Chapter 1321

Footsteps halted outside the Silent Contemplation Pavilion, not barging in, showing basic courtesy of the visitor. A calm, gentle voice came through the door, somewhat similar to Bai You, yet more steady:

"Hall of the Departed's case inspector, Bai Chen, has been ordered to come and confer with Dao friend Yan Buji."

Yan Buji's thoughts flickered, and the door opened silently.

Outside the door stood a man, also clad in a moon‑white robe, but its patterns were far more intricate and delicate, with faint, breathing‑like flickering Reincarnation runes embroidered on the cuffs and collar. His features were handsome and elegant, appearing not yet old, yet his eyes were as deep as an ancient well, as if reflecting the ages of the endless Reincarnation. His aura was restrained; standing there, he seemed merged with the very laws of the Reincarnation Relay Inn, indistinguishable from them.

This Bai Chen gave an impression even more unfathomable than Bai You.

"Please, come in," Yan Buji said evenly, stepping aside.

Bai Chen gave a slight nod, walked into the Silent Contemplation Pavilion with unhurried steps, let his gaze casually sweep over the furnishings, finally resting on Yan Buji, and offered a perfectly timed smile: "Three days of rest, observing your Dao friend's aura as dense and your divine brilliance as restrained; I imagine the gains are considerable. Have you adapted to the environment of this Reincarnation Relay Inn?"

"Adequate," Yan Buji replied, unwilling to indulge in small talk, moving straight to the point: "Your arrival, Envoy Bai, is surely not to inquire whether I am comfortable here. The Hall of the Departed wishes to discuss cooperation; what exactly is being referred to?"

Bai Chen was not surprised by Yan Buji's bluntness; he seated himself at the guest seat, waved his hand, and a set of Youming tea ware exuding a crisp fragrance materialized on the table. He leisurely poured two cups of tea, handed one to Yan Buji, his movements flowing like clouds and water, carrying a rhythm that soothed the mind.

"Dao friend, you are straightforward, so I shall get to the point," Bai Chen lifted his tea cup, took a light sip, "I, of the Hall of the Departed, oversee Reincarnation order and maintain Youming balance. Yet now, that balance is about to break."

He set the cup down, his gaze sharpening: "The Asura Palace has manifested without cause, the waters of the Nether River churn with hidden turbulence, the Ancient Nether Beasts are unusually active, and behind each lies signs of external influence. Moreover, the Reincarnation Well has shown abnormal fluctuations lately, with an anomalous object attempting to interfere with the fundamentals of Reincarnation; this act has already crossed our Hall's bottom line."

Yan Buji listened quietly, his thoughts racing. The Hall of the Departed's concern, indeed, was the most core upheaval of the Youming Realm.

"What does this have to do with me?"

"The stakes are great," Bai Chen said, looking straight at Yan Buji. "Dao friend bears Chaos, traverses the realms, and is itself the greatest variable. More crucially, having returned from the Origin Void, you carry the aura of 'Silence of the Beginning' and... a thread of ancient Dao resonance that even Reincarnation cannot fully decipher."

He paused, his tone heavy: "The anomalous object that seeks to meddle with Reincarnation, its power's nature shares, to some degree... a homogenous resonance with the ancient Dao resonance you possess."

Yan Buji's pupils narrowed! Homologous resonance? Does it refer to the Silence Extinction Azure Lotus and the Chaos ancient deity inheritance it represents? Could the one meddling with Reincarnation be a remnant of another Chaos ancient deity, or perhaps... some existence opposed to that deity?

"You suspect I am connected to that anomalous object?"

"It's not suspicion," Bai Chen shook his head, "it's certainty, Dao friend. Under the current circumstances, you are the key person most likely to locate and resolve this anomalous object. Only a power of shared origin can most accurately perceive, track, and even... restrain it."

"Thus, the terms of cooperation are—my Hall of the Departed will provide you, Dao friend, with intelligence, resources, and necessary protection within the Youming Realm, helping you recover and even enhance your strength. In return, you must assist our Hall in uncovering the source of that anomalous object that interferes with Reincarnation and... eliminate it."

Yan Buji was silent for a moment, then sneered coldly: "Clever scheme. You enlist my hand to eradicate the hidden threats you cannot address directly or find difficult to handle. If it succeeds, the threat vanishes; if it fails, the loss is mine, Yan Buji's, and not the Hall of the Departed's. Moreover, you could use this chance to study my 'variable' and that 'ancient Dao resonance' in depth."

Bai Chen did not deny, speaking calmly: "It's simply mutual benefit. Dao friend needs time and resources to grow, and also needs to break free from the entanglements of forces like Changwu. My Hall needs to resolve the Reincarnation threat. Each takes what is needed. As for research... if you cooperate, it may be a providence for both my Hall and yourself. The Hall of the Departed's Reincarnation scriptures could well aid your Chaos Evolution."

The benefits and risks were laid out on the table. The Hall of the Departed's overt scheme now depends on whether Yan Buji accepts.

"How can I trust you? After the deed is done, the saying about the rabbit being killed and the dog being cooked is not impossible."

Upon hearing that, Bai Chen raised his right hand, and his fingertip forced out a crystal‑clear drop of his own soul blood, within which swirled intricate Reincarnation runes. Using his finger as a brush and the soul blood as ink, he swiftly traced an exceedingly complex Reincarnation contract rune in the void.

"This is the 'Reincarnation Blood Pact', sworn by my Dao path and the Reincarnation Mark. Under this contract, my Hall of the Departed pledges that during the cooperation and thereafter it will never, in any form, actively harm the Dao friend, and will fulfill the promised protection and resource support. Should this oath be broken, my Dao path will be destroyed, the Reincarnation Mark will collapse, and I shall never transcend to rebirth!"

The rune solidified, emitting a solemn and irrevocable Law Fluctuation that merged into the void, as if resonating with the Reincarnation laws of the entire Youming Realm.

Yan Buji could feel the authenticity and binding force of this Blood Pact. To swear by a Hall of the Departed case inspector's Dao path and Reincarnation Mark carries a weight that cannot be called light, demonstrating the Hall's definite sincerity.

"The contract only restrains your Hall of the Departed from actively harming me; it does not prevent you from using a knife to kill, nor does it bind you to intervene when I clash with other forces," Yan Buji said, still calm.

Bai Chen nodded: "Dao friend, your considerations are thorough. This contract chiefly guarantees that you will not be back‑stabbed by my Hall. As for external risks, they are yours to bear. My Hall provides intelligence, resources, and a relatively safe base, not a nanny‑style protection. The path of cultivation ultimately relies on oneself."

With that said, the terms are clear.

Yan Buji watched the floating, slowly rotating Reincarnation Blood Pact, and felt once more the thread of Chaos Force within his body, tightly linked to the Origin Void and the ancient deity inheritance. Seeking that homogenous anomalous object, for him, might be not only a mission but also an opportunity to further explore the source of his own power and perfect the Chaos Path.

Risk and opportunity coexist.

He no longer hesitated; his fingertip likewise forced out a strand of gray‑and‑azure Chaos blood, which he dabbed onto the Blood Pact.

"The contract is established!"

The Blood Pact burst forth with brilliant light, splitting in two and sinking into the foreheads of Yan Buji and Bai Chen. An intangible binding force formed, while a stream of information about the specific terms of cooperation surged into Yan Buji's mind.

A genuine smile appeared on Bai Chen's face as he rose and clasped his hands: "Very well, then I wish us a pleasant cooperation. Preliminary information on that anomalous object and the first batch of resources you need will be delivered later. You may continue your cultivation here; should there be any action, I will come to find you again."

He paused, then added with a hint of meaning: "Additionally, a word of warning, Dao friend. Though the Inn is safe, it is not isolated from the world. Those aligned with the High Priest of Changwu, as well as eyes of other factions, may well extend their reach to the outskirts of this place. You still need to be cautious."