124 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

Chapter 124 - The Rampaging Dragon Girl “Yes, please follow me.” Upon hearing this, Bai Fan's brows furrowed instantly. “Why are you looking for me? Isn’t the competition already over?” The host noticed Bai Fan's puzzled expression and took out the competition details again, pointing at the note at the bottom. “Whoever gets first place is eligible to enter the Heavenly Dao Alliance.” “Why? It seems no one joined before.” “This was specifically added by the Inspector when he arrived.” Bai Fan had previously heard from Hui Haozi that the Heavenly Dao Alliance wasn’t too kind to demon cultivators like them. Although not as hostile as they were to the demon clan, they treated them like pests—catch and kill without mercy. “Is there a way I can opt out?” The host shook his head. Bai Fan's eyes darted around, planning to slip away. Just as she turned, several fierce-looking, bloodthirsty Golden Core cultivators appeared behind her, making Bai Fan retreat instinctively. “What are you trying to do?” “Please, Master Bai Dan, don't make this difficult for us. We really don't want to make things difficult.” In the end, Bai Fan could only scowl and follow the host away. She was led to a room where she met the Inspector she'd seen at the grand event earlier. Dressed in a black robe, he looked imposing; his righteous features exuded a natural authority as he sat. “A humble cultivator greets the Inspector.” The Inspector surveyed Bai Fan, briefly glanced at her peculiar headscarf, but as an elder, chose not to ask. “I was impressed by your alchemy skills today. The modifications to that pill formula were excellent, benefiting our Heavenly Dao Alliance.” Bai Fan felt a bit tense; even though her Vajra Bracelet concealed her demon form, she still felt uneasy and kept her head lowered. “Thank you for your praise, Inspector.” The Inspector looked at Bai Fan with a gentle expression and a smile on his lips, “May I ask if you are willing to become a member of our Heavenly Dao Alliance?” Bai Fan immediately shook her head. She had no intention of entering that den of wolves, unsure if she'd make it out alive. Her impression of the Heavenly Dao Alliance wasn't great back in the Southern Continent. On her way to the Immortal City, had they not ignored her, many issues wouldn’t have arisen. Seeing Bai Fan refusing decisively, the Inspector was somewhat surprised. Compared to those solitary cultivators with no sect to rely on, many longed to join the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Why did she refuse? “Why not?” “I just don’t want to go.” “Does that mean our Heavenly Dao Alliance doesn’t have your favor?” Seeing that the Inspector seemed about to get angry, Bai Fan quickly shook her head and continued, “It's not that, actually. I just don’t quite like being restrained. Being a wandering cultivator suits me fine.” The Inspector had seen through Bai Fan's thoughts, knowing she was clearly afraid. “What are you afraid of? Are you perhaps a spy for the demon clan?” “Not at all, not at all! I'm not a demon clan spy. I’m just worried that I might not adapt to the rules of the Heavenly Dao Alliance.” The Inspector nodded understandingly, relaxing his brows. “Ah, rest assured, we won't establish arbitrary rules. As long as you work for the Heavenly Dao Alliance and don’t break the heavenly laws, we won’t trouble you.” Bai Fan nodded again but remained apprehensive, still not wanting to join. The Inspector, however, seemed particularly fond of her talent, speaking earnestly, “With such skills, surely you should join our Heavenly Dao Alliance. The resources in the cultivation realm are unevenly distributed, and chaos is rising in the Southern Continent. Don’t you have ambitions to showcase your abilities and save the common people?” Such words could ignite a sense of ambition in any young cultivator, but Bai Fan wasn’t interested. She never aspired to be a savior or a hero; she simply wished to live well in the cultivation realm. With Bai Fan still unmoved, the Inspector tempted her further, “I noticed your cultivation is relatively new to the Golden Core stage. As a wandering cultivator, you probably lack rare arts. Don’t you want to possess more skills?” Seeing Bai Fan didn't object, he continued, “We have the most complete set of cultivation arts and countless secrets, along with knowledge many cultivators won’t encounter in a lifetime. Are you not curious?” These offers were indeed tempting, but not enough for Bai Fan to risk joining the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Noticing her wavering, the Inspector pressed on, “Do you know what the world outside ours is like? The Heavenly Dao Alliance represents something unique.” “The world outside?” The Inspector nodded, “Our world is not the only one. There are thousands of large worlds and tens of thousands of small ones, each with diverse paths and methods.” These words struck a deep chord within Bai Fan. If there were other worlds, perhaps she could return to the place from her previous life—a place she’d nearly forgotten but still clung to as the only one she, as a former snake queen, had ever been attached to. She longed for nothing more than a glance back, a breath of its air—to sever this lingering human attachment. “Is it truly possible to travel to other worlds?” The Inspector nodded affirmatively. Bai Fan hesitated, yet the pull of returning home was too immense. Even if she no longer recognized anyone there, a simple glimpse or breath from that world would suffice to release her deepest longing. “What plans does the Heavenly Dao Alliance have for me if I join?” “Considering your talent as an alchemist, you'd be placed in logistics at the backlines, not sent to the battlefield—unless the Alliance faced dire straits, which is unlikely since it's been standing for thousands of years.” “I see, just for alchemy, right?” “Yes, we’d also provide you a flying artifact for travel, cover all living expenses, and assign you a spirit-rich abode. Missions might arise occasionally, but otherwise, your freedom will remain undisturbed.” With such favorable terms, Bai Fan found it hard to refuse, especially since it promised a life free from constant pursuit. The presence of Sheng Lan in the Northern Continent was something she had to keep in mind. “Alright, I agree to your conditions.” The Inspector smiled faintly, standing to shake Bai Fan's hand, “The Heavenly Dao Alliance welcomes you.” Bai Fan gently withdrew her hand, her smile somewhat strained, uncomfortable with the sudden warmth when he had been so stern before the marked change. Noticing Bai Fan's awkwardness, the Inspector adjusted his demeanor, returning to his seat with a more composed expression. “Since you’ve decided to join, when do you intend to depart?” Bai Fan thought for a moment, realizing she needed to inform Hui Haozi, her elder whose wisdom far surpassed hers. It's like that saying—“An old person at home is like a treasure.” Mainly, she feared deception. This way, she’d have a chance to escape if things didn’t seem right. “I have an elder I need to speak with before leaving.” “Very well, take this jade token. When you’re ready to depart, activate it.” “Alright.” Bai Fan accepted the jade token, examining it curiously—it turned out to be a one-way teleportation talisman. As she was absorbed in studying it, the Inspector had quietly left. Bai Fan walked out in a daze, standing on the bustling street, trying to grasp the reality of what had just occurred. Only after pulling out the jade token did she confirm it was all real. Venturing out, she unexpectedly became a Yellow-tier alchemist and received an offer from the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Such fortuitous events made her wonder if He Yiman, far away, experienced the same. In the far west of the Northern Continent, there were only sprawling mountain ranges with no end in sight. The howling blizzard offered no place to hide. And amidst this snowy wilderness, footprints were slowly making their way over a mountain. It was He Yiman, who had parted from Bai Fan earlier, now journeying onward. Here, her pace had slowed due to the harsh cold, although the clothes Bai Fan left her kept the chill at bay. Yet, the storm made traveling slower. Beyond this mountain range lay the Western Continent. It was said to be a haven for beasts, where the demon race thrived, and humans were largely at the lowest rung of existence, with many great demons staking claims over swathes of land. This region is the most savage across the four continents. Thanks to Northern Continent acting as a buffer, the conflicts between the demon race and humans aren't as intense as those with the demon clan. Otherwise, some demon cultivators would constantly be fixating on devouring humans. Humans, favored by the Heavenly Dao and known for their intelligence, are considered brain food by creatures who believe consuming more humans could enhance their own cognitive abilities. Amidst the desolate expanse of the Northern Continent, another unexpected figure lingered—the very Sheng Lan who had fled from Bai Fan's grasp. Rather than returning home, she was aimlessly roaming the wilderness, her expression a mask of bewilderment. “Why have I forgotten the way home?” Sheng Lan murmured to herself, clutching her head in confusion. “I remember Luo Lan went this way, but the further I walk, the more lost I become. Now I can barely recall what Luo Lan City looks like.” Since her frantic escape from Bai Fan, every attempt to head home led her astray. Whenever she seemed to follow the correct path, she would suddenly feel disoriented and change direction unwittingly. After more than half a month, Sheng Lan realized she was utterly lost, unable to recognize any landmarks. This predicament arose because Bai Fan had secretly administered a Lost Pill to her. This spiritual pill is specifically crafted for use on beasts. Some people raise beasts from youth but eventually can't continue caring for them. To prevent these beasts from finding their way back, the Lost Pill was created. Once ingested, the creature can no longer return to where they believe home is—they will keep wandering further and further away until they forget altogether. Now, Sheng Lan resembled an abandoned beast, endlessly searching for a path home that remained elusive. Alone, she wandered the edges of the Northern Continent, confined to the barren lands she vaguely remembered as her home.