Chapter 243: Chapter 236: Inheritance!
"Qi, stop wasting your energy."
Bai Qingfeng opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting into a slight smile. "You saved me once, and I have saved you once. Now we are even."
"Hang in there. I’ll help you remove this poison."
His eyes flashing with a hint of purple, Qi Xiu activated the Observing Qi Skill, taking control of the poison’s path in Bai Qingfeng’s body, attempting to gradually extract it with the Star Absorption Skill. But this process was time-consuming, and it was uncertain whether Bai Qingfeng could hold on.
"Qi," Bai Qingfeng said, struggling to grasp Qi Xiu’s wrist. "I recognize this poison. It is the supreme toxin of the serpent race—’Heart of a Woman.’
The green bamboo snake’s mouth, the wasp’s stinger at its tail,
Neither is truly venomous; the most venomous is a woman’s heart.
Once this poison enters the body, no medicine can cure it."
Knowing his end was near, Bai Qingfeng showed not the slightest trace of panic or fear, only a sense of regret and wistfulness in his eyes.
"All my life, I have sought to revive the ancient art of the Talisman Array Tao. Unexpectedly, although I have reclaimed this technique, I have reached the end of my own path. Qi, we have known each other and faced life and death together. I have something to ask of you."
Noticing that two-thirds of Bai Qingfeng’s body had already dissipated, Qi Xiu clenched his fist, slowly sat up straight, and said solemnly, "Brother Bai, please speak. I, Qi, will do my utmost."
"You are also a master of talismanic techniques. I fear today I might journey to the netherworld, yet I cannot let the Talisman Array Tao vanish with me. Dianchuan Province is now falling apart; hordes of Demons and devils wreak havoc. I traveled thousands of miles to return to my province, intending to rely on this technique to strike down the Demons and restore peace to Dianchuan! Alas, time does not wait for me... Therefore, I earnestly request you, Qi, to inherit my Talisman Array Tao and pass it on to my family. If you can do this, I, Bai, will die with no regrets."
With the last blaze of passion in his eyes, Bai Qingfeng looked earnestly at Qi Xiu, making his final request.
What is the Talisman Array Tao? Anyone who has practiced talismanic techniques regards it as an eternal obsession. Bai Qingfeng wasn’t sure. If he passed the Talisman Array Tao to Qi Xiu, would Qi Xiu then pass it on to the Bai Family disciples? But now he was on the verge of death. If he took the Talisman Array Tao with him to the netherworld, he would die with unclosed eyes. So he had no choice but to gamble. Gamble that Qi Xiu was a man of integrity, gamble that he wouldn’t misappropriate the Talisman Array Tao, gamble on the brief life-and-death bond between them!
"Alright!"
After a moment of hesitation, Qi Xiu nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, Qi, for fulfilling my wish."
With Qi Xiu’s affirmative response, Bai Qingfeng showed a look of relief.
From between his brows, at his forehead, a point of blue-yellow light slowly emerged. Gazing into it, one could see countless Talisman Scripts arranging and combining, continuously metamorphosing into various strange and mystical formations. This point of Spiritual Light contained all of Bai Qingfeng’s understanding and knowledge of the Talisman Array Tao.
The moment the Spiritual Light of the Talisman Array Tao entered Qi Xiu’s forehead, a flood of information, like a bursting dam, was unleashed. Simultaneously, a new name quietly appeared on Qi Xiu’s proficiency panel:
[Talisman Array Tao].
Seeing Qi Xiu accept the Spiritual Light of the Talisman Array Tao, Bai Qingfeng smiled in relief, his crumbling body having reached its limit. But just as the ’Heart of a Woman’ poison was about to invade his Ancestral Aperture, a fair, strong, warm, and jade-like hand suddenly reached out. In its palm, a Dharma Seal resembling a Black Gold Imperial Seal shone brightly.
Yama’s Law Seal!
Soul Capture!
Before the ’Heart of a Woman’ could corrupt Bai Qingfeng’s soul, Qi Xiu used Yama’s Law Seal to draw his soul out.
Indeed, the ’Heart of a Woman’ was fiercely toxic. The Dharma Gates he possessed were futile against it. If that was the case, he might as well abandon this body and extract Bai Qingfeng’s soul instead. This meant Bai Qingfeng would lose all his Cultivation and have to start anew, but at least his life would be saved.
Observing Bai Qingfeng’s vaguely trembling soul in his hand, now faintly shaping a human silhouette, Qi Xiu raised his hand. Several Suppressing Talismans flew out, turning into golden light to securely seal it.
Bai Qingfeng’s soul was only at the Wandering God Realm. Without a physical body to reside in, it would soon disperse and fall apart. He first sealed it with the Suppressing Talismans. When a suitable body was found later, he could let the soul possess it for rebirth.
Gazing upon Bai Qingfeng’s completely dissipated physical body, Qi Xiu’s expression grew somber as he stood still.
After some time, a group of small white figures, each holding Golden Cry Jade Beads, hopped back.
Gathering these small white figures, Qi Xiu reattached the assembled Golden Cry Jade Beads to his wrist. Lifting his head slightly, he looked into the distance and quietly muttered, "Yun Pu, the Bai Family..."
「In the heartland of Cangliu Prefecture, Dianchuan Province.」
A valley shrouded in mist, as picturesque as an ink wash painting, was nestled here. The rocks on either side of the valley were lush and verdant, as if meticulously carved jade by nature itself. Towering peaks soared into the clouds, appearing and disappearing amidst the mist, resembling an Immortal Realm that captivated the soul.
Yun Pu!
The stronghold of the Bai Family, a powerhouse of talismanic techniques. Because the valley was enveloped by mist year-round and its verdant rocks made it resemble a gigantic piece of unworked jade from afar, it was named Yun Pu.
Residing deep within, the Bai Family, through their Talisman Scripts business, was a somewhat renowned family in Dianchuan Province. But today, the Bai Family was experiencing an unprecedentedly fierce argument.
"Patriarch! I still insist on my earlier opinion. We cannot stay in Dianchuan Province any longer; we must relocate as soon as possible. Otherwise, if catastrophe spreads here, it will be too late to leave."
In the Bai Family’s council hall, the senior members had gathered. The atmosphere was heavy, the pressure excruciating.
Standing up, Bai Zhidong, head of the Bai Family’s second house, furrowed his brows, his voice ringing with conviction as he expressed his views.
In his opinion, Dianchuan Province was now like a red-hot cauldron. The longer they stayed, the greater the chance of being boiled alive. Leaving early was the only prudent course of action.
"But now, in Dianchuan Province, most of the Sect Aristocracies have joined the great war against the Demonic Evil Cultivators. They are united, fighting side by side against a common enemy. If we leave at this time, isn’t it a bit..." Compared to the aggressive Bai Zhidong, Bai Zhiyong, head of the third house, had a more scholarly demeanor and considered more factors.
Dianchuan Province’s current situation was anything but ordinary. If the Demonic Evil Cultivators won this battle, Dianchuan Province would likely be lost forever. If they lost their ancestral foundation today, it would never be recovered. Moreover, if they just fled without a word, and the news leaked, the Bai Family’s reputation would be ruined.
"You also said ’most of them.’ We wouldn’t be the only family leaving. I’ve already received reliable information that the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains are mobilizing their forces and could march into our province at any moment. You all know what the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains represent. If they truly aim to take Dianchuan, forget about now—even if Gao Tianxiong were alive, I’m afraid he couldn’t stop them. Besides, our departure would also preserve a bloodline for Dianchuan. Otherwise, perhaps no one will even remember Dianchuan in the future. This isn’t fleeing; it’s strategic planning for survival."
Bai Zhidong’s eyes darted around as he laid out his series of reasons. However, these reasons sounded somewhat harsh.
Inside the council hall, everyone fell silent. Actually, even without Bai Zhidong saying it, all the Sect Aristocracies in Dianchuan Province with any means of gathering information already knew. The reason the Demonic Evil Cultivators dared to be so bold this time was because the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains were backing them.
And what Bai Zhidong said did have some merit. If the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains truly insisted on taking Dianchuan, with the province’s current strength, they would be absolutely unstoppable, unless the Central Imperial Court or other major provinces came to their aid. Yet now, the Great Xuan Imperial Court was in decline. Other major provinces governed themselves; how could they possibly mobilize forces to support Dianchuan? Relying on heaven or earth was useless; in the end, one could only rely on oneself.
"What Zhidong says does have some merit." Patriarch Bai Zhiyuan looked around the council hall at the many worried family elders, pressed his lips together, and continued, "Although I am the Patriarch, this matter concerns the life and death of our Bai Family, so I must respect everyone’s opinions. Let’s do it this way: those who agree to evacuate Dianchuan, remain seated; those who agree to stay and fight, stand up. We will abide by the majority’s decision."
As soon as Bai Zhiyuan finished speaking, Bai Zhiyong, head of the third house, hesitated for a moment but eventually stood up slowly.
"Hmph!" Seeing Bai Zhiyong stand, Bai Zhidong, who was beside him, let out a cold snort, crossed his arms, and said no more.
Seeing that no one else was standing, Bai Zhiyuan slowly shook his head and then rose to his feet.
In the vast council hall, nearly twenty senior family members were present. Yet, at this moment, only Patriarch Bai Zhiyuan and Bai Zhiyong, head of the third house, agreed to stay and fight.
Seeing this outcome, Bai Zhiyuan and Bai Zhiyong exchanged a look, each seeing a trace of helplessness and compromise in the other’s eyes.
"Since it’s like this, then it’s settled." Patriarch Bai Zhiyuan could only defer to the collective opinion of the family’s senior members. "Zhidong, you draft an evacuation plan. If it’s feasible, we’ll proceed as you suggest."
After all, this decision concerned the fate of the entire family. Though he was the Patriarch, he didn’t dare keep the decision-making power solely in his own hands.
"Alright! I’m on it!" Bai Zhidong, having gotten his way, stood up and agreed. As he turned to leave, he passed Bai Zhiyong and let out a faint "TCH!" from his nostrils.
Shrugging helplessly with a wry smile, Bai Zhiyong had no choice but to rise slowly and leave with the other family elders.
Soon, only Patriarch Bai Zhiyuan remained in the vast council hall. Sitting in the Patriarch’s seat, looking at the empty seats before him, Bai Zhiyuan gently massaged his temples. Moments later, he let out a prolonged sigh.
"So this is what Brother Bai’s family is like. I, Qi, am truly somewhat disappointed." A voice suddenly spoke.
On an empty seat, a tall and slender figure slowly materialized. The sudden appearance of this person startled the unprepared Bai Zhiyuan.
"Who are you!" Bai Zhiyuan exclaimed. As a Blood-Stained Realm cultivator, he was shocked that he hadn’t noticed this person’s arrival at all!
Turning his head indifferently to look at the anxious Bai Zhiyuan, Qi Xiu slowly twirled the Golden Cry Jade Beads in his hand and said, "Shenxiao Sect, Qi Xiu."
"Shenxiao Sect?"
Hearing the name Shenxiao Sect, Bai Zhiyuan’s expression eased slightly. The Shenxiao Sect, despite its domineering reputation, was undoubtedly a sect of the Righteous Path.
"May I ask, Fellow Daoist, for what reason you have suddenly visited my Bai Family...?"
"You know Bai Qingfeng, correct?"
"Hmm?" Bai Zhiyuan paused, then responded, "He is indeed my son. How do you know...?"
"He had an item for me to pass on to you," Qi Xiu stated.
"But just now, seeing certain individuals in your esteemed household acting so hypocritically—wanting to be whores yet still demanding monuments to their chastity—I suddenly feel that giving this item to you all would be a waste."