Chapter Fifty-Five: Spirit Void

Shi Qi asked, “How did you manage to get out of that cave?”
Wang Yanyu stood up, rubbing his sore backside, and demanded, “Damn it, who hit me just now?”
Shi Qi replied, “Um... don’t mind those details. Tell me quickly, how did you come out of the monster beast’s cave?”
Wang Yanyu dusted himself off and said, “Ah, don’t even mention it. You told me before that there was a mission in Little East Province, so I flew straight over. After taking the mission, I headed toward Liangzi Slope, but before I got there, I saw a hole suddenly appear in the void, out of which flew a giant mantis. I fought it, and when it couldn’t beat me, it turned and flew back into the cave. I got hot-headed and chased after it.”
“As expected, still a spoiled brat with no brains.”
Yanyu heard a very familiar—and deeply disliked—voice. He turned and saw Bai Qiu standing behind him with a smile.
“Damn it, Third!” Yanyu shouted.
“You’re the third! You useless idiot!” Bai Qiu retorted.
Yanyu said, “You’re ranked third, so you’re the third!”
Bai Qiu replied, “Say one more word and I’ll tear you apart, just like your backside!”
Yanyu laughed, “Oh, keep bragging. You never beat me when we were kids, what makes you think you can do it now?”
Shi Qi watched their bickering, caught between affection and rivalry, and quickly interrupted, “Back to the point! Yanyu, what’s inside? Is it the Twelve Provinces, or another world?”
At this, Yanyu and Bai Qiu both quieted.
Yanyu said, “Inside... it’s probably not the Twelve Provinces. The spiritual energy in the cave was abundant—at least twice what you’d find in the Twelve Provinces. But it didn’t feel like another world either. When I entered, the mantis had vanished, so I wandered around. Everything inside, from monster beasts to plants, was huge. I suspect it’s related to the spiritual energy.”
“Why do I think it’s not another world? Because the space inside was really small. There weren’t many monster beasts, but all of them were gigantic. I didn’t dare cause trouble, so I hid and looked for an exit, and actually found the edge of the place.”
Shi Qi was surprised, “Edge?”
Yanyu nodded, “Yes. I don’t know how to describe it—when I flew far enough, I couldn’t go any further, as if there was a wall of air blocking me. Even using the Seven Break Flags to break through, nothing happened.”
“Later, I wandered around until I saw another hole, so I slipped out, only to get attacked by you guys...”
Bai Qiu frowned in thought, then suddenly exclaimed, “I know!”
Yanyu jumped, “You scared me!”
Shi Qi said, “What now? Stop startling us.”
Bai Qiu explained, “I read a passage in an ancient book long ago that was very similar to what Yanyu just described. I never took it seriously, thinking it was fiction, but now it comes to mind.”
He continued, “If the book was accurate, that space should be called the Spirit Void!”
Shi Qi and Yanyu asked in unison, “Spirit Void?”
Bai Qiu nodded, “That’s right. You can think of it as an independent space, separate from the Twelve Provinces. Many years ago, someone entered the Spirit Void through a hole in the void, but they didn’t mention monster beasts, only that the Spirit Void was rich in treasures. It attracted many to search for it, but none succeeded, and people thought the man was lying. The matter faded away, but today, we actually encountered the Spirit Void.”
Shi Qi asked, “But why have space holes to the Spirit Void been appearing so frequently in Little East Province lately?”
Bai Qiu shook his head, “That’s a mystery. Perhaps we’ll only find answers by entering it ourselves.”
Shi Qi said, “Then, next time a space hole forms, we’ll enter the Spirit Void. But the formation of these holes is unpredictable. How can we find one?”
Bai Qiu frowned, “Little East Province isn’t large, but from formation to disappearance, a space hole only lasts about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. Running into one like you and Yanyu did was pure chance. There’s no good method, and news of the Spirit Void’s appearance will soon spread throughout the Twelve Provinces.”
Yanyu asked, “Is there really no good method?”
The three fell into thought...
Bai Qiu asked, “You and Su Xiaomu can sense monster beast auras. Can you sense the formation of a Spirit Void space hole?”

The three looked to Su Xiaomu, who stared blankly at the monster beast they’d just defeated, murmuring, “Would it taste good grilled?”
The three were embarrassed.
Shi Qi stepped forward and asked, “Xiaomu, can you sense the aura of a forming Spirit Void space hole?”
Su Xiaomu nodded, then shook her head.
Yanyu asked, “So can you or can’t you?”
Su Xiaomu answered, “I can sense it, but not from far away. When a space hole forms, it releases a lot of aura different from the Twelve Provinces. If I’m close, I can sense it; if it’s far, I can’t.”
Shi Qi nodded. They couldn’t expect Su Xiaomu to search day and night... He kept thinking.
Then Bai Qiu snapped his fingers, “Ah! I’ve got it!”
Shi Qi said, “What now?”
Bai Qiu took a jade ruyi from his spatial ring, and Shi Qi immediately understood.
Yanyu was puzzled, “Ruyi, ruyi, do as I wish?”
Bai Qiu shot Yanyu a look, channeling his energy into the jade.
Bai Qiu said, “Old Sun, Old Sun, are you there?”
After a moment, Sun Fanbai replied from the jade, “I’m here. Brother Bai, what can I do for you?”
Bai Qiu said, “Where are you now? Shi Qi and I are in a bit of trouble, maybe you can help. Do you have time?”
Sun Fanbai replied, “I do. I’ve just arrived in East Province. My master wants me to represent Yunqing Sect at the joint ceremony held by Tianyuan Sect next month. I came down early to train here, so I’m free. Where are you and Shi Qi, what’s going on?”
Bai Qiu said, “East Province? That’s close to Little East Province. It’s hard to explain, but we’re in Little East Province. How long would it take you to get here?”
Sun Fanbai replied after a moment, “If I hurry, about a day and a half.”
Bai Qiu said, “Good, see you in Little East Province City in a day and a half. There’ll be a surprise.”
Sun Fanbai answered, “Alright, I’m on my way.”
Bai Qiu put away the jade ruyi.
Yanyu asked, “Should we keep searching or head back to the city?”
Shi Qi said, “Sun Fanbai is skilled in divination. He’ll certainly have a way. Let’s head back to Little East Province...”
Su Xiaomu interjected, “Eat!”
Shi Qi smiled, stowing the monster beast’s corpse in his spatial bag, then took to the air with Bai Qiu and Su Xiaomu.
Yanyu shrugged and followed.
-------------------------------------
One and a half days later...
Sun Fanbai arrived in Little East Province City, entered the inn, and found three people dead drunk and a girl frantically stuffing food into her mouth.
Sun Fanbai sighed...
Bai Qiu saw him and raised a cup, “Come, Old Sun, over here... have a drink!”
Shi Qi said, “No... no using energy!”

Yanyu slurred, “You two... two cowards, come... come again!”
Su Xiaomu mumbled, “Mm mm mm... this tastes good... so does this!”
Sun Fanbai shook his head and stepped forward, waving his hand to disperse the alcohol from their bodies with his energy.
Bai Qiu said, “Oh, Old Sun’s here.”
Shi Qi stood up and scolded Bai Qiu and Yanyu, “Look at yourselves! No sense at all!”
Yanyu asked, “What just happened?”
Sun Fanbai said, “Brother Bai, why did you call me here?”
Bai Qiu slapped his forehead, “Oh, I forgot the real reason. What were we doing?”
Shi Qi said, “Um... Spirit Void! Yes, Spirit Void!”
Bai Qiu explained the monster beast incident and the Spirit Void event to Sun Fanbai.
Sun Fanbai listened, his brows furrowed, “To be honest, I’ve read about the Spirit Void in ancient texts, but like Brother Bai, always thought it was fiction. Didn’t expect it to really exist—someone must have entered it long ago.”
Shi Qi said, “The problem is, we can’t find when or where the next Spirit Void will open. The openings are random.”
Sun Fanbai nodded, “But if you’re close, you can sense the aura, right?”
Shi Qi nodded.
Sun Fanbai said, “If you can sense the aura, that’s good. I can deduce the general location in Little East Province where the next aura change will occur, then use a Bagua Disk to absorb the spiritual energy in that area. Once we sense an anomaly, we’ll know the exact spot and can hurry over.”
Bai Qiu exclaimed, “Knew you’d have a way. No time to waste, let’s start.”
Sun Fanbai took three copper coins from his pocket, muttering incantations, and tossed them onto the table. He formed a hand seal; the coins floated up and returned to his hand. He repeated the process.
After six throws, Sun Fanbai stopped and put the coins away.
Yanyu asked, “Did you figure it out?”
Sun Fanbai nodded, “Tonight at midnight, Little East Province, south.”
With that, Sun Fanbai stood up and said, “Wait here a moment, I’ll be right back.”
The others nodded, and Sun Fanbai left the inn.
Yanyu sighed, “This guy has so many tricks, upright and refined—a model disciple of the righteous path. Third, look at yourself.”
Bai Qiu retorted, “You should look at yourself!”
Shi Qi interrupted, “Enough, you two, stop bickering.”
Shi Qi continued, “I have an idea.”
The other two asked, “Oh?”
Shi Qi said, “Look at the wine and dishes on this table... Hmm? The food’s gone, but the wine’s still here. We can’t let it go to waste, right? So how about we...”
Bai Qiu said, “Good idea!”
Yanyu laughed, “Heh, whoever doesn’t use energy is a dog!”