Chapter 1417: Chapter 1418: Sustainable Development
“Silence!”
“A complete set of Immortal God armor contains divine spirits. Do not act recklessly; you must tread carefully!”
“Disciples of the Baihe Family, prepare your poles!”
Bailu shouted sternly, the scholarly aura around her instantly transforming into an overwhelming and terrifying battle intent. Her original plan was to use this opportunity to trap and kill a group of other cultivators. However, she hadn’t anticipated Li Xiaobai, who suddenly dashed in and swept away all the treasures in the area in one fell swoop.
Still, as long as Li Xiaobai remained within the Baihe Family’s territory, it wouldn’t be an issue. She could find another opportunity to deal with him.
The armor floating down the river now was a treasure from the Ancient Battlefield, relatively intact and undamaged—an extremely rare artifact. The river’s current was fast, leaving no time to summon elders from the clan, so they had no choice but to handle the situation themselves.
“Who could have foreseen that the Baihe Clan’s river would connect to treasure streams of this caliber? It seems the connection isn’t to an ordinary battlefield but likely to the Tenth Battlefield!”
Nearby, Nangong Menglu muttered to herself.
“The Tenth Battlefield? What’s that?”
Li Xiaobai looked toward her quizzically.
“With your level of cultivation, how could you not know about the battlefield’s existence? Why don’t I write a recommendation letter for you to join the Tenth Battlefield and experience it firsthand?”
Nangong Menglu’s eyes flashed with a hint of mischief as she smiled faintly, emanating an aura of danger.
Initially, she’d casually brought a country bumpkin into town, never expecting to strike gold. Even she was shocked by Li Xiaobai’s recent actions; such audacity would have garnered attention from countless geniuses at Heavenly God Academy. Moreover, upon closer observation, she found she couldn’t discern his aura—it was as if he were merely an ordinary mortal. His cultivation level was likely on par with hers, or perhaps even higher.
However, Nangong Menglu wasn’t ignorant or naïve. Given Li Xiaobai’s cultivation level, he was undoubtedly a prodigious talent. It would be wise to maintain good relations rather than risk conflict, especially since he had acted under the pretense of her name. This favor was truly one she owed now.
“Cough, cough, that won’t be necessary. But wouldn’t Immortal Shui Yunzhou be tempted by this?”
Li Xiaobai waved his hand and glanced toward the river, seemingly intrigued by the treasure’s value.
“The Baihe Family wouldn’t let this treasure slip out of their grasp. Besides, this isn’t the genuine Shui Yunzhou but rather a replica. Still, it’s remarkably preserved, surviving the battlefield’s chaos—a rare treasure for the younger members of the Baihe Clan.”
Nangong Menglu explained.
“Heh, the Baihe Family may have a long lineage, but they remain confined to their small territory, never witnessing the vast skies beyond. Only by joining Heavenly God Academy can one truly grasp how boundless the world is!”
A servant accompanying Nangong Menglu commented disdainfully, his tone tinged with mockery as he looked down on others.
Shui Yunzhou was indeed a great treasure, but not enticing enough to compel even Nangong Menglu to act. Disciples from Heavenly God Academy were undeniably wealthy and brimming with confidence.
Li Xiaobai’s gaze flickered with intrigue as he mulled over the idea of potentially kidnapping Nangong Menglu—surely that would net a fortune. However, judging by her demeanor, she likely wasn’t an easy target. Her strength was formidable, and he wasn’t certain he could defeat her yet.
What kind of existence was Heavenly God Academy? Could it truly surpass the fabled Pure Land?
New to the scene, Li Xiaobai thought he needed to gather more information about the intricacies of this society.
The group stood by the lake, each harboring private intentions. Bailu spoke up again: “Fellow Daoists, I implore you to aid the Baihe Family. By any means necessary, retrieve Shui Yunzhou! The Baihe Family is willing to pay handsomely for it!”
This declaration set the scene ablaze. Many cultivators grew restless. Though ordinary treasures might spark competition, Shui Yunzhou was clearly beyond their reach. Even if they managed to retrieve it, they would have no choice but to hand it over to the Baihe Family. Despite their fiery gazes, their interest was lukewarm.
Bailu’s promise of substantial rewards, however, finally piqued their greed. Consulting the Baihe Family and earning a generous payoff seemed like an excellent deal.
“Immortal, don’t worry—allow me to assist!”
“If you proceed carefully, everything will be fine. Stir the lake water so Shui Yunzhou can surface on its own!”
Several young talents immediately took action, each unleashing their techniques in an effort to retrieve the treasure from the lake.
However, as soon as their powers touched the water, a malevolent force reached through their cultivation levels, dragging their bodies directly into the river—as if an invisible hand had seized them, pulling them beneath. Not a single scream escaped; in mere moments, they were reduced to skeletons.
This was the ancestral Bloodline Power of the Immortal Crane Clan—a backlash force. Witnessing how effortlessly Li Xiaobai had collected treasures earlier, the cultivators let their guard down. Their rash attempts to interact with the river now resulted in their instant demise.
“What a bunch of idiots—bought and still eager to count money for their buyers!”
Yang Xiu sneered unapologetically as he observed the scene, his old habits flaring up again.
“Brother Yang, what do you mean by that?”
Li Xiaobai smiled slyly, pretending to seek insight.
“Cough, cough… Since the river is infused with Bloodline Power, it naturally requires nourishment. Ordinary treasures wouldn’t suffice. You know what I mean…”
Yang Xiu shrank back nervously, recalling Li Xiaobai’s intimidating presence. He didn’t dare get too carried away now.
“The Baihe Family is merely using this opportunity to eliminate outsiders. The deceased are disciples from other clans within the city, while the ones remaining untouched belong to major clans. This sort of scheme has long become routine.”
“What’s your take on this, Daoist Li?”
Nangong Menglu asked calmly.
“Such a narrow perspective. Going to great lengths to corner mere minnows—this is truly pitiful. Maybe this is how the struggling lower class survives in the cracks?”
“If I were a Baihe Family prodigy, I wouldn’t stoop to direct killings. Instead, I’d adopt a sustainable approach, pack them all up, and ransom them back to their clans after a few months. That way, the profits would be immense.”
Li Xiaobai sneered disdainfully, fully criticizing the Baihe Family’s self-directed drama. Their elaborate scheme merely targeted minor clan disciples—a wasteful use of resources with an abysmal return on investment. If he had to rate their endeavor, it would be an epic failure.
“Uh…”
“Daoist Li’s perspective is truly admirable. Recently, similar incidents have indeed been reported.”
Nangong Menglu’s eyes widened as she scrutinized Li Xiaobai. It was her first time hearing such a refreshingly unconventional viewpoint. Such knowledge must stem from years of experience in scams and schemes—certainly not something one could conjure up without extensive practice.
Something felt off, yet she couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
Yang Xiu internally panicked, silently praying. The young lady was just a step away from uncovering the truth, but he didn’t dare expose it. In Baihe’s warehouse lay over 150 bodies; if discovered, it would be a disaster.
Li Xiaobai casually added, “I had the chance to meet Wu Zhong from the Cangtian White Crane Sect outside the city. He’s the one who told me. Truly a knowledgeable family disciple—his wisdom is extraordinary.”