43 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

# Chapter 43 Bai Fan returned to Ling Tian Manor with an excited heart. The two Xiao Pu seemed displeased as they saw her coming back late. "Where did you go? How come you're back only now? Don’t you know that the seeds need to be watered immediately after being sown?" Bai Fan was suddenly berated. She turned around to see a Xiao Pu walking towards her. "You never told me, so how was I supposed to know?" Xiao Pu glared at Bai Fan. What she said was indeed true. She had stood by for quite a while, and neither of the two had paid her any mind. Now that she was back, they started finding fault with her. "Then why didn't you ask?" Bai Fan didn’t want to argue with the Xiao Pu. She turned around, intending to go back inside to write her list. "I'm talking to you. Where are you going?" "To write something." "You’re just a laborer. What could you possibly need to write?" Bai Fan went into the house, slammed the door shut, and blocked the Xiao Pu outside. Then she took out paper and pen from her storage bag and started writing. Ignoring the shouts from outside, she concentrated on her writing. Since she didn’t know if the grafting tools were available here, Bai Fan meticulously described them to ensure that the recipient could understand. Only when Bai Fan finished writing did she finally put down her brush. The ink hadn’t dried, and she had written several pages in total due to the extensive content. After decades without writing, Bai Fan's handwriting was as ugly as could be, but it didn’t hinder reading. Turning the tide with this move, the path of a rogue cultivator was essentially a dead end. Without cultivation techniques or guidance from predecessors, Bai Fan realized the importance of these resources after listening to one lecture at the Ascension Conference. Once she earned more spirit stones, she could acquire more resources. Unlike the Qi Refining stage, where she could increase her cultivation by merely circulating energy, she now found herself stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage unless there were special interventions. In other words, Bai Fan had hit a bottleneck in her cultivation. Coupled with He Yiman's disappearance, her plan to venture into the wilderness was put on hold. Bai Fan folded the paper and stood up, walking out. As soon as she opened the door, she saw the two Xiao Pu sitting not far away, leisurely drinking tea. Seeing that the spiritual field had already been sown, the two Xiao Pu probably had no work left to do and might be leaving the next day. Hence, they were drinking tea leisurely. Upon seeing Bai Fan coming out, the Xiao Pu who had picked on her earlier said, "We're waiting for you to water the field. Hurry up and don't dawdle." Bai Fan glanced at the Xiao Pu, walked over, and conjured a cloud above the spiritual field. A light drizzle began to fall, and she mischievously included the area where the two Xiao Pu were sitting under the cloud. Instantly, the two tea-drinking Xiao Pu were drenched by Bai Fan's raincloud and quickly ran off with their cups. "Ah, why is the rain falling here?" "How are you doing your work, laborer? Didn't you see us sitting here?" Drenched, the two Xiao Pu angrily took shelter under the eaves and started cursing at Bai Fan. Bai Fan laughed and said, "I’m really sorry. I’m still not very skilled with this spell, so errors are inevitable sometimes." Internally, Bai Fan scoffed. Did they think she was raised on water? Back in the mountains, when she was still a snake, she survived on blood. These two wouldn’t have dared dictate to her back then. After half an hour, the rain thoroughly soaked the spiritual field. Bai Fan could even feel the spiritual energy emerging from the soil. At night, Bai Fan didn’t come out while drinking her spirit wine. The two Xiao Pu, with only Qi Refining cultivation and very poor aptitude, hoped for some benefits from the Suun family to enjoy basic welfare after Foundation Establishment. The next day, they left as expected, and Bai Fan never interacted with them again. Standing by the door, Bai Fan could see a white dot flying in the distance. It was Da Zhanggui riding a white crane. As he approached, a few others followed on large cloud geese with coarse gray feathers, barely noticeable in the sky and shorter but stockier than the white crane. Landing, Da Zhanggui led the group towards Bai Fan. Before they reached the house, he asked, "Did you finish writing?" Bai Fan quickly handed over what she had written the previous day. Da Zhanggui took it, and the others crowded around to read. Although her handwriting was poor, everyone read intently and then asked Bai Fan a few questions before starting their work. They brought out a large amount of material from their storage bags, Da Zhanggui’s being the most. His materials, mostly old spiritual herbs, were priceless. Holding one and sniffing it, Bai Fan felt immensely nourished and had the urge to swallow it immediately. These indeed were treasures. Surely, pills made from such spiritual herbs could grant instant immortality, though Bai Fan knew she was exaggerating. Bai Fan and the group began practicing on ordinary fruit trees first, explaining the techniques, where to leave the bark, where to cut the branches, whether to cut horizontally or diagonally, and how to secure them. Once they all got the hang of it, they waited for the fruit trees to blossom and bear fruit. Bai Fan originally thought they’d need to wait over a year for results but was surprised when Da Zhanggui brought out spirit liquid. The liquid, said to be the essence from plant spirits, could instantly mature other spiritual plants when mixed with water. However, finding plant spirits was difficult, and the liquid, extracted from millennia-old spiritual trees, was extremely rare. With some reluctance, Da Zhanggui produced a small bottle of spirit liquid, "This was secretly given to me by the young master yesterday. There are only two drops. Use them sparingly and mix them with spirit water." So, the two drops were diluted into two large vats, and a small gourd ladle of the diluted liquid was poured on each fruit tree. There were no immediate changes, resembling normal water, but the next day, the grafted fruit trees transformed dramatically, sprouting, blooming, and bearing fruit overnight. Seeing the bountiful fruit, Bai Fan wondered if her grafting technique was even effective. But knowing that they diluted two drops into two large vats highlighted its immense value. Her goal wasn’t to achieve miracles but to make spiritual herbs cheaper, ensuring resources were plentiful and benefiting both herself and others. The Suun family members marveled at the fruit trees: "Look, this tree bears two different kinds of fruit. Pick one and taste it to see if they taste different." As they picked and tasted, they found the fruit flavors mellow. One remarked, "The pear from this jujube tree has a hint of jujube flavor." “Well, the method works. Miss Bai, try some too.” Handing her a fruit, Bai Fan took a bite, finding the flavor weak. It hadn't been exposed to the elements long enough for the sugars to develop. Discussing and experimenting with spiritual herb grafting, they walked barefoot through the spiritual field, occasionally digging small pits. The discussion on spiritual herb grafting proceeded swiftly. They used Money Grass as a test subject, cutting portions from two-year-old herbs and grafting them onto the Money Grass, followed by a gourd ladle of diluted spirit liquid at the roots. After much effort, they completed the small experiment plot. Resting inside the cool house, they all gained a new appreciation for Bai Fan. This young girl, though seemingly naive, was clever and resourceful. "Miss Bai, your cultivation doesn’t seem low. Why are you working here as a laborer?" Supporting her chin, Bai Fan bit into a pear grafted onto the jujube tree and mumbled, "I’m just a rogue cultivator with cultivation but no skills to utilize it. All I have is this little Raincloud Art, which I bought for a few spirit stones. How can I compare to your botanical knowledge? If I had your skills, I wouldn’t be in this state." Having lived two lifetimes, Bai Fan knew that these talented yet skillless people enjoyed flattery. Thus, her words struck a chord with them. "This grafting idea came from Miss Bai, after all. With such talent and aptitude, why not join a sect? You could have a bright future ahead. Staying here would only waste your time." Listening to them, Bai Fan also considered whether she should join a sect. However, the thought of the constraints and rigid rules within a sect made her hesitant. How could anyone achieve great feats in such a cage? Seeing Bai Fan's indecision, the others, with their mediocre talents and unfulfilled potential, felt a sense of empathy toward her. This prompted them to offer some well-intentioned advice. "The Suun family has deep ties with the Xuanming Sect. Many disciples from our family are inducted into the sect. If you want to secure your future, you might as well request the elders to grant you a spot after proving your grafting technique." Hearing this, Bai Fan turned and cautiously asked, "What kind of sect is this Xuanming Sect? I'm unfamiliar with the sects as I come from a small place. Could you all provide me with some insight?" Thinking it over, Bai Fan realized joining a sect might not be a bad idea after all. She had indeed hit a wall. Furthermore, a sect would offer support, much like teleportation arrays that were particularly harsh on rogue cultivators. Sect disciples received discounts, whereas rogue cultivators had to pay full price. One might question the fairness, but sects had funded the arrays initially, granting them certain privileges. "There are countless sects in the Southern Continent, but only a few major ones. The Xuanming and Yunxiao Sects lead, followed by the Pure Yang, Floating Palace, and finally, the Qingling Sect. Considering your skills, the Xuanming Sect would be the best fit. They excel in water-based techniques and once produced a Nascent Soul ancestor, who has since transcended." The Xuanming Sect, closely affiliated with the Suun family, seemed like a viable option. Other sects might be harder to access. "What about the Floating Palace?" Bai Fan inquired, recalling He Yiman was from that sect. "The Floating Palace only accepts female disciples, most of whom are nurtured from a young age. Given your age, it's no longer an option," they explained. "That’s quite strict," Bai Fan commented. "The Palace's techniques are rather unique, only suitable for women. They stand in stark contrast to Pure Yang's methods, representing the yin and yang of the cultivation world, often clashing whenever they meet rather than forming any harmonious unions." This gave Bai Fan deeper insight into He Yiman's upbringing in the Floating Palace, living among ethereal beings in a secluded environment. It explained much about her character and loyalties. "What about the Yunxiao Sect?" Bai Fan pressed on. "Yunxiao specializes in fire-based techniques. Their master’s hair turned red from intense cultivation. The disciples there are known for their fiery tempers, quick to resort to violence, akin to Pure Yang’s sword cultivators. Yunxiao only interacts with Xuanming, not giving a second glance to outsiders unless they’re from Xuanming." They advised Bai Fan to join Xuanming, highlighting the close bond between Xuanming and the Suun family. Bai Fan still seemed undecided. Another added, "Qingling Sect’s techniques are average. Besides Elder Huang, who is well-reputed, the sect is known for having many beautiful disciples. If you seek romance, it might be suitable." Bai Fan frowned, recognizing Elder Huang from the Ascension Conference. Qingling Sect seemed more than just a superficial beauty haven as implied. "That can’t be all there is to it," Bai Fan countered. "You're right. These are just rumors. You’d need to see for yourself," they conceded. Nodding, Bai Fan grabbed another fruit to munch on. The busy grafting days passed quickly. Bai Fan occasionally visited the bookstore, hoping to see He Yiman, but after half a year, there was no news. He Yiman seemed to have vanished. Meanwhile, Bai Fan threw herself into grafting and studying plant properties, reducing unnecessary wastage. Two months later, the first batch of grafted Money Grass matured, thanks to the spirit liquid’s acceleration. What normally took half a year now took just half a month. They harvested the odd-looking spiritual herbs and summoned an alchemist for assessment. Wearing an emerald-green robe with a ‘Suun’ emblem, the alchemist was obviously from the Suun family, indicating the family’s serious investment in grafting. After examining the herbs, he nodded excitedly and declared, "These grafted herbs are effective. Though not potent, their quantity compensates. This is great news for the Suun family." Everyone was ecstatic, their faces glowing with joy, while Da Zhanggui finally sighed in relief, given the substantial investment. "I will report to the young master. Stay here and tidy up. This technique must remain confidential," Da Zhanggui instructed, leaving with the alchemist. Once alone, the middle-aged men expressed their relief. "We can finally rest." "Indeed, solving the herbal shortage elevates the Suun family. Other apothecaries won’t stand a chance." "I wonder what rewards we’ll receive. I just want to retire peacefully." "Yes, without talent, we rely on our brains. The older we get, the harder it becomes." Unlike them, Bai Fan wasn’t thinking about retirement. Her cultivation journey had just begun. The next day, a representative from the Suun family came to fetch them—a formal elder this time. A small jade shuttle arrived instantly, carrying a group led by a stern middle-aged man wearing a golden crown. Clearly, this was the head of the Suun family. The Suun family head immediately noticed Bai Fan. She sensed his formidable cultivation, likely at least the Golden Core stage, though she couldn’t gauge the specifics due to her lower level. "Are you the girl who came up with the grafting technique?" "Yes," Bai Fan replied, pursing her lips in discontent at his tone. "Remarkable for someone so young," he commented, scrutinizing her. "It was just a sudden idea," she responded. "Hm," he grunted, turning to the others, "Bring them to the manor. This girl will have separate arrangements." "Yes," they obeyed, and as they moved to take Bai Fan, she asked, "Where are you taking me?" The Suun family head, hands behind his back, walked toward the shuttle, "With such talent, you should serve the Suun family exclusively." Bai Fan was furious. She had contributed greatly, yet she was being detained. "I'm not going." "That’s not your choice to make. Do you know what grafting means for the cultivation world—more resources. If outsiders knew, it could bring calamity, even annihilation, to our family." With that, he and the others detained Bai Fan and her team, stripping Bai Fan of her cultivation as they boarded the shuttle. Blindfolded and powerless, Bai Fan was unceremoniously whisked away. Even her physical strength vanished. She was no different from an ordinary girl now. When the blindfold was removed, she found herself in a small chamber, attended by a servant. The servant aided the weakened Bai Fan in changing clothes and putting on shoes. Dressed in a white dress, with sleeves concealing her golden bracelets, Bai Fan appeared elegant and demure. "Please wait a moment, miss. I’ll prepare you to meet the master," the servant said courteously. The young maid did Bai Fan’s hair for the first time, tying it up with two white ribbons on either side, enhancing her appearance and making her look even more pristine and elegant. Bai Fan looked at herself in the mirror and rolled her eyes. This appearance didn’t match her at all. With a somber expression, she followed the maid out of the chamber. One look at the surroundings confirmed they were in the grand Suun family estate. She felt extremely uncomfortable in her shoes and constantly wanted to take them off. However, the maid kept a close watch on her, forcing Bai Fan to rein in her temper as she blackened her face on the way to see the Suun family head. The main courtyard was populated by direct disciples of the Suun family, each dressed freely, unlike the previous servants who had embroidered characters on their clothes. These people whispered among themselves upon seeing Bai Fan: "Is this the young girl who came up with the grafting technique?" "Impressive." "Yes, I heard the family highly values her and that the head plans to adopt her as his goddaughter." "Really? That’s generous." "Jealous?" "Why should I be? Even as a goddaughter, she remains an outsider. The Suun family’s legacy won’t be hers, at most, she’s just another mouth to feed." "Tsk, saying one thing but thinking another." Bai Fan, with her keen hearing, caught their discussions and frowned. What nonsense! What was the Suun family head planning? Adopting her, a snake demon, as his goddaughter? What a joke. Finally arriving at the main hall, the younger disciples stayed outside while several elderly men inside turned their eyes to Bai Fan. "Is this the girl the clan leader mentioned?" one elder asked. The Suun family head, seated at the head, nodded with a kindly expression, looking at her with an appreciative gaze. "Clan leader, this doesn’t seem appropriate. After all, she’s an outsider. Even if we, the older generation, agree, the younger ones may harbor resentment." "I find it entirely appropriate. My son is of marriageable age but too weak to cultivate. Though she will be my goddaughter in name, she can become part of our family by marrying my son when she comes of age." Bai Fan's eyes widened in shock. What was this nonsense? Marrying her off without even asking her opinion. "Wait a minute, what are you talking about? Who am I supposed to marry? I’ll tell you this: I won’t marry anyone unless they marry me!" Her words brought the hall to a sudden silence. The grafting technique had become a closely guarded secret of the Suun family, and now the biggest contributor, Bai Fan, was being forced into a marriage with someone she had never met. It was the greatest humiliation of her snake life. An elder below jumped up, slapping the table, “Our Suun family’s sons do not marry out!” "Indeed, impossible." The Suun family head’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. He had planned to absorb Bai Fan into the family since she had contributed greatly to the grafting technique. The Suun family wasn’t one to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. Recognizing her talent, he thought pairing her with his ailing grandson would be mutually beneficial, making an outsider part of the family. --- Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution~ Thanks to the little angels who cast [Landmine]: Sui Yi 2; Thanks to the little angels who irrigated [Nutrient Solution]: Thank you all very much for your support, I will continue to work hard! --- Previous Chapter Directory Next Chapter