Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

Chapter 127: Giving Up, Bai Yu

“The Divine Dream Method…”

Wang Ba couldn’t help but feel a stir of temptation in his heart.

Just the first layer of the Yin Spirit Great Dream Scripture had already brought him countless benefits. Even now, it continued to prove its worth—disguise, early warning, and minimizing danger to the absolute limit.

If he could obtain the corresponding exclusive powerful techniques, it would be like giving wings to a tiger.

Most crucially, Water Controlling City was directly on their route back to the Eastern Sage outpost. They would only need to deviate slightly to reach it.

“Senior Brother, should we set off now? There are surely Foundation Establishment cultivators from our sect in Water Controlling City, so the danger shouldn’t be too great,” Bu Chan, who had been listening the entire time, couldn’t help but suggest.

Although she wasn’t entirely clear on the details of the Yin Spirit Great Dream Scripture or the Divine Dream Method, her innate intuition as a woman allowed her to sense the immense importance Wang Ba placed on the latter.

Furthermore, while there were three Incense Path Foundation Establishment cultivators in Water Controlling City, given the Heavenly Gate Sect’s modus operandi, it was highly likely that the sect’s own Foundation Establishment True Cultivators had already encircled the city.

According to her analysis, while danger certainly existed, it was manageable.

If they seized the right opportunity, they might even be able to help Wang Ba snatch the Divine Dream Method. And even if they failed to obtain the technique, simply following the sect’s high-level cultivators could earn them significant merit points.

However, to her surprise, despite the intense longing visible in Wang Ba’s eyes, he firmly shook his head.

“Our mission is complete. We return to submit it now.”

“But Senior Brother, don’t you want that Divine Dream Method…” Bu Chan couldn’t help but remind him.

“No matter how good a treasure is, we must not let it blind us.”

Wang Ba seemed to have reached a conclusion. The lingering trace of desire on his face gradually smoothed into calm as he slowly shook his head. “The struggles of Foundation Establishment cultivators are not something we should participate in for the time being.”

“Our purpose here was to investigate the Incense Path activities in Meng Xing Village. The two Incense Path cultivators here have been executed, and the recordings in the True Dharma Eye serve as proof.”

“As for the remaining believers, most have been refined into Blood Dharma Pills, and the few survivors can hardly stir up any trouble.”

“Therefore, our objective is achieved. We can go back.”

“This… alright!”

Seeing Wang Ba’s insistence, Bu Chan immediately nodded in obedience.

Wang Ba proceeded to collect all the storage pouches from Pan Long’s body, then stowed Pan Long’s corpse, along with the other two bodies, into his own storage bag.

Looking back at Meng Xing Village, now shrouded in a heavy aura of death, Wang Ba sighed softly.

In the world of cultivation, although the vast majority would not dare to defy the will of the heavens by openly slaughtering the innocent, the lives of mortals were still treated as cheaply as grass.

“And not just mortals. A cultivator like the old man surnamed Huo—who cultivated bitterly for decades—still died in an instant, his soul extinguished, perishing without even knowing why.”

Of the five who had set out, only he and Bu Chan remained for the return journey.

If he hadn’t been quick-witted and swiftly distanced himself from the center of the conflict, he, too, might have been reduced to a wisp of spiritual power trapped inside a Blood Dharma Pill.

“Until I have the capability, I must keep my head down and accumulate strength!” Wang Ba resolved silently.

He then signaled Bu Chan to summon her flying artifact and lightly hopped onto it.

It was the same old strategy: playing the pig to eat the tiger.

But as long as it worked, he was happy to use even the oldest of tricks.

On the return journey.

From a distance, Wang Ba spotted a massive city looming on the horizon.

He could faintly see dazzling, multicolored technique lights flickering incessantly above it; the battle seemed intense.

Wang Ba immediately instructed Bu Chan to steer clear of the city—the farther, the better.

Occasionally, they saw Heavenly Gate Sect cultivators, clad in their signature red and black robes, flashing across the sky.

Seeing this, Wang Ba hurriedly told Bu Chan to fly lower and kept the Heavenly Gate Seal on the back of his hand fully activated. He was genuinely afraid these high-level cultivators might indiscriminately cut them down without asking questions.

Fortunately, the Foundation Establishment True Cultivators maintained the bearing of the strong. Their divine sense swept over the pair—one at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, the other at the eighth—dismissing them as mere ants before withdrawing.

They were all too eager to rush toward Water Controlling City.

Wang Ba and Bu Chan managed to return to the checkpoint outside the Eastern Sage outpost without further incident.

However, they were surprised to find a large crowd of Heterodox Path cultivators gathered at the entrance.

“What’s happening?” Bu Chan asked, puzzled.

Wang Ba shook his head slightly, equally confused.

Soon, he spotted a few familiar faces who used to frequent his place to purchase Spirit Poultry. He quickly walked over and politely inquired about the situation.

The acquaintances didn’t hide anything.

A moment later, Wang Ba returned with a grim expression.

“Senior Brother, what did they say?” Bu Chan asked anxiously.

“The Heavenly Gate Sect won’t let anyone in.”

“What?! Why?” Bu Chan’s voice rose in disbelief.

Before Wang Ba could answer, a heated argument erupted near the gate.

A cold, indifferent voice cut through the noise:

“Incense Path cultivators possess powerful souls and utilize bizarre methods; they can possess bodies even at the Qi Refining stage. To ensure the safety of the outpost, until this mandatory mission concludes, no Heterodox Path cultivators are permitted to enter or leave at will!”

“By what right? I just saw a Heterodox cultivator go in!”

“Exactly! I saw it too!”

A group of Heterodox Path cultivators shouted their doubts, their voices rising in agitation.

Amidst the growing unrest, several sinister, eerie lights suddenly flashed at the checkpoint.

Thud. Thud.

A few miserable shrieks rang out, and then silence.

The checkpoint fell deathly quiet.

Everyone stared in terrified silence as a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator slowly walked out from the gate.

His cold, dead eyes swept over the crowd.

“Did anyone not hear what I just said?”

Dead silence.

The crowd retreated slowly, eyes filled with awe and terror.

There was anger, grief, fear, a myriad of emotions… but ultimately, no one dared to step forward.

Those with backbone had long since died fighting when the Heavenly Gate Sect annihilated their sects. Those who remained, no matter how intense their emotions, could only swallow them into a helpless sigh.

Standing amidst the crowd, Wang Ba and Bu Chan were equally indignant.

But facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Wang Ba was powerless.

Even though his spirit beast pouch was currently filled with top-grade spirit beasts, he couldn’t muster an ounce of courage to directly confront a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.

Moreover, attacking this man would be equivalent to openly declaring war on the Heavenly Gate Sect. Unless he felt he wasn’t dying miserably enough, he would never dare to do such a thing.

Just as he was preparing to give up on entering the outpost and wait out the mission duration outside the gates, the Foundation Establishment True Cultivator who had just brutally suppressed the crowd suddenly changed his expression.

He bowed slightly at the waist, his tone turning respectful:

“Chai Lu of the Chi Ghost Path greets Senior Brother Bai!”

“Mn. No need for formalities, Junior Brother Chai.”

A gentle voice followed immediately.

Senior Brother Bai?

Wang Ba’s heart skipped a beat.

Soon, a figure strode out from the checkpoint.

He wore a face blurred by the characteristic technique of the Blood Bone Path, and was dressed in red and black robes. The surging aura of spiritual power allowed Wang Ba to recognize him instantly.

It was the Blood Bone Path Foundation Establishment cultivator, Bai Yu.

The moment Wang Ba saw Bai Yu, the latter seemed to sense something. His divine sense swept out, and he began walking straight toward Wang Ba.

The surrounding Heterodox cultivators immediately cast surprised glances in Wang Ba’s direction.

“Senior Bai,” Wang Ba greeted, ignoring the attention as he quickly pulled Bu Chan down to bow.

Bai Yu nodded slightly, then turned his head toward Bu Chan. “So you came out after all. Is this your junior sister?”

Wang Ba’s heart jumped.

Facing Bai Yu, whose body radiated the crushing pressure of Foundation Establishment, Bu Chan was nervous, yet she displayed an unexpected trace of composure.

“Replying to Senior Bai, this junior is indeed Wang Ba’s junior sister.”

Seeing Bu Chan’s calm response, Bai Yu seemed somewhat surprised. With his discernment, he could easily tell she was merely a minor cultivator at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. To remain composed under his pressure was no small feat.

In comparison, if not for his higher cultivation realm, Wang Ba might not have fared as well as she did.

Noticing this, Bai Yu’s tone softened slightly as he turned back to Wang Ba.

“You have quite the luck.”

“Well? Have you already completed your mission?”

Wang Ba hurriedly replied, “Yes. We discovered two Incense Path cultivators and have slain them both. We rushed back immediately to submit the mission.”

“Oh, two Incense Path cultivators… Not bad. Heh, it seems you were stopped by Chai Lu just now?”

Bai Yu’s tone was relaxed and easy.

Hearing this, a sliver of hope rose in Wang Ba’s heart. “Uh, Senior Chai is merely fulfilling his duties.”

Bai Yu, however, simply tilted his head slightly. “Junior Brother Chai.”

Chai Lu, standing to the side, had already taken the hint. He flashed a smile at Wang Ba and Bu Chan.

“Heh, you two should be grateful to Senior Brother Bai. If it were a senior brother from any other Path, I wouldn’t have let you in.”

He then stepped aside and waved his hand. “Go on.”

Wang Ba was instantly filled with immense relief and joy.

He didn’t forget his manners, bowing deeply to Bai Yu to express his gratitude, though he dared not say much else. Bu Chan hurriedly followed suit.

Bai Yu nodded casually, then continued walking outward without a care.

For him, it really was just a matter of a single sentence. After all, who didn’t know he was a close confidant of the currently rising Chief Steward Lu? Aside from the Golden Core elders, he was effectively one man above ten thousand.

Wang Ba quickly grabbed Bu Chan and walked briskly into the checkpoint.

The Heterodox cultivators around them looked on with eyes full of envy.

None of them were fools. Everyone could see that the Heavenly Gate Sect deliberately keeping them outside wasn’t just for the so-called safety of the outpost. Something else—likely something terrible—was waiting for them later.

To enter the outpost now was clearly to reach safe shores.

Wang Ba thought so too.

But he hadn’t taken more than two steps when Bai Yu’s familiar, gentle voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

“By the way, Yu Changchun said you’re skilled at raising Spirit Poultry. Coincidentally, we’ll likely encounter some on this outing. Come with me; I need you to appraise them for me.”

Wang Ba’s body instantly went rigid.

In that moment, he truly wanted to refuse outright and run back to his chicken farm by the South Lake.

But after just a single breath, he made his decision.

“Junior Sister, this is the True Dharma Eye. You know what’s recorded inside… take these as well.”

Wang Ba swiftly handed over everything related to the mission to Bu Chan.

Faced with this sudden change, Bu Chan’s eyes filled with worry, but she remained silent. Taking the storage pouch Wang Ba handed her, she immediately retrieved the spirit beast pouches containing Alpha-Twelve and the mother Green Water Spirit Turtle and pressed them into Wang Ba’s hands.

She stared intently at him.

“Senior Brother, you must take care.”

“Don’t worry.”

Wang Ba gave her a reassuring smile.

With Bai Yu present, as long as he remained cautious, his safety was somewhat guaranteed.

Without further hesitation, under the bewildered gazes of the surrounding Heterodox cultivators, he turned and walked back out of the checkpoint.

Not far away, he saw a figure in red and black robes standing with hands clasped behind his back, waiting for him.

“Senior Bai.”

Bai Yu nodded slightly, wasting no words. With a flick of his sleeve, a palm-sized white bone boat quietly appeared.

The boat expanded in the wind, rapidly growing into a functional vessel.

The two quickly boarded.

The white bone boat gave a slight shudder before vanishing from the spot.

(End of Chapter)