Chapter 33

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"Second Brother." Seeing Chen Mo open the door, Helian Huowu greeted him.

"Wu'er, is there something?" Chen Mo asked. After several days of closed-door cultivation, Helian Huowu had shown great concern for him but had not disturbed him. Her sudden visit must mean something.

Helian Huowu, with a mysterious air, said, "The clan martial competition has been announced, and the rewards are very generous."

Hearing about the rewards, Chen Mo's interest was piqued. Although he was not confident about standing out in the clan competition, he did not want to miss the opportunity. The current shortage of cultivation resources had made him very eager. Without much thought, he immediately asked, "What are the rewards?"

"The first prize is three thousand gold notes..."

"Three thousand gold notes?" Chen Mo interrupted in surprise before Helian Huowu could finish. He knew that three thousand gold notes could buy many Small Spirit Gathering Pills. With three thousand gold notes, he could buy some first-grade pills, which would also be possible.

After a moment of calculation, Chen Mo asked, "What else?"

Seeing his eager expression, Helian Huowu covered her mouth and giggled, then continued, "There is also a Pulse Nourishing Pill." She emphasized the last three words as if afraid he might not hear clearly.

"Wu'er, did you say a Pulse Nourishing Pill?" Chen Mo jumped up. That was...

"Yes, a Pulse Nourishing Pill," Helian Huowu said solemnly. "Second Brother, you definitely didn't hear wrong."

Chen Mo's face turned serious. He thought to himself, "If I can get the Pulse Nourishing Pill, can't my elder brother's damaged meridians be treated?"

Helian Huowu could guess his thoughts. After his elder brother became disabled, the family had fallen into decline. Restoring his elder brother to normal was now his top priority.

Looking at the contemplative Chen Mo, she continued, "Second Brother, there's more. There's another very important reward."

"More? What else?" Chen Mo, coming out of his thoughts, asked with great surprise. It seemed the clan was taking this competition very seriously.

Helian Huowu crossed her arms, deliberately prolonging the suspense, and said, "Hmm..."

At this moment, Chen Mo clearly wanted to know more. The two rewards she had mentioned had already excited him. He urged, "Wu'er, tell me quickly."

"The most important reward is that the first-place winner can choose any mystic technique from the clan's scripture hall and receive personal guidance from the clan head or another elder," Helian Huowu said, deliberately raising her voice.

Chen Mo, as if unsure, repeated, "Choose any mystic technique, and personal guidance from the clan head? Wouldn't that mean I could learn the Chen family's clan mystic technique?"

"Exactly."

To be personally guided by the clan head meant recognition by the clan. Who could achieve such an honor would surely rise to prominence. Others might also want it, but he was more eager than anyone else, including the other rewards.

'Becoming first' was no easy task. Chen Mo was very clear about his current strength. Even with the help of the young plant, his cultivation was faster and more refined than ordinary people, but the shortage of cultivation resources was a significant obstacle. Even a skilled housewife couldn't cook without rice.

The Great Brightness Divine Formula, although powerful and with great growth potential, was still only at the first level.

Helian Huowu, as if seeing through his doubts, placed her jade finger in her sleeve and took out a delicate milky white porcelain bottle, presenting it with both hands. "Second Brother, I know you've been working hard lately. Here are three Small Spirit Gathering Pills for you."

Chen Mo, who had been excited, felt a pang of sadness at her gesture. She had given him most of the few pills she had left. As a brother, he felt deeply indebted to her.

"Wu'er, you..." Chen Mo began, but she quickly placed the jade bottle down and said, "Second Brother, I need to go cultivate. See you later."

Without waiting for Chen Mo's reaction, she turned and ran off, leaving only a faint silhouette that quickly disappeared.

For a moment, Chen Mo was overwhelmed with emotion. He clenched his fist and made a firm resolve. He must obtain the pills as soon as possible and regain all the lost glory in this clan competition. If he could win first place, it would not just be the rewards. It would also attract the clan head's attention, making it harder for Chen Dewei to act against him.

At least, before resolving his own issues, he would not dare to harm his family again.

Holding the jade bottle tightly, he knew winning first place would not be easy. Including Chen Xuan, there were several peers who had reached the peak of the Spirit Apprentice stage.

Even though the young leaves in his consciousness sea no longer consumed his mystic energy in large quantities, breaking through in a short time was still challenging. A few Small Spirit Gathering Pills were far from enough.

Most importantly, to win first place, he had to pass Chen Xuan. Only reaching the peak of the Spirit Apprentice stage would barely qualify him.

This year, the family's spirit rice harvest was bountiful, and after providing for the family, there would be some gold left. But he couldn't drain the family's last resources like a bloodsucker.

After much thought, he decided to use this. Chen Mo took out the jade box containing the Cold Spirit Grass. Even if it wasn't for the clan competition, he needed to advance quickly. With strength, he could solve one problem after another.

He made a rough plan, disguised himself, and immediately set off for Heavy Mystic City.

......

Heavy Mystic City was about three hundred miles away. With Chen Mo at the mid-stage Spirit Apprentice level and able to use the Willow Fluff Body Technique, he arrived after a long and dusty half-day journey. The journey was arduous, and he stopped several times to catch his breath, using the breaks to practice the Willow Fluff Body Technique.

Returning to the grand Heavy Mystic City, Chen Mo felt a slight sense of nostalgia. The last time, his uncle had brought him here, and now things were different.

At the city gate, several clan guards suddenly ran out from the city, and the crowd quickly made way. The leader, holding a yellow notice, looked serious. Pushing aside a sickly-looking youth, he walked briskly to the city wall.

The youth, though frail in appearance, moved steadily and easily avoided the guard, sliding away like he was on ice. He stopped gracefully, standing aside with a casual air.

He wore a simple blue robe, a black silk belt around his waist, and a white cloak over it. Though his figure was lean, his sallow face gave him a malnourished and inexperienced look, far from his usual handsome and refined appearance.

Seeing the hurried clan guards, he deduced that something significant must be happening in the city. He stopped and watched.

The notice was unfolded, and a scholar-like man read it aloud, "The city lord's daughter, who recently accompanied a hunting trip in the suburbs, suddenly felt unwell upon returning to the city, showing signs of poisoning. A public announcement is made that anyone who can cure her will receive a reward of fifty thousand gold notes." The crowd murmured and discussed the matter.

The words "fifty thousand gold notes" caused a stir, including Chen Mo.

Heavy Mystic City was indeed wealthy, and it was clear the city lord loved his daughter dearly. "She's not just a daughter; she's worth a fortune," the youth muttered. Seeing the reward, his eyes lit up with hope. He thought that if he could cure her and receive the generous reward, it would bring much benefit.

But considering that the city lord's daughter was poisoned, many famous doctors and masters must have already tried and failed. He had some skills, but he dared not claim he could cure her. Moreover, the city lord was Qu Xinghe, a powerful figure who had already sought help in vain. He dared not take the risk lightly.

Turning to enter the city, he walked through the bustling streets without lingering. He headed straight to a pharmacy, taking a quick look around.

The three golden characters "Xuan Dan Pavilion" were written in a powerful and elegant style, clearly the work of a master. The red wooden door with two golden locks had been there for many years, and the high-quality red wood signboard highlighted the uniqueness of Xuan Dan Pavilion.

Xuan Dan Pavilion handled everything from purchasing to selling, and people from all over the region came here to trade.

Just as he was about to step in, a figure flew out of the shop, heading straight for him. Chen Mo, quick on his feet, caught the man by the back and stepped back two steps to stabilize himself. He then saw that the man was a middle-aged man, clearly injured.

The man, in pain, supported himself, holding his chest and spitting out a mouthful of blood. Before Chen Mo could ask what happened, a white figure appeared from inside the shop, leaping into the air with a powerful palm strike. The transparent, water-like force was beautiful but deadly.

With no time to dodge, he had to block it.

He straightened his spine, and a powerful force surged through his feet, causing the stone steps, an inch thick, to crack and collapse. His toes sank into the gaps, and he stood firm like a thousand-year-old pine.

Chen Mo's mystic energy ignited, surging to his arms and concentrating in his fists. The greenish-blue energy, like a burst of flame, combined with the force of his arms, clashed with the transparent 'water column.'

Bang!

The fist and palm collided.

The surrounding area was hit by the shockwave, and dust flew.

The attacker was surprised. The sickly-looking youth in front of him had blocked his half-strength attack. Moreover, he had used a low-grade mystic technique.

Chen Mo also paused, looking coldly at the white-clad youth, who was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a slightly arrogant demeanor and a few followers behind him.

The followers, seeing the situation, were eager to act. One of them, dressed in green, stood out, clearly not an ordinary person. The white-clad youth raised his hand to stop them, examining Chen Mo. Despite his rough appearance, his eyes showed a hint of vitality.

Uncertain of his background, the youth frowned and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing at Xuan Dan Pavilion?"

Chen Mo, there to sell spirit grass and prepare for the clan competition in three months, did not want to cause trouble. He replied calmly, "I am Xuanyuan Mo. I was attacked and instinctively defended myself. I came here to sell a spirit grass and exchange it for some pills."

Xuanyuan was Chen Mo's mother's surname, and he had adopted it as a pseudonym after disguising himself.

......

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