17 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

Chapter 17 Bai Fan had been in a deep slumber for several days because of the Golden Bracelets. When she finally woke up, it felt as if her head had been struck heavily, leaving her in a daze. At this moment, she lay on a cloud bed, clutching her head. The unfamiliar scent in the room made her uneasy. She quickly sat up, and upon seeing the glistening golden bracelets on her wrists and ankles, her expression changed instantly. Fury spread across her face as she bared her sharp fangs and bit down on the bracelets, even revealing the venomous tips of her teeth. Unfortunately, whatever material these bracelets were made from was exceedingly tough. Bai Fan bit down so hard she nearly broke her teeth, the grating sound of her teeth against metal was excruciating. At this moment, the door creaked open. Bai Fan’s ears pricked up, and she instantly jumped off the bed, bare feet planted firmly on the ground, adopting a defensive stance. The person who entered was Li Xiao Yan, carrying a set of clothes. Seeing Bai Fan’s wary posture, she scoffed, "Who are you on guard against?" Bai Fan already had no fondness for Li Xiao Yan. Recalling the numerous times she had suffered losses because of her, Bai Fan’s eyes turned red and her fangs appeared again. Li Xiao Yan, unconcerned, entered the room and placed the clothes on the side. If it weren't for the shortage of female disciples, she wouldn't have had to deliver clothes. "These are for you," she said. Bai Fan glanced at the clothes on the table with hesitation. She was currently wearing Lian Sheng’s clothes, which didn’t fit well and hadn’t been changed for days. Eventually, she took the clothes and dashed to a corner to change. Li Xiao Yan crossed her arms, watching as Bai Fan emerged dressed in the white robes of a Qingxu Sect disciple. She did have an ethereal charm to her, if not for her bare feet and fierce expression which made her look like a wild child—far from the serene image she had when asleep. Li Xiao Yan’s disdain only grew. She thought to herself, what use is a pretty face when beastly conduct prevails? She deserved no better than to be called a wild girl. But Bai Fan paid no mind to any of this. She didn’t like wearing shoes and was indifferent to such opinions. She pushed past Li Xiao Yan, walking out boldly, albeit with her collar turned up and her clothes somewhat disheveled. Li Xiao Yan, angered, kicked the table corner, only to hurt her own foot, and stomped off in a rage. "That wretched snake demon dared to push me!" Outside, Bai Fan wandered aimlessly. She didn’t know where to go, and the bracelets felt like they had merged with her skin, impossible to remove. From a distance, it was as if she were a prisoner, marked by the conspicuous golden cuffs. She squatted by the spirit pond, weariness in her eyes. Recently transformed into a human and brought to the Elder Master, she was now finally awake. After decades as a snake, her transformation felt surreal—like a dream. She had lived so long as a snake, she truly felt like one. She dipped her hands and feet into the water, feeling utterly satisfied, if not for the dreadful bracelets. A familiar voice interrupted her reverie. "Da Bai." She knew who it was immediately. Jumping to her feet, she bared her fangs at Lian Sheng. The pain of receiving these bracelets was still fresh, worse than the transformation itself. "Da Bai, listen to me. Grandfather did this for your own good. You have demonic energy in you, and your cultivation fluctuates. He feared you might encounter danger, so he gave you these for protection." "Hiss hiss," Only a fool would believe that! The old man was the worst; he always despised me. Bai Fan could no longer so easily trust him. He was no longer a child. She might have been a bit slow, but she understood that human nature was unpredictable. There had to be a reason Lian Sheng joined Qingxu Sect, while she, having no ambitions of her own, followed him foolishly, hoping to return to Wangyue Temple together. These four bracelets induced genuine fear within her. Seeing Bai Fan's wary stance, Lian Sheng didn't dare approach. The once little Da Bai had now become a young girl, making interactions awkward and cautious. "We're soon heading to Wan Feng Platform, make sure you cultivate diligently." After saying this, Lian Sheng left with reluctance. Bai Fan watched his receding figure. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, half a month passed. Bai Fan couldn’t cultivate during this period, merely focusing on repairing her meridians, which had been severely damaged during her transformation. Spiritual energy leaked like a sieve when she tried to absorb it. One day, disciples came rushing out of the back mountain with large packs, looking as though they were fleeing a disaster. Bai Fan didn’t have much to bring, only a cultivation manual. Her transformation had become widely known, turning her into a notorious snake demon within the sect. The Qingxu Sect’s main square was packed with nearly two hundred disciples, creating quite a commotion. Many were unaware of their destination, only the elders and senior disciples were privy. Bai Fan silently pitied them. Elder Master stood at the great hall, the disciples looking up at him, while Bai Fan stayed back, not wanting to get too close. "Disciples, heed my command," Elder Master’s voice boomed, silencing everyone, “We embark on a long journey to Wan Feng Platform. The road is fraught with peril, but do not panic. To avoid the arduous trek, the sect has prepared a jade ship.” Elder Master’s declaration caused a stir among the disciples. "What?! Wan Feng Platform!" "Have you heard of it?" "How could I recall?" "I think Elder Li Zhen Yan was there once." "What?" Ignoring the complaints, Elder Master was more concerned about the sect’s future. The Li clan’s ordinary lineage depended on them. If they didn’t return, over a thousand Li clan members would be at risk. Standing before the great hall, he looked at the disciples with sorrow. The sect’s foundation had been painstakingly built over centuries. Cultivation wasn't for everyone; it required special spiritual roots. He wondered how many would make it back from this journey. Taking a deep breath, Elder Master touched the two stone lions in front of the hall, infusing them with spiritual energy. The statues shuddered and came to life, letting out a mighty roar like a battle horn. Qingxu Sect shook, and disciples struggled to stand. Only Bai Fan, owing to her weight, stood firmly, watching the stone lion in amazement. The lion emanated a white jade glow, leaped into the sky, and transformed into a jade ship large enough to fit over two hundred disciples. Bai Fan marveled at the sight. While she knew this world had spiritual cultivation, seeing such treasures firsthand was astonishing. The golden bracelets she wore were also rare artifacts. Despite being a small sect, Qingxu Sect had a deep foundation built over centuries. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have dared to call itself a sect. Bai Fan fondly remembered the treasures in the secret scroll pavilion, rubbing the golden bracelets on her wrists. Disciples boarded the jade ship in succession. Lian Sheng called out to Bai Fan, but she showed no friendliness, turning away and boarding the ship alone, finding a corner to stand. The jade ship, over ten zhang long, resembled a giant whale, imposing and majestic, creating a sense of awe below. As the ship's hatch closed with a thunderous roar, like a lion's roar, Elder Master and a few elders ascended a platform, driving the ship with great effort. It was the disciples' first journey far from home. They sat quietly on the ship, while Bai Fan leaned over the side, watching as the ship rose, Qingxu Sect becoming smaller, and familiar faces like Li Min and Li Xiao Cha crying uncontrollably below. As the jade ship ascended, Qingxu Sect shrank from view, reaching above the clouds before halting its ascent. The Elder Master and a few others took turns infusing the jade ship with spiritual energy, their faces growing pale. It was evident that the ship required a constant supply of energy, and with the journey being so long, one could only wonder how far they could go with just these elders. Above the clouds, the air turned piercingly cold. Many low-level Qi Refining disciples began to shiver, their faces draining of color. In contrast, Bai Fan's robust demonic physique kept her rosy and unaffected. But the Elder Master wasn’t exaggerating about the distance. Despite the jade ship’s speed, comparable to modern airplanes from Bai Fan's past life, they had been traveling for a long time, well into the night, without reaching their destination. The Qi Refining disciples, having gone a day without food, were quickly reaching their limit. The few elders maintaining the ship's energy were also struggling, barely holding together with their Foundation Establishment cultivation. Eventually, only the Elder Master remained standing, shouldering the burden alone. As Bai Fan fiddled with her golden bracelets, she noticed the ship begin to descend, piercing through the cloud layer. She felt a cool breath of air as they broke through, her vision opening up to an endless expanse of primeval forest. Towering trees, thicker than any she had seen, signified the abundance of spiritual energy in this place—a true paradise for cultivators compared to Qingxu Sect's small valley. Apart from the Elder Master, everyone aboard the jade ship gasped at the sight. Verdant and lush, the spiritual energy here was so dense; it lingered everywhere. Cultivating here for a year could match ten years at Qingxu Sect. The disciples began forming plans in their minds, feeling the trip was worth it. Only Bai Fan remained indifferent to the spiritual energy, her attention caught by the approaching vessels in the distance. These ships dwarfed their jade ship, like a majestic fleet of giant whales navigating the night. --- For more chapters and updates, check out our homepage!