Master of Strange Dao

```

The Black Robed Man just thought about it and felt that a large "Danger" character shone brightly above his head.

　　"Black, do you know our elder guarding the ancient records?"

　　"What's up?" Black Mountain Sheep asked, puzzled.

　　"He's just a First-tier Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, over a hundred ninety years old, and still hanging on. Can you guess why?"

　　"What does that have to do with me? Don't sidetrack."

　　"Because he never courts death. We people never rely on combat strength to dominate. We just need to do our job well, like using the shepherd to procure some Jinlan Ore, gather intelligence, and carry out necessary tasks, not needing us to personally take action. This is how we can live longer."

　　The Black Robed Man was very clear-headed. He thought Black Mountain Sheep's current idea was very dangerous.

　　"Even if the rumored missing Dean Langya isn't dead, even if he's hiding among the sheep, even if really someone killed the shepherd and rescued him.

　　He might have been chased or seriously injured, taking a Dao Cultivator who hasn't entered Dao along with him, which is very dangerous, so he could only temporarily send him to the mine.

　　Even if there's such an improbable scenario, haven't you thought of other issues?

　　Daring to hunt down Dean Langya, where did they get such courage? Regardless of who killed him, it could never be kept hidden.

　　The Daqian Monarch would personally inquire into such matters immediately. His minions spread across the world would hunt every clue with red eyes, and the Langya Institute would spare no expense to find the killer."

　　"What are you thinking? I wouldn't dare to hunt down Dean Langya even if I were crazy." Black Mountain Sheep stepped back in shock, thinking his companion had lost his mind.

　　"Then why are you saying all this?"

　　"If there is a chance, we'd definitely capture him... no, save him, save him back to us. One living Dean Langya would be of unimaginable value.

　　If successful, we'd never have to toil in this godforsaken place again, just issue orders from the base without giving Mu Zhiqiu the chance to kill us.

　　Of course, provided that my guess is correct."

　　Black Mountain Sheep couldn't help but laugh, already envisioning the beautiful life ahead.

　　"Are you sure we two can handle a Dao Cultivator? He's a mortal, true, but not an ordinary one. Haven't enough cultivators been slain by Dao Cultivators over the years?"

　　"Basically sure. If he really has resorted to using the shepherd's hand to hide in the Jinlan Mine, he certainly has nothing on him anymore. Our trouble will basically just be the freaks in the Jinlan Mine."

　　"I think it's definitely not that simple. How about we don't take the risk..." The Black Robed Man remained very cautious.

　　"I know what you're thinking. I've already thought of a fallback. In case I guessed wrong, or there's a big problem, we'd just head over there, what's it called..." Black Mountain Sheep chuckled, pointing south-east, the direction of the Daqian Divine Dynasty.

　　"Be traitors?" The Black Robed Man froze, having never considered this.

　　"Ugh, I remember now! This is called abandoning darkness for light, reforming, turning over a new leaf. By then, we'd be heroes. Mu Zhiqiu would have to at least nod in acknowledgment."

　　"Are you really a demon?" The Black Robed Man was convinced. Thinking this way, it seemed foolproof. Taking a gamble, they'd no longer risk their lives. If wrong, there's no loss. Even if there's a problem, there's a fallback.

　　"Now, one more issue. Are you certain we can handle the freaks in the Jinlan Mine? I still remember the records in the database.

　　Back then, outsiders coveted the Jinlan Mine but many died there. Even a Third-tier Body Cultivation with a steel body had his head smashed by those freaks.

　　Who knows if such terrifying freaks are still there?"

　　"Don't worry." Black Mountain Sheep opened his mouth, exhaling a black mist enveloping the two, which then dissipated quickly, rendering their bodies invisible. Black Mountain Sheep smiled proudly, "Even if we run into Mu Zhiqiu, this trick is like lighting a lamp in a toilet at night. But those freaks are all mortals, they can't discover us. We're not there to fight anyway."

　　The Black Robed Man was persuaded to first explore cautiously, thinking it wouldn't be a big issue.

　　One man and one sheep circled around. To avoid detection, they didn't dare use power and had to run using physical strength, reaching the outskirts of the Jinlan Mine.

　　Black Mountain Sheep's eyes shifted slightly at the unexpected change at the entrance but decisively avoided the left path after two glances.

　　The Black Robed Man, with swift footsteps, dragged the black mist wrapping them, silently slipping into the locust forest on the right.

　　"This forest is unsettling, always giving me a dangerous feeling, though it's silent now. I'm really afraid to venture in on the left; it feels especially perilous."

　　One man and one sheep entered Jinlan Village, immediately sensing the alien power surging throughout. They expected this but used only their internal strength, cautiously slipping into the village outskirts.

　　"I've always forgotten a question: do you know who we're supposed to find? How do we find him? The Dao Cultivator is a mortal, but everyone here is a mortal too." The Black Robed Man posed a soul-piercing question.

　　"Hiss..." Black Mountain Sheep froze, deep in thought.

　　An awkward silence persisted for a while before Black Mountain Sheep, uncertain, spoke.

　　"I've seen some Dao Cultivators; their aura is different, exuding wisdom. As you humans say, 'a person with knowledge emanates an aura of elegance.' He must be different from these mortals. And being a dean, he's probably quite old.

　　Shall we not show ourselves and slowly look around, observing?"

　　"That's true. Slowly observe, a Dao Cultivator should look different from the freaks here." The Black Robed Man showed a conflicted face, but having come this far, he could only accept it.

　　One man and one sheep became invisible ghosts, watching from a hillside as people came out during meals, observing each one.

　　By supper, seeing villagers eating fresh Jinlan Mushroom dishes, one man and one sheep sat there, constantly sniffing.

　　"They're eating dishes made from Jinlan Mushrooms, aren't they?"

　　"Yeah, no doubt."

　　"Such luxury! I've never had any."

　　"Can't afford it."

　　Once people finished their meal, a lot seemed leftover in the kitchen. One man and one sheep exchanged glances, with Black Mountain Sheep speaking first.

　　"I see they made quite a bit, but didn't finish. It'd be wasted if it doesn't stay fresh. How about we help them, avoid wasting?"

　　The Black Robed Man remained silent, and Black Mountain Sheep continued.

　　"Don't get me wrong; I'm not creating trouble. If I could eat fresh Jinlan Mushroom dishes, I might advance another tier by next year, no, this year. Even if we don't find anyone, it won't be fruitless, right?"

　　"Yeah, you're right. I've heard fresh Jinlan Mushrooms are called Fourth Grade Spiritual Medicine..."

　　The duo waited until the kitchen was empty before sneaking in to eat; each had a bowl of noodles and a bowl of soup.

　　After leaving the kitchen, they squatted back on the hillside, resuming their observation.

　　The next day, seeing Yu Ziqing carrying a giant Jinlan Mushroom from a ground hole, the Black Robed Man, shivering from the cold at night without using power, was startled.

　　"Do you think there's a possibility that the hole there is where they harvest Jinlan Mushrooms? We could find the freshest ones directly, without kitchen theft?"

　　"..." Black Mountain Sheep remained silent.

　　Moments later, the duo sneaked into the hole. Upon seeing a dense patch of Jinlan Mushrooms growing below, Black Mountain Sheep's eyes glowed green.

　　"If I stayed here for a year, I could trample our boss underfoot."

　　Black Mountain Sheep eagerly charged ahead, pulled back cautiously by the Black Robed Man into the depths of the Mushroom Forest. In a corner near the stone wall, they carefully nibbled on the freshest Jinlan Mushroom until full, then left the hole, returning to their spying.

　　In the afternoon, with Yu Ziqing carrying a newly replaced axe, walking to chop trees in the Mushroom Forest, an approaching hungry ghost emerged from behind a Jinlan Mushroom nearby.

　　The hungry ghost, from afar, bowed long and respectfully to Yu Ziqing.

　　"Oh, haven't seen you for days. Out playing?" Yu Ziqing was in a good mood, having made a breakthrough in punching practice. Dragging an entire Jinlan Mushroom back, needing only one rest now, this visible progress naturally lifted his spirits. He now aimed to reach the strength to carry one mushroom in one go.

　　The hungry ghost didn't dare approach rashly. Stretching out a sharp claw, it drew on the ground, pointing to the writing for Yu Ziqing before retreating a distance.

　　Yu Ziqing stepped closer, seeing the crooked script but with no mistakes.

　　"There is a Black Mountain Sheep as tall as a person, and a Black Robed Man, sneaked in and ate Jinlan Mushrooms; be careful."

　　Yu Ziqing frowned slightly, looking at the hungry ghost.

　　The hungry ghost climbed up the stone wall, pointing to a place near it. Yu Ziqing followed, seeing a mushroom with a huge chunk bitten off, facing away from the entrance.

　　Someone had sneaked into the village?

　　What's up with the village entrance that anyone could casually come in?

　　As though sneaking in wasn't enough, they went to munch mushrooms in secret?

　　Crazy indeed.

　　However, Black Mountain Sheep, he did hear Old Yang mention them...

　　Thinking briefly, Yu Ziqing gestured to the hungry ghost.

　　"Could you stay here for a while? I need a tiny favor."

　　The hungry ghost nodded, descending from the stone wall, waiting at the Mushroom Forest's edge.

　　Moments later, Yu Ziqing returned, a damp cloth over his face, carrying a cloth bag which he carefully placed on the ground.

　　"Could you help sprinkle the contents onto the Jinlan Mushrooms?"

　　Moments later, standing dozens of yards away, Yu Ziqing watched the hungry ghost on the stone wall, slowly sprinkling the powder from the bag, nodding repeatedly.

　　"Yes, yes, just like that, spread it evenly, blend it with the mushroom spores so it's not noticeable.

　　If you could spread it under the caps too, it'd be best if it's uniform.

　　Yes, skip the ones we usually harvest, but evenly cover the rest.

　　Is there enough? If not, I'll fetch more."

　　While instructing, Yu Ziqing tightened the damp cloth over his face, continually stepping back, fearing any contact with those substances.

```