Chapter 269 - 295: A Dried Well, Purification of Marrow and Veins, the Wansheng Institute is Shaken

WHOOSH!

As a crimson gust of wind came to a halt, the Fox Daoist slowly exhaled a turbid breath. A cold sweat had completely soaked his fur, and his Heart Spirit was in a daze.

A trace of lingering fear showed on his face.

PATTER!

As he stopped, Little Red Foxes tumbled down, chirping and squeaking.

Some hugged his legs coquettishly, some clambered onto his body and bounced around wildly, and others circled around him.

One Little Red Fox even zipped off into the distance.

"You little terror! After everything that happened today, you still dare to run around?"

With a wave of his hand, the Fox Daoist snatched up the most mischievous Little Red Fox, grabbing it by the scruff of its neck.

This Little Red Fox stuck out its tiny tongue and decided to play dead.

"You!"

The Fox Daoist let out a melancholy sigh.

It wasn’t easy for beasts to gain intelligence after birth. Even though he had become a Great Demon, his clan was too small, and there was no guarantee his descendants would awaken their intelligence.

These few Little Red Foxes were the rare few among his descendants who had managed it.

But it was so difficult to look after these mischievous red foxes.

Unless they left the Dayu Immortal Dynasty, the entire world was dominated by the esteemed Human Race. And the lands beyond Da Yu were far from safe.

Great Demons comparable to the Seven Heroes and Three Li ruled there, and their cruelty was a hundred times worse than that of the Dayu Immortal Dynasty.

They demanded true, total devotion. Whether human, demon, or fiend, the sole purpose of their existence was to sustain those ruling Great Demons.

How could he dare go there?

It wasn’t just him; many Demon Fiends felt the same way.

"We can’t stay here long."

The Fox Daoist glanced at the little foxes and ordered, "Quick, go get all the scriptures. We’re moving!"

"Old Ancestor! Let’s just run! Since it’s so dangerous here, why bother with those torn, heavy things?"

The Little Red Fox he was holding piped up, "Wouldn’t it be better to just make a break for it?"

"Break for it, my foot!"

The Fox Daoist was furious!

Furious at its lack of ambition, he smacked the Little Red Fox on the head and glared at the others with a huff.

Yikes!

The other Little Red Foxes instantly scattered, running toward the nearby ruins of Celestial Origin Temple.

Gazing at the rubble of Celestial Origin Temple, he recalled how even Granny Mu, who had cultivated in the deep mountains for over a thousand years, had nearly been crushed to death by that Buddha face.

The Fox Daoist sighed deeply. ’This world is so vast, but is there any place we can call home?’

In this world, aside from the orthodox Human Race and the Demon Fiends and monsters that submitted to them, all other living beings struggled to survive.

Even Great Demons like the Seven Heroes and Three Li had to contend with the sudden appearance of the Netherworld Venerable Master, and with the suppression from the Dayu Immortal Dynasty’s experts, they couldn’t even leave the Netherworld.

Yet even a peerless figure like the Netherworld Venerable Master could meet an untimely end and vanish without a trace.

In this world, under these heavens, who could truly live a happy, free, and unrestrained life?

’Perhaps only those truly supreme experts?’

Snapping back to his senses, he heard a cry of alarm from the courtyard.

"Hm?"

The Fox Daoist’s expression changed. With a single leap, he crossed a hundred zhang and shot into a part of the Celestial Origin Temple ruins.

However, before he even landed, he saw the group of Little Red Foxes chattering away while suspended in mid-air.

They were circling a rather divine-looking large, silver-white dog, yapping incessantly. Seeing there was no apparent danger, he breathed a sigh of relief.

But before he could fully relax, a tense look returned to his face.

Among the ruins not far away, by a dried-up well, stood a figure in a white robe with his back to him.

The man stood tall and straight. In the Fox Daoist’s perception, he was like a towering, Immortal Immortal Mountain, while he himself was as weak as an ant, trembling in fear.

And this white-robed figure was clearly the same senior Great Power who had shattered the Buddha face with his fist!

His heart went cold, and his body froze in place, not daring to move an inch.

Su Bai paid no mind to the Fox Daoist, instead cocking his ear to listen for sounds from within the well.

He had just tossed a piece of rubble into the well, but even now, no echo had returned.

It was like a bottomless abyss.

The Fox Daoist stood trembling, unsure of what this senior figure intended to do.

By the dry well, Su Bai paused for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

The well was immeasurably deep. With the strength of his Divine Thoughts, he should have been able to hear the stone land no matter how deep it fell, especially since the stone he’d thrown was imbued with his surging True Qi.

At this point, he understood that this well indeed led to the path to the Netherworld.

And the Netherworld was not an underworld, but an Otherworldly Space created by the Netherworld Venerable Master through grand means, one that existed attached to the mortal realm.

In the past, not only the Yin Department Ghost Gods, Ghost Messengers, and City Gods, but even some Martial Arts Strongmen with considerable Cultivation could travel to and from the Netherworld.

Unfortunately, ever since the great change in the Netherworld, aside from a handful of Yin Department Ghost Gods, not even City Gods or Martial Arts Great Powers at the Feather Transformation Realm could enter the Netherworld.

Let alone ordinary people.

Previously, the Linjiang Daoist he met in the Yinfu Store not only had a Cultivation that reached the Nine Tribulations Realm and profound Daoist Skills, but even he had to rely on the Yinfu Store to enter the Netherworld.

But the Yinfu Store only appeared once a century, and its location was random. Ordinary people had no hope of finding it.

This dry well before him, however, was a genuine passageway to the Netherworld, making it extremely valuable.

However, he currently had no intention of heading to the Netherworld.

He was always cautious when it came to the unknown.

Only after he became strong enough would he lift the veil of mystery.

For instance, just like with the mysterious cave deep within the Great Xia Prison, he only delved into it and unraveled some of its mysteries after he had grown sufficiently powerful.

He wouldn’t do anything he wasn’t confident about.

"Senior, you..."

After standing there for a moment, the Fox Daoist began to speak cautiously.

Su Bai turned his head, glanced at him, and then at the Little Red Foxes.

The world had malicious people, but it also had benevolent demons. These Little Red Foxes had a rare clarity in their aura, unstained by sin. They had committed no evil.

"This temple is no place to linger. Once you leave, don’t come back."

With a casual tap on the dry well, he concealed its form.

Without lingering, Su Bai gave the reminder, then beckoned, summoning the Silver-White Dog Demon.

And along with it came a Little Red Fox, clinging tightly to the Dog Demon’s front leg.

SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!

The little thing wasn’t afraid. It was sizing up Su Bai with eyes full of curiosity, but of course, all it could see was a vast golden light, unable to make out his true appearance.

It might not have been afraid, but the Fox Daoist nearly died of fright. His face turned pale, and his heart leaped into his throat.

"You little rascal! You’re going to be the death of me!"

The Fox Daoist was frantic with anxiety, almost bursting into tears.

’This little thing, how dare it cause trouble at a time like this?’

"An interesting little fellow. A pity, but one little white dog is already enough of a hassle."

Su Bai flicked his finger. The Little Red Fox was sent spinning through the air, only to land gently on its feet.

WHIMPER!

Hearing Su Bai’s words, the Silver-White Dog Demon whimpered, its head drooping listlessly.

The Fox Daoist breathed a sigh of relief. When he looked ahead again, the space was empty; not even a shadow of the senior remained.

The Little Red Fox let out a low, disappointed cry.

Its intelligence was extremely high, and it had been clever since birth, with a keen Divine Sense. It vaguely sensed that if it could follow this white-robed figure, it would receive immense benefits.

But it seemed its intentions had been seen through.

The Fox Daoist picked up the little fox and sighed softly. "How could we possibly hope to associate with such an eminent senior?"

"Staying by his side might bring endless fortunate encounters, but it could also lead to terrible disasters."

"It’s good enough for us to stay together, safe and sound."

If an old man can become shrewd, an old fox is naturally even more cunning.

How could he not understand what the Little Red Fox was thinking?

It’s just that in this world, to gain something, one must be prepared to lose something.

Following that eminent senior might lead to fortunate encounters, but it was more likely to lead to disaster and danger.

He had read in some ancient texts that true experts, without exception, were those who had carved a bloody path forward, hacking through thorns and brambles.

Having their parents die, their friends and relatives perish tragically—these were commonplace.

There were many who left a trail of death wherever they went.

Wherever they passed, an endless storm of blood and gore would surely follow.

This young man in white, even if he was an expert at the Feather Transformation Realm, had offended the Rebirth Buddha Venerable of the Wansheng Institute. The consequences were hard to predict.

Missing this opportunity might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Yip!

But just then, the Little Red Fox suddenly let out a series of urgent yelps.

The Fox Daoist’s expression changed.

He saw the little fox leap from his arms and roll over several times on the ground.

As it did, its body flickered between large and small, its muscles and bones constantly transforming.

"This is... Purification of Marrow and Veins!?"

Seeing this, the Fox Daoist’s eyes filled with delight.

Although he had never witnessed such a state, according to the records in ancient texts, this had to be Purification of Marrow and Veins!

This was a great fortunate encounter!

’It seems that senior is even more powerful than I imagined.’

’Perhaps the one who should be worried is the world-renowned Rebirth Buddha Venerable, not him.’

The Fox Daoist thought with reverence.

He had seen it clearly just now. With just a flick of his finger, that person had induced a Purification of Marrow and Veins in the Little Red Fox!

Such a method was comparable to having Immortal Gods on earth.

Could the Rebirth Buddha Venerable do that?

Not necessarily.

At that moment, he gazed toward the Prefecture City, his Divine Thoughts extending out, seeming to sense a certain aura.

Then, his expression turned solemn.

He bowed deeply!

「In a lush mountain forest.」

Su Bai walked toward the Prefecture City with the gloomy-faced dog.

He glanced at the listless white dog and shook his head with a smile.

"Fine, I’ll give you a Purification of Marrow and Veins too!"

Su Bai smiled at the Silver-White Dog Demon. Then, with a thought, a surge of True Qi flowed out of his body and into the Silver-White Dog Demon’s.

As the True Qi circulated, the white dog let out joyful yelps. Its bloodline continuously transformed, and its bones and tendons chimed in unison.

Its entire aura grew stronger and stronger.

AWOO!

After the Purification of Marrow and Veins ended, the Silver-White Dog Demon excitedly circled Su Bai.

Its tongue was hanging out, its eyes filled with excitement.

This Purification of Marrow and Veins had saved it at least several hundred years of bitter Cultivation!

How could it not be excited?

"Let’s go. Home."

Patting the Silver-White Dog Demon’s head, Su Bai stepped onto a streak of white light and headed toward the Prefecture City.

...

DONG! DONG! DONG!

The sound of a striking bell shattered the silence of the night, joining the rising sun to awaken the Vitality of the Wansheng Institute.

Wisps of green smoke curled up from within the Wansheng Institute.

The Wansheng Institute lay somewhere in the east of Yu Province. Its inner walls were tall and thick, radiating a surging golden brilliance. They stretched from east to west with no end in sight, covering a vast area.

The pavilions and halls within also stretched on endlessly, with the sound of Buddhist chants echoing throughout.

On the wide steps inside the institute, young Monks, their steps as swift as the wind, hurried between the numerous temples, burning incense and offering worship.

「Wansheng Institute, within a quiet courtyard.」

A frail old Monk sitting cross-legged by a pond suddenly frowned. He looked behind him toward a Thirty-Three-Layered Buddha Tower.

At that moment, clouds and mist roiled at the top of the Buddha Tower, spreading for a hundred, even a thousand li, like waves churning in the ocean.

The terrifying, surging momentum was enough to make one’s heart palpitate just by looking at it.

’The Dean’s state of mind is fluctuating...’

’What in the world happened?’

The old Monk slowly rose to his feet. Without any perceptible movement, he was already standing before the Buddha Tower, gazing up at its thirty-three layers.

His gaze fell on the top of the tower, his expression exceptionally grave.

「Meanwhile, in a meditation room at the top of the tower.」

The Rebirth Buddha Venerable’s eyes flickered with a light that seemed to create and destroy.

He murmured to himself:

"A casual strike, and my spiritual body was annihilated."

"Just who is this sacred personage?"