The Founder of Qi Cultivation, Reincarnates?

Xi Shen was starting to get cautious of this girl, there was definitely something strange about her. Simply from the fact that even though she cultivated Slaughter Qi, Xi Shen could not even sense a whiff of it on her now. It’s as if it was completely locked away in her body, and this was strange since one annoying feature of being in the Sea Expansion Realm was that your Qi energy signature was uncontrollable for most people.

That was because a person's meridians would be open allowing your pores to passively absorb the Qi in the surroundings albeit slowly and unnoticeable unless you actively do it. This passive Qi absorption was extremely hard to hide and anyone with sharp senses would know that you were in the process of expanding your Qi Sea.

But Ling Xia didn’t have this feature, she still look like she was in the Meridian Opening Realm.

‘This can be because Slaughter Qi wasn’t as abundant as the six elements or other Qis. Maybe she has special cultivation grounds where she would absorb Slaughter Qi and cultivate. But to not be able to sense something like Slaughter Qi from her was completely unnatural, it should be the first thing anyone notices when they look at her, given its properties.’

Xi Shen tried to ignore Ling Xia’s probing stares since he could tell that she was a bit skeptical as if she wasn’t sure if it was him. Xi Shen also had Tai use the person he disguised as a cultivation base, so that was probably throwing her off since it was known he couldn’t cultivate Qi energy.

“Alright, let's just head back to the Sword Pavilion for now. Fei Yin wounds can be treated there.”

With that, they made their way to the Sword Pavilion mountain and headed for Xi Shen and Yong Su’s courtyard.

However, upon approaching the entrance of the courtyard a visitor was there waiting for them, and he seemed rather nervous and anxious.

“Brother Bai Xiaofung what brings you here?”

As Xi Shen said that, Fei Yin’s eyes glowed with discontent, he saw Bai Xiaofung's yellow robes and small physique so he would never think he was from the Bai Clan.

However, as Fei Yin was looking at Bai Xiaofung with hatred, he was completely taken aback when he cupped his fist and bowed his head towards him.

“Brother Fei Yin, as the second son of the Bai Clan patriarch, I, Bai Xiaofung, want to sincerely apologize for how my family has treated you!”

Fei Yin took another look at this short and fragile looking youth, this time more closely and with the hatred lessening from his gaze. He was very surprised that someone like the second son of the Bai Clan patriarch would come to apologize to him.

Now he was feeling a mix of emotions about whether to continue to hate him or accept his apology. From the look of things, Xi Shen was familiar with Bai Xiaofung to a degree.

Seeing that Fei Yin was silent, Bai Xiaofung raised his head and said, “Brother Fei Yin, you need not accept my apology right away or at all. I just feel like if I didn’t apologize to you on behalf of my distant cousins, I will feel this weighing pressure on my consciousness. What happened to you is not what our Bai Clan would want for the people working under us. If it were, how could we think of gaining the respect of our men and say we are on the side of the Orthodox Faction.”

Bai Xiaofung let out a sigh before he continued to say, “But some of the blame isn’t on those two brothers. They were always known to create problems for our clan, but their behavior was never this cruel and malicious.”

Hearing that, Fei Yin’s expression changed and his voice held a tinge of anger as he said, “Young master Xiaofung, after what they did how can you still make excuses for them? What Bai Shin did can’t just be written off as a simple change in behavior.”

Bai Xiaofung realize how his words must have sounded without context so he quickly apologize, “No-no-no, brother Fei Yin, I was certainly not excusing their actions, but there was indeed a reason for their actions, and it has to do with our Bai Clan’s cultivation technique, the Invincible Vajra Body Art.”

Hearing this, the group showed curious expressions, but Ling Xia showed disinterest while Xi Shen show a thoughtful expression.

Fei Yin then asked in a skeptical tone of voice, “How could your family’s cultivation method be responsible for their actions?”

Bai Xiaofung had on a somewhat hesitant expression, but after looking at the four he nodded and said, “Well, you are all brother Xi Shen’s friends so I guess it wouldn’t be a secret to you.”

Ling Xia snorted a bit after hearing that statement. She didn’t remember making friends with anyone here, especially that useless prince.

Xi Shen looked to Ling Xia after hearing her snort and said, “Senior sister Xia, you don’t have to be here. There was plenty of time before you can get your rematch will Yang Su.”

Yang Su turned to look at Ling Xia, as well as everyone else, but she only snorted once more before she became silent, but not before giving Yang Su a short glance.

Bai Xiaofung upon hearing this girl’s name almost had his eyes popped out of his head. No wonder he thought her arrogant demeanor seemed familiar. And she was here to battle Yang Su as well.

Even though Bai Xiaofung felt the situation was too weird with Ling Xia here, he still continue what he was going to say, “This is mostly known among the top powers on the Continent, that our Clan’s Legacy Cultivation method has a side effect. The Invincible Vajra Body Art works by stimulating the body’s innate potential and giving its users superhuman strength that could allow them to break massive boulders with a single fist or have their skin become impenetrable by swords or arrows. And these are just from training in the basic stages of the Technique. But the side effect is that by stimulating the body’s innate talent it creates a problem where the person’s emotional responses, personal desires, and overall behavior will heighten. For example, what would normally upset them slightly would have them become belligerent. So because of this, there are times when someone from our Bai Clan would become overwhelmed by the cultivation method's side effects, and have their minds become twisted, with their emotions out of control.

Upon hearing this, both Yang Su and Fei Yin were shocked at this dreadful cultivation method.

“I suppose this is why the Bai Clan members are known to have hot tempers.”

Bai Xiaofung smiled bitterly and nodded his head at Xi Shen's words.

Fei Yin then spoke up and asked, “Why would anyone even cultivate that technique if its side effect is so detrimental?”

Bai Xiaofung responded, “Even though the side effect is dangerous, our Clan has been cultivating this technique ever since it was founded, in fact, this was a technique our Founding Ancestor created. So we have developed several methods to deal with the side effects, but every once in a while there would be people like Bai Shin who would become careless when cultivating the technique and chose not to cultivate it safely. There is also a rule in our Clan that says those who don’t cultivate this Fleshly Body cultivation method are not truly considered a Bai Clan member. This was also the reason why I was seen as a disappointment by most of my clansmen, I did not want to cultivate the family’s Legacy technique. But to spite them, I chose to become an Alchemist. But after finding out that I have a natural talent for Alchemy it became a passion rather than a tool to get back at them. Now my only goal is to become the greatest Alchemist on the Maple Continent... and then create a pill that would completely whip away the side effect of the Invincible Vajra Body Art. With that, they would have no choice but to come crawling back to me on their knees begging me for the pill. Hahaha!!”

Bai Xiaofung suddenly burst out laughing.

The group looked at him with strange expressions. At his first words, they thought he wanted to get back in his family’s good graces, but after hearing his latter words as well as his sinister laughter they realize he had no such thoughts but rather wanted to screw over his family.

They came to the same conclusion that this Bai Xiaofung was very grudgeful.

After seeing everyone staring at him Bai Xiaofung coughed awkwardly before he went to say something, but Fang Chen suddenly appeared some distance behind them and yelled, “Faction Leader, I have some news to report!!”

The group turned to see him quickly approach.

After coming to a stop in front of Xi Shen, he cupped his fist and said, “Faction Leader, I followed those Lin Clan members who tried attacking you and question them for information.”

Xi Shen was slightly surprised that Fang Chen had taken the initiative to do that, and from his blooded knuckles, Xi Shen could tell he didn’t just ask them politely.

“Good work, what did you out find out?”

Fang Chen became excited when he saw Xi Shen’s satisfied expression and hurriedly said, “I found out that not only were some of the Lin Clan members involved in this matter, an elder of the Bai Clan name Bai Zhou was involved as well.”

When Bai Xiaofung heard that, his expression turned solemn and he wanted to slap his forehead.

Xi Shen had a thoughtful expression on his face when Bai Xiaofung said to him, “Brother Shen I also wanted to apologize for the problems caused to you by the Lin Clan. As for the elder that is involved in this, he is Bai Shin and Bai Lu’s grandfather a side branch elder. Brother Shen, I presume you are going to head for my Bai Clan to ask for brother Fei Yin’s family coffins? If so allow me to accompany you, Bai Zhou will surely try and cause problems for Fei Yin or even be unwilling to return to his family. If that’s the case I will use my position in the Clan to deter him from scheming anything. The last thing my Bai Clan needs is to provoke the Li Royal Family by doing something to offend you, brother Xi Shen.”

Xi Shen hearing that, realized that despite Bai Xiaofung's words previously he still cared for his clan. He must have heard that Fei Yin was related to him, and wanted to avoid Xi Shen using his status as the second prince to create problems for his clan because of Bai Shin and Bai Lu. Although Xi Shen was just an Inner Disciple within the Celestial Academy, he was still the Emperor's son in the outside world.

“Alright, that’ll be good.”

Xi Shen said without much thought. He didn't mind Bai Xiaofung looking out for his clan, but aside from that, he seem like the type of person who genuinely want to help so he wouldn’t stop him. But he was still surprised that he was willing to become so close with him, seeing as he was the second prince and he was the second son of the Bai Clan, who was one of the Seven Major Clans.

Well, there were similarities between them, being that they were the second child in their Clan and were somewhat seen as failures by more than a few people in their family.

Bai Xiaofung must have felt a sense of familiarity with Xi Shen because of that?

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Word Count: 1976