Chapter 997: Is This Really Necessary? (I)

Guardian Peak, Mount Shu.

High above the sea of clouds, the two-toned yin-yang sky continued its slow, steady rotation. From within that swirling dome, Baize finally emerged from seclusion, as though she had found the path she had been searching for.

The moment she appeared, Venerable Wen Yuan arrived at the summit and asked, "How did it go?"

Because of the divide between humans and demons, the Mount Shu Sect hadn’t openly cheered for Baize. Still, within the sect, they fully supported her efforts to prove her understanding of the Great Dao and ascend to the ninth realm.

After all, on a personal level, they felt much closer to Baize than to some outsider from the human race. She had shared thousands of years of history with the Mount Shu Sect.

Baize looked up to the sky and said slowly, "I must rebuild a realm that exists between yin and yang. There, I will gather all the wandering ghosts in the world. Only by separating yin and yang can I gain the recognition of the Great Dao and ascend to the Profound Realm."

Venerable Wen Yuan frowned and said, "That will be incredibly taxing."

No one knew how many ghosts still roamed the world. But for as long as anyone could remember, ghastly beings had always lingered in the dark corners of the earth. To fully separate yin and yang this time would require an enormous amount of effort.

And it wasn’t just about completing the task once. A proper system had to be put in place so that, in the future, all ownerless souls could enter this new version of the netherworld.

Even if every disciple of the Mount Shu Sect were sent out, it still wouldn’t be enough. Baize alone stood even less of a chance of gathering all the wandering ghosts in the world anytime soon.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor had already begun setting up a grand altar, drawing the power of the stars to elevate the Morning Star. His act of placing the sun, moon, and stars on equal footing was both breathtaking and awe-inspiring, but it would not reshape the world as profoundly as what Baize intended. And it was nowhere near as difficult to achieve.

With the full support of the Heavenly Star factions, the grand array would soon be completed. After eighty-one days, the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor would fulfill his grand aspiration.

"I'll do what I can and leave the rest to fate," Baize said with a sigh. "When I chose the Great Dao of Yin and Yang, I already knew it would be an incredibly difficult path."

Baize was a celestial beast of great wisdom. Faced with a once-in-a-millennium chance to ascend, she would be lying if she said she had no regrets. But if failure was already destined, there was nothing she couldn't come to terms with.

"If there’s anything you need help with, just let us know," Venerable Wen Yuan said.

"I plan to establish a netherworld of ghosts within my own inner realm, then gather all the creatures of yin characteristics across the land," Baize said. "If possible, I ask that you help me expand this hidden realm, and have your disciples keep an eye on the movement of ghosts and any beings of yin nature in the mortal world."

The Mount Shu Sect and the Heavenly Star factions were all righteous Daoist sects, so the Mount Shu Sect could not strike at the Heavenly Star faction to sabotage the Heavenly Star Grand Ancestor’s aspiration. If they did, the Heavenly Star faction would likely strike back by obstructing Baize’s efforts. That would drag both sides into a destructive cycle of back-and-forth sabotage.

However, beyond that, there was little they could do to help.

With nothing else to say, Baize rose into the air. She raised both hands and forcefully parted the swirling black and white energies, ripping open a massive rift in the sky. On the other side lay a vast and boundless space, one that belonged to an entirely different world.

It turned out this was the yin-yang portal to her own inner realm.

Venerable Wen Yuan followed her inside. This was Baize's Yin-Yang Realm. As he passed through the gate, he found himself in a boundless world, where the sky was pure white and the ground stretched out in endless black.

However, it still wasn’t enough. If this realm were to serve as a netherworld for all the beings of yin nature in the mortal world, it had to become much larger than it was now.

Venerable Wen Yuan began forming a series of hand seals. As he chanted an ancient incantation, he raised two fingers toward the sky and shouted, "Open!"

In the outside world, this would have been impossible. But inside Baize’s inner realm, Venerable Wen Yuan could use the power of the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos to push the boundaries of the world outward. The space around him began to expand, growing larger with each passing moment.

A Great Dao from the greater world held overwhelming force inside a small inner realm. Here, it reshaped the land with ease, changing its form as naturally as light passing through glass.

...

At the same time, Chu Liang was locked in an intense negotiation with Bai Wuxiang.

The moment Bai Wuxiang heard that Chu Liang planned to make up for the loss with money, he completely lost it. His temper flared, and he launched into a furious tirade filled with personal attacks that questioned Chu Liang's character.

"Then what do you want?" Chu Liang asked, looking aggrieved. "Why are you being so fierce?"

Bai Wuxiang finally let go of his collar and said, "If this had happened earlier, you really would not have anything on you that could compare to the value of Deity Pan’s Bone. But now... there actually is one thing."

Chu Liang blinked. A trace of worry flashed in his eyes as he thought,

Did this old man somehow find out about the birth of the Demon-Refining Pagoda?

But Bai Wuxiang then said, "It’s your Great Dao of Creation."

Chu Liang finally let out a breath of relief.

So Esteemed Senior Bai Wuxiang isn’t truly all-knowing after all.

"I want you to use the Great Dao of Creation to forge something for me," Bai Wuxiang continued. "If there’s anyone in this world who can replicate this item, it would be you."

"What is it?" Chu Liang asked. "Is it really something that can compare to Deity Pan’s Bone?"

"This item is far more powerful than the Deity Pan’s Bone," Bai Wuxiang said, lowering his voice. "You’ve always wanted to know what secret Hallowed Li left behind for the Divine Ruins Monastery, haven’t you?"

Chu Liang immediately covered his ears. "Didn’t you say that anyone who hears it has to become a monastery guardian?"

"...Put your hands down," Bai Wuxiang said with exasperation. "You don’t have to be a guardian. Honestly, with your erratic temperament, I wouldn’t feel at ease even if you were here at the Divine Ruins Monastery.

"In a few years, I probably won’t be able to restrain you anymore... no, not even a few years. With your current influence, you're already difficult to handle. But your nature is kind and upright, and that's why I'm choosing to be honest with you this time. For the sake of the nine provinces and four seas, you must help me."

After that heartfelt and serious plea, Chu Liang paused for a beat before he asked loudly, "What did you say? I didn't hear it? Could you say that again?"

Smack.

Bai Wuxiang slapped Chu Liang’s hand away from his ear and snapped, "I said making you a monastery guardian would be worse than giving the job to a dog!"

"You see?" Chu Liang said as he spread his hands helplessly. "There you go, losing your temper again."