Explanation

"Se...Senior, are you there?" Bai Qing's voice quivered as he forced the words out, his courage wavering like a flickering flame in the wind.

His eyes lifted hesitantly, meeting the shimmering apparition that hovered before him. The figure glowed with an ethereal light, its presence both awe-inspiring and intimidating, as though the very fabric of reality bent around it.

The apparition's form was translucent, yet it radiated an undeniable authority. Its features were sharp and youthful, but its eyes—those ancient, piercing eyes—spoke of an existence that spanned eons.

Bai Qing felt a shiver run down his spine. This was no ordinary being. This was Xiao Yunhai, a legend whispered in hushed tones across realms.

"I am... Uncle Xiao," the apparition replied, its voice carrying a playful yet profound resonance. The words seemed to echo not just in the room but in the very depths of Bai Qing's soul.

"But my aura within these talismans cannot truly be likened to that of a god. These are merely wisps of my immortal consciousness, remnants of my existence as a Grand Immortal in the past. I trust this revelation doesn't unsettle you too much, does it?" Xiao Yunhai's lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile, his eyes glinting with a wisdom that transcended time.

Bai Qing swallowed hard, his throat dry. He glanced at his father, Bai Yunxiao, who stood beside him, equally stunned.

The two of them, pillars of their clan, felt like children standing before a mountain—small, insignificant, and utterly overwhelmed.

"Besides," Xiao Yunhai continued, his tone shifting to one of solemnity, "my true self resides in the Sheng Yun Realm. Yet, I—along with the rest of my over one million consciousnesses—am here with Little Brother Qing."

The apparition's voice deepened, resonating with the authority of the true Xiao Yunhai, the legendary figure whose name was whispered with reverence across realms.

By "true self," he referred to the Royal Jade Imprint, a divine artifact wielded by the Divinity Experts of the Sheng Yun Realm.

It was a relic of unimaginable power, a symbol of his unparalleled status in the celestial hierarchy. The mere mention of it sent a ripple of awe through the room.

"What?!"

Both father and son exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing with disbelief. Bai Yunxiao and Bai Qing stood frozen, their faces pale and tinged with a sickly green hue.

The weight of Xiao Yunhai's words pressed down on them, crushing their sense of self-worth.

How could they, mere mortals, stand before someone who had achieved what they could only dream of?

The man before them appeared no older than his mid-twenties, yet his presence radiated an aura of timeless power.

Bai Qing's mind raced. He had always believed that Xiao Yunhai was extraordinary, but this... this was beyond anything he could have imagined.

The man's immortal consciousness alone was enough to inspire terror. If he had unleashed his true aura, the spatial structure of the Wu Shui Empire's region would have shattered due to fragility like glass under the strain.

The mere thought of such power was incomprehensible. A divinity's consciousness was a force beyond imagination, something that should not exist in this corner of the universe.

It was only now that Bai Qing fully grasped the chasm between their statuses. The difference was not merely that of cloud and mud—it was the gap between a flickering candle and the blazing sun.

If not for the whims of fate, they would never have been destined to cross paths with such a being, let alone share the same air. To have Xiao Yunhai grace their humble clan was a privilege bestowed by the gods themselves, a blessing they could scarcely comprehend.

Xiao Yunhai did not belong to their world. Bai Qing could feel it in his bones. The man before them hailed from a realm where immortals and gods were as numerous as the grains of sand on a vast beach.

For someone of his stature to descend to this "crappy region," as he so casually put it, spoke volumes of the gravity of his current predicament.

"Senior," Bai Yunxiao began, his voice strained with a mix of respect and trepidation, "what do you need our help for? And how do we proceed?" His expression was grim, his mind racing with the implications of Xiao Yunhai's words.

To his surprise, Xiao Yunhai let out a soft chuckle, the sound both soothing and disarming.

"Senior?" he repeated, his tone laced with amusement. "I, Xiao Yunhai, am no senior. As you can see, I'm only younger by a few hundred years. If anything, I should be addressing you as Senior Brother Xiao, regardless of the disparity in our cultivation levels."

The apparition's gaze softened as it continued, "Naturally, Ming'er will remain with you for as long as he wishes. It could be a month, a decade, a century, or even a millennium—provided this fragile spatial region can withstand the passage of time.

My true self senses that the situation in Sheng Yun has grown far too chaotic. Even the gods may be forced to intervene, and that... that would be catastrophic. Ming'er is still too young to fend for himself, let alone navigate the dangers that lie ahead. He needs time to grow, to nurture himself into adolescence."

Bai Qing's heart clenched at the mention of Xiao Ming.

The child was innocent, unaware of the storm brewing in the heavens. To think that even the gods might be drawn into conflict was terrifying.

What kind of world had Xiao Yunhai left behind? And what did it mean for them, mere mortals, to be caught in the crossfire?

Xiao Yunhai's form flickered slightly, its energy waning. "Based on the information I've shared with Brother Qing, I trust you two will assist him. When we meet again in the future, our karma would have played itself out fully. Until then... farewell." The apparition's voice grew faint, its luminous form dimming as it dissipated into the air.

The energy sustaining it had been exhausted, and with a final shimmer, it vanished entirely.

Bai Yunxiao let out a long, weary sigh as he watched the apparition fade. His expression was a mix of admiration and melancholy, his eyes lingering on the spot where the figure had stood.

But as the last traces of light disappeared, he turned to Bai Qing, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Well," he said, his tone laced with mischief, "it seems we've been entrusted with quite the responsibility, haven't we?"

Bai Qing nodded, though his mind was still reeling. The weight of Xiao Yunhai's words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the monumental task ahead.

Yet, amidst the fear and uncertainty, a spark of determination ignited within him. This was their chance—their only chance—to rise above their humble origins and carve their names into the annals of history.

As father and son stood in the dimly lit room, the air thick with unspoken thoughts, they knew their lives would never be the same.

The path ahead was fraught with danger, but it was also filled with opportunity. And for the first time in his life, Bai Qing felt a glimmer of hope.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the Bai Clan could rise to meet the challenge.