Chapter Fifty-Seven: Making an Oath

  For this wooden Daoist, Bai Qi didn't pay much attention either. He looked at the river water flowing eastward, drinking cup after cup of light wine, thinking about how to mix into the Yunmeng Sect.

  The short black-robed Taoist quickly came up with a tray of food, lowered his head and started eating rapidly.

  Bai Qi only then noticed that the Taoist had a jade sword hanging from his waist. Bai Qi's divine consciousness was strong, and with just one glance, he saw that the jade sword was a top-grade artifact. He remained calm and composed, but if this Taoist was coming for him, he would definitely find an excuse to strike up a conversation.

  My appearance hasn't changed much, but after the Inverse Scale Gun's transformation of my body, my skeleton has grown a lot, and I've gained nearly a foot in height. My build is no longer so slender, and people who don't know me can't tell that I'm related to the Young Master of the Yuanguo Duke's estate.

  Bai Shui had a way to change his appearance, but this method couldn't deceive the cultivators of the Returning Void stage. Bai Qi was going to join a large sect, so he couldn't change his appearance, otherwise, he would be suspected of having ulterior motives and it would be terrible for him.

  The Taoist in black robes finished the meal, not even leaving the soup water in the bowl. Finally, he asked for a large bowl of hot water and gulped it down. When settling the bill, the Taoist gave eighty copper coins, without giving any tip. The shopkeeper was dissatisfied, thinking that the Taoist was stingy and had no idea of tipping.

  Bai Qi watched as the black-robed Taoist turned and walked out of the shop, then called over a waiter, ordered another jug of wine, and gave him two purple copper coins.

  People who practice Taoist meditation also need to eat, but real fasting should only be done after the formation of the Golden Elixir. Before entering the state of Returning to Emptiness, practitioners of internal alchemy still need to eat like ordinary people, except that they may go without food for three to five days or ten to fifteen days at a time, with intervals in between. The heavenly and earthly energies extracted from food are far inferior to those obtained by sitting in meditation for a short while in places where the original energy is dense. Moreover, many foods contain toxins that ordinary people do not notice but which are quite harmful to practitioners of internal alchemy.

  A wealthy cultivator can take elixirs instead of ordinary food, but that black-robed Taoist seems to be poor, what a pity for the jade sword in his hand, following an owner with no future.

  Bai Qi continued drinking, after several jugs he fell asleep on the table. This wasn't drunkenness, let alone for a cultivator, even an entry-level disciple wouldn't get drunk from three to five kilograms of weak wine.

  The wine didn't get to his head, just a slight dizziness, the cool breeze blowing on his body, with a special kind of refreshment. Bai Qi had given him a generous reward, and that fellow didn't come to urge him, instead he brewed a pot of tea and placed it in front of Bai Qi. The teapot was a double-layered hollow one, keeping warm for a long time, as long as Bai Qi didn't sleep too long, when he opened his eyes, he could use it to rinse his mouth.

  But when Bai Qi woke up, it was already dark. He called his companions and asked if there were any places to stay in the town.

  The fellow pointed out that only the eastern part of the town had a decent inn where Bai Qi could stay, while the other inns were large establishments for porters and sailors. After rinsing his mouth with water, Bai Qi thanked the fellow and left the wine shop to head east.

  The houses in the east of the town were much more magnificent, and Bai Qi walked along the riverbank road to a hotel. The hotel had a strong ancient flavor, with a wooden wheel hanging on the door, but no signboard. However, a copper plate was hung on the side of the gate, with the name of the hotel engraved on it.

  Bai Qi didn't even bother to look, and directly walked into the yard. This inn doesn't provide wine or food, it's just a simple lodging place. As soon as Bai Qi entered the yard, someone ran up from behind him, it was the black-robed Taoist priest from the wine shop. Before the Taoist priest could speak, Bai Qi had already said to the approaching servant: "One room, one person."

  The unequal partners spoke, and the black-robed Taoist also shouted: "One room, one person."

  "The way is long, and there's only one room left." The shopkeeper looked at the two Taoist priests.

  "I arrived first," said Bái Qǐ.

  "Fellow Taoist, may I trouble you for a favor?" The black-robed Taoist made a deep bow to Bai Qi.

  Bai Qi smiled and said: "Good, buddy, is this a suite?"

  The fellow replied: "Exactly."

  "How much?"

  "Five hundred coins for one night."

  Bai Qi took out a silver ingot and threw it at his partner, saying: "No need for change."

  The fellow took the silver ingot and was overjoyed. The Taoist priest in black robes bowed repeatedly, saying: "Thank you so much for your trouble."

  "It's nothing, I'm not used to living with others, you please." Bai Qi said, turning around and leaving the inn, going out. The black-robed Taoist looked at Bai Qi's back, astonished.

  Bai Qi walked out of the store, let out a cold laugh, and used his Wind Step technique. His body was light and agile as he stepped on the river water to reach the other shore. The black-robed Taoist did not give chase; if he had, it would have been too showy.

  Bai Qi thought to himself, a person who wouldn't even give his fellow workers a single coin as a reward for a meal, how could he afford to stay at the most expensive inn in town? This Taoist priest was suspicious from the start, even if he wasn't targeting him initially. Bai Qi didn't want to get entangled in too many troubles, and the other party's abilities were likely higher than his own; while he might not be afraid of a fight, there were many ways to secretly plot against someone.

  The starry sky, Bai Qi was not sleepy at all. He simply walked along the riverbank downstream, and the Yellow Stone City downstream had more than 600 miles away, which was quite far. However, Bai Qi was also a cultivator in the middle of Huajing, and the Wind Riding Technique was displayed, running on the muddy riverbank, faster than a horse by at least twice.

  This time, he didn't use the True Dragon Seven Kills skill. That skill was faster, but also more eye-catching.

  There's no need for desolate mountains and wild ridges here, as human presence has already begun to thicken, and the possibility of being seen using the True Dragon Seven Kills is greater. Bai Qi was cautious, so he only used the Riding Wind Technique.

  He ran out of a hundred miles, behind him, that black-robed Taoist was chasing after him, stepping on the river water, his speed was faster than Bai Qi by a line.

  Bai Qi didn't stop or slow down his footsteps, nor did he speed up. He just continued to charge forward as usual. A cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage, if they didn't have a flying-type magical tool, could only do this.

  That Taoist in black robe was desperately chasing after him from behind, but he couldn't shout or make a loud noise, as soon as he opened his mouth, his breath would be exhausted, although his magic wouldn't be affected, he had to slow down a lot compared to Bai Qi, and couldn't catch up.

  He ran out for more than 100 miles, and the black-robed Taoist finally arrived at Bai Qi's side, walking shoulder to shoulder.

  Bai Qi turned his head and glanced at the black-robed Taoist priest, then smiled slightly.

  The black-robed Taoist also smiled and turned his head, continuing to rush forward wildly.

  The black-robed Taoist seemed to be at a loss for words, and silently ran alongside Bai Qi. The two Taoists, one in black and one in white, ran along the banks of the Whirlpool River towards the east, creating two long trails of mist.

  In the gourd of the demon spirit, that Píluó Tóngzǐ felt everything outside and couldn't help but mutter.

  This little brat is definitely not a good person, Master might as well let me eat him.

  Bai Qi ignored the noisy children, but the black-robed Taoist caught up with him. It seemed like he had something to say, but Bai Qi didn't respond, and the Taoist didn't disturb him either. It looked interesting, but there might be a big problem inside. However, the Taoist was just being kind and wouldn't speak up on his own initiative until he achieved his goal.

  This whirlpool river is also not his own family's property. The black-clothed Taoist likes to run by himself, how can he be blamed?

  Even if he's suspicious, I don't want to take action myself. Otherwise, when I encounter suspicious people in the future, I'll just kill them, how can I still have time to cultivate?

  There is a Bai Luo Tong Zi in his hand, and Bai Qi does not think that he is not an opponent of this black-clothed Taoist.

  Baili Tongzi is also a demon in the Huashen period, with two magical instruments in hand, plus himself, it's not difficult to capture a Huashen period cultivator.

  With a calm and peaceful mind, he ran over 500 miles non-stop. It wasn't until the sky was bright with daylight that he slowed down his pace.

  The Taoist in black immediately spoke up: "Fellow Taoist, are you going to Huangshi?"

  "Baizhi nodded."

  The man in black robes said eagerly: "Huangshi City is currently recruiting scattered cultivators for the Yunmeng Sect. Fellow Daoist, why not go together and have each other's backs?"

  Bai Qi originally intended to refuse, but he changed his mind and said: "Alright, how should I address you, Daoist brother?"

  "My humble Tao is timid and weak, without a gate or a sect, just a lone wandering cultivator."

  "Qing Mingzi is also a loose cultivator."

  "Qing Ming Daoist friend, I originally had a sect, but it was attacked and destroyed by other sects, forcing me to come to the south. I heard that Yun Meng Zong is recruiting scattered cultivators, as long as they are in the Refining Essence and Transforming Qi stage, so I came to try my luck."

  "Oh? I've heard that Yun Meng Sect is a major sect, and there are many people who want to join it. Are they also short of people?"

  "Alas, Yun Meng Sect is large, but it's adjacent to Luo Fu. All the good cultivation materials have been snatched away by Luo Fu. If this continues, Yun Meng Sect will only grow weaker. That's why they're opening their doors wide and recruiting loose cultivators."

  "So that's how it is. Is there anything I need to pay attention to in this disciple recruitment ceremony?"

  "It's not a big deal, after entering the Yunmeng Sect, I'm just an outer door disciple. After three years of hard work, the sect will observe my innate talent for cultivation and then decide whether to accept or reject me. If I'm suitable, I'll be recruited into the inner door and taught the Tongtian Great Way."

  "Is that it?"

  "Of course, it's not just that. Yun Meng Zong has its own way of distinguishing a person. Those who want to sneak in and steal the Taoist scriptures have never had a good ending. The struggle between schools is fierce, and such things are not unheard of, but rather happen every year."

  Bai Qi listened and understood that Yun Meng Zong was a major sect, although not comparable to Luo Fu, it was also a mighty entity with many precious Daoist methods. Many small door and small sect cultivators didn't know how many wanted to mix in and obtain these classics.

  However, I am different, I infiltrated Yunmeng Sect, without intending to betray my sect, but just wanting to gain experience in cultivation and quickly improve my realm.

  "Green Cloud Path friend, outer door for three years, is the most difficult to endure. Yun Meng Zong Hui has some tasks and assessments of various sects. Only with outstanding results can one stand out and be absorbed into the inner door."

  "Are you thinking of supporting each other?" asked Bai Qi.

  "It is indeed so, I am lonely and friendless, barely surviving outside the sect's gates. But it is extremely difficult. Qing Yun Daoist friend, Zhu Jie makes a vow here, willing to mutually support each other and enter the inner sect together. If this vow is broken, heavenly punishment will immediately descend, body shattered and bones crushed, never to be reborn!"

  Zhu Di's solemn oath shocked Bai Qi. The promise of a cultivator was no joke, and if broken, it would definitely come true.

  It's not that there's no way to escape, but that's the ability of a cultivator in the Harmony Realm period. Even if it is a cultivator in the Harmony Realm period, violating one's oath will still require paying a price.

  "Then I should make a vow too?" Bai Qi stopped in his tracks and looked at Zhu Que with great seriousness.