The toad poison beast devoured four or five meters of soil from the valley before reluctantly getting up to leave, beginning its search for the next Blessed Land Cave Heaven.
Its size once again increased, and the Qinghong Workshop expanded the town on its back accordingly.
The cultivators were somewhat puzzled—why could a mere budding Blessed Land Cave Heaven benefit a poison beast so profoundly?
They were unaware of the near-imperceptible innate essence lingering in the valley.
The aid of innate essence is indescribable; even the Taoist sect calls it Emperor’s Liquid, a spiritual material capable of utterly transforming living beings.
Hints of this could be seen in the farmers who had passed through the valley.
These farmers were typically the lower class of the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop, usually newcomers to the town who had only recently begun their initial beast-head replacement as Acquired Martial Artists.
Simply by staying in the valley, their progress in inner refining advanced significantly.
However, poison cultivators paid little attention to mortals, and the You Pavilion never cared about martial artists, so the anomaly of the innate essence was left unexplored.
No matter Innate or Acquired, all were called "Poison Martial Artists" within the Qinghong Workshop, and their numbers totaled roughly over twenty thousand.
The town shook violently as a fog-like array enveloped the back of the poison beast.
This was mainly to prevent the beast’s movements from destroying the Qinghong Workshop, as the fierce Gang Winds were not something low-level cultivators could withstand.
The toad poison beast shook its head, flexed its legs, and leaped into the air, instantly spanning several miles before disappearing before the loose cultivators’ eyes.
Though loose cultivators often engaged in mutual scheming, they maintained a degree of restraint.
After all, Qinghong Workshop’s greatest value wasn’t just the Blessed Land Cave Heaven but also the poison cultivation heritage, which was vital to families with fragmented magical legacies.
They watched as the toad poison beast vanished, only waiting for the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop to reappear.
As soon as the beast stopped moving, spies would immediately inform them of the workshop’s new location, drawing swarms of opportunists.
"Interesting, building a sect on a moving giant beast—what a clever idea."
Li Mo leaned against the window of the second floor of Miao Shou Inn, marveling as he observed the desolate street below.
In his memory, only certain forces in the Endless Star Sea of the ancient Cultivation World would refine island mountain gates into crude magic artifacts, using arrays to keep them adrift atop the ocean.
In this way, the islands were akin to giant fishing boats, able to harvest resources from afar.
"Could it be that the Twelfth Senior Sister’s It Corpse has regained lucidity?"
Li Mo glanced at his Corpse Immortal Finger, but no matter how he looked, there was no trace of unusual activity. It was nearly impossible for a corpse dissolution immortal body to give birth to a soul.
The Mountain Demon scurried excitedly across the rooftops; to it, Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop was like a paradise.
The pus-filled sacs on the back of the toad poison beast pulsated lightly, constantly secreting poisonous smoke.
The array indeed blocked the Gang Wind, but it also prevented air circulation, causing the poison smoke to accumulate and creating a suffocating environment.
The Mountain Demon panted heavily, its cultivation already at the Second Layer of Puberty.
Li Mo flicked a small stone at the Mountain Demon’s head. It dared not cause any more commotion and obediently slipped back inside, fiddling with various poisonous creatures.
The Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop gradually stabilized, and mortals began appearing on the streets.
"With the righteousness of the year, under the mandate of the month, let all be compliant... brothers unite in purpose to achieve..."
The Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop had existed for only a few decades, yet the mortals had already developed unique customs. Whenever the poisonous smoke sealed off the mountain gate, they would celebrate new life with songs and blessings.
Li Mo shook his head slightly.
If the array stored the poison smoke for half a year, it would be optimal for poison martial artists to cultivate. However, if it lasted any longer, it could endanger lives.
Should it accumulate for more than two years without precautionary measures, even the flesh and bones of poison martial artists would rot into pus over time.
Fortunately, the toad poison beast traveled quickly, typically stopping within half a year.
Li Mo had already instructed Tian Changwen to send people to other Qinghong Workshops, primarily to investigate the Twelve Immortals’ arrangements.
Unfortunately, most poison beasts’ whereabouts were unpredictable, and there were restrictions on entering Qinghong Workshops.
Take the "White Muddiness" Qinghong Workshop, for example. It was said that even the poisonous creatures there were like maggots, and any cultivator who approached the poison beast’s vicinity would experience insectification of their body.
Tian Changwen had also suggested dispatching Core Formation Cultivators from Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop.
Li Mo outright rejected the idea.
Miao Shou Inn and the tavern combined housed only a dozen or so people. Should danger arise, he could simply use the No-Life God Statue to escape. Larger numbers would only deplete spiritual power and lead to chaos.
Han Cai’s call interrupted his thoughts as a shadow crawled into the room from the ceiling, dropping down beside Li Mo, suspended upside-down.
"Master Han, is there any progress regarding the Poison Clothing Technique?"
Han Cai hesitated before smiling wryly. "How should I put this? Some affiliated martial pavilions of the You Pavilion are willing to teach basic martial arts."
"Their Poison Clothing Technique wasn’t obtained from the You Pavilion; it’s something they independently developed as external power—somewhat similar yet distinct."
Compared to the freely granted inner strength inheritance, the Jinhong You Pavilion only released fifty external power slots every hundred days, mainly to prevent the over-proliferation of poison cultivators, which might lead to power factions breaking away from control.
Instead, he reaffirmed one thing: the You Pavilion absolutely wasn’t backed by the Twelve Immortals; otherwise, it wouldn’t be so defensive against independent practitioner forces.
"Alright, have them brought to the rear courtyard of the Skillful Hands Inn."
After about half an hour,
a number of Innate Poison Martial Artists had gathered in the rear courtyard. Most were already past fifty and greeted Han Cai obsequiously with ingratiating smiles.
To medium-to-large forces, the Four Seas Commerce was entirely insignificant.
To loose cultivators, however, the Four Seas Commerce, backed by the Sub-Device Sect, was a colossal entity with footprints in over a dozen black markets across the Cultivation World.
The influence of the Four Seas Commerce was immense, evident in its exclusive authorization of a single storefront to the Skillful Hands Inn in the entire Jinhong Youguan-managed district.
No one dared to offend it.
Li Mo sat cross-legged by the wall, while the Mountain Demon watched the poison martial artists with great interest.
After Han Cai departed, leaving the poison martial artists trembling in silence, they gazed at Li Mo with apprehension.
A moment later, Li Mo opened his eyes.
Fixing his gaze on the poison martial artists, he readily discerned the plight of the scattered cultivator forces.
The leading poison martial artist stepped forward. He was over a hundred years old, likely a figure of significant repute among mortals, though he was visibly intimidated by Li Mo.
Li Mo’s eyes flickered with a strange light.
The assembled poison martial artists all had at least twenty to thirty years of martial foundations.
It was likely they’d trained extensively in the mortal realm, each a famed figure in the Jianghu, yet they had come here solely to pursue immortality.
"Immortal Master, I am Lin Zong, the instructor of Jinhua Martial Arts School, affiliated with the independent practitioner family stationed at the Tree Mountain Black Market under your chamber of commerce."
"You’re from an independent practitioner family?"
"Yes, Immortal Master. I was originally the sect leader of the Yuan Mountain Sect in Jinzhou. I’ve practiced martial arts since childhood and was later referred here by West Pond Mountain."
Lin Zong’s voice became slightly louder when mentioning his mortal identity.
"What is this Poison Clothing Technique?"
"Immortal Master, the inner strength is Jinhong You Pavilion’s Void Wind Pointing, while we jointly devised the external power, which differs from the You Pavilion’s but is not weaker."
The other poison martial artists chimed in one after another.
"Master Lin’s reputation is well-deserved; eighty percent of the credit goes to you."
"We’re nowhere near as talented as Master Lin."
Though Lin Zong was under immense pressure from Li Mo, his voice carried a trace of pride.
The Poison Clothing Technique was labeled as martial arts, but its core lay in magical skills. The fact that they had managed to develop external power on their own demonstrated extraordinary comprehension abilities.
Li Mo’s gaze fell upon Lin Zong’s arms. His skin had taken on a scaly appearance, with blood continually oozing and joints frozen solid.
The other poison martial artists showed similar signs of mutation.
In attempting to use self-created external power to break into the Innate Realm, they were unaware the mutation was already eating away at their flesh, and they were destined to become mindless monsters in time.
"Immortal Master, if possible, could you recommend us to the You Pavilion for a chance..."
Li Mo interrupted curtly, "Each of you, demonstrate your techniques. Afterward, collect your Spirit Stones from Doctor Han."
The poison martial artists exchanged looks of resignation.
Lin Zong’s expression betrayed some discontent. He wanted to plead on behalf of his peers for an entry into Tao, but fear sapped his courage to speak.
Despite the rudimentary nature of the self-created external powers, they had taken tremendous effort and life-threatening risks to develop under great tribulations.
If not for their pursuit of Tao, Lin Zong would never willingly relinquish his external power inheritance.
"Thank you, Immortal Master."
Lin Zong cupped his fists in a difficult salute and began demonstrating his technique with vigor.
He thought to himself, "I will prove to the Four Seas Commerce that even mortal martial artists are not inferior to poison cultivators."
Lin Zong maneuvered within a small area, swiftly shifting stance and swinging his arm like a blade. His bulging muscles emitted faint traces of poison smoke.
"Void Wind Pointing imitates the Mountain Lord’s tail, manifesting wind through a tiger’s might."
As his left arm mutated further, dense tiger fur sprouted. Lin Zong let out a muffled grunt as his bones fractured into two or three dozen pieces.
The Mountain Demon widened its eyes, pounding its head in an attempt to memorize Lin Zong’s movements.
Li Mo retrieved a Bodhi Fruit and tossed it into the Mountain Demon’s mouth. The little creature smacked its lips in delight, savoring the taste as it continued to fixate on Lin Zong.
The left arm lashed like a whip; his knees bent as his palm struck the ground.
A half-meter-wide pit appeared.
Lin Zong, pale-faced, closed his eyes to recuperate. His bones gradually knit back together under the effects of poisonous qi, though they were riddled with cracks.
"Not bad. Although the follow-up is lacking, its power rivals the Second Layer of Puberty."
"Thank you for your praise, Immortal Master."
Lin Zong trembled all over. To earn Li Mo’s approval, he had poured every ounce of his effort into his demonstration, nearly causing his inner strength to collapse.
The other poison martial artists looked on with concern at Lin Zong.
Lin Zong was essentially the leader of the poison martial artists in the Jinhong Youguan district. Setting aside factional disputes, their fortunes rose and fell together.
"Immortal Master, the details of the external power are recorded in this manual; I offer it to you."
Lin Zong carefully produced a bloodstained manual, only to hear Li Mo say, "No need; it has already learned."
Lin Zong’s pupils constricted as he quickly realized that Li Mo was referring to the Mountain Demon.
He felt a bit at a loss. The external power he had painstakingly created over ten long years, something he took immense pride in, was merely handed down to an animal?
The Mountain Demon flipped into the courtyard, extending its arms as its bones snapped and cracked.
It began performing forms. Though a bit clumsy at first, it quickly became proficient. In just a few minutes, it surpassed Lin Zong’s demonstration.
"H-how is this possible?"
Lin Zong staggered backward, collapsing to the ground in disarray.
His spirit was utterly crushed.