"Young Master!" A voice, choked with emotion, pierced the stunned silence. Bai Yu whipped his head around, his golden eyes landing on a familiar figure. "Elder Xiu?!" he exclaimed, disbelief giving way to a surge of joy. It was Elder Xiu, a revered elder of the Bai Clan, his once-proud posture now stooped with age and hardship. Despite the ravages of time, recognition flickered in his cloudy eyes.
A flicker of hope ignited in Bai Yu's eyes. "Elder Xiu!" he called out, relief washing over him. Elder Xiu, his once-vigorous frame now weathered by hardship, shuffled forward. "Young Master," he rasped, his voice heavy with emotion. "There are… five elders who survived. And around five hundred others. The rest…" His voice trailed off, a pained silence filling the void.
Grief flickered across Bai Yu's face, a stark contrast to his initial joy. Five hundred survivors. A meager remnant of the once-thriving Bai Clan. Originally, eighteen elders, pillars of strength at the Late Bone Forging Realm, had safeguarded the clan alongside ten thousand members. The image of his former home, bustling with life, sent a pang of sorrow through him. "Annihilated," he breathed, the weight of the loss settling upon him.
Yet, amidst the grief, a spark of determination flickered. Five hundred survivors. A foundation to rebuild upon.
"People of the Bai Clan!" Bai Yu's voice boomed, a beacon of hope cutting through the despair. A hush fell over the crowd as hundreds of weary faces turned towards him. Among them, five figures emerged, their postures etched with the burdens of survival – the surviving elders of the Bai Clan. A wave of emotion washed over Bai Yu as his gaze met Elder Xiu's, a silent acknowledgement of their shared loss and enduring spirit.
"This island is ours again!" he declared, his voice ringing with newfound power. With a flick of his wrist, a wave of energy pulsed outwards, bathing the survivors in its light. One by one, the restrictions on their cultivation shattered, a collective gasp of surprise rippling through the crowd.Tears welled up in many eyes as the flow of Qi returned, a long-lost power surging back through their veins. Relief, gratitude, and a flicker of defiance flickered across their faces.
"Thank you, Young Master Bai!" a chorus of voices rose, a wave of appreciation washing over him.Bai Yu stood tall, his golden eyes gleaming with a complex mix of emotions – joy at finding survivors, grief for the fallen, and a steely resolve for the future.