CHAPTER 330: CHAPTER 76: THE MOUNTAIN DEMON TAKES A DISCIPLE

"You all come together. Let’s not waste time."

Li Mo spoke indifferently. The Poison Martial Artists exchanged glances before biting their lips and stepping into the courtyard center to demonstrate their external powers.

It was clear that the martial arts of Jinhong You Pavilion focused heavily on the metamorphosis of their arms.

The beast heads were all Mountain Lords. When they channeled their inner power poison gas, pus and blood seeped from their necks, signaling that their bodies were already on the brink of collapse.

They sparred against each other, and for a moment, poison gas surged everywhere.

Li Mo’s thoughts stirred slightly.

The Poison Martial Artists failed to notice the minuscule, invisible White Bone Spiders, crawling from their nasal cavities into the depths of their brains.

The Medical Divine Power digested the nutrients from the Poison Clothing Technique, seemingly on the verge of triggering a dramatic transformation.

Meanwhile, the Mountain Demon excitedly leaped and bounded, its Spirit Root having completed a third of its restoration, with every move encircled by poison-attribute spiritual power.

With the support of the Bodhi Fruit, it quickly imitated the moves, becoming remarkably lifelike.

Not to mention a dozen individuals, even a hundred would be no issue.

Lin Zong’s breathing grew labored as he noticed the Mountain Demon’s movements becoming increasingly intricate and unpredictable. After just half an hour, its complexity simplified into something utterly inscrutable.

Move after move, the Mountain Demon’s body continuously underwent mutation.

Li Mo let out a few sinister chuckles. With its mastery of martial arts, it wouldn’t take long for the Mountain Demon to become his top enforcer.

Previously, the Mountain Demon’s use of its deformities was crude and entirely governed by instinct.

Now, combined with the Poison Clothing Technique, it resembled Sun Monkey’s fabled seventy-two transformations—though the martial arts it had absorbed remained somewhat shallow.

Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop was an opportunity for the Mountain Demon to undergo a complete metamorphosis.

While martial arts were no match for Magic, they nonetheless had been refined through generations of Martial Artists’ legacies and retained their own merits.

The Mountain Demon absorbed its essence, having already found its own path.

Lin Zong’s face turned ashen.

When all the Poison Martial Artists ceased, the Mountain Demon’s techniques had transcended his understanding, its moves smooth and effortless.

"The Mountain Demon is the Immortal Master’s spirit beast. Its remarkable comprehension is only natural."

He muttered self-consolingly, his years of martial practice all but shattered.

The Poison Martial Artists collectively realized that the external powers they had presumed to possess the beginnings of Magic were nothing but insignificant tricks in the eyes of the Immortal Master.

Attempting to reach enlightenment through Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop was mere fantasy.

They stared at their increasingly deformed arms and the Mountain Lord heads of their companions, a despair too profound for words grew within their hearts.

Some wailed like forlorn children; others remained silent, their faces devoid of life.

The Mountain Demon, now playful, pulled out one of its ribs and began executing a stick technique, its cultivation smoothly advancing to the Third Layer of Puberty.

Mind you, it still hadn’t mastered the technique to absorb spiritual energy, and its Acquired Spirit Root was far from restored—its cultivation relied solely on instinct.

Lin Zong lowered his head and stood up. "Thank you, Immortal Master. This humble one takes his leave."

His eyes clouded, his gait resembling that of an aged man on the brink of death, his longing for enlightenment utterly extinguished.

"Ah wa wa."

The Mountain Demon displayed a playful expression, jumping onto Lin Zong’s shoulders.

Lin Zong dared not resist, allowing the Mountain Demon to use him as if he were a tree branch, swinging about, his mind blank, unsure of what he was thinking.

"Wa wa waa."

The Mountain Demon nodded in satisfaction, gesturing toward Lin Zong while chirping incessantly at Li Mo.

Li Mo’s expression turned subtle as he retracted the White Bone Spiders and gestured for the Mountain Demon to handle it independently, closing his eyes to digest the information from the Poison Clothing Technique.

"Immortal Master, this humble one..."

Lin Zong had just begun pleading when the Mountain Demon’s scorpion-shaped tail directly pierced his brow, injecting him with a scorching toxic liquid.

"Ugh ugh ugh."

He convulsed uncontrollably while the other Poison Martial Artists dared not express their indignation.

A Poison Martial Artist pleaded, "Immortal Master, we truly meant no offense. Please spare Lin Zong’s pitiful life."

Li Mo paid no heed, pulling out the Jade Gourd from his waist and sealing the surrounding poisonous smoke within the Magical Artifact.

This left the Poison Martial Artists in a dilemma, caught between advancing and retreating.

At that moment, Lin Zong’s aura began to surge wildly. His arms became covered in a layer of blackish-brown monkey fur while his head swelled, oozing brain marrow liquid.

He felt as if he was being roasted alive, his flesh and blood writhing in agony.

Soon, the structures of his arms underwent earth-shaking changes—the bones grew denser, lengthening to reach his knees, bearing some resemblance to those of a monkey.

The stitched-up scars on his neck gradually healed, and the Mountain Lord head startlingly mutated into a ferocious Monkey head in the blink of an eye.

The Mountain Demon released Lin Zong, finding his new appearance hilarious, clutching its stomach as it rolled on the ground.

"I..."

Lin Zong opened his eyes.

He instinctively channeled his inner poison energy, only to find it flowed seamlessly into his arms. His muscles swelled, and the cries of monkeys echoed at the edge of his ears.

Lin Zong swung his elongated arms, performing the Void Wind Pointing technique. The courtyard erupted with shockwaves, the air filled with a continuous roar.

Compared to the moves from moments ago, these now felt entirely innate.

Lin Zong experienced no hint of discordance between internal and external power, reveling in the sensation so much that he clenched his back teeth, breaking off several.

"I did it!!!"

He shouted under his breath as poison energy nourished his body from within.

Threads of spiritual energy were drawn into him, entering through his Heavenly Spirit Cover, circulating his decayed body in a full cycle before accumulating in the watery depths of his abdomen.

"Phew."

Lin Zong let out a long exhale, his cultivation already at the First Level of Puberty.

"I beseech the immortal family to guide this humble one into enlightenment."

The Poison Martial Artists realized Lin Zong had been granted immortal fate, falling to their knees in unison, fervently kowtowing, with cracking sounds of bone echoing from the ground.

Li Mo shook his head and said, "It has nothing to do with me."

Though he entertained thoughts of refining the Poison Martial Artists in hopes of uncovering the intricacies of the Poison Clothing Technique, he still planned to observe for a few more days.

However, the Mountain Demon unexpectedly took a liking to Lin Zong, directly altering his body’s structure through mutation, allowing him to wield Void Wind Pointing more effectively.

Lin Zong snapped out of his daze, glancing around as if awakening from a dream.

He quickly approached the Mountain Demon, and to everyone’s astonishment, respectfully performed a disciple’s bow, his eyes filled with reverence.

"Teacher above, accept your pupil Lin Zong’s bow."

The Mountain Demon scratched its head.

Its Spiritual Wisdom was insufficient to comprehend the concept of master and disciple, merely regarding Lin Zong’s gesture as akin to monkey offspring paying tribute at the mountain gate.

The Mountain Demon handed a rib to Lin Zong, thereby tacitly recognizing his identity as a kindred spirit.

Lin Zong remained silent, taking the rib while allowing the Mountain Demon to climb atop his head. He bowed to the other Poison Martial Artists and spoke.

"Brothers of Jianghu, the mountains are vast and the roads distant. Having entered enlightenment through the immortal beast, I, Lin Zong, will serve my teacher without question."

The Poison Martial Artists felt that Lin Zong’s decision was entirely reasonable.

They had forsaken wealth and status and turned into beings neither man nor ghost, all to seek enlightenment—they could not afford to be choosy.

Many sought to follow the Mountain Demon, but the latter remained unmoved.

Li Mo’s mouth twitched.

He had already entertained the idea of establishing a martial pavilion. Poison Clothing Technique intrigued him due to its reliance on subconscious breath manipulation, a highly ingenious approach.

To study it deeply would require extensive surgery.

Li Mo had planned to have Li Baoquan recruit decrepit elders and select a few individuals from the Four Seas Commerce to manage the pavilion.

Unexpectedly, the Mountain Demon had taken the initiative to pass down its teachings.

Li Mo chuckled bitterly and decided to leave the Poison Martial Artists’ training to the Mountain Demon—it could use the opportunity to hone its own techniques.

"Though the Mountain Demon is merely my spirit beast, Lin Zong, you can clearly see its martial arts are sufficient to guide you."

"Immortal, Lin Zong understands the principle of a master being defined by capability."

Li Mo extended his hand, and the rib in Lin Zong’s possession landed in his palm. Sprinkling Spiritual Material Powder onto the rib, he forged it into a Magical Artifact in an instant.

"This Mid-grade Magical Artifact White Bone Stick shall serve as a greeting gift."

Under the influence of Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop, Lin Zong understood the value of a Mid-grade Magical Artifact and deeply grasped the terrifying profundity of Li Mo’s Divine Skills.

Li Mo waved dismissively and said, "You may leave. Once the martial pavilion at Four Seas Commerce is established, you can return if you wish to contest for immortal fate."

The Poison Martial Artists departed from the courtyard one by one, regretting not seizing the chance for enlightenment.

This practice session was clearly an assessment—there was no way the Immortal would regard Poison Clothing Technique highly.

As for Lin Zong and his martial pavilion, he directly sent word to disband his disciples, devoting himself fully to training at Skillful Hands Inn.

On regular days, Lin Zong helped the shop clerks with menial tasks.

He did not know how to cultivate during the First Level of Puberty, but he refrained from disturbing Li Mo, instead spending any spare time perfecting Void Wind Pointing and stick techniques.

Four Seas Commerce, through Li Baoquan, had already established connections with various Independent Practitioner Forces.

Because the matter involved enlightenment, none of them opted to publicize it, leaving Jinhong You Pavilion oblivious to the undercurrents within its governed district.

Li Mo refrained from further interference, remaining inside to study the Poison Clothing Technique.

He discovered that the Poison Clothing Technique was an incredibly unique Body Refining Technique—strictly speaking, it was a derivative cultivation method from the Poison System.

"So that’s how it is..."

"In theory, the Poison Clothing Technique should be treated as a procedure. Perhaps Divine Skills can derive a similar Magic Technique."

Li Mo realized the need to acquire more Poison Clothing Techniques and decided to split his consciousness to participate in surgeries at Skillful Hands Inn, controlling countless White Bone Spiders.

As soon as patients lay in the inner room for decapitation by the doctor’s hand, the White Bone Spiders would burrow into their nasal cavities.

While modifying the brain, Li Mo would refine the inner powers of Iron Thorns Unstable Finger, discerning the brain’s influence on the arm regions.

Occasionally, Li Baoquan would bring in elderly individuals in their seventies and eighties. After surgery, they would leave Skillful Hands Inn with heartfelt gratitude and utmost discretion.

Within a hundred days, the Medical Divine Power experienced a transformation.

Li Mo wielded his Divine Skill.

[Bone Penetrating Poisonous Finger Surgery]

[Designed to transmit Bone Penetrating Poisonous Finger, requiring brain modification as the core, paired with blood and flesh toxin, with the decay of internal organs ensuring success.]

Li Mo found himself dissatisfied; the current Magic Techniques derived from Medical Divine Power were only suitable for mortals, far from meeting his expectations.

"To grasp Nascent Soul Techniques, I’ll likely need to deal with the Four Great You Pavilion first."

"Jinhong You Pavilion shall be my starting point."

Li Mo’s eyes flickered, carrying a faint sense of danger in his gaze.

He sent a mental message to Han Cai, prompting Four Seas Commerce to immediately begin preparations for the martial pavilion, garnering widespread support from almost all Independent Practitioner Forces.

Li Mo did not act hastily, patiently awaiting the complete restoration of the Mountain Demon’s Acquired Spirit Root while using small amounts of cancer cells to investigate the Pavilion Master’s circumstances.

During this time, the Mountain Demon, driven entirely by its whims, accepted three more peculiar disciples, assuming an unmistakable Monkey King demeanor.

What Li Mo hadn’t predicted was that the Pavilion Master of Jinhong You Pavilion would explode into chaos ahead of schedule.