449 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

### Chapter 449: Preparing for the Lower Realm After reaching a consensus, Bai Li Ming adjusted the formation. This formation could continuously absorb power from the lower realm, transferring it into a container for storage. However, with a slight modification to the pathways, Bai Li Ming reversed its function. Though the results weren't immediately visible, once he began using the power for cultivation, it would not only fail to absorb power but would instead draw from his power and feed it back to the lower realm. Once they completed their task, the father and daughter discreetly left the Silent Water Secret Realm. Shortly after their departure, the realm gradually restored itself, concealing all traces of the formation as if nothing had happened. In the following days, Bai Li Ming gathered the materials needed for setting up a new formation and then left Immortal Academy under the pretense of attending to other matters. Qiu Ze Yuan suspected nothing and respectfully saw them off. Ye Ling Long was so taken aback by his bright smile that she scarcely recognized him. Under the reluctant gazes of Zou Guan Qing and Master Hai, the trio departed from Immortal Academy. As they watched the three departing figures, Zou Guan Qing murmured to Master Hai, "Do you think Ling Long and the others might be heading to the low..." Before he could finish, Master Hai signaled for silence, and Zou Guan Qing obediently closed his mouth in understanding. After Ye Ling Long's departure, both Zou Guan Qing and Master Hai began their closed-door cultivation. Initially, Ye Ling Long wanted to bring them to the Upper Heavenly Domain, but their long-standing commitment to the students at Immortal Academy held them back for the time being. Ye Ling Long left them with ample cultivation resources, including copied versions of alchemy recipes and formation books—those that didn't involve the Bai family's secrets. The trio didn’t travel far. After moving a short distance, they entered the space realm. Recalling the events, Ye Ling Long curiously asked, "Why was Dean Qiu so happy?" Bai Li Ming replied, "I donated a generous amount of immortal crystals and rare treasures to the school in the name of the Bai family." Ye Ling Long remained silent, thinking, "That explains it." Bai Li Feng, cradling Little Black, interjected, "Honestly, what my brother gave them is nothing compared to my usual allowance." Ye Ling Long rolled her eyes, knowing the two were incomparable. --- At the Di family in the Upper Heavenly Domain "Young Master, who would have thought that girl was actually Bai Li Ming’s long-lost daughter. All major families are quite curious about Ye Ling Long, but it seems she’s not in the Upper Heavenly Domain and has been taken to another domain by Bai Li Ming." Hearing this, a figure of a woman appeared unbidden in Di Lian Yun’s mind, making his heart race, and his cheeks flush faintly. His subordinate’s voice broke through his thoughts, "Young Master, the fact that Miss Ling Long gave you such a precious alchemy recipe back then indicates her fondness for you. If you become her dao companion, it could greatly benefit our Di family..." Though he didn’t vocalize it, Di Lian Yun understood his implications. Since the fall of their ancestor, the Celestial Emperor, thousands of years ago, the Di family had struggled without any outstanding talents, merely surviving on past glories. The Fu family, supposedly benevolent towards them, in reality, treated them with contempt, using Di Lian Yun's father to the point of damaging his soul. With this realization, a flicker of killing intent crossed Di Lian Yun's eyes. "Let me think about it. You may leave." "Yes!" --- In the dead of night, three figures traversed the sky over Immortal Academy, unnoticed by the patrolling guards below. They halted only when they reached the direction of the Silent Water Secret Realm. Under the cover of night, the Silent Water Secret Realm appeared no different from the daytime. Bai Li Ming directly merged the formation with his body, placing his hand on the realm's barrier, effortlessly revealing the workings inside. Examining the formation he had modified, Bai Li Ming commented, "It seems that person hasn’t started absorbing the power here yet. I heard the cultivator from the Fu family has been in seclusion, likely because he hasn’t fully refined the previous power. Once he has, he’ll begin absorbing from here." Ye Ling Long nodded, feeling a bit regretful that she couldn't witness that person's downfall firsthand. This would only be interest; she planned on settling the full score later. Watching them with confusion, Bai Li Feng felt completely lost. "Brother, niece, what are you talking about? I don't understand a word." Little Black in his arms gave a confused growl, indicating it too was lost. Bai Li Feng cared for Little Black meticulously, even more attentively than his own father. Ye Ling Long found it too much to bear. Bai Li Ming gave him a pointed glance. "It's not your concern. No need to meddle." Bai Li Feng grumbled internally, feeling marginalized. Without wasting time, Bai Li Ming began arranging the materials for another formation over the Nine Heavens Spirit Locking Array. Ye Ling Long watched attentively, her eyes alight with fascination. Bai Li Ming's hands moved fluidly, each gesture seemingly imbued with the force of laws. The formation’s core began to activate automatically, and Ye Ling Long's eyes seemed to comprehend something profound. As the formation completed, she returned from her meditative state. Instantly, she realized that her understanding of formations had leapt forward, breaking past the constraints of the Mystic Grade to reach the Earth Grade. "Congratulations, Ling Long, you’ve broken through," Bai Li Ming said, his grin stretched to his ears, the pride of a father swelling within him. Indeed, his daughter at just over two hundred had achieved the Earth Grade in formations, surpassing even his own talent. Bai Li Feng, watching his brother's foolishly proud grin, inched away, wary of catching the "silly" contagion. Ye Ling Long smiled softly, "I didn’t expect the breakthrough to come so easily." Hearing this, Bai Li Feng felt a sharp pang, as though a knife had stabbed his heart. His niece's words struck deep. At over two hundred himself, he was only at the initial level of the Mystic Grade. In their small world of three people and a panther, Bai Li Feng alone nursed his wounded pride. Observing the small formation newly overlaid on the Nine Heavens Spirit Locking Array, Ye Ling Long took a deep breath to steady herself, then stepped into the formation. Bai Li Ming and Bai Li Feng, with Little Black in tow, followed her closely.