29 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

Chapter 29 The light permeating through the clouds was entirely composed of lightning. Bai Fan's serpent eyes were fixated on the sky above. Booming sounds echoed as cumulus clouds rubbed against each other, seemingly storing up energy, ready to deliver a heavy strike at any moment. The impending heavenly thunder was so ominous that Bai Fan's scales were on the verge of standing up. He enveloped each scale with spiritual energy, ready to withstand the impending tribulation thunderstorm. After a long wait, a bolt of shocking lightning suddenly struck down, illuminating the surrounding night as if it were daylight. "Splash" The thief felt like both of his ears had just exploded, ringing incessantly. The lightning's radiance stung Bai Fan's eyes as an electric current ran through him from head to tail. The first strike left him dizzy and disoriented, the second one made his whole body numb, and by the third, large sections of his scales began to shatter. The fourth strike caused his internal organs to start bleeding. "Boom" By the fifth strike, all his scales had been stripped off, and his meridians were completely severed. The spiritual energy that had accumulated within him continually repaired the damage, but the restoration could not keep up with the destruction wrought by the thunderstorm. When the sixth and final strike descended, Bai Fan felt as if it were the end of the world. He looked up at the last bolt as if he could feel the heavens sneering at his insignificance and weakness. Unlike the previous strikes, this last bolt was small, but it was the final straw that broke the camel's back, shattering all his bones like fragile porcelain. The white serpent lay limp on the ground, its scales split open, bloodied, and charred. If it weren't for the faint twitching of its tail, one would think it was dead. Blood trickled from the serpent's mouth, and its body was adorned with remnants of dull, broken scales. This was the most pitiful appearance Bai Fan had ever had in his life. He did not want to die. Having finally formed a foundation, he didn't want to start over, uncertain whether he'd be reborn as a cat or a dog. If he couldn't endure it on the first try, what chance did he have in the future? With sheer grit, he hung on to the last breath. If he had failed to withstand even one of the six strikes, he would have become a charred corpse. His spiritual energy continually tried to repair his meridians, but the heavenly thunder had almost fused his meridians with his dragon muscles, making extraction nearly impossible in the future. The serpent's body was now a bloody mess, with its color reduced to a mixture of black and red. The surrounding scavengers could smell the blood and started to whimper, especially the wild wolves. "Awooo" "Awooo" Soon, many wild wolves began to howl in unison. Bai Fan, lying on the ground, felt unlucky, having just survived the heavenly tribulation only to face a pack of wolves. After his meridians were repaired, Bai Fan began to absorb massive amounts of spiritual energy, forming a substantial spiritual vortex that resembled material. The wolves, seemingly intimidated by this spiritual pressure, whimpered but refused to leave. The blood of a newly formed foundation contained rich spiritual energy, a bloody aroma that seemed like a fragrant lure, drawing them closer. "Awoo, awooo" A scrawny lead wolf whimpered, its tail tucked between its legs, evidently starved for a long time, its fur dull and lifeless. Despite Bai Fan's ability to gather spiritual energy, his restoration process was painfully slow. His body was undergoing a significant transformation, and his serpentine transformation method began to compete for spiritual energy. He needed to repair his body's injuries while supplying the serpentine transformation method with vast amounts of spiritual energy to reconstruct his body. Bai Fan's current state was horrendously gory, with blood and flesh crawling over newly grown bones, slowly covering his frame. The thief crouched at the mountain's base, feeling uneasy. His mind was fraught with worry, wondering where the boss had gone amidst such heavy thunder. Moments later, he heard the wolves' howling in the mountains. Terrified and unwilling to be left alone, he followed Bai Fan's previous path, clutching a torch to fend off any approaching wolves. Meanwhile, Bai Fan's body continued to undergo changes. His skull seemed larger, no longer as flat as a serpent's head. Eye sockets expanded with time, gradually protruding, his jaw widening. Where previously he had only two teeth, his gums now seemed fuller, possibly forming new teeth beds. After a bout of contortion, Bai Fan's head sprouted two bumps, and the bones on his face thickened, giving him an even more formidable appearance. When Bai Fan's body had almost fully recovered, scales, akin to bamboo shoots, began sprouting from his back, causing him to yelp in pain. A pack of wolves waited in readiness, only needing their leader's command to pounce. "Awooo." Arched wolves, upon hearing the command, surged towards Bai Fan. Despite not having fully grown his scales, he was beset by the pack, their bites tearing into his unprotected flesh, almost making him faint from pain. "Roar" Bai Fan swung his tail, flinging the wolves away, sending several unlucky ones crashing into trees, their spines shattered, howling in pain but still trying to get up and attack Bai Fan. Seeing the increasing wounds, Bai Fan's eyes reddened with rage, reverting to his primal instincts. He bit into one of the wolves, tearing it apart. Although weak, the wolves were numerous and coordinated, making them a challenge. The thief, having just climbed the mountain, heard the pack's howls, nearly turning to flee. However, an angry roar caught his attention. Driven by curiosity, he cautiously approached, witnessing an unforgettable scene of a giant white serpent fighting a pack of wolves, a beastly face that was unmistakably menacing. The thief's torch shook in his hand, barely keeping his hold. Seeing the pitiable state of the white serpent besieged by wolves, he couldn't help but toss a small stone at a nearby wolf, though it was too small to draw attention. The serpent, with keen eyesight, noticed the thief with the torch. Despite its monstrous form, the serpent's expression seemed to show recognition. "Roar" Bai Fan roared angrily at the wolves, whipping his tail to squash several. The wolves, sensing danger, whimpered and quickly retreated, taking the pack with them. Seeing the wolves flee, Bai Fan finally breathed a sigh of relief, though he was in a dire state, lacking the spiritual energy to transform back into human form. He could only curl up, exhaling slightly as the dust before him scattered. The thief gulped nervously, approaching with the torch, waving it at Bai Fan as if to ward him off. Bai Fan, now with eye sockets and eyelids, managed to roll his eyes miraculously. "It's me" The thief froze upon hearing the familiar voice. "Boss, is that you?" he asked, unsure. "Yes." "Boss, were you eaten by this giant serpent?" "No, you fool." "Then where are you, Boss?" "I’m right in front of you. I am the serpent. Are you scared now?" The thief cautiously approached, squinting to look closely at Bai Fan. The giant head covered in fine white scales blinked its large eyes, its golden pupils narrowing as the torch drew close. Two fangs jutted out menacingly. "Humph" Bai Fan exhaled through his nostrils, blowing dirt into the thief's eyes, making him blink furiously. "If it's the boss, I’m not scared," he said, though his tone wavered, keeping a wary eye on Bai Fan. Understanding the thief's nature, Bai Fan decided not to reprimand him, needing to recover from old and new injuries. The next tribulation required a safer location. These wolves might be replaced by more troublesome adversaries next time. Lowering his head to rest on his abdomen, Bai Fan coiled his body, drawing a vast amount of spiritual energy, which condensed into a fog-like form. The thief nearby felt the sudden mist and, unable to see clearly, instinctively moved closer to Bai Fan, clutching the torch in a mix of fear and awe. In the ephemeral palace, He Yiman lay quietly on the Lingxiao vine, eyes closed in a state between sleep and wakefulness. Last year, due to the Pure Yang Sect's fire spirit being lost, he happened to be present, and eventually, the unscrupulous disciples of Pure Yang blamed the loss on the Ephemeral Palace. The quarrel between the two sects escalated to the verge of war. "Yiman." He suddenly opened his eyes; it was his master calling him. "Come to me." This was a transmitted message, a technique only used by Yuanying cultivators. He descended from the vine. Ever since he arrived at the Ephemeral Palace, this vine had been his frequent retreat. In his youth, lacking the aptitude for cultivation, he was ostracized by other disciples and would sit here crying alone. Over the years, this place became the spot where He Yiman spent most of his time. Everyone in the palace knew that if they needed to find He Yiman, they could find him by the Lingxiao vine. Standing at the door, He Yiman was about to knock when a voice from inside said, "Come in." He pushed the door open and saw his master standing there. His master always wore a stern expression, and amidst his hair were a few strands of white. "Master." "Sit down." He Yiman found a place nearby to sit. His relationship with his master was always like this—seemingly close but not truly affectionate, often marked by cold words. "You were raised by me since you were a child. Have you ever thought about your parents?" "You are my parent, Master." "And how does the sect treat you?" "The Ephemeral Palace is undoubtedly my home." "And if the sect faces a crisis, what would you do?" "I would defend it with my life." The master and disciple fell silent for a moment. Then, his master placed a brocade handkerchief on the table and pushed it toward him. "Here is a map. Find the item marked on it. Depart today, and..." The middle-aged woman hesitated, seeing He Yiman's calm face. "Return in ten years. If you haven't found it by then, don't come back." He Yiman picked up the handkerchief and unfolded it. The map showed no place names, only a tree and a walnut. "What am I supposed to find, Master?" "You will know when you arrive." He Yiman thought for a moment, then stood up. As he was about to leave, his master called out to him again. "Don't forget to bring plenty of flutes." He nodded and left as usual. It was just a ten-year task, although it seemed somewhat extended. After a few days of recovery, Bai Fan could finally return to his human form. Meanwhile, the thief had made camp nearby. At this moment, he emerged from the woods, carrying a wild chicken. Seeing Bai Fan in human form startled him so much that he almost dropped the chicken. "Boss." "Go get more food to reward me. I'm very hungry now." Although Bai Fan had reached the foundation stage and no longer needed food, old habits died hard. His tone even mimicked that of the Fire Kirin. He found a place to sit and casually cast a wind spell, causing the tree's leaves to rustle. The thief stood nearby, wide-eyed in amazement. Then, Bai Fan conjured a cloud in his hand, releasing it slowly towards the thief. The cloud turned from white to gray to black, with small lightning bolts flickering within. It hovered over the thief's head, then erupted into a thunderstorm, drenching him. Terrified, the thief ran for cover, pleading pitifully. The success of the small rain cloud spell delighted Bai Fan. With the increased spiritual energy available after forming his foundation, he could use more powerful spells. The lightning in the cloud was a remnant from the last heavenly thunder, enabling her to create this thunderstorm cloud with a bit of her spiritual energy. "Boss, spare me!" Bai Fan dispelled the cloud with a pinch, leaving the thief soaked. "Pathetic." Bai Fan crossed his legs, her small feet dangling, the two golden anklets particularly eye-catching. The heavenly thunder hadn't damaged the four gold bracelets in the least; they remained as shiny as ever, something Bai Fan had grown accustomed to. Reaching into his storage bag, Bai Fan retrieved some spell books obtained earlier. Most of them came from the Pure Yang Sect, with the sect's name inscribed on the covers. Bai Fan glanced at the books. One was a sword manual, another was also a sword manual—it seemed Pure Yang Sect focused solely on swordsmanship. Bai Fan remembered that only sword cultivators below the Golden Core stage could fly on swords. If he learned these sword techniques, he might be able to fly on a sword too. "Hey, where are those two swords you had before?" Bai Fan suddenly remembered the two iron swords the thief had found. It had been six months, and he wasn't sure if the thief still had them. The thief exclaimed with a start, then fumbled around, pulling up his pant leg to reveal the two swords strapped to his calves. "Give me one." Seeing the thief's reluctance, Bai Fan thought he might be too harsh and added, "Once I master this, I'll give you these sword manuals." "Really?" The thief couldn't believe his ears. He had been with Bai Fan for over six months now, and hearing his boss make such a generous offer was a first. "Why would I lie? When have I ever deceived you? I always keep my word." The thief quickly untied the swords from his legs and handed one to Bai Fan, holding the other and grinning foolishly. "What are you so happy about?" "I can finally learn swordsmanship." "So what if you can learn swordsmanship." The thief just shook his head without replying, holding the sword with evident joy. No one knew his past; perhaps he once dreamt of being a swordsman. Bai Fan began practicing the stances from the sword manual, but his movements were far from precise. His wrist lacked strength, and despite a whole day of practice, he made little progress. The thief watched with keen interest, occasionally mimicking a few moves. Exhausted and aching, Bai Fan eventually threw the sword aside and took out a water flask from his storage bag, drinking deeply. The water flask was filled when he left the Qingxu Sect, and the water was sweet and refreshing. During times of exhaustion, Bai Fan would meditate, recovering much faster than by sleeping. While Bai Fan meditated, the thief secretly practiced swordsmanship beside him. His moves were surprisingly better executed than Bai Fan's. Meanwhile, after He Yiman left the Ephemeral Palace, a conflict finally broke out between the Pure Yang Sect and the Ephemeral Palace. The battle took place at their shared border, with most participants being lower-level disciples. Female disciples of the Ephemeral Palace stood atop the mountain, their green robes billowing in the wind, displaying a blend of strength and beauty. "The Ephemeral Palace never bows down. Insult us, and we will fight to the death." Leading them was He Yiman's master, clad in dark green robes signifying her status as an elder of the Ephemeral Palace. Pure Yang Sect disciples arrived on flying swords, their robes whipping in the fierce wind like buzzing hornets. "Elder Zuo Yun, your disciple forced our Pure Yang Earth Dragon to self-destruct and stole our fire spirit. If you don't hand over the thief and return our fire spirit, don't blame Pure Yang for being merciless." "Hmph, you have no evidence. How dare you accuse the Ephemeral Palace of theft." The leading Pure Yang elder stroked his beard and said, "My disciple saw it with his own eyes. You personally went to the volcano to find your thieving disciple." In the back, Bai Zhi was fuming. She rushed forward and shouted, "You're lying! My senior sister didn't steal your fire spirit. The Earth Dragon self-destructed on its own." Before Bai Zhi could say more, older disciples pulled her back, covering her mouth. The two sects had been enemies for generations, and the fire spirit incident was just the spark that reignited the long-dormant tension in the cultivation world. "Foundation-stage disciples, attack!" The Pure Yang elder pointed at the Ephemeral Palace. At his command, about a hundred foundation-stage disciples flew on their swords, their sharp sword energy cutting through the sky like a rainbow. Sword cultivators were the least afraid of death. Their path required unyielding resolve—when it was time to fight, they did so without hesitation. As for why Pure Yang and the Ephemeral Palace were sworn enemies, only the older generation knew the full story. A thousand streaks of sword energy flew through the air; such an onslaught was far beyond the capacity of ordinary disciples to withstand. Sword cultivators excel at offensive strategies, and Ephemeral Palace disciples quickly drew their magical artifacts to defend themselves. In the ensuing chaotic battle, both sects fought relentlessly, neither willing to give up, resulting in countless casualties. Pure Yang's sword cultivators, however, only grew more ferocious as they fought, seemingly finding their sword intent, relentlessly pursuing their foes like madmen. Ultimately, the Ephemeral Palace was slightly inferior. The sect excelled at cultivating inner mind techniques rather than combat spells. Over the years, its reputation grew mostly due to He Yiman's unique path. Elder Zuo Yun of the Ephemeral Palace watched his disciples fall in large numbers, feeling heartbroken. He had sent He Yiman away precisely to keep him out of this conflict. Many old figures were eyeing He Yiman's unique cultivation technique, and Pure Yang Sect’s reaction due to the fire spirit posed a significant threat. Onlookers were merely waiting for an opportunity. Seeing his disciples about to falter, Elder Zuo Yun decided to act personally, disregarding his pride. A strike from a Yuanying cultivator was not something a group of foundation-stage disciples could withstand. With a mere gentle palm strike, he sent the sword cultivators crashing from the sky, severely wounding or killing them. Realizing Elder Zuo Yun was attacking, Pure Yang's elder couldn’t sit idly by. He moved forward to engage in battle. As the saying goes, "When gods fight, mortals suffer," many foundation-stage disciples were caught in the crossfire and perished. Bai Zhi stood with her senior sisters watching Elder Zuo Yun and the Pure Yang elder battle, nervously clutching her senior sister’s sleeve. "What about the disciples below?" "I don't know." The senior sister shook her head helplessly. "And where's Senior Sister Yiman? Why haven't I seen her?" "I haven't seen her either." Unbeknownst to He Yiman, who had left the Ephemeral Palace, a battle had erupted between the two sects. Following the map, he had arrived at a small mortal town, curiously observing it. Despite being a mortal town, he had never interacted with mortals before and was unfamiliar with their way of life. Meanwhile, Bai Fan and the thief lived a secluded life in the mountains, practicing their cultivation. One day, Bai Fan grew bored and said to the thief, "Let's go down the mountain and head south." Once the decision was made, they traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping when needed. Bai Fan’s swordsmanship showed little improvement, while the thief, surprisingly adept, eventually began teaching Bai Fan. Initially reluctant, the thief shared his insights because of his love for swordsmanship. Bai Fan benefited greatly, finally making progress in his sword techniques. "Not bad, I didn’t expect you to have such talent. I always thought your only skill was stealing. Now, what’s your name? Every strong person should have a name." Bai Fan said this while patting the thief's shoulder. Holding the sword in one hand, she stood as casual as a propped-up peg. "Boss." "What?" "I've been following you for so long, and I still don’t know your name. Now I’m asking." "My name is Chun Sheng." Upon hearing this, Bai Fan’s eyes widened, and she slapped him on the head. "Nonsense! What kind of name is that?" Chun Sheng felt aggrieved; that was his real name. The name "Chun Sheng" immediately reminded Bai Fan of Lian Sheng, whom she regarded as having a refined name. Hearing Chun Sheng, on the other hand, suddenly felt rustic to her. "I was born in early spring, so my father named me Chun Sheng." "No, you can't be called Chun Sheng anymore. From now on, you're called Er Chun." "Why?" "No reason. Because I’m the boss, your name is my call." ※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution~ Thanks to the little angels who voted for [Landmine]: Sui Yi 3 votes; Ling Xian, Kanbujian 1 vote each; Thanks to the little angels who irrigated [Nutrient Solution]: Xiao Tai 2 bottles; Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard! Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter