183: Chapter 183 The Death of Baili Jin, an Unexpected Incident

Once the rootless duckweed leaves the grotto-heaven, it means the sole foundational protection of this grotto-heaven will disappear, exposing it to anyone capable of detecting it.

Previously, no matter what spells, Divine Ability, or Magic Treasure were used, searching for this grotto-heaven was impossible, but once the rootless duckweed leaves, finding this grotto-heaven would be no difficult task.

Cultivators of the Human Race or the Yao Race from the outside world could break in and act recklessly without suffering any sanctions.

The reason Baili Jin asked Li Xiuyuan to handle this matter was because the rootless duckweed had a second peculiarity: even the Half-demons within the grotto-heaven could not track its whereabouts.

However, Li Xiuyuan, as an outside intruder, could find the rootless duckweed.

Li Xiuyuan did not immediately agree after hearing this, because his purpose for coming to this grotto-heaven was to help King Zheng find the rootless duckweed; it could be said that his goal was also to take the rootless duckweed away.

He and Baili Jin could not stand on the same side.

But if Baili Jin could also provide a method for Bloodline Fusion, then that would be another matter.

Moreover, until now, the King Zheng in Yin Laojiu's mind had remained silent.

"What conditions can you offer?"

Li Xiuyuan spoke, his tone calm, as if discussing an ordinary transaction.

Baili Jin seemed to have anticipated this question and calmly picked up his teacup for a sip: "There is a long-buried Spiritual Vein within this grotto-heaven."

"It runs through the mountains and rivers of this world and is the reason why the Spiritual Qi here is superior to that of the outside world."

"If you are willing to help me resolve the matter of the rootless duckweed, I can gift that Spiritual Vein to you."

Li Xiuyuan's gaze flickered slightly.

He could naturally feel the dense and pure Spiritual Qi in this grotto-heaven; it was definitely not a level reachable by ordinary Feng Shui convergence. There must be a deep Spiritual Vein beneath the ground supporting the vitality of the entire world.

If he could claim that Spiritual Vein for his own use, it would undoubtedly be of great benefit to his subsequent cultivation.

"If the Spiritual Vein is given to me, what will happen to this grotto-heaven?" he asked.

Baili Jin shook his head gently: "The grotto-heaven can regenerate a new Spiritual Vein. As long as the rootless duckweed remains, it can continuously absorb Spiritual Qi from the world to nourish this land. It will just take time—hundreds of years, or even longer, but I can wait."

Giving that Spiritual Vein to Li Xiuyuan would cause the Spiritual Qi of this grotto-heaven to disappear for a while, after which it would grow again through the rootless duckweed.

The period when the Spiritual Qi disappears would certainly be uncomfortable, but compared to this pure land belonging to the Half-demons being trampled by the outside world, Baili Jin was still willing to pay a price.

Because he knew very well in his heart that once the outside world knew of this place's existence, it would inevitably lose its peace.

Although the Half-demons possessed a land of Spiritual Qi with such deep blessings, they always had disadvantages in cultivation compared to the outside world. Even Baili Jin, the 'decision-maker' in this grotto-heaven world, had a true strength of only the Peak of the Sixth Realm, belonging to the disaster-level Rising Beings.

Not to mention the other Half-demons.

Once the rootless duckweed left, the Half-demons in this grotto-heaven would be completely unable to put up any resistance.

In exchange, Li Xiuyuan needed to help Baili Jin completely control the rootless duckweed. As long as that could be achieved, that Spiritual Vein could be given to Li Xiuyuan.

Li Xiuyuan did not agree immediately. He lowered his gaze, looking at the empty ceramic cup on the low table, weighing things in his heart.

"Don't blame me for being greedy. If the rootless duckweed is truly very important to you, then one Spiritual Vein is not enough; I need something else."

Baili Jin's brows relaxed slightly; he was not afraid of Li Xiuyuan setting conditions, only that Li Xiuyuan wouldn't agree.

"Please speak."

"Besides the Spiritual Vein, I also need the Bloodline Fusion method of the Half-demons. Can you hand it over?" Li Xiuyuan asked.

Baili Jin did not hesitate in the slightest, nodding almost the moment Li Xiuyuan's voice fell: "Yes, I can."

His tone was crisp and decisive, without a shred of hesitation, because the condition Li Xiuyuan proposed was not a price at all for him.

"I can give you the Bloodline Fusion method." He paused, a hint of contemplation in his gaze, "I am actually a bit curious, what use do you have for this?"

The Bloodline Fusion method was something engraved in the minds of all Half-demons, which every Half-demon had already mastered at birth.

As they grew older, their Bloodlines would naturally tend toward Fusion without the need for deliberate cultivation.

Li Xiuyuan did not answer his question directly. He just picked up the empty ceramic cup and turned it half a circle in his hand: "Just a bit interested, that's all."

Baili Jin glanced at him without pressing further.

It was clear that Li Xiuyuan did not intend to talk more on this topic, so he did not delve deeper, only nodding slightly: "In that case, once the matter is accomplished, I will naturally hand it to you."

Both parties achieved their respective goals, and the next step was to implement the specific details of the cooperation.

Baili Jin stood up, instructed Baili Yue outside to arrange accommodations, and then turned to Li Xiuyuan and Yin Laojiu: "The two of you have come from afar, so you must be tired. The guest rooms in the mansion have been prepared. You may rest here for a few days, and once preparations are ready, we will discuss how to find the rootless duckweed."

Then he added: "If you have any needs, you can tell Baili Yue directly; he will cooperate fully."

Li Xiuyuan nodded without excessive politeness.

He stood up, pulled Yin Laojiu, who was still eating spirit meat, and followed Baili Yue through the corridor behind the side hall to a quiet small courtyard.

In the courtyard, there were several clumps of bamboo rustling in the afternoon breeze. A few bamboo leaves had fallen on the stone steps, slightly curled by the sun.

Yin Laojiu followed behind him and couldn't help but burp the moment he stepped into the courtyard gate.

"Lord Dragon Lord, are we really going to help him find the rootless duckweed?"

Although this silly tiger had been burying its head in eating just now, it had actually paid attention to the conversation between Li Xiuyuan and Baili Jin. This time, it was quite sensible not to interrupt and did not directly state their intentions in front of Baili Jin.

Li Xiuyuan looked at it and asked: "No reaction from the King Zheng in your mind?"

"En."

Yin Laojiu nodded repeatedly.

It also felt very strange. Ever since entering this grotto-heaven, King Zheng had been silent. This situation was truly rare. Even when Yin Laojiu was sleeping, King Zheng would pull it into a dream, where they would stare at each other until King Zheng said it could wake up, and only then would Yin Laojiu be thrown out of the dream.

But after entering this grotto-heaven, until now, King Zheng had not had any reaction.

Yin Laojiu had even called out in its heart many times, but never received a response.

"Our purpose in entering this grotto-heaven is to find the rootless duckweed, but King Zheng hasn't provided any clues or help. We can't just go looking aimlessly like headless flies."

"Since Baili Jin needs us, maybe he has a way. Let's find the rootless duckweed first before worrying about anything else."

Li Xiuyuan said.

He hadn't yet decided whether to help King Zheng or Baili Jin, because now the two sides were in an antagonistic relationship, and both needed the rootless duckweed.

As long as the rootless duckweed was found, the initiative would be in his own hands.

"Oh, oh, okay."

"Lord Dragon Lord, you wouldn't really help Baili Jin, right?" Yin Laojiu asked with some concern.

Li Xiuyuan did not deceive it but said seriously: "There is a very high probability, because the conditions offered by Baili Jin are very good. I also need the Spiritual Vein in this grotto-heaven."

"Ah? But you promised…"

"So you had better pray that King Zheng can provide a response and offer better conditions."

Although backing out on the spot would damage his reputation, if one compared rationally, many people would choose the side with the richer reward, just like Li Xiuyuan.

Yin Laojiu began to call out in its heart anxiously, but King Zheng still did not respond.

Night deepened.

In Baili Jin's mansion, lamps were extinguished one after another.

The lanterns under the corridor swayed slightly in the night wind, casting a piece of wobbling warm yellow halo, only to return to stillness as the night wind ceased.

The bustling streets of the city during the day also gradually fell silent.

Li Xiuyuan did not rest.

This clay puppet incarnation did not need rest.

He was currently sitting cross-legged on the low couch by the window of the guest room. Under the moonlight, the incarnation shimmered with a gentle luster, like a piece of carefully polished porcelain.

Li Xiuyuan was spreading out his Spiritual Sense, perceiving the flow and veins of the Spiritual Qi in this grotto-heaven world.

Just then, a noisy sound came from the direction of the front courtyard of the mansion, breaking the silence of the night.

"Revered Master?!"

That voice came very suddenly.

Li Xiuyuan's Spiritual Sense retracted instantly, like startled antennae shrinking back into the main body. He opened his eyes, his gaze landing on the courtyard outside the window illuminated by moonlight.

"Revered Master! Revered Master!"

That was Baili Yue's voice, carrying a distinct tremor amidst the panic.

Immediately following were rapid footsteps, the rustling of robes, and the noisy chatter of several Half-demons.

Li Xiuyuan frowned and listened carefully.

"Venerable Baili has died!"

"Why would the Venerable suddenly die?!"

"Who the hell did it!"

Yin Laojiu, who had been sleeping soundly, bounced up from the bed, its two copper-bell-like tiger eyes wide open, all sleepiness gone: "What? Who died?"

Li Xiuyuan did not answer. His brows furrowed slightly, his expression becoming increasingly grave; he felt something was wrong.

He held his index finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture. Then, Li Xiuyuan continued to listen.

The commotion outside grew louder. Li Xiuyuan sat on the low couch by the window, not rising, just tilting his head slightly to take in those noisy sounds one by one.

"There are claw marks on the Venerable's body! It's a tiger claw!"

"Where in our city is there a tiger demon that could injure the Venerable?"

"Could it be… those two outsiders?!"

And just at this moment, Baili Yue, who had been very friendly and chatting happily with Li Xiuyuan during the day, suddenly raised his voice.

"Although I didn't see it with my own eyes during the day, when the Venerable was talking with those two guests in the side hall, I vaguely heard the sound of an argument! They seemed to be unable to agree on some condition, and the Venerable even said a few harsh words. Now, there are tiger demon claw marks on the Venerable's remains… In this grotto-heaven, besides our four tribes, where else could a tiger demon come from?"

When his voice fell, the crowd was silent for a moment, then exploded like ignited gunpowder.

"It was that tiger!"

"The Venerable died just after they arrived; how could it be such a coincidence!"

"Go! Let's go find them and ask clearly!"

The footsteps became rapid and dense, spreading from the direction of the mansion's front courtyard toward this guest room courtyard.

The light of the lanterns flickered outside the courtyard wall, casting the outlines of those Half-demons onto the window paper, shadowy and indistinct.

Yin Laojiu jumped down from the bed: "They suspect it was me? No, I have to go out and explain."

The tiger had just made a move when Li Xiuyuan pulled it back.

"Save your energy, think about how to run. Didn't you notice that Baili Yue is inciting people? We didn't argue with Baili Jin during the day."

Li Xiuyuan was currently in this clay puppet incarnation; it wouldn't matter if it were caught—at most, he would dissipate his Spiritual Sense and leave behind an empty shell. But Yin Laojiu couldn't leave; its outcome would definitely not be good if caught.

Yin Laojiu also reacted and hurriedly asked: "Then what should we do?"

"What to do? Run." Li Xiuyuan looked at the window on the side and said.

Just as Baili Yue was leading a group of Half-demons toward the courtyard where Li Xiuyuan and Yin Laojiu were resting, a thud was heard, followed by the loud sound of the window being smashed open entirely.

The wooden frame shattered, and the window paper flew apart in the air.

A sturdy figure leaped out from the broken window, its four paws landing on the bluestone ground of the courtyard with a muffled thud.

On Yin Laojiu's back, Li Xiuyuan was already sitting steadily, his moon-colored robes billowing in the night wind.

The Half-demons outside the courtyard gate had just rushed to the gate when they saw the tiger carrying a figure jumping onto the courtyard wall.

Under the moonlight, Yin Laojiu's sturdy silhouette paused on the wall for a moment, then it was about to jump onto the street.

"They are trying to run!" Baili Yue's voice exploded from the front of the crowd, "Stop them!"

The moment the words fell, the Half-demons had already moved.

The light of the torches swayed violently in the night wind, stretching their shadows long and short, twisting and jumping on the walls.

Yin Laojiu had just stood firm on the wall when it heard the commotion and subconsciously looked back: "It wasn't me!"

But before it could continue to explain, a blade of Qi wrapped in Spiritual Qi had already chased from behind, grazing its cheek, and warm blood droplets immediately splashed onto the tiles on the wall.

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Li Xiuyuan's voice came from its back, and he slapped the silly tiger's forehead hard: "Run!"

Yin Laojiu swallowed the defense that was on the tip of its tongue, its four paws exerted force, it leaped down from the wall and started sprinting along the street under the moonlight.

Behind them, the footsteps of the Half-demons followed like rolling thunder.

The news of Baili Jin's death spread immediately. Those residents who had already extinguished their lamps and gone to sleep pushed open their doors and windows one after another to peek out. After hearing clearly what had happened, more figures joined the pursuit team.

The light of the torches converged from all directions, connecting into a winding fire snake in the night, biting closely behind Yin Laojiu.

Yin Laojiu sprinted with its head down, its large tiger head slightly lowered. Listening to Li Xiuyuan's guidance, it immediately ran to the city gate.

The city gate was half-closed in the night. Through the gap in the door, the outline of the mountain wilderness outside, illuminated by the moonlight, could be seen. Yin Laojiu used its own brute force to smash open the city gate and rushed out with Li Xiuyuan.

After exiting the city gate, Yin Laojiu could only plunge into the mountain forest, attempting to use the complex terrain of the dense forest to shake off the pursuing Half-demons.