Chapter 1440: Chapter 1441: No Overnight Grudge!
The atmosphere in the arena was filled with a murderous aura, and the surrounding disciples were all shaken. Li Xiaobai’s assertiveness made them feel a chill on their scalps.
Whether it was before or now, they just wanted to see him make a fool of himself and embarrass him, but no one really wanted to kill and erase him from the world.
It is a taboo to kill within the Heavenly God Academy; how could fellow disciples be so cruel as to slaughter each other?
Yet, Cai Kun in front of them unexpectedly killed Long Baichuan without a word, and it was over in an instant, not even giving him a chance to plead for mercy. That was far too brutal.
“You… You actually killed Brother Baichuan!”
“Do you know what crime this is!”
“Who gave you the courage!”
“I will definitely report this to the sect and let the Sect Elder punish you properly!”
After a brief silence, the crowd exploded in chaos. The disciples quickly backed off to maintain distance from Li Xiaobai, as he was a dangerous person. Something must have happened to this guy; his personality had completely changed!
“Whatever the issue, go find my master. He let me do the killing. If not for worrying about stealing his prey, I would have killed this woman too!”
Li Xiaobai’s eyes shot out a sinister and terrifying aura, as he spoke word by word.
“Cai Kun, do not act recklessly here! I knocked over Elder Fen Tian’s alchemy furnace, but Senior Brother Bai Ge has already stepped in to resolve it. So there’s no need for you to threaten me here!”
“You are committing a grave crime by publicly killing within the academy. If you surrender now, the academy might show leniency. Do not act rashly due to momentary anger!”
The female cultivator named Yue’er also spoke at this moment, her words imbued with endless coldness. Li Xiaobai’s atrocities left her in disbelief, but she also revealed her true intentions. Even if this guy suddenly got stronger, she was unafraid, for Bai Ge was a genius of the Baihe Clan, and having such a connection was enough for her to walk sideways on the outskirts of the academy.
At this moment, her attitude towards Li Xiaobai was one of a condescending command. The once obedient admirer now ignored her entirely; her vanity absolutely could not tolerate this!
“Ridiculous! My master can kill whoever he wishes. How dare this cheap woman spew nonsense here? If my master wanted, he’d break your neck and use it as a ball!”
The woman who had been following Li Xiaobai also glared angrily and said these words.
Her retort immediately made Yue’er’s face pale, her gaze filled with spite.
“Cai Kun, you’ve gone too far!”
“Even an elite outer disciple cannot harm fellow disciples in public. Your recent actions already amount to sect betrayal!”
“I will report this. Prepare to accept punishment!”
Bai Ge frowned coldly, surprised that the other party would kill without a second thought, as if they had transformed into a different person.
“Master instructed me! Take it up with him!”
Li Xiaobai shrugged, seemingly indifferent, pushing everything onto the old man who only knew how to do alchemy, since the elder seemed unlikely to care about the details.
Then he leisurely said: “But I didn’t expect Brother Bai Ge to be so ruthless, presumably he’d long wanted to get rid of Long Baichuan and used my hand to do it. You all should stay away from him, lest you die without knowing how.”
Li Xiaobai looked at the surrounding crowd with ruthless mockery, one sentence immediately dispersing this loose group. Long Baichuan’s death was right before them, leaving them no choice but to suspect.
“Alright, alright, just wait. I want to see how you evade the academy’s punishment!”
Bai Ge’s face turned blue and white intermittently from anger, waving his hand as he left. Yue’er also followed without hesitation.
“Disperse, I’ve remembered you all. When the forty-ninth battlefield opens, I’ll kill you one by one!”
Li Xiaobai said indifferently to the many cultivators gathered, not enflamed with anger, but calmly stating a fact.
Looking at the bloodstains on the ground, the cultivators involuntarily trembled. Long Baichuan’s strength was among the better ones, yet he was instantly killed, leaving them unable to gauge Li Xiaobai’s true power.
“Hmph, Cai Kun, don’t be arrogant. Let me tell you, Brother Cai Kun is about to breach tribulation, breaking through to the Immortal Platform Realm. By then you’ll be nothing but meat on the chopping board, so don’t act smug, or your life will be at risk. Some people in this world cannot be provoked!”
A cultivator stubbornly said these words, sensing the mood was tense, and quickly slipped away.
Li Xiaobai’s eyes brightened; it seemed just when he needed a lightning tribulation to break through to the Transcendent Third Layer, Bai Ge’s tribulation was perfectly timed!
“Master, that woman clearly isn’t good. Should I deal with her?”
“It’s unnecessary. What’s your name?”
“In response to Master, this little woman is called Hu Meizi!”
“Good, later set up camp next to the wooden cabin.”
After a brief exchange, Li Xiaobai stepped into Cai Kun’s room. The name Hu Meizi sounded like a demon, but it didn’t matter, being in a strange place having an additional ally might not be bad.
The room was very simple, with a single bed placed lonely, everything was kept minimal.
Without much clutter, from the cracks in the walls, it was evident that the owner of this room was also long subjected to bullying.
Li Xiaobai sat on the bed, reminiscing the journeys he’d undertaken, analyzing everything. Cai Kun was an elite outer disciple at Heavenly God Academy, Elder Fen Tian’s apprentice, possibly the only apprentice. But that Elder had a vile temper and frequently threatened to destroy him; it seemed difficult to interact.
This guy was also a romantic, willing to be a sycophant. Now he’s offended Bai Ge and that person named Yue’er. While the Baihe Family did not matter, Li Xiaobai had nearly played the Baihe Family to ruin in Cangtian City, and he could easily handle them in the academy as well. The key issue was the woman named Yue’er.
One must know, in this overt and covert war, a woman with a good appearance poses the biggest problem.
If it’s only Bai Ge, Li Xiaobai can maneuver and eliminate him, but Yue’er lost one backing and would immediately latch onto another due to her looks. This would create endless trouble for him.
This kind of matter happens frequently on the Immortal Spirit Continent and in the Central Origin Realm. Having suffered enough losses, women are the last people to offend, and if you do, you must eliminate them quickly and solve the root problem!
“That one named Yue’er cannot be tolerated. In terms of danger, her level is definitely above Bai Ge. Just right, that opportunistic master also wants her dead, seize the chance and do away with her!”
Li Xiaobai muttered to himself.
No one understands the Cultivation World more than him. This kind of beauty seeking favor sticks like a dogskin plaster, and once latched on, it’s impossible to shake off. Moreover, the key thing is the opponent will constantly hide in the shadows; one must seize the moment they are in the open to kill them.
“Can’t wait, deal with her now!”
Li Xiaobai flipped his wrist, pulled out a Wolf Fang Club, and strode out.
Not far from the cabin, Hu Meizi was building a small house. Seeing this scene, she immediately ran over joyfully, respectfully asking, “Master, what are your orders?”
“Is your nose sharp? That woman earlier, find her, and deal with her!”
Li Xiaobai said indifferently.
“Consider it done!”
Hu Meizi immediately lay on the ground, twitching her nose to track the familiar scent. She was part of the Demon Race; no need to verify this, Elder Fen Tian knew, Li Xiaobai knew, and she knew herself. She had to demonstrate her usefulness, or else this decisive killer might end her life swiftly.
A few breaths later, she rose.
“Found her, over there!”
Hu Meizi pointed excitedly in a direction.
“Very well, lead the way!”
Li Xiaobai nodded and spoke calmly.
The two moved quickly, rapidly traversing the riverside. There were no cultivators around; they had all been startled away. The bodies on the ground had been cleared away at some point.
This was their first time at the Heavenly God Academy; neither knew which path they were on nor its destination. All they knew was that after winding along the river, they arrived at a peach blossom grove.
Beautiful scenery, gentle breeze, moonlit night—it was clearly a place for tea and leisure, fresh and elegant, without a trace of malice.
“Master, that woman should be inside!”
Hu Meizi said with certainty.
Li Xiaobai nodded and was about to step in. But that very second, a terrifying sense of danger engulfed him. Instinctively, he pinched a talisman, flashed it, and quickly retreated. Just then, where he stood, a thunderbolt struck down.
“This is a barrier!”
“Without the proper invitation, you cannot enter. Are you here looking for someone?”
Behind them, a gentle-looking man approached with a smile and asked Li Xiaobai.
“I’m here looking for Miss Yue’er. May I know your name, brother?”
Li Xiaobai clasped his hands together in salute, placing the Wolf Fang Club behind him, and also smiled.
“You can call me Huahua. The one you’re searching for, I’ve not heard of. It’s likely they’re newcomers to the Peach Blossom Source, having entered with others.”
“This place was set up by the Peach Blossom Saint Lord as an untouched paradise, free from conflict within the grove. Entry requires an invitation, so if you’re urgently seeking someone, perhaps you should wait here; they’ll be out soon.”
The man spoke calmly and kindly, showing great poise and clear eyes.
“I see, I apologize for disturbing Huahua Senior Brother’s serenity. It’s my fault. I’ll return today and make amends another time.”
Li Xiaobai nodded, expressing gratitude.
“No worries!”
The man named Huahua gestured politely, and Li Xiaobai left with Hu Meizi.
The man watched for a while, ensuring everything was fine before his body transformed into petals and dispersed into the air.
Yet, moments after his disappearance, two figures quietly snuck back along the edge, hiding amidst the roadside trees.
“Master, we don’t have tickets and can’t get in. How about another day?”
Hu Meizi suggested.
“Better today than any other day. If we miss this chance, who knows when we’ll get another? That guy Huahua said they’d be out soon, so stay sharp. Once you spot that woman, knock her out and bundle her away!”
Li Xiaobai’s eyes flashed coldly. He pulled out two black cloths to cover his and Hu Meizi’s faces.
The time left to him was limited. Whether by Elder Fen Tian or Cai Kun, he faced a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.
He needed to settle things before then, or he would undoubtedly perish.
“That Huahua Senior Brother was so handsome…”
Hu Meizi seemed enchanted, recalling the face she had seen, her expression turning obsessed. It wasn’t just handsome but with genuine poise. Facial appearance can be altered by magical skills, but poise is ingrained. That man was flawless like a flower…
“What’s the use of being handsome? Can handsomeness be eaten?”
“It’s hard to believe you have the wit to kill and steal by the roadside. The more beautiful something is, the more dangerous it becomes. Women are one thing, but men even more so. That Huahua fellow looks like a difficult one; best not to engage too much, or if he sets his sights on you, escapin won’t be easy.”
Li Xiaobai slapped Hu Meizi’s forehead and scolded quietly.
It’s unexpected that anyone would be so smitten in the cultivation world. If you truly prized looks, why choose a wolf to live with?
The Peach Blossom Source likely hosts gatherings for the elite, albeit grander, not easy to enter casually.
As evening fell, the grove’s peach blossoms radiated pink light, dazzling and bright, filling the air with floral fragrance, refreshing all who breathed it.
Li Xiaobai reflected; the Peach Blossom Saint Lord seemed a remarkable individual, creating such a sanctuary in the Academy, though today, he had to offend this peace to carry out a heist.
No telling how much time had passed.
Night deepened; the barrier at the Peach Blossom Source finally stirred, invisibly reverberating. Several figures emerged, led by Bai Ge, carrying a woman with flushed cheeks and sultry eyes, drenched in fragrant sweat—none other than Yue’er.
It was clear they had passionately battled within the grove and only finally emerged now.
Beside them were several sycophants, greedily eyeing Yue’er’s alluring body, though she belonged to Bai Ge and they could only look.
“Yue’er, I have some matters to attend to in the inner circle. You should return and cultivate for a while.”
Bai Ge laughed mischievously, patting Yue’er’s softness.
“Is Brother Bai heading inside to find fellow Baihe Senior Brothers?”
The woman’s eyes glowed instantly.
“Indeed, that brat during the day was too strange. He harbors murderous intent towards me, and I can’t let it slide. I’ll cross tribulations in the forty-ninth battlefield. Elder Brothers from the clan will protect me, perfect timing to deal with him, ensuring no future worries!”
Bai Ge smirked coldly; in the Academy, killing wasn’t permitted, but in the Ancient Battlefield, death was part of its nature.
“Yes, whatever Senior Brother Bai deems fit. Do introduce the Baihe Clan’s youth to Yue’er; she’s eager to meet them!”
The woman giggled sweetly, her bell-like laughter piercing the night sky.
“Go back and wait. I’ll come find you!”
Bai Ge gripped her again, laughed slyly.
They parted ways, each oblivious to the two pairs of eyes in the shadows watching them.
Bai Ge left with his crew, leaving Yue’er alone. She tightened her clothing, her smile fading to reveal disgust.
Had it not been for wanting to climb up and associate with Inner Sect Disciples, she would never concur with Bai Ge’s rude request.
“Hmph, seemed poised unlike others, turned out to lack endurance, disappointing!”
Yue’er spat disdainfully and was about to leave.
But at that moment, a rustling arose in the dark jungle, two figures sprang out.
Before she could react, a shadow drew a Wolf Fang Club, striking her abdomen forcefully. The energy managed to explode with a shocking sword aura, seemingly ready to cleave her, tear her apart.
Li Xiaobai unleashed his full power, the Demon Sealing Sword Intent sweeping fiercely. Typically, a cultivator would be beheaded by now, but the woman’s abdomen glowed gold, repelling his sword intent with tremendous force.
“Crack!”
The sound of the mirror shattering was clear to the ear. There seemed to be something in the woman’s lower abdomen, which forcibly resisted Li Xiaobai’s Demon-Sealing Sword Intent at the cost of damaging itself.
“Eh?”
Li Xiaobai couldn’t help but let out a sound of surprise. Logically speaking, this woman’s cultivation level shouldn’t be enough to withstand his attack; she has a Magic Treasure!
And it’s a rather good Magic Treasure.
“Who’s there!”
“Daring to commit evil deeds here!”
Yue’er was both shocked and angry, her eyes filled with panic. That was her Heart-Protecting Mirror, just given to her by Bai Ge, and she didn’t expect it to come in handy as soon as she put it on. If she hadn’t been wearing that treasure, the previous strike would have been enough to kill her.
The person came for her life!
This isn’t a mere vendetta; this is a murderous intent!
“I didn’t expect you to have such a treasure, what a pity.”
Li Xiaobai clicked his tongue, thinking that if he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have struck her belly; otherwise, he could have seized a fine spoil.
“Young master, stop wasting words with her, just pack and take her away!”
Hu Meizi, who was standing by, looked around nervously and spoke with urgency, afraid of being seen.
“It’s you!”
“You’re Cai Kun, who gave you the courage to do this to me!”
Yue’er’s expression paused momentarily, then suddenly turned hideous. It turned out to be Cai Kun, this guy dared to make a move against her, completely disregarding past bonds.
“We’ve been discovered!”
“Forget it, we’d be found sooner or later, take her away!”
Li Xiaobai resigned himself; even when trying to act as a bandit, he got found out.
He smashed the woman’s head in front of him with the Wolf Fang Club, leaving her disoriented and seeing stars.
Beneath him, the golden chariot manifested, carrying the woman into the vehicle, transforming into a streak of light, and re-entering the forest.
“How dare you behave like this, harming your fellow disciples? Aren’t you afraid of retribution from the Academy?”
“Even if you’re Elder Fen Tian’s disciple, it doesn’t allow you to flaunt the law, you’re doomed, I will report all your deeds to the Academy!”
“If you release me now, I might still spare your lives!”
The woman was noisy and kept shouting.
Thankfully, there was no one around; otherwise, today’s plan would indeed be exposed.
“Bring the sack here, tie her up!”
Li Xiaobai beckoned, instructing Hu Meizi.
“Uh… what sack?”
Hu Meizi was somewhat dumbfounded; no one mentioned bringing a sack when coming.
“Without a sack, how do we tie her up?”
“Didn’t you prepare one?”
Li Xiaobai frowned, glanced at Hu Meizi, wondering if this fellow’s brain was not very bright.
“There’s a sack here!”
At that moment, a voice as gentle as jade sounded from the darkness of the forest, extending a hand as white as jade, handing out a coarse cloth sack.
“Thanks, brother!”
Li Xiaobai smoothly took the sack and proficiently stuffed Yue’er inside, tightening the mouth while saying.
“When we’re out, the sack must always be with us, it should never be out of hand, don’t let this happen again!”
“Young master…”
Hu Meizi hesitated to speak, seemingly wanting to remind something.
Li Xiaobai tossed the sack onto the golden chariot, grabbed Hu Meizi’s shoulder, transformed into a golden streak, and fled. He was certainly aware that a third person had appeared, extremely terrifying as he breathed without revealing his strength; he intended to escape suddenly to prevent pursuit.
Yet, not long after the golden chariot sped away, he clearly saw the surroundings retreating. Though they continuously advanced, their position kept moving backward.
A few breaths later, they found themselves back at the entrance of Peach Blossom Source Forest.
Standing before them was a familiar face, the gentleman seen during the day, Huahua.
“Uh, it turns out to be Flower Senior Brother, no offense!”
“Earlier, I accidentally caused some noise, disturbing Senior Brother, please accept my apology, I’ll be leaving now!”
Li Xiaobai clasped his hands respectfully, smiled, and prepared to leave again, but the chariot beneath him seemed anchored, motionless. Not only the chariot but his entire body couldn’t move, feeling as if he had fallen into Hundred Percent Barehanded Blade Catch.
“The two of you exude quite the killing intent, not in alignment with the ethos of my Peach Blossom Source Forest. If there’s a next time, don’t act in this place, I hope you’ll show me some face!”
Huahua’s face maintained a professional smile, his tone gentle, with no trace of anger.
“Rest assured, Flower Senior Brother, there won’t be a next time!”
Li Xiaobai patted his chest, assuring.
“Let’s hope so, but you caused some damage to the flora earlier, come tomorrow to replant, and the merits will offset the faults!”
Huahua advised.
“Understood, not only will I plant trees tomorrow, we’ll plant many, going for quantity!”
Li Xiaobai replied loudly, unintentionally breaking out in a cold sweat, the man before him was somewhat terrifying, binding him without a hand raise. Today, he somewhat understood the fearsome sensation of the cultivators in Hundred Percent Barehanded Blade Catch.
The feeling of your body not under your own control is terrible.
“I’ll be expecting you.”
Huahua smiled satisfactorily, the shackles around Li Xiaobai easing, restoring his bodily control. He bowed in salute, and the golden chariot transformed into a streak, disappearing swiftly from the area.
A little less than half an hour later.
Li Xiaobai and Hu Meizi appeared, sweating profusely inside the cabin, locking the doors and windows, feeling relieved.
Earlier, he almost thought he was finished, but thankfully that man named Huahua was kind; otherwise, today might’ve really been a different story.
I don’t know what cultivation level the other party has to possess such power. He must be at least in the Immortal Platform Realm, right?
“Master, we escaped danger!”
Hu Meizi patted her chest and said. She was sweating profusely just now.
It’s the first time she felt this world was truly terrifying. She used to hide in the mountains and forests, ambushing and killing lonely cultivators, living quite well. But ever since she followed Li Xiaobai, she felt she couldn’t beat anyone.
Especially in this Heavenly God Academy, any random person popping up could easily kill her. Honestly, she kind of missed her home, feeling safe as a little demon who idly eats and waits for death doesn’t seem so bad.
“Useless, what are you afraid of? Could anyone really eat us?”
Li Xiaobai glared and said viciously. Facing Huahua just now, he tried to stay calm and composed. He absolutely couldn’t lose face in front of his underlings.
“That’s not for sure. Some cultivators love eating people. We all have Demonic Beast bloodlines; we’d taste flavorful, but Huahua Senior Brother certainly wouldn’t eat people. He’s not that kind of person!”
“That Senior Brother named Huahua is not only handsome but also kind-hearted. He actually let us go…”
“But why did he have a sack and even lent it to the master?”
Hu Meizi said to herself. In her eyes, that man became more perfect, but his behavior was a bit odd. They were grabbing people on his territory, yet the host actively offered a sack, quite puzzling.
“Isn’t that obvious? Bai Ge and this woman were engaging in improper actions in Peach Garden Sacred Land, polluting the sacred atmosphere. Perhaps Huahua was also unhappy about it!”
Li Xiaobai rolled his eyes, shook his hand, opened the bag, and pulled out the woman from inside, throwing her to the ground.
This woman’s attire was scant, likely for convenience in staying close with Bai Ge, leaving only a small vest, exposing snow-white skin.
“Brother Kun, I’m sorry!”
“I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have been bewitched to flatter Bai Ge. For the sake of our multiple pleasures under the bed, let me off, please!”
“Let’s go back to before. I can serve you tirelessly. Let’s talk in bed; I can be on top again!”
This woman named Yue’er recognized reality, her eyes filled with fear, grabbing Li Xiaobai’s trousers while begging bitterly. She realized the Cai Kun in front of her had changed completely, the deep gaze and fierce aura were something she hadn’t seen before.
Though she didn’t know what happened to Cai Kun during this time outside, the other party could really kill her at any time without a burden.
She was truly scared.
“Quiet down; there are people here. Let’s be normal.”
Li Xiaobai shook the Wolf Fang Club in his hand, speaking lightly.
“No problem, she’s your new woman, right? I can be with her. You haven’t tried two people yet, have you?”
Yue’er continued, attempting to seduce Li Xiaobai with her charms.
“Slut!”
Hu Meizi spat out. This woman’s shameless level was beyond her imagination.
“Quiet down!”
“I ask; you answer!”
“What’s your name?”
Li Xiaobai impatiently and directly asked.
“My name’s Su Yue…”
The woman’s eyes were filled with fear and confusion. Did a name really need to be asked?
“Gender.”
“Female.”
“Age?”
“Twenty-seven!”
“Old woman.”
Li Xiaobai was sharp-tongued, but inside he sighed. Being born in different places is vastly different. Some people’s starting point at birth is what countless folks pursue their whole lives, already having such cultivation level at twenty-seven is enough to make cultivators in the Central Origin Realm look up in awe.
“Quiz for you, how is the Heavenly God Academy structured, and how its internal forces divided?”
Li Xiaobai continued asking.
“The academy is divided into an inner region and an outer region. We are in the outer region, while the true core area is where the academy’s geniuses reside, not accessible to the general. It’s said only entering the Immortal Platform Realm can be considered a stepping stone for gaining access to the inner region, though not necessarily leading to entry.”
Su Yue said.
“How is Elder Fen Tian? How did I become his disciple?”
Li Xiaobai continued probing.
“Elder Fen Tian has an eccentric temperament; he loves alchemy his whole life. Initially, the dean saw Burn Heaven Peak’s vegetation decaying, unmanaged for years, thus ordered him to find a disciple to practice on the mountain, reviving its glory. Elder Fen Tian then brought Brother Kun along.”
Su Yue cautiously observed Li Xiaobai’s expression while talking. She was puzzled by why he kept asking these common knowledge questions.
Her mind vaguely formed a suspicion: Could it be the Cai Kun before her wasn’t the real Cai Kun but an impostor, otherwise why such drastic change and asking universally known queries?
“Fairly honest.”
Li Xiaobai nodded.
“Brother Kun, give me another chance, and I’ll work hard for you!”
Su Yue pleaded.
“Then do you know how Bai Ge plans to deal with me next?”
Li Xiaobai smiled while asking.
“I’m unsure about this. Bai Ge will be preparing for his Tribulation Crossing soon, probably won’t have the energy to oppose Brother Kun. Moreover, Brother Kun is a disciple under Elder Fen Tian; Bai Ge wouldn’t dare go too far!”
Su Yue’s eyes gleamed with unusual light while speaking.
“Alas, this person isn’t honest. She’s given a free chance and refuses. Tell me, how should she be dealt with?”
Li Xiaobai looked towards Hu Meizi for answers.
Hu Meizi casually replied with just three words: “Eat her.”