceremony!"

With that, Mu Bai reached out and snatched the robes from the tray one of the beautiful concubines held, then hurried back into his room and shut the door.

"Buying a robe would cost at least one soul crystal, wouldn't it? Not worth it, not worth it. As long as I have something to wear, why waste money...?"

Mu Bai hurriedly changed into the clothes Qing Mao had left in the residence. They really did fit quite well, and the fabric was good too. Dressed in them, he really did look like an elder.

After considerable difficulty, Mu Bai finally shook off the beautiful concubines surrounding him and escaped the residence in a sorry state, only to run straight into Xi Bazì and Red Sweet Potato.

"Morning, Brother Bazì, Brother Sweet Potato! I was just about to pay my respects to you both!"

Mu Bai shook his clasped hands and bowed.

"We wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare. We just came to see whether you had any instructions for us, Elder Mu."

"I wouldn't presume to give instructions. There's just something I wanted to ask. Do the sect's elders have to live in their own residences, or is there...?"

"Of course there is! As the saying goes, 'Keep the red flag flying at home while colorful flags flutter outside.' No matter how many beautiful concubines you have, they can't compare with the thrill of sneaking a taste elsewhere."

Xi Bazì seemed to have guessed Mu Bai's thoughts. He thought this young elder was quite something. After just one night, not only had he changed into an elder's robes, but his mind had become much livelier too.

"In that case, the elders usually carve out a cave abode on Hundred Flowers Peak behind the sect and keep women there, or... men..."

"They keep men too?"

"Yes, there are female elders in the sect as well. Don't get the wrong idea, Elder Mu."

"Oh... no, no. Could you take your little brother there for a look?"

"After you, Elder Mu..."

Xi Bazì glanced sideways at Mu Bai. Young as you are, could an entire residence full of women really not be enough for you? Besides, you've only just met them. They're all still fresh...

Whatever his private speculations, Xi Bazì still respectfully escorted Mu Bai to the Spirit Taming Sect's Hundred Flowers Peak alongside Sweet Potato Boy.

Hundred Flowers Peak stood right beside Spirit Command Peak, where the Spirit Taming Sect was located. It too was majestic, wreathed in mist and clouds, with dense woods and rushing waterfalls, and fell within the Spirit Taming Sect's territory. Just as Xi Bazì had said, thirty-six of the Spirit Taming Sect's thirty-seven elders had already carved out cave abodes on Hundred Flowers Peak. The remaining elder without one was Elder Mu Bai.

Presumably, with some careful inquiries, he could still find the cave abode Qing Mao had left here. On second thought, he decided against it. He already could not afford to support the whole household he had now. It would be the greatest of blessings if the women Qing Mao had secretly kept did not come knocking.

After wandering for half a day, Mu Bai and his two companions reached a marvelous spot. Water nestled in a fold of the land, the wind circled about, and the sky gathered the surrounding mountains to send their green his way. The rise and fall of the earth's veins held the bearing of a living dragon.

"A fine spot. This is it."

Mu Bai was quite satisfied with the place. He drew his short-sword Soul Soldier and prepared to carve out a cave abode.

"Elder Mu, not so fast! This isn't ownerless land..."

Xi Bazì hurried forward to stop him.

"Has someone already claimed it?"

"No, but this mountain belongs to the sect, and so does this land. The sect strictly forbids all unauthorized construction. If you build just like that, the Enforcement Hall's Sect Patrol Team will come tear it down, and you'll have to pay a fine in soul crystals too..."

As Xi Bazì spoke, he actually grew indignant. Mu Bai guessed that Xi Bazì had probably had something forcibly demolished by the Sect Patrol Team before.

"So there's some paperwork to do first?"

"Exactly! As an elder of the sect, you only need to report it to the Construction Hall and pay the soul crystals. Unlike the likes of us-we run our legs off and talk our mouths raw, then pay our soul crystals and still suffer for it..."

Xi Bazì seemed to harbor deep grievances against the Construction Hall as well. Thinking about it, that made sense. Where under heaven was there a government office that made things easy?

"How many soul crystals will it take?"

"Two thousand should be enough."

"Well, can pills be used in place of soul crystals?"

"Elder Mu, didn't you... didn't you just receive...?"

"A big household burns through money fast!"

Remembering the scene outside Qing Mao's residence yesterday, Xi Bazì and Sweet Potato Boy snorted, then both burst into unending laughter.

After two days together, they no longer felt so many reservations around Mu Bai, this elder who had landed the position so cheaply. They could tell that Mu Bai was a decent person. He had kept a very low profile upon arriving at the Spirit Taming Sect, yet had still stepped in for the two of them and offended Mo Deqian and his brother.

"Elder Mu, why bother looking after them? They have their own ways of making a living..."

"Brother Bazì, do you mean going to Spirit Command City?"

At this, Mu Bai remembered that once he had settled down in the sect, he needed to make a timely trip to Spirit Command City. Apart from bringing back the Golden Roc, Miss Mu Lan was still waiting for the reply he was supposed to bring her.

"Yes, yes. Many women in the sect find ways to earn soul crystals there. In times like these, you can't get by anywhere without soul crystals!"

Xi Bazì sighed, then took out a bag of soul crystals and handed it to Mu Bai.

"Use these for now, Elder Mu. I have some to spare..."

"I have some too!"

Sweet Potato Boy also took out a bag of soul crystals and leaped up, trying to force it into Mu Bai's arms.

How could Mu Bai accept their soul crystals for nothing? Yet he really did need them. At his firm insistence, Mu Bai ultimately traded the pills he had refined for two thousand soul crystals from Xi Bazì and Sweet Potato Boy. He then left Sweet Potato Boy to guard the spot and headed to the Construction Hall with Xi Bazì.

Just as Xi Bazì had said, status made things easy wherever one went. It took no more than a single trip there and back. He was a full-fledged elder of the sect, and his payment was not short by so much as one soul crystal or half of one, so approval naturally came quickly.

Handing over another large sum of soul crystals pained Mu Bai deeply. He thought there were simply too many things that cost soul crystals. How did those elders still manage to live so freely and comfortably, even keeping mistresses outside their residences?

"They probably have other channels. I'll have to keep an eye out."

Mu Bai was no rigid pedant. Although he did not know what he would have to do for the Spirit Taming Sect now that he was an elder, he absolutely could not go without a sideline. There was no helping it-he was poor!

Without another word along the way, Mu Bai and Xi Bazì returned to the spot chosen for his cave abode, only to find five people surrounding Sweet Potato Boy. Sweet Potato Boy had already activated his soul spirit and stood ready for battle, looking very much as though anyone who wanted to get past would have to step over him.