Chapter 151 Forging the Natal Barrier

From the very first moment Baimu laid eyes on Fansheng, he had subconsciously imagined his never-before-seen father to look just like him.

Ever since Fansheng imparted knowledge, taught him the arts, and resolved his doubts, Baimu had respected him in his heart as a father.

Yet, the person currently sitting cross-legged on the bed, channeling his inner energy, retained not even a shred of that transcendent, immortal demeanor.

While Baimu’s thoughts were churning endlessly, Bifang spoke up once again.

"Do you see that intangible halo of light in front of our master?"

"I see it!"

Baimu shrugged despondently and asked in a soft voice, "What on earth is the origin of this halo, and why has it appeared before Senior Fansheng?"

"Furthermore, there are even sounds of combat and slaughter emanating from within the halo!"

"That is a natal barrier!"

Bifang explained unhurriedly, "If I am not mistaken, this barrier was formed by the master using his primordial essence. Its purpose is to fend off disturbances from external enemies while he channels his energy, thereby achieving a state of absolute mental clarity."

"Had I not pulled you back in time just now, you would probably have been slain by the sword qi inside the barrier by now!"

"It's that dangerous?"

Baimu patted his chest, lingering fear gripping him, and then stared at Fansheng on the bed with puzzlement. "Didn't we place him in the Ice-Flame Pond before we set out? How is it that Senior Fansheng has now found his way back to his small wooden cottage?"

Hearing this, Bifang’s beady eyes rolled, and it analyzed in a clear voice, "I suspect that the extreme cold qi within the Ice-Flame Pond suppressed the Azure Wood spiritual qi, allowing the master's body to recover its consciousness on its own after resting for several days."

"It's just that the Nether Evil Qi and the Azure Wood spiritual qi can only be completely eradicated with the Myriad-Year Fiery Red Lotus. Therefore, once the master regained consciousness, he returned to the house on his own to channel his energy and resist them, which is why we are seeing this current spectacle."

"Then what must we do to help him?" Baimu remained utterly baffled as he stared at Bifang.

"Baimu..."

A voice, so faint it was almost inaudible, drifted over from Fansheng's direction.

Though the sound was nearly too weak to catch, Baimu, with his meticulous attention to detail, and Bifang, with its piercing perception, still made it out. This was unmistakably the voice of Fansheng.

"Senior!"

Hearing this, a surge of joy welled up within Baimu, and he anxiously cried out toward the barrier, "Senior Fansheng, have you finally awakened?"

"Mm-hnh..."

A soft, muffled groan came from within the barrier. Immediately following that, the white mist surrounding Fansheng began to recede at a speed visible to the naked eye, completely withdrawing into his body within moments.

The intangible barrier in front of him vanished accordingly, replaced by Fansheng's pale face, which had lost its former radiance.

"Senior!"

Baimu cried out once more, his figure darting swiftly before Fansheng to catch him and prop him up.

Looking at Fansheng in his arms—who no longer radiated vitality—and his slightly disheveled sideburns, Baimu felt a rush of deep emotion and heartache surge within him, tears welling faintly in his eyes.

This figure whom he regarded as a father was, at this moment, as frail and delicate as a vulnerable child.

Under the watchful gazes of Baimu and Bifang, Fansheng’s eyelashes fluttered gently, and then he opened those eyes once more filled with divine light.

"Senior, you're finally awake!"

Baimu hastily reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes, squeezing a forced smile onto his face.

Gazing at the young man with reddened eyes before him, Fansheng felt a stirring in his heart and immediately offered comfort, "Silly child, I am fine. You need not worry so much."

With that, he attempted to raise his weak arm to wipe away Baimu's tears.

Alas, after repeatedly channeling his energy to resist the invasion of the evil qi, Fansheng was now utterly drained. The moment he attempted to move his arm slightly, it fell helplessly to his side, and a look of desolation washed over his face.

Fansheng, who had commanded the winds and clouds mere days ago, had now been reduced to this state—truly a sigh-inducing turn of events.

The perceptive Baimu naturally noticed the desolation in Fansheng's eyes. He quickly steadied his emotions and consoled him gently, "Senior, you must not grieve too much. This junior has already retrieved the Myriad-Year Fiery Red Lotus. You need only consume the fiery lotus to banish the evil qi, and after recuperating for a few days, your cultivation will be fully restored to its original state!"

Hearing this, Fansheng’s thoughts stirred. He swept a deeply moved gaze over Baimu and smiled faintly, "Child, the journey to the Southern Wilderness was fraught with trials and tribulations. It truly has been hard on you."

"It's nothing."

Baimu then returned Fansheng’s smile with an innocent and harmless one. He extended his finger before him, secretly circulating his inner strength to force a single drop of his vital essence blood into Fansheng's mouth.

Observing Baimu's peculiar action, Fansheng did not press him with questions; instead, he consciously swallowed that drop of essence blood into his belly.

Afterward, Baimu retrieved a small fragment of the fiery lotus from the pouch at his chest and gently fed it into Fansheng's mouth.

"Senior, you have now ingested the fiery lotus. Next, I shall lend you a helping hand!"

With these words, Baimu lightly straightened Fansheng's posture, pressed his palm against the Gate of Fate on his back, and a rich current of the Supreme Goodness is Like Water energy slowly poured into Fansheng's body.

Fansheng was inherently a person of extremely profound cultivation. Even though he had expended a vast amount of mental and physical energy in recent days to resist the evil qi, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse.

Upon ingesting the fiery lotus, Fansheng immediately mobilized the residual Supreme Goodness is Like Water energy within his Void Cauldron, attempting to harmonize it with the inherent spiritual qi of the fiery lotus.

At that exact moment, the Supreme Goodness is Like Water energy injected by Baimu from behind had also traveled from his Baihui acupoint at the crown of the head down into Fansheng's Void Cauldron. The two streams of Supreme Goodness is Like Water energy fused together, instantly surging forth from the Void Cauldron like a fierce tiger, completely enveloping the Myriad-Year Fiery Red Lotus.

As the Supreme Goodness is Like Water energy propelled the fiery lotus to circulate through every meridian in his body, the Nether Evil Qi and Azure Wood spiritual qi within Fansheng were driven into a panicked, frantic flight like stray dogs.

Yet, no matter which direction the Nether Evil Qi and Azure Wood spiritual qi fled, the moment they encountered the Supreme Goodness is Like Water energy—now fused with the spiritual power of the lotus—they were instantly melted away into nothingness.

As the Supreme Goodness is Like Water energy completed a minor circulation within his body, Fansheng's vital energy and spirit began to gradually recover, and the meridians previously blocked by the Nether Evil Qi grew smooth and unobstructed.

Seeing that Fansheng was out of danger, Baimu hastily withdrew his inner Supreme Goodness is Like Water energy. He then led Bifang out of the small wooden house to stand guard outside and protect Fansheng.

Time slipped away bit by bit as the sunlight slanted slowly toward the west.

At last, after struggling for a moment against the sky, the colorful clouds tumbled down from above the Cold Abyss Valley, plunging the desolate earth into pitch darkness.

Inside the house, Fansheng was still channeling his energy, while Baimu and Bifang stood guard with unwavering focus for an entire day.