Zhang Chen had never seen Fox Fairy Nannan so full of wrath, clenching her teeth. Even when he had once turned her physical body into powder, she had not seemed this furious.
But it also led to the reasoning of how much hatred Tushan Qing must have garnered, having harmed so many people.
Thinking of how Fox Fairy Nannan was as slippery as a ghost, yet repeatedly fell into his traps, Zhang Chen silently raised his guard.
"However, there’s something you must be cautious of." At this moment, it seemed Fox Fairy Nannan recalled something and hurriedly reminded, "Although Tushan Qing is as hated as a rat crossing the street, he is the cherished treasure of the Fox Race Ancestor, always serving by his side. Now that Tushan Qing has appeared here, it likely indicates that the Fox Race Ancestor has entered the pass."
"The Fox Race Ancestor has entered the pass?" Zhang Chen’s heart shook upon hearing this, turning to Fox Fairy Nannan: "I obliterated your physical form; will that leave any hidden troubles?"
"Of course, it will. But as long as you release my soul, the ancestor will sense my location. However, since you absorbed me into the Dragon Qi, the ancestor won’t sense my aura, and naturally, won’t come looking for you." Fox Fairy Nannan replied.
"You should have said this earlier!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen hurriedly collected Fox Fairy Nannan, unwilling to face the Fox Immortal Ancestor.
Outside
Meanwhile, Chen Sanliang, deranged and aimless, stumbled out of the city, laughing foolishly in the desolate mountains outside. Suddenly, a figure flickered in the distance—a man in white, his whole being shrouded in a mystical white glow, stepping forward from afar.
The figure wasn’t imposing in stature, yet the surrounding Qi mechanism was obscure. Passersby seemed oblivious to him.
The man in white locked his gaze upon the deranged Chen Sanliang from afar and sighed faintly, "What a waste of this person’s intelligence! If it weren’t for the interference of the Academy, this man might rival the Master in the future. Our Demon Race urgently needs a Great Scholar to enlighten all beings; should we bring him into the Demon Race, our civilization’s wisdom would advance exponentially."
With that in mind, the man in white approached Chen Sanliang, blocking his path. Chen Sanliang, noticing the man in his way, laughed maniacally and brushed past him.
The man in white turned around, watching Chen Sanliang wander away, then pointed at him from afar, drawing a circle beneath Chen Sanliang’s feet. Chen Sanliang seemed to hit an invisible barrier, trapped within, aimlessly scurrying back and forth.
"Huh?" In his mania, Chen Sanliang noticed something intriguing, squatting to examine the circle below him with a spark of curiosity in his eyes.
At this point, the white-clad figure stepped up to Chen Sanliang, igniting a stick of incense outside the circle. Then, under the man’s control, the incense smoke snaked into Chen Sanliang’s nostrils like tiny serpents.
As the white smoke continuously seeped into his nose and mouth, Chen Sanliang’s manic laughter gradually ceased. He sat peacefully, meditating with closed eyes.
Once the incense burned out, Chen Sanliang opened his eyes, looking at the man in white outside the circle: "Thank you for saving me; otherwise, my whole life might have been ruined."
"I cherished your talent and couldn’t bear to see you degenerate into a madman." The man in white replied softly.
"May I ask your name, sir?" Now standing respectfully, Chen Sanliang bowed to the man in white.
The man in white smiled gently upon hearing this, wiped away the circle from the ground, and said, "The Qingqiu Race: Bai Cang."
Hearing the man’s self-introduction, Chen Sanliang’s pupils shrank: "So it’s the ancestor of the Qingqiu Race, greetings to Your Grace."
"No need for formalities," Bai Cang replied with a smile, "In our Demon Race, we don’t care much for such ceremonies."
Upon hearing this, Chen Sanliang abandoned formality, standing respectfully and looking at Bai Cang: "The ancestor used an exotic treasure to save me; what are your instructions? If it’s within my power, I won’t hesitate to comply."
"Oh? Even knowing my identity, you still wish to assist me?" Bai Cang asked with a surprised expression.
Listening to Bai Cang, Chen Sanliang replied with a bitter smile, "The ancestor is jesting. Without your rescue, my mind would have remained chaotic, my Essence, Qi, and Spirit continually deteriorating until my final dissolution. Such immense grace and virtue, even if it means my life, I’d still comply."
"What if I ask you to do something harmful to the Human Race? Something against Confucian interests? Something that contradicts your knowledge? Would you still do it?" Bai Cang looked at Chen Sanliang, posing a dilemma.
Chen Sanliang fell silent for a long time before finally answering, "Yes! Of course, I’ll do it!"
"You would betray the Human Race?" Bai Cang queried in surprise.
"After completing it, I shall end my own life to atone for my sins." Chen Sanliang replied.
Bai Cang nodded in satisfaction, liking this aspect of Chen Sanliang.
"I saved your life out of a fondness for your talent. The Human Race now has no place for you; why not follow me to the Demon Race? If you join the Qingqiu Race, I’d be willing to appoint you as a Demon Master, overseeing the enlightenment of the Demon Race, managing our great destiny, being my assistant, helping rectify and streamline the Demon Race’s major trends." Bai Cang sincerely proposed, "A talent like you is unwelcomed by the Human Race, but the Demon Race would accept you. With your great talent, thwarted by petty schemes, aren’t you resentful?"
"You must know, by opening a path, you could become the second Saint of humanity, akin to the Master—such grand Creation! Yet it’s all squandered, obstructed by vile schemers. Does this not make you resentful? Even your wife perished at the hands of scoundrels to preserve your path; are you truly resigned to losing all this, allowing them to seize your Dao Fruit and ascend, claiming the glory that belonged to you?"