Divine Transcendence

Chapter 177: Cuckoo occupying the magpie’s nest

It was already two days later when Yuan Ming returned to the sect.

Instead of going directly to his residence, Yuan Ming first went to the Fire Refining Hall.

"Junior Brother Yuan, you’ve been away for too long recently. Many of the tasks in the Fire Refining Hall have been left vacant. I’m afraid your contribution points are not enough." Senior Brother Fang Ge’s face turned serious when he saw Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming knew that Senior Brother Fang Ge was always fair and his words were not meant to trouble him, but rather out of his duty and concern for him.

After all, not participating in the daily tasks of the sect for a long time would not only result in no contribution points being received, but also deductions from the existing contribution points.

The sect does not support idle people.

"Senior Brother Fang Ge, I’ve been itching to go out because of the White Deer Summit Alliance. I’ve been focusing on cultivation and neglected the tasks here, causing Senior Brother to worry. But rest assured, I have also done many other tasks and have some contribution points." Yuan Ming smiled and said.

"You handle it yourself, I’m just reminding you. But refining tools is also a skill that requires practice. If you don’t practice for too long, you will inevitably become unfamiliar with it." Fang Ge nodded and said without blame.

"I understand. By the way, when I went out the other day and walked around the market, I found an interesting metal. I wonder if Senior Brother can take a look?" Yuan Ming said with a smile.

Yuan Ming immediately turned his wrist and took out a fist-sized dark red metal block and handed it to Fang Ge.

"This is... Fire Red Copper? This thing is not easy to find." After taking it, Fang Ge carefully observed it for a moment, and a rare expression of surprise appeared on his face.

"So it’s Fire Red Copper. Senior Brother Fang Ge is really knowledgeable." Yuan Ming pretended to be surprised and said.

"Junior Brother Yuan, how much of this spiritual material do you have? Can you sell some to me?" Fang Ge couldn’t help but ask. He had been unable to complete the quality of a tool he was refining because he lacked this material.

"This thing is of no use to me. Senior Brother can take it if you like." Yuan Ming said.

Upon hearing this, Fang Ge’s joyful expression froze for a moment, and he immediately understood that Yuan Ming didn’t really know this thing. He obviously wanted to find an opportunity to give it to him.

"Junior Brother Yuan, I appreciate your kindness, but things must be priced. You can name a price now, I can’t take advantage of you." Fang Ge said.

"Alright, to be honest, I found this in the market and bought it with two spirit stones." Yuan Ming sighed and said.

He was lying. He found this thing while rummaging through the storage bag of an unlucky guy.

"I’ll give you three spirit stones." After a moment of thought, Fang Ge said.

"Just two. This is Junior Brother’s goodwill. If it’s a business, I won’t sell it." Yuan Ming looked at him with a smile.

"Okay." Fang Ge nodded without hesitation.

After seeing Fang Ge happily accept it, Yuan Ming bid farewell and went to the Tool Pavilion where he met A Muhe.

Yuan Ming also prepared a gift for him.

Unlike Senior Brother Fang Ge’s formal and serious style, A Muhe accepted it readily, without even saying thank you.

Compared to receiving gifts, he was more interested in the incident where Yuan Ming successfully refined the Qingyu Sword with the help of an outsider.

After learning that Yuan Ming had successfully refined the sword with the help of an outsider, he strongly demanded to see the sword.

Yuan Ming had no choice but to take out the Hanxing Sword and show it to A Muhe.

After A Muhe saw it, his reaction was even more intense than the Three Cave Masters. He couldn’t help but exclaim "exquisite" repeatedly, holding the Hanxing Sword in his arms and playing with it, insisting that Yuan Ming demonstrate its power to him.

It was not easy for Yuan Ming to finally break free and leave the Tool Pavilion. He went directly to the small courtyard of the Third Cave Master.

However, the Third Cave Master was not there.

Yuan Ming couldn’t see anyone, so he turned around and went to the valley between the Fire Refining Hall Peak and the Alchemy Hall Peak.

Yuweng was rolling up his sleeves and trouser legs, bending over and wielding a hoe to loosen the soil in the medicinal field. When he saw Yuan Ming coming, he put the hoe on his shoulder and straightened up.

"Elder Yuweng, I brought you some wine. Is there any meat to eat today?" Yuan Ming took out two jars of good wine that he had prepared early, held them high in his hands, and shouted from a distance.

"You brat, it’s been a long time since you came to see this old man." Yuweng complained a little.

"I’ve been busy these days. As soon as I had some free time, I hurried to see you, didn’t I?" Yuan Ming smiled and said.

Yuweng carried the hoe and walked up the field, casually pulling out a spiritual herb from the field.

"Did you buy the Central Plains seasoning I asked you to buy last time?" Yuweng asked as Yuan Ming approached.

"I only found some Sichuan peppercorns and cinnamon. It’s really hard to find the others." Yuan Ming replied truthfully.

No, it’s not bad. With these two, I can already make some different flavors." Yuweng was delighted and smiled, leading the way and taking Yuan Ming back to his thatched hut.

After arranging for Yuan Ming to sit down, Yuweng began his traditional craftsmanship of fishing.

In a short while, when he returned, there were three fat and beautiful silver-scaled colored fish in the fish basket.

Yuweng didn’t need Yuan Ming’s help. He quickly processed the silver-scaled colored fish and stewed them in a pot.

While waiting for the fish to cook, Yuan Ming brought wine bowls and poured wine for Yuweng and himself. The two of them ate and drank with some cured meat and side dishes that Yuan Ming had brought back.

After two bowls of wine, Yuweng praised it greatly, but when he saw Yuan Ming drinking, he became dissatisfied.

"I say, Yuan brat, are you drinking tea? You’re only drinking so little." Yuweng said unhappily.

"I just wanted to save some for you." Yuan Ming smiled awkwardly.

"I’ve been here for so many years, and I finally met someone like you. When you come, just drink openly. Besides, I have enough fish here, not to mention anything else." Yuweng said, pouring himself a drink.

Yuan Ming also began to drink heartily.

"Don’t be reserved when drinking, and don’t use your magic to dissipate the alcohol. It’s good to feel a bit tipsy," Fish Elder emphasized.

"Elder, is there something bothering you?" Yuan Ming asked, sensing that Fish Elder seemed a bit off today.

"I’m just a leisurely man, what could possibly bother me? Come, come, eat fish, eat fish." Fish Elder shook his head and picked up a large piece of fish with his chopsticks and began to eat.

Seeing that the elder didn’t want to talk, Yuan Ming didn’t press further. The two chatted intermittently.

This was one of the few places in the Bi Luo Cave where he could truly relax.

"How did you come to Bi Luo Cave?" Fish Elder suddenly asked.

Yuan Ming thought for a moment, and without hiding anything, he recounted his journey from struggling to survive as a beast slave to joining the sect.

Fish Elder listened attentively, didn’t say a word, just clinked bowls with Yuan Ming and took a big drink.

Unconsciously, the sun set, and through the gap in the valley, they could see the last rays of the sunset gradually being covered by darkness. Both Yuan Ming and Fish Elder had flushed cheeks and were slightly tipsy.

"Yuan lad, while I’m a bit tipsy, I’ll tell you, this place wasn’t originally called Bi Luo Cave," Fish Elder said, looking at the distant shadows.

"What was it called?" Yuan Ming asked in surprise.

"This place originally had no name. I saw these three mountains standing side by side, their positions corresponding to three stars in the sky, so I named it Three Star Mountain," Fish Elder said.

"You named it?" Yuan Ming asked, growing more curious.

"I did," Fish Elder nodded.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming, who was holding his bowl, suddenly froze.

"No way." He had always had a suspicion in his heart, wondering if this kind old man could be the stabilizing force of Bi Luo Cave, the great elder who was known only by name and never seen?

But after more and more interactions, Yuan Ming felt it was unlikely.

But now, hearing him say this, Yuan Ming couldn’t help but think in that direction. After all, he couldn’t think of anyone else who could name or rename Bi Luo Cave except for the great elder.

"I’m not."

Fish Elder just glanced at Yuan Ming and guessed his suspicion.

Hearing this, Yuan Ming let out a sigh of relief that he hadn’t even realized he was holding.

Deep down, he didn’t want Fish Elder to be the great elder.

"There must be some unknown past about the renaming of Three Star Mountain to Bi Luo Cave," Yuan Ming wondered.

Instead of answering directly, Fish Elder began to tell Yuan Ming a story: "Do you know, in the Central Plains, there is a bird called the cuckoo. They don’t build nests. They always lay their eggs in the magpie’s nest, and to ensure their eggs’ survival, they will push the magpie’s eggs out and break them, thus allowing their offspring to hatch and occupy the magpie’s nest."

Yuan Ming naturally knew the story of the cuckoo occupying the magpie’s nest, so he was shocked and sobered up instantly.

"May I ask, Elder, what happened to the magpie whose nest was occupied?" he asked cautiously.

"The magpie? The magpie made a small nest under the tree, planted flowers every day, fished, and lived a comfortable life."

Fish Elder smiled and said lightly.

"So you were the original master of Bi Luo Cave!" Yuan Ming exclaimed in surprise.

"When people have free time, they tend to reminisce. I just miss the original beauty of Three Star Mountain," Fish Elder sighed.

"That’s good, no disputes, no fights, no worries. Elder, you are truly clear-headed," Yuan Ming comforted.

Fish Elder didn’t respond, just took a light sip of his drink.

"I’ve always known that Elder Fish is extraordinary, but I never thought you had such an experience," Yuan Ming said, puzzled.

"This Three Star Mountain, I lost it after a fight. Although I was reluctant and unwilling, I had made a bet beforehand. If I lost, I lost. At that time, Chen Cangqiong was somewhat tolerant. He didn’t kill me or drive me away, but wanted to take me under his command," Fish Elder said straightforwardly when asked by Yuan Ming.