Chapter 5 Yang Mansion

Just as Yun Qian and Shen Qi were excitedly recounting to Yun Bai how Fellow Daoist Ge Yueze had delivered the Spirit Pill and how Master Jiang had administered treatment, Yun Bai suddenly furrowed his brows slightly and swept his gaze around the room.

"Where is Fellow Daoist Ge Yueze, who delivered the Medicinal Pill?" he asked, his voice still carrying the hoarseness of one who had just awakened.

The group was stunned by this, and they all turned to look, only to realize that the figure of the ethereal Daoist, who possessed such an otherworldly appearance, had vanished from the room at some unknown moment. It was as if he had never appeared at all, leaving behind only the lingering, refined fragrance of the Medicinal Pill that had not yet fully dissipated.

"Huh? He was just here a moment ago..." Yun Qian blinked, looking somewhat bewildered.

"Perhaps he left quietly upon seeing that you were no longer in any serious danger. Truly, he has the demeanor of an expert who leaves no trace," Master Jiang said with a sigh, stroking his beard, his respect for this Disciple of the Grand Elder growing even further.

"What about the cost of purchasing the soul-stabilizing pill?"

Just as Yun Bai was feeling puzzled, a gentle knock came from outside the small courtyard, followed by a familiar voice: "Master Jiang, Brother Yun Bai, Zhang Huai has come to pay a visit. Would it be convenient?"

Jiang Shuanger walked quickly to open the door and saw Zhang Huai standing outside with a warm smile on his face. He first bowed respectfully to Master Jiang: "Master, Senior Sister."

He then turned to Yun Bai on the bed, his eyes unable to hide his joy.

"Brother Yun Bai, you finally woke up! How do you feel? Supervisor Zhou and Elder Yin, upon learning that you had awakened, specifically ordered me to come and visit immediately."

As he spoke, Zhang Huai stepped forward to carefully examine Yun Bai's complexion. Seeing that although he was still somewhat pale, his spirit was decent, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Zhang, as well as that of Supervisor Zhou and Elder Yin. I am no longer in any danger, just still feeling a bit weak." Yun Bai leaned against the head of the bed and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"That is good, that is good!" Zhang Huai nodded repeatedly, then his expression turned slightly more serious. "Additionally, Supervisor Zhou specifically instructed me to inform everyone that, given the special nature of this incident, the State Religion has dispatched additional personnel to secretly strengthen the vigilance and patrols around your residence. Everyone can rest and recover peacefully in the near future; there is no need to worry about safety."

Hearing this, everyone's heart skipped a beat.

"Are you saying that Yun Bai might be assassinated?" Jiang Shuanger asked.

"Indeed. The Demon Race will stop at nothing to stifle the Geniuses of the Human Race. According to Supervisor Zhou, thousands of Geniuses have died in assassinations over the past hundred years before they could even grow up!" Zhang Huai sighed.

Zhang Huai's face brightened with a smile again, and his tone became enthusiastic: "Brother Yun Bai, I have come this time to bring you the sincere congratulations of Supervisor Zhou, Elder Yin, and indeed the entire State Religion branch in Chu Prefecture! You successfully cleared the third level of the Black Tower; this is a truly shocking feat!"

He paused and lowered his voice: "As far as I know, the higher-ups... hm, meaning the headquarters in the Holy City, have already taken note of your feat. An application for a 'Heaven-Grade' contract has reportedly been submitted personally by the Grand Elder! Congratulations, Brother Yun Bai! Once the contract is finalized, you will be a true 'Prodigy' of the State Religion, with a limitless future!"

"A Heaven-Grade contract?!" Upon hearing this, Yun Bai's pupils constricted slightly, and his heart was shaken.

Yun Qian and Shen Qi covered their mouths in pleasant surprise, their eyes filled with excitement and pride.

Zhang Huai smiled and took out an exquisite Storage Pouch from his robe, handing it to Yun Bai. "This is the reward for your success in clearing the tower. The Grand Elder asked me to tell you that the Grade 6 Medicinal Pill is a gift from him. As for the reward for clearing the Black Tower, those tens of millions of Spirit Stones are all inside this Storage Pouch."

"At the same time, the pouch also contains a high-quality healing Medicinal Pill, the 'Jade Marrow Flesh-Regenerating Powder,' which specifically treats internal organ trauma and Divine Sense depletion; furthermore..."

He specifically took out a small box made of warm jade from the pouch. After opening it, a refreshing medicinal fragrance immediately wafted out. Inside was a Medicinal Pill the size of a longan, perfectly round.

"This 'Purple Mansion Foundation-Cultivating Pill' was specially applied for by Elder Yin for you. Its purpose is to consolidate your foundation, nourish your Purple Mansion and Divine Sense, and it will be of great benefit for your future attempt to reach the Golden Core level! Elder Yin instructed that you should take it only after your injuries have fully healed and your condition has been adjusted to its Peak; that will provide the best effect."

Yun Bai recalled this Elder Yin. When he had gone to the State Religion's Spirit Pool to attempt a Breakthrough to the Golden Core, it was this Elder Yin Xin who had guarded the entrance. Presumably, Elder Yin had long since noticed his failure to form the Golden Core, which is why he had specially sent this precious pill to assist in breaking through the realm.

Yun Bai accepted it, a warm current surging in his heart. He nodded solemnly: "Thank you, Brother Zhang, and please convey my gratitude to Supervisor Zhou and Elder Yin for their generous gifts and cultivation. Yun Bai will certainly not fail to live up to their expectations."

"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Zhang Huai smiled and patted Yun Bai's shoulder. "You should rest well. I won't disturb your reunion any further. If you have any needs, you can contact me at any time via a communication talisman."

With so many things waiting to be done in Chu Prefecture City, Zhang Huai had no choice but to bid farewell to the teacher and the others immediately.

... ... ...

Yang Mansion. At this moment, General Yang Cang had absolutely no mood to drink tea.

As soon as he arrived home, General Yang Cang heard that his son, Yang Mo, had returned. He was instantly furious.

"That rebellious son! Where has he been these past few days!" General Yang Cang's usually narrow, squinting eyes were now wide as copper bells. "Where is he? Tell him to come and see me!"

"The Young Master is in his room," the servant replied. "No matter how we call him, he refuses to step out of the room even half a step."

General Yang Cang stormed into the room, only to see his son, Yang Mo, standing with his hands behind his back, looking at a portrait—it was his mother.

"Father." Yang Mo turned his head, facing General Yang Cang from the side.

Sunlight shone through the window lattice onto half of Yang Mo's face, leaving him in a state of light and shadow. His complexion was unnaturally pale, which made his two thin lips appear eerily red.

"Where have you been these past few days!" General Yang Cang calmed down slightly after seeing his son and asked, panting.

"Father, my mother did not die of illness, did she?" Yang Mo's narrow Phoenix eyes held a faint melancholy.

"You—" General Yang Cang was stunned. He instinctively felt that his son was somewhat different from usual. "Why are you asking this! I am asking you a question! Where have you been these past few days?"

"I went to the Cang Plains." Yang Mo held a smile at the corner of his mouth. "I met quite a few interesting people from the State Religion."

"How dare you! Do you have a death wish!" Upon hearing this, General Yang Cang nervously stepped forward and grabbed Yang Mo's arm, wanting to check if his son was injured, but he found that he could not budge him at all.

"Your cultivation... First Realm Peak?!" General Yang Cang looked at Yang Mo in disbelief. "No, your aura."

General Yang Cang felt a familiar aura on his son, Yang Mo. It was cold, sinister, and filled with suppressed brutality and madness.

"You, Demon Race!" General Yang Cang gripped Yang Mo's arm tightly. "What have you done!"

"Father, I answered your question, but you have not yet answered mine. My mother did not die of illness, did she? I am not your biological son, am I?" Yang Mo broke free from General Yang Cang's hand and finally turned to face his "father" directly.

"I heard them say that I am a half-breed. In the words of the Human Race, I am a Demon seed, a wretched spawn. Am I right?"

General Yang Cang was forced to take a few steps back.

"You! Bastard! You are my son, General Yang Cang's son! Who told you that! Monstrous lies!" General Yang Cang denied.

Yang Mo sneered and said, "The head of the Chen family has already told me everything. Father, I mean no other harm. My mother died for a great cause. I do not regret it. I just couldn't wait to come and tell you, Father, I have succeeded!"

"What?"

"I have succeeded! Father! I have found the most perfect way for the Human Race and the Demon Race to achieve Fusion. Look at me; I am no different from a human, yet I can Cultivate Demon Race Cultivation Techniques. Freedom, power. We no longer need to worry about Heart Demon invasions, and there are no more Bottlenecks in Cultivation. Attaining the Dao and immortality is just around the corner! Father!"

"I will create a new era! In the future, there will be no need for any guidance techniques, Heart-Clearing Mantra, and Cultivation will no longer need to depend on the expressions of that damn State Religion!"

"Foolish!" General Yang Cang sternly interrupted Yang Mo's delusions. "What do you know! Cooperating with the Demon Race is merely a way to survive. But one must absolutely not get tainted by it. Those who are not of our race must have different hearts; you are nothing but their pawn! Your mother suffered endlessly in the hands of the Demon Race; it was for your sake that she did not choose to die immediately. How could she have imagined that you would dare to Cultivate Demonic Techniques!"

"Hehehehe, Father, you are still lying to me. Mother suffered endlessly, wasn't that all because of you!" Yang Mo's body surged with Devilish Qi, his expression becoming manic when he spoke of his mother.

"What do you know!"

"Fine, fine, fine, I don't know. Father, how did you get to where you are today? This time, I felt unparalleled power; I am not the same as you."

The room fell into a long silence.