Volume Two: The Catalogue of Weapons Chapter 105: Autumn Winds Mourn the Painted Fan

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Liu Xiaoyi was speechless with excitement; it was his first time seeing a mythical beast. Bai Ze’s size was far beyond his imagination. Even while crouching, its three-zhang-tall frame loomed over Liu Xiaoyi, who was standing at his full height. With the sturdy, muscular build of a lion and a single horn radiating waves of mystical power, it appeared truly divine.

"The Venerable is actually willing to stay with a human?" In Bai Ze’s memory, the Venerable had always been at odds with humanity. The great wars of the past were all ignited by the Venerable’s fiery temper, leaving those of their own kind with no choice but to follow in battle.

However, seeing that the little tiger had yet to fully break the shackles of its own consciousness and could not speak, Bai Ze held his tongue. Since the Venerable had chosen this young man, there must be a reason for it.

"Are you the mythical beast, Bai Ze, who lives here?" Liu Xiaoyi frowned. A foul, putrid stench had been palpable since he entered the cave, and it grew more intense the further he walked. The villagers following far behind, carrying the sacrificial offerings, had all plugged their nostrils, breathing as shallowly as possible.

Fortunately, Bai Ze did not need to eat often to maintain his strength; the mystical power he cultivated sufficed for his daily needs. Any strength gained from food was channeled into breaking his shackles, yet no matter how he struggled, that final chain remained immovable.

Bai Ze nodded, his massive head swaying, and replied in a gentle tone: "Young human, to dare approach me for the sake of this little beast shows your sincerity. Ask what you will, and if I know the answer, I shall tell you."

"Master Bai Ze, may I ask why you are trapped here? I wish to save you. Is there any way to accomplish this?"

Upon hearing Liu Xiaoyi’s voice, Little Jin turned and trotted happily toward him, leaping into his arms. It rubbed its furry head against his clothes, as if pleading for him to help Bai Ze.

Having understood Little Jin’s request, Liu Xiaoyi had asked the question. In truth, he held many doubts—if legendary beasts were appearing in the world, how many unknown secrets were hidden in the world before him?

"You want to know? Are you not afraid that once I am freed, I will devour all the residents of this land? I have been hungry for many years." Bai Ze opened his blood-red maw and, with a gentle inhalation, swallowed all the sacrificial offerings laid before him. He did not even make a swallowing motion; the living cattle and sheep simply vanished.

After consuming them, Bai Ze did not seem satiated. He smacked his lips and looked at Liu Xiaoyi, his gaze carrying a hint of anticipation.

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Liu Xiaoyi’s expression remained calm. Even after witnessing such a display, his face did not change. He trusted that Little Jin’s instincts were correct; this mythical beast was surely testing him. "I trust Little Jin. Master Bai Ze would not commit such heinous acts. If you were to do so, I would draw my sword and strike you down myself."

Behind him, the Green Radiance Sword emitted a resonant metallic ring and flew from its scabbard, as if echoing Liu Xiaoyi’s words.

Seeing the sword, Bai Ze’s eyes lit up; the Light of Soul Guidance could not hide from his gaze. "Then step forward, and I shall tell you what transpired."

Liu Xiaoyi took a step forward. The distance was but half a zhang, yet the scenery before him shifted rapidly. A surge of murderous intent rushed toward him, forcing Liu Xiaoyi to instinctively channel his mystical power to protect his body.

When he looked at his surroundings, he was no longer in the cave. He stood upon a vast, ancient battlefield. He was at the border where the two sides met: on one side stood warriors wielding various divine weapons; on the other, beasts even taller and more majestic than Bai Ze.

These beasts were no ordinary creatures; their eyes shimmered with brilliant light. They were sentient beings of the beast race, though it remained unclear why they had gone to war with humanity. Liu Xiaoyi felt as small as a grain of sand in this vast ocean, ready to be swallowed by the surging tides of battle at any moment.

Fortunately, these were but phantoms manifested by Bai Ze’s power, not the real world. After the endless war finally concluded, the landscape of the Gold and Silver Islands was formed, and the corpses of many spirit beasts were cast into the abyss surrounding the islands.

Only one small white beast had escaped the calamity, only to be sealed here by a one-eyed Taoist using a formation of chains. It was forced to use the endless mystical power within its body to suppress the resentment buried beneath the Gold and Silver Islands.

Bai Ze was born with the ability to ward off ghosts, a fact the Taoist knew well. With such a vast number of wronged souls gathered here, new life would inevitably form over time. The Taoist had been forced to borrow Bai Ze’s power, intending to maintain a long-term suppression.

Initially, Bai Ze faced hundreds of his kin’s spirits every day. Though they had lost their minds, instinct drove them to try to break the seal and seek revenge in the human world.

Unconsciously, two clear tears streamed down Liu Xiaoyi’s cheeks. It was the first time in his life he had witnessed such a tragic, heroic scene. Bai Ze had been forced to destroy the spirits of his own kind with his own hands, enduring such torment night after night.

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"I was young then and did not understand the gravity of it all. I only knew to guard this place. But not long ago, my power discovered the secret beneath the seal: a weapon known as the Immortal-Slaying Sword. Its sword spirit is suppressed by the resentment of the dead, likely placed there by the very person who orchestrated that great war," Bai Ze explained, pulling Liu Xiaoyi back from his memories.

The two families currently on the Gold and Silver Islands were descendants of the survivors of that war, tasked with ensuring Bai Ze’s survival. If he were to die, the vengeful spirits trapped here would surely wreak havoc upon the world.

"If you can draw out that sword spirit and purify it, I will be able to break free and be rid of these shackles forever. Are you willing to help me?"

"If Little Jin wishes for me to help you, then I, Liu, will certainly not refuse." Feeling the emotions transmitted by Little Jin, Liu Xiaoyi agreed without hesitation. Carrying the Light of Soul Guidance, he was a natural nemesis to these vengeful souls.

Bai Ze tapped the stone pillar with a forepaw, activating the patterns upon it to condense a primitive, ancient gate. "Walk through. It leads beneath the Gold and Silver Islands. You must be certain of your choice; after being baptized by so many years of resentment, there is no telling what demons and ghosts may have been bred within."

Liu Xiaoyi stood tall, sword in hand, and stepped forward to push the gate open, entering the pitch-black void. Fortunately, with the Fire Seal at his side, the flames he conjured illuminated the surroundings.

Faint light shimmered far above; the cliff was at least ten thousand zhang high, and the vast sky had narrowed to a mere sliver. "Little Jin, do not wander off. Stay close to me." The crushing weight of the atmosphere made Liu Xiaoyi feel tense.

The mournful wails of vengeful spirits drifted and danced with the wind. After walking only a dozen steps, Liu Xiaoyi heard at least a hundred different voices. Though he could not understand their words, the shared sense of profound sorrow and indignation was unmistakable.