Chapter 150: The Sanskrit Saint Vanishes Without a Trace

"Moreover, the reason I was able to absorb two-tenths of your cultivation power just now is entirely due to the nature of the Supreme Water-Like Virtue Art, which benefits all things without contention!"

"Sigh..."

Tianfa reached out to stroke the long beard beneath his jaw, unable to suppress a sigh of emotion. "The waves of the Yangtze River push the ones before them, and each new generation surpasses the old. I never imagined that someone of your tender age could master the Supreme Water-Like Virtue Art to such a degree of complete integration."

"Although I am not yet fully aware of the ins and outs of those recent homicide cases, since you practice the Supreme Water-Like Virtue Art, I shall grant my Junior Uncle a fraction of courtesy and no longer make things difficult for you."

"However, after today's battle, I must return to Guixu to thoroughly investigate the recent murders."

"If you are indeed the personally initiated successor of my Junior Uncle, then this matter is highly likely to be a framed conspiracy."

"Furthermore!"

At this point, Tianfa paused slightly, narrowing his eyes as he asked in puzzlement, "Just now, you mentioned that my Junior Uncle was gravely injured. Is that the truth?"

"Of course it is the truth!"

Seeing that Tianfa's attitude toward him had shifted, Bai Mu thought that perhaps his defensive arguments had taken some effect.

Without delay, he pressed on with his explanation in one breath, "Respected Tianfa, a few days ago, Senior Fansheng traveled alone to Mount Xuandan in the Southern Wilderness to intercept the nether evil prince, Zigui. Unexpectedly, he was ambushed and besieged by Zigui in league with the Eight Trees of Guilin, suffering extremely severe wounds to his body."

"The reason I set up a barrier in Cold Abyss Valley and took Bifang to the Ancient Crimson Flame Cave in the Southern Wilderness was precisely to search for the Ten-Thousand-Year Fiery Red Lotus to heal Senior Fansheng's injuries!"

"As for your previous mention that I am consorting with such a malevolent bird as Bifang, you have likely overlooked one crucial detail!"

"What detail?" Tianfa frowned, asking with curious skepticism.

Bai Mu straightened his expression and smiled wryly. "You probably also know that Senior Fansheng possesses a sacred artifact capable of controlling all things—the Myriad-Control Divine Flute. This jade flute is effortlessly used to subdue fierce beasts, and Bifang was subdued by Senior Fansheng just a short while ago!"

"Otherwise, just imagine: with my current level of cultivation, could I possibly make Bifang obey my every command?"

"It is obvious that it received orders from Senior Fansheng, which is why it accompanied me to the Southern Wilderness!"

"Hmm..."

Tianfa nodded slightly, half-convinced, and once more cast a piercing, scrutinizing gaze at Bai Mu. Finally, flicking his white sleeve, he looked out toward the plum blossom grove with a lingering look of melancholy. "I have already caught wind of the incident at Mount Xuandan, which is precisely why I came to Cold Abyss Valley to verify it."

"既然如此，我暂且相信你一回，待梵圣师叔醒来之后，你务必请他前往归墟圣殿一趟，我师上梵仙有要事与师叔相商！" (Wait, translating the Chinese text that slipped into the prompt? Ah, the prompt contained residual Chinese. I must translate it fully as per the whole text stream.)

"In that case, I shall trust you for now. Once Junior Uncle Fansheng wakes up, you must invite him to visit the Guixu Sacred Palace. My master, Immortal Shangfan, has matters of great importance to discuss with him!"

"Very well!" Bai Mu nodded solemnly in agreement.

At last, having finished arranging these matters, Tianfa cast one more profound, meaningful glance into the valley, then waved his hand freely to summon his accompanying crane. Riding the clouds and mists like an ethereal immortal, he flew off toward the eastern horizon.

The wide sleeves and flowing sashes fluttered in the wind, his imposing figure resembling that of a true immortal. Even Bai Mu, standing on the opposing side, could not help but feel a lingering sense of awe.

After Tianfa completely vanished into the eastern horizon, Bai Mu finally recovered his wits, leading Huo Liuli and Bifang deeper into the plum blossom grove.

From the time Bai Mu left Cold Abyss Valley until now, a full eight days had already passed.

During these eight days, he had no idea how Fansheng and Lingyan were faring. As his steps drew closer and closer to the ancient pavilion amidst the plum blossoms, Bai Mu's heart grew increasingly restless and uneasy.

On the one hand, he felt an intense yearning for Lingyan, with whom he had spent his days and nights; on the other hand, he harbored deep worries about their current situation. Thus, with every step he took, his pounding heart beat wildly against his ribs.

Fortunately, Cold Abyss Valley was not particularly large, measuring merely five or six miles in radius.

After walking for about half a quarter of an hour, the Ice-Flame Pond ahead came into view in the distance.

Under the illumination of the sunlight, the rising vapours of extreme heat and bitter cold could be clearly seen floating upward from within the Ice-Flame Pond, casting a celestial palace-like glow upon the surrounding plum trees and ancient pavilion.

Through the hazy mist, Lingyan's cascading black hair could faintly be seen within the Ice-Flame Pond. Her slender back appeared so helpless and despairing at that moment, sitting as quiet as a carved statue.

Cold, desolate, and melancholy.

At this very sight, Bai Mu felt an involuntary ache in his nose. Exerting force in his legs, he sprinted wildly to the edge of the Ice-Flame Pond, extended his hands to cup Lingyan's ice-cold face, and cried out loudly, "Lingyan, wake up! It's me, Bai Mu, I've come back!"

Yet, other than Lingyan's independent and desolate icy visage, the only response he received was a series of faint echoes rebounding through the space, as though ruthlessly whipping across Bai Mu's face.

It was an expected outcome, entirely within reason, yet Bai Mu could still not suppress a wave of profound sorrow.

"Squak... Squak..."

Just as Bai Mu was lost in his private grief, an urgent, piercing cry suddenly rang out beside his ear.

The anxiety and terror contained within that sound were beyond description.

This kind of reaction was exceedingly rare.

One had to know that not even when facing a powerhouse of Tianfa's caliber had Bifang ever shown such panic and dread.

Stricken with sudden terror, Bai Mu hastily retracted his hands, turned sideways, and cast his gaze toward the accompanying Bifang.

"Master is gone!" Bifang stared directly at Bai Mu, spitting out those words in desperate anxiety!

"Senior Fansheng?"

Hearing this, Bai Mu felt a jolt in his heart and hurriedly raised his eyes to look toward the other side of the Ice-Flame Pond.

However, to his utter astonishment, the Ice-Flame Pond was now completely empty, save for Lingyan.

Yet Bai Mu clearly remembered that before leaving Cold Abyss Valley, he had indeed placed Fansheng right inside the Ice-Flame Pond!

Terrible!

Squatting on the ground, Bai Mu gasped in alarm, then sprang up into the air, soaring out of the plum grove and drifting swiftly toward the small wooden cabin where Fansheng resided.

Panic-stricken, Bifang closely followed behind Bai Mu's footsteps, flying across the air in tandem.

Pushing open the front door of the small wooden cabin, Bai Mu rushed inside in a single stride, anxiously gazing toward the bed where Fansheng had been sleeping.

A familiar figure came into view.

It was undeniably Fansheng.

At this moment, Fansheng sat cross-legged with his eyes closed upon the bed, circulating his internal energy. A thick layer of dense white mist enveloped him, and his handsome, elegant face flickered indistinctly within the fog.

A layer of formless, shimmering radiance circulated around his entire body, and the occasional sound of martial contention echoed from him.

"Senior!"

Seeing this, Bai Mu cried out in alarm and strode rapidly toward the direction where Fansheng sat.

"Don't move!"

Behind him, Bifang hastily issued a warning. At the same time, it beat its wings and soared forward, using its powerful single talon to grab Bai Mu's shoulder, desperately pulling him backward against his will.

"What are you doing?"

Bai Mu turned around in bewilderment and shouted reproachfully.

"Do not go near Master! He is currently in the middle of circulating his cultivation!"

"No way?"

Suspicious, Bai Mu swept a doubting glance over Bifang, then shifted his gaze back to Fansheng, who was shrouded in white mist.

When he caught sight of Fansheng's disheveled sideburns and his somewhat weathered countenance, an unbidden ache welled up in his heart, stirring an inexplicable pang of grief.