Chapter 247

Chapter 247

Upon returning to the tavern, Ye Shi found Bai Chenxing sitting by the window, his gaze distant.

Hesitating, Ye Shi nervously addressed Bai Chenxing, "I apologize, Senior Sister. She spoke without knowing..."

Bai Chenxing managed a faint smile, "It's fine. She's a lovely girl."

Eyes downcast, Bai Chenxing couldn't help feeling dejected. What was Ye Shi worried about? That he might harm her? Even now, Ye Shi hasn't called him "father" once, never fully trusting him. Was he truly that fearsome?

Only when Mu Chen is mentioned does Ye Shi warm up to him. Otherwise, he's always reserved in his presence.

Bai Chenxing clenched his fists, blaming himself for everything.

"I know where Grandfather is. Let's find him," proposed Ye Shi.

A fleeting expression crossed Bai Chenxing's eyes before he nodded, "Very well."

Ye Shi pondered how he would introduce Bai Chenxing to his grandfather. Should he outright say he's his father?

Gritting his teeth, Ye Shi decided to take it step by step.

............

"Shi Tou! Why are you back?" Qu Kun approached before Ye Shi could seek him out.

"I missed Mu Chen, so I returned. Grandfather, do you know where Mu Chen is?" Ye Shi inquired eagerly.

Qu Kun frowned, "This isn't the place to talk. Let's go somewhere private."

Ye Shi nodded in agreement, "Alright."

As Bai Chenxing followed, Qu Kun asked, "Who is this?"

"He..." Ye Shi hesitated. Before he could finalize his introduction, Qu Kun had already posed the question.

Bai Chenxing hesitated. Both he and Ye Shi shared the same concern. Having met with Qu Xinyang in the past and never encountering Qu Kun, the situation was now...

After a long pause, Bai Chenxing awkwardly introduced himself, "I am Bai Chenxing..."

Qu Kun's face turned cold instantly, "You're a Bai?"

Bai Chenxing nodded with an embarrassed expression, "Yes."

Qu Kun scoffed coldly, "I shouldn't be addressing you as my junior. Given your prowess, it should be the other way around."

A flush of embarrassment crept over Bai Chenxing's face, "Father-in-law, you flatter me."

"Why are you here?" Qu Kun questioned icily.

Bai Chenxing looked down, struggling to find words, "I... came to see Xinyang."

"What's your purpose now? Where were you before?" Qu Kun's eyes filled with resentment.

Bai Chenxing, disheveled and speechless, could only mutter, "I came to see Xinyang."

Ye Shi pulled Qu Kun aside and briefly explained the past misunderstanding.

Qu Kun sneered, remarking, "So you're saying he went into hiding in Zhongzhou all these years because Ye Xun deceived him?"

Ye Shi nodded, "Exactly."

Qu Kun cast a cold glance at Bai Chenxing and said, "It's astonishing that Ye Xun managed to deceive him for so many years. I can't fathom how your parents could fall for someone like that."

Ye Shi: "..."

Qu Kun scrutinized Bai Chenxing, saying, "It seems he passed on nothing to you but his foolishness."

"I'm not that foolish," Ye Shi mumbled, secretly thinking: My spiritual eye and talent for formations must have been inherited from Bai Chenxing.

Qu Kun: "If it weren't for Mu Chen, someone would have taken advantage of Ye Shi a long time ago."

Seeing Bai Chenxing's dejected appearance, Ye Shi felt a pang of sympathy. Although Bai Chenxing made mistakes in the past, he shouldn't be solely blamed.

"Grandfather, the Ye family is adept at deception, aren't they? Weren't you deceived by them as well?" Ye Shi murmured.

Qu Kun's expression darkened. "You're right. Had I not been misled by Ye He, perhaps there would have been no misunderstandings between Bai Chenxing and Xin Yang. I owe you an apology."

"Father-in-law, you're being too harsh on yourself," Bai Chenxing hastily responded.

"Grandfather, how's Mu Chen?" Ye Shi swiftly changed the topic.

Qu Kun furrowed his brow, "Mu Chen has disappeared."

"Disappeared? What do you mean? Was he transported somewhere? I didn't hear anything about his whereabouts in Zhongzhou!" Ye Shi said, looking perplexed.

"Mu Chen's transportation method is different from yours. He's tried every tower and failed to transport. When I asked, he said there was either a lack of elemental stones or a malfunction in the transport formation. Yet, not long ago, he claimed to have found a way."

"And then?" Ye Shi clenched his fists.

"He resumed his research on the towers. Three days ago, the five towers shone brightly, and everyone inside was transported out. Afterwards, the towers vanished, and so did Mu Chen," Qu Kun explained.

"What?! Where could Mu Chen have gone?" Ye Shi's forehead creased with worry.

Qu Kun shook his head, sighing, "I don't know."

Ye Shi's face tightened in anxiety, "How could this happen?"

Bai Chenxing pondered for a moment, then said to Ye Shi, "Don't fret. I believe Mu Chen might be in Zhongzhou, and he may have stumbled upon a great fortune."

Ye Shi's eyes widened, "A great fortune?"

Bai Chenxing nodded, "Legend has it that Zhongzhou's five towers are actually fragments of a divine artifact created by a godly artificer."

"In ancient times, when the world was filled with essence and numerous geniuses, the lines between alchemy, runes, formations, inscriptions, and refining were blurred. Many ancient cultivators excelled in all five arts."

"Rumors suggest that those with enough fortune can inherit the powers of the five towers, receiving the legacy of the godly artificer. Over millions of years, countless cultivators have tried to conquer these spirit towers. However, no matter how powerful, all have failed, with many being harmed by the towers. Few now dare to attempt their capture."

Ye Shi's eyes widened in astonishment, "Does that mean Mu Chen might inherit the legacy of the godly artificer?"

Bai Chenxing shook his head, "I'm not certain. But once I return, I'll seal off the connection between here and Zhongzhou. News of Mu Chen possibly obtaining the five spirit towers mustn't leak. It would place him in grave danger."

Alarm flickered in Ye Shi's eyes, "I've always boasted about Mu Chen's abilities. Did I inadvertently endanger him?"

Bai Chenxing reassured him, "It's okay. No one took your words seriously."

Rumor has it that He Xian was deemed mad by the tower masters after repeatedly inquiring about Mu Chen's whereabouts. Following in his footsteps would surely lead to ridicule.

However, the disappearance of the five spirit towers could lead some to suspect Mu Chen. By severing the connection between this region and Zhongzhou, we can temporarily protect the secret of Mu Chen possibly obtaining the towers.

...

Bai Chenxing hesitated, then said with a hint of nervousness, "Father-in-law, I wish to visit Xin Yang..."

Qu Kun sighed softly, "Both of you, come with me."

Ye Shi and Bai Chenxing quickly followed Qu Kun.

"Grandfather, I think we're headed the wrong way. Isn't my father's grave in another direction?" Ye Shi murmured.

Qu Kun glanced at Ye Shi, "The grave you've been visiting is a decoy. The true resting place of a spiritual clan member wouldn't be so exposed. Besides, Chen Da mentioned that Ye Xun has always wanted to raid your father's tomb, searching for hidden treasures."

Ye Shi's face tightened with anger, "That scoundrel!"

Bai Chenxing remained calm on the surface, but inside, fury boiled.

Ye Shi followed Qu Kun into a dense forest.

"The Land of the Nine Dragon Rebirth?" Bai Chenxing exclaimed, recognizing it as a rare treasure trove.

Qu Kun shook his head, letting out a soft sigh, "Dragons? They're nothing but pythons at best. Finding the true Land of the Nine Dragons is no easy feat."

Qu Kun led Ye Shi and Bai Chenxing through the waterfall, arriving at a cave entrance. After performing a series of hand signs on the stone wall, the cave's stone door began to crack open.

Inside the chamber, ninety-nine luminous pearls were embedded in the walls, and a crystal coffin sat in the center.

As Bai Chenxing stepped into the chamber, his eyes instantly narrowed, "Father-in-law, there's still life in Xin Yang! He's not dead!"

"Ah! My father is still alive?" Ye Shi looked at Qu Kun in astonishment.

Qu Kun sighed softly, his hands clasped behind him.

"The state of your father suggests he might have faced divine retribution. He still clings to life, but the chances of waking up are slim," Qu Kun said with a heavy heart.

Ye Shi implored, "Grandfather, is there hope for my father? Why haven't you told me?"

Qu Kun frowned slightly, "Not telling you is because even if there's hope, it's almost as if there isn't."

"How can he be saved?" Bai Chenxing questioned, turning to Qu Kun.

"I've heard that only a Grade-8 Superior Resurrection Pill can help," Qu Kun replied with a sigh, glancing at Bai Chenxing.

Bai Chenxing squinted, contemplating. To create a Grade-8 superior elixir, one needs a Grade-8 master alchemist. There are two mid-level alchemists and one Grade-8 master alchemist in the Pill Tower. However, that master alchemist hasn't been active for years.

"For the Pill Tower's alchemy, both the recipe and the spiritual herbs must come from the alchemist. Father-in-law, do you have the recipe for the Resurrection Pill?" Bai Chenxing inquired.

Qu Kun shook his head, "No." His spiritual lineage was weak, barring him from the upper echelons of the Spirit Clan.

Ye Shi lowered his head, murmuring, "What should we do?"

"The chances are so slim, which is why I didn't inform you. We don't even have a Grade-7 master alchemist here, let alone talk about Grade-8 elixirs. Even if we find a Grade-8 alchemist, procuring the recipe and spiritual herbs remains a challenge," Qu Kun said, shaking his head.

Without hesitation, Ye Shi said, "Find Mu Chen; he'll have a solution."

Qu Kun frowned. Mu Chen was indeed brilliant, but time was running out for Xin Yang.

Bai Chenxing looked at the figure inside the coffin, concern evident in his eyes. Xin Yang's life force was dwindling, and although this unique location temporarily preserved him, it couldn't for long. Qu Kun likely knew this but hadn't told Ye Shi.

"Father-in-law, I wish to take Xin Yang back to the Bai family," Bai Chenxing stated, looking at Qu Kun.

If Xin Yang stayed here, he'd have at most three more years. Bringing him back to the Bai family might preserve his spirit for six more years.

Qu Kun gazed at Bai Chenxing, a hint of uncertainty crossing his features, "Can I trust you?"

"I swear on my life, I'll do everything to awaken Xin Yang," Bai Chenxing vowed solemnly.

Qu Kun sighed softly, "In that case, take him with you."

Closing his eyes, Qu Kun accepted his inability to help further. Here, Xin Yang was merely waiting for the end.