"So, it turns out the lad was actually a direct descendant of a god. He mentioned about giving us some 'resources', Qing'er, take out those rings and let us relish in the blessings of God Xiao," Bai Yunxiao said abruptly, his voice dripping with cunning as his eyes narrowed into slits, glinting with a mix of greed and calculation.
The air in the room seemed to thicken, charged with the weight of his words and the unspoken tension between father and son.
Bai Qing ignored his father, his expression twisting into a mask of disdain as he sneered cruelly. His lips curled into a mocking smile, and his eyes flashed with a cold, almost predatory light.
"Someone just made a joke of himself... Hmph! Someone called the existence of this 'lad' false, so why do you now long for the false god's blessings? I'm the glorious Clan Leader, after all. I'll dispose of the materials myself, and you, old fogey, should leave for your 'seclusion' now," Bai Qing muttered, his voice low and venomous.
His feet shuffled impatiently, as though he were ready to bolt from the room at any moment, leaving his father to stew in his own humiliation.
Bai Yunxiao's face flushed a deep shade of red, the color spreading like wildfire across his cheeks. He had been caught in his own trap, and the realization burned like a branding against his pride.
This was no mere misstep—it was a colossal, embarrassing blunder, one that threatened to undermine his authority in front of his own son.
Yet, despite the humiliation, his next action proved why he had earned the title of 'psycho' among the clan. His eyes hardened, and a dangerous glint appeared in their depths as he squared his shoulders, ready to reclaim control of the situation.
"You unfilial son! How dare you!!" Bai Yunxiao roared, his voice shaking the very walls of the chamber.
"I'll take care of the lad myself. You're still too immature to handle these responsibilities, especially since you only assumed your position a few years ago. Those mighty resources will be seen to by your uncles and me," he declared shamelessly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
With a swift, almost predatory motion, he swung his pseudo-immortal energy toward Bai Qing, the air crackling with power as he seized his son's space ring.
Bai Qing's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, his father had already stripped the ring from his grasp.
The spiritual imprint that once protected the ring was no match for Bai Yunxiao's overwhelming energy, and it dissolved like mist under the sun.
Bai Yunxiao held the ring aloft, his fingers trembling slightly as he examined it with a greedy smirk. The smirk widened into a full-blown grin as he withdrew the neatly stacked rings, each one radiating an aura of immense power.
However, the moment his gaze fell upon the first ring, his expression shifted dramatically. His jaw dropped, and his eyes bulged as though they might pop out of their sockets.
A low whistle escaped his lips, and he nearly spewed drool in shock.
"This... I can't possibly imagine this sort of miracle. A god himself has actually bestowed this sea of resources upon our clan... This had better not get out, or we might force the entire Bai Clan to the brink of extermination," Bai Yunxiao said, his voice grim and laced with a rare note of caution.
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the precarious balance of power within their world.
"Er! Father! That isn't appropriate," Bai Qing interjected, his tone tinged with worry. "According to God Xiao, if these resources are used immediately, they might bring danger to both the young child and the Bai Clan. It will likely breed a sea of suspicious eyes, and we cannot afford to draw such attention."
Bai Yunxiao rolled his eyes, his earlier caution giving way to impatience.
"That's true, Qing'er, but what are we going to do now? Wait all that long?" he uttered shamelessly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
His fingers twitched as though itching to seize the resources and put them to use, consequences be damned.
Bai Qing sighed, his shoulders slumping in resignation. He gave his father a bitter smile, knowing fully well that arguing further would be futile.
"Well, we might not be entirely helpless," he said, his voice softening as he tried to console his father. "This lad is gifted with one of the legendary physiques to have ever existed in the entire world since the primordial era. Perhaps there is a way to harness his potential without drawing unwanted attention."
Bai Yunxiao's eyebrows shot up, and he leaned forward, his interest piqued despite himself.
"What possible miracles could the brat have... A legendary elemental physique like the Phoenix God Body or the Azure Dragon Physique?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of unconcern.
Yet, beneath the surface, there was a flicker of curiosity, a spark of hope that perhaps this child could be the key to unlocking the clan's brilliant destiny.
Bai Qing hesitated for a moment, his expression solemn as he weighed his words carefully. "The child possesses the... legendary... Ancient... Dao... Body," he muttered, breaking the sentence into syllables as though to ensure his father fully grasped the magnitude of his revelation.
The effect was immediate. Bai Yunxiao's eyes widened, and his jaw dropped open in shock. For a moment, he seemed unable to process the words, his mind reeling as though struck by a thunderbolt.
Then, a stifled laugh escaped his lips, growing louder and more manic with each passing second.
"You can't be serious, right?... This must be a joke... a cruel joke at that," he said, his voice trembling with disbelief.
His world seemed to spin, the ground beneath him shifting as though the very truth he once held became dismissed in an instant.
What did this mean? Was he truly going to nurture a monstrous, heaven-defying prodigy?
The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying, a dream so grand it bordered on madness.
Bai Yunxiao felt as though he was standing on the precipice of a new era, one that would either elevate the Bai Clan to unprecedented heights or plunge them into irrecoverable ruin.
The Ancient Dao Body—a name whispered in legends, was a physique shrouded in mystery and awe.
Though there were no detailed records within the Wu Shui Empire that explained its full capabilities, the mere mention of its name was enough to send shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned cultivators.
It was said to grant its bearer unparalleled strength, wisdom, and the ability to defy the heavens themselves. Yet, since the creation of the Wu Shui Empire, none had been born with this ancient physique, causing many to dismiss it as nothing more than a myth.
And now, here they were, standing at the dawn of a new legend. Bai Yunxiao couldn't help but feel a surge of pride, mixed with a healthy dose of fear.
The road ahead would be fraught with danger, but the rewards... the rewards could only be beyond mortal imagination.