The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 293: You Have Your Insistence; I Have My Responsibility!

You Have Your Insistence; I Have My Responsibility! . . .

Cha Eun Xiao directed a steady gaze at Master Bai, enunciating each word with deliberation. "Regarding your present predicament, it was not a condition you bore from birth, yet it remains an affliction meted out as divine retribution. It stands as the consequences of your actions contravening the will of the heavens—an inevitable outcome. Undoubtedly, you are a formidable cultivator, but you have not transcended to the highest echelons, rendering you powerless against the celestial forces."

"Nevertheless, your strength has served as a bulwark, shielding you from the full brunt of these divine reversals. The divine punishment has only inflicted an unwell state upon you—nothing more. The Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan possesses the potential to redress your affliction."

Cha Eun Xiao assured, "Upon the completion of the dan beads, your malady shall be banished. At the very least, walking will not remain an impediment."

A smile played on Cha Eun Xiao\'s lips as he continued, "This is the motivation that impelled me to venture into this perilous domain. Without this conviction, how could I muster the courage to step into Sky Room No. 1, the heart of the formidable House of the Chaotic Storm? Given my current cultivation, how could I dare such a feat?"

Master Bai responded with a mild smile. "Nonetheless, even if you hold such unwavering confidence and perceive your possession of a valuable bargaining chip, the ultimate decision rests in my hands. I am the arbiter of this choice."

"Indeed," Cha Eun Xiao concurred casually, his smile unwavering. "I simply desire cooperation with you—nothing more. In the face of such a dire circumstance, this marks the extent of my efforts."

"If Master Bai should consent to this alliance, it would be mutually advantageous. However, if you decline, I am prepared to embrace the dire consequences we previously discussed. My departure from here will hold no disparity, regardless of the outcome."

Master Bai\'s gaze sharpened, and he stated evenly, "To claim there would be no disparity is inaccurate. You possess an alternate identity, which affords you the means to survive. Abandoning your present status is the only requisite. Your ace card remains the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan, not the Ling-Bao Hall."

Cha Eun Xiao responded with a nonchalant grin. "Had I harbored such intentions, I would not have presented myself here today."

"No matter my other identity, I remain the monarch of the Ling-Bao Hall. If I forgo any attempt to rescue my subordinates, how can I escape the remorse festering within my heart, even if I were to persist in living? With such a burden, my existence would be devoid of meaning," he added sincerely.

Cha Eun Xiao erupted into hearty laughter. "Master Bai, you, as a leader yourself, must surely comprehend my intentions."

Master Bai\'s eyes reflected a serene contentment as he nodded. "Indeed, I do. I hadn\'t anticipated such ambition within you."

A faint smile adorned Cha Eun Xiao\'s lips. "It\'s merely a tenacious idea that has firmly taken root in my mind. It\'s a resolute belief I hold. Master Bai, what if, in the future, you find yourself facing a perilous situation, and your sole escape hinges on sacrificing Lady Wan-Er? What would be your choice?"

Wan-Er, dressed in pristine white attire, raised her gaze to Master Bai in silent anticipation, her eyes brimming with trust and tenderness.

"In truth, whatever choice Master makes, I would deem it a blessing," Wan-Er expressed with unwavering faith.

Master Bai responded with a smile akin to spring\'s warmth. He nodded and uttered a single word— "Reluctance."

This solitary word bore profound meaning; it conveyed his reluctance to provide an answer. To respond would signify an encroachment upon the threshold of cooperation, a concession to Feng Monarch in their unspoken competition. Master Bai was averse to that outcome.

Yet, faced with Wan-Er\'s gentle and trusting gaze, he felt a warmth enveloping him. He recognized that even if he refrained from answering, Wan-Er would neither censure him nor waver in her complete trust.

Ultimately, he chose to reply. "A kingdom, a world—they are all insignificant when compared to my Wan-Er."

Master Bai\'s eyes then shifted to Cha Eun Xiao, conveying his sentiment in response.

"That is precisely what I wished to convey," Cha Eun Xiao affirmed. "You maintain your principles, and I uphold my responsibilities. It is as simple as that."

Master Bai responded with an affirming smile, one that signified agreement from both sides.

Learning of her master\'s intent to accept the agreement, Wan-Er\'s anxiety evaporated. A radiant happiness filled her, and she whispered softly, "I wonder how the son of that remarkable man fared in the end. Was he cured?"

Master Bai\'s smile softened as he replied, "Indeed, he was. However, it consumed an abundance of resources. Were it not for that great man\'s boundless support, the crafting of those dan beads would have been insurmountable. As for the young master, he grew into one of the most formidable individuals of his generation, achieving no less than his father."

Wan-Er\'s eyes sparkled with newfound understanding.

[If a divine punishment on a person weaker than the average could be cured, doesn\'t it imply that Master Bai\'s ailment, being a formidable cultivator, should be easier to remedy? Could it be that Master Bai will soon regain his peak condition?]

"However," Master Bai interjected, "it\'s not the ingredients that present the challenge; it\'s the method of production. Only those at the supreme level can create the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan. Otherwise, it would be nothing more than a futile concoction."

"The Heaven Seizing Dan must exist, but to date, only one individual has succeeded in crafting these dan beads. That individual was the great man from the tale, am I correct?" Master Bai\'s tone carried a hint of resignation.

Wan-Er\'s eyes briefly dimmed before instantly brightening. Her immense confidence in Feng Zhiling was evident. Yet, her anticipation for the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan was equally palpable. She yearned for its creation without delay, reluctant to let go of hope.

Each time she beheld her master\'s crippled body, a man who could once command the heavens with a wave of his hand and shake the earth with a mere motion, her heart ached. He was now confined to a small wheelchair, robbed of the freedom enjoyed by ordinary individuals.

The helplessness of a hero and the despair of a warrior weighed heavily on her.

Master Bai had grown accustomed to his condition and scarcely dwelled on it. However, for those around him—Wan-Er and Xiu-Er, who had been by his side for many years—it was a perennial source of sorrow.

But now, there was a glimmer of hope.

[Could it be that the Heaven Seizing Supreme Dan... were Feng Zhiling\'s words true? It must be!]