Chapter 1016: Feng Honest's Secret
Fu Rong's proximity to Feng Honest raised a question: Would Feng Honest know of Fu Rong's situation? Considering this, Ye Mo entered the Honest Pill Tower.
Inside, Ye Mo found the shop dimly lit, windowless, and devoid of workers. Only a man in his fifties sat behind the counter, seemingly cultivating while studying herbs. The man appeared aged, a Golden Core state level nine cultivator. He reminded Ye Mo of Fei Cijiang, but seemed even more unassuming.
"May I ask if you are Pill Master Feng?" Ye Mo inquired.
The man looked up, then abruptly stood, saying nervously, "Yes, I am Feng Honest. May I ask if you require pill concoction services or wish to purchase pills?"
Ye Mo then noticed numerous shelves stocked with various pills, mostly for Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages. A few Chi Gathering Pills were present, but nothing beyond Golden Core.
Ye Mo smiled. No wonder the man was called Feng Honest—was he this nervous whenever he encountered someone?
"A friend recommended me for pill concoction," Ye Mo said casually. "He said you're highly skilled. His name is Fu Rong; you're acquainted, correct?"
Feng Honest's face registered blankness before he replied, "Fu Rong? I've never heard that name."
Ye Mo found this peculiar. Cultivators possessed strong memories and sharp spirit senses; forgetting someone after a single meeting was unusual. Was Fu Rong lying, or was Feng Honest?
Ye Mo changed the subject. "Pill Master Feng, I require a Tan Hua Pill…"
He paused, his gaze drawn to two herbs before Feng Honest: a Scorching Magic Grass and a Ghost Faced Mushroom. Both were beneficial to spirit sense and could be incorporated into pills. The Ghost Faced Mushroom, a rare level six herb, was a surprising find.
A level eight spirit pill master possessing a level six herb wasn't exceptionally unusual; however, the juxtaposition of the Ghost Faced Mushroom with the Scorching Magic Grass struck Ye Mo as odd. Both enhanced spirit sense, but one was fire element and the other yin element. A water element herb would be needed to complete the concoction.
'Nine-foot sea snake?' Ye Mo mused. Feng Honest had a penchant for collecting them. The snake's beast core, a water element substance, might even surpass typical water element spirit herbs.
"You require a Tan Hua Pill?" Feng Honest confirmed, his tone genuine.
Ye Mo focused. "Yes, but I lack a nine-foot sea snake. Could I compensate with additional spirit stones?"
Feng Honest's face displayed an apologetic smile. "I apologize, but it's necessary. Many of my herbs come from a friend who keeps a spirit beast that enjoys sea snake beast cores…"
While observing Feng Honest, Ye Mo's composure nearly faltered. He saw clearly: Feng Honest was not a Golden Core state level nine cultivator; he was Hollow Spirit state. Without the Three Birth Chant and his initial suspicions, Ye Mo wouldn't have discerned this.
Remembering Yu Baisheng's words, Ye Mo realized Feng Honest might be one of the An Bei Three Demons, explaining his focus on spirit sense recovery pills.
Ye Mo cursed. He hadn't found Fu Rong yet, but he'd already located one of the An Bei demons. He wasn't sure if this was fortunate or unfortunate.
He couldn't reveal any recognition. If Feng Honest suspected anything, escape might prove impossible.
If Feng Honest was an An Bei demon, he undoubtedly knew Fu Rong and was likely already suspicious.
"In that case…" Ye Mo hesitated. "I'll search the deep sea for a nine-foot sea snake."
Feng Honest nodded. Ye Mo quickly added, "I'll return if I find one."
He didn't linger, departing swiftly and only regaining composure after significant distance. He realized his back was drenched in sweat. Even injured, a Hollow Spirit cultivator could easily kill him.
The bitter bamboo held promise, but he needed to survive to enjoy it.
His inquiry about Fu Rong yielded nothing, implying Fu Rong hadn't returned. If Fu Rong had, Ye Mo wouldn't have escaped.
Fu Rong's injuries and Ye Mo's faster flying ship meant Fu Rong likely sought recovery first. Fortunately, Ye Mo hadn't lingered, averting immediate capture.
He had to leave Mo Hai City. With this thought, Ye Mo departed.
Feng Honest watched Ye Mo's hurried retreat, frowning. "He seems terrified and nervous, though I've never seen him before. Fear of Feng Honest in Pei Hai City… this is a first."
Reaching the South Peace City teleportation formation, Ye Mo discovered it operated only four hours daily and had recently closed. He needed to wait a day.
Waiting wasn't an option. If Fu Rong returned and encountered Feng Honest, escape would be impossible. But where could he go?
Besides the teleportation formation, there were boats. Ye Mo reached the docks, securing passage on the last vessel of the day. A twenty thousand top-grade spirit stone ticket wasn't cheap, but insignificant to Ye Mo.
Desperate, he boarded, noting a thirty thousand spirit stone VIP room but dismissing it. He was just grateful to escape.
The ship departed, and Ye Mo finally relaxed. Reaching South Peace City meant safety. Feng Honest's concealed strength and secluded pill-making implied he avoided public appearances.
The voyage to South Peace City took six days, time Ye Mo used to refine blue wen pills and attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core state peak stage. He estimated reaching it upon arrival. Then he would inscribe his name on the trial tablet and await news of Luo Ying and the others.
Four days passed, progress slower than expected using blue wen pills instead of heaven glory pills.
With two days remaining, Ye Mo ceased cultivation, intending to stroll the deck when a commotion erupted. He frowned. The deck seemed unusually crowded. He investigated using his spirit sense.
A bloodied arm fell before him.