"Living Earth?"
Chen Sanshi had once encountered records about it while browsing ancient texts.
Living Earth—its name meant soil that could grow endlessly on its own.
In simpler terms, it was soil capable of infinite expansion.
Legend had it that in ancient times, a demon god once unleashed a catastrophic flood across heaven and earth. It was the Immortal Emperor of the human race who used Living Earth to resist the deluge. Later, others even used Living Earth to forge weapons and construct cities…
However, Chen Sanshi could not quite understand what this had to do with creating endless heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
"What you're referring to is Houtu Living Earth."
Bai Liangbi saw through his thoughts. "But what I'm talking about is Imperial Heaven Living Earth."
"Imperial Heaven Living Earth?"
Chen Sanshi was puzzled.
"Imperial Heaven and Houtu represent the laws of heaven and earth. According to legend, when the Heavenly Dao collapsed for the first time, they each transformed into a type of Living Earth.
"And the inherited treasure of the Bai family is the Imperial Heaven Living Earth—one of those two types."
As he spoke, the two arrived before another stone gate.
"Fellow Daoist, take a look."
Rumble—
Bai Liangbi suddenly pushed the stone gate open with both hands. Instantly, a boundless sea of clouds appeared before their eyes.
Yes—
A sea of clouds!
No one would ever imagine that beneath Dusk Valley, underground, there existed another "sky." Looking out as far as the eye could see, auspicious clouds spread across the heavens, mist swirling upward in layers. It resembled nothing less than a celestial paradise.
Standing within it, Chen Sanshi could not tell whether he was inside an underground chamber or a heavenly realm.
Even more astonishing was that within the sea of clouds grew all kinds of spiritual plants, each one exceptionally precious.
Among them were large quantities of the extremely difficult-to-cultivate Severed Renewal Grass.
How were they planted?
Chen Sanshi crouched down and reached toward the ground to investigate, yet he did not touch any soil. Instead, he felt only strands of coolness brushing against his fingers.
These spiritual plants were actually growing on clouds!
"Imperial Heaven Living Earth can also be called the Imperial Heaven Cloud Sea."
Bai Liangbi explained slowly. "Its function is similar to the Nine-Colored Divine Wood Spirit Liquid—it can greatly accelerate the growth of spiritual plants. But the most critical point is this: it can expand infinitely."
"Expand infinitely?" Chen Sanshi speculated. "You mean this cloud sea can grow on its own like Houtu Living Earth, constantly expanding outward?"
"Exactly. Every area expanded by the cloud sea can be used as spiritual farmland. The effect of 'ripening' plants gradually weakens the farther one goes from the core region, but even then it still counts as top-grade spiritual farmland."
Bai Liangbi clasped his hands behind his back. "That is why I said that possessing Imperial Heaven Living Earth is practically equivalent to possessing endless resources."
"I see."
Chen Sanshi gazed into the distance. "The core region you mentioned, Patriarch Bai—does that refer to…?"
"Follow me."
Bai Liangbi lightly tapped the ground with his foot, and his body rose with the wind. Moving through the endless clouds and mist, he looked as though he were riding the clouds like an immortal beyond the mortal world.
Chen Sanshi followed closely behind.
Although Imperial Heaven Living Earth could expand infinitely, due to the Bai family's limited conditions its actual size was not very large.
They soon arrived at the very center.
Amid the vast expanse of white clouds, there floated a cluster of seven-colored auspicious clouds. Upon its surface grew a crimson spiritual plant that resembled a soaring serpent.
Scarlet-Feather Soaring Serpent Grass.
It too was an extremely precious heavenly material and earthly treasure, typically used only when martial cultivators attempted to break through the bottleneck of the Golden Body Realm.
Judging by appearance, this Scarlet-Feather Soaring Serpent Grass was already more than 2,000 years old.
"This cluster of seven-colored auspicious clouds is the core of the Imperial Heaven Living Earth. As long as it is placed somewhere with spiritual energy, it will expand infinitely.
"Planting heavenly materials and earthly treasures upon it allows them to grow as if they were constantly irrigated with Nine-Colored Divine Wood Spirit Liquid—and it never runs out!
"My father's Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit-Shaking Willow was cultivated here. If time had allowed, it could have been raised to an even higher age."
Bai Liangbi spread his arms as he gestured around them. "As you can see, Fellow Daoist Xiao, for the Bai family, no matter how precious a spiritual plant may be, as long as we obtain a single seed, we can cultivate it to maturity."
"No wonder."
Chen Sanshi's curiosity was satisfied, yet he could not help but sigh. "No wonder the Demon-Suppression Bureau and the Seven Kill Sect covet this Living Earth so much, yet dare not make too much noise about it."
The old saying held true—
A man is innocent, but possessing a priceless treasure invites calamity.
"The reason my Bai family does not dare to publicize this is not solely because of that," Bai Liangbi said. "It is also related to the origin of Imperial Heaven Living Earth."
Bai Liangbi recalled, "Back then, one of my Bai family ancestors was still serving in the Demon-Suppression Bureau. During one mission far from home to hunt down a rogue cultivator guilty of murder, he happened upon a spell battle between two mighty figures from the Heavenly Water Hongfu Dao. In the end, the two of them perished together. Even their natal ancient treasures were shattered, and only a single strand of remnant soul remained—so weak that it could disperse completely at any moment. That remnant soul fled while carrying the Imperial Heaven Living Earth..."
Chen Sanshi understood what he meant.
In other words, the Imperial Heaven Living Earth was a treasure that a mighty expert of the Heavenly Water Hongfu Dao had found only after paying a tremendous price, yet in the end the Bai family had picked up the greatest bargain imaginable.
If the major Heavenly Water Hongfu Dao factions ever found out, of course they would come seeking revenge.
That was probably also why the Qingxu Sect had not dared to take over the Imperial Heaven Living Earth.
"Not many years after obtaining the Imperial Heaven Living Earth, my Bai family left the Demon-Suppression Bureau and came to Northern Yang Dao to establish our own place of refuge."
Bai Liangbi continued, "Of course, having heavenly materials and earthly treasures alone was not enough. We still needed an alchemist to refine them into pills that could actually be consumed.
"So my grandfather invited his sworn brother, Sikou Tu, to come here and become the Bai family's alchemist.
"Working together in full cooperation, it did not take many years before my grandfather reached Great Perfection in the True Force Realm, but—"
"There was no continuation of the inheritance!
"Just like Brother Xiao, my Bai family does not possess a Golden Body Realm cultivation method.
"So my grandfather began searching everywhere for one. After finally obtaining some information, he took a large quantity of heavenly materials and earthly treasures with him, intending to see whether he could exchange them for an inheritance compatible with the Bai family's ancestral cultivation method.
"But who could have expected—
"That bastard Sikou Tu had coveted the Imperial Heaven Living Earth for a long time. He joined forces with outsiders and set an ambush, causing the Bai family to suffer a direct break in succession from that battle!
"The news about the Imperial Heaven Living Earth was also spread by his mouth.
"From that point onward, the Demon-Suppression Bureau and the others would come to Dusk Valley from time to time, wanting to verify whether the Imperial Heaven Living Earth really existed.
"As for what happened after that, Fellow Daoist Xiao should already know."
After hearing the full story, Chen Sanshi said, "Then what does Patriarch Bai intend to do next? The matter of the Imperial Heaven Living Earth has already leaked out. Sooner or later, it will no longer be possible to hide it."
The Bai family's starting point had simply been too low, and the talent of the earlier generations had been too poor.
So much so that even with such an overwhelming stroke of fortune, they would probably still find it difficult to hold on to it.
"That is precisely why I cultivated the Blood Refining Grand Art!"
Bai Liangbi's tone rose with excitement. "Father left me the Golden Essence Clay Embryo. It will not be long before I enter the Golden Body Realm!
"When that time comes, in Northern Yang Dao, those people will no longer dare to come and seize it by force. At most, they will use it as leverage to demand cooperation from Dusk Valley!"
To put it plainly, it was a form of deterrence.
As long as the people from the Demon-Suppression Bureau could not lay hands on the Bai family directly, the situation would fall into a long-term stalemate.
And during that stalemate would come the Bai family's chance to increase its strength.
That way, even if one day they still failed to keep the Living Earth, the Bai family would at least have a greater chance of survival and more time to make preparations in advance.
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, I ask that what you have seen and heard today remain secret."
Bai Liangbi said solemnly, "My suggestion is that Fellow Daoist Xiao remain in Dusk Valley from now on and become an honored guest of our valley. As long as you help my Bai family weather this difficult period, with the Imperial Heaven Living Earth here, could your future resources possibly be lacking?"
"After reaching the Golden Body Realm, will that really be enough?"
Chen Sanshi was still only half convinced.
"It would not be enough elsewhere, but in Northern Yang Dao, it is enough!"
Bai Liangbi said, "The total number of Golden Core cultivators in all of Heavenly Water Isle can be counted on one's fingers. The Demon-Suppression Bureau and the Seven Kill Sect do not dare to send too many cultivators above the Golden Core Realm here lightly, because that would inevitably attract attention, and that would benefit no one!"
Chen Sanshi gave a slight nod.
If things truly could stabilize in Northern Yang Dao as Patriarch Bai described, then for him, that would indeed be a good thing as well.
"Too many people have been watching me lately. We should not remain here too long. If there is anything else to say, let us talk outside."
Bai Liangbi made a gesture of invitation.
As the two retraced their steps, he said, "Half a month from now, I will begin my seclusion and refine the Golden Essence Clay Embryo. When that time comes, I ask that Fellow Daoist Xiao remain in the valley and look after things for me a little. Once I leave seclusion in the future, I will surely repay you generously!"
"The Golden Essence Clay Embryo..."
Whenever this was mentioned, Chen Sanshi always felt that something was off. "Patriarch Bai, do you still remember my warning?"
"Naturally I remember, but my answer remains the same."
Bai Liangbi said with certainty, "There is no problem with the Golden Essence Clay Embryo."
"No."
Chen Sanshi shook his head, and his expression grew grave.
He had suddenly thought of a major flaw in this whole matter.
That was—
The people from the Demon-Suppression Bureau had always known that the Bai family had obtained the Golden Essence Clay Embryo and that it might be used to forge a martial artist in the Golden Body Realm, and—
The Golden Essence Clay Embryo had been deliberately given to Bai Xifeng by them!
Even if there were no problems with the clay embryo itself, that much could still be confirmed.
Those people were not fools. How could they possibly help their own enemies grow stronger?!
There was absolutely no way there was not some hidden scheme behind it!
"Perhaps they merely intended to use the Golden Essence Clay Embryo as bait to attack my father?"
Bai Liangbi analyzed, "As far as they were concerned, my father was already a candle flickering in the wind. Even if he obtained the Golden Essence Clay Embryo, there was no possibility of him breaking through."
Chen Sanshi fell silent.
Just as he was racking his brain without finding an answer, movement suddenly came from ahead.
At this moment, the two of them were near the exit of the Medicine Valley. At some unknown point, Shangguan Siheng had rushed over this way, only to be stopped by members of the Bai family and prevented from entering.
"Fellow Daoist Shangguan?"
Bai Liangbi quickly stepped forward. "What is the meaning of this?"
"A word in private!"
Shangguan Siheng's expression was grave.
After the three of them moved to a place with no one around, Bai Liangbi cast him a puzzled look.
"Patriarch Bai!"
Shangguan Siheng asked, "When you cultivated the Blood Refining Grand Art, did you refine dragon blood into your body?"
"Naturally."
Bai Liangbi did not deny it. "The Blood Refining Grand Art is actually one of the branches of demonic martial cultivation. Its most crucial point is using high-tier demon blood to transform the body."
"That blood has a problem!"
Shangguan Siheng looked to the side. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, do you still remember the mother-child flood dragon I mentioned to you?"
"The Mother-Child Blood Fiend Flood Dragon?"
Chen Sanshi quickly understood what he meant. "You mean the blood Patriarch Bai used back then was very likely the blood of the child flood dragon?!"
"Exactly!"
Shangguan Siheng held up the jade slip recording the Blood Refining Grand Art. "This demonic art states it very clearly. The dragon-attributed demon beast blood it requires can come from many different kinds of 'dragons,' and the Mother-Child Blood Fiend Flood Dragon is one of them!"
Chen Sanshi instantly understood.
Now it made sense!
Before coming to Northern Yang Dao, the Seven Kill Sect had gone to great lengths to collect Mother-Child Blood Fiend Flood Dragons. They must have had some purpose for doing so!
And it was highly likely that Bai Liangbi's acquisition of the Blood Refining Grand Art had also been arranged by them!
"This... that seems rather unlikely, doesn't it?"
Bai Liangbi was only half convinced. "The demonic cultivator I captured back then was not from the Seven Kill Sect. Even obtaining the Blood Refining Grand Art and that dragon blood cost me a tremendous amount of effort. It does not seem like a trap someone deliberately laid."
"Fellow Daoist Shangguan."
Chen Sanshi asked, "Do you have any way to verify whether the dragon blood inside Patriarch Bai's body is the blood of the Mother-Child Blood Fiend Flood Dragon?"
Shangguan Siheng shook his head. "The blood has already entered his body and been transformed and fused through his own meridians and organs. It is no longer possible to determine."
Chen Sanshi discussed the matter further. "Assuming this is true, what consequences would it have? What is the purpose behind the Seven Kill Sect acting this way? Is it possible that, just like the Mother-Child Blood Fiend Flood Dragon itself, they could use the mother flood dragon's blood to harm Patriarch Bai?"
Shangguan Siheng replied, "It is possible, but I cannot say for certain!"
"Patriarch Bai!"
Chen Sanshi warned, "You cannot continue cultivating this demonic art."
"What did you say?"
Watching the two men exchange one line after another, Bai Liangbi only felt completely lost. Then suspicion gradually surfaced in his eyes.
He narrowed them and said in a low voice, "At a time like this, how can I stop? If I cannot break through into the Golden Body Realm as quickly as possible, then how am I supposed to protect what I have?"
"Even so, you must stop."
Chen Sanshi spoke bluntly. "Patriarch Bai, this is very likely a trap. At the very least, you should wait until the matter is clarified."
Bai Liangbi fell silent.
After a long while, he began backing away, widening the distance between himself and the two men. Even his tone of voice grew guarded. "Fellow Daoist Xiao, could it be that you are worried that after I break through into the Golden Body Realm, you will no longer be my match at all?"
"What?"
Chen Sanshi was momentarily speechless, not understanding what the other man meant.
"You already knew what was hidden beneath the Medicine Valley, didn't you?!"
Bai Liangbi demanded. "All this nonsense about flood dragon blood—I cannot understand a word of it. You simply want the treasure too, which is why you do not dare let me break through, isn't that right?"
"I have absolutely no such intention."
Chen Sanshi said frankly, "If I had wanted to act, I could have done so back in the underground chamber just now."
"That is only because the two of you were wary of my Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit-Shaking Willow!"
Bai Liangbi let out a cold laugh. "Good, very good. It seems everyone is the same. As long as they see a treasure, none of them can remain unmoved!
"I should not have—
"Should not have trusted you!
"You too are full of wolfish ambition!"
Chen Sanshi ignored him and merely looked to his side. "Fellow Daoist Shangguan, that Blood Refining Grand Art—it also affects the mind, doesn't it?"