The radar's detection range spanned a radius of five miles, with Bai Yun at its center. As he observed the scattered red dots on the display, a smug smile played on his lips.
"Heh!"
Relying on the radar, Bai Yun deftly evaded the search teams, weaving through their formations with ease. His destination was none other than Xuanming Sect itself. He planned to infiltrate the sect and wreak havoc while its forces were out in full pursuit.
"A mid-grade profound stone costs 100 evolution points, while a high-grade one demands 500. Hmm… I imagine using someone else's stash would yield faster absorption, don't you think?"
Excitement surged through Bai Yun at the thought. Compared to his previous days of cautious restraint, this unbridled freedom was exhilarating, as though every cell in his body thrummed with joy.
"Hmm?"
When Bai Yun entered the five-mile perimeter of Xuanming Sect, he realized it wasn't as deserted as he had assumed. Dozens of faint red dots and nearly ten large red dots still occupied the sect.
"Of course! This isn't some video game where the system's tasks dictate reality," Bai Yun sighed, a trace of disappointment in his expression.
Approaching the sect, he launched into a sprint before leaping high into the air. With rapid, nimble steps, he ran midair as if defying gravity, landing gracefully within a single breath.
Gazing at the familiar outer courtyard, Bai Yun's lips curled into a cold smile. Despite spending five years here, he had developed no affection for this sect—only bitterness and resentment.
Once, he had been a mere waste in the Xuanming Sect. During those five years, he hadn't made a single friend. True, some fault lay with him, but the larger issue was this world's ruthless laws. Who would bother sparing a glance for someone branded as trash?
Those years of suffering, loneliness, sweat, and tears had been utterly worthless—unnoticed, unacknowledged, and uncomforted.
Though Bai Yun harbored no desire for blind revenge by slaughtering the sect, the current mission perfectly suited his taste.
Relying on the radar, he made his way effortlessly toward the sect's warehouse.
Outer sect disciples were entitled to one low-grade profound stone each month, and this warehouse was where they collected them. Otherwise, how else would Bai Yun have known its location?
In truth, this wasn't the sect's main treasury but merely a general storage facility. While it contained no priceless treasures, it held a substantial number of profound stones of varying grades.
In the Northern Territory, only two Heaven-tier sects existed, with Xuan Shen Sect being one of them. As a subsidiary of Xuan Shen Sect, Xuanming Sect's status far surpassed ordinary sects. Perhaps due to prolonged peace and complacency, they hadn't even assigned guards to this warehouse.
With little effort, Bai Yun slipped inside. His eyes lit up at the sight of the various profound stones and pills within. Reluctant to waste evolution points on purchasing such common items, he saw these resources as a perfect solution. Acquiring them with points would have cost tens of thousands.
Without hesitation, Bai Yun stuffed everything into his "Cosmic Evolver" backpack. Since identical items could stack, he spared no effort in clearing out the warehouse.
After plundering it completely, Bai Yun prepared to leave when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching. His heart sank. Quickly activating stealth and aura suppression, he slipped into his "space" to check the radar.
Seeing only two small red dots, he exhaled in relief, then steeled his expression and drew his dagger.
Zzzt!
As the warehouse door creaked open, Bai Yun activated Thunder Step. Electricity crackled beneath his feet as he dashed to the entrance in an instant.
"Ahh!"
Caught completely off guard, the two disciples barely had time to scream before Bai Yun's dagger pierced their bodies. They collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
A glance at the radar confirmed that his actions had alarmed the sect. Several large red dots, accompanied by smaller ones, were converging rapidly on his location. Bai Yun frowned, activating Thunder Step to flee.
With a powerful stomp, he launched himself into the air, scattering debris in his wake. Midair, he bounded off walls with incredible speed, racing out of the sect.
As he reached a corner, he pushed off the wall with force, propelling himself like a cannonball.
Just as Bai Yun thought he had eluded his pursuers, an oppressive aura surged from his left. His eyes narrowed sharply as he instinctively veered right at full speed.
Boom!
A wave of energy slammed into him, hurling his airborne body to the ground. Scrambling to his feet, Bai Yun looked up, his face grim as he recognized the figure before him.
Standing there was none other than Lin Fengtian, Xuanming Sect's leader—an Emperor-tier expert of the lowest rank.
Bai Yun had seen Lin Fengtian once before and now couldn't help but feel a chill at his sudden appearance. How had he managed to arrive so abruptly?
Lin Fengtian was a strikingly handsome middle-aged man. His slender eyes and brows gave him an air of elegance rather than deceit. His graceful bearing exuded a transcendental charm.
"So, you're Bai Yun," Lin Fengtian said, hovering in midair with a calm, detached expression as he looked down at Bai Yun.
Clutching a ground-burrowing talisman, Bai Yun felt slightly reassured but remained silent, his gaze fixed warily on the sect master.
"Ha! Advancing from a low-grade Profound Disciple to a mid-grade Profound Master in a single month—what an extraordinary speed!" Lin Fengtian marveled softly.
"Join my sect as a direct disciple, and I will take you under my wing."
Bai Yun froze, his eyes filled with doubt and suspicion as he stared at Lin Fengtian.
The elders who had just arrived were equally stunned, their expressions questioning as they looked at the sect master.
"No matter what fortuitous encounter you've had, it doesn't concern me. Although you've killed some of Xuanming Sect's trash, your potential is rare. I'm willing to pardon your crimes and make you my direct disciple. Who knows? You might even become the next sect master."
Bai Yun's guard remained up, his skepticism deepened rather than dispelled.
"Thank you for the offer, Sect Master, but your words are too difficult to trust."
"Dead men are useless, no matter how talented they once were. But the living… they hold potential," Lin Fengtian said with a faint smile.
Bai Yun remained silent, shocked by how pragmatic and ruthless the sect master was—a true schemer beyond his imagination.
"Still unwilling?"
There was no chance Bai Yun would agree. Whether this was genuine or a ploy, serving such a man was akin to walking into a trap.
"Well, no matter."
Before the words finished leaving Lin Fengtian's lips, his figure vanished. Prepared for such a move, Bai Yun crushed the ground-burrowing talisman instantly, disappearing from sight. Emerging elsewhere, he bolted at full speed, his heart pounding wildly.
"Was it sheer speed beyond my perception, or some spatial technique?"
Regardless, Bai Yun resolved that should he encounter Lin Fengtian again, he would use the talisman to escape without hesitation. The man was far too terrifying.
This encounter stripped away Bai Yun's growing arrogance, a reminder that despite his recent victories, he still had a long way to go.