chapter 187 To the South Sea! - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

In the valley, only a mere five hundred miles from Peach Mountain, Su Mo took half a day to return. Upon his return, Su Mo decided not to venture out again, instead waiting for the day when Meng Hongshang's pills would be complete. About two days later, around noon, a brilliant auspicious light burst forth from Meng Hongshang's alchemy room, and soon the entirety of Peach Mountain was enveloped in a rich, fragrant scent. This was a vibrant essence, so potent that it caused the nearly withered peach trees to bloom anew. Before long, Meng Hongshang emerged from the alchemy room. Su Mo had already been waiting outside the door. Meng Hongshang appeared jubilant. "Su Mo, for this round of pill-making, I used all of the five-hundred-year-old ginseng, resulting in 365 Ginseng Nine Orifices Pills." "A number that aligns with the cycle of the heavens." "If consumed entirely, you can save 365 years of painstaking cultivation." "Indeed, it's something worth celebrating." With that, Meng Hongshang took Su Mo into the alchemy room. Within the nine-dragon cauldron lay piles of pills emitting a dual-colored glow, densely packed like a cache of pearls. Waves of warm pill fragrance wafted through the room, delighting the senses. Curious, Su Mo picked up a pill. He placed it in his mouth, chewing it slowly. It tasted sweet and bitter, with a surge of robust energy surging through him, even slightly enhancing his Sun Vitality. "Hongshang, will consuming all these Ginseng Nine Orifices Pills really increase your cultivation by over three hundred years?" Meng Hongshang shook her head. "Of course not." "Pills that enhance cultivation typically cause resistance if taken continuously." "The medicinal power must be fully absorbed and the pill toxins expelled." "So, how about we split these pills in half?" "At the very least, you'll be able to reach the level of a wandering immortal or earthly immortal." Having just consumed a pill, Su Mo realized that the Ginseng Nine Orifices Pill was not particularly effective for him. Even consuming a hundred pills couldn’t compare to the benefits of his daily sunbathing. Su Mo then fabricated a tale. "My cultivation method is unique; I have no need for such pills." "It would be wasted on me." "Hongshang, you should keep and use them." Meng Hongshang, thinking Su Mo was merely being polite, replied: "Why are you being so courteous with me?" "My things will be yours eventually." With a charming toss of her hair, Meng Hongshang's allure was irresistible. Su Mo felt his mouth go dry at the sight. "Hongshang, I'm really not just being polite." "Look." With that, Su Mo drew out the True Martial Treasure Sword, gifted by Fei Lingsue. Infusing it with his Sun Vitality, the sword emitted a brilliant sword light, shooting towards a distant peach tree. In the next instant, the tree was nothing but ashes. No, it wasn't ashes. It was as if it vanished from existence altogether! Witnessing this, Meng Hongshang knew she couldn't replicate such a feat. The energy didn't align with mainstream cultivation methods, so she believed Su Mo’s words. In truth, Su Mo had used Chi Xiao. Currently, Chi Xiao had been honed to a level nearly equal to the ancient divine beast, Jin Wu. Not just a simple peach tree, even the whole Peach Mountain could be reduced to molten lava in an instant. At that moment, Meng Hongshang hesitated for a bit but then made up her mind. "I'm about to close off for cultivation." "During this time, I might not be reachable." "You should take this time to return home and handle your affairs." Hearing Meng Hongshang mention continued cultivation, Su Mo felt a pang of helplessness but nodded. "Alright." "May your cultivation be successful." Seeing the slight disappointment in Su Mo’s eyes, Meng Hongshang stepped forward, her lips landing softly on Su Mo’s cheek. Her face flushed with embarrassment. "Don't worry. Just give me some time, okay?" Feeling elated at Meng Hongshang's gesture, Su Mo understood that it meant she had accepted him wholeheartedly. "Hmm, I can." "But a simple kiss alone won’t do." With that, Su Mo leaned in, cupping her enchanting face and kissed her passionately. Not wanting to stop until Meng Hongshang was breathless, Su Mo finally released her. She felt as if floating on clouds until he released her, bringing her back to earth. In these few years, Su Mo had perfected his kissing technique. Meng Hongshang, inexperienced as she was, could hardly compete. "No more talking!" Slightly tipsy on her infatuation, Meng Hongshang stumbled toward the training room with her pills. Watching her retreat, Su Mo, setting aside his reluctance, gazed into the distance. Now, having found Meng Hongshang's senior brother, he needed to prevent any rekindling of past affections, intending to utterly destroy her senior brother. Mounting He Linger, Su Mo journeyed beyond Peach Mountain. Hovering in the sky, He Linger inquired about their next destination. "Master, where to now?" "To the South Sea!" "Yes, Master!" With that, He Linger soared towards the South Sea. The distance to the South Sea was vast; even with He Linger traveling non-stop, it would take three days and nights. Taking advantage of this time, Su Mo immersed his consciousness in the perspective of the Six-Winged Centipede. The centipede soared across the sky, presenting a landscape resembling dragons and tigers—here lay Meng Hongshang’s senior brother's abode. Dragon-Tiger Mountain, Cloudy Cave. It was where Meng Hongshang had been discovered during recon exercises. Without delay, Su Mo compelled the Six-Winged Centipede to charge at the mountain's protective array. The centipede's body, immensely powerful, rivaled the ancient fierce beasts, with a simple flick able to move mountains and alter seas. "Boom!" The collision with the mountain's protective array resulted in violent tremors. Meng Hongshang's senior brother, startled, emerged atop a cloud, wielding a whisk, donned in a cyan dao robe. His slender frame and mature demeanor epitomized an ethereal and refined style. Su Mo couldn't help but marvel. No wonder Meng Hongshang couldn't forget her senior brother. With such an appearance, he likely looked even better in his youth. But her senior brother, collaborating with that woman to create the Withered Green Thread, was no decent individual. Eliminating him would cleanse the world of filth. Seeing the immense, several-hundred-meter-long centipede, the senior brother's eyes widened in shock. Damn it. How did he end up entangled with such a monster? Judging by its aura, it was at least on par with a demon king. With that thought, the senior brother approached the array's edge, saluting the centipede. "I, Qīng Língzi, do not know how I have offended you." "Please, may I know the reason." Su Mo had come to kill, offering no explanations. Controlling the centipede, he continued his assault on the protective array. Booming echoes resounded. The centipede's collision with the array made it precariously unstable, tightening Qīng Língzi's heart. "Since you, sir, are so relentlessly aggressive, I am no pushover!" With those words, Qīng Língzi released two azure-lit flying swords. These swords, forged from the finest metals and nourished in earth fire for forty-nine years, bore a trace of earth fire energy, dealing substantial physical and fire-based damage to foes. The swords darted forth, slicing towards the Six-Winged Centipede. Sparks flew in bursts, like fireworks dancing in the sky. Nevertheless, the centipede's formidable body rendered the swords' attacks ineffective. Its mighty retaliation followed. With a crack, the protective array shattered. Qīng Língzi quickly procured a precious pearl, shielding himself in a halo of azure light, to ward off the centipede’s attacks. But with the array dismantled, the centipede, unimpeded, executed the Blood Divine Art and lunged at Qīng Língzi in a sanguine blur. Piercing his body, the centipede absorbed Qīng Língzi's essence, blood, and spirit, leaving nothing but an empty shell that shattered upon falling. Finally, having dispatched Qīng Língzi, Su Mo exhaled a sigh of relief. As he was about to command the centipede to raid the body and the cave, a slew of white sword lights approached from the horizon. "Wretched beast!" "I shall end you today!" Turning towards the voice, he saw Bai Ningshuang leading a formidable assembly of Sword Immortals from Shushan, surging their way. Su Mo's expression soured. He’d been discovered. So be it. "Run!" Immediately, Su Mo ordered the Six-Winged Centipede to abandon looting the corpse and the cave, making a swift escape towards the Blood Sea. Once submerged there, he could completely conceal himself. At the same time, Bai Ningshuang produced a treasure mirror radiating an intimidating power. "Behold my Haotian Mirror!" In an instant, a white light traversed hundreds of miles, capturing the Six-Winged Centipede in its hold. Su Mo was taken aback. What kind of treasure is this? So immensely powerful! Seeing the Six-Winged Centipede immobilized, Bai Ningshuang sighed in relief. As expected of the Heavenly Emperor’s gifted treasure, the Haotian Mirror wielded immense power. Glancing at the shriveled remains of Qing Lingzi, Bai Ningshuang sighed and instructed her disciple, Jiang Xuan. "Xuan’er, bury this Taoist's body. If there’s anything worthwhile in the cave, take it." Jiang Xuan nodded quietly, a glint of excitement in her eyes. This was an advantageous task. "Yes, Master!" Swiftly, Jiang Xuan descended to the ground, beginning to collect Qing Lingzi's remains. Meanwhile, Bai Ningshuang turned to the accompanying Shushan Sword Immortals. "Dear disciples, those who have cultivated the Blood Divine Art can be elusive—whether cultivators or creatures alike. Be vigilant and avoid contamination by the demonic nature of blood magic." "Once influenced by its malice, you will become enslaved by that centipede, a terrifying fate." "The previous emergence of the Blood Divine Art led countless orthodox practitioners astray, becoming mindless 'blood corpses.'" Bai Ningshuang was the only one among them who had previously experienced the turmoil of the Blood Demon. Her words naturally commanded respect, instilling a heightened sense of caution. As they closed in, the Haotian Mirror’s effect intensified. Initially, the Six-Winged Centipede could struggle, but now it was immobilized, unable to move an inch. However, maintaining the Haotian Mirror required immense magical energy. Suppressing the fatigue of depleted energy, Bai Ningshuang instructed, "Everyone, deploy the Heaven and Earth Net to bind it and seal it within the Demon Suppressing Tower." "Yes!" Everyone promptly pulled out a pearl infused with peculiar power, directing them at the Six-Winged Centipede. The pearls emitted web-like threads, quickly intertwining to form a net, ensnaring the centipede. Seeing the centipede securely bound, Bai Ningshuang, drained of magical energy, slowly lowered the Haotian Mirror. Bereft of the mirror’s light, the Six-Winged Centipede began a fierce struggle, nearly breaking the Heaven and Earth Net. Alarmed, Bai Ningshuang hastily hurled numerous talismans at the centipede. These talismans, similar to Su Mo’s seal, served to restrain power, albeit less effective—mere fractions of Su Mo’s capability. But sheer quantity sufficed. With talismans clinging to its surface, the centipede’s struggles lessened, easing the net’s strain. Soon, the group hoisted the Six-Winged Centipede and headed for Shushan. Observing them capturing the centipede, Su Mo realized he was too far to intervene, contemplating potential opportunities to rescue the centipede later. Given its robust physique from cultivating the Blood Divine Art, even tribulations couldn't destroy it. Thus, Su Mo wasn't concerned about Shushan obliterating the centipede. As Yuluo Niang reverted to her human form, resting in Su Mo's embrace, her delicate feet playfully swayed. "Master, what’s troubling you?" Holding the beauty in his arms, Su Mo felt his worries fade. "Nothing significant—just the Six-Winged Centipede was captured by Shushan." "For now, there’s no issue. I’ll seek an opportunity to free it from the Lock Demon Tower at Shushan." Hearing about the centipede’s capture, Yuluo Niang expressed concern. "Master, are you sure it’s fine?" "Absolutely, no worries." Yuluo Niang, seeing his reassurance, coyly traced her lips with a finger. "Master, allow me to ease your mind." She then emerged from Su Mo's embrace... Throughout, He Linger, burdened by the intermittent sounds from her back, felt vexed. Ah, that spider spirit! Drenching my feathers! ... Three days later, they arrived at the South Sea. Reaching an isolated shore, Su Mo had He Linger land. The coast, fringed with coconut groves, offered ideal concealment. Su Mo had no intention of visiting Luojia Mountain. Instead, he stood on the shore, mind deep in meditation. Sensing this, Yuluo Niang transformed into a small spider, burrowing into Su Mo's scalp. Soon, a benevolent light flickered, heralding Miaoshan, clad in monastic robes, arriving at the beach. Upon seeing her, Su Mo immediately approached. "You came." Miaoshan, delighted at seeing Su Mo, leapt into his arms. In Su Mo's presence, she wasn't Guanyin but Miaoshan, free to be herself. "Husband, I didn't expect you to visit so soon." “Naturally. Let me guess.” “Is it the desire to meet Chang'e, yet being unsure how to reach the moon?” Su Mo, unfazed by being discovered, responded openly. "Indeed, you understand me, Miaoshan." "Can you tell me how to reach the moon?" Miaoshan chuckled gently. "The Sun and the Moon were sealed in ancient times, now even the supreme Heavenly Emperor cannot reach them." "But if you wish to see Chang'e, you needn't be fixated on going to the moon." Su Mo's eyes lit up. "How so?" "Chang'e resides in Da Shang now. You should be able to find her quickly if you go there." (End of Chapter)