142 Bai Fang

There were guards stationed at the courtyard entrance, so Ed snuck through one of the walls by melting a temporary hole through it. Not wishing to run around randomly, he followed the path directly towards the peak of the mountain. His destination was only an hour or so away when moving at an ordinary human's pace.

Some of the Purple Origin Sect members noticed him as he travelled, but they didn't bother him. They knew there were currently guests in the sect and didn't wish to cause problems. However, there were always exceptions to every rule. About halfway through his journey, a young man with long white hair stood in front of him.

'Fang Bai?' Ed thought. 'Tai had said that this was Sect Leader Fang's adopted son.'

"Foreigner!" Bai yelled in his feminine voice. "Who are you? Did you know I could kill you without trial for randomly wandering our sect?! For all I know, you could be a spy!"

"A spy?" Ed tilted his head. 'Is he retarded? The Purple Origin Sect is already made up of members of the seven other sects. There literally can't be any spies within it. Even if you took it a step farther and considered there may be foreign spies from other countries, they could still just join through the proper channels of a normal sect first.' Not wanting to start a random battle, he held his thoughts within. "I'm heading for the peak." He said. "I need to meet with Sect Leader Fang. I have business with him."

"Humph." Bai snorted. "Business with the Sect Leader? Who do you think you are? You're nothing but an ant before Mount Tai. A pebble alongside the road. Who are you to waste his time?"

Ed's eye twitched as he listened to the nonsense. He liked to think of himself as a patient man, but in reality, he knew he had a short fuse. Grinding his teeth in frustration and holding back, he brushed past the delusional cultivator.

"Hey, I'm not done talking to you!" Bai yelled as he reached for Ed's shoulder.

Having had enough, Ed spun around and glared at him. "Listen up, woman. I'm going to go meet with the Sect Leader. If you want to play make-believe that you're important, then follow behind me and shut the hell up. Otherwise, I swear to whatever fucking god you believe in, I'll shove you so far in the dirt that I might just strike oil!"

Bai was temporarily speechless at the crude words spoken to him. Who was he? He was the Sect Leader's son! The favored genius child of the heavens. If he said to jump, then somebody should ask him how high! If he said right was left, then left was right! If he said the Earth was flat, then someone should set up a flat Earth society in his honor! "You! You! You imbecile!" He angrily shouted as white water began swirling around him.

Chimera scales covered Ed's body as he prepared to fight. Included in his transformation were his recently acquired bat wings and fangs. He looked like the spawn of a hellish demon, much to the shock of his opponent.

"An odd power." Bai commented. "But it matters not. I've never lost to someone younger than myself." As he spoke, the ground around him transformed into yellowish-black corrosive mud. It rapidly spread out in all directions for several hundred meters, forming a large quagmire that easily included Ed in the target zone.

'Is this his power? Or is it the yellow and black paths of water?' Ed wondered as he prepared himself for whatever came next. Silver flames covered his body, the lightning sparking against the ground beneath his feet, causing the mud to harden.

"Hah! Only a single path and you challenge me?!" Bai taunted, a smug grin on his face. "I'll personally send you to the sect prison and torture the truth out of you!" He laughed, trying to sound intimidating but mostly just coming off as feminine.

'Is this really even a guy?' Ed wondered to himself before charging forward. His flames lifted him up above the mud. He crossed the distance rapidly and fired two streams of flames towards his enemy.

"Too weak." Bai commented as he waved his hand. The corrosive mud fired multiple pillars into the air where Ed flew, extinguishing the flame attacks in the process.

Not wishing to get hit, Ed hurriedly created a sphere of red water that covered his entire body. A pillar of corrosive mud slammed into him, but his steaming water kept it at bay. He fell from the skies and landed in the mud, but fortunately, it seemed his defenses were still going to hold out.

"A second path and not even in the same element?" Bai scoffed. "Truly pathetic and inefficient. Let's see how you handle this." He placed both his hands in front of himself and focused. The mud surrounding Ed began to swirl like a typhoon. It seemed high-pressure green water was rapidly increasing the pace.

"I've had enough of this." Ed frowned as he fell back on the mana-batteries. He relied on fire, light, and wind to create incredibly strong flames that were invisible to the naked eye. The heat was so strong that the surrounding typhoon of corrosive mud began to fall apart.

"Hmm?" Bai looked on in confusion. "You're not using the paths to do that but technology? I see. You must be a European spy. That explains everything!"

Not even bothering to acknowledge his opponent's stupid conclusion, Ed shot forward through the mud. His invisible flames propelled him at fast speed while keeping all of his opponent's attacks at bay.

"Ha, you wish to fight in hand-to-hand combat?" Bai mockingly waved his hand. "Come, I'll entertain you!" Right as Ed closed the gap, Bai's eyes narrowed. A huge amount of the mud around him transformed into silver water that converged towards Ed!

Not daring to be careless, Ed hurriedly covered his entire body with his newly acquired bat wings. He felt the static from the water bounce around his wings before returning to the ground. When the attack finished, he opened his wings, revealing himself to be completely unharmed.

"Impossible!" Bai's eyes widened in shock.

"You asked for this yourself!" Ed roared as he threw a knife-shaped palm strike forward. Having been so insulted, he almost forgot to hold back. Aiming for the heart, he changed his trajectory at the last moment and pierced through the middle of the man's chest, his invisible flames causing a severe burn.

"UGH!" Bai's body trembled as he vomited blood. He slowly looked Ed in the eyes, madness taking over his bloodshot eyes. "FILTHY SPY! I'LL KILL YOU!" He angrily raged. Shockingly, the blood he had just spat out returned to him. Not only that, but the blood dripping from his chest spread out to cover his body, giving him an eerie blood chest plate armor.

Surprised by the turn of events, Ed hurriedly pulled his arm out and took several steps back. He lowered his stance to the ground, preparing himself for whatever came next.

The white water that had been surrounding Bai's body until now rapidly began healing his wound. It only took a few seconds for the wound on his chest to close. However, blood continued leaving his body from all angles, creating a blood armor that covered his entire body. He looked like a medieval knight, making for an intimidating opponent. He glared at Ed and spoke in a serious voice. "Be grateful. Not many get the chance to see my true power." Blood flowed to his hands, forming a large 2-handed sword that was even longer than his body.

"So, this is the power you awakened." Ed commented.

"Awakened?" Bai shook his head. "No, I'm not like those weaklings who can run but can't crawl. I earned this power myself!" The surrounding mud became a wave that carried him forth. His bloody sword tore through the air, causing it to bellow.

Ed hurriedly dodged backwards while moving his bat wings forward for protection. He was sure he was out of range, but he quickly realized his mistake. The blood sword was not an inanimate object but was instead a living weapon! It tripled in length, instantly closing the distance towards him. He stared in shock as it pierced not one, but both of his bat wings! The sword continued to grow, going so far as to pierce his shoulder.

'Not good.' He frowned as he tried to create distance, but suddenly, he felt incredibly weak. Extreme exhaustion took over his body, as if he had just finished running a marathon. 'He's taking my blood!' He shockingly realized. With little choice in the matter, he melted the flesh around his shoulder and forfeited it, allowing him to retreat. "Hah... Hah..." He breathed heavily, his chest rapidly rising and falling with each breath. He hurriedly healed the wound on his shoulder, as he hadn't actually lost too much flesh in the process.

"Not bad." Bai smugly nodded. "You really do have quite a few tricks up your sleeves. You might even be on par with that fool, Long Tai."

'Damn.' Ed ground his teeth. 'It's the first time I've met a real opponent near my age ever since I started cultivating. It pisses me off.' His thoughts flashed by as he tried to think of a solution, but nothing came to mind. His purple water and fire would fare no better than his other attacks. He could blow up his mana-batteries, but the explosions would leave him crippled and likely kill his opponent. Neither were things he wished for while in the heart of the Purple Origin Sect. Much to his dissatisfaction, it seemed he really might just have to flee the fight into the skies.

Suddenly, a surprised voiced called out. "Ed?! Bai?!"

The two turned to see Tai walking over while waving his fan towards his face. He had changed out of his red wedding clothes, returning to his usual purple robes. He stopped just in front of the quagmire. "What the hell are you two doing in broad daylight?" He questioned.

It was only now that the two calmed down and realized they were surrounded by several dozen sect members that had heard the commotion and rushed over to enjoy the show.

"Humph." Bai snorted. "You know this spy, Long Tai?"

"Know him?" Tai nodded. "He's my good brother."

"Your servants should know their place and stay in the pig pin that was assigned to you." Bai taunted.

Ed's eye twitched. While everyone was distracted, he melted a slight hole in his arm, pulling out the mana-batteries from within it.

"Servant?" Tai shook his head. "As usual, your brain is full of mud. Ed is neither my servant nor a member of the Fire Dragon Sect. In fact, he came here because he has some sort of prior agreement with Fang Hao."

"Uncle Fang?" Bai's eyes widened in surprise as he grew confused.

Sending a thread of mana into the mana-batteries, Ed hurled them forward. "Bai! Catch!" He shouted as he rapidly fled towards Tai.

"Huh?" Bai's mind returned to the fight as he saw seven tiny objects of different colors travel towards him. He hurriedly transformed his blood sword into a two-handed shield and raised it towards the projectiles.

BOOM! A seven-colored explosion rocked the ground, causing it to shake heavily. The surrounding corrosive quagmire was partially incinerated with the remaining mud shooting into the air. When everything settled, Bai was revealed to be almost completely unharmed. Only a tiny crack had formed in his blood shield.

"Holy shit. How strong is this guy?" Ed questioned Tai.

"I could never beat him." Tai sighed while staring at the blood-armored Bai. "And now that I've finally acquired purple origin fire, it seems he's surpassed me once again. His control over blood used to barely be capable of covering his fist."

"He said he earned that power? What did he mean?" He asked.

Tai hesitated a moment before deciding to answer. "That is the law he has chosen to follow."

"Law?" He repeated in confusion.

"Right." Tai nodded. "You'll understand someday." He looked towards Bai. "Let's end this here today. I don't think your father would be too thrilled to learn you ambushed somebody for no reason. Not to mention it being somebody your family has formed a deal with already."

Bai ground his teeth in frustration before withdrawing the surrounding quagmire and his own blood. He said nothing as he turned to leave, holding his head high like an arrogant peacock amongst chickens.

"Follow me." Bai said. "I'll lead you to the peak. Father is having a private discussion with Sect Leader Fang right now."

"Sure, and thanks." Ed nodded as he followed behind him. "Seriously though, what the hell is that Bai guy's problem? I've never met someone with a stick so far up their own ass."

"Pfft." Tai hurriedly covered his mouth to stifle his laughter. "He views the Purple Origin Sect as his own personal asset to inherit. He has a strong hate for foreigners, and he even hates anyone that joins the Purple Origin Sect from another sect. He believes that all the fat should be trimmed and only the true core members and geniuses should remain."

"Tsk." Ed clicked his tongue. "What an irritating bastard."

"Right." Tai laughingly agreed. "Fortunately, he's a bit dumb despite being a cultivation genius. He can't inherit the sect even if he wants to."

"Because of Yuki?" Ed guessed.

"Right." Tai nodded. "In the past, things were different. There was pretty much zero chance of Mr. Sai ever wanting to take the reins. Fang Hao isn't qualified since he isn't an esper. That only left the adopted Fang Bai as the possible heir. But then Yuki awoke powers, so I imagine the sect is pouring a lot of time and resources into her right now."

"And you expected them to agree to your marriage request when you're a future sect leader too?" Ed questioned.

"Of course." Tai confidently grinned. "It's not like we would have to merge the sects or anything. It wouldn't have been a huge deal."

"Well, aren't you the optimist." Ed commented while lazily placing his hands behind his head and staring at the sky.

Soon, the duo reached the mountain peak. Just as they neared the gates.

"YOU'LL REGRET THIS FANG CHONGLIN!" A loud and arrogant voice raged as Sect Leader Long stormed out of the castle. He spotted Tai and grabbed him by the arm. "We're leaving!" He glanced at Ed. "Are you coming?"

Ed hesitated a moment before shaking his head. He had business to complete here regardless of whatever background drama was happening behind the scenes.

"Humph." Huo snorted as he began dragging Tai away.

"Ed! We'll talk later!" Tai yelled, not daring to resist his father in fear of his wrath.

"That old nitwit is really losing it." An aged voice sighed next to Ed's ear. Shocked, he hurriedly spun around to see Sect Leader Fang standing right in front of him.

Sect Leader Fang had his arms folded behind his back as he watched Huo and Tai leave. He glanced at Ed. "So, who are you and what brings you to my mountain peak?" He calmly questioned.