55 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

### Chapter 55 “Angry?” Over the past few years, Li Xiaoyan's temperament had improved somewhat, but she was still curious about why the Elder Master was so upset. “A stunningly beautiful person came to the sect, and the Young Master treated him exceptionally well. Isn't it only right to bring him to meet the Elder Master?” “Yes, Senior Sister, you should have seen the smile on the Young Master's face. That kind of happiness is rare!” The disciples spoke with conviction, making it sound as if Li Liansheng had brought back a lover. However, Li Xiaoyan knew her cousin’s character quite well. He wouldn't even entertain romantic interests, let alone bring a lover into their sect. He wouldn't spare a glance for the female disciples in the sect, making Li Xiaoyan sometimes think he was completely naive. For a moment, she joined the other disciples, eavesdropping from the corner, wishing fervently for a big scandal. The greater the ruckus, the more the Elder Master would disfavor Li Liansheng, which would be advantageous for her. Since returning from Wan Feng Tai, she had become more restrained. The defeat they suffered at the hands of the Fu Yui Palace female disciples had depressed her for a long time. Seeing Li Liansheng's rapid progress in cultivation later had made her settle down to focus seriously on her own cultivation. Even without spiritual pills, her cultivation had been steadily increasing over the past five years. She wasn’t in a rush anymore, confident that with the Qi-Conducting Pill, her chances of forming a core had greatly increased. Inside the house, Bai Fan leaped up and down, with the Elder Master unable to lay a finger on her. Bai Fan regretted finding that the previously formidable opponent was now quite manageable. Despite his golden core cultivation, his techniques fell short of Bai Fan’s level. Exhausted from expending all his spiritual energy, the Elder Master panted as he stared at Bai Fan in shock. “Liansheng, quickly use a forbidden spell to capture this demonic beast.” “Grandfather.” Although the Elder Master was still angry, intending to kill this snake demon, he suddenly felt like he had discovered a new continent upon realizing he couldn't subdue the snake demon. For the future of Qingxu Sect, this snake demon must be kept. “Did you hear me? Use a binding spell on this creature.” Li Liansheng hadn’t expected his grandfather to act this way. Why couldn't he let go of his prejudice against Big White after so many years? Did being raised by a snake demon render him so disgraceful? “If you don't want to act, I'll do it myself. Do you know what this snake demon means to Qingxu Sect?” Li Liansheng, frowning involuntarily, stepped back to shield Bai Fan from his grandfather's glaring gaze. Because of the upheaval in the Southern Continent, the Elder Master felt uneasy. The Upper Sect had withdrawn, treating the lower sects with indifference, leaving them to their own devices. Qingxu Sect had only a few golden core cultivators; without the protection of the Upper Sect, rogue cultivators could overrun them at any time. Thus, when he sensed Bai Fan's unexpected strength, he wished to capture and raise her as Qingxu Sect's protective demon beast. This would grant a semblance of security to the sect's two hundred disciples. “Grandfather, she is Big White. We cannot treat her this way. She raised me. Have you forgotten?” The Elder Master, initially a well-measured person, had become more desperate after the incident at Wan Feng Tai, which had decimated the sect's disciples. Even his second son, Li Erhuai, had lost an arm, severely reducing his strength, hindering Qingxu Sect's recovery for the next two hundred years. The Elder Master, frowning at Li Liansheng, reached out. Li Liansheng thought his target was Bai Fan but realized too late that it was himself. Before he could react, the Elder Master seized Li Liansheng, slitting his wrist. Blood spurted out, and the Elder Master formed it into a ball, chanting incantations. Bai Fan, standing outside, suddenly felt a sharp pain. The incantation seemed to fight for control over her, buzzing in her mind like flies. “Big White!” Li Liansheng hadn't expected his blood's impact on Big White to be so great. Her agonized expression reminded him of five years ago when she first transformed, and his grandfather had forcibly placed four bracelets on her, supposedly to conceal her power and aura. Now he understood their true purpose. “Grandfather, what are you doing? Why?” The Elder Master, informed by past struggles, explained grimly, “Fortunately, I prepared for this. These Vajra Bracelets, once paired with our family’s blood, become a set of curse tools meant for powerful but disobedient beasts. I initially put them on her as a precaution, and now they’ve proven useful.” He transformed the ball of blood into a red bead. Bai Fan felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, losing control over her body. She watched helplessly as the Elder Master beckoned her closer, completely paralyzed. This instilled a sense of panic in Bai Fan, who didn't understand what was happening. Looking at Li Liansheng’s shocked face, she realized her expression remained blank. Satisfied, the Elder Master spoke, “Now that the snake demon is subdued, I can reveal that these Vajra Bracelets were left by our ancestors and are indeed effective.” Li Liansheng, deeply troubled, pleaded, “Grandfather, why treat Big White this way? What did she do wrong?” After storing the blood bead, the Elder Master sighed and faced Li Liansheng, “Liansheng, your compassion is a hindrance. Everything I do is for Qingxu Sect. You can hate me, but I cannot abandon the entire Li family. This snake demon is valuable to the sect, but as long as there are no major incidents, she will remain unharmed.” Looking at the revered grandfather who sanctioned such deeds, Li Liansheng recalled past exhortations, now seeming farcical. “Kneeling before the Elder Master, he implored, “Please, let Big White go. How can other disciples respect me if I betray her? And how could I face Big White? Please, Grandfather.” Although Bai Fan couldn’t move, she observed everything. After years away, she couldn’t grasp the current situation but sensed the Elder Master’s moral disarray. The Elder Master snapped, “Only a snake demon! Such sentiments hinder cultivation. I spared her initially out of respect for her care for you. I didn’t pursue her when you let her go and ignored the resources you secretly gave her. But now she returns and disrupts us. Bound by compassion, I offer to make her our guardian beast.” Li Liansheng, silenced momentarily, murmured, “Big White is just wild in nature.” “If wild, she must be tamed. If untamable, she must be confined.” Bai Fan hadn't anticipated such a turn of events. If truly imprisoned, she couldn’t train or progress. Death seemed a preferable alternative. Li Liansheng, kneeling, recalled Qingxu Sect’s suppression by smaller factions, their vulnerability due to the Upper Sect’s neglect. Initially, his cultivation soared, making him think progress would continue unfalteringly. But he realized his mistake. Small sects struggled due to inferior techniques. Unless exceptionally talented, they faced years of stagnation. Despite five years of effort, Li Liansheng’s cultivation barely improved. His grandfather’s repeated disappointments compounded, despite the sect’s resource investment. The Elder Master’s hardships led him to capture Bai Fan, a choice born of necessity. Disciples outside, eavesdropping, showed shock, while Li Xiaoyan was thrilled. So, the snake demon had returned, no wonder the Elder Master was furious. He was running out of time, growing impatient. ### Chapter 55 Li Liansheng had yet to form his core, whereas the Elder Master was already nearing the end of his rope. The sect elders were deeply concerned about not having a capable successor ready to take over. Some, out of impatience, even suggested that the Elder Master hand over leadership to Li Zhenshang. Though Li Zhenshang had not yet formed his core, he had obtained numerous Zhu Fruits from the last expedition to Wan Feng Tai, bringing him close to achieving perfect foundation establishment. Compared to the inexperienced Young Master, pragmatism seemed more important. Just then, the door suddenly opened. The disciples still crouching by the door, eavesdropping, quickly straightened up, their faces filled with terror as they saw the Elder Master standing before them. "Sect Master." "Elder Master." "Grandpa..." Li Xiaoyan hurriedly composed herself, overwhelmed with anxiety. "What are you all doing here? Do you want to come in and kneel with us?" "No, no." At this, the group hurriedly scurried away, with Li Xiaoyan being no exception. The Elder Master stepped out of the doorway, raising his hand to pull Bai Fan along like a marionette. She walked lethargically to the Elder Master's side, responding not at all to Li Liansheng’s shout of "Big White." Bai Fan struggled desperately within her own body but found herself imprisoned, like being trapped in a tiny box. The Elder Master led Bai Fan away from the main hall to an unspecified destination. The disciples they passed bowed respectfully, creating a stifling atmosphere unseen in other sects like the Xuanming Sect. After traversing various areas, the Elder Master finally brought Bai Fan to the Secret Scroll Pavilion, where a heavy musty odor greeted them. A small candle flickered weakly on the central desk, casting a dim glow in the vast space. Bai Fan, recognizing the place, felt puzzled about the Elder Master’s intentions, as this wasn’t an ideal place for confinement. The Elder Master approached the desk and picked up a jade slip, then sat down to write something. Due to her restricted movement, Bai Fan could only see half of the writing. The visible words "ancient teleportation array" piqued her curiosity. After finishing, the Elder Master openly concealed the jade slip in a hidden compartment, piquing Bai Fan’s interest further. He then turned to other jade slips, and finding nothing of interest, Bai Fan began examining the place she had only visited briefly before. In the past, she had paid little attention during her initial entry due to her weak cultivation state. Now, she noticed most items were ancient, not something typically affiliated with Qingxu Sect. Golden silk balls, a dragon-coiled pillar, and other unnamed objects made the place resemble more an antique exhibition than a Secret Scroll Pavilion. Moments later, the Elder Master stood up and approached Bai Fan, startling her. Had he noticed her scrutinizing him? Frowning, the Elder Master scrutinized Bai Fan’s face, its exquisite beauty akin to a flawless puppet despite her expressionless demeanor. “I wonder if the binding spell has a time limit. Returning in the morning to find it expired would be disastrous if the snake demon escaped. Better to set a confinement array here as well.” Saying this, Bai Fan watched as the Elder Master began setting up an array. Array formations required meticulous calculations, each segment interlocked. To break an array, one had to understand it thoroughly or resort to brute force. The Elder Master pulled out a bunch of items from his storage bag and started arranging them around her. Bai Fan, clueless about the intricacies of array formations, could only watch. Once completed, the surroundings transformed instantly. The once empty pavilion became a secluded paradise with hills, streams, and winds. Standing in the midst of this realistic scene, Bai Fan marveled at its authenticity. Confirming the array's stability, the Elder Master left, feeling the Secret Scroll Pavilion, with its seclusion and rarity of visitors, was the safest place for Bai Fan. Alone in the silent hall, Bai Fan felt close to madness. Suddenly, her body regained some movement, and she blinked a few times, surveying the illusory scenery. Her spiritual energy surged, shattering the constraints. She transitioned from standing to sitting, her expression finally changing as she rubbed her sore neck. “Ouch, my neck. Standing still for so long almost killed me. That old man will pay for this one day.” --- *Note from the Author: There will be an extra little ending later, sorry for the late update today. Thank you to those who have given me thunder tips and nutrition fluids. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me. I will continue to work hard!* Thank you for the [lighting a thunder] tips: ChiChi, Sui Yi 1 each; Thank you for the [watering with nutrition fluids]: Friend 2 bottles; Thank you for all your support! --- Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter