Chapter 1015: Yu Baisheng’s Last Words

A small transmission rune? The moment he saw Fu Rong disappear, Ye Mo knew the kill was impossible. It could teleport someone a thousand kilometers instantly, far beyond his spirit sense. The level-eight rune was incredibly precious; he hadn't expected Fu Rong to possess one.

Seeing Ye Mo swiftly defeat Fu Rong, the other two cultivators' faces paled. As Ye Mo retrieved the formation flags, they hastily saluted and thanked him before fleeing, uttering not a word.

Ye Mo paid them no mind. Though he hadn't obtained a low-grade Dao artifact, he found it incongruous that a Hollow Spirit state forgery grandmaster would possess such meager wealth.

He quickly departed, first retrieving not the Huang Star Rock, but the low-grade spirit artifact cauldron. Upon examination, he recognized several herbs: Fu Song fruit, Rong Flower, Hai vine, and Wo Ma. As a Pill King, he knew these were merely level two to four herbs. A Hollow Spirit state cultivator wouldn't use such low-grade herbs for alchemy, especially since these particular herbs were incompatible—they couldn't form any pills. Yu Baisheng's inability to spirit-refine them was puzzling.

The first letters of each herb spelled out "Fu Rong Hai Wo," meaning "Fu Rong killed me." How could a mere Golden Core cultivator kill a Hollow Spirit state cultivator like Yu Baisheng?

Ye Mo's reflection led him to the Huang Star Rock. With Yu Baisheng's intelligence, why reveal his purchase? He could only have been betrayed. The betrayer must have been close to Yu Baisheng. Fu Rong, while talented, wouldn't normally attract a genius like Yu Baisheng's attention. The only plausible explanation was a relationship with his daughter, Yu Niangyan.

The thought of Fu Rong exploiting Yu Baisheng's daughter and then murdering him filled Ye Mo with disgust. It was a shame he hadn't killed him.

However, Ye Mo questioned Yu Baisheng's actions. Knowing Fu Rong and Yu Niangyan might come, why leave everything in his storage ring? Even if Yu Niangyan knew Fu Rong was responsible, revenge would be impossible. Hadn't he wished to leave something for his daughter?

Ye Mo examined the cauldron. It was indeed a low-grade spirit artifact, coarsely crafted. While the materials were fine, the execution was crude. He noticed it had only been used once, implying Yu Baisheng had made it on the spot. Why would a forgery grandmaster use such a crude low-grade artifact? Was there more to the cauldron? Ye Mo’s suspicions grew.

He began to dissect the cauldron. Unexpectedly, it was assembled from different parts, easily disassembled. Inside, he found a jade slip and a jade box.

Picking up the jade slip, Ye Mo admired Yu Baisheng’s ingenuity. The forgery grandmaster had cleverly assembled a spirit artifact from disparate components. A true genius!

Yu Baisheng also understood human nature. He scattered low-grade Dao artifacts about, leaving the crude-looking cauldron unnoticed. Only his daughter would find its peculiarity. Ye Mo had noticed something amiss with the cauldron. Yu Niangyan would likely find it amongst her father's discarded possessions. If Yu Baisheng had anticipated this, he clearly entrusted his revenge to his daughter.

He read the jade slip:

"Niangyan, after reading this, reveal nothing, show no emotion. Remember, your father was killed by Fu Rong. This man is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He likely approached you because of the Bitter Bamboo…"

Ye Mo trembled. The Bitter Bamboo! A legendary spirit item. Cultivators who meditated beneath it maintained clarity of mind, unaffected by inner demons – a significant advantage, especially during divine damnation. The Bitter Bamboo also had another use: forgery. Even an amateur could craft a Dao artifact with it. It was one of the cultivation realm's most potent spirit items.

Yu Baisheng possessed the Bitter Bamboo? How had he missed it? Ye Mo continued reading:

"He learned of the Huang Star Rock. After I bought it, he informed the An Bei Three Demons. He had planned everything meticulously. If I hadn't appeared for decades, he would have manipulated you into going to my death site. If he's near you, remain calm. The jade box contains two Burst Yin Pills; they should suffice to kill him…"

Ye Mo found the two pills and continued:

"Fu Rong is connected to the An Bei Three Demons. If you can't kill him, flee the area immediately."

"If you are not my daughter, but that bastard Fu Rong, ignore this. If you are someone else, my daughter is likely dead. I lived a great life, yet died at the hands of a schemer. I am unsatisfied. Whoever you are, if you help me kill Fu Rong and the An Bei Three Demons, I will handsomely reward you. The An Bei Three Demons were injured by my Soul Devouring Formation. They will seek pills to restore their soul and spirit sense; investigate from there.

—Yu Baisheng."

Ye Mo was disappointed; the Bitter Bamboo was unmentioned. The reward was uncertain given Yu Baisheng’s death. However, to receive that reward, he had to kill Fu Rong and the An Bei Three Demons. He returned to the body. Even after killing them, he needed the Bitter Bamboo. Yu Baisheng was a corpse, but who knew what measures he had taken?

Ye Mo moved Yu Baisheng's body to a remote island, burying it in a cave sealed with defensive and stealth formations. He would kill those responsible and determine if the reward was real. Killing Fu Rong presented no problem. As for Yu Niangyan, she must have been unattractive to fall for the unremarkable Fu Rong.

Days later, Ye Mo returned to Mo Hai City. Seeking rest, he overheard two cultivators:

"Pill Master Feng's skill is exceptional. He helped me refine six top-grade Condense Red Pills.”

“Yes, but his business would thrive if he didn’t demand a nine-foot sea snake beast core as payment,” another sighed.

Ye Mo looked up. A sign read, "Honest Pill Tower."