Chapter 1423: Chapter 1424: Setting Aside the Facts
Immortal Fu?
Indeed, someone with status!
Li Xiaobai’s eyes flickered with an unusual light. His goal was to have a capable young disciple follow him closely, thus proclaiming his own identity without outright stating it.
Simply declaring oneself incredible is useless; it requires those around you to vouch for it. Especially when pretending to be an Elder of the Heavenly God Academy, one must unintentionally reveal traces of their identity to convince others. Yet, no one dares to pierce this veil of secrecy.
“Haha, young man, don’t be so hotheaded… Come, allow this old man to gift you a hat.”
Li Xiaobai cheerfully walked forward, pulled out a green hat, and placed it on the young cultivator’s head. With a measured tone, he said, “I must admit, my earlier words lacked tact—my deepest apologies, I hope you can forgive me!”
As his words fell, the young cultivator’s face displayed a peculiar smile and involuntarily said, “Then I forgive you!”
“Hahaha, excellent—young people are truly forthright! Let bygones be bygones. Wonderful!”
Li Xiaobai removed the forgiveness hat and burst into laughter, striding leisurely up the mountain.
Meanwhile, the young disciple’s face betrayed confusion, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.
This was the effect of the forgiveness hat; merely wearing it would unconditionally forgive the opposing party.
“Such a skill is astonishing—clearly, an expert from the Heavenly God Academy!”
Fu Tao followed closely behind, inwardly exclaiming in awe. Her gaze toward the green hat brimmed with excitement—this was an extraordinary treasure. Even she could not discern its mysteries, proving it was a rare gem. Its demonstrated ability to control a cultivator’s speech and actions was undeniable. If she performed well, who knows, perhaps this item might be gifted to her.
“This young lass is of unusual background!”
Li Xiaobai leisurely remarked.
“This humble girl is just a daughter from the Fu Family, nothing noteworthy,”
Fu Tao hurriedly replied.
“That cannot go unmentioned—being a daughter of the Fu Family yet leaving only a few pieces of Rare Earth as recompense after bumping into an old man on the street… such an act hardly befits your House’s reputation.”
Li Xiaobai strolled casually, murmuring as though talking to himself.
Catching on immediately, Fu Tao flipped her wrist and tossed out a pouch full of resources—inside were over a thousand Rare Earth pieces, an undeniably enormous sum for any disciple-level cultivator in the city!
This girl is quite tactful—a walking money bag.
Li Xiaobai savored the moment and reaped another wave of income. Including what he’d previously acquired from Baihe, he now had a total of two thousand Rare Earth pieces—within Cangtian City, this amount established him as a solid tycoon.
“Having a desire makes things easier—catering to their preferences is key to winning over this senior!”
Fu Tao’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She felt no resentment toward Li Xiaobai’s extortion. On the contrary, she was delighted, finding solace in the old man’s expressed greed—gift-giving becomes easy when the recipient desires something. She was confident that if her offerings continued, entry into the Heavenly God Academy was within reach!
Atop the mountain, the cultivators had long noticed the unusual commotion below.
Pairs of sharp eyes fixated on the scene, observing the leisurely ascent of the old man and young girl.
“I am Bai Hua of the Cangtian White Crane Sect. Greetings, senior! May I know your honored name?”
From the seat of honor within the gathering, a young man rose and bowed respectfully in Li Xiaobai’s direction.
This elder was remarkable. All present could sense what set him apart, though, curiously, they couldn’t detect a trace of power from him—not even the faintest aura. It seemed as though he were an ordinary mortal who had accidentally stumbled upon their tea gathering atop the mountain.
But that was impossible—those without cultivation couldn’t ascend this mountain. The only plausible explanation was that his cultivation far surpassed their own, eclipsing theirs by an unimaginable margin, hence the apparent lack of detection.
“A wandering hermit, just an old fool without any title. I’ve always enjoyed joining lively crowds, and upon hearing about this gathering, I decided to drop by. Indeed, you are all the young elites of Cangtian City, what fine future pillars of your families!”
Li Xiaobai chuckled cheerfully, waving his hand, as his gaze swept the crowd. To his surprise, he spotted several familiar faces—among them was Nangong Menglu, seated gracefully among the group. However, she hadn’t recognized him and remained engrossed in herself, sipping wine nonchalantly, paying no mind to her surroundings.
“Good sir, today is the day of the Minor Tribulation Peak’s gathering of heroes. If you have no pressing matters, perhaps you might choose another day to visit.”
A cultivator interjected, coordinating with Bai Hua—their polite refusal clearly intended to verify the elder’s identity.
“Third Sister, you brought this elderly gentleman here. Don’t you have anything to add?”
A refined young man with a feather fan spoke leisurely. His attire resembled the youth from the mountain’s base but was far more opulent—clearly the Eldest Young Master of the Fu Family.
“The elder has trouble walking and inconveniences in daily matters. As a member of the Fu Family’s disciples, it’s my duty to extend my assistance for the greater good of Cangtian City. Lending a hand in times of injustice is only proper.”
Fu Tao replied indifferently, exuding an air of arrogance. She felt an unparalleled sense of clarity amidst the surrounding haze; her sole task was to cater to Li Xiaobai.
“In that case, let’s prepare a seat for the elder to extend our hospitality.”
Bai Hua waved his hand, and the grass and stones of the peak twisted and morphed into a set of chairs and tables appearing before Li Xiaobai. Cups of tea poured themselves autonomously, offering refreshment to both him and Fu Tao.
The hospitality was flawless—criticism would be unwarranted.
“We were just discussing recent events outside the city. Elder, it seems you are not a cultivator from Cangtian City, correct?”
One cultivator tentatively asked.
“Correct, I come from beyond. Things are quite chaotic out there, I must say.”
Li Xiaobai nodded.
“May I ask, Elder, what thoughts you hold on recent happenings within Cangtian City? Are you aware of anything noteworthy?”
Bai Hua continued probing—all were curious about this mysterious old man’s origins.
“Thoughts, I have, but I’d rather not say. I shall rest briefly and depart soon. Please, there’s no need to concern yourselves with me.”
Li Xiaobai shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of reserved hesitation.
“Elder, please don’t hesitate to speak; we’re all listening,”
Bai Hua offered kindly, smiling warmly. Lately, the atmosphere of Cangtian City had been rife with tension—everyone knew an expert from the Heavenly God Academy was scouting the area, yet none could discern their identity. Li Xiaobai’s emergence had shattered the eerie calm, sparking instincts that signaled he was extraordinary.
They sought to hear his thoughts on the city’s cultivators to gauge his origins. However, the elder’s subsequent words left Bai Hua speechless.
“Since you ask boldly, I shall answer bluntly—what’s your take on the Baihe Family kidnapping numerous young elites of the city?”
“But honestly, none of that matters. Setting aside the facts, the one hundred fifty young talents abducted have now returned safely to Cangtian City’s embrace. Surely, their futures will be bright indeed!”