Chapter 597

"Fellow Daoist, how many Hundred Tribulations Devil-Crossing Pills do you have?"

"That's fifty-six in total, right?"

"Fine, I'll take them all."

"Huh?"

Yan Buji looked puzzled; although he didn't understand why the other party suddenly changed their mind after going in for a while, he still took out all the Hundred Tribulations Devil-Crossing Pills and exchanged them for spiritual stones.

After leaving the shop, Yan Buji rented a place to live in Long Qi Cheng and stayed there temporarily.

"Building momentum, I've roughly figured out the situation of the Paolong Sacred Land; although I don't know what's inside, externally it's definitely promoted as a holy land for cultivators, with an excellent reputation, indicating they're looking out for their own interests."

Yan Buji thought for a moment; although he didn't believe any major power could truly achieve goodness from top to bottom, judging by the external propaganda, at least the Paolong Sacred Land is still heading down the righteous path.

So the method is simple and clear.

Isn't it just pretending to be a good person? Isn't that easy?

"But pretending to be a good person also requires skill; you can't just help everyone you meet—you need to act at the right moment."

For example, if a cultivator sees a mortal beggar in the city and throws him some silver coins, is that reasonable?

That's unreasonable; which cultivator doesn't have some mundane wealth on them for no reason?

So that's too deliberate; Yan Buji needs a smoother progression to take effect, which mainly means waiting for an opportunity.

Thus, Yan Buji began to stroll around the street.

Two days passed.

Yan Buji was walking down the street looking for an opportunity when he suddenly saw several Foundation Establishment cultivators supporting their badly injured companion, shouting: "Is anyone there? Is there a doctor to save us?!"

The surrounding cultivators looked puzzled and made way, saying: "Kid, the clinic is right next door."

"We... we don't have any spiritual stones."

"What's the point of saying that if you have no spiritual stones?"

"Your companion is badly injured and also poisoned; if we don't treat him soon, it'll be too late."

Yan Buji raised his eyebrows, walked over, and waited for the right moment.

"Please, fellow Daoists, can you save my companion's life? If not, I'll use the Accumulation Device on my person as collateral to borrow some spiritual stones from a kind-hearted person to save his life!" A Foundation Establishment cultivator immediately knelt down, took out his broken Accumulation Device, and kowtowed.

The surrounding cultivators hesitated a bit—not because they couldn't produce spiritual stones, but mainly because your Accumulation Device is too shabby; even if we gave you spiritual stones and he still didn't survive, it would be wasted effort. Moreover, saving a critically injured, dying person isn't cheap, and you'd never recoup the cost from that broken device.

Yan Buji walked straight over, assessed the situation, and said: "Trust me and take this pill."

"You.... senior!"

"Hurry up, or he'll die." Yan Buji urged.

That Foundation Establishment cultivator gritted his teeth, took the pill, and quickly gave it to his companion.

The badly injured cultivator's breath immediately steadied considerably. Yan Buji nodded and said: "His poison is temporarily suppressed; that pill just now was for healing wounds—you just need to help him detoxify."

"Thank you so much, senior..." the cultivator trembled as he handed over the Accumulation Device. Yan Buji waved his hand: "Cultivation is not easy; this young friend's sincere heart brings me great comfort as well—keep the item for yourself."

"Thank you, senior, for your righteous assistance; if you ever need anything in the future, I will surely devote my liver and brains to the cause!"

"We feel the same!"

Yan Buji smiled, waved his hand, and left.

The surrounding cultivators looked astonished: "Who is this old man? He just hands out Fivefold Transformation Water Spirit Pills like they're nothing!"

"I don't know; maybe he's a stranger."

"He has Golden Core strength, so it's not bad. However, this Water Spirit Pill is quite valuable—really generous."

"Tch, just a show-off seeking fame."

"Saying that, if you ever get into trouble someday and no one saves you, wouldn't that be fitting?"

"If I get into trouble, I can only blame my own stupidity! That old man throws around such generosity without asking for anything in return—just looking at him, he doesn't seem like a good person at all."

Although many cultivators were surprised by Yan Buji's generous actions, saving a life is something some consider unworthy while others respect it. Overall, the incident didn't cause much of a stir; it merely let many cultivators in Long Qi Cheng know that a generous old man had arrived in town.

And that old man was still strolling along the road, ready to seize an opportunity to lend a hand.

"Senior, I don't have that much money; can your pill...."

"Scram, scram, scram—if you have no money, what are you doing buying pills? Don't you know you should go earn money with your own hands and feet?"

"But I...."

Watching a shop owner kick out a ragged-clad boy, Yan Buji raised his eyebrows and walked over.

Young friend, is there anyone in your family who has been afflicted by evil?

Senior... who are you?

I merely saw some evil aura on you, so I asked. Young friend, if you're worried I have some ulterior motive in approaching you for no reason, you need not be; if you don't wish to speak, I'll just leave.

Having said that, Yan Buji turned his head and prepared to leave.

The youth gritted his teeth, walked over and blocked Yan Buji: 'Senior... senior, could you please help me?'

Helping you is fine; first tell me what happened. Moreover, I do have my own needs—are you still willing to let me help you? Yan Buji said with a smile.

The youth's face turned pale as he thought of something terrifying, but then he recalled his family's situation and gritted his teeth: 'All right! As long as you're willing to help me, senior, I'll even become an ox or a horse!'

Fine, tell me the situation.

It's like this: my mother has, for some unknown reason, suddenly fallen into a deep sleep and won't wake; I've consulted doctors and cultivators, but still...

Yan Buji pinched his chin: 'That's a bit too vague; can you come over so I can see for myself?'

Sure!

The youth gritted his teeth, although he didn't know what this old man was thinking, but if they delayed any longer, his mother might truly never wake again.

Yan Buji followed the youth to a dilapidated shed outside the city; upon arrival, he immediately furrowed his brows.

The youth thought he was being disliked because of his home, and immediately said: 'Senior, sorry, my home is like this...'

I don't look down on your family's poverty, but there really is an evil aura around here; it seems to be inside your house.

The boy, upon hearing, let out a sigh of relief: 'Then please come in, senior.'

Entering the dilapidated house, Yan Buji directly saw a pendant hanging on the door panel.

The pendant emitted a black evil aura; Yan Buji frowned: 'Where did this thing come from?'

'Ah? Mother said it was left to us by Father....'

'Your father?'

Yan Buji looked strange; could it be that this family previously had cultivators helping them, yet they live so miserably?

Looking at the unconscious woman on the bed, Yan Buji waved a hand to dispel the surrounding evil aura, then handed the boy a bottle of Nourishing Origin Pill, instructing: 'Take this pill dissolved in warm water and feed it to your mother; she will wake within two days. But this thing is dangerous; you'd better not keep it.'

'Ah? Is... is that so?'

'Old man doesn't need to lie to you.' Yan Buji shook his head: 'Just find a place to throw it away; if you don't believe me, your mother probably won't wake up.'

The boy staggered, thinking of his father's relic and his living mother, immediately made a choice: 'Could you please dispose of this pendant, senior? After my mother wakes, I will come find you to serve you as an ox and horse!'

Yan Buji frowned, then nodded and smiled: 'No need, you are also a filial son, unwilling to spare anything for your birth mother. But a man's knees hold gold; why damage your own dignity? Live well with your mother.'

Yan Buji took the pendant and left the shack.

The boy stood at the doorway, blankly gazing into the distance.

I didn't expect to truly meet a good person.

The boy's eyes reddened; he wiped his tears, feeling deeply moved.