Chapter 109: Gaining the Recognition of the Clansmen

Bai Ling spread her arms and bowed to the clanspeople beneath the Sacred Spirit Altar. A gentle smile rested on her face, and though her voice was soft, there was a quiet strength within it. Her entire bearing was pleasing to behold.

“Because of the unexpected incident yesterday afternoon, my son Bai Yong, Bai Ziye, and I will explain everything to you today.” Bai Ling’s voice drifted through the air, spreading little by little.

Hidden away from sight, Yin Yao listened to the echoes and suddenly grew curious about the structure of the Sacred Spirit Altar. She turned to Bai Yun and asked, “Yun’er, could you tell me how this Sacred Spirit Altar is built?”

Bai Yun blinked. “All right, but I don’t have much time to explain it carefully right now! Very soon, I’ll be taking you up onto the Sacred Spirit Altar according to Mother’s instructions. You can observe it secretly then. Hehe.”

Hearing this, Yin Yao nodded before asking about the point that most intrigued her. “Yun’er, is the Sacred Spirit Altar built somewhere like a valley?”

Ji Xuanyu glanced at the Sacred Spirit Altar, then looked at Yin Yao. After thinking over what had happened earlier, he seemed to understand why she had asked. His gaze settled on her, carrying an unreadable meaning.

Yin Yao’s question made Bai Yun’s eyes light up. She widened them in surprise and said, “Sister Yao’er, how did you know? The Sacred Spirit Altar really is built in a valley! Standing on it and looking at the scenery below feels wonderful. The view is beautiful!”

Bai Yun’s innocent answer left Yin Yao faintly helpless. Perhaps Bai Yun was the only one who believed that standing atop the Sacred Spirit Altar and looking down at the scenery was merely a matter of enjoying the view.

Every person in power shared one common trait: they all liked standing in high places and looking down below. It gave them the pleasure of being above everyone else. Only after experiencing it could one truly understand the intoxicating delight of occupying such a lofty position.

Bai Yun genuinely liked being in high places simply because she enjoyed the scenery, but she shared that same trait as well. After all, one could see farther from a higher vantage point.

After hearing Bai Yun’s answer and seeing the thoughtful expression that had settled over Yin Yao’s face, Ji Xuanyu smiled.

Bai Yun’s thoughts were truly simple to the point of innocence. So many people fought desperately to reach high positions, yearning to experience the sensation of looking down upon all the mountains below and savoring the indescribable pleasure of standing above others. Yet she regarded the place as nothing more than an excellent viewpoint. It was enough to leave one torn between laughter and tears.

“I believe Bai Ziye and Bai Yong already explained the matter to everyone yesterday. What you thought was an upheaval was actually caused by a member of our clan who had been cultivating in seclusion for many years. Yesterday, she emerged from seclusion and encountered an opportunity, allowing her to advance at that very moment. Her old friend from the Dragon Clan sensed the unusual fluctuations of spiritual energy in the air, along with the presence of his friend’s aura. He therefore came to confirm whether the friend who had been cultivating in seclusion for so long had finally emerged.”

“The place where everyone saw the phantom of the White Fox, and the place where the phantom of the Flame Dragon appeared in physical form, were one and the same. That was because our friend from the Dragon Clan, having traveled a great distance, confirmed that the person who had advanced was indeed his friend. That was why he appeared there as well. To prevent everyone from worrying, Ziye rushed to the scene as quickly as possible and temporarily took the two of them away. This avoided any unnecessary panic. Isn’t that right, Ziye?” As Bai Ling spoke, she shifted her gaze toward Bai Ziye.

Bai Ziye understood her meaning and nodded. “Yes, Clan Leader. I knew that a member of our clan had been devoted to cultivation for a long time. When such a disturbance suddenly broke out, my first thought was that she had emerged from seclusion, so I hurried over as quickly as I could. And indeed, it was her. Her friend was there as well, so Miss Bai Yun and I took them away from the scene. Afterward, I returned to deal with the situation, while Miss Bai Yun escorted the disciple and her friend back to the Sacred Spirit Hall.”

“When I returned, Big Brother Bai Yong was already leading the patrol guards in calming the clanspeople. I merely went over to explain the situation.” Bai Ziye handed the conversation over to Bai Yong.

“I was only doing my duty,” Bai Yong said with a simple, honest smile. “I’m not good with words. It would be better to let the Clan Leader speak.”

Bai Ling smiled and continued, “My beloved clanspeople, I believe the explanations given by the three of us have put your minds at ease regarding yesterday’s events. Now, let Bai Yun bring the two young people who accidentally caused such a tremendous disturbance before everyone.”

With that, Bai Ling smiled and turned to nod at a maid standing behind the Sacred Spirit Altar. After receiving the instruction, the maid hurriedly bowed and ran toward the rear.

“Miss Bai Yun, the Clan Leader asks you to take this young lady and her friend to the Sacred Spirit Altar.”

“Understood. You may leave.” After speaking to the maid, Bai Yun turned and waved to Yin Yao and Ji Xuanyu. “Let’s go.”

As they climbed the Sacred Spirit Altar step by step, Yin Yao suddenly felt as though the world had opened wide before her. Without revealing anything, she slowly surveyed her surroundings. As expected, the Sacred Spirit Altar had been built within a valley. No wonder the echoes carried so clearly. Of course, it was probably also designed so that the clanspeople in the valley could hear the words spoken from the altar more distinctly.

Ji Xuanyu discovered something that astonished him.

Behind them, in front of the stone wall, their figures were suspended in the air as enormous phantoms.

Everyone standing upon the Sacred Spirit Altar appeared there. This made it clear that the clanspeople would not be unable to see their every move merely because they were standing high above them. Nor would this affect the clanspeople’s judgment of them. Their figures had been magnified several times, allowing everyone below to observe their conduct and expressions with perfect clarity.

Clearly, Yin Yao had noticed this as well. She slowly corrected the position of her slightly wandering gaze, lifted her chin, straightened her chest, and faced forward. Bai Yun also stood obediently, like a refined young lady from a distinguished household. Ji Xuanyu straightened his back and slowly stepped forward.

In truth, Yin Yao was rather excited. Her discovery immediately reminded her of the enormous liquid-crystal screens of the twenty-first century. How similar they were! Yet Yin Yao could clearly sense spiritual energy fluctuating around the phantom that displayed their figures. This meant that the projection had likely been created through the spiritual energy supplied by several powerful cultivators.

Below the Sacred Spirit Altar, the clanspeople watched as three more figures appeared in the air.

One was the familiar, kind, and enthusiastic Bai Yun. Another was an unfamiliar woman dressed entirely in white, her expression cold and her presence aloof. The third was an unfamiliar man whose entire body radiated an imposing authority.

The clanspeople assumed that these two strangers must be the reclusive disciple and her friend from the Dragon Clan whom the Clan Leader and Bai Ziye had mentioned. Judging by his appearance, the man was probably a young member of the Dragon Clan, while the woman was likely the reclusive disciple of their White Fox Clan.

“All right. Everyone has now seen the people who caused such a tremendous disturbance yesterday. What do you say? Shall we have them introduce themselves and apologize to everyone?” Bai Ling asked with a half-joking smile.

The clanspeople quickly accepted the suggestion and began calling out from below the Sacred Spirit Altar. Bai Yun took Yin Yao by the hand and led her forward together with Ji Xuanyu. The three of them stepped ahead as one. At that moment, Bai Ling turned her gaze toward Yin Yao, who smiled and nodded.

“Beloved clanspeople of the White Fox Clan, I am truly sorry for causing such a great disturbance yesterday when I emerged from seclusion with my friend. It is also my fault for having been away from the clan for so long. While I was walking through the forest, I unexpectedly encountered an opportunity, and the power that had remained stagnant for so long suddenly found a breakthrough. That was what caused the phantom of the White Fox to appear.”

After speaking, Yin Yao bowed deeply to everyone, expressing her sincere apology.

When she straightened, she turned to Ji Xuanyu. “This is a friend from the Dragon Clan whom I happened to meet while traveling outside. He has helped me through many difficulties. Yesterday, he sensed my aura and came here in search of me. He may have been somewhat anxious and rushed over in a hurry, which was why the Flame Dragon manifested in physical form and carried him here.”

As soon as Yin Yao finished speaking, Ji Xuanyu immediately continued, “People of the White Fox Clan, I sincerely apologize. I never imagined that my carelessness would cause everyone to misunderstand the situation. I am sorry.”

Seeing that both of them had finished speaking and expressed their positions, Bai Ling slowly walked between them and took Yin Yao’s hand.

“My clanspeople, Bai Yao is the daughter of a close friend of mine. Her parents are no longer by her side, so I will raise her from now on. I regard Bai Yao as my own daughter. I would also like everyone to become acquainted with her. Now that Yao’er has emerged from seclusion, she will be appearing before you all quite often.”

Yin Yao offered a smile at the appropriate moment. Only she knew how long it had been since she had last worn such a formal smile. But given the present circumstances, she had no choice.

For the moment, she could only lower her head and endure.

The clanspeople beneath the Sacred Spirit Altar looked at the phantom of their Clan Leader above them as she held the hand of the woman called Bai Yao. The Clan Leader’s smile was gentle, and the two behaved with obvious intimacy. Thus, everyone understood that Bai Yao truly shared a deep relationship with her. It seemed that all their worries yesterday had been unnecessary. They had feared that something serious had happened, simply because such a tremendous disturbance had erupted.

In reality, the disturbance had been caused by Bai Yao’s advancement. What was even more remarkable was that she had summoned the phantom of the White Fox during her breakthrough. This proved that Bai Yao possessed an exceptionally rare talent. After all, the phantom of the White Fox was not something that could appear at random.

Since the Spirit Fox Clan had split into two branches, it had become increasingly rare to see young people capable of summoning the phantom of the White Fox. At present, there were probably only four people who could summon such a clear divine-beast apparition: Bai Yong, Bai Ziye, Bai Yun, and the newly emerged Bai Yao.

Some clanspeople nodded, while others smiled. None of these reactions escaped Bai Ling’s notice. Seeing this, she knew that Yao’er had won the clanspeople’s approval.

Now she only needed to help Ji Xuanyu gain the freedom to move about the clan as well, rather than allowing him to be restricted simply because he was an outsider.

Bai Ling gently placed her left hand on Ji Xuanyu’s shoulder. “This is Bai Yao’s friend. He once helped Yao’er greatly and assisted her through many difficulties. The two of them studied together and supported one another, and they are extremely close friends. I hope none of you will treat Xuanyu differently merely because he comes from another race. I hope you will simply regard him as the friend of one of our clanspeople and treat him accordingly.”

The clanspeople did not accept this suggestion immediately. Varying degrees of hesitation appeared on their faces. They did not know whether they should follow the Clan Leader’s words, nor whether they could wholeheartedly accept a member of another race.

In the end, someone took the lead by declaring that Ji Xuanyu was merely the friend of one of the clan’s young talents and not an outsider at all.

Soon, the clanspeople accepted this attitude.

A relieved smile spread across Bai Ling’s face. She was grateful that her clanspeople were so understanding, sparing her the lengthy persuasion she had prepared.