Chapter 321: Pleading with Dugu Ling for Help

Aside from obtaining the Spirit Medicines on his list, Chu Fan didn’t get any useful information from Yan Jiuxuan at Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.

He only learned that the Nine-tailed Fox Clan was once the aristocracy of the Demon Race. As for Bai Yun’s origins, he came up completely empty-handed.

Of course, while he hadn’t gotten much information from Yan Jiuxuan directly, Chu Fan was still able to deduce a few things from her story.

‘The Nine-tailed Fox Clan was once on par with the Dragon and Phoenix Races, capable of ruling the entire Demon Race. Does that mean Bai Yun’s bloodline contains a heritage comparable to that of the Divine Race?’

‘If Bai Yun grew all nine of her tails, would she undergo an atavistic transformation? At that point, would her abilities rival those of the Divine Race?’

Regardless of what Bai Yun’s future held, in Chu Fan’s heart, she was like his little sister. No matter what became of her, she would always be his little sister.

If he had the ability to help her grow all nine tails, he would certainly spare no effort to do so.

Unable to learn anything more, Chu Fan didn’t linger on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain. He took Bai Yun and rode the Space-Time Shuttle directly to the Bamboo Sea.

Just as he’d expected, since it had only been a little over a month since his last visit, the four old-timers initially had no intention of seeing him.

Only after hearing that Chu Fan had brought supplies did they reluctantly open the barrier and let him in.

Even so, the four old-timers still looked at Chu Fan with disdain.

After unloading the supplies, Chu Fan found Dugu Ling and pulled her aside for a private word.

“Boy, it’s no use saying all the nice things you want to me. Your presence here will only delay Yun Girl’s training.”

“No, no, you misunderstand, Elder Dugu. I actually came to ask you for a favor.”

“Ask me for help? No. You can leave now!”

“Hey, Elder, don’t be so unreasonable! You haven’t even heard what I need help with, and you’re already refusing outright?”

“When a boy like you asks for help, it’s never for anything good. The only thing left for me in this life is to pass on all my skills to Yun Girl. I’m not interested in anything else.”

“Elder, what if I told you that the people of the Southern Domain are living in misery, and that before long, the common folk will be subjected to a large-scale massacre at the hands of wicked men?”

As Chu Fan finished speaking, Dugu Ling’s expression did indeed change, but she still waved her hand dismissively.

“As far as the outside world is concerned, I’ve been dead for years. What does the state of the Southern Domain have to do with me?”

“Elder, please listen. A power called the God Slaughter Hall has emerged in the Southern Domain. They’re incredibly strong and their methods are extremely cruel. Anyone who disobeys them is viciously destroyed. I came here for two reasons. First, I need to ask for your help in cleansing a friend of Gu Poison. Second, I need to tell Yun Xi that I’m going to the Southern Domain, and I might not be able to visit her here for another three to five years.”

After hearing this, Dugu Ling asked, “What business do you have in the Southern Domain?”

Seeing an opening, Chu Fan quickly explained, “The God Slaughter Hall has grand ambitions. Over two years ago, they began sending people to the Eastern Domain, where they annihilated several Cultivation Sects. Not only that, but over a decade ago, they attacked Piaoxue Palace and stole its Treasure of the Palace, the Profound Ice Bed. I’m going to the Southern Domain to investigate the God Slaughter Hall’s background. If they are truly committing atrocities there that outrage both heaven and earth, then I must do everything in my power to stop them.”

“And who is this person with the Gu Poison?” Dugu Ling asked.

“She is the Pavilion Master of Chaoyin Pavilion, which was originally just a small Sect in the Southern Domain. The God Slaughter Hall implanted her with Gu Poison, and she fell under their control, becoming one of their pawns. If her Gu Poison can be cured, then perhaps…”

Having lived for several hundred years, Dugu Ling heard this and immediately understood Chu Fan’s plan.

“I can help you with this. Have her come here. But as for her Gu Poison, I won’t know if it’s treatable until I’ve seen it myself. Don’t get your hopes up.”

Delighted to hear that Dugu Ling was willing to help, Chu Fan said, “Elder, she is under surveillance and cannot come here with me. That’s why I must ask you to make a trip to the Eastern Domain.”

“In that case, I’m afraid I can’t help!”

“Elder, I have the Space-Time Shuttle. A round trip from here to Shuoyue City takes no more than a few dozen seconds. I beg for your assistance, Elder.” As he spoke, Chu Fan bowed deeply to Dugu Ling.

But no matter how Chu Fan explained, Dugu Ling flatly refused to leave the Bamboo Sea.

Left with no other choice, Chu Fan could only go ask Yun Xi for help.

But just as he found Yun Xi, Liu Yizhen appeared behind him, warning, “Boy, we had an agreement. Before Yun Girl completes her training, you two can only meet once a year. You were just here a month ago for three days. If it weren’t for the supplies you brought, we old-timers would never have let you see her. Now that you have, shouldn’t you be leaving?”

“Elder Liu, please let me speak with Yun Xi for a little while. After we part today, we might not see each other again for three to five years.”

“Not see each other for three to five years? Truly?” Liu Yizhen’s eyes lit up.

Yun Xi, however, grew anxious. “Chu Fan, why won’t we be able to see each other for three to five years?”

After all, their previous meeting had been after a gap of nearly four years. The thought of not seeing him for another three to five years was more than Yun Xi could bear.

“Very well. I will give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. After that, you must leave.” With that, Liu Yizhen departed.

“Chu Fan, answer me. Did something happen in the Eastern Domain again?”

Chu Fan nodded. “When I returned to the Eastern Domain a while ago, I learned that a power called the God Slaughter Hall has occupied Three Mountains Island. In just over two years, they’ve destroyed several of our Eastern Domain’s Cultivation Sects. They even slaughtered the Cyan Cloud Sect, leaving only the heavily wounded Wang Zhiheng to escape.”

“Ah!” Yun Xi gasped.

She knew that Chu Fan had pushed for the unification of the Eastern Domain to bring it lasting peace and stability. It was his dream. Having grown up in the Eastern Domain herself, she also had a deep affection for it.

Chu Fan had only spoken a few words, but with her intelligence, how could she fail to grasp the crisis the Eastern Domain was facing?

“I’ve discovered that the God Slaughter Hall is from the Southern Domain. I’ve also heard they commit all sorts of evil there, so I plan to take Ying Xiao’s Dark Night Envoys and head to the Southern Domain…”

“No! I won’t let you go take such a risk!” Yun Xi cut him off before he could finish.

“But if I do nothing, are we supposed to just stand by and watch the God Slaughter Hall send even stronger forces to the Eastern Domain for an even more frenzied retaliation against our people? Yun Xi, you know me better than anyone. How can I just watch as the Eastern Domain is ravaged?”

“But…” Yun Xi hesitated.

Chu Fan placed both hands on Yun Xi’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. Since I’ve decided to go to the Southern Domain, I naturally have a plan. And I’m not going without assistance. I came to the Bamboo Sea this time to deliver supplies, but also to ask Elder Dugu Ling for a favor.”

Chu Fan held nothing back, telling Yun Xi all about Wen Chan, including what happened at the Xi Jun Building and the agreement he made with Wen Chan at the Simurgh Pavilion.

“If she can break free from the God Slaughter Hall’s control, she can feed them false information for me. That would at least make them hesitant to cause trouble in the Eastern Domain for a while, buying me some time. And when I get to the Southern Domain, she might be a great help to me. The only problem is that Elder Dugu refuses to leave the Bamboo Sea.”

“I’ll go talk to Master Dugu!” Yun Xi said without hesitation.