577: Chapter 577 More Money Required

Following the incident with Tang Jin, Fang Bai encountered no further interruptions and followed Tang Chao to a traditional courtyard house.

There, Fang Bai saw an elderly man sitting by a rockery not far away, fishing.

Strangely, the small pond was clearly transparent to the bottom with not a single fish in sight, yet the old man continued to fish with great relish.

'Like Jiang Ziya fishing—waiting for those who are willing to be caught, I suppose?'

Fang Bai thought to himself.

He suspected this old fellow was trying to act profound in front of him.

"Ancestor, Brother Fang has arrived."

Tang Chao bowed respectfully toward his family's ancestor.

The Ancestor Tang nodded slightly and then looked over. His gaze fell upon Fang Bai, and a smile touched his eyes. "Young friend Fang, a pleasure to meet you."

Fang Bai's lips curled into a grin. "Senior, we meet again."

The Ancestor Tang asked with some surprise, "You've seen me before?"

Fang Bai nodded. "At the Heavenly Pride Competition, Senior's presence was already etched into my mind."

"Hahaha!"

The Ancestor Tang laughed heartily, clearly in a very good mood.

Tang Chao's expression was a bit strange; he hadn't expected Brother Fang to be so smooth with flattery.

Fang Bai's smile remained unchanged.

In truth, he really had memorized all the old monsters in the spectator stands back then.

After all, if anyone tried to cause trouble in the future, he would be able to recognize their faces.

Naturally, it wasn't some nonsense about 'long-time admiration.'

The Ancestor Tang suddenly flicked his finger, and a piece of azure armor flew in front of Fang Bai.

Tang Chao was the first to react, exclaiming in shock, "A quasi-saint artifact!"

The armor was indeed radiating the aura of a quasi-saint artifact!

Holy crap! Giving away a quasi-saint artifact just upon meeting? The Ancestor is being too generous!

Even Tang Chao was incredibly envious.

Fang Bai also hadn't expected the other party to be so forthcoming. He asked with a hint of caution, "Senior, what is the meaning of this?"

The Ancestor Tang laughed. "No particular reason. I just feel that it is fated to be with you, so I'm giving it to you."

"Truly? One should not receive rewards without merit, Senior!" Fang Bai said solemnly.

The Ancestor Tang stroked his beard and smiled. "Actually, there is indeed a small matter."

Fang Bai wore an 'as I thought' expression. "Please speak, Senior."

The Ancestor Tang looked at Tang Chao, then back at Fang Bai, and said with a beaming smile, "I see that you and Little Chao have a very good relationship. Why not let him take you as his godfather... oh, no, big brother. What do you think?"

Tang Chao: "..."

Fang Bai glanced at Tang Chao and saw that he looked just as bewildered. He knew then that this was the old fox's own doing.

"Senior, Tang Chao and I are close; we are already friends."

The Ancestor Tang said seriously, "I know this is a bit presumptuous, but I ask you to grant this wish, young friend."

Tang Chao asked in confusion, "Ancestor, why ask this of Brother Fang? Has something happened?"

The Ancestor Tang said slowly, "Something has indeed happened, and it concerns both you and your father."

Hearing this, Tang Chao frowned. "What do you mean?"

The Ancestor Tang sighed. "My time is drawing to an end!"

Tang Chao's face changed drastically. "How is that possible?! Ancestor, you are a Quasi-Saint! Your lifespan should be at least ten thousand years. How could your time be up?"

The Ancestor Tang was silent for a moment, then he slowly rolled up his sleeve, revealing a withered, thin arm.

Tang Chao looked closely, his pupils shrinking in horror. "This... what is this?"

Fang Bai's gaze landed on the Ancestor Tang's arm, his expression turning serious.

At the Ancestor Tang's wrist, there was a strange silver thread. This thread extended upward, hidden by his clothing; it had likely already reached the interior of his body.

The Ancestor Tang's voice was flat: "Saint-Extinguishing Powder."

"What?! What is that?" Tang Chao knew things were bad just by the name.

The Ancestor Tang said calmly, "This is a poison refined by the Sect Master of the Poison Sect. It is a slow-acting poison, but once it accumulates to a certain level and erupts, it can kill even a Quasi-Saint."

"The Poison Sect?! It's those scumbags! They actually dare to come back!" Tang Chao's expression was cold, and killing intent flickered in his eyes.

"What kind of thing is the Poison Sect?" Fang Bai asked at the appropriate moment.

The Ancestor Tang explained slowly, "You may not know, young friend, but the Poison Sect is a major evil sect in our star domain. They are cruel and notorious for hunting cultivators to practice and test their poisons. Furthermore, the Sect Master of the Poison Sect is known as the Poison Saint. His strength has reached the Quasi-Saint Realm, and his poison techniques are terrifying beyond measure."

"There is no small number of Quasi-Saints who have died by his hand."

Hearing this, Fang Bai was somewhat surprised. "Does the Alliance not care about this?"

Tang Chao smiled bitterly. "Brother Fang, you don't understand. The Alliance's duty is to deal with external enemies, namely the Evil Demon Clan. Moreover, no one from my Tang Family holds a high position within the Alliance, so this is considered an internal issue of our own star domain."

Fang Bai understood. Then he looked at the Ancestor Tang. "You're a Quasi-Saint; how did you get blindsided?"

The Ancestor Tang gave Tang Chao a meaningful look. "That would be a matter of family misfortune."

Tang Chao understood instantly, his face darkening. "Ancestor, do you mean this is related to someone within the family?"

The Ancestor Tang nodded slightly.

Tang Chao frowned. "Could it be... the Great Elder?!"

The Ancestor Tang said nothing.

Tang Chao felt a chill in his heart. "But with your strength, Ancestor, you could easily suppress and kill them!"

The Ancestor Tang said slowly, "I cannot make a move. Once I kill them, the Poison Sect will notice. When they invade in force, the Tang Family will face total extermination."

Fang Bai: "..."

He hadn't expected that just coming for a visit would land him in the middle of a crisis where a whole family might be wiped out.

"But Senior, what does this have to do with me becoming sworn brothers with Brother Tang? You don't actually think I can take on the Poison Sect, do you?" Fang Bai asked in confusion.

He hadn't even reached the Quasi-Saint Realm yet, and even a powerhouse like the Ancestor Tang had fallen victim...

The Ancestor Tang smiled. "I am not asking you to become an enemy of the Poison Sect. I only want to entrust you with ensuring a future for the Tang Family."

Is there any difference?

Fang Bai was speechless.

If he wanted to protect Tang Chao, he would definitely have to clash with the Poison Sect. They would be mortal enemies by then.

Damn it, he was picking up enemies for no reason, wasn't he?

He looked at the armor in his hand, feeling a bit depressed.

He was losing out on this deal.

"Ancestor, please do not involve Brother Fang. This is a matter for my Tang Family, and we will resolve it ourselves. Furthermore, I cannot live on in cowardice; I swear to live and die with the Tang Family!" Tang Chao said solemnly.

The Ancestor Tang shook his head with a sigh. "You little fellow, the poison has already seeped into my bone marrow and cannot be cured. The Poison Sect has a Quasi-Saint powerhouse; you would only be throwing your lives away for nothing."

Tang Chao's expression was complicated.

Fang Bai suddenly spoke up. "Senior, if your poison were cured, who would be stronger between you and the Sect Master of the Poison Sect?"

The Ancestor Tang was taken aback, then said proudly, "Naturally it would be me. I am one realm higher than him."

Hearing this, Fang Bai nodded slightly. "That's good then."

The Ancestor Tang was puzzled but still said, "Young friend, my request was a bit presumptuous."

"You were indeed presumptuous."

"Ah?"

The Ancestor Tang hadn't expected him to reply like that.

Fang Bai's tone shifted. "What I mean is, you'll have to pay more!"