Chapter 66: Braving Fire and Water for the Sect

Inside the forest, as Bai Xiaochun continued moving forward, he gradually noticed some clues that confirmed his suspicions. After exiting the mountain range and traveling for several days at his incredible speed, he finally returned to the Luoxing Mountain Range and found the Luo Chen Clan reduced to ruins.

"It seems that Du Lingfei and Hou Yunfei really did manage to send the news back to the sect," Bai Xiaochun recalled the brutal battle and sighed deeply. After a long moment, he turned around, summoned the Wind-Traveling Boat, and sat cross-legged, controlling it.

With a whoosh, the boat transformed into a long rainbow shooting off into the distance.

"Heading back to the sect!" Bai Xiaochun's eyes showed anticipation. He figured he must have earned great merit for the sect this time, and that there would definitely be rewards upon his return.

Thinking of this, he grew even more excited. Looking down at his storage pouch, he tidied up the items he had taken from the Luo Chen Clan members—quite a few items and some spirit stones.

Most importantly, he had found, inside a storage pouch belonging to one of the Luo Chen Clan, a fist-sized seed that throbbed like a heart, as if it had life within it—but its vitality was fading, growing weaker and weaker.

Bai Xiaochun studied it for a long time. With his expertise in flora and fauna, he was shocked to recognize it as a legendary, long-extinct, extremely rare spiritual seed called the "Beast-Breeding Seed"!

Rumor said this seed could absorb the essence of spirit beasts to reproduce on its own. For those fierce beasts who were incredibly powerful but struggled to leave offspring, the Beast-Breeding Seed was virtually priceless.

Especially for cultivators accompanied by powerful spirit beasts, who desired to obtain the offspring of those beasts, this seed's value was even more apparent.

Although Bai Xiaochun didn't know why such a precious item ended up in the hands of a Luo Chen clansman who had been pursuing him, it was likely a matter of fate—after all, the Luo Chen Clan lived inside the mysterious Luoxing Mountain Range, a place full of secrets.

Since he had taken a long time to identify it, the Luo Chen clansman who had the seed likely didn't know its value, and thus didn't take proper care of it.

Bai Xiaochun selected some wood infused with spiritual energy, carved a wooden box, and placed the seed inside. Gradually, the seed's life fluctuations stabilized.

After securing the wooden box, Bai Xiaochun took a deep breath, summoned the Wind-Traveling Boat, and sped across the sky, following the route he had come by, drawing closer to the Lingxi Sect.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. Because they had few spirit stones on the way out, the three of them had only used the Wind-Traveling Boat at night. Now, with his pouch full, Bai Xiaochun no longer cared about spirit stone consumption, and in just a month, he could see the southern gate of Lingxi Sect from afar.

"Been more than half a year coming and going—finally back," Bai Xiaochun stood on the boat, hair flying in the wind, striking a pose like an unparalleled expert. Then he suddenly remembered something and thought this expression was inappropriate, so he quickly changed into the tattered outer disciple robe he wore during the bloody battle at the Luo Chen Clan.

He put on a look of someone willing to die for the sect, tragic and pitiful. The bloodstains on the robe made it clear each tear was from a near-death crisis.

Satisfied with this, he controlled the Wind-Traveling Boat to advance. Just as he was about to penetrate the mountain gate, an invisible barrier suddenly appeared and instantly repelled the boat.

"Ah?" Bai Xiaochun's body jolted, nearly falling off.

At the same time, from the southern gate, a long rainbow shot out. Inside it was a young man with a calm expression. He stepped out and looked steadily at Bai Xiaochun.

"Who are you, fellow Daoist? What brings you to Lingxi Sect?" The young man frowned as he glanced at the Wind-Traveling Boat and then at Bai Xiaochun's clothing.

"You're carrying my Lingxi Sect's Wind-Traveling Boat, dressed in an outer disciple robe, but blocked by the gate's formation! Who exactly are you?" The young man's eyes flashed coldly. As he formed hand seals, his cultivation energy spread out, reaching the eighth level of Qi Condensation.

"I'm an outer disciple from Xiangyun Mountain named Bai Xiaochun," Bai Xiaochun took a few steps back, confused about the situation, quickly explaining.

The young man frowned but suddenly paused.

"You're Bai Xiaochun?" He scrutinized Bai Xiaochun more closely and grew increasingly familiar. He had attended Bai Xiaochun's funeral and seen his tombstone portrait. His body trembled violently now, especially seeing the bloodstained clothes.

"You... you're supposed to be dead!"

"I'm not dead," Bai Xiaochun said in surprise.

The young man's expression instantly brightened as he took out a jade slip and sent a message to the sect.

The moment news of Bai Xiaochun's survival reached the sect, Li Qinghou, who had been in seclusion on Xiangyun Mountain, suddenly opened his eyes, trembled, and stepped out.

At the same time, the sect leader received the news. Although shocked, he quickly scanned the southern gate with his divine sense, saw Bai Xiaochun, and announced it to the entire sect.

Within moments, rumors spread like wildfire throughout the sect—even outside the gates, the whispers were audible. Bells suddenly rang throughout the sect.

"Bai Xiaochun? Wasn't he dead? How is he alive again?!"

Countless figures rushed out from all directions. Leading the way was Hou Yunfei, who, after escaping the Luo Chen Clan's pursuit, despite not wanting to admit Bai Xiaochun could die, had secretly accepted that no disciple could survive such a brutal chase.

Tears streamed down his face in excitement.

"Junior Brother Bai!" Hou Yunfei laughed, instantly rushing forward to embrace Bai Xiaochun, overwhelmed with emotion and speechless.

"Senior Brother Hou..." Bai Xiaochun blinked, finally understanding that the sect thought he was dead. Seeing Hou Yunfei unharmed made him happy as well.

"Come on, let's return to the sect!" Hou Yunfei grabbed Bai Xiaochun and headed straight for the gate. With him leading, Bai Xiaochun easily passed through the barrier. The young man who had confronted him followed and looked at Bai Xiaochun with strong shock, having personally participated in wiping out the Luo Chen Clan. Seeing the brutal battleground and corpses, he was utterly astonished that Bai Xiaochun had returned alive.

Almost as soon as Bai Xiaochun stepped inside, more figures rushed from all directions.

"Jiupang?!" Zhang Dapang, Hei Sanpang, and other chubby senior brothers from the Miscellaneous Duties Department came forward, all trembling with excitement. Zhang Dapang even hugged Bai Xiaochun tightly, tears flowing.

Bai Xiaochun felt touched, looking around at everyone. At that moment, he suddenly felt that all his past efforts were worthwhile.

At this time, a long rainbow appeared with Li Qinghou inside. He looked at Bai Xiaochun in disbelief, holding a bundle containing Bai Xiaochun's bloodied clothes.

He was the one who understood best how deadly Bai Xiaochun's crisis had been.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!" Bai Xiaochun hurried forward and bowed deeply to Li Qinghou.

"Just glad you're alive, just glad you're alive." Li Qinghou, usually composed, trembled unconsciously. He raised his right hand and placed it on Bai Xiaochun's head, his eyes filled with emotion.

"This is my home. As a disciple, I'm willing to risk fire and water for the sect!" Bai Xiaochun stood tall and proud, loudly declaring, deliberately flicking his sleeve to reveal the many blood holes in his clothing.

On the three southern peaks, more people arrived. Seeing Bai Xiaochun's bloodstained robe, they were all shocked.

Especially Bai Xiaochun's words echoed around, shaking everyone's hearts. Those who looked at him now truly felt he was the sect's outstanding prodigy.

More and more people gathered. From afar, the sobbing voice of a woman could be heard. It was Du Lingfei, who had been crying every day, looking extremely haggard. Hearing that Bai Xiaochun had returned, her mind buzzed as she rushed over recklessly.

Seeing Bai Xiaochun, tears streamed down her face as she hugged him tightly, both crying and laughing—her disbelief that this was real warmed Bai Xiaochun's heart.

His hand instinctively moved toward her raised head but stopped, remembering how many people were around.

"Senior Sister Du, I said before, as long as I have breath left, I won't let you suffer any harm." Bai Xiaochun said calmly, lifting his chin with a look that seemed to dominate the world—this extremely cheesy line coming from him.

Hearing this, Du Lingfei nearly weakened, tears hidden deep in her eyes were full of deep affection, as sweet as honey.

Soon, enforcers appeared, led by Ouyang Jie. When he looked at Bai Xiaochun, his eyes gleamed with strong interest. Especially Bai Xiaochun's clothing and his earlier words to Li Qinghou earned his silent approval.

"Bai Xiaochun, I am Ouyang Jie of the Enforcement Hall."

Hearing the name "Enforcement Hall," Bai Xiaochun's heart trembled, but recalling his great achievements, he straightened his chest and respectfully clasped his fists toward Ouyang Jie.

"Regarding the Luo Chen Clan incident, come with me to meet the Sect Leader." Ouyang Jie raised his right hand and pointed at Bai Xiaochun. Immediately, a patch of spiritual mist appeared under Bai Xiaochun's feet and carried him away as Ouyang Jie led the way.

Li Qinghou looked relieved and transformed into a long rainbow to follow.

As for the other disciples, seeing Bai Xiaochun leave, most dispersed amid amazement and discussion. Yet the news of Bai Xiaochun's survival spread even faster.

In the end, almost the entire Lingxi Sect knew of it. Some rejoiced; some worried.

Qian Dajin trembled inside his retreat, his expression filled with fear.

"Damn it, how is he not dead?! That brutal chase—how could he survive?"

"He probably doesn't know I arranged for him to go on this mission... yes, he probably doesn't know\..." Qian Dajin's face flickered, finally sighing deeply, caught between hope and fear.