BAAF Chapter 124

Shen Liuxiang lowered his eyes to look at the slender figure lying on the ground.

 

With scattered hair and autumn-like eyes glaring at him fiercely, the expression conveyed frustration and exasperation.

 

Su Baiche had a good appearance; even when unintentional, his anger resembled coquettish pouting. If he were to shed a few tears, someone who cherished beauty might soften their heart and let him go.

 

Shen Liuxiang said: “Why did you attack me?”

 

If he hadn’t been prepared, Su Baiche would have truly succeeded.

 

Su Baiche’s expression was unfriendly: “Is it strange to attack an enemy?”

 

If he didn’t plan for himself early, who would come to save him?

 

Though Tong Xi was gone, all the messy accounts would be attributed to him, and outside, a group of people were eyeing him covetously.

 

The leaders-Zhou Xuanlan, Ling Ye, and Xu Xingchen-were not kind-hearted people. They understood the principle of eliminating the root, and wouldn’t spare him. Nan Yuequan wanted to reclaim his brother’s body; as soon as he showed himself, Nan Yuequan would eagerly destroy his soul.

 

The only one who might spare him was Ye Bingran.

 

This person initially showed a guilty expression, probably feeling he had mistaken someone else for him. Now that he no longer liked him, such a fickle change of heart was too cold, so he felt apologetic and asked those questions.

 

Su Baiche had given the most straightforward answer.

 

There was no need to apologize to him; he had always been using others.

 

As for Shen Liuxiang, since he was in a life-or-death struggle with those outside, Shen Liuxiang would eventually be an enemy too. Against enemies, he wouldn’t be soft-hearted.

 

But Su Baiche hadn’t expected to be tricked: “What did you put inside me?”

 

“A few symbols,” Shen Liuxiang looked at him, pondering, “I did help you get rid of Zhuyan before, yet you’re so ruthless.”

 

“I found the Demon Bone Pill for you. Without it, you would have exploded long ago,”

 

Su Baiche said coldly: “Although I was threatened and had no choice, you had no obligation to help me eliminate Zhuyan. But looking at the results, I saved your life, you saved mine-we’re even. Don’t talk about gratitude.”

 

This world was full of malice toward him, without any warmth. Just because of his pretty face, everyone coveted him, traps everywhere. But he hadn’t let these people have a good end; Zhuyan was one of them.

 

Now he finally had the power to resist, but unexpectedly… it ended before it began.

 

While examining his internal condition, Su Baiche pondered why Shen Liuxiang hadn’t made a move yet. Could it be that he was going to spare him, or perhaps he couldn’t kill him and could only make him suffer?

 

Su Baiche’s eyes flickered as he glanced at the figure close by, his killing intent somewhat rekindling. At this moment, the previous pain returned, making every nerve in his body tremble, his mind roaring, his vision turning black.

 

His beautiful face became distorted with pain as he shouted angrily: “If you want to kill, then kill! Have the courage to make it quick!”

 

“I won’t kill you,”

 

Shen Liuxiang curved his lips, giving a chilling smile to the stunned Su Baiche, “You have the system’s abilities, surely your power is impressive. I want it too. Killing you would be a waste. Controlling you to help me do things, wouldn’t that be better?”

 

Su Baiche’s face darkened.

 

He hated being coerced more than anything in his life. If Tong Xi hadn’t forced him repeatedly, he wouldn’t have made Tong Xi die so miserably.

 

Shen Liuxiang was actually imitating Tong Xi: “Aren’t you afraid of playing with fire?”

 

“You should worry about yourself. If I die, the symbols in your body will go ‘boom-‘”

 

Shen Liuxiang raised his eyebrows slightly, seeing Su Baiche’s face instantly lose color, and nodded with satisfaction.

 

Su Baiche still had uses, so he didn’t plan to kill him. Besides this, there was another reason.

 

Shen Liuxiang had pondered for a long time. The current Su Baiche was completely different from the original story. Was he a different person? If he came from the world where his soul was nurtured, perhaps… he had come here due to his influence, accidentally getting involved.

 

The tearing pain disappeared, and Su Baiche breathed a sigh of relief. With bloodshot eyes, he got up from the ground and heard Shen Liuxiang say: “One last question for you.”

 

Su Baiche had a curse on the tip of his tongue, but fearing more pain, he swallowed it back: “Speak.”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “Why did you name your commercial chamber ‘Po Qiong Chamber’?”

 

Su Baiche wanted to say why ask so much, but being under someone else’s roof, he had to bow his head and explained: “This name has deep meaning, containing a great dream, but even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand.”

 

Shen Liuxiang rubbed his chin: “Then what do you think of the name ‘Dou Cang Chamber’?”

 

“I considered it, but ‘Dou Cang’ doesn’t have the same ‘Po…'” Su Baiche stopped halfway through his sentence, suddenly widening his eyes and looking at Shen Liuxiang in disbelief. “You, you-”

 

Shen Liuxiang reached out and patted his shoulder: “You could say that.”

 

Su Baiche was stunned for a while, not expecting that besides himself, someone else was so unfortunate as to come here: “If you had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have tried to kill you either.”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “Why not? Aren’t we enemies?”

 

Su Baiche stood up: “It’s different.”

 

To him, everything here was like a dream, the people all virtual, like paper cutouts. Anyone who hindered him or tried to harm him, he would kill without hesitation.

 

But someone from the same place as him was a living, breathing person. He wasn’t that heartless.

 

Shen Liuxiang saw Su Baiche continuously sizing him up, his expression excited, as if he had countless things to say. He narrowed his eyes and reminded him before he could speak: “Don’t try to get close. I’m keeping you because you’re useful, to deal with the Heavenly Dao.”

 

Su Baiche was horrified: “Are you crazy?”

 

Shen Liuxiang sneered, grabbed his collar, and threw him out of the space: “If you don’t want to go ‘boom’ and disappear, then do it.”

 

Two figures appeared in the sky, which was like an ink-black cloud. Thousands of lightning bolts and fire, as if they had eyes, instantly attacked one of them.

 

Su Baiche initially wanted to escape, but a warning pain in his mind made him flash in front of Shen Liuxiang, an invisible barrier blocking the howling lightning and fire: “Don’t rely entirely on me. I can only hold it off for a while. Spiritual energy will eventually be depleted. Think of something!”

 

“Master.” Zhou Xuanlan suddenly appeared at Shen Liuxiang’s side, one arm around him, taking him away.

 

The sky full of lightning danced like silver snakes, accompanied by thunderous sounds, falling to the ground.

 

Shen Liuxiang saw the heavenly lightning strike many cultivators, who died without much struggle. His heart sank: “Has the Heavenly Dao started indiscriminate attacks?”

 

Zhou Xuanlan responded: “If it didn’t do this, it wouldn’t pose a threat to us.”

 

The more people the Heavenly Dao targeted, the greater its power. When facing the great demons of the primordial era, it could send down tribulations that exterminated them. Facing Zhou Xuanlan and others, if it avoided attacking others, the power it could exert wouldn’t be enough to deal with them.

 

After consideration, the Heavenly Dao decided that others would have to perish along with Zhou Xuanlan and his companions.

 

Shen Liuxiang looked up at the sky, where ink-black clouds swirled into a massive vortex, like a bottomless abyss, accompanied by swirling fire and wind, already expanded to cover the entire Yingxue City.

 

If they couldn’t stop the Heavenly Dao and let it continue, even if the people below could resist for a while, spiritual energy would eventually be depleted, and by then, no one would escape.

 

Shen Liuxiang frowned, looking at the depths of the vortex, where it seemed like a pair of eyes were staring down, making one’s hair stand on end.

 

Shen Liuxiang turned his head, about to ask something, when Zhou Xuanlan suddenly leaned in and kissed his lips: “Master, wait for me here.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s heart jumped, and he instinctively reached out, but the sleeve just brushed past his fingertips. Zhou Xuanlan pushed him toward Xu Xingchen, then transformed into a massive black dragon, its scales gleaming with a cold, sharp luster in the dim light.

 

The black dragon raised its head, its enormous body plunging into the deep abyss in the sky, disappearing in an instant.

 

“Zhou Xuanlan-”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s pupils contracted sharply. As he tried to rush forward, Xu Xingchen caught him in an embrace, patting his back gently: “Calm down, Elder Brother. Zhou Xuanlan has gone to find the Heavenly Dao’s main consciousness. He’ll be fine.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s mind went blank as he struggled desperately. Seeing this, Xu Xingchen had no choice but to lock his spiritual power and envelop him in a barrier.

 

After Zhou Xuanlan disappeared, the power of the Heavenly Dao descending from the sky became increasingly frenzied, surging toward Shen Liuxiang from all directions. Ling Ye and Xu Xingchen each took a side, blocking all attacks.

 

Time passed slowly. The power descending from the sky carried a world-destroying aura, as if fighting to the death.

 

Su Baiche stood far away, having dispelled the lightning and fire coming his way. He looked at the figure inside the barrier, thinking that Shen Liuxiang should be too busy to deal with him now, so it would be best to take this opportunity to escape.

 

Su Baiche had moved halfway when he suddenly stopped, turning back as if sensing something, and drew in a cold breath.

 

The black clouds pressing down on Yingxue City suddenly concentrated their lightning into one stream. Fire and lightning intertwined, forming a dazzling pillar that reached to the heavens, carrying a world-shaking pressure, thunderously attacking toward Shen Liuxiang.

 

Su Baiche’s face changed, and he hurriedly turned back. Shen Liuxiang mustn’t die, or he would perish along with him.

 

But before he could reach him, a deafening dragon’s roar suddenly sounded from within the swirling black clouds, mixed with power from the ancient primordial era, piercing through the nine heavens.

 

In an instant, the pillar of lightning and fire dissipated, the black clouds retreated, and the sun reappeared.

 

Shen Liuxiang, holding the reverse scale, saw blood gradually appearing on the dragon scales. His slender, fair fingers trembled, his face pale as snow.

 

At this moment, he noticed the surroundings had quieted down, and someone called his name.

 

Shen Liuxiang was stunned, slightly raising his head, falling into a familiar embrace, warm breath enveloping him.

 

“What’s wrong with Master,” Zhou Xuanlan’s voice was slightly hoarse, “why are you so cold?”

 

Having destroyed the Heavenly Dao’s main consciousness, he had exhausted his spiritual power. Now completely drained, his chin rested on Shen Liuxiang’s shoulder, his eyelids drooping, nearly fainting.

 

Shen Liuxiang quickly supported him, finding a medicinal pill to feed him.

 

Zhou Xuanlan slightly opened his mouth, swallowed the pill, and glanced at Ling Ye who had returned to the ground. A strand of the Heavenly Dao remained on Ling Ye, which needed to be kept to evolve into a new Heavenly Dao.

 

Ling Ye and Xu Xingchen had been resisting the Heavenly Dao, and now their internal spiritual energy was also depleted. After landing on the ground and taking pills, they quickly adjusted their internal spiritual energy.

 

But before they could have more time, a massive figure arrived instantly.

 

The demon beast had a ferocious shape, its eyes blazing like fire, its huge mouth capable of devouring heaven and earth, its teeth like sharp saws. As its giant paw landed, the ground split apart.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s face changed-it was Taotie, one of the four great demon beasts.

 

This Taotie, with undisguised killing intent, came directly toward them. Having just dealt with the Heavenly Dao, they had no extra strength to resist. At this moment, a figure blocked its path.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s eyes widened as he saw it was the person he had met in Yanming City-Gu Taotao.

 

Gu Taotao held a short knife, his youthful face solemn: “Gu Tie, stop!”

 

Taotie paused, transformed into a human form, wearing a mask on his face, and said coldly: “Don’t interfere. Don’t you want to save Sister Luo? Don’t forget, she died saving us because of these humans!”

 

Gu Taotao frowned: “The dead cannot be brought back to life. By forcibly defying heaven, not only will you fail to save her, but you’ll also destroy yourself.”

 

“That’s still better than doing nothing like you!”

 

Gu Tie erupted in rage, his palm turning over to reveal a large piece of black, gold-tinged dragon eggshell, which instantly grew enormous, covering Gu Taotao inside.

 

“This is a good opportunity. Kill these people, and no one can stop us. Then, by causing a great war among the Three Realms, with rivers of blood, we can perform the time-space technique and save Sister Luo. No one can stop me!”

 

Gu Tie had been lying in wait for a long time, finally waiting until everyone was too weak to resist. He immediately stopped talking and attacked Shen Liuxiang and the others.

 

At this moment, a white-robed figure blocked his path, holding a sword, his body emanating an icy aura.

 

Gu Tie frowned, seeing another figure appear.

 

Nan Yuequan, with his hands behind his back, sighed: “Blood Father showed mercy, sparing your lives. Why don’t you know how to cherish it?”

 

Gu Tie, his face full of fierce intent, immediately attacked.

 

Shen Liuxiang, seeing the appearance of Ye Bingran and Nan Yuequan, breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Zhou Xuanlan’s calm face: “You anticipated Gu Tie would come, so you deliberately prevented them from acting earlier, saving their spiritual energy for this moment?”

 

In the original story, Gu Tie had instigated a war between humans and demons, becoming the final villain.

 

Zhou Xuanlan gave a low “mm,” his long black eyelashes drooping, too tired to open his eyes.

 

After lying on the ground for a while, having finally recovered some strength, he grasped Shen Liuxiang’s wrist and pulled him into his embrace.

 

“On the dragon eggshell in Gu Tie’s hand, it’s recorded that to use the time-space technique, countless lives must be sacrificed with blood. That’s why Gu Tie wanted to cause chaos in the Three Realms. In my previous life, I stopped him. I discovered his intention and found it laughable. Later… after finding the traces Master left, I realized it wasn’t laughable. Even if it meant destroying the Three Realms, I would bring Master back.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s lips curved slightly as he responded softly. Surrounded by the familiar scent, his tense nerves gradually relaxed, and he closed his eyes.

 

##

---

 

 (advanced chapters available on kofi)