The lie detection expert concentrated, and the Lie Detection Gu started to become excited, the lie detection instrument lit up its indicator light... The inquisitors all became tense.
"We already know your basic information.
"Now the interrogation begins, please cooperate.
"First question, what is your sequence?"
Bai Mo's body adjusted slightly, making himself more comfortable, quietly using the unique ability of the Sequence Seven in the Alchemist path, [Divine Sense]. The Divine Sense slightly controlled his heartbeat and blood flow, putting himself into a state of telling the truth.
"Sequence Nine."
The lie detection expert saw no anomaly, the Lie Detection Gu remained quiet, and the lie detection instrument stayed green... The inquisitors collectively breathed a sigh of relief. Bai Mo didn't lie, there would be no need to tear faces or resort to force!
"Which path are you on?"
"Beast Taming."
"What do you have in your dreams?"
"A mountain, and ruins of a palace..."
"You're Sequence Nine in Beast Taming, why do you still have ten fingers?"
"It didn't want to eat my fingers, it just drank a little blood."
This indeed has happened before.
"Why are you so strong?"
"My Pet Beast is naturally powerful, but its growth space is not large, it's a character from early stage..."
...
The atmosphere in the interrogation room became increasingly relaxed and congenial.
The inquisitors' faces gradually relaxed into smiles, asking more and more questions, and began to take notes vigorously.
After more than an hour, the inquisitors ran out of questions to ask, and their gaze towards Bai Mo was already filled with familiarity, even a certain fondness. They had a thick stack of interrogation notes, which recorded in detail Bai Mo's journey of Immortal Cultivation, his dreams, his abilities, and his Pet Beast... They were utterly convinced they were all correct.
Although, in fact, almost nothing in it was true, it was all Bai Mo's impromptu fabrication.
Amidst the friendly and cheerful atmosphere, the interrogation ended.
The inquisitors safely made it through an interrogation and were quite relieved.
Providing the final assessment.
[Extremely fortunate opportunities] [Highly talented] [Genius in Immortal-Related Personnel]
[Combat power level: Top end of Sequence Nine]
...
Bai Mo was escorted back to his neighborhood entrance by a special vehicle.
The rain had stopped.
The night breeze was slightly chilly, with a damp aroma.
The ground pooled with water, reflecting the dim streetlights.
"This Sequence Seven stuff absolutely cannot be disclosed, too high profile and outstanding, once revealed, it would invite endless trouble."
"Having ten thousand fox apprentices is also something that absolutely cannot be disclosed, too high profile and outstanding, once revealed, it would likewise invite endless trouble."
Bai Mo didn't want to attract attention, he just wanted to quietly study the Alchemy Dao every day, ascend the sequence ranks, and together with Fox Mountain, plant herbs and practice Alchemy, and develop well.
White Ears had not gone back yet, holding a school bag, followed behind the master to the apartment entrance.
Suddenly, it smelled a delicious aroma!
It turned out, beneath the streetlight, was a fast-food truck selling fried chicken!
The aroma of the chicken, the fried scent, and the cumin flavor made White Ears involuntarily drool.
What's this?
It smells too good!
I've never had it before!
"Want to eat it?"
Bai Mo noticed his apprentice and had it hide behind the flower bed while he took out his phone and walked towards the fast-food truck.
Checking the balance in his WeChat wallet... 30.5 yuan.
A bit shabby.
Then looking at the menu of the fast-food truck, fried chicken rack, 15 yuan per pound.
A bit pricey.
"Boss, give me five yuan worth of fried chicken rack!"
Just let White Ears have a taste, five yuan worth should be enough.
But...
Gurgle.
Smelling the aroma of fried chicken, Bai Mo's own stomach also became hungry!
Thinking carefully, the last time he ate fried chicken rack was several years ago.
"Never mind... might as well make it ten yuan's worth!"
Suddenly, a message popped up on his phone.
[Immortal Technique Committee Secretary Fang Xiaoyu: Hello Mr. Bai Mo]
[First of all, thank you for helping us capture the vicious fugitive, preventing further societal harm]
[His hundred-thousand-yuan bounty will be transferred to your account when the bank opens tomorrow]
Huh?
Bai Mo looked up at the fried chicken seller.
"Make it thirty yuan's worth.
"Ten yuan's not enough."
Messages continued to appear on his phone.
[Would you be interested in serving as an expert consultant for our Immortal Book Committee?]
[There is a fixed consultancy fee of twenty thousand Yuan monthly, with additional compensation if your expertise is required]
[Feel free to reply anytime, I'm always online]
Huh?
Bai Mo looked up at the fried chicken seller.
"Fry an extra pound of chicken tenders, and add two large drumsticks."
...
At Bai Mo's home, the space was cramped, and the decor was simplistic.
The wooden tea table from decades ago had cracks with faint mold visible in them.
At this moment, the tea table was piled with a small mountain of chicken bones!
It turned out Bai Mo and his apprentice White Ears, one human and one fox, had just finished a battle with fried chicken, their mouths greasy, sprawling contentedly on the sofa beside them.
Bai Mo glanced at White Ears, finding it squinting its eyes in sheer enjoyment... Indeed, foxes love to eat chicken, it's innate!
The other apprentices hadn't tasted fried chicken yet.
If every apprentice could taste it, that would be wonderful!
Unfortunately, the master didn't have much money, and with so many apprentices, it was difficult to manage.
"It's about time to head to Fox Mountain.
"Wipe the grease off your mouth and rinse your mouth, don't get discovered!"
Once White Ears smartly finished cleaning up, Bai Mo activated a heart thought, and a white mist rose at his feet; in the real world the mist dispersed, yet it refracted the plants of the dreamscape Fox Mountain, effectively blurring the boundary between reality and the dreamscape.
"Let's go."
Bai Mo and White Ears, one human and one fox, slipped into the white mist, directly entering the dream.
...
The days passed by like this, with Bai Mo attending school during the day, visiting Fox Mountain to study Alchemy Dao, guiding his apprentices in farming and Cultivation every day, feeling both fulfilled and contented.
...
The sky in the dreamscape was still invariably overcast with dense cloud cover.
Bai Mo had nearly completed his research on the pill formulas on hand, with only two remaining.
Today, in Fox Mountain Square, he held a meeting for his fox apprentices, standing atop the highest Bronze Altar.
"Today is garbage collection day..."
While speaking to his apprentices, he instinctively touched his new clothes.
These were bought after the Immortal Technique Committee issued his consultancy fee!
Bright red, with a hard-shell exterior, windproof and waterproof, with a soft lining—perfect for wearing on Fox Mountain!
Standing high on the Bronze Altar, even with the wind blowing, he didn't feel the cold.
Below the altar, ten thousand fox apprentices were assembled in dense formations, filling the entire square, raising their forepaws and howling responses to their master.
"Awoo awoo awoo!"
"Awoo awoo awoo!"
They were very happy too, and the reason for their joy... because the master wore red today, just like them.
"...Once again, I emphasize the importance of safety during garbage collection.
"Work in groups of five, solitary operations are strictly prohibited!
"Dangerous activities are strictly forbidden!
"Immediately report any anomalies to the master, handling independently is not allowed!"
The fox apprentices raised their forepaws, howling in response.
"Awoo awoo awoo!"
"Awoo awoo awoo!"
Bai Mo waved to give the order.
"Let us begin then!"
He turned around, looking behind the square where his office was located in a grand hall. Behind the hall were continuous arrays of palaces, built along the mountain in an orderly, staggered fashion, stretching into the horizon.
These palatial complexes had all fallen into ruin; some were half-collapsed, others entirely fallen in.
Bai Mo sometimes couldn't help but wonder, why did such grand palatial complexes fall into ruin? Why did the once-glorious Immortal Realm turn into a wilderness? In ancient times, when immortals were still active, what exactly happened?
But now, all these ruined palace complexes were Bai Mo's treasures!
The fox apprentices dug out many Copper Tripods, Copper Bells, tables, and benches. There were also many copper plates and stone slabs with writings on them. These writings could be useless, pill formulas, medicine introductions, Immortal Realm anecdotes, or sequence ascension rituals... All of Bai Mo's knowledge of the Alchemy Dao and methods for ascending sequences were discovered by the fox apprentices from these endless ruins!
At this moment, ten thousand fox apprentices were like a scarlet tide, howling as they charged out of the square, up the mountain paths, and into the boundless ruins!