The Sect Master of the Azure Sky Sect was a man of few smiles. Having ruled the sect for a thousand years, he was clear and impartial in his rewards and punishments, never showing the slightest favoritism. During discussions, he was concise, his words as heavy as iron. He never spoke a single superfluous sentence and rarely showed a smile.
But only when facing his daughter would the frost around him completely melt away, his cold, hard heart softening into a complete mess.
"Father, I brought a friend back!"
Luo Qingniao skipped over to her father's side, affectionately hugging his arm. Her small face was exceptionally bright and moving because of her joy.
Luo Yuntao patted the top of Luo Qingniao's head, then looked at Cangshu Bai. In his eyes that had just shown loving kindness, there was now only a quiet, calculating scrutiny.
"I have already read the letters Qingniao sent back. It was you, young friend, who saved Qingniao from danger several times. As Qingniao's father, I should thank you."
Cangshu Bai was neither haughty nor humble, merely stating calmly, "It was just a small effort, nothing worth mentioning."
Luo Qingniao leaned against her father, the gaze she directed at Cangshu Bai filled with even more joy.
If it had been anyone else, they probably would have used the favor to demand all sorts of benefits long ago. But Cangshu Bai handled it indifferently, completely devoid of the worldly greed found in others.
As expected, he was different.
Her smile grew even more radiant as she pleaded with her father, "Father, if it weren't for Big Guy, I might not have made it back. Let's invite Big Guy to stay in the Azure Sky Sect for a few more days."
Luo Yuntao was helpless against her. "If you hadn't sneaked out, how would you have encountered danger?"
"That's all because you usually manage me too strictly, Father, so I couldn't help but want to sneak out to play. Besides..." Luo Qingniao glanced at Cangshu Bai over there, shyly lowered her head, and muttered softly, "If I hadn't gone out, how could I have met Big Guy?"
Luo Yuntao could see that Luo Qingniao's heart was stirring with affection, but he didn't show much emotion on his face. He only said helplessly, "Since he is a guest invited by my little Qingniao, I naturally have no reason to drive him away. However, I want to chat with this young friend a bit more. You go out first."
Although Luo Qingniao was puzzled, she didn't think much of it. After all, the Azure Sky Sect's attitude towards outsiders was always this guarded.
As she brushed past Cangshu Bai, Luo Qingniao whispered, "If my dad bullies you, just call out to me loudly. I'll be guarding the door and will protect you!"
Saying this, she even squeezed her fists.
The little girl's attempt to look strong was extremely cute and playful.
Cangshu Bai, however, did not spare her another glance.
After Luo Qingniao left, the approachable aura around Luo Yuntao vanished without a trace. He released his spiritual pressure, silently clashing with the pressure radiating from Cangshu Bai.
Suddenly, Luo Yuntao said, "Indeed, every generation brings forth new talents. You are so young, yet your cultivation has already reached the peak. It's no wonder my silly daughter favors you so much."
Cangshu Bai got straight to the point: "What is your purpose?"
Luo Yuntao also liked straightforwardness. He said, "Ever since my daughter started mentioning you in her letters, I had someone investigate your background. I must say, your path of cultivation has truly not been easy. I also know that you have not yet given up on resurrecting your wife."
Cangshu Bai remained silent.
Luo Yuntao let out a heavy snort. "Since you still have attachments in your heart, why did you come and provoke my naive and innocent daughter!"
He released a vast, majestic pressure and questioned sternly, "Cangshu Bai, let me ask you, do you have even the slightest bit of romantic feelings for my daughter?"
As soon as this question was asked, that sickly wisp of a ghost couldn't help but lift her face, paying extra attention.
Cangshu Bai did not hesitate at all. "No."
The atmospheric pressure around Luo Yuntao suddenly sank. His vast pressure almost crushed the pillars in the hall to pieces. The surging anger and protective instinct in his eyes were practically overflowing.
His knuckles turned white from clenching, and his voice was as cold as ice. "What a 'no'! Cangshu Bai, you certainly dare to take responsibility for your actions!"
Before his voice faded, he had already taken a step forward. His dark Daoist robe fluttered without wind, and the majesty of a thousand-year sect master fully unfurled.
"Since you have no feelings for her, why did you get close to her? Why did you make her devote her heart to you? Since you have someone in your heart, you should have kept to yourself and stayed far away from my daughter!"
Cangshu Bai's black robes fluttered without wind. He neither dodged nor avoided it, and the invisible power radiating from him was no weaker than Luo Yuntao's.
Facing the monstrous anger and majestic pressure of the Azure Sky Sect Master, he merely parted his thin lips, his tone calm to the point of being cruel.
"Close? Never."
"Devotion? Nothing to do with me."
"Since you wanted to speak with me alone, you might as well directly state the deal you want to make with me."
Luo Yuntao was silent for a long time. Suddenly, he withdrew his aura and said, "You are not entirely stupid. You must have come to my Azure Sky Sect seeking something. Whatever you want, I can promise to give it to you, but you must do one thing for me. Go to the Haotian Secret Realm and retrieve the Blue Luan Soul Jade from within. That secret realm has restrictions against the people of the Azure Sky Luminous World, so I cannot approach it. But you are quite capable; perhaps you can give it a try."
Luo Qingniao was born with a damaged soul, which was why her cultivation had always been mediocre. This was also the reason Luo Yuntao was unwilling to let her go out.
It was precisely because of Luo Qingniao's flaw that Cangshu Bai was able to discover her identity so quickly.
It was said that the Luo clan was originally a lineage of immortal birds in the Divine Realm. Only because their ancestors made a mistake back then was the entire clan banished. Later, the Divine Realm fell, yet the Haotian Secret Realm still did not allow the Luo clan to enter.
Therefore, Luo Yuntao could only seek the help of outsiders. However, the Haotian Secret Realm was far too dangerous; none of the people who had entered before had ever returned alive.
Mu Ran returned to Cangshu Bai's side. "Jinzhi, don't agree to it!"
However, Cangshu Bai said without any hesitation, "Alright. After the matter is done, I want the Soul Pivot Lotus Dais."
This was a supreme treasure for repairing souls. It was useless to the people of the Luo clan, but it had miraculous effects on others.
Hearing this, Luo Yuntao knew that Cangshu Bai was indeed still trying to find a way to resurrect the dead. He didn't hesitate either and immediately said, "Deal!"
Mu Ran stared blankly at Cangshu Bai, feeling that everything around her had become absurd. It turned out that, unknowingly, everything would follow the predetermined track of the plot, moving forward step by step.
Learning that Cangshu Bai was going to the Haotian Secret Realm, Luo Qingniao rushed to the entrance of the secret realm, highly emotional. "Big Guy, don't go! It's very dangerous there, you'll die inside!"
She wanted to rush over and grab Cangshu Bai's hand, but before she could get close, she was frozen in place by a burst of coldness.
Cangshu Bai did not look back, his tone indifferent. "In my eyes, you are no different from a passerby. Have some self-respect."
His words were already very clear.
Luo Qingniao looked at his back, her small face on the verge of tears.
Wumu watched from the side, gnashing his teeth, wishing he could fight Cangshu Bai to the death right then and there.
The moment Cangshu Bai walked into the secret realm, Mu Ran also lost her connection with him. She returned to that small world where the water met the sky, silently going back to her own body.
