Now, Bubai was really caught between a rock and a hard place.

  Don’t think this word trap is simple. In fact, it left him with no choice!

  Can he not save his women? Impossible.

  Let’s not even mention Xiao Lan. Even this rose by his side was a thorny problem.

  Sure, they already went through the motions on heavenly oaths, but oaths only go so far.

  For cultivators striving to improve, such vows were the greatest shackle.

  But for those facing death? Haha.

  Believe it or not, if he dares abandons this rose, the drowning women won’t hesitate to drag him down as well!

  That’s why she was on the must-save list.

  They were grasshoppers on the same rope. Saving her meant protecting himself!

  Bubai sighed inside. Old fox is really an old fox. Really knows how to force his hand.

  But the game was far from over—he just needed to find the right move to slip through the tightening noose.

  Clearing his throat, Bubai forced a nervous laugh.

  “Haha. Elder Mo, surely there’s no need to be so hasty! Junior believes there’s… still a chance to uncover the truth. Perhaps a thorough investigation could give Elder a satisfying answer?”

  Faintly smirking, Mo Badao leaned back into his seat.

  “A thorough investigation, hmm? And who, pray tell, would undertake such a task? You? What capacity do you have to shoulder such a big responsibility?”

  Hardening his face, Bubai straightened his back and seriously stared back.

  “Junior’s words doesn’t hold much weight, but I am willing to use my own life as guarantee!”

  The devil’s smirk turned into a cold, humorless chuckle. “Your life? An ant... how much is it... worth!”

  Pressure instantly poured down, weighing down on Bubai like a boulder!

  Bubai almost buckled and bowed forward, but he gritted his teeth, forcefully keeping himself upright.

  Seeing the ramrod straight tree refusing to bow to the storm, Mo Badao’s eyes flickered with interest. “Oh?”

  That single sound made Bubai’s ears ring and he felt the pressure gradually growing heavier and heavier...

  Soon, it felt like he was shouldering an entire mountain!

  Even the floor beneath his knees cracked under the pressure!

  But no matter how hard his muscles were quaking under the strain, Bubai didn’t let his back bend.

  Only by showing he’s a hard bone till the very end will the old geezers believe what he wanted them to believe!

  Mo Badao’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, young lad, you got some tough bones. But—” Ooom!

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  The oppressive pressure suddenly multiplied, crushing down so hard that Bubai felt like an invisible hand was squeezing the air from his lungs!

  Puff! Bubai spat out a mouthful of blood and almost fell over, but he caught himself just in time.

  The noose was tightening, but he couldn’t afford to lose his footing now!

  Bit by bit, agonizingly slowly, his spine straightened out and his bulging, bloodshot eyes stubbornly stared at the elder’s shoes.

  A man can bend and stretch, but he can’t fall down at a critical moment! Not now, not here!

  The devil’s expression hardened. “Still resisting? Bah! I want to see just how much longer you can!”

  Rumble! Teacup and teapot rattled. Tables and chairs creaked.

  Just when another mouthful of blood welled up in his throat, another unseen force came to alleviate all the suffocating pressure.

  “Hohoho... Old Devil, there is no need to be so angry. Drink some tea, cool off some steam. All matters can be discussed slowly.”

  “Hmph!” Shooting a final glare at the panting young lad coughing out more blood, Mo Badao took the offered tea cup, downing it.

  Thud! The tea cup slammed down, and Mo Badao huffed. “One, two, three—all the same! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil!”

  Ma Pei chortled. “Hoho, Old Devil, it’s just some petty squabble between juniors. Why lose your temper over it?”

  A glare that could have frozen fire shot over. “Just a squabble? Bah! You think it’s so simple?!”

  “You know, that precious disciple of mine is actually a once-in-a-century formation genius! His mind is brilliant enough to come up with new, never-seen-before runes!”

  “In him, I saw the rise of our Mo Clan! Now, he’s gone. How can I not be angry?!”

  Both the young and the old almost rolled their eyes in unison. Rise of the clan, his foot!

  If that Long Batian was really the cornerstone of the Mo Clan’s future, would this sly old fox not have snatched him up as a personal disciple long ago?

  But that Long Batian was merely a peripheral named disciple.

  Clearly, there’s another story here.

  Bubai could almost guess the cliché routine, and the old geezer Ma confirmed it.

  “Hoho, Old Devil, you and I both know the truth. How can a four-inch brat like that possibly come up with such extensive knowledge?”

  “Isn’t it more likely he picked up some inheritance somewhere and staged a presenting Buddha with borrowed flowers?”

  Mo Badao flared his nostrils and snorted. “What Buddha, no Buddha, this old skull doesn’t care! All I know is that our Mo Clan has suffered a loss!”

  “If you, Old Stallion, don’t give me an explanation, don’t think any of them can walk out of here alive!”

  Ma Pei pointed a trembling finger at his peer’s face. “Stinky Old Devil, you’re being unreasonable today! Completely unreasonable!”

  “So what if I am?!”

  “You—!” The ruddy-faced old geezer huffed then looked down to Bubai.

  Bubai got the almost-too-blatant hint. It was his time to fess up or he’s on his own.

  Not too surprising though. Can’t expect the old geezer to protect him throughout.

  For old fogeys like them, everything boiled down to a single word: benefits.

  Since the young was worth scraps, the shrewd devil was clearly looking to the old for compensation.

  But will the old geezer be willing to pay up?

  Cultivators were no charity worker.

  If the benefits didn’t outweigh the trouble, there was no way this old geezer would stick his neck out for someone else’s problems.

  Sure, the old geezer still wants to upsell him, but if push came to shove, even this seemingly “friendly” elder wouldn’t hesitate to toss him to the wolves!

  Bubai was clear on his situation.

  Losing this rapport meant losing all chances to negotiate.

  If he wanted to stay in this game, he can only show some real goods here before it’s too late!

  Luckily, he had just the thing up his sleeve.

  Isn’t it just some formation inheritance? Didn’t he recently get one? Haha. What a coincidence.

  Bubai cupped his fist to salute. “Reporting to the elders, Junior happens to have some attainments in formations…”

  Ma Pei’s face didn’t bother hiding his disappointment. “Hah. What good is the chicken scratch you know?”

  Bubai didn’t argue back. He simply took out a writing brush and paper.

  Laying out the sheet on the floor, he dipped the brush into the blood he spat out.

  Using his blood as ink, Bubai carefully painted out a complex rune found in that Reverend Taiba’s inheritance now shelved in his own memory.

  He didn’t understand the alien geometry’s mysteries, but copying out its basic shape on paper wasn’t a problem.

  Neither elder rushed him, but Bubai didn’t let them wait long and soon handed up his homework using both hands. “Elders, please have a look.”

  The paper floated away from his hand and into the hand of the devil.

  Mo Badao scrutinized the messily-drawn rune. To a layman, it was a bloody mess, but to any keen eyes…

  Those overbearing, hawk-like eyes shifted back to Bubai like a predator sizing up its prey. “Lad, tell me, where did you get this?”

  Bubai finally smiled inside. Now we’re talking.