Chapter 293 - 118: Advent by Possession! First Meeting Bai You

North of the Desolate Province, on Golden Radiance Mountain, beyond the mountain gate.

Within a pavilion.

Beside a stone table with a broken corner, Nianxin Little Daoist Child squatted on the ground, holding a folding fan, carefully fanning the stove fire as the wine gradually warmed.

"Master! Take a break, the wine is about to boil!"

A moment later, Nianxin Daoist Child shouted at the top of his lungs.

In the distance, amidst the countless mountains and ravines, wind and snow howled.

Linjiang Daoist stood amidst the wind and snow, his figure flickering in and out of sight. He muttered incantations as his ten fingers rapidly formed hand seals.

One by one, mysterious Dao Talismans, filled with surging True Qi and visible to the naked eye, materialized in the air.

Then, under his guidance, they flowed like a waterfall into the mountains.

He was repairing the Grand Array of Golden Radiance Mountain.

Previously, Tianyangzi had brandished an Iron Sword. Though it was just a light swing, the terrifying aura that emanated from it had caused parts of the Golden Radiance Mountain Array to crumble.

These shattered sections didn’t have a significant impact on the Array as a whole, and ordinarily, he couldn’t be bothered to fix them.

But things were different now.

He didn’t have much of his lifespan left. Even with the Longevity Technique Su Bai had given him, he wasn’t guaranteed to cultivate to a high Realm.

And recently, the situation in the Thirteen Provinces of the World had become turbulent and the future, unpredictable.

Anyone with discerning eyes could see that a great calamity was brewing in the shadows. How could he not be more cautious?

Otherwise, once the great calamity struck, someone as naive as his disciple would have no chance of survival.

For the past ten days, he had spent most of his time repairing and reinforcing the Grand Array of Golden Radiance Mountain. The rest of his time was spent practicing his Cultivation Technique and guiding his disciple’s training.

Hearing Nianxin Daoist Child’s shout, his expression remained stern. He ignored it, his hands flashing through seals to manifest deep purple Dao Talismans in the empty air.

BUZZ!

At a certain moment, as the Dao Talismans fell one after another, a resounding hum echoed from among the mountains.

It was as if a great bell had been struck. The immense chime, mixed with the clamor of the wind and snow, traveled a great distance and lingered for a long time.

The wild animals and Demon Beasts hibernating in the mountains were abruptly awoken, their bodies trembling.

An invisible sound wave flashed through the mountains and vanished.

"Phew!"

Only then did Linjiang Daoist let out a breath of relief and mutter to himself:

"This way, even if four or five Void Realm cultivators join forces, they won’t be able to break this array as long as they aren’t proficient in Daoist Skills or skilled at Breaking Arrays."

"And even if they were, the time it would take them to break the array would be enough for Nianxin to escape."

However, he still wanted to set up an Array of Shifting. That would make things even more secure.

If he worked without rest, he could probably set it up within three days.

"Master! Master!"

Just then, he heard Nianxin Daoist Child’s shouts again. He couldn’t help but frown and shake his head in resignation. "Still so impetuous!"

At that moment, he felt a pang of regret. ’I’ve protected my disciple too well.’

In this world, being overly naive made one an easy target for those with ill intentions.

’For a while, I should teach him some lessons about how the world works, help the kid wise up a bit...’

With this thought in mind, he took a step, his body flickering as he crossed peak after peak and landed just past the mountain gate.

"This is—!"

The moment he landed, Linjiang Daoist’s heart leaped, and he almost cried out.

In the pavilion before him, Nianxin Little Daoist Child was bustling about, carefully carrying dishes and wine.

And beside the stone table sat a young man dressed in white robes.

Though the white-robed young man sat with his back to him, his face unseen, the mere sight of that silhouette made Linjiang Daoist’s breath quicken. His heart felt as if it were being crushed by a great stone.

In this world, some people are forgotten as soon as they are seen, their faces blurring and quickly scattering to the wind.

But other people, even if met only by chance, are memorable enough to be etched in one’s mind for a lifetime.

Such was the case with the white-robed young man before him.

Their first meeting, the various experiences in the Yinfu Store, and later, Su Bai granting him the Longevity Technique—all these memories were still vivid in his mind.

And not long ago, the incident where Su Bai crushed the incarnation of the Leader of Gui Chen Sect with a single finger still left him shaken to this day.

To think that a self-proclaimed traveler could be so devastatingly powerful.

In his estimation, aside from the one in the State Mansion, this man was likely the number one figure in the Desolate Province.

The thoughts flashed by in an instant. Linjiang Daoist slowly exhaled a warm breath and stepped forward.

Before receiving the Longevity Technique, he had only had a few years left to live anyway. Thus, his state of mind regarding Su Bai’s sudden visit stabilized somewhat, the initial shock fading.

Besides, his only disciple was still bustling about, looking like a simpleton, but a diligent one at that.

As he strode closer to the white-robed young man, he was inwardly shocked.

His newly perfected Array was rooted in the Earth Veins and the mountains, secretly aligned with the sun, moon, and stars, and its defenses were unparalleled.

’Even a Feathered expert who has passed a Thunder Tribulation shouldn’t be able to enter it so silently, right?’

’Could this man already be approaching that level?’

Su Bai sat on the stone seat, glanced at the steaming hot food and wine, and slowly nodded.

"The food and wine are quite good. The child is obedient and sensible, too."

"Haha! As long as Senior is pleased..."

Linjiang Daoist didn’t even have time to feel the sting of Nianxin Daoist Child bringing out his treasured wine, and he forced a grin.

He didn’t know what important business this senior had with him, but faced with the enormous gap in their power, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

It was like a rabbit meeting a tiger; even if it knew the tiger wouldn’t harm it, it would still feel an instinctual fear.

"May I ask, Senior, have you come today with some important matter for me?"

Linjiang Daoist composed himself and spoke, carefully choosing his words.

Nianxin Daoist Child stood obediently to the side, occasionally squinting to steal a glance at Su Bai.

He, too, had naturally heard of Su Bai’s deeds.

Linjiang Daoist had also told him many times that if he ever went out, he was to stay far away from that Cyan Mountain and not disturb its occupant by casually going up it.

"You’re a straightforward man, Daoist, but I am not here for you today."

Su Bai took a sip of the warm wine and slowly shook his head.

"And naturally, I have nothing to trouble you with."

"Ah? Then..."

Linjiang Daoist was stunned.

But in the next moment, his body jolted. He seemed to have remembered something, and a trace of dread and horror appeared in his eyes.

He suddenly recalled that over half a month ago, when he used the Yinfu Store to enter the Netherworld.

While passing through a certain area, he was being pursued by countless Demon Fiends. After all his Magical Artifacts were destroyed, he encountered an extremely terrifying Great Demon.

Just as he was about to be killed, the Great Demon suddenly fled in a frenzy, as if it had seen the most terrifying thing in the world.

At the time, he had assumed that one of the Yin Department Ghost Gods just happened to be passing by.

But now, he suddenly remembered.

The tragic howl and horrified words the Great Demon had shrieked as it fled.

If translated into the words of the human realm, it was:

Lord Bai You!

But he was only recalling this memory now!

’What is going on?’

WHOOSH!

Just as he was at a loss, a chilling wind seemed to sweep through the small pavilion.

The temperature across all of Golden Radiance Mountain suddenly plummeted, and a cold wind howled.

Nianxin Daoist Child, standing to the side, didn’t know what his master and Su Bai had been talking about, but at this moment, he felt a bone-chilling cold.

He instinctively retreated again and again. He wanted to say something, but an inexplicable sense of oppression rose in his heart.

It went so far that the surrounding mountains, including Golden Radiance Mountain itself, fell completely silent.

It was as if the entire world had held its breath.

"I..."

Linjiang Daoist’s face turned a ghastly shade, his lips drained of color, and his eyes filled with terror.

He had clearly guessed what was happening.

"I’ve borrowed a feast from you, Daoist, as well as a pavilion and this view of a mountain full of wind and snow. But I won’t borrow them for free. Debts must be repaid, don’t you think..."

Crystalline snowflakes drifted down from high above, brushing past Su Bai’s eyes.

His gaze was profound as he looked at the uncontrollably trembling Linjiang Daoist and continued speaking:

"Venerable Bai You!"

"Quite impressive."

In the next instant, "Linjiang Daoist’s" body stabilized, and he slowly raised his head.

His voice was calm and indifferent.

The body was still the same body, without the slightest change.

But at this moment, no one would have mistaken the old Daoist before them for Linjiang Daoist any longer.

Not even his closest disciple.

Nianxin Daoist Child stood in the distance, the wind and snow whipping at his robes. His body trembled, feeling waves of coldness rise from the depths of his heart, and his eyes held nothing but fear.

It was clearly just a single, indifferent sentence, yet he felt a terrifying pressure, as if the entire world were bearing down on him.

Venerable Bai You!

Among the Desolate State Cultivators, and even among many ordinary people, who hadn’t heard of the great name of the Black and White Dual Venerable?

But he never would have dreamed that at this very moment, the legendary Venerable Bai You would use his master’s body to descend from the Netherworld into the mortal realm.

"Three pounds of horse meat, a portion of horse tendon, two horse ears, half a catty of distilled spirits. Very good, very good."

"Linjiang Daoist" glanced at the food and wine on the stone table, a look of deep reminiscence on his face.

"Back then, the Lord Venerable... he loved to eat like this."

A sigh followed.

Su Bai perceived the deep emotion carried in that sigh.

In a daze, a vivid scene appeared before his eyes...

The sun was setting. On a small path lush with grass and trees, a burly, ugly-faced man pulled a cart.

On the wooden cart behind him, a tall figure in white robes reclined on a pile of hay, reading an ancient book.

Two tiny children chattered excitedly beside him, lying on their backs to his left and right, grinning up at the sky...

The scene vanished in a flash.

"As long as you like it."

Su Bai drained his cup, picked up the Jade Pot, and poured a cup for the "Linjiang Daoist" before him.

The Wood Demon of Celestial Origin Mountain, the appearance at the Yinfu Store, and Linjiang Daoist’s own ordeal.

All of it had been a scheme, preparations made by the Venerable Bai You before him in order to secure this meeting.

He already knew this.

He had simply chosen today to come.

Venerable Bai You picked up the cup, sniffed it gently, then slowly raised it and drained it in one go.

After a moment, he set down the cup, let out a long sigh, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"It has been a long time since I’ve experienced the air of the mortal world. It seems my great efforts to descend here were not in vain."

Su Bai quietly sized up Venerable Bai You.

This being had borrowed Linjiang Daoist’s body; it was not an incarnation that had come, but a sliver of consciousness.

As Su Bai was sizing up Venerable Bai You, the other was sizing up Su Bai in return.

His gaze was deep and distant, reflecting Su Bai’s entire figure. It was unclear whether he was trying to confirm something or secretly deducing it.

After a moment, Venerable Bai You wondered to himself,

’Could it be him...?’