After that day, rumors about the eastern seaside being the residence of a Grandmaster spread rapidly. For cultivators, rumors about Grandmasters were naturally interesting, because they were all beings they could only look up to. You could say Grandmasters were like idols—whatever they did could always become news.
"Did you hear about the new Grandmaster who appeared recently?"
In a restaurant in the nightlife district, this place was rather strange. It was a shop located underground, and the entrance was extremely narrow. It was situated in a deep alley that people rarely noticed. You could say probably only regular customers would come eat and drink here.
But this shop still had customers coming and going constantly. That was because this shop had one interesting distinguishing feature.
Only cultivators came to this shop.
Actually, the shop owner didn't forbid ordinary people, but when people wandered in, the cultivators would stare intently to assess the newcomer's skills. For ordinary people, that scene was naturally extremely frightening.
So only people from this side of the world, including those who already knew about cultivation, could come here. This shop was therefore like a gathering point for cultivators.
They talked, hired people, and even sold various information. Sometimes people even brought treasures to sell here, making this shop gradually gain fame.
The owner of this shop was rather peculiar. No one knew what cultivation power level he had. There were rumors he was exceptionally skilled at concealing his power. But even so, no one dared try anything.
Because once, he had flung an 8th-stage Martial Master out of the shop with a single movement.
That made it so every time cultivators came to eat and drink at this shop, they would be especially careful.
"I heard. News that big."
"Bai Fanxian, right? She seems to be a woman."
"Yeah. I wonder what she looks like. None of the people who went that day saw her face."
This wasn't really strange, because Bai Fanxian's face had not been officially revealed to the public. Those who had seen her were only the Tang Clan people, the Han Clan people, Ting Kangming, Yi Yifan, and the military.
And none of these five parties had any need to reveal her face at all.
One party was on the same side as Bai Fanxian.
The other three parties had all been slapped back hard by her. If they spread her face, certainly the matter of being oppressed would have to be revealed as well.
Especially with the Han Clan—Han Junpo, who had recovered with anger and humiliation, strictly ordered his people not to speak about the events of that day to anyone at all.
As for the military, Liu Yianfei had no intention of being enemies with Bai Fanxian anyway.
This meant that aside from the photo that had once spread across social media, no more pictures of Bai Fanxian appeared. And those who didn't know had no way to connect "the formidable Grandmaster Bai" with the young woman more beautiful than a celestial fairy in that internet photo.
"So the cultivators' world is shaking again, huh?"
"Yeah. No one's broken through to Grandmaster level in many years. This time it's really big."
"Besides that, did you guys see that 'Border'?"
"Everyone saw it. That pillar of purple light shooting up into the sky, right?"
"There are rumors the military is very interested in that thing. They'll probably go negotiate with Grandmaster Bai soon."
"Well, that thing is really powerful. It could easily bounce away Martial Master level cultivators who went that day. It'd be strange if the military wasn't interested."
They talked loudly, with only the shop owner—an old man with a calm demeanor—standing in the kitchen listening quietly...
And it was as they discussed. After the military learned about the power of the Border set up around Bai Fanxian's house, they couldn't sit still. Power that could defend against attacks and also reflect enemies away like this—if used militarily, it would certainly make their combat power soar even higher.
"I'm not interested..."
At Bai Fanxian's seaside vacation house, today Liu Yianfei had come here again as usual. The middle-aged man who still looked firmly young sighed for who knew how many times. He felt that lately there had to be matters that made him come to this house far too often!
But the most troublesome thing was that the owner of this house was someone who didn't receive guests. Moreover, she wasn't afraid of his military authority or the army's at all.
You could tell from how she was lazily reclining on the sofa while watching the cartoon "Little Bear" with the children, paying no attention to him and Jin Ling sitting across from them.
Perhaps because the military had rushed him, he came too early. When he arrived, the children had just finished breakfast.
Butler Huang at first still had some consideration for him, but as days went by, he increasingly picked up his lady's habits. After politely serving tea, he went to stand in attendance beside Bai Fanxian without bothering to remind her to conduct herself properly in front of guests!
"Please think about it a bit more. There's no problem with compensation. Or whatever materials are needed, the military will prepare them ourselves."
Liu Yianfei continued trying to persuade, because the military saw that he seemed to be most familiar with this new Grandmaster and sent him to negotiate. They even gave him full authority to assess prices and compensation.
"No thanks... it's bothersome."
Bai Fanxian refused again. This time she even waved her hand as if shooing him away casually.
"I understand."
Liu Yianfei accepted surprisingly quickly. He laughed lightly, until even Uncle Huang nearby was surprised by this General's attitude changing from front to back so suddenly. Just now he was still trying to persuade, but once she refused again, he accepted easily.
Actually, Liu Yianfei himself really didn't want to do this task. He more or less knew Grandmaster Bai Fanxian's temperament well—what kind of person she was. The more he pestered, the more likely it would make her displeased.
"Jin Ling, record that I tried persuading Grandmaster Bai twice, but was still refused. If the military really wants it, send someone else."
The young man turned to give orders to the close subordinate who came with him. Today only the two of them came, because he didn't want to disturb Bai Fanxian. Even if they brought the whole unit, if she was annoyed, probably no one would get into this house.
"Yes, General." Jin Ling acknowledged with a smile. He skillfully recorded the report data on his small portable computer.
Having finished work, Liu Yianfei sighed again. Uncle Huang noticed his gaze was staring at the two little girls sitting shoulder to shoulder watching cartoons.
His eyes were full of affection, but also tinged with deep sadness.
But after staring for a while, he was surprised. His Heaven Sense spread out around him. He could roughly control it not to disturb Bai Fanxian, focusing attention only on these two little girls.
"3rd-stage Qi Gathering?"
He looked at Tang Yeye's small figure in amazement. Besides having qi power this high at such a young age, her body was also exceptionally suited for cultivation.
But when he shifted his gaze to Hui'er, he had to furrow his brows, because his Heaven Sense couldn't sense this child's qi power at all, not even a bit.
But he could sense physical strength superior to Tang Yeye's. Even Hui'er's movements while sitting were imbued with certain principles.
To say Grandmaster Bai taught the children unequally probably wasn't right. Uncle Huang, seeing Liu Yianfei's surprised demeanor, naturally knew immediately that the man before him had sensed these two children's abnormality.
The old butler turned to look at the lady of the house. When he saw her nod lightly in acknowledgment, he began explaining to the young man.
"General Liu noticed, didn't you?"
Liu Yianfei nodded. He turned to stare at Hui'er's body in surprise. "This child doesn't cultivate... wait, that's not right?"
"This child has no qi power?"
The young man was extremely shocked by the unexpected conclusion. The chance that a person would have no qi power or couldn't enter the Qi Gathering stage was extremely small.
But it wasn't nonexistent. He had seen people who started cultivating but had this condition only once in his life.
"Yes." Uncle Huang acknowledged with a sad smile. He had seen this child's efforts more than anyone. If possible, he wanted this little girl to cultivate like normal people too.
Hui'er, hearing they were talking about her, turned to look with interest.
"Mm..."
Liu Yianfei made a thoughtful expression. He looked at the little girl with pitying eyes.
"Have you tried giving her elixirs or seeing a doctor?"
"My lady herself is a first-rate alchemist, but she still hasn't been able to find the cause..." Huang Zihan shook his head lightly.
"Is that so..." The young man nodded in understanding. Especially Jin Ling, who secretly agreed silently. He was one person who knew well Grandmaster Bai's abilities, and also wanted to beg her to help cure his General until healed.
"What about Wu Jia then? He himself had this same condition when he started cultivating. If you consult him, he might have a way to cure this child?"
"Wu Jia?" Uncle Huang had never heard this name before. He repeated the name in confusion. But Liu Yianfei's words made Bai Fanxian turn to look with great interest.
From his words, it meant someone had recovered from this condition?
"Oh... that name probably isn't very well known." The young man laughed lightly. He raised his tea to sip while reminiscing about old memories.
"These days, people probably all call him the 'Divine Doctor.'"