Chapter 1189: The Two-Hundred-Year Pact

"Xiao Bai, don't be willful. Now that the Mo Yan Pixiu lineage has only you as its heir, you must not court danger again," Bai Ze said solemnly.

Xiao Bai opened his mouth to retort, but Bai Ze waved him to silence:

"Even if you don't tell me what you and Young Friend Han plan to do, I know it. I understand the Nine Yuan Temple far better than you do; its strength and foundation are beyond your imagination. For the two of you alone to infiltrate it and rescue someone is no different from seeking death. Stay here at Eight Wastelands Mountain and cultivate diligently. The revival of the Wildlands concerns billions of living beings, and you are needed here more. Young Friend Han, I advise you not to take this risk either. This venture is a near-certain death."

Bai Ze's expression grew even graver as he admonished them, then turned to Han Li.

"Fellow Daoist Han, forgive my bluntness. The Nine Yuan Temple ranks among the top five of the many forces allied with the Heavenly Court. It is truly not something the two of you can lightly provoke," added Li Qima from the side.

Han Li frowned slightly, hesitating as if to speak.

If it were just him and Xiao Bai, attempting to break into the Nine Yuan Temple to rescue Gold童 would indeed be wishful thinking. He would never commit such a foolish act; after all, as long as the green hills remain, one need not worry about firewood. If he himself met with misfortune, Gold童 would have no chance of escape.

But now that the Reincarnation Palace, a massive force, was also involved, the situation was naturally different. However, this was a secret he could not disclose, so he remained silent.

"I can cultivate anywhere. Master possesses a spatial treasure; I can cultivate by his side without delay. As for danger, I am not afraid," Xiao Bai said dismissively, his tone resolute.

Bai Ze's brows knitted tightly. He shifted his gaze and shot Han Li a meaningful look.

"Xiao Bai, Senior Bai Ze has a point. The rescue mission is too risky. It's unsafe for you to follow me; it's better you stay here," Han Li sighed and also advised.

Although Xiao Bai had advanced to the Great Luo stage, his role against a behemoth like the Nine Yuan Temple was still limited. Moreover, the Heavenly Court monitored the entire realm; it might already know of the events at Eight Wastelands Mountain. With Xiao Bai inheriting the bloodline power of the Mo Yan Pixiu, his value was now unprecedented. If he appeared in the Golden Source Immortal Domain, the Heavenly Court would likely send experts to capture him, adding unforeseen variables.

More importantly, taking Xiao Bai away would offend the Wildlands Realm. It was better to leave him here.

"Back then, when the Nine Yuan Temple besieged Big Brother and me, she had a chance to escape but gave it to me. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here today. Now she's trapped in the Nine Yuan Temple, her fate unknown. How can I cower in the Wildlands Realm? Your Majesty, I appreciate your kindness, but I must go to rescue Big Brother. If I don't, this guilt will forever hinder my cultivation," Xiao Bai said calmly, but his eyes were resolute and his tone firm.

Hearing Xiao Bai's words, Han Li's face flickered with surprise, and he said nothing more.

But Bai Ze's frown deepened, and he was about to speak again.

"Bai Ze, we Wildlands people distinguish clearly between gratitude and resentment. We repay kindness and avenge wrongs. Since Xiao Bai insists, let him go," said Yue Mian, who had approached.

"What are you saying? Do you not know the strength of the Nine Yuan Temple, even if Xiao Bai doesn't?" Bai Ze turned sharply to Yue Mian, speaking reproachfully.

"If Xiao Bai's heart is not in the Wildlands, keeping him here by force is useless. This karmic debt must be settled. Moreover, Young Friend Han doesn't seem impulsive. You must have some plan for rescuing your companion, right?" Yue Mian said calmly, then asked Han Li.

"I do have some preparations, but they involve confidential matters that I cannot disclose to you two seniors. However, rest assured, I will not act recklessly," Han Li replied calmly, cupping his hands to Bai Ze and Yue Mian.

"You see? Since Young Friend Han is prepared, he must be fairly confident. If you're still worried, give Xiao Bai a few treasures for protection," Yue Mian said to Bai Ze.

"Well... fine. Since you insist on going, I cannot stop you. Take these three treasures with you," Bai Ze said after a moment of silence, finally persuaded. He flipped his hand and produced three items for Xiao Bai: a cyan jade talisman, a golden talisman, and a white cloth pouch.

The cyan jade talisman was three inches wide and five inches long, engraved with cyan patterns forming a peculiar array-like design.

Soft cyan light rose from the array, circled around the talisman, and then merged back into it, cycling endlessly.

The golden talisman was a palm-sized charm inscribed with countless twisted妖族 spirit patterns, emitting powerful law fluctuations.

The white cloth pouch was unremarkable, showing no special features or strong law fluctuations, only a faint trace of spiritual power attached to it.

"This cyan jade talisman is called the 'Escape Heaven Talisman,' a rare treasure I obtained before attaining the Dao. It can conceal form and aura, and even a late-stage Great Luo might not see through it. This golden talisman contains a strike with thirty percent of my power. If you encounter a formidable enemy, activate it. As for this white cloth pouch, it is a natal immortal artifact your father refined back then, kept with me all along. Now that you have inherited his bloodline power, I entrust it to you," Bai Ze explained the functions of the three treasures.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Xiao Bai said, sensing the treasures' extraordinary nature, and accepted them joyfully.

He glanced briefly at the Escape Heaven Talisman and the golden talisman before putting them away, keeping only the white cloth pouch to examine.

Seeing this, Han Li was inwardly pleased.

With these three treasures, their safety was further assured.

At that moment, Bai Ze suddenly raised his hand and waved. Twelve streaks of lightning-like white light shot from his hand, accurately entering Xiao Bai's body. Countless white runes flew out from the light, forming twelve ring-shaped rune arrays around Xiao Bai, which flickered a few times before slowly fading.

Xiao Bai was startled, and Han Li's expression also changed, but Bai Ze acted too quickly for them to stop.

"Don't worry. These are twelve Greater Teleportation Rune Arrays I set up. Xiao Bai, I allow you to leave with Young Friend Han, but you know the current situation of the Heavenly Court and the Wildlands. We are also preparing something... So you have only two hundred years. After two hundred years, no matter the reason, you must return to the Wildlands. Otherwise, these twelve arrays will forcibly teleport you back," Bai Ze said solemnly.

"Two hundred years!" Xiao Bai's expression shifted as he looked at Han Li.

Han Li frowned as well. The Reincarnation Palace had not yet given him any news about when they would act.

Although he did not pin all his hopes on the Reincarnation Palace, if they did act, it would greatly aid him.

"I hope it's in time," Han Li sighed inwardly and nodded to Xiao Bai.

"Alright. In two hundred years, I will definitely return," Xiao Bai immediately said to Bai Ze.

Bai Ze's expression softened slightly, and he grunted in acknowledgment.

"Thank you, Senior Bai Ze, for allowing Xiao Bai to accompany me. Rest assured, no matter what happens, I will ensure Xiao Bai's safety," Han Li said to Bai Ze and Yue Mian.

"Good. I entrust Xiao Bai to your care, Young Friend Han," Bai Ze said to Han Li.

After a few more words, Han Li took his leave, formed a hand seal, and summoned the Ink Dragon Flying Boat. The boat transformed into a dark green light, carrying the two of them as it shot into the distance, disappearing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Watching Han Li and Xiao Bai leave, Bai Ze glanced at Li Qima beside him.

Li Qima understood, took his leave, and turned away. Only Bai Ze and Yue Mian remained on the square.

"Here you go." Yue Mian raised his hand and flicked, sending a mass of blood light flying to land before Bai Ze.

Within the blood light flickered twelve phantom shadows, precisely the twelve true spirit bloodline phantoms from Han Li's body, intertwining and circling.

Besides these twelve true spirit phantoms, the blood light also contained many blood-colored characters, forming a cultivation method.

If Han Li were present, he would be greatly surprised, for this method was identical to the main thread of his Jingzhe Art, differing only in minor details.

Bai Ze's eyes lit up, and he waved his hand to seize the blood light.

"Just now, using the Kun Peng bloodline in that Han fellow, I sensed the operation of his other bloodlines and roughly grasped the framework of the cultivation method he practices. It is indeed a very profound technique. I wonder why it appeared in the lower realm," Yue Mian said slowly.

"Indeed, it is profound. Among our eight tribes, there are also some methods for merging bloodlines, but at most, they can merge four or five true spirit bloodlines. Beyond that, the bloodlines conflict, causing the body to explode. This method can merge twelve true spirit bloodlines, with such precise balance and coordination among them—truly remarkable. With this method, the various Wildlands tribes can greatly enhance their strength," Bai Ze said, nodding repeatedly as he looked at the blood light.

"If you wanted this method, why not just search his soul or make him hand it over directly? He wouldn't dare refuse. Why resort to such a roundabout way and make me play along in this farce?" Yue Mian snorted, displeased.

"That Han kid's identity is extraordinary. He cannot be touched," Bai Ze said calmly, flipping his hand to put away the blood light.

"Oh? Who is that kid, that you are so wary of him?" Yue Mian asked curiously.

Bai Ze glanced at Yue Mian and produced an item: a black token engraved with a ferocious beast face.

"It's him!" Yue Mian's expression changed upon seeing the beast-face token.

"The True Immortal Realm is about to see upheaval. Who knows where the currents will flow..." Bai Ze put away the token, gazed at the rolling clouds in the distant sky, and sighed.

……