Chapter Seventy-eight: Bai Qirui Encounters Shen Ruru for the First Time

As soon as Bai Qirui entered, he sensed several spiritual probes rushing toward him. Confident in his concealment talisman, he proceeded calmly and soon saw a flash of white light, stepping out of the passage.

The strong glare forced him to squint. When the light faded, Bai Qirui found himself among many hurriedly moving demonic cultivators, along with several ghost cultivators and devil cultivators leaping about with malicious intent. He took another step forward, and noticed subtle changes in the expressions of the ghost and devil cultivators. Bai Qirui wondered if he had been discovered, but their reactions were so slight that they quickly reverted.

He tilted his head, sniffing the aura on himself, and caught the heavy scent of ghostly energy, realizing it likely helped mask him. With this knowledge, he cared little about being exposed. His cultivation was equal to Bai Shengyun’s, and their bloodline bound them; should he fight here, Bai Shengyun would quickly be alerted and rush over. Aside from those old monsters at the tribulation and Dao-merging stages, none could match the two brothers.

Bai Qirui strode forward, gently waving his Clear Heart Fan, passing many cultivators clad in revealing robes or shrouded in murderous aura, and saw mixed-blood demons of various forms. His attitude, once resistant, had become indifferent and numb.

Suddenly, a snow-white figure appeared ahead, and Bai Qirui raised his brows. He had expected Shen Ruru to enter the demonic sect with Bai Shengyun, but hadn’t anticipated her remaining unscathed until now.

Bai Qirui actually disliked being near her, knowing well what kind of person she was—one impulsive moment could bring him trouble. He turned to leave, but guessed Shen Ruru’s purpose for coming and paused, then walked toward her.

His cultivation far surpassed hers, so even as he drew near, Shen Ruru noticed nothing. Only when he was close did Bai Qirui infuse spiritual power into his Clear Heart Fan and gently wave it, sending a soft breeze that left Shen Ruru dizzy, her ears ringing and vision blurred.

Shen Ruru often visited Gufeng Mountain and was familiar with Bai Shengyun’s newly acquired artifact. Feeling the breeze and her dizziness, she immediately knew Bai Qirui had arrived.

Her eyes flashed coldly as she raised a spiritual shield to block the effect, gritting her teeth and growling toward the front, “Third Young Lord, isn’t this a bit excessive?”

Bai Qirui’s voice drifted airily to her, “What’s wrong with it? You’re here to kill my brother’s wife, aren’t you? Why shouldn’t I stop you?”

Hearing the words “brother’s wife,” Shen Ruru clenched her teeth in fury, glaring at him. “Third Young Lord, you really think ‘Xie Buxiu’ is worthy of the Heavenly Fox Clan?”

“So what if it’s ‘Xie Buxiu’?” Bai Qirui sneered, his face filled with contempt. “She’s certainly better than a venomous-hearted woman like you. Besides, my brother likes her, so of course I stand with Shengyun.”

“You…” Shen Ruru narrowed her eyes, even more incensed. “You actually support their marriage? To think you’re the third prince of the Heavenly Fox Clan, Shengyun’s own brother! You endorse something that shames him?”

Bai Qirui frowned at her words, waving his fan again. “Does a prince of the Heavenly Fox Clan not have the right to support a union? Ridiculous. And even ignoring the seniority of the Immortal Sect, Shengyun’s cultivation now far surpasses yours, his status higher than yours. You know what you should call him—I needn’t repeat it.”

Unable to best him verbally, Shen Ruru simply lashed out with a palm strike.

Bai Qirui’s expression didn’t change; he calmly waved his Clear Heart Fan, summoning a fierce wind that blocked her attack and scattered all her spiritual power.

“It seems Shengyun has spoiled you over the years. You really have no sense of self-awareness now.” His voice was cold, his tone icy.

Shen Ruru stared at her dissipated spiritual power, finally taking Bai Qirui seriously.

The last time they’d sparred, Bai Qirui’s cultivation was still below Bai Shengyun’s, and Shen Ruru could match him. Now, facing him again, Bai Qirui’s cultivation had soared, leaving her far behind and standing shoulder to shoulder with Bai Shengyun.

“It appears the third prince has been biding his time, perhaps plotting for power?” Shen Ruru’s eyes narrowed in mockery.

Bai Qirui immediately retorted, “Don’t speak nonsense. Everyone knows I’m a leisure prince, fond of wandering, fishing, traveling—power holds no interest for me. Besides, the first requirement for inheriting the Heavenly Fox Clan’s throne is something every Immortal Sect member understands.”

“Hmph!” Shen Ruru snorted. “Who truly has no interest in power? Such words are laughable! Enough nonsense—are you moving aside or not?!”

“Step aside?” Bai Qirui smiled warmly but shook his head firmly. “Today my feet are fixed here. If you want me to move, you’ll have to defeat me first.”

Seeing Bai Qirui’s obvious disregard for her, Shen Ruru grew angry, gathered her spiritual power, and engaged him again.

Bai Qirui stood his ground, blocking her attacks with his folded fan, and discreetly set up a formation to keep their clash hidden from others.

Fortunately, the area was desolate and quiet; otherwise, even with the shielding array, their battle would have been impossible to conceal.

Bai Qirui could have killed her outright, but the commotion would be too great, and even in a secluded area with a barrier, discovery was likely. Unsure whether Bai Shengyun could arrive quickly, he didn’t want extra trouble.

While Bai Qirui was exhausting himself to buy time, Bai Shengyun was leading Xie Yingying out of the Pleasure Palace.

Those who had received orders to guard Bai Shengyun rushed forward as soon as he emerged, surrounding the pair.

“Stop right there!”

Bai Shengyun looked coldly at the group of minions before him, a hint of cunning in his heart.

This was precisely his intention.

Without a word, he unleashed his domain.

A murderous aura swept out, and the weak immediately buckled to their knees. The stronger ones managed to withstand it, but sweat poured down their foreheads, their faces twisted in pain.

Bai Shengyun’s cultivation was formidable, and the disturbance from his domain reached the massive formation enveloping the Pleasure Palace.

At that moment, Huo Tianqing was searching for Shen Ruru’s whereabouts. Sensing something amiss with the formation, he hurried back.

The disciples caught within Bai Shengyun’s domain struggled to form a defensive array and confronted him directly.

Their formation was strong, but Bai Shengyun paid it little mind, hoping instead for the commotion to grow—ideally, the barrier around the palace would be broken before Huo Tianqing arrived.