"Father, our prayers have been answered, and our luck has indeed turned. For the next half a millennium, we will face no threats to the clan's survival. In fact, we may even rise to the level of those Bai clans led by Immortal Emperors. And all of this is because of the little child I hold in my arms now," Bai Qing declared, a slight chuckle escaping his lips as he cradled Xiao Ming gently.
Bai Yunxiao, the eldest patriarch of the Bai Clan, stared at his son with a mixture of disbelief and disdain.
He scoffed, his expression hardening as he shook his head. "How impudent! Qing'er, have you lost your mind? Do you truly believe such heights can be achieved so easily, even in a few centuries? For our branch clan to rise to such prominence, we would need resources on par with the main clan. And even then, security would remain a constant concern. Training soldiers internally or relying on external aid—neither guarantees lasting stability. For you to speak so recklessly proves that it's likely your head is filled with nonsense, or you've struck it against steel before coming here."
Bai Yunxiao's voice was sharp, his words cutting through the air like a blade.
He glared at Bai Qing, his eyes narrowing as he continued, "You rushed here, disrupting our seclusion, all because of some stray child? He's not even the son of Crown Prince Mu Fenghai, whose influence might have actually helped us navigate the mess caused by that bastard Emperor Wu Daoshi. Have you truly grown sillier with each passing day?"
Bai Qing, however, remained unfazed. A snickering laugh escaped him as he met his father's gaze with unwavering confidence.
"Tsk... tsk... Father, it's a good thing he's not Crown Prince Mu Fenghai's son. That prince's child isn't even worthy to remove the shoes of this little one. Tell me, who should be more noteworthy—a mortal prince or the direct descendant of a divinity?"
The words struck Bai Yunxiao like a thunderbolt. His mind reeled, the world around him seeming to black out for a moment.
Just moments ago, he had been berating his son for bringing an "estranged child" into their sacred ancestral space. Now, he wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.
The gods had remembered the Bai Clan in their time of need, and he had nearly driven that divine blessing away with his own ignorance.
"Wh... wh... what did you just say?" Bai Yunxiao stammered, his voice trembling as he struggled to maintain the last shred of his dignity as the Clan Ancestral Patriarch.
His hands shot out, gripping Bai Qing's robes with a force fueled by sheer excitement. His teeth gleamed as he bared them in a wide, almost manic grin.
"A divinity? Are you certain about this matter?"
Bai Qing's expression remained serious, though a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.
"If you need proof, Father, here it is."
With a cool demeanor, he willed one of the talismans Xiao Yunhai had given him to materialize in his outstretched palm.
The talisman was imprinted with the outline of a Golden Crow, its divine aura radiating a profound and thrilling energy.
Bai Yunxiao's hands trembled as he took the talisman. The moment his fingers brushed against it, his face transformed.
The aura within the talisman was unmistakable—divine, ancient, and overwhelmingly powerful. Without a word, he grabbed Bai Qing's arm, his Demi Immortal energy flaring as he shot into the air like a comet, dragging his son along with him.
PHEW!!
The wind roared around them, threatening to unravel their neatly tied hair as they soared through the sky. The space they had occupied moments earlier resealed itself, leaving behind the illusion of three old-fashioned houses—the ancestral residences of the Bai Clan's patriarchs.
RIP!
Far away, the fabric of space tore like tofu as Bai Yunxiao and Bai Qing entered a hidden, mysterious dimension within the ancestral grounds.
This space, though similar to Xiao Yunhai's Sound Diminishing Domain, was far inferior in terms of stability and power. Yet, it served its purpose, shielding their conversation from prying ears.
Bai Yunxiao's expression was grim as he held the Golden Crow talisman, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Qing'er, what is this? What does it mean?"
Bai Qing shook his head, his own confusion evident. "I don't know, Father. The child's father gave me several spatial rings filled with treasures, but he specifically instructed me to give this talisman to you. I don't understand why it's so important."
Bai Yunxiao's resolve hardened. He closed his eyes, his hands tightening around the talisman as he channeled his qi into it, preparing to activate its power.
One... two... three... he counted silently, his heart pounding in anticipation.
Suddenly, the air around them shifted. A faint boom echoed through the space, and the environment distorted for a few seconds before stabilizing.
BOOM!
SWOOSH!
SHEEN!
The world within the severed space trembled as an overwhelming aura filled the air. The pressure was immense, causing Bai Yunxiao and Bai Qing's internal organs to rumble uncomfortably.
Above them, the cloudy skies cleared, revealing an apparition of Xiao Yunhai. His form radiated a brilliant golden light, outshining even the sun.
The aura he emitted was boundless, yet it quickly condensed, filling the space with a divine presence.
Bai Yunxiao's gaze burned with intensity as he looked at his son, though his face remained emotionless. Despite the likely danger they were in, this confirmed beyond doubt that Bai Qing had indeed encountered a being of unimaginable power.
They gritted their teeth, enduring the pressure with sheer willpower.
The intense aura suddenly ceased its suppression, retracting to a more manageable level. The environment returned to a state of peace, leaving the father and son duo breathless but unharmed.
PHEW!
Bai Yunxiao let out a relieved sigh, his eyes rising to meet the radiant figure of Xiao Yunhai. The apparition gazed down at them with a cold, detached expression, its divine presence undeniable.
"That aura... it rivals even the Great Emperor Mu Yifeng of old. But I doubt it's merely that. It's likely higher than the Essence Emperors, though not yet at the divine level. If it were, even a wisp of its energy would have crushed us into sludge," Bai Yunxiao muttered, his voice filled with awe.
Bai Qing, pale and shaken, nodded weakly. He was not yet a Dao Master, and the pressure had nearly destabilized his Yang Spirit.
Though he had escaped the worst of it, the toll on his body was significant.
The apparition of Xiao Yunhai remained silent, its gaze shifting between the two men. A faint trace of admiration flickered in its eyes, though it was quickly masked by indifference.
These two had withstood half of his full might—a testament to their strength and resolve. They were, indeed, the right candidates to raise Xiao Ming.
"Hmm..."
A calm, almost melancholic sigh echoed through the space. The father and son duo exchanged shocked glances as the apparition shifted its position, its presence now directly before them.
They stood frozen, their hearts pounding with a mixture of fear and reverence.