Chapter 1 The File

He finished reading the file.

Gu Shen slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

The pressure was immense.

Bai Xiu's file was truly perfect, this document recorded every task he had performed in detail.

There was absolutely no fault to be found.

"For many years, Changye has not seen... such a perfect young genius."

Gu Nanfeng had also read this file, and he said seriously: "Before the establishment of the Third Institute, [Deep Sea] did not build a central database. Our information was incomplete, and we didn't know much about the geniuses of the past. And Bai Xiu... can be said to be the 'most perfect' human seen within the scope of Dongzhou since the establishment of the database."

The most perfect.

This word was excessive... but it didn't seem inappropriate to use it on Bai Xiu.

Incredibly powerful ability, and incredibly powerful stability.

This was perfection!

"Thunder Realm Walker..." Gu Shen narrowed his eyes and slowly asked: "What kind of ability is this?"

"We don't know yet."

"In the transcendent lineage chart, Bai Xiu is the only example, so we have nothing to refer to... and when he goes out to perform tasks, he doesn't show his full strength. In the images captured by [Deep Sea], the trait Bai Xiu displays is 'the power of thunder'." Luo Fatty said solemnly: "He named it himself. After comprehending the domain in the third stage, he revised the information in the Deep Sea database and uploaded the name 'Thunder Realm Walker'. Even the old man's authority can only retrieve this much."

Hearing this, Gu Shen understood.

Bai Xiu had never fought with all his strength.

Probably no one except the big shots of the Bai family who guided him... and a very few close people, knew what the true ability of the "Thunder Realm Walker" was.

But this was also reasonable.

His own "Blazing Fire" was also the only ability in the transcendent lineage chart, and it didn't even have a special name. The information in the Deep Sea database was just "Blazing Fire," extremely high temperature, belonging to the spiritual system.

But in fact, the characteristics of Blazing Fire, "devouring source matter" and "digesting abilities"... no one knew at all!

Gu Shen would not easily expose it either!

"So, the Thunder Realm Walker is likely not just a natural ability..." He secretly took note of this.

"You may not know Bai Xiu's suppressive power in Changye."

Luo Fatty looked solemn and said: "The Third Institute, the Five Great Families, all the young generation geniuses were suppressed by him alone, unable to raise their heads... He already had the ability to fight beyond his level as an S-class ability, and his cultivation speed was extremely fast. If he participated in the Newcomer War, then everyone else could only compete for second place!"

"But a year ago, Bai Xiu left Changye... many people breathed a sigh of relief."

Luo Fatty shrugged, "Actually, when you think about it carefully, it's a very ironic thing. Bai Xiu left, and they had the hope of seeking a wisp of Fire Seed Dream to see if they might become a future God Seat."

The God Seat... should be the strongest of all!

Being suppressed by Bai Xiu so that they didn't dare to raise their heads... Even if such people obtained the "Fire Seed Dream", would they really be able to pass the spiritual trial?

Even if... this was just the simplest level, they would probably lose miserably.

Gu Shen asked curiously: "So what did Bai Xiu go to do when he left Changye?"

"Trial."

Luo Fatty said in a deep voice: "No one knows exactly where he went for the trial. The Bai family对外宣称对外宣称it was the frozen wasteland north of Changye, where the environment is harsh and difficult to survive... but I heard that this was Bai Xiu's own request. He wanted to travel alone, but the Bai family must have secretly dispatched a guardian to protect and follow him."

The Bai family could not allow such a genius to have an accident that would lead to his fall.

"By the way..."

Luo Fatty leaned over and winked at Gu Shen, "Grandmaster Gu, you investigated his file, did you figure out something?"

Gu Shen raised his eyebrows.

Since being officially announced by the tomb keeper as the successor of divination... his title had gradually become strange and mystical...

He heard Chu Ling's voice in his mind, and at the same time, he pulled up the real-time monitoring images.

"Friendly reminder, there are many people gathered north of Snow Forbidden City..."

He glanced at the crowd, and saw a familiar figure of Bai Chen, and immediately understood what was happening.

Gu Shen sighed in his heart.

He thought to himself that this year was really a "lucky year."

Whatever he thought of, it would come.

"Bai Xiu is back from his trial." He looked at Luo Fatty and said calmly, "Now people are waiting for him at the gate of Snow Forbidden City, right?"

"Boring..."

Luo Yu grumbled. This was the latest news. No one had been told about Bai Xiu's return to Snow Forbidden City, and the Bai family had not made any preparations. Looking at Gu Shen's expression, he was not surprised at all...

He must have used divination to calculate it in advance!

……

……

The Bai Clan Ancestral Hall was strictly hierarchical, with a direct line and dozens of branch lines. Because the family business was too large, the direct line always inherited the position of family head... while the branch line members were distributed to the entire Jiangbei by the Council of Elders.

The system of the Five Great Families was mostly like this.

The entire Dongzhou Jiangbei was actually under the joint control of the Five Great Families.

Times would change.

But the blood flowing in the family, and the resonance凝聚ed in the blood... had not changed for hundreds of years. After six hundred years of wind and snow, Changye was still the most powerful district in Dongzhou, and the Five Great Families sitting high in Snow Forbidden City were still the true masters of Jiangbei.

Today, north of Snow Forbidden City was not lively.

Heavy snow covered the city walls.

Because it was the time of Bai Clan's annual "Ancestor Worship" festival, many elders went to the Ancestral Hall, and only a few people knew the news of Bai Xiu's return to Changye, so the crowd waiting at the beginning could only be regarded as 冷冷清清.

The Second Elder of the Bai Clan Ancestral Hall was wearing the standard robe worn during ancestor worship, wearing a tall crown, with his hands in his sleeves. He was standing on the Snow Forbidden City wall, silently waiting.

If time went back many years...

If carriages and not cars were rushing past under the city gate, perhaps this outfit would be very appropriate.

"Why did Little Xiu come back so hurriedly this time?"

Bai Chen came to the city wall and stood side by side with the Second Elder, smiling: "He didn't even say hello to us in advance... Many people in Changye are looking forward to seeing him, even if it's just a glimpse from afar."

The Second Elder looked solemn.

Bai Chen raised his eyebrows, vaguely realizing that something was wrong.

Perhaps it was because the snow had not completely stopped.

Dark clouds swept past the distance of Snow Forbidden City wall, wisps of black air quickly swirling and凝聚ing. Black clouds covered the sky, and the sound of thunder gradually began to sound.

The Second Elder was the one who personally cultivated Bai Xiu in the Ancestral Hall, and he was also Bai Xiu's closest person...

He learned the news about Bai Xiu's return from the Second Elder.

Not long after.

After the lightning gathered, many people learned about Bai Xiu's return, and many Bai family members who were busy with sacrifices in the Ancestral Hall also came out, and people slowly approached the city wall, wanting to see his style.

At this moment.

"Little Xiu did encounter some things... He has already entered the city."

The Second Elder said softly to Bai Chen: "Accompany me for a while longer... He wants to be alone for a while."

Bai Chen had a bad feeling in his heart.

"What... what's wrong?"

After a long silence.

The Second Elder said softly: "Bai Xiu encountered an assassination on his way back."

……

……

"Reading? Going out? Reading..."

One leaf after another was picked out of Bai Lu's palm, making a choice.

She always felt restless today. There were fewer and fewer people in the Ancestral Hall, and it seemed that they had all run to welcome Little Xiu, but why couldn't she read anymore?

She had a bad feeling in the dark.

She closed the book, stood up, and raised her head.

Dark clouds were缠绕ing above Snow Forbidden City.

Lightning flashed and thundered.

The Ancestral Hall was rendered into daylight for a moment.

The next moment, Bai Lu suddenly saw a familiar figure.

A young man in white.

"...Little Xiu?"

She doubted her eyes.

The Bai Clan Ancestral Hall was empty, the streets were quiet, only the ginkgo trees were rustling.

Everyone had left to welcome Bai Xiu... and Bai Xiu had come here quietly.

The mountain that countless geniuses in Snow Forbidden City could only look up to.

Actually had a rather childish baby face.

There was no expression on Bai Xiu's face... but there was凝固ed blood on his sleeves...

Blood?

Bai Lu was stunned.

Bai Xiu saw her, just nodded and said nothing.

He walked straight towards the ancestral shrine in the backyard. Without disturbing a wisp of wind or a leaf, he came silently to the ancestral shrine. Bai Xiu looked at the plaques供奉ed one after another on the shrine.

He just watched silently.

There was no anger, no sadness, no color in his eyes... only calmness.

……

……

"Assassination?!"

Bai Chen couldn't believe his ears.

"My information is also limited."

The Second Elder said softly: "I only know that... the other party's plan was very comprehensive, and their style was very缜密. They took action in the frozen wasteland, and retreated thousands of miles after one strike failed."

"But the specific location of Little Xiu... only the Bai family knows." Bai Chen's expression gradually became complicated.

"Yes, that's the problem."

The Second Elder said: "To be precise, only a few people in the Bai Clan Ancestral Hall know Little Xiu's information."

Some things were enough to be pointed out.

"No... impossible..."

Bai Chen couldn't believe it, frowned and said: "How could there be such a person in the Ancestral Hall?"

The Bai family was at its zenith!

First there was himself, then Bai Xiu.

The next two decades were simply two stars耀空!

And Bai Xiu... was even more excellent and more talented than himself. According to this trend, he might even become...

The next God Seat.

"The fact is in front of us. No matter how unwilling we are to believe it, we must accept it... Someone leaked the news and organized this assassination. It's inside the Bai Clan."

The Second Elder said expressionlessly: "This assassination almost succeeded. 'Qu Long' stood up at a critical moment and blocked a blow for Bai Xiu. He died in the frozen tundra and injured the assassin before he died."

When Bai Xiu left Changye.

The Ancestral Hall sent out a "guardian"... This was a position that the Five Great Families had established hundreds of years ago, passed down through the generations with the family head system, similar to "death warriors" and "献命人". They dedicated their lives to the clan and were willing to become shadows under the light.

The Bai Clan's guardians were not the same as the Li Clan's guardians from the God Shrine Mountain in terms of duties.

But what they paid was about the same.

They all gave everything.

It could be said that... Qu Long's meaning of living was to die for Bai Xiu.

Bai Chen had青筋s bulging on his forehead: "Where is Little Xiu now?"

"Ancestral Hall."

The Second Elder said softly: "The Bai Clan's guardians are born without sound and die silently. They will not have a monument in the Ancestral Hall, nor will they be named in the roster... Bai Xiu said he wanted to take a look."

Bai Chen was about to leave, lowering his voice, "I'll investigate!"

"How to investigate..."

The Second Elder asked coldly: "Where to investigate? If you leave now, can you find out the truth?"

Bai Chen was speechless for a moment.

"The enemy is right in front of us..."

The old man wearing the tall crown opened his mouth softly, his vision sweeping across Snow Forbidden City, with falling snow, fine rain, pale lightning, and figures waiting one after another.

"Do not... startle the snake."

He stretched out a hand and slowly pressed on Bai Chen's shoulder, calmly saying: "Today is Bai Xiu's joyous day of completing his trial and returning home. He has just broken through to the ninth level of perfection. The Five Great Families of Changye are all watching here. Do you want everyone to know... that such a major change has occurred within the Bai family?"

Bai Chen silently lowered his head, his aura only changed for a moment, and soon returned to normal.

"We will wait for him to 'return' here, as for the assassination in the frozen tundra..."

The Second Elder's tall crown飘摇ed in the wind, saying: "When thoroughly investigating, we must suppress the news and not spread it!"

……

……

Bai Xiu stood silently in front of the Ancestral Hall.

After wind and thunder, there was heavy rain and snow.

He did not enter the house.

Nor did he block the rain, just standing silently... This white robe was actually soaked in the frozen tundra, but now it was soaked again.

Bai Lu stood under the eaves, watching this scene with some worry.

After seeing the blood stains on the cuffs of the white robe, Bai Lu probably guessed what had happened.

She took out a white silk cloth and wanted to hand it to Little Xiu.

Bai Xiu did not take it.

The two of them stood in the heavy rain.

After a long time, Bai Xiu spoke.

His voice was a little bewildered: "Is it because... of my origin?"

"..."

Bai Lu didn't know how to answer this question. She actually grew up with Little Xiu, and vaguely knew something about the hidden secrets behind it.

The Bai family's family head was determined by bloodline.

Only the direct line... could inherit the position of family head.

And unlike Bai Chen and Bai Lu, two "big figures" born in accordance with destiny, Bai Xiu's origin was not noble.

No... it could even be described as "lowly."

His birth was just an "accident."

Bai Xiu's mother was a woman from the Jiangbei branch line, weak and sickly. She used up all her strength to give birth to him, and his father was an out-and-out bastard. It was said that he was thrown into the river to feed the fish...

When Bai Xiu's ability awakened and he was sent to Snow Forbidden City, his file was sealed immediately.

Not only because the Bai family discovered the power of this young man's ability and wanted to protect him immediately.

But also because... Bai Xiu's birth was actually an insult to the Bai Clan.

"This time, someone died for me."

Bai Xiu said softly: "And I don't even know his surname or name... The Bai Clan's Ancestral Hall will not leave a monument for him."

This sentence touched the string in Bai Lu's heart.

The witch lowered her eyes, feeling a little sad.

She said astringently: "Guardians have always been like this..."

Speaking of this, she couldn't go on.

Has it always been like this, is it right?

"Now there are many people waiting for me outside Snow Forbidden City."

Bai Xiu said: "The Second Elder hopes that I won't make a fuss, and that I can show that... nothing has happened. He said that today is a good day, I have finished my trial and successfully broken through, so... I should smile."

He slowly turned his head and looked at Bai Lu.

There was not a trace of joy, sadness, or anger in those eyes.

All emotions were well hidden by him.

"Do you think..."

Bai Xiu asked softly, word by word: "Should I smile?"

……

……

"Tsk... stop looking at your broken drawings!"

"Latest news—"

Luo Fatty slammed an iron hand heavily on the table.

He was in high spirits, about to speak.

"Bai Xiu didn't appear at the gate of Snow Forbidden City at all. Everyone waited in vain." Gu Shen said calmly, casually抢ing his words.

Luo Fatty was so angry that smoke came out of his nose.

He used divination again!

"There are still people waiting at the city gate of Snow Forbidden City now. Maybe Bai Xiu just hasn't come back yet!" Luo Fatty gritted his teeth and sat down. He randomly picked up a drawing that looked like鬼画符 and was full of question marks.

"He won't come back."

Gu Shen said leisurely, "This guy should have run to the shrine... And [Wind Eye] can't see it. The Bai family will definitely use their authority to erase these traces."

"How... how did you know?" Luo Yu was stunned.

"...Secret." Gu Shen smiled slightly, picked up the drawing, and continued to review and disassemble the array patterns in his mind.

Chu Ling had been monitoring Snow Forbidden City.

After the [Wind Eye] signal showed an anomaly, she carried out a test. It should be the same method as Li Clan's that day when they escorted him... The stars were twinkling, and the dim軌道 was actually the traces they wanted to hide.

Some [Wind Eyes] had malfunctioned.

It happened to be from the gate of Snow Forbidden City to the Bai Clan Ancestral Hall.

No matter how strong the Thunder Realm Walker was, he had not reached the point where he could open up a spiritual realm and shield the perception of the Wind Eye... This could only mean one thing: Bai Xiu went to the Ancestral Hall because someone in the Bai family used their authority.

And clearly releasing the news, but暗度陈仓.

This couldn't help but make people think.

Did they want to attract everyone to the city gate?

Or was it...

"Bai Xiu's return this time..." Gu Shen smiled and said: "The Bai family may be in trouble."

Tomb Oni眯起双眼ed his eyes, thoughtfully.

Luo Fatty frowned, a little puzzled, "Bai Xiu is back... why would the Bai family be in trouble?"

He thought about it again, vaguely realizing something.

"Of course... I'm just saying it casually. There's no evidence. Guessing is just a waste of time."

Gu Shen reached out and put the drawing away. He re-visited the ancient texts he learned from Qingzhong last time, and confirmed that he had digested them. It was time to go there again.

"You guys continue to eat melons, I won't accompany you."

……

……

[Lantern] swayed.

The dim yellow light flickered in the rain,映照ing a flush of red.

The Ancestral Hall was full of飘零 trees and the courtyard was 素.

The welcoming ceremony at the gate of Snow Forbidden City attracted many people, but Bai Xiu refused to show up, so the Bai Clan could only find an excuse to搪塞 it... In fact, such abnormality had already attracted the attention of many people.

Bai Xiu didn't care.

He was waiting for the big shots of the Bai Clan in the Ancestral Hall.

And now... he had waited.

"Impossible!"

An elder shook his head and said: "There is no such precedent. Guardians cannot be named in the Ancestral Hall... This is the rule."

"Guardians dedicate their lives... it is their duty."

Another elder said: "Qu Long died, that's what he deserved."

The elders looked at Bai Xiu strangely.

This unparalleled genius, who was met once in decades in the Bai family, would actually make such a strange request?

To leave a monument for a destined nameless献命者...?

"Stop talking!"

The Second Elder said in a deep voice.

He coldly swept his gaze around, suppressing the momentum of the others who were about to speak.

"We will thoroughly investigate this case... We will definitely catch the murderer."

The Second Elder comforted in a宽声 voice, "We will... as soon as possible... restore Qu Long's innocence."

Bai Xiu also looked at these elders.

Including the Second Elder, scanning them one by one.

His gaze was neither贬低ing nor嘲讽ing, neither confused nor curious.

Calm.

As calm as water.

Or rather... dead silence.

Bai Xiu asked a question.

"What is his name?"

The yard was so quiet that a needle could be heard.

Everyone looked at each other, no one could answer this question.

Qu Long... was just a code name.

No one knew his name.

"...Alas."

An elder sighed. He rubbed his eyebrows and said, headache: "献命者s are all comrades from the Bai Clan branch lines who have little time left in their lives. They are willing to dedicate themselves. After becoming '献命者s', they give up everything..."

Halfway through, his voice stopped abruptly.

He realized that he had said the wrong thing.

These unknown people... came from the Bai Clan's branch lines.

And Bai Xiu, also came from a branch line.

And in terms of origin... Bai Xiu would only be more miserable than those people.

He quickly stopped speaking, then looked at Bai Xiu, greatly relieved... The other party's expression did not reveal anger, as flat as a mirror as always.

Fortunately, Bai Xiu should not be so敏锐.

So he finished what he said: "In short... no one will remember their names."

"Alright."

The Second Elder stepped forward again.

"Since you have returned to Changye, it means... you are safe. The Council of Elders will deal with the assassination case in the frozen tundra with the most severe attitude. While dealing with this matter, I hope you... don't make a fuss."

The Second Elder's voice was also a little nervous.

While he was talking, he observed Bai Xiu's expression, making sure that the latter's emotions did not fluctuate too much.

"The trial is over, and it's good news that you have successfully broken through. Don't put too much pressure on yourself recently, and take a good rest while we investigate the results."

He comforted: "Next, prepare for the Snow Forbidden City Newcomer War. If you can win that wisp of 'Fire Seed Dream', perhaps in the future... you will be the next God Seat in Changye!"

Bai Xiu shook his head.

He looked at the white robes飘摇ing in the courtyard, and slowly opened his mouth.

"You... have disappointed me too much."

……

……

(This chapter took a long time to write and revise. Sorry for the wait.)