Chapter 561

Outside Shancheng, the cultivation camp.

The clamor had ended.

The cultivators lay dead or wounded everywhere.

These cultivators had all been possessed by the Deviant Daoist's Dao-heart Seed of Demons, killing each other in madness.

Sister Situ pinched her fingers to calculate, then illuminated every corner of the camp with the Qiankun Clear Light Vessel, confirming no demonic seeds remained and no trace of the Deviant Daoist's eerie aura lingered—only then did her expression ease slightly.

The deceased cultivators were prepared for burial.

The other cultivators, still shaken, withdrew to rest and regroup.

In the room, Sister Situ was unsettled, frowning as she pondered something.

Moments later, a shadow flashed—Bai Qingcheng, clad in white, burst through the door and spoke at once:

"Sister Situ, I have a matter requiring your aid."

Bai Qingcheng's expression was urgent.

Sister Situ blinked, then frowned, sensing this matter must be grave.

Moments later, she followed Bai Qingcheng into a secret chamber within the camp, where she saw Zhuang Mr. lying motionless, his breath nearly extinguished—her heart lurched.

"This…"

Sister Situ pointed at Zhuang Mr., her finger trembling.

"The Gui Xu Map was stolen by the Deviant Daoist—my elder brother's vitality is draining, his life hangs by a thread. Please, Elder, save my elder brother!" Bai Qingcheng pleaded.

Sister Situ smiled bitterly.

Is this even a question of saving or not…

"White True Person, I am no alchemist…"

"No alchemist can save him."

"Then…"

Bai Qingcheng said: "I ask you to use the Qiankun Clear Light Vessel to prolong my elder brother's life!"

Sister Situ's heart jumped—she immediately refused: "No, no!"

Seeing Bai Qingcheng's face turn icy, she explained:

"It's not that I'm stingy—this… Qiankun Clear Light Vessel is not the Seven-Star Eternal Lamp. It… cannot prolong life!"

"It can!"

Bai Qingcheng spoke with iron resolve.

"No…"

Sister Situ was cut off mid-sentence by Bai Qingcheng:

"My Ancestor mentioned to me—the Qiankun Clear Light Vessel, in dire emergencies, can temporarily prolong life…"

Sister Situ's face darkened.

I forgot about that…

This girl is from the Bai family—her lineage is deep, she knows the true nature of this mystery treasure; I can't deceive her…

Sister Situ still refused, saying:

"Then, do you know how to use it?"

Bai Qingcheng shook her head. "I don't know—but you certainly do!"

Sister Situ froze.

Bai Qingcheng's gaze sharpened, and she continued:

"You are the Grand Elder of Xuanji Valley, of high virtue and great prestige, your computational arts are profound—you must know how to prolong my elder brother's life!"

"My cultivation is insufficient…"

But Bai Qingcheng's gaze was unwavering, deaf to her excuses.

Sister Situ sighed, deciding to speak plainly:

"It's not that I refuse—it's the cost too great…"

"This Qiankun Clear Light Vessel contains heavenly secrets, repels evil and wards misfortune—it is the supreme treasure of Xuanji Valley, passed down through more than ten generations, invaluable…"

"This treasure differs from the Seven-Star Eternal Lamp—it was never meant to prolong life."

"If you use it as a lamp, it will suffer violent depletion—perhaps before the life is extended much, the vessel itself will reach its end…"

"I do not consider myself selfish—but no matter what, I could never waste my sect's supreme treasure to prolong the life of someone unrelated…"

Sister Situ shook her head repeatedly.

Bai Qingcheng gritted her teeth: "I will find a heavenly mystery treasure and give it to Xuanji Valley in exchange for the Qiankun Clear Light Vessel."

"Heavenly mystery treasures… are not so easily found…"

Sister Situ disagreed.

"Then let the Bai family owe you a great favor," Bai Qingcheng said.

"Is it the Bai family that owes the favor—or is it you, White True Person, who owes it?" Sister Situ asked.

If the Bai family owed the favor, I might consider it.

But if it's only the favor of a single True Person of Liu Yuhua…

A Liu Yuhua True Person's favor is valuable, but clearly not valuable enough to trade for Xuanji Valley's supreme treasure…

Sister Situ still refused.

Bai Qingcheng's gaze grew cold.

Sister Situ blinked, then her heart jumped—what did she mean by that…

Could she be thinking of stealing it…

He had once heard that this eldest daughter of the Bai family was always arrogant and capricious, but that was over a hundred years ago...

Now that she has become a True Person and has two children, she ought to be more composed.

But what if she truly tries to seize it...

Even if she seizes it, I won't give it!

The Qiankun Qingguang Lantern must not be lent!

Sister Situ was about to refuse sharply when she suddenly froze.

The scenes of Bai Ri's Dao Heart Seed Demon technique flashed before her eyes again...

The pupil, pitch-black, in that disciple's eyes.

The cultivators from the Dao Court, seeded with demonic thoughts, killing each other.

The Trickster Daoist who walked past calmly before their very eyes.

And that staggering, unfathomable aura of Heavenly Mechanism Deception...

Sister Situ's heart turned cold.

If Mr. Zhuang truly dies, who else could restrain the Trickster Daoist?

Without Heavenly Mechanism Calculation, how can one oppose Heavenly Mechanism Deception?

Heavenly Mechanism Calculation differs from cultivation level.

No matter how high one's cultivation, if one does not comprehend Heavenly Mechanism, one may still be calculated to death.

Our Xuanji Valley's Divine Awareness Calculation is indeed profound, but no matter how much, it cannot be compared to the dual-methods-of-one-thought, Heavenly Mechanism Deception...

And if one day the Trickster Daoist truly becomes a great demonic overlord, rooted in Heavenly Mechanism Deception and wielding Dao Heart Seed Demon as his technique, slaughtering Xuanji Valley and eradicating its calculations—what then shall I do?

How to defend?

How to possibly defend?

The more Sister Situ thought, the more terrified she became.

This thought was no mere fantasy.

Those who perceive Heavenly Mechanism and master calculation have countless thoughts in their mind-sea, fleeting shadows—all omens.

Fragments, like reflections in water or illusions in the moonlight, from all possible futures and their karmic chains.

In the dim recesses of her mind, she seemed to see the image of the Trickster Daoist slaughtering Xuanji Valley.

The mountain gate loomed dark, wreathed in sinister aura.

Disciples and students, eyes pitch-black, reduced to walking corpses, killing each other...

Annihilation of the entire sect!

Sister Situ trembled with dread.

In such a scenario of overwhelming deception and total annihilation, even ten Qiankun Qingguang Lanterns would be useless...

Sister Situ glanced again at Mr. Zhuang, whose breath was faint and life-force scattering, and sighed deeply.

If there truly exists anyone in this world who could stand against the Trickster Daoist, it could only be Mr. Zhuang—same origin as the Trickster Daoist, with astonishing talent...

"Let's take a gamble..."

Though I may not live to see that day, I must secure a blessing, forge a good karmic connection, for the future disciples of Xuanji Valley...

"Fine!" Sister Situ nodded. "I agree."

Bai Qingcheng was stunned—she had already prepared to seize it by force, yet Sister Situ suddenly changed her mind.

"But I have several conditions..." Sister Situ added.

Bai Qingcheng nodded. "Senior, please speak."

Sister Situ sighed: "This counts as at least your Bai True Person owing Xuanji Valley a favor..."

"In the future, should Xuanji Valley face peril, I ask that you, Bai True Person, lend your aid!"

Bai Qingcheng replied: "Naturally."

Sister Situ continued: "If you ever obtain another Heavenly Mechanism artifact to replace the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern, please give it to this old woman, as compensation for Xuanji Valley's loss..."

Bai Qingcheng said: "Agreed."

"And one more thing..." Sister Situ's gaze turned solemn. "Do not tell anyone about my intervention to save him..."

Mr. Zhuang has too many enemies, too great a karmic burden.

Sister Situ feared she could not bear the weight.

Bai Qingcheng nodded solemnly.

Sister Situ exhaled, though reluctant, she retrieved the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern and said to Bai Qingcheng:

"You and Mr. Zhuang share the same origin—you know his qi sea is dried, his mind-sea shattered; no pills or stones can heal him, no mortal power can save him..."

"I can only use the Qiankun Qingguang Lantern as the array's core, expend its lifespan, and establish the Xuan Fire Eternal Light Array to lock Mr. Zhuang's karmic threads."

"Without the cause of 'death,' the effect of 'death' cannot arrive."

"By locking his karmic threads, Mr. Zhuang is temporarily not counted as 'dead.'"

"But know this: this is merely Heavenly Mechanism prolonging life—it does not save life, nor can it save life."

"Once the lamp extinguishes and the array collapses, the karmic threads shift—Mr. Zhuang will still die..."

Bai Qingcheng, pained, said: "Understood."

Even if it merely locks his karmic threads and does not count him as dead, at least there is a glimmer of hope...

Better than having no hope at all...

Sister Situ sighed, then ignited the Qingguang Lantern, established the Xuan Fire Array, lit the Eternal Lamp, temporarily locking the karmic threads and sealing Mr. Zhuang's "death."

Bai Qingcheng relaxed slightly, guarding Mr. Zhuang for several days, when suddenly she remembered she had forgotten Mo Hua.

She swept her divine awareness across Dali Mountain and discovered Mo Hua, alone and directionless, walking along a mountain path outside Dali Mountain.

Bai Qingcheng felt a pang of sorrow and brought Mo Hua before Mr. Zhuang.

Seeing his master—once so earnest in teaching him, smiling at him, stroking his head, caring for him deeply—lying cold and unconscious, lifeless and unknown in fate, Mo Hua could not hold back his tears.

For the following days, Mo Hua refused food and drink, guarding before Mr. Zhuang.

……

Within the Qiankun Cup, clear light radiated in all directions.

Within the Xuanhuo Changming Array, the array patterns were profound and intricate.

Mr. Zhuang lay within the array, his breath faint as mist, ethereal and insubstantial, neither alive nor dead, with only a thread of vitality lingering.

He had believed he was already dead, destined to sleep forever.

Yet, in hazy perception, he still sensed a familiar, cherished presence.

Mr. Zhuang finally opened his eyes and glanced at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua sat before him, head drooping, his figure desolate, eyes red and swollen, constantly wiping tears with his sleeve.

Mr. Zhuang felt both sorrow and comfort.

There was still someone who truly cared for him…

He imprinted Mo Hua's figure in his mind and silently whispered:

"Live well…"

"Cultivate well, learn the arrays well…"

"Learn well…"

Mr. Zhuang's thoughts stalled, and his vitality froze—this fleeting thought seemed merely a last flicker, a dying remnant of will…

But it was enough…

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua, satisfied, and closed his eyes.

Mo Hua suddenly froze, looked up—and saw that Mr. Zhuang had already closed his eyes.

Mo Hua rubbed his eyes, but they ached too much; he could not see clearly, unsure whether his master had awakened, whether he had even looked at him once.

"Master…"

Mo Hua's heart ached, and tears flowed again.

……

Three days later, Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi also arrived.

Their expressions were desolate; upon seeing Mr. Zhuang, their grief deepened, eyes red.

Only when they saw Mo Hua unharmed did they feel slightly relieved.

The two sat beside Mo Hua, keeping watch before Mr. Zhuang, refusing to leave no matter what was said.

Bai Qingcheng was helpless, yet had no choice.

She had never imagined how deeply her children and Mo Hua, her young disciple, had bonded with her brother…

She could only instruct Snow Aunt to prepare food or pills to nourish blood and qi, ensuring these three children ate something daily, lest they weaken.

Beyond this, Bai Qingcheng's greatest concern remained the Weird Daoist.

Though the matter seemed settled, she still felt uneasy, sensing the Weird Daoist had further schemes.

She asked Sister Situ, who also frowned in confusion.

The Weird Daoist's actions were unpredictable, impossible to fathom.

Yet, since he had obtained the Gui Xu Tian Zang Map, his goal was achieved—he likely had no other intentions.

Moreover, she had inquired earlier.

It seemed the Seven Pavilions of the Dao Court's Pavilion Elders had used the Jin Guang Heavenly Instrument to lock onto the Weird Daoist's aura and had been pursuing him relentlessly.

The Weird Daoist was barely surviving—he would not risk further mischief.

Bai Qingcheng sighed in relief.

Afterward, Bai Qingcheng planned to depart.

She needed to properly settle Mr. Zhuang, ensuring the Changming Lamp never went out, and return Zi Xi and Zi Sheng to their clan.

At the same time, she must find a way to send Mo Hua home.

The Dao Court troops and other Dao Court cultivators stationed outside Shancheng must also leave.

But the night before departure, an incident occurred.

Since parting was imminent, Sister Situ held a simple banquet as a farewell.

Yet after only three rounds of wine, the camp erupted in chaos—accompanied by cries of terror, snarls, mad shouts, and the sounds of battle…

Sister Situ's heart jolted. "This—could it be Dao Heart: Demon Seed?!"

Others also turned pale.

They rushed out and saw several Dao soldiers—surrounded by demonic aura, devoid of reason, faces twisted, as if ready to devour living flesh…

Exactly as the Dao Heart: Demon Seed had manifested that day.

Sister Situ braced for battle, swiftly subduing the possessed disciples, then turned to warn everyone—but when she looked up, she frowned.

No trace of Tianji Weisuan's aura…

Meaning the Weird Daoist was not here…

Sister Situ was puzzled.

Were these soldiers merely infected long ago, their demon seeds now erupting?

This demon seed was extremely faint and non-contagious—minimal threat.

Sister Situ extended her spiritual sense, scanning the area, found no anomalies, and finally relaxed.

"I overreacted…"

The others also let out a long breath.

They had thought the Trickster Daoist had come back…

Everyone had planned to return and continue drinking, to calm their nerves, but halfway there, Bai Qincheng suddenly froze, halting in her steps.

Sister Situ looked puzzled. "Bai True Person?"

"Something's wrong…" Bai Qincheng frowned, murmuring.

Sister Situ was taken aback. "What's wrong?"

Bai Qincheng said: "Master… the Trickster Daoist's every move is calculated. He would never randomly leave these few demonic seeds here. He must have another motive…"

As Bai Qincheng spoke, her face suddenly turned pale. "Zisheng! Bai Zixi!"

Her body fell like a drifting feather, wind rising beneath her feet; in a few flashes, she arrived before the secret chamber.

Zisheng and Bai Zixi were both holding bowls, sipping tonic soup under Xue Yi's care.

Seeing Bai Qincheng rush in, both looked puzzled. "Mother…"

Bai Qincheng pulled them before her, carefully studying the two children, sensing their qi with her spiritual perception, examining their eyes—only then did the stone in her heart finally drop.

"Mother, what happened?"

Bai Zixi asked.

Bai Qincheng shook her head, about to speak, when suddenly her expression changed. "Where's Mo Hua?"

Bai Zixi said: "Mo Hua was exhausted—he fainted. Xue Yi took him back to his room to rest…"

Bai Qincheng's face turned ashen.

Bai Zixi also realized something was wrong, trembling. "Mother…"

"Wait here…"

Bai Qincheng ordered, then vanished in a flash, swift as a startled swan, arriving at Mo Hua's room in moments.

Mo Hua's small body lay curled on the bed, sleeping peacefully.

Bai Qincheng exhaled in relief, yet still uneasy, softly called out: "Mo Hua…"

Mo Hua seemed not to be asleep; hearing the sound, he turned onto his back and slowly sat up.

"It's nothing, go back to sleep—"

Bai Qincheng's words choked off.

At this moment, Mo Hua had turned his head.

His face was innocent—but his pupils were pitch black.

Extra chapter added—I did my best.

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