With such a vast inheritance of talismans, spanning from the 1st rank to the 4th rank and covering every imaginable type, this set of inheritance likely had an extraordinary origin!
Shortly before his death, Mo Zhu had barely managed to draw a 2nd-rank talisman beyond his realm.
At the time, Chen Sanshi had thought the old man's talent for talismans was fairly decent, but now it seemed it was probably quite ordinary.
He browsed through one enormous talisman after another. Whichever one his divine sense fell upon would automatically break down into a detailed crafting process.
After reaching the 4th rank, one could even unlock a divine ability.
At present, the talisman Chen Sanshi used most often was the Earth Escape Talisman, so he decided to first try refining various escape-type talismans.
With the support of [Deft and Skilled], after failing only twice, he successfully refined an Earth Escape Talisman. After a few more attempts, he then refined a Water Escape Talisman.
[Art: Talisman Drawing (Second Rank)]
[Progress: 125/1000]
"Huu..."
Chen Sanshi set down the talisman brush and let out a long breath.
He looked out the window and realized that without noticing, the sky had already dimmed. It was nearly time for the banquet at Guanhu Tower that he had agreed to attend with Bai Liangbi.
So he did not rush to continue. After putting away his things, he left the cave abode and headed for Guanhu Tower.
Inside the private room, the stewards of the various branches of the Bai family had all arrived, except for Bai Liangbi and Bai Xifeng. Evidently, they attached great importance to this meeting.
"Brother Linxun,"
After taking his seat, Chen Sanshi asked, "Is Senior Bai doing well?"
...
Bai Linxun gently shook his head. "The last time I saw Father, he was gravely wounded. He has now entered closed-door seclusion and refuses to come out. I do not know how his condition is."
A thought suddenly occurred to Chen Sanshi.
Back in the Nine Nether Forbidden Land, Bai Xifeng had already been severely injured, looking very much like a man at the end of his life. In that state, even if he truly obtained the Golden Essence Clay Embryo, could he really still break through to the Golden Body Realm?
In theory, it was impossible.
Whether on the immortal path or in martial arts, breaking through a bottleneck usually required one's body and spirit to be in their best state.
Unless Dusk Valley still had some heavenly material or earthly treasure capable of extending life, Bai Xifeng should have no chance with the pseudo–Golden Body Realm.
Of course, with the Divine Wood Spirit Liquid in existence, it did not seem entirely impossible either.
"We may no longer be able to remain in Northern Yang Dao."
Bai Linxun pointed toward the next room and said, "But right now, Eldest Brother is discussing the follow-up arrangements with the fairy from Qingxu Sect. Perhaps after some time, our Bai family will have to relocate the entire clan."
Even without his saying so, Chen Sanshi had already noticed on his way in that there were two people in the room next door, and one of them had a realm extremely similar to that of the blind woman.
So it really was her after all.
The reason she had come only after so many days was likely deliberate as well—she did not want herself to be connected to the slaughter in the forbidden land.
The private room fell silent. Everyone quietly waited for the result of the discussion between the Bai family head and Qingxu Sect.
Only after the time it takes to burn half an incense stick did movement finally come from next door.
Creak—
A gust of cold wind swept past, and the wooden door opened on its own.
The blind woman stepped out in cloud boots.
Bai Liangbi, head of the Bai family, followed behind her, his expression ugly. "Fairy Jiang, is it really impossible? Is this not something that would be a win-win for both Qingxu Sect and the Bai family?"
"Can't help you."
Ignoring everyone else, Jiang Xiyue walked straight toward the terrace.
"What did True Person Yuling say?"
Bai Liangbi frowned. "Could Fairy Jiang perhaps pass a message on our behalf to True Person Yuling? Or should I personally make a trip to Qingxu Sect?"
"No one can help you."
Without even turning her head, Jiang Xiyue said, "Either hand it over to the Three Great Heavenly Sects yourselves, or wait for your entire clan to be wiped out."
"Fairy Jiang, Miss Jiang?!"
Bai Liangbi's expression clearly turned flustered. "All these years, we have never once failed to deliver the Heavenly Fire Vermilion Bird Lotus promised to True Person Yuling. Now that we are in mortal danger, surely your sect will not just stand by and watch us die?"
"It is not that we will not save you. It is that we are powerless."
Jiang Xiyue spoke a rare long sentence, but her tone only grew colder, pushing others away from a thousand miles off. "Do as I said, and Master will still be willing to keep your Bai family safe."
With that, she stepped onto her flying sword and soared into the night sky beneath the full moon. Very soon, she vanished from sight.
"Miss Jiang!!!"
Bai Liangbi shouted loudly, but received no response at all. He made as if to ride the wind after her, but in the end still stopped where he stood.
"What happened?"
Witnessing the scene, the members of the Bai family all rose and came to the terrace to look out.
"She just left like that?!"
"All these years, were the things we gave Qingxu Sect all for nothing?!"
Even Chen Sanshi, watching from the sidelines, had not expected this turn of events.
From what the blind woman had implied, it seemed that even Qingxu Sect could not bear the consequences of taking in the Bai family.
So then...
What exactly was the Bai family hiding?
Something that even a Golden Core sect dared not accept?!
If it truly was such a supreme treasure, then it really was a case of a common man being innocent, yet guilty for possessing a jade treasure.
How could a mere Bai family possibly hold onto it?
It seemed the Bai family's relocation plan would most likely come to nothing. As for where they would go next, no one knew.
"Eldest Brother."
The Fourth Brother of the Bai family voiced his confusion. "What exactly is our clan hiding that even Qingxu Sect avoids like the plague?!"
"That's right, Eldest Brother."
The heads of the other branches also realized how grave the situation was.
"The more you know, the worse it is for you."
Bai Liangbi closed his eyes. "Let us sit down and seriously discuss what Dusk Valley should do now that Qingxu Sect is unwilling to shelter us.
"Daoist Xiao, there is no need for you to leave either. You may stay and discuss it with us. At this point, among all outsiders, you are the one the Bai family trusts most."
Chen Sanshi did not refuse.
"Eldest Brother, how is Father?"
Bai Linxun pressed, "Did he say what we should do if Qingxu Sect refused to help us?"
"Do not disturb Father. He is recuperating in peace."
Bai Liangbi took a deep breath and steadied his emotions. "What ideas do the rest of you have?"
"We perish together!"
The Fourth Brother of the Bai family slapped the table and said, "I don't know what exactly our clan is hiding that has made those people act like mad dogs. But if they push us to the point where there's no other way, then so be it—we'll overturn the table and toss the thing outside for them to fight over themselves. We don't want it anymore, is that not enough?!"
"Exactly."
The Fifth Brother chimed in, "Since ancient times, treasures belong to the capable. If we truly can't protect it, then there's no need to keep clutching it in our arms. Throwing away the treasure is better than throwing away our lives. As the saying goes, so long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. Isn't that right?"
"No."
Bai Liangbi rejected the idea outright. "So long as the thing remains in our hands, there is still some hope. The moment we hand it over, our entire clan will have no path to survival.
"Second Brother, among us seven brothers, you are usually the one with the most ideas, and the calmest in a crisis. If you have any thoughts, speak them."
...
Bai Linxun was, aside from the family head and Old Master Bai, the only one who knew the truth. After some thought, he said, "Eldest Brother, my suggestion remains the same.
"Since the path of Qingxu Sect is closed to us, then for us, the only relatively reliable option is probably the Great Han of Eastern Divine Continent.
"That place is protected by a seal, and Daoist Xiao can also deliver messages for us. I have some degree of friendship with that Tianwu Emperor as well.
"He should still be a man of his word. He once took the risk of traveling all the way from Eastern Divine Continent to Heavenly Water Isle just to deliver the pills he had promised us—"
"No!"
Bai Liangbi cut him off immediately. "Second Brother, we have already discussed this matter. Eastern Divine Continent is a barren land, like a turtle shell. If our Bai family hides in there, would we not have no chance of ever rising again?
"Moreover, they can barely protect themselves now. There are some things you do not know, but I know them very clearly. What do you think Shengyun Sect is doing at the main peak of Great Marsh?
"In at most 3 to 5 years, the turtle shell of Eastern Divine Continent will be broken open. When that happens, they will face a great calamity."
"Eldest Brother, I know that."
Bai Linxun added, "But over the past few years, they have been active in Northern Yang Dao. They must have gotten wind of this as well and are trying to find a solution."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward Xiao Feng.
"That is indeed the case."
Chen Sanshi said openly, "Chen Lei's goal is the same as mine: to get rid of the Li family of the main peak of Great Marsh. The Li family is easy enough to deal with, but a Golden Core foe is hard to overcome.
"If we can resolve the problem of Shouzhongzi of Shengyun Sect—even if only by luring him away for a period of time—then 4 years from now, we will be confident of destroying the formation there and preserving the seal of Eastern Divine Continent."
"And after that?"
Bai Liangbi said, "Daoist Xiao, any formation or seal depends on timing and terrain. Under the erosion of long years, sooner or later it will fail.
"And the ancestral vein is no trivial matter. Even if this attempt fails, the various sects will never give up so easily. Sooner or later, they will find a method to break the seal.
"Does that mortal emperor truly intend to stand against all of Heavenly Water Isle—even the entire cultivation world?!"
"It may not be impossible."
Chen Sanshi thought so inwardly, but did not say it aloud.
In his identity as Xiao Feng here, he could not represent Eastern Divine Continent.
"Eldest Brother."
The Fifth Brother of the Bai family spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse. "If none of these paths work, then I do have a suggestion."
"Oh?"
Bai Liangbi raised a hand. "Let's hear it."
"If it truly comes to that, then our Bai family..." the Fifth Brother said, "should accept the conditions of the Demon-Suppression Bureau. They are confident they can protect the item, and the terms they offered us are fairly generous. That's still better than being stripped clean by those sects. Don't you think so, Eldest Brother?"
"The Demon-Suppression Bureau?"
Bai Liangbi narrowed his eyes. "Fifth Brother, negotiations are not your responsibility. How do you know what conditions they offered?"
"Eldest Brother, I..."
The Fifth Brother stammered, unable to speak.
"Did you have private contact with them?!"
Bai Liangbi shot to his feet, his expression turning fierce. "Fifth Brother?!"
"I..."
The Fifth Brother looked somewhat guilty. "Eldest Brother, they approached me. They said our Bai family was doomed unless we cooperated with them. I didn't agree at the time—"
"Fifth Brother, oh Fifth Brother."
Hearing his brother's explanation, Bai Liangbi's tone became calm once more. He reached out and patted the other man on the shoulder. "Do not have dealings with them again in the future. There are things you do not know. The Demon-Suppression Bureau is not clean. There are border wars every year. If we truly accepted their terms, there would only be even greater trouble later on."
"So that's how it is?"
The Fifth Brother put on a look of sudden understanding. "All right, Eldest Brother. I understand."
"This won't work, that won't work!"
The Fourth Brother of the Bai family grew even more irritable. "Why don't we just take the thing and run?!"
"We won't be able to get away. At the very least, not with very many people."
After weighing it again and again, Bai Liangbi sighed. "Actually, that Miss Jiang gave me another proposal as well.
"That is, we stick to our original plan and remain in Northern Yang Dao, but send 2 clansmen under assumed names to Qingxu Sect as disciples. That would count as True Person Yuling's repayment for what we've provided all these years."
"Only 2?!"
The Fourth Brother said, "Among the younger generation alone, there are dozens with decent martial talent."
"That is why we can only choose the 2 most gifted."
After thinking it over, Bai Liangbi said, "And it would be best if 1 followed the immortal path and 1 followed the martial path. That way, even if our Bai family truly suffers total destruction in the future, 2 sparks of our lineage will still remain."
As soon as those words were spoken, the Bai family members all voiced their approval.
So long as their inheritance was not utterly extinguished, the family would still have hope.
Once they settled on that, they began discussing candidates.
"As for the immortal path..."
The Third Brother of the Bai family nodded. "Among the younger generation, the one with the best spiritual root aptitude is probably Eldest Brother's daughter, Bai Chaotong. As for martial arts, Second Brother's child Bai Ange is quite good."
"Fifth Brother's eldest son, Bai Ansheng, is actually no worse than Ange in terms of bones and constitution."
The Fourth Brother said regretfully, "It's just that in terms of comprehension, he falls a bit short. If we give this place to Bai Ange, Fifth Brother, do you have any objections?"
"Heh..."
The Fifth Brother was briefly stunned, then replied, "No objections. My son is dull-witted. The opportunity should be left to Ange. Besides, even if we remain in Dusk Valley, it doesn't necessarily mean we'll truly be destroyed."
"Then it's settled."
Bai Liangbi said, "We'll find a suitable time soon and send Bai Chaotong and Bai Ange away. As for the rest of us, we'll remain here and keep thinking of a solution. That's enough... everyone disperse."
Thus, the family meeting ended in a hasty fashion.
Every member of the Bai family left Guanhu Tower heavy with anxiety and dread.
"Brother Xiao!"
Chen Sanshi had not gone very far when Bai Linxun chased after him.
"Brother Bai?"
He stopped. "Is something the matter?"
"To be honest, I want to ask about Great Han."
Bai Linxun spoke bluntly. "How much chance do they actually have against the main peak of Great Marsh?"
Chen Sanshi shook his head, unable to give a definite answer.
"All right, then."
Bai Linxun asked no more, then added, "Please help me pass a message to the Tianwu Emperor. If he needs help, I can take part."
He still believed that so long as the seal problem could be resolved, Eastern Divine Continent would be the best place for the Bai family to settle.
"No problem."
Chen Sanshi agreed.
At the same time, not far away,
the Fifth Brother and the Seventh Brother of the Bai family were walking side by side through the darkness.
"What a joke!"
The Fifth Brother said furiously, "What do you mean, choosing the 2 most gifted? They're clearly choosing the 2 children of the ones with the greatest power in the clan!
"In this clan, everything has always been controlled by Eldest Brother and Second Brother. Of course they're sending their own children away!
"But what about us?
"Seventh Brother, if I remember correctly, your daughter is highly gifted too, isn't she? Aside from not knowing alchemy, she's no worse than Bai Chaotong."