Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

Chapter 246: Reunion on the Road

“Yes, Bai Die is still alive. But her situation is dire.”

Sect Leader Qi dropped the vegetative Wei Baoyu onto the stone floor in front of Bai Shiqi, relaying the grim truths he had ripped from the mortal’s mind.

Hearing that Bai Die had at most three or four years before her mind was completely eroded and her body transformed into a Demonic Cultivator’s avatar, Bai Shiqi’s eyes filled with profound agony. Yet, beneath the pain, there was no despair. Only a hardening resolve.

“Sect Leader, Master…” He looked up at Sect Leader Qi and Elder Bai, his voice trembling but earnest. “Is there any way the Sect can help me rescue Vinegar Saucer within three years?”

Elder Bai let out a heavy sigh, slowly shaking his head.

“The Demonic Cultivator holding her hails from the Demonic Sect, one of the nine apex factions of the Central Heaven Domain,” Sect Leader Qi explained gently. “Setting aside the terrifying might of her Sect, the woman herself has reached the Golden Core stage. In a direct confrontation, not a single person in Wanchun Valley is her match. Even if you devoted every waking second to Cultivation for the next three years, you would be slaughtered. Even I wouldn’t be her match.”

Bai Shiqi’s fists trembled, his knuckles turning white. He gritted his teeth, his voice dropping to a desperate whisper. “So that’s it? There’s really no other way?”

Sect Leader Qi remained silent. The brutal reality had been laid bare. Marching into the Central Heaven Domain to assault the Demonic Sect was so far beyond Wanchun Valley’s capabilities it bordered on suicidal delusion.

“Seventeen,” Elder Bai said softly, “even I cannot guarantee a breakthrough to the Golden Core realm within three years… This matter—”

Bai Shiqi suddenly dropped to his knees. He slammed his forehead against the stone floor. Thud. Thud. Thud. A full nine kowtows to Elder Bai, striking the ground so hard his forehead split open, sending crimson droplets trickling down his face.

“This disciple will never forget Master’s kindness for all of eternity!”

He stood up, pivoted toward Sect Leader Qi, and dropped to his knees again, delivering another nine resounding kowtows.

“This disciple will never forget the Sect’s nurturing grace! But I fear I can only repay this debt in my next life!”

Both Sect Leader Qi and Elder Bai felt the absolute, unyielding finality in the boy’s words.

“Child,” Elder Bai stepped forward, his voice tight. “What are you planning to do?”

Bai Shiqi kept his forehead pressed to the bloody stone, refusing to speak.

Elder Bai’s brow furrowed in distress. “Are you planning to march into the Demonic Sect alone? To save Bai Die?”

Silence.

“You foolish child!” Elder Bai pleaded. “Stay in Wanchun Valley. I swear I will guide you to the Golden Core realm. That is the true Orthodox Cultivation Path!”

Bai Shiqi merely bowed deeper, his silence an immovable wall. There was no room for compromise in his heart.

Elder Bai paced back and forth, wringing his hands, torn between deep heartache and utter helplessness. The boy was throwing his life away. Bai Die was already beyond saving. What else could they possibly do?

Sect Leader Qi stood with his hands clasped behind his back, equally at a loss. He couldn’t help but glance at Han Yu. You suggested we tell him the truth. Now look at the mess we’re in. How do we handle this?

Han Yu caught the Sect Leader’s gaze. His internal logic was cold and simple: I’ve already personally executed the Emperor of the Nanli Kingdom today. I might as well take responsibility for this, too.

Hovering nearby, Yan San watched the drama unfold with deep fascination. What an incredibly bizarre Sect, she thought.

Normally, a Sect would have just lied to the kid, locked him in a dungeon, or forcefully suppressed his rebellion to ensure he prioritized his Cultivation. But here, the Wanchun Valley elders were genuinely agonizing over his feelings. They actually wanted to save the girl, and when they realized they couldn’t, no one barked orders or threatened to imprison the boy for his defiance.

Having wandered the ruthless expanse of the Central Heaven Domain down to the Southern Domain, Yan San had never encountered a Sect with this much heart. It was fascinating.

Under her curious gaze, Han Yu stepped forward.

“Junior Brother Bai Shiqi,” Han Yu said evenly. “You understand the full scope of the situation now? Then Wei Baoyu has outlived his usefulness, hasn’t he?”

Bai Shiqi looked up, slightly bewildered by the sudden pivot. “Yes, Senior Brother Han.”

“Good.”

Han Yu raised a hand. A Foundation Establishment spell—the Blazing Flame Art—erupted, enveloping Wei Baoyu. In mere seconds, the man was reduced to a pile of fine gray ash.

Han Yu had to admit, Foundation Establishment magic was incredibly efficient. It incinerated a target in a few breaths, burning far faster and cleaner than the Qi Condensation stage’s Flame Technique.

Watching his tormentor burn to ash, Bai Shiqi felt a fleeting surge of vindictive satisfaction. The Beggar Chief is dead. Finally. But the high was immediately crushed by a suffocating wave of despair. Even if he killed Wei Baoyu a thousand times over, it wouldn’t bring Vinegar Saucer back.

He had to go to the Demonic Sect. It was the only way.

Han Yu looked down at the boy. “Junior Brother Bai Shiqi, since your mind is made up to face the Demonic Sect, I won’t waste breath trying to stop you.”

He gestured to the elders. “The Sect Leader is reluctant to lose you. Your Master is devastated that you are marching to your death. But if we force you to stay, you will only suffer in agony and breed resentment against us. Bai Die is your anchor in this world. If you must trade your life for hers… would you?”

“I would,” Bai Shiqi answered without a microsecond of hesitation.

“Then go,” Han Yu stated cleanly. “If you survive, return to Wanchun Valley as our disciple. If you cannot return, swear that you will never raise a hand against a Wanchun Valley disciple.”

Han Yu turned to Sect Leader Qi and Elder Bai. “Is this acceptable?”

Sect Leader Qi closed his eyes and nodded slowly. “Acceptable.”

It was a pragmatic, clean cut to a Gordian knot. Youth was impetuous and absolute. Forcing the issue would only break the boy. Given the impossible circumstances, this was the most merciful way to handle it.

“Seventeen, what do you say?” Elder Bai asked, his voice thick with emotion.

Bai Shiqi looked at Han Yu with overwhelming gratitude and kowtowed to him once. “This disciple will remember the Sect’s grace forever! I swear I will never attack anyone from Wanchun Valley for all of eternity! If I break this vow, may the heavens strike me dead!”

With trembling hands, Elder Bai pulled several items from his Storage Bag: a vial of precious Wood Spirit Liquid, a high-quality flying sword, defensive Talismans, and healing Pills. He pressed them into Bai Shiqi’s hands.

Then, Elder Bai closed his eyes, let out a long, shuddering sigh, and turned his back. “Child… take care of yourself. Be cautious in all things.”

Bai Shiqi broke down, his tears mixing with the blood on his face. “Master! Your kindness… this disciple will never forget!”

He kowtowed three final times, summoned a Plantain Leaf, and shot into the sky, flying straight north without looking back.

“Ah… Alas!”

Watching the boy vanish into the clouds, Elder Bai lowered his head. “He’s just a child… not even as old as Lingyun! He should be safe in my pavilion, cultivating peacefully, sharing the bond of master and disciple.” He clenched his fists. “These heartless, heaven-defying Demonic Cultivators!”

Unable to settle his turbulent emotions, Elder Bai gave a few curt instructions to the newly stationed disciples and hurried away to mourn in private.

Sect Leader Qi also needed to return to the Sect, but with a Nascent Soul monster like Yan San present, he felt leaving abruptly would be profoundly rude, not to mention he worried for Han Yu’s safety.

However, with the Nanli Kingdom’s crisis resolved, it was Han Yu who initiated the departures.

“Sect Leader, Wanchun Valley requires your attention, and you need to prepare for your own Cultivation breakthrough. Please return as soon as possible. Do not worry about me,” Han Yu said smoothly. “The fact that there were no Golden Core enemies here proves we overestimated the threat in the capital. I could have handled this entirely on my own, albeit with a bit more effort. The Sect can rest assured regarding my future travels.”

Turning to the giant woman, Han Yu offered a polite salute. “Miss Yan, I have other matters to attend to. I must take my leave.”

Yan San blinked, surprised. “Leaving already?”

She pouted slightly. “Alright. I’ll just find a spot around the Nanli Kingdom for Secluded Cultivation. I won’t go far. Come find me when you want to play!”

Play? Han Yu thought dryly. Yan San was eccentric and surprisingly honorable for a demonic entity, but she was far too perceptive. Having someone constantly seeing through his darkest secrets was a massive operational hazard.

“Of course. Once my business is concluded,” Han Yu lied politely.

With formal farewells exchanged, Han Yu summoned his flying sword and vanished into the night sky. Sect Leader Qi bid Yan San a respectful farewell and departed for Wanchun Valley.

Left alone in the bloody courtyard, Yan San hoisted her spiked mace onto her shoulder and scratched the glowing green patterns on her forehead. Finally found a fellow Demon Star, and he runs off to do his own chores. Oh well. Time to go into Secluded Cultivation and recuperate.

Han Yu flew aimlessly away from the capital for half a day, putting a massive amount of distance between himself and Yan San. Once he was certain he wasn’t being followed, he began scanning for a quiet place to tally his recent, lucrative spoils.

Suddenly, his Divine Sense snagged on a familiar, subtle resonance.

Up ahead, he detected the unmistakable hum of a Heavenly Secret Spindle, the signature tracking artifact of the Little Sky Net Sect.

Han Yu’s eyes narrowed. He immediately locked down his aura with the Breath Concealment Technique and crept forward through the sky. Excellent. An opportunity to increase the length of my Star Luo Thread.

As he closed the distance, he peered down at the rural dirt road winding through the mortal farmlands. A figure in faded Daoist robes was lazily riding a gray donkey. Dangling casually from the donkey’s neck was a glowing, silver-white Heavenly Secret Spindle.

Han Yu squinted. The rider possessed an incredibly distinct, long, horse-like face. The more Han Yu looked, the more familiar the man became.

Stunned, Han Yu brought his flying sword to an abrupt halt. He dropped the Thousand Illusions Secret Art, revealing his true face, and dropped from the sky, landing squarely in the dirt road, blocking the donkey’s path.

“Old Daoist Li?” Han Yu asked, staring at the man. “What are you doing here?”