Chapter 111: Call Me Daddy

Ansi Valley was truly destroyed. Rumbles of explosions and thick smoke billowed from within, and the massive shockwaves left the cultivators on the perimeter struggling to keep their footing as they scrambled to flee to safety.

The explosions in Ansi Valley continued unabated, a thunderous, relentless din. The cultivators turned pale; the two who had not emerged were undoubtedly dead. If they had not heeded Zhou Qi's warning, they would likely have perished inside as well.

Before long, the explosions ceased and the thick smoke dissipated. Ansi Valley was no more. A massive crater remained, and the mountains on both sides collapsed, pouring into the pit until it was filled. The peaks vanished, replaced by a mound of earth spanning a hundred miles.

The moment the explosions began, Zhou Qi had used the chaos to slip away, employing his Divine Movement Step. He dared not pause for a moment. Once outside, the world would belong to the Daoist Heir. Now at the second layer of Foundation Establishment, his chances of defeating the Daoist Heir, who was at the initial stage of Golden Core, were slim. Dao Fan was no mere rogue cultivator; he possessed formidable methods, top-tier spirit tools, and supreme techniques. Trying to employ the same underhanded tactics he used on common rogues against Dao Fan was unlikely to succeed.

Zhou Qi hurried to his previous cave dwelling, only to see it had already collapsed. A lone figure stood outside—it was Xiao Bai.

Seeing a stranger approach, Xiao Bai was terrified and prepared to flee, until Zhou Qi called out, "Xiao Bai, don't panic, it's me."

"Boss, you finally returned..." Xiao Bai sobbed, preparing to kneel.

Zhou Qi pulled him up. "Let's leave this place first." He quickly summoned his sword and departed.

*Why is the Boss no longer afraid of heights?* Xiao Bai wondered, his heart sinking as he recalled his failed mission. Before the Boss entered the valley, he had sworn that if anything happened to Miss Jiu'er, he would be the first to die. He had survived, but he had lost Miss Jiu'er.

After traveling many kilometers by sword, Zhou Qi dove into a dense mountain range. He skillfully chased away a bear, set up a formation, and then asked Xiao Bai what had happened.

Xiao Bai tearfully recounted the events: On the first day after Zhou Qi left, the three of them stayed in the cave, and everything was peaceful.

By the second day, the little fox began crying from hunger. Since it had not yet achieved inedia, this was normal. Jiu'er, feeling sorry for it, wanted to go out to buy food. Xiao Bai remembered Zhou Qi’s instructions and firmly blocked her, but he could not withstand the pleas of both the little fox and Jiu'er. Furthermore, he knew he couldn't stop her if she decided to fight. Ultimately, Xiao Bai decided to go to a nearby town himself to buy food, leaving the two of them in the cave to wait.

To his shock, when he returned, the cave had collapsed, and both Jiu'er and the little fox were gone. Panicked, Xiao Bai made inquiries until he heard that three Golden Core cultivators had been seen chasing two females—one large and one small—who were surely Jiu'er and the little fox. Fearing that Zhou Qi would return to find nothing, and knowing he couldn't catch up anyway, Xiao Bai stayed outside the ruined cave to wait.

After finishing his story, Xiao Bai prepared to kneel again. "Boss, I have failed your trust. Please, punish me with death."

Zhou Qi stopped him. "This is not your fault. The Daoist Heir targeted us. You did nothing wrong; there is no need for this. I knew he was coming for you while I was inside. It is a good thing you are safe. Jiu'er has the Bewildering Immortal Array and the Earth-Breaking Talisman I gave her; those three Golden Core cultivators may not necessarily have succeeded."

Seeing Zhou Qi’s reaction, Xiao Bai stopped insisting. He knew this was a matter of strategic retreat—if his attitude were poor, a minor mistake would become a major one. By showing the right attitude, the Boss would surely not hold it against him. His own talent and insight were limited; rather than struggling in vain for resources, it was better to cling tightly to the Boss's leg. He needed to master the art of being a subordinate.

"Why would the Daoist Heir target us? He seemed so righteous, with no prejudice against the demon race. Could he be coveting Miss Jiu'er's beauty?" Xiao Bai asked.

"Hah, that’s just an act," Zhou Qi explained. "With his eyes that pierce through illusions, he long ago discovered that Jiu'er and the little fox were demons. He waited until we were gone to act, simply to avoid gossip and preserve his image." Naturally, he could not tell Xiao Bai about the Daoist Heir's greed for his Medicine Immortal Holy Mansion.

Zhou Qi was deeply worried about Jiu'er and the little fox, fearing they had fallen into the Daoist Heir's clutches. However, the fact that Dao Fan was waiting for him outside suggested he might not have caught them yet; if he had a trump card, he would not be so anxious. Furthermore, the wisp of Jiu'er's soul within his soul sea showed no signs of weakening. According to True Monarch Tianxuan, she must be safe, as any harm to her true body would reflect in that wisp.

He had to investigate where she had gone. "Xiao Bai, your talent and comprehension are mediocre; it will be difficult for you to advance further in this life. I intend to refine a Bone-Root Pill to improve your aptitude. Once you have refined it, we will go to search for news of Jiu'er. If we find nothing, you will remain within the Daoist sect's territory to keep searching. Huangfu Xiu's condition cannot be delayed," Zhou Qi said. Xiao Bai's talent was a major issue, but he had been loyal and diligent, and he had the gift of gab—all he lacked was power. As his boss, it was necessary to give him hope.

Hearing that his boss would not only spare him but also reward him with a Bone-Root Pill, Xiao Bai wept. His lack of talent had been a long-standing pain; he had thought his path of cultivation was at an end. He decided then and there to cling to Zhou Qi’s leg for the rest of his life—this time, with total sincerity.

Zhou Qi sank his consciousness into the Medicine Immortal Holy Mansion and saw Xiao Hui, Xiao Qi, and Xiao Ti sighing. "Is the Master here?" they called out.

Zhou Qi manifested his form. Had something happened to the nine new employees?

Seeing him, Xiao Hui happily stepped forward. "Master, we don't know what is happening in the mansion. The medicinal power within the herbs is slowly leaking away, the success rate of our pills has dropped significantly, and the quality of the finished pills is constantly declining."

*This is happening?* Zhou Qi was shocked. He hurriedly spread his consciousness to investigate where the leaking medicinal power was going.

Tracing the flow of energy, he finally discovered the culprit: the dragon egg. The spiritual and medicinal power of all the treasures in the Medicine Immortal Holy Mansion was converging upon it.

Zhou Qi was furious. If this continued, the mansion would be drained dry. He quickly pulled the dragon egg out of the mansion.

Xiao Bai, still feeling moved, watched as his boss pulled out a massive egg and cradled it in his arms.

Xiao Bai was startled. *Is this Bone-Root Pill a bit too big?* "Boss, is this for me to eat?"

Zhou Qi shook his head, placed the egg on the ground, and stroked it continuously.

"Come now, little darling, say 'dada'."