The three siblings were still chasing and fighting, while Huo Chongxiao's situation grew dire.
Bai Siyao heard Yue Yunqiao's urgent cry, "Senior Brother!" and turned to see Huo Chongxiao clutching his chest, enveloped in a swirling black aura.
"Something's wrong, Immortal Huo is being corrupted by demonic energy!" Bai Siyao wanted to help, but before she could act, a dull sound rang out. Suddenly, all the spiritual and demonic energy rushed towards a single direction, forming a massive vortex.
At the vortex's center, an enormous force began pulling everything toward it. Stumbling backward, Bai Siyun grabbed onto his eldest sister's arm in terror. "Elder Sister, it's sucking us in! What do we do?"
Bai Siyao planted her feet firmly, shouting, "Use your cultivation technique now! Do you think yelling will stop it?"
Bai Siyun, who had never taken the initiative to cultivate, hurriedly began circulating his technique under her sharp command, fumbling nervously.
Guai Morwen, sensing an opportunity, struck Huo Chongxiao with a palm. Already struggling against the demonic energy, Huo couldn't withstand the blow and was sent flying into the vortex.
"Senior Brother!" Yue Yunqiao lunged forward, but both she and her senior brother crashed heavily against the door, their bodies drawn toward the vortex, their power draining bit by bit.
"Immortal Yue!" Bai Siyao desperately wanted to help, but she was powerless.
Seeing this, Guai Morwen sneered. "Eldest Miss, you're in such a hurry. Why don't you all go together?"
With a wave of his hand, both Bai Siyao and Bai Siyun were also flung towards the vortex.
Bai Siyun glanced at the Yin-Yang Umbrella above. The Bai clan's blood essence had already been entirely absorbed by the Yellow Springs Wood, with spiritual, demonic, and vital energy all converging inside the house. Even the vortex was being driven by it…
Guai Morwen noticed and smirked. "Second Miss, are you hesitating?"
Bai Siyun hesitated, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes. "No, no…"
"That won't do!" Guai Morwen said with a chuckle. "You'll be the only relative of the Eastern Lord. If you're going to inherit his skills, how can you be so afraid?"
Bai Siyun stammered, pointing at herself, "I-I'm going to learn demonic cultivation too?"
"Of course. How else will you stay by the Eastern Lord's side for long? A normal person would be consumed by the demonic energy."
"This…"
"You don't want to?" Guai Morwen pressed forward, as though ready to throw her into the vortex if she didn't comply.
Bai Siyun blurted out, "I'm willing! Since I chose Uncle Master, I'll do whatever he asks."
Guai Morwen smiled, but before he could say anything further, the swirling demonic energy around them abruptly ceased.
He turned his head. "Eastern Lord?"
A long, drawn-out sigh came from inside the house. Bai Chong'an's voice echoed, "Something has changed in the array. As I circulate my technique, I feel a hindrance. Send Qingru to investigate."
Guai Morwen responded with a quick "Yes," sending a message talisman.
A maze of this scale naturally required maintenance. Since the old servant Qingru wasn't here, he must be responsible for this task.
Meanwhile, Huo Chongxiao and the others had momentarily regained their composure, though their condition remained dire. Each one looked deathly pale, shrouded in black energy, as if they might perish at any moment.
Bai Siyun, dazed and confused, asked his sister, "Elder Sister, why did it stop?"
Bai Siyao coughed twice, replying, "Uncle Master's array has encountered a problem."
"Oh." Bai Siyun's head was a mess, but fragments of their journey flashed before him, remembering Bai Siyao drawing array diagrams with demonic blood.
What was the array for? How did she explain it back then?
Oh, to save lives. Could it be…
He glanced at his second sister but saw her standing obediently next to Guai Morwen, head lowered.
Bai Siyun shook his head, wondering dimly—was he really too foolish to understand?
"Senior Brother!" Yue Yunqiao, barely catching her breath, crawled toward Huo Chongxiao. He was Bai Chong'an's primary target, his spiritual energy nearly drained, leaving him barely alive.
Tears welled in Yue Yunqiao's eyes as she watched him in this state, overwhelmed with anxiety.
Why hasn't Master come yet? Could the message talisman be blocked? What should she do? If he doesn't arrive soon, Senior Brother might…
Another soft sigh came from the house. "We can't delay any longer. A Nascent Soul cultivator's abilities are extraordinary. My maze can only hold for so long. Uncle Master Changling has likely sensed something by now…"
"Then…"
"Second girl, bring the Yin-Yang Umbrella inside," Bai Chong'an ordered.
Bai Siyun raised her head in surprise. "Me?"
There was no need for Bai Chong'an to repeat himself. Guai Morwen waved his hand, and the Yin-Yang Umbrella flew down from the Yellow Springs Wood, landing in her hands. "Go! Didn't you say you were willing to cultivate demonic techniques? What are you afraid of now?"
Faced with his coercive gaze, Bai Siyun had no choice but to comply. "Fine…"
She grasped the Yin-Yang Umbrella in her hands. The snow-white canopy, the inky black interior, and the bone-crafted handle from the River of Sorrows all felt just as cold and sinister as she remembered.
Finally, it was hers.
Bai Siyun lowered her head and slowly walked toward the small house.
With a creak, the door swung open.
Bai Siyao watched helplessly as she took step after step closer, filled with both anger and powerlessness. "Second Sister! Are you really going to side with him?"
Yue Yunqiao, coughing up blood, added, "Sister Bai, last time you helped us find the fiendish ghost. Now are you going to become his fiendish ghost? He's up to no good, he won't spare you!"
Huo Chongxiao, gasping for air, his face pale, whispered, "Miss Bai… he… he's stuck in his cultivation. He's calling you in to make you the array's core. Don't fall for it…"
Bai Siyun froze, looking from him to Guai Morwen, as if unsure whom to believe.
Guai Morwen crossed his arms and smiled. "It's fine if you don't go. After all, it's just the Yin-Yang Umbrella, not something you have to bring inside. But if you don't go in, you'll end up just like them."
Bai Siyun lowered her gaze to the four people barely clinging to life. Finally, she stepped forward into the house.
Inside, Bai Chong'an sat cross-legged in the center, his wide sleeves fluttering in an air of carefree elegance. Yet, he was now shrouded in thick demonic energy, his pupils darkened, appearing more terrifying than a typical demonic cultivator.
"U-Uncle Master…"
"Good girl," Bai Chong'an replied with a smile. "Hold up the umbrella and stand beside me."
"Yes…"
Bai Chong'an reached out and grasped her hand, suddenly squeezing hard. A surge of demonic energy rushed forth.
"Ah!" Bai Siyun cried out as the entire maze's demonic energy surged again, forming a vortex—this time, with her at its center.
The Yin-Yang Umbrella began spinning furiously. Though its frame was held firmly in her hands, the canopy whirled on its own. Demonic and spiritual energy converged upon the umbrella, flowing violently into Bai Siyun's body, tearing through her meridians.
Inside her, the intense demonic energy was transformed, her bloodline's natural affinity calming its chaotic nature. As it passed into Bai Chong'an, it became soft and gentle.
Bai Chong'an's demonic core rapidly condensed.
"Second Sister!" Bai Siyao could no longer bear it and cried out.
It was over. Whether Uncle Master succeeded or not, Second Sister was truly finished. A small cultivator at the Qi Refining stage—how could she survive being ravaged by such powerful demonic energy?
At that moment, a light flickered in Bai Siyun's eyes. The Yin-Yang Umbrella in her hands hesitated for a split second, then abruptly reversed its rotation!
The demonic and spiritual energy, originally flowing through her into Bai Chong'an, suddenly reversed direction. Layer by layer, it peeled away from Bai Chong'an's demonic core and surged back toward her!