Roaming the Four Seas - Chapter 143: Malicious Demonic Embryo

There are whales in the deep sea.

When a whale reaches the end of its life, its colossal carcass sinks to the ocean floor, nourishing the marine life of the abyss for hundreds of years.

As the saying goes: when a whale falls, all things grow.

The giant stone lions flanking the gates of the Bai residence still gazed imposingly upon the heavens and the earth.

Island Master Mo had gathered all the prominent figures of Lingxi Island in the plaza before the Bai manor.

A hundred meters above, a barrier of golden light spread across the sky, completely blocking the thunder and rain cast down by the fish-scale clouds aloft.

At the edges, waterfall-like streams of water plummeted straight down through the gaps between the clouds, nourishing all living creatures on the earth below.

Amidst the flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder, the pearly white glow of night-pearls took on a touch of warm amber.

Su Ye had already recounted the entire course of the case and every single detail to Luo Jinghong.

For a long time to come, she would be studying the arts on Lingxi Island.

Her status as a Guardian of the Golden Uniform would ensure her unimpeded passage.

Entrusting her to crack the murder case of the Bai family was truly an excellent choice.

The First Elder of Lingxi Island, Xiao Hongyi, wore a plain Taoist robe embroidered with the Eight Trigrams, his hair bound by a Taiji golden crown. His skin was as delicate and pink as an infant's, and his clear eyes seemed unmistakably capable of perceiving the past and the future.

As a semi-immortal of the Upper Three Realms, his wariness of the "Tribulation Lightning" made his aura slightly more chaotic than usual.

Island Master Mo cupped his hands in a salute, feigning a hint of sorrow in his voice:

"First Elder, the island's outstanding young scion, Bai Wuya, meticulously plotted to murder his own brother, Bai Wufeng. When exposed by the Golden Uniform Luo Jinghong, he flew into a rage out of shame and attempted to silence her by murder.

In the end, he perished under the heavenly thunder, blasted into fine dust."

In other words, no bones remained.

"When demon-hunters investigate a homicide, they must present evidence and substantiate the criminal's guilt before the case can be concluded and filed," Xiao Hongyi said leisurely.

"Wuji, with only your unilateral words, it will likely be difficult to convince the residents of the island."

Island Master Mo turned toward Luo Jinghong and respectfully requested:

"Lord Luo, please reconstruct the case and bring the truth to light for the world."

Luo Jinghong walked over to the sealed corpse of Bai Wufeng and said in a ringing voice:

"After examining the deceased, this Guardian has discovered that Bai Wufeng died from a rare and potent poison."

Xiao Hongyi's voice sounded ethereal:

"Although that Bai family scion possessed a vicious disposition, he had never refined poisons.

The fact that Bai Wufeng was poisoned does not prove that he was murdered by his own brother."

Recalling the words Su Ye had taught her, Luo Jinghong smiled lightly:

"Senior is unaware, but the rare poison that took Bai Wufeng's life also possessed the remarkable efficacy of vastly enhancing one's cultivation.

If the method was applied correctly, Bai Wufeng could use this substance to leap straight into becoming a practitioner who enters the Dao through bizarre and devious arts."

Xiao Hongyi remarked: "Such a method appears to be a demonic sect technique that circulated in the mortal world some years ago."

"Precisely, it is the Grand Yan Creation Formula," Luo Jinghong smiled faintly. "The thing that caused Bai Wufeng's untimely demise is none other than a demonic fetus harboring infinite resentment."

"Bai Wufeng harbored evil intentions, and the Bai family scion executed justice for the greater good by destroying a relative. How can this be judged as a crime?"

Luo Jinghong casually waved her hand, summoning a dark-golden divine tripod from her jade pendant.

It possessed four legs and two handles, a rectangular jade tripod carved with the motifs of the Four Symbols and auspicious clouds.

In the groove on its front, the four characters "Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow" were inscribed in ancient seal script.

"This treasure is the Heaven-Earth-Mysterious-Yellow Tripod refined by the Bai family scion more than fifty years ago," Xiao Hongyi recognized the jade tripod upon closer inspection, and asked quizzically, "What does it have to do with this murder case?"

"Any spiritual treasure refined by Bai Wufeng—correction, Bai Wuya—bears traces of the lingering remnants of the Grand Yan Creation Formula."

"This poor Daoist once witnessed the Sword Demon Ouyang Zhi go on a killing spree... That terrifying scene still fills me with lingering fear to this day," Xiao Hongyi's eyes, clear as deep pools, flashed with divine light.

"If the Bai family scion had refined it using this method, it would have been impossible for this poor Daoist not to notice."

"Bai Wuya once deeply studied Ouyang Zhi, and from those vicious demonic pills, he reverse-engineered an incomplete version of the Grand Yan Creation Formula."

"Between the two, a significant distinction still exists," Xiao Hongyi said. "You cannot assert that the Bai family scion acted with malicious intent based solely on this."

"The problem lies precisely here," Luo Jinghong recited Su Ye's words by heart, answering fluently. "The transformation of the demonic fetus's qi requires refinement through the extremely vicious Grand Yan Creation Formula to return the demonic qi to its origin.

Yet the technique Bai Wuya provided to his brother left a small margin of error amidst its extreme malignancy."

To completely refine the demonic fetus was to nourish one's cultivation; the residual resentment, however, was the poison that killed.

"So that's how it was." Xiao Hongyi stroked his long beard and sighed with emotion.

Not only for Bai Wuya, but also with a sense of self-reproach.

...

Having passed the hurdle of the First Elder, this case was effectively settled.

Luo Jinghong let out a long breath, and the pressure in her heart instantly vanished without a trace.

Xiao Hongyi smiled mildly:

"Fellow Daoist Luo, your imitation just now captured the very essence."

Several venerable elders on the island wore knowing smiles, while others looked utterly bewildered.

"As expected, this junior's thoughts could not escape Senior's discerning eyes," Luo Jinghong made no attempt to conceal it, smiling brilliantly. "The demeanor and tone I just used were precisely copied from my dao companion."

The elders whose minds were in a muddle could no longer restrain themselves and asked aloud:

"Little girl, stop keeping us in suspense! Who is your dao companion?"

The elder beside him hurriedly tugged at his sleeve and lowered his voice:

"Luo Jinghong and Su Ye—have you never heard of them?"

Before the questioner could recover his wits, a robust and clear voice rang out:

"Lord Luo's dao companion is none other than myself."

Everyone on the cloud platform looked toward the source of the sound to see a dashing young man dressed in short martial attire, stepping in cloud-treading boots, his dark hair bound into a ponytail with a silk ribbon.

He had regular facial features, and his clear eyes radiated a stubborn, youthful spirit.

"Who are you?" The inquiring elder still hadn't reacted.

"This junior is Su Ye, a native of Peach Blossom Village in Danyang City."

"A person from the lower realms—what is so remarkable about that?" Knowing Su Ye's origins, an arrogance born from the depths of his bones surfaced in the elder's eyes.

"Su Ye... that's the young man who cleaved the Human Emperor's avatar in two at the Dragon Virtue Hall." The elder beside him stomped his foot, squeezing the words out through clenched teeth.

The arrogance in the first elder's eyes vanished in an instant, just as quickly as it had arrived.

"So it was him..."

"It seems Senior has already figured out my identity," Su Ye smiled faintly. "If any of you still have questions, you may raise them now."

Xiao Hongyi stroked his beard and said: "Since the iron-clad evidence is like a mountain and the principal culprit has already met his doom, this poor Daoist ventures to ask Fellow Daoist Luo to compile the evidence into case files so they may be sealed away in the Spirit Mechanism Pavilion."

Luo Jinghong cupped her hands in assent.

With an ethereal movement, Xiao Hongyi appeared instantly before the white-clad Madame Bai, saying softly:

"The Bai family scion never took a dao companion. Handle his funeral arrangements as you see fit."

Madame Bai said desolately:

"Now that the Bai family has encountered such a catastrophe, I beg the First Elder to preside over the overall situation for this concubine."

Xiao Hongyi turned around, placing his hands behind his back:

"The Bai family scion committed a grave error, and we all share the blame for failing to discipline him properly—failing to pull him back to the righteous path when he strayed."

Several venerable elders bowed their heads in shame and sighed deeply.

"Today, another potential choice of destiny has arrived on Lingxi Island," Xiao Hongyi turned his gaze toward Su Ye, offering a sincere exhortation,

"Let this poor Daoist address you as a senior for the moment: I hope you will take the Bai family scion as a warning.

Hold fast to your original heart and never let yourself be tainted by evil thoughts."

Su Ye cupped his fists in a salute, facing the seniors of Lingxi Island, and spoke in a ringing voice:

"Respected seniors, Su makes a vow here and now.

I shall never fail this life, I will uphold chivalry and justice, and I will steadfastly adhere to the righteous path."

Xiao Hongyi transmitted his voice directly:

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Su. This poor Daoist will certainly protect Fellow Daoist Luo and keep her from falling into perilous straits."

Su Ye smiled, cupping his fists in renewed gratitude.

With this matter settled, there were no lingering attachments in his heart.

Once the spiritual treasures were distributed, he would descend to the mortal realm to subjugate demons.