12 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

### Chapter 12 **Previous Chapter** | **Bookmark** **Bookshelf Management** | **Table of Contents** | **Next Chapter** --- The Elder Master's face darkened, clearly on the verge of losing his temper. However, with members of the Upper Sect present, he restrained himself and kept his emotions in check. As soon as Bai Fan emerged, he sensed the tense atmosphere. He cautiously craned his snake's head out, his slit-like eyes peering through the vegetation. He couldn't fathom how he always ended up in such situations. All he had wanted was to bask in the moonlight. He had assumed that the envoy from the Upper Sect would be of average demeanor and was startled to discover the person was far from ordinary. Gazing at this ethereal figure, even Bai Fan, with his skewed sense of aesthetics, found himself captivated. Beautiful things always managed to invoke longing in people. "In one month, we request Qingxu Sect's Master to bring the disciples to Wan Feng Platform," the man stated. Even before his words completely faded, the ethereal woman beside him rose to leave, looking as though she had no intention of staying a moment longer. The Elder Master stood and, along with Lian Sheng and several others, escorted them out. The two figures took to their swords and, in the blink of an eye, vanished into streaks of light across the sky. As their figures disappeared on the horizon, the Elder Master finally exploded, "Do our disciples' lives mean nothing just because we are a smaller sect?" Lian Sheng, Gu He, Li Xiao Yan, and the other disciples looked down in silence, having all heard of the peril that Wan Feng Platform posed—even foundation establishment cultivators met their end there. Sending fledgling disciples like them was akin to sending them to their deaths. After venting his frustration, the Elder Master rubbed his temples, looking like he had a severe headache. Feeling unlucky, Bai Fan thought it prudent to quietly sneak away. The rustling sound he made was crystal clear to a cultivator's ears. "Come out!" The Elder Master roared, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression no longer restrained. Bai Fan had a natural fear of the Elder Master, having been scared by him once. Now, under the Elder Master's loud command, he flattened himself to the ground, too petrified to move. The cold anger on the Elder Master's face filled Bai Fan with immense regret for being there. While Bai Fan remained pinned to the ground and the Elder Master maintained his stern gaze, both remained in a standoff. The younger disciples, frightened by the Elder Master's shout, also stood trembling. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Bai Fan cautiously slithered out from the bushes, keeping his head low, knowing full well the fiery gaze was fixed upon him. "Dabai," It was Lian Sheng's voice. Bai Fan lifted his head to look at Lian Sheng, only to first meet the darkened face of the Elder Master. Their eyes locked. "Creature of shadows and darkness, forever groveling in the hidden corners," the Elder Master spat with disdain. His anger, stemming from Lian Sheng's gratitude towards Bai Fan, had him bitter and sarcastic. Lian Sheng, being indebted to Bai Fan, could not reciprocate the cooperation expected, which only agitated the Elder Master further. A future sect master being raised by a snake demon was a disgrace, a clear sign of how unsuitable Bai Fan was. Bai Fan, simple-minded as he was, couldn't grasp the full meaning behind the Elder Master's insults and merely thought that enjoying the shade was just a part of being a snake. Ignorant to the deeper implications, he remained unfazed, believing that his nature was unchangeable. The Elder Master, realizing his words fell on deaf ears, grew more exasperated, finally storming off with a huff. Gu He and Li Xiao Yan hurried to follow, while Lian Sheng chose to stay, missing Bai Fan. "Dabai, what are you doing here?" "Hiss. Basking in the moonlight." Seeing that the Elder Master had left, Bai Fan regained his full height. Eyeing Lian Sheng, he saw the boy had gained weight and figured that life in Qingxu Sect truly suited him. Back in Wang Yue Temple, Lian Sheng had to perform rituals, whereas here, he could solely focus on cultivation. "From now on, whenever you see Grandfather, try to keep out of sight. If he spots you, he'll definitely scold you," Lian Sheng advised, helplessly. The Elder Master was his grandfather, so Lian Sheng could only appease Bai Fan, patting the snake's head. Bai Fan nodded. He never held grudges against the Elder Master, thinking himself broad-minded enough to let such things go. "Grandfather is teaching me how to cultivate. I'm nearly at the Foundation Establishment stage. Have you ever thought about cultivating, Dabai?" Back at Wang Yue Temple, Lian Sheng knew Bai Fan's cultivation was slow and arduous. But since coming to Qingxu Sect, Lian Sheng understood the numerous benefits of cultivation. Reaching Foundation Establishment could extend one’s life by decades, meaning he could live around 160-170 years, effectively living two lifetimes. The same wasn't true for Bai Fan. Despite being a beast demon, he was still an ordinary snake demon. Even if he reached old age, he'd still be outlived by a long span of years when compared to Lian Sheng, who feared outliving Bai Fan unless the snake began its own cultivation journey soon. Bai Fan nodded earnestly at Lian Sheng's suggestion. He had always wanted to cultivate, but his aptitude was lacking. Although he basked in moonlight and soaked in the spiritual spring every day, meaningful progress would take at least a decade. Fortunately, he had swallowed the Jiao’s elixir, extending his lifespan considerably. Without it, he would never achieve much in this lifetime. Seeing Bai Fan’s nod, Lian Sheng eagerly pulled out a book from his sleeve and handed it to Bai Fan. The blue cover read "Basic Cultivation Techniques." Bai Fan was taken aback—it was a cultivation manual. He could read, having followed the Wang Yue Temple leader for many years. Though he hadn't written, he could certainly recognize the characters. He already had the transformation techniques from the Jiao, and now Lian Sheng had secretly given him basic cultivation techniques, making it a perfect combination. Although Bai Fan had been able to sense spiritual energies for some time, he didn’t know how to use it—like a person sitting on a treasure trove but unable to spend a dime. Bai Fan carefully took the book into his mouth, cautious not to soak it with his saliva. Lian Sheng chuckled at the scene. "Dabai, it's alright. I coated the book's pages with wax; it won’t get wet." Bai Fan's eyes widened, looking at Lian Sheng in astonishment. It was touching how thoughtful the young man had become and how he had prepared this long ago. In fact, Lian Sheng had kept the book on him for quite some time, holding onto it until now due to his hectic cultivation schedule. Seizing the chance today, he finally handed it over. "Hiss hiss. Thank you." "Alright then, I must catch up with the others. Dabai, promise to cultivate diligently and not waste precious time," Lian Sheng advised, affectionately patting Bai Fan’s head before rising to leave. Bai Fan watched Lian Sheng walk away, feeling immensely happy and eager at the thought of finally being able to cultivate. However, it was dark, and despite Bai Fan's good vision, reading in the pitch-black night was impossible. He would have to wait until morning. Finding a clean boulder, Bai Fan coiled himself on top of it, gazing up at the emerging moon. The sky was clear, guaranteeing ample moonlight. Moonlight bathed his serpentine body, causing his scales to shimmer softly, adding a gentle glow to the night. The cool night air seeped through Bai Fan's spine, soothing him. The excitement of obtaining the manual kept him restless through the night. He remained awake all night. As morning dew began to form, Bai Fan flicked his tongue, tasting its sweetness. With an alertness, he raised his body, facing east to greet the rising sun, his precious cultivation manual safely tucked beneath him. Before the sun fully rose, a faint purple aura lingered, soon replaced by the rich yellow-orange glow that gradually spilled out from the east. Bai Fan witnessed his first sunrise in its entirety. His snake eyes filled with a mix of wonder and confusion. As the sun fully emerged, Bai Fan felt an indescribable shift within himself, though he couldn't pinpoint what it was. The most crucial task at hand was studying the cultivation manual. Eagerly, he opened it, flipping to the first page. Contrary to his expectations of arcane script like the ones recited by the Wang Yue Temple leader, the manual had illustrations too. Depicting a human body, it still provided valuable insight to Bai Fan. Apart from the missing limbs, the body was the same. The manual began with the basics of absorbing spiritual energy. Everything in existence had a spirit, but the most vital was the omnipresent spiritual energy. Having sensed spiritual energy for a while, Bai Fan quickly grasped the initial steps, feeling the slight, surrounding aura. His muscles relaxed, and his once rigid scales softened, appearing almost tender. The spiritual energy, drawn to him, began to flow into Bai Fan's body, converging and entering his meridians. ### Chapter 12 **Previous Chapter** | **Bookmark** **Bookshelf Management** | **Table of Contents** | **Next Chapter** --- Bai Fan's meridians, once clogged, were now less obstructed thanks to the nourishing effects of the spiritual spring. As the spiritual energy circulated through his body, it slowly cleared the remaining blockages, causing him considerable discomfort. So intense was the ordeal that thin streaks of blood seeped from beneath his scales, painting a gruesome picture. Bai Fan writhed in agony, grinding small pebbles into powder as he rolled about. Eventually, the pain subsided, leaving his body stained in a mess of blood and grime. Panting heavily, Bai Fan cursed the accursed manual. Why was this so excruciating while the transformation methods didn’t hurt nearly as much? The experience felt akin to being flayed alive. After resting for a bit, Bai Fan began to notice changes in his body. It seemed he had expelled some impurities, feeling an odd sense of purification. Turning to glance at himself, he saw his once gleaming white scales now smeared and hideous with bloodstains. "Hiss hiss." A bath was in order—even as a snake, Bai Fan valued cleanliness. With the manual in his mouth, he slithered into the underbrush and disappeared from sight. Underneath a waterfall, Bai Fan was in the midst of washing away the blood and grime from his body, having carefully hidden the manual nearby. The icy water enveloped him, making Bai Fan feel so comfortable that he began to float, drifting on the water's surface. Anyone passing by might mistake him for some discarded object, seeing a white shape bobbing along the stream. Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, the young servant Li Lin had been waiting for Bai Fan since early morning. A pile of items awaited transport down the mountain. "Where did that big-tailed snake go? Skipping breakfast is one thing, but it's almost noon, and still no sign of him," Li Lin muttered, growing more impatient by the minute. **Previous Chapter** | **Table of Contents** | **Next Chapter**