At this point, no one doubted anymore that when Bao Gu said she would perish together with Ba, she had meant every word. Many present were visibly moved.
Someone couldn’t help but persuade her, voice full of pity.
“Lord, there’s no need to act so impulsively.”
After hearing what Jade Shura and Zi Tianjun had said, it was hard not to assume Bao Gu was only being extreme because she couldn’t accept what had happened to Yu Mi.
Bao Gu shook her head.
“To tell you the truth, I used to think the Ba calamity could be handled slowly, step by step. I pulled back to Qingzhou because even if I couldn’t eradicate Ba, I could at least keep one region safe.
“The decision I’m making today is not because Ba touched Yu Mi, and it’s not me throwing a tantrum over Yu Mi.
“From the age of thirteen, when I followed Yu Mi into the cultivation world, we’ve gone through death and danger together countless times. Every time we were at a life-and-death crisis, she never hesitated to use her life to shield mine.
“Between her dying and me dying, she has always, without the slightest hesitation, chosen to trade her life for mine.
“Today, if I left the decision to her, she would, without a doubt, choose to let me live on.
“I’ve said it before: I don’t seek death.
“What’s between me and Yu Mi shouldn’t be laid out here for everyone to hear. I don’t want anyone to misunderstand anything.
“I don’t have some lofty, self-sacrificing heart. I don’t have the resolve to die for any of you here, or for the so‑called cultivation world.
“You and I are neither kin nor friends, and I’ve never owed any of you anything, have I?”
An elderly cultivator asked in a low voice, “Then may we ask, Lord, why do this?”
Bao Gu replied, “Because I refuse to sit here and wait to die.”
Qu Yirou frowned slightly, thoughtful.
“How so?”
Bao Gu said, “First, Ba captured Yu Mi because of the Demon Saint. I believe all of you already know that much.”
Qu Yirou nodded. That much, at least, explained why Bao Gu was forcing herself into a corner, willing to put everything on the line.
Bao Gu rose from the high main seat and slowly stepped down. She never liked looking down on others from up high. Standing in the center of the hall, she said:
“Second, Ba is no longer the Ba of back then.
“In those years, she used corpses to build a city and used endless death aura to nourish living beings. And now?
“I trust all of you have already seen those strange lifeforms made from death in the Desolate Ancient Mountain Range.
“Today’s Ba is even harder to deal with than in the past. What she wants to do, we have no idea.
“Or rather…”
Her gaze swept across the gathered crowd.
“Don’t you find the current Desolate Ancient Mountain Range looks like a spider’s web, already spread and waiting, just sitting there for prey to throw itself in?”
Bao Gu continued, “I don’t want to die. But even more than that, I don’t want to watch the people around me die.
“If I gamble, I might not die. I can remove the danger by their side, and cut out a great calamity for the cultivation world.
“If I don’t gamble, then when Ba finally makes her move, the people who die will…”
She let the implication hang.
“As a businesswoman, I’m willing to gamble—but I’m not willing to do a losing trade.
“Spirit stones. And a vessel that can traverse the void. Have you all thought it through?”
She was practically going to her death, while they stood back and collected the benefits. And they weren’t going to show *anything*?
Everyone understood. With the Kan Gang’s foundation, the Blade Token Lord didn’t lack this bit of spirit stones. And her life was worth far more than any amount of stones. In the end, this came down to Ba abducting Yu Mi, driving the Blade Token Lord into a corner where she was ready to risk everything.
Ba’s calamity was a disaster for the entire realm. The Blade Token Lord killing Ba would be eliminating a great scourge for the cultivation world. Naturally, she had every right to drag them into bleeding a little for it.
Besides, she had already thrown out the Immortal Ascension Platform and the Five Elements Immortal Stones. No matter what, they had to make a gesture.
The representatives of each faction held a brief discussion amongst themselves, then agreed to Bao Gu’s demands for spirit stones and void‑crossing vessels. Several people even stated on the spot that they were willing to offer up their own personal vessels to her.
The Immortal Ascension Platform and the Five Elements Immortal Stones were no trivial matter. If the Blade Token Lord really went to fight Ba to the death, her survival was uncertain. They naturally had to make everything clear about those stones while they could.
Bao Gu had originally planned to leave the Five Elements Immortal Stones to Xuantian Sect. After all, they had been discovered by Auntie Sheng and moved by her and the Grandmaster and the others together.
But Xuantian Sect’s strength was too weak. They had no power to protect the Five Elements Immortal Stones. Handing the stones to them would be inviting a sect‑exterminating disaster to their door.
Besides, she had already left Xuantian Sect more than enough of the stones. A full third of the stones were used in the great formation spread across Qingzhou, and the only ones who knew how to take those stones back out were Yu Mi and Zi Tianjun.
She couldn’t take all the stones with her. If she did, who knew how many years, how many generations it would take before an Immortal Ascension Platform could be built again in this realm. It would be almost equivalent to cutting off the path of ascension.
With the Five Elements Immortal Stones in Bao Gu’s hands, how they were dealt with was her decision to make.
She’d asked all the factions to come up with a solution, but they really couldn’t.
After thinking it over, Bao Gu said, “The path of ascension should belong to the entire cultivation world. It shouldn’t be monopolized by any single sect or faction. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Everyone nodded in succession. How could they not? If they said it *should* be monopolized, then the ones with the best claim to that monopoly would be Kan Gang and Xuantian Sect.
Bao Gu said, “No matter whether a cultivator comes from a great sect or walks the path alone, as long as they have the strength to face the ascension tribulation, they should be eligible to step onto the path of ascension. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Could anyone oppose that? Of course not.
They echoed their agreement one after another.
Bao Gu said, “After much thought, I still believe it would be best for all factions present to jointly hold the Five Elements Immortal Stones.
“The stones will remain in Qingzhou, guarded by experts chosen from all of your factions. As payment, those guardians will be allowed to comprehend the Dao patterns branded upon the stones.
“Those are traces left behind by countless mighty experts of old, when heavenly tribulation lightning struck the Five Elements Immortal Stones as they ascended. It is power closest to the source of the Grand Dao.”
The hall exploded into uproar.
Bao Gu ignored their commotion and continued, “I have three conditions. If you agree, I’ll bring out the Five Elements Immortal Stones. If you don’t, I take them with me.”
“Lord, please speak.”
Bao Gu said, “First, all who guard the Five Elements Immortal Stones must swear a blood oath to protect every single stone with all their strength, even at the cost of their own lives, and never harbor the selfish thought of claiming them.
“Second, the stones are to be used for building the Immortal Ascension Platform. As far as I know, it will be nearly impossible to find more of these stones in this realm. Without them, the road to the upper realm cannot be opened again.
“So when the time comes that the Immortal Ascension Platform can be built, you must guarantee that these stones will, in fact, be used to build it.
“Third, I want all of you to agree to one request and lend me your help with one matter.”
“Lord, please speak.”
Bao Gu said, “Back then, Xuantian Patriarch fought to the death to protect my wife and child. I only stand where I am today because I inherited the Patriarch’s legacy. My teacher’s wife has shown me boundless kindness as well. I once swore that if fate allowed, I would avenge them both.
“In the future, if there comes a day when my teacher’s wife seeks revenge for Xuantian Patriarch and finds herself in trouble, I ask that you all lend her your aid.”
She looked around the hall as she spoke.
“Years ago, the cultivation world broke faith and turned its back on honor. After joining hands with the Demon Realm to resist Ba, they immediately struck at the Demon Realm, leaving it grievously wounded and almost annihilated.
“Though my teacher’s wife, wary of the cultivation world’s treachery, did not take direct action, she has never ignored the Ba calamity. She has guided and aided us several times.
“In the future, when the Demon Realm and my teacher’s wife are in need, I hope all of you will be willing to extend a hand.”
She paused, then let out a quiet sigh.
“What we owe them… I don’t know if I’ll ever have the chance to repay it in this lifetime.”
She quickly smoothed her emotions and changed the subject.
“As for my proposal regarding the Five Elements Immortal Stones—do you have any objections?”
One of the powerful experts at the banquet said, “We will need to discuss the specific procedures in detail.”
Bao Gu said, “I’ll give you three days. On my side, I’ll hand everything over to my Grandmaster Zi Tianjun, Kan Gang’s Left Envoy Wang Ding, Soul Chasing Pavilion Master Qu Yirou, and Empress Si Ruo of the Yue Kingdom.”
Seeing that no one objected, she delegated the remaining matters to Wang Ding to handle.
Wang Ding had followed Bao Gu for so many years, always acting according to her will, never once voicing an objection. Today, though, he was deeply reluctant.
People had feelings. He had served Bao Gu loyally for more than a decade. It was Bao Gu who sent people to save his life when he was on the brink of death, Bao Gu who had raised a nobody like him up step by step to the power and status he had now.
And today, he had to stand there and watch her calmly put her “affairs after death” in order, one by one.
He had always believed his Lord was not some grand, far‑seeing hero. At times her laziness made him want to laugh and cry. But whether it was business or dealing with people, there was never anything to criticize.
And now, for Yu Mi’s sake, for the cultivation world’s sake, she was set on going to die.
Wang Ding’s chest felt unbearably tight.
Compared to Wang Ding’s repressed misery, Zi Tianjun simply chased after Bao Gu the moment she stepped out of the Kan Gang headquarters.
Zi Tianjun rushed a few steps, blocked her path, and snapped,
“There are so many people in the cultivation world, so many disciples in Xuantian Sect. Why does it *have* to be you? Why can’t we send someone else?”
Bao Gu replied softly, “Grandmaster, why do you think Ba abducted Senior Sister?
“There are countless ways to force Auntie Sheng to appear. Ba has already targeted Auntie Sheng, and she has already caught Senior Sister. I’ve shown my face before her as well. Sooner or later, Ba will find Auntie Sheng.
“Auntie Sheng and Little Martial Aunt are always together. If Auntie Sheng is in danger, Little Martial Aunt will not escape, either.
“For the moment, Senior Sister is in no immediate danger in Ba’s hands. But what about later? Who can guarantee that?”
She didn’t have some noble desire to sacrifice herself for the world. But there were some people she would protect even at the cost of her life. And besides, she wasn’t certain she would die.
The moment the matter involved Zi Yunshu, Zi Tianjun found he couldn’t say a single word to refute her. Putting himself in her place, if Zi Yunshu were in danger, he would also gamble his life to protect his daughter.
Bao Gu’s fears were not paranoia. The facts were right in front of them.
“I never should have agreed to let Yu Mi go to the Desolate Ancient Mountain Range,” he said bitterly.
Bao Gu replied, “Senior Sister had her reasons to go to the Desolate Ancient Mountain Range, Grandmaster. The only thing she did wrong was not telling me.”
She didn’t dare blame Zi Tianjun, but toward Yu Mi, she did harbor some resentment.
“She is Xuantian Sect’s young sect master. The future of the sect rests on her shoulders. She can die on the road of growth, but she cannot sit on the future sect master’s seat as a mediocrity.
“She’s the young sect master. She has to be the example for every Xuantian disciple, taking the lead at the front. There’s no room for her to shrink back.
“Her temperament and the path of her cultivation also don’t permit her to retreat.”
She finished speaking, then bent her knees and knelt in front of Zi Tianjun.
Zi Tianjun was startled.
“What are you doing?”
Bao Gu said, “Grandmaster, if I leave… please… seal away Senior Sister’s memories of me. Make her forget me.”
“You…” Zi Tianjun cried out in shock.
Bao Gu said, “I’m confident I can keep my life and survive, but the chance of me returning is so slim it might as well be impossible.
“Grandmaster, I don’t want Senior Sister to spend the rest of her life in longing and pain.”
Zi Tianjun’s eyes reddened.
“You don’t have to go this far. There may still be other ways to bring Yu Mi back. I can send people in first to investigate her whereabouts…”
“It’s useless,” Bao Gu cut in. “Even Teacher’s Wife won’t say where Senior Sister is.
“If knowing Senior Sister’s whereabouts was enough to save her, Teacher’s Wife would never have hidden it from me.
“The cultivation world is still underestimating the Ba calamity.”
And it wasn’t just the cultivation world. Her Grandmaster and Senior Sister, too.
She had no strength left to keep explaining to them over and over how serious Ba truly was. To them, things that hadn’t happened yet, things they hadn’t seen with their own eyes, didn’t count as real.
What she said as Bao Gu was not some iron law of heaven. She was just a girl who had cultivated for barely over ten years. What right did she have to assert the truth of everything?
She could see some clues from the phenomena in the Desolate Ancient Mountain Range, but she didn’t dare claim she was absolutely right. Yet she couldn’t afford to gamble. If things really turned out as she suspected, it would be too late to save anything.
She wasn’t a gambler. She didn’t dare bet on that tiny sliver of luck. People who clung to lucky chances usually lost everything.
And she couldn’t afford to lose.
Zi Tianjun sighed.
“Your Senior Sister has a treasure bestowed by the Patriarch’s grandmother protecting her. I can’t touch her soul. There’s no way to seal her memories.”
He helped Bao Gu back to her feet, guilt heavy in his voice.
“It’s your Grandmaster who has wronged you.”
Bao Gu shook her head.
“Without Senior Sister, without Xuantian Sect, without all of you, I would have died at thirteen.
“Grandmaster, let’s not talk about this anymore.
“My importance to Xuantian Sect isn’t as great as you think. My leaving isn’t as disastrous as you imagine.”
Three days later, everything had been arranged.
Bao Gu took the Five Elements Immortal Stones out of the massive storage bag and placed them in a specially marked area in Shadow City. Nearly a hundred experts chosen from each faction took up stations there, with elite Kan Gang guards watching on all sides.
She stowed the spirit stones brought by the various factions into her enormous storage bag, then picked three void‑crossing vessels from the six they had gifted her.
Si Ruo and Qu Yirou had also sent their own vessels. Of course, she couldn’t rob her own friends.
After learning how to operate the three vessels and the formations inscribed on them, she put two vessels away into her storage bag and piloted the last one straight toward the Desolate Ancient Mountain Range.
Once the vessel slipped into the void and had traveled for some distance, Bao Gu suddenly sensed something off behind her. She looked back and saw Duobao Spirit Monkey desperately chasing after her.
The palm‑sized little monkey was so anxious it had transformed back into its over‑one‑zhang‑tall, fiercely muscular form. Its shrill screeching stabbed at her ears.
She slowed the vessel, and Duobao Spirit Monkey leapt aboard, shrinking back down to palm size. It pointed its tiny paw at her and chattered madly, scolding her without pause.
Bao Gu patted its head.
“I’ve treated you terribly. Why are you so nervous about me?
“Little monkey, follow Yu Mi from now on. If she can’t let go of me, tell her… I’ll see her in the upper realm.”
Duobao Spirit Monkey let out a sharp “zzi,” giving Bao Gu a suspicious look.
“If I don’t get lost in the void,” Bao Gu said, “I’ll follow the coordinates Teacher’s Wife gave me and keep crossing the void all the way to the upper realm.
“I just hope the spirit stones I’m carrying will last.”
Duobao Spirit Monkey threw its arms around Bao Gu’s neck and clung to her, screeching frantically, its eyes almost bulging out.
Bao Gu spoke through tears.
“Protect Yu Mi for me, all right?
“As long as she’s safe and sound, I’ll have a reason to keep living.”
Duobao Spirit Monkey nodded hard. It chittered again, then sent a message with its divine sense, telling Bao Gu it would go with her to the Desolate Ancient Mountain Range and help her bring Yu Mi back.
Bao Gu agreed.
