Chapter 365 - 153: Giant Vertical Eye, 9-Fold Immortal Punishment, Bai You Appears
How similar this scene was to the legendary Blood Rebirth!
But even seeing it with his own eyes, he found it unbelievable. ’What kind of power is this?’
Second Master Bai!
The ghostly flames in Jin Yunfeng’s eye sockets flickered wildly, his mind reeling in shock.
This was the one and only Venerable Bai You, also known as Second Master Bai.
To most people today, this man was a being straight out of legend!
According to legend, this Second Master Bai was the most ferocious of the Netherworld Venerable Master’s subordinates in ancient times, possessed of an immeasurable bloodlust.
Even after countless years, many legends about him still circulated.
Ghastly white flames billowed forth, swirling madly around the man who had formed from the severed finger.
Amid the flickering flames, a young man clad in white, his skin even paler than his robes, slowly stepped out of the fire and landed on the mountaintop.
The man was completely white, without a single strand of black in the hair that fell to his shoulders.
The only black on his entire body was in his pupils, which seemed to hold a vast sea of stars.
WHOOSH!
Fierce winds howled across the sky, but they were held at bay by the roiling, ghastly white flames, unable to break through.
"The air of the mortal realm..."
Venerable Bai You stood tall, his simple, ancient-style clothes from ten thousand years ago hanging perfectly still.
He took a deep breath and looked at Qin Wuliang, his gaze fixing on where his feet had vanished.
Then, he sighed softly.
"Xiaojiu, it must have been so hard on you, being left alone in the mortal realm for all these years..."
"Second Brother..."
Hearing the newcomer’s call, Qin Wuliang’s body trembled, and he grew emotional. "It’s been thirty-six hundred years, Second Brother. I’m finally seeing you again."
The Netherworld had been sealed off for several thousand years now, a period that was by no means short for anyone.
"Unfortunately, your Eldest Brother couldn’t make it..."
A desolate look crossed Bai You’s face.
"Eldest Brother... he..."
Qin Wuliang’s heart lurched.
He didn’t know what had happened all those years ago.
He only knew that after that day, the Netherworld Venerable Master, his Third Brother, and the others had all vanished. His Second Brother had dragged his weary body over to give him a single warning.
After that, he had lost all contact with him until this very day.
The hidden truth behind it all was likely far more terrifying than he could ever imagine.
"Don’t worry. He’s not dead yet."
Bai You shook his head, said no more on the matter, and shifted his gaze.
"Su Friend, time is short. Please, come out and speak with me."
"Elder Su has arrived?"
Cui Yanliang had just gotten to his feet, and he froze for a moment upon hearing those words.
He quickly looked up to see Su Bai, clad in white, stepping slowly out of the void.
"Venerable Bai You, we meet again."
Su Bai nodded slightly. "I haven’t failed your request."
He studied Venerable Bai You closely. Compared to when he had last appeared by borrowing a body, this current form—while still not his true self—was completely different.
Beneath Venerable Bai You’s peaceful exterior now lay an unimaginably ferocious aura, enough to give even Su Bai pause.
"I appreciate your efforts, Su Friend."
Bai You nodded slightly, his expression softening a little.
Seeing the change in Bai You’s expression, Qin Wuliang was inwardly surprised.
His Second Brother, while never one to bully others with his power, was incredibly proud and arrogant. In his heart, he looked down on everyone except for a few of his brothers and the Venerable Lord.
But now, he could sense that his Second Brother was treating this Elder Su as a true equal.
The deep implications of this shocked him.
"Thank you for your help this time, Elder Su."
Coming back to his senses, Qin Wuliang immediately cupped his hands in a salute.
"There’s no need to be so formal, Old Mansion Master."
Su Bai shook his head, declining the gesture.
"I struck and killed the Leader of Gui Chen Sect for two reasons. First, because of Venerable Bai You’s request, and second, because I wanted to do it myself."
"Exchanging thanks back and forth like this is rather pointless."
Qin Wuliang wanted to say more, but Bai You waved his hand dismissively.
"My time is short. Both of you, be silent for now..."
RUMBLE!
The words had barely left his lips when a series of massive rumbles echoed from the depths of the starry sky.
Hearing it, everyone’s Heart Spirit trembled. It was as if the heavens were collapsing, as if the stars themselves were exploding.
The few of them tensed, realizing that time was indeed running out.
The longer Bai You remained, the greater the pressure from beyond the heavens became. The so-called Celestial Punishment would only grow more ferocious.
As he had said, of the Nine Layers of Immortal Punishment, this was only the Second Layer.
But if this dragged on, he too would likely be unable to withstand it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been trapped in the Netherworld for so long.
"You’ve been noticed."
Venerable Bai You spoke calmly, his gaze still fixed on Su Bai.
"All living things are but ants. Whether one becomes Feathered or achieves Ascension to Immortality, they are merely larger ants. But being larger means you stand out, and you become worthy of entering Its gaze."
"You are incompatible with this world. Even with a Secret Treasure to protect you, you won’t be able to hide from It for long..."
’Who is this "It"?’
Cui Yanliang and Jin Yunfeng glanced at each other in confusion.
Qin Wuliang, however, seemed to have a faint guess, but the possibility was so terrifying that even he dared not dwell on it.
Su Bai stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the depths of the starry sky. He could faintly make out the giant black rod being submerged in roiling thunderclouds.
Averting his gaze, he spoke softly.
"I am already aware of this..."
After the battle at the West Mountain Incense Altar, when he had used his full power in a single strike to kill the Leader of Gui Chen Sect, he had already had a faint inkling of it.
’The heavens are vast and omnipresent, their reach inescapable. Unless I am willing to disperse my Cultivation and live as a hermit in the deep mountains for the rest of my life, being discovered is only a matter of time.’