Chapter 258

Chapter 258: Overt and Covert Struggles

Upon seeing Mu Chen and Bai Chenxing, Ye Shi immediately rushed over.

"Mu Chen, are you alright?" Ye Shi asked anxiously, gripping Mu Chen's arm.

"I'm fine, just tired out your dear father," Mu Chen replied with a teasing grin towards Bai Chenxing.

Bai Chenxing crossed his arms, glancing at Ye Shi with mock irritation, "What, afraid I'd eat him alive?"

With a blush, Ye Shi glanced at Bai Chenxing and asked, "Father, did you really use the top-tier method to cleanse Mu Chen's meridians and marrow? You better not be glossing over it with me!"

Bai Chenxing shot Ye Shi an irritated look. "Do you really distrust your own father that much?"

Indeed, Bai Chenxing used the highest standards, but the method he employed for Ye Shi was gentle, whereas for Mu Chen, it was like a fierce medicine. The outcome was similar, but the latter suffered much more.

Bai Chenxing, seeing Mu Chen's unchanging expression, couldn't help but regard him differently. The cleansing process was excruciating, even borderline unbearable, yet Mu Chen didn't utter a sound.

Compared to Ye Shi's extraordinary talents, Mu Chen's seemed inferior. However, with just his inherent abilities, Mu Chen surpassed Ye Shi, showcasing his formidable intellect.

Mu Chen bit his lip; the results of the cleansing were evident. He felt his absorption rate of Yuan energy had tripled, but Bai Chenxing had been incredibly harsh.

"Mu Chen is still a Nine-Star Martial Emperor!" Ye Shi remarked with some frustration.

Bai Chenxing gave Ye Shi a resigned look, explaining, "The cleansing improves potential, not immediate power. After the cleansing, Mu Chen, with his lesser talent, should see his cultivation speed increase by over three times."

Ye Shi exclaimed with excitement, "Really? That's fantastic!"

Bai Chenxing, observing Ye Shi's enthusiastic demeanor, felt a hint of unease. A young master of elemental magic, a Nine-Star Martial Emperor with nearly eighth-tier rare flames, inheritor of the Five Spirits Tower—Mu Chen was rising rapidly, and even Bai Chenxing might soon find it hard to keep him in check.

Suppressing his unease, Bai Chenxing mused that Mu Chen did seem to have genuine feelings for Yan Xing.

"Father, Mu Chen's power has been advancing quickly. Is there a way to stabilize it?" Ye Shi asked innocently.

Bai Chenxing smiled, saying, "Of course."

"What method?" inquired Ye Shi.

Bai Chenxing casually suggested, "He could practice more. If you don’t mind, I can be his sparring partner."

Mu Chen's face changed slightly. The Little Tower in his soul laughed mockingly, "Mu Chen, you've angered your father-in-law! If he personally disciplines you, you're done for!"

Mu Chen: "..."

Ye Shi hesitated, "Father, you will personally step in?"

Bai Chenxing replied with a casual smile, "Why, do you doubt your old man? For a regular person to get me as a sparring partner, they’d have to pay tens of thousands of medium-grade Yuan stones a day. This is a rare opportunity. I'm careful, and any other martial master might accidentally harm him."

Ye Shi looked at Mu Chen, whispering, "What do you think, Mu Chen?"

Mu Chen smiled, "Having an elder as a sparring partner is an honor. I just hope I won't cause any inconvenience."

Bai Chenxing smiled kindly at Mu Chen, "Don't worry. I can spare the time."

Bai Chenxing's tone was gentle, but to Mu Chen's ears, it carried a hint of malevolence.

The Little Tower went haywire in Mu Chen's soul, "Master, prepare some healing medicines. The upcoming days won't be pleasant for you."

Mu Chen: "..."

Temporary residence within the Formation Tower and Elixir Tower.

"I found it," Yin Jianping entered, "Someone has coincidentally restored the formula for Su Xin Pill, and they’ve been recruited by the Bai family."

Ge Xiaodie frowned, saying in surprise, "The Bai family acted so quickly."

"The Bai family is the local powerhouse; it's not surprising they got to it first," Yin Jianping reasoned.

Ge Xiaodie sighed with resignation, "Once they enter the Bai family, recruiting them becomes challenging."

"Can we buy the formula from the Bai family?" Xue Bin asked.

Ge Xiaodie shook her head, "It's unlikely. The Bai family, being a formation lineage, isn't short on Yuan stones."

"It seems Bai Chenxing wants to request the elder to craft the Soul-Returning Pill," Yin Jianping informed.

Ge Xiaodie showed a hint of impatience, "Asking the elder to make a move? He hasn’t emerged for decades. The Su Xin Pill is good but probably not significant enough to warrant the elder's involvement."

Yin Jianping nodded, "Indeed! However, with the person recruited by Bai Chenxing, and his single request..."

Ge Xiaodie raised her brows, "Bai Chenxing wishes for the elder to craft the Soul-Returning Pill?"

"Yes. It’s said Bai Yanxing's maternal grandfather is still alive but in a comatose state. He needs the Soul-Returning Pill," Yin Jianping explained.

Ge Xiaodie remarked with a sigh, "Bai Yanxing's dedication is truly commendable."

Xue Bin agreed, "Indeed. I thought Bai Chenxing was alone all these years because of Xia Ruoxue. Who knew it was for someone else?"

Ge Xiaodie furrowed her brows, saying, "The matter of asking the Elder Ancestor to act is beyond our control. We can only look for other means to purchase the pill formula from Bai Yenxing. If only we could liaise directly with that alchemist."

Xue Bin frowned, remarking, "It seems Bai Yenxing has hidden that person away."

Ge Xiaodie bit her lip, pondering, "I wonder whether this individual acquired the formula for the Su Xin pill by chance or if he reconstructed it himself. If it's the latter, he might possess the ability to reconstruct other treasured formulas."

"It's unlikely. If there were such a skilled alchemist, he'd be well-known by now," Yin Jianping expressed dismissively.

The Bai Residence.

"Father, the people from Dan Tower didn't agree, did they?" Ye Shi looked at Bai Chenxing inquiringly.

Bai Chenxing shook his head, replying, "No. I never really expected them to. While the Su Xin pill is impressive, it's not significant enough to warrant the intervention of the person from Dan Tower. My actions are merely to divert their attention, so when the Dan Tower investigates, they'll likely trace it back to Mu Chen."

Ye Shi nodded in understanding, his brow creased as he said, "Father, the people from Dan Tower are so arrogant. Mu Chen will soon be an advanced Level 8 alchemist. We don’t need that old fellow’s help. Besides, I heard his success rate for producing top-grade Level 8 elixirs isn't that high."

Bai Chenxing's face darkened. If anyone else had said this, he'd have snapped back, "Do you think advanced Level 8 alchemists grow on trees? The gap between Level 7 and Level 8 is immense! Otherwise, why would Dan Tower only have one?"

Unfortunately, the one speaking was Ye Shi...

Bai Chenxing forced a smile, replying, "It's just a precaution, giving us more options when the time comes."

Ye Shi nodded, saying, "Fair point."

"I didn’t expect Mu Chen to reconstruct the Su Xin pill formula. He truly is extraordinary," Bai Chenxing admitted with admiration.

Ye Shi nodded proudly, proclaiming, "Mu Chen has always been incredible!"

Bai Chenxing, pausing briefly, said with narrowed eyes, "Although Mu Chen's attitude towards me isn't great, when I asked for the Su Xin pill formula, he handed it over without hesitation. At least he knows his place."

Ye Shi gazed hopefully at Bai Chenxing, suggesting, "Father, the formula is costly. Perhaps we should compensate Mu Chen a bit?"

"Haven't you already given him enough? No matter how many elemental stones I give you, you pass them all to him," Bai Chenxing responded irritably.

Ye Shi laughed awkwardly, explaining, "Xiao Ta said he needs many elemental stones for repairs. Once repaired, Mu Chen will grow even stronger."

Bai Chenxing frowned, "Mu Chen is too powerful. What if he outgrows you?"

Ye Shi bit his lip uneasily, murmuring, "That wouldn’t happen, right?"

Bai Chenxing sighed softly, advising, "Even if he treats you well, you should remain cautious."

Ye Shi sighed in resignation, "If he ever changes his mind, I can't stop him. But Mu Chen won't. Zhuang Yu, who can seduce anyone, couldn’t seduce him."

Mention of Zhuang Yu cast a shadow over Bai Chenxing's face.

The whereabouts of the Fate Clan remained elusive. Despite his efforts to locate Zhuang Yu, Bai Chenxing had found nothing.

"Speaking of which, father, I heard Bai Yi has died!" Ye Shi remarked with barely concealed glee.

Bai Chenxing nodded nonchalantly, "Yes. He met with an accident in the secret realm."

Ye Shi smirked, gloating, "He was so unlucky. But that’s what he gets for being with Zhuang Yu. She’s cursed when it comes to men. Anyone with her is doomed." Laughing at his own joke.

Bai Chenxing's lips curved into a smirk, entertained by Ye Shi's mischief.

"Father, after mentoring Mu Chen for so long, how skilled is he now?" Ye Shi asked.

Bai Chenxing chuckled, "Impressive. Very impressive. Although he's only at the Martial Emperor level, Yenxing has a keen eye for talent. It's rare for a Martial Emperor to be so resilient."

Ye Shi grinned, boasting, "Told you, Mu Chen is strong!"

Bai Chenxing agreed, "Indeed, he is."

"When Mu Chen left, he didn't even say goodbye," Ye Shi lamented.

Bai Chenxing thought to himself, "Thankfully Mu Chen was wise enough, or after showing up bruised, Yenxing would have a negative impression of me."