Chapter 1439: Chapter 1440: Twisting Your Head Off for Fun
Li Xiaobai spoke bluntly.
“You’re indeed clever, but you seem somewhat different from before!”
“Previously, you were exceedingly attentive to that girl, almost like a love-struck fool. How come you’ve returned from a trip and now you don’t even ask a question? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill her?”
The gaunt old man stared directly at Li Xiaobai, and asked word by word.
“Just a mere woman, Master. If you want to kill, do so at any time. A true man adventures through the world and shouldn’t be hindered by a mere woman on his breezy path.”
Li Xiaobai said indifferently.
“Heh, as expected of my good disciple, your temperament and cultivation have improved quite a bit. The only question is, if that girl truly dies in front of you, can you remain as calm as you are now?”
“Get going then, I’ll give you ten days. If you can’t find the thief’s whereabouts, not only will your dream lover die, but you’ll also be sent into the Ancient Battlefield!”
The gaunt old man said harshly.
“Yes!”
“Everything depends on Master’s arrangements!”
Li Xiaobai nodded, thinking that the thief will never be found in this lifetime. Being sent into the Ancient Battlefield is no big deal, as long as he’s not killed, everything can be negotiated.
“I will report the matters in Cangtian City to the Academy, you may leave!”
The old man said leisurely.
“Yes!”
…
Li Xiaobai left the room without a word.
This Master appeared quite terrifying, ready to kill at any moment.
However, the urgent matter was to figure out what happened with Cai Kun.
“Young Master, do you really want to accept me as a disciple of the Academy?”
The woman’s eyes beside him glistened with excitement and joy. Just now, she was almost scared to reveal her true form, but now she found herself to be accepted into the gate.
She heard the previous conversation. The Academy had trouble recruiting disciples, and she was taken in at the last moment to make up the numbers. But even making up numbers, entering the Academy to cultivate was something many people dreamed of.
“Stick with me, and you’ll be living the high life.”
Li Xiaobai glanced at her and said lightly. When nothing happens, everyone is a good friend; when something does happen, she would immediately be thrown out to take the blame.
Earlier in the hall that old man definitely saw through the woman’s true identity but said nothing. It seemed clear that the Academy wasn’t unable to accept demonic beasts. According to his preliminary judgment, most cultivators in the Immortal Gods Realm didn’t have purely human race Bloodline Power; the demonic beast bloodline significantly dominated.
Cai Kun’s residence was also on this hilltop. Li Xiaobai asked around past disciples for the location; it was a wooden house built along the riverbank.
This riverbank was full of houses, all disciples’ residences. But from what he learned from the disciples he asked, not all disciples and cultivators could have a house of their own to live in.
One must have an esteemed status and strong cultivation power to live in a wooden house. Otherwise, one could only open caves for cultivation.
Cai Kun’s cultivation was decent. Coupled with being a disciple of the one on the mountain top, his status was supposedly not low, owning a house of his own.
But at present, quite a few cultivators gathered there.
By the riverbank, many young men and women stood with their arms crossed, showing an interest in the spectacle.
“Did you hear, Cai Kun is back!”
“But he seems to have returned empty-handed. Yue’er, he doesn’t seem to care about you, does he? Or else, why would he come back empty-handed?”
“I bet his task failed. But don’t worry, with me here, you won’t suffer. From now on, follow Brother Bai, and I’ll protect you!”
“Isn’t it just an accidental overturn of Elder Fen Tian’s Alchemy Furnace? I inquired, it’s not a big deal. The furnace is perfectly fine. Later, I’ll have my Master speak to Elder Fen Tian, and he won’t trouble you much!”
The young cultivators seemed to talk about Li Xiaobai, as a strikingly beautiful female cultivator in the center was surrounded like the moon among stars. A long-haired youth with silver strands laughed heartily.
“Thanks, Brother Bai. Cai Kun is just trash. I only needed to fool him slightly into kneeling and submitting. To say the least, this man is really gullible. He’s probably crying and resenting his incompetence somewhere now!”
“The forty-ninth battlefield is about to open, right? I’ll go appease him for a bit, and then he’ll be back on our side, working like a dog again!”
The female cultivator named Yue’er covered her face and laughed lightly.
“Hahaha, Cai Kun that bootlicker, can only kneel before our Yue’er lady!”
“I’ve long found him displeasing. His power remains stuck at the Transcendent Realm without increasing, yet he takes up a spot among the riverbank residences. In my opinion, why not take this opportunity to challenge him and seize this house!”
“Saves us the trouble of seeing him and letting trash remain among our elite disciples!”
Some cultivators coveted Li Xiaobai’s wooden house, wanting to take his place.
No one objected. If Cai Kun’s previous performance was commendable, it was average at best. Ever since entering the Transcendent Realm, he failed to break through, stuck in the First Heavenly Layer. His Master was only interested in Alchemy, often taking anger out on disciples when displeased, not to mention guidance. Over time, dissent grew louder. In their view, Cai Kun should have been kicked out long ago.
They were in the Academy’s outer circle, belonging to the elite disciples of the outer circle. Though their cultivation didn’t yet allow them to access the core circle, it was only a matter of time. They naturally carried a sense of superiority in actions and demeanor.
Li Xiaobai hid among the crowd, piecing together the context and finally understanding. It turns out Cai Kun was a bootlicker, and the target of his affections seemed to be quite the femme fatale!
Cai Kun should have been trying to protect this woman. Due to various reasons, his Master wanted to kill her. So, Cai Kun stepped in to protect her and proposed a swap request, being dispatched to Cangtian City.
Breaking it down, it’s clearly an easy matter—just a juniors’ scuffle, easily resolved.
“Young Master, should we leave first?”
The woman beside uttered.
“No need. Returning to one’s house is perfectly fine, just walk straight through.”
Li Xiaobai, with hands behind his back and an imposing presence, passed through the crowd heading directly toward his wooden house.
“What brings you all gathered before my house?”
“Cai Kun is here!”
“It’s Cai Kun. He’s actually returned now!”
The crowd was in chaos, looking at Li Xiaobai with astonishment in their eyes.
“Brother Kun, you’re back!”
“How was your trip to Cangtian City?”
The female cultivator named Yue’er approached, her face full of excitement, as if she were seeing a long-lost relative, a stark contrast to her previous venomous demeanor.
The surrounding cultivators watched with amused expressions, enjoying what seemed like an engaging play. Only they understood the intricacies here, reveling in the feeling of seeing a fool manipulated by their ploy!
“Smoothly, quite smoothly!”
“The Master hasn’t punished me much!”
Li Xiaobai too smiled and said.
“Did they recruit any disciples?”
Yue’er continued to ask.
“No, there was an incident in Cangtian City, so we couldn’t recruit any disciples. I will go to the forty-ninth battlefield to take responsibility later, so don’t worry.”
Li Xiaobai replied cheerfully.
“Is Brother Kun also going to the forty-ninth battlefield?”
“That’s great! Brother Bai Ge is also going, why don’t we go together? It’s good to have someone to look out for each other on the way!”
Yue’er expressed her joy and excitement.
“Are you going to the forty-ninth battlefield too?”
“Yes, Yue’er wants to improve her strength and won’t always hide behind Brother Kun. Yue’er will only feel sorry for Brother Kun in the future!”
“But you’re about to die! Master said he’ll come to kill you later. Shall we scatter your ashes on the forty-ninth battlefield?”
Li Xiaobai scratched his head, puzzled.
The entire crowd fell silent.
Yue’er’s smile froze, and the surrounding cultivators who were waiting for a good show also stiffened, unable to believe their ears. Could these words really have come from Cai Kun, who was always devoted to Yue’er?
What’s going on here?
Wasn’t Cai Kun always regarding Yue’er as precious, even willing to face punishment from his master for her sake?
“Brother Kun, what do you mean?”
Yue’er’s face turned pale instantly, looking somewhat embarrassed. She thought he would plead desperately for her, but now it seemed that’s not the case at all.
“Our mission failed, and Master is very angry. You should go clean your neck in a bit, so as not to dirty my master’s hands.”
Li Xiaobai said this and then turned to walk towards his cabin.
“Stop!”
“You damn Cai Kun, how dare you implicate my Yue’er?”
“You couldn’t even complete such a simple task as recruiting disciples; you’re simply useless, bringing shame to Heavenly God Academy. If I were you, I’d have no face to live in the world. You should quit the academy and find a place to end it all!”
Li Xiaobai’s sudden change of attitude instantly ignited a lot of cultivators’ anger. They didn’t understand why this guy suddenly changed, but since they decided not to let him off easily, they must make him pay a price!
Speaking was Bai Ge’s lackey, glaring viciously at Li Xiaobai.
“Make me leave Heavenly God Academy? Even the academy elders dare not say such a thing. Who are you, is Heavenly God Academy owned by your family?”
Li Xiaobai rolled his eyes, initially thinking it might be some kind of secret matter, but it turned out to be just a love and hate affair. Isn’t it just a woman? This is nothing.
Maybe Cai Kun loved this woman named Yue’er deeply, but what does it have to do with Li Xiaobai? As long as it doesn’t hinder him, fine. But if it blocks his way, he’ll directly twist off her head and use it as a ball to kick!
“Stop!”
“Stand in the center; no one agreed to let you leave!”
Bai Ge said indifferently, pulling Yue’er back to his side and commanding Li Xiaobai, implying openly: your woman is mine now, and I’ll deal with you next!
“What’s this supposed to mean?”
“Do you want to test me?”
Li Xiaobai scanned everyone and asked.
“Test you?”
“Are you worthy?”
“Cai Kun, we’ve been discussing your issues for several days now and unanimously believe you’re no longer suitable to live here. This is an elite circle, and the future pillars of Heavenly God Academy cannot tolerate useless individuals among us.”
“Today, I, Long Baichuan, challenge you. If you lose, you’ll have to vacate your residence and never set foot here again!”
Before Bai Ge could speak, someone flashed in front of Li Xiaobai, speaking from a position of superiority.
It was a robust man, eyes like copper bells, hands covered with calluses, clearly a warrior seasoned in battle.
“Friend Cai Kun, don’t blame us for being unreasonable. There is serious competition within Heavenly God Academy, and this is for the better development of the academy.”
“Baichuan’s cultivation level is at the Transcendent Second Layer, with both physique and cultivation higher than yours. Leaving now would spare you from suffering, and since Yue’er is your beloved, surely you wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself in front of her!”
Bai Ge said calmly, maintaining an overbearing demeanor that was displeasing.
“Do you really want a fight?”
“Don’t be fooled by our usual camaraderie. If it comes to battle, I won’t hold back.”
Li Xiaobai raised an eyebrow.
“Hahaha, don’t make me laugh! A waste who has long remained at the Transcendent First Layer talking about mercy, you just need to keep your skin tight so you aren’t killed too easily!”
Long Baichuan laughed heartily, to him it’s the funniest joke he has heard.
“Better back down; you’re not my match.”
“The strength and cultivation of Cai Kun are beyond your comprehension!”
Li Xiaobai shook his head.
“Courting death!”
“Such arrogance! Let’s see what you’re made of!”
Long Baichuan was furious, and his aura surged. His hands, like boulders, pounded on Li Xiaobai fiercely, the fierce energy sweeping the ground, causing it to crack and sending dust and rocks flying everywhere. His power was remarkable.
“Bang!”
A strong vibration appeared under the feet of the cultivators; the dust lingered for several breaths before dispersing.
“Hmph, Brother Baichuan’s full force is no joke; this punch will either kill the boy or heavily injure him. If he ends up lying for ten or fifteen days and is thrown into the Ancient Battlefield, that’s a sure death sentence!”
The surrounding cultivators felt the violent power in the scene, each revealing a cruel smile. But when the dust finally cleared, their smiles froze, replaced by a deep-rooted shiver, making their hair stand on end!
Long Baichuan’s hulking body lay straight in a pool of blood, while Li Xiaobai held a head, calmly wiping away the blood.
“Incredibly hard to believe, you’re so weak yet so confident!”
Li Xiaobai casually tossed the head at Bai Ge’s feet: “Brother Bai, this unreasonable fellow dared to provoke me; since he’s your man, you deal with the corpse!”
Bai Ge’s blood turned cold, and his feet were rigid, unable to move, stunned by the opponent’s killing intent.
He had intended to merely inflict some punishment on the opponent; how did it end up with someone dead?
What has happened to Cai Kun, why has his demeanor changed so drastically, and how could he kill Long Baichuan with just one move? What is this guy’s cultivation, isn’t he supposed to be a waste?