Chapter 17: Plans Have Changed

After a few more days of endurance, Junior Brother Bai Ming's cultivation reached Qi Refining Stage 7.

"That's it for today, Young Master Bai." Song Wanqing had a playful expression on her face as she toyed with the collar in her hands.

Junior Brother Bai Ming knelt on the ground with his head bowed, his eyes chillingly cold.

Unlike the previous few times, a circular red mark had appeared on his neck, as if something had been pressing against it.

"Damn it, how dare she put that thing on me. That damn bitch, how dare she lead me around in circles." Junior Brother Bai Ming felt resentful, his teeth grinding together.

Recalling what had just happened, Junior Brother Bai Ming was filled with resentment, especially because it had happened in front of Xiaoxue—being treated like a dog and subjected to that.

Instead of suppressing his anger, Junior Brother Bai Ming sat down and began to cultivate.

"Song Wanqing, the humiliation you have brought upon me will all become the fuel for my cultivation."

A warm sensation began to emanate from his spiritual root in his abdomen, responding to the hatred in Junior Brother Bai Ming's heart.

The spiritual energy from the surroundings poured into his body at a terrifying speed, refined by this special spiritual root at an astonishing rate.

A few hours later.

Qi Refining Stage 8, break through for me!

A thin layer of white light radiated around Junior Brother Bai Ming, and his aura underwent a subtle change.

"Great, only one more stage until I reach Qi Refining Peak. The opportunity Xiaoxue mentioned is getting closer."

Thinking that he would soon be able to end all of this, a sense of joy could not help but arise in Junior Brother Bai Ming's heart.

With a bang, the iron door opened, interrupting Junior Brother Bai Ming's thoughts.

The girl in white was carrying a medicine bucket, her expression tense as she ran over hurriedly.

"Young Master, it's bad."

Junior Brother Bai Ming felt a bit nervous, his Adam's apple bobbing. "What happened?"

Xiaoxue trotted up to Junior Brother Bai Ming. "The Young Miss will begin her seclusion in a few days. The best opportunity to escape might be very soon."

Junior Brother Bai Ming frowned slightly, then slowly relaxed it. "I see. What a pity. If I had a few more days, I could have broken through to Qi Refining Peak. My Heart Fire is currently only at the intermediate stage."

He waved his hand. "Forget it, things can't always go smoothly. This level of cultivation should be enough for now."

He had originally wanted to wait until he reached Qi Refining Peak and his Heart Fire reached perfection before attempting to escape.

The chances of escaping would have been higher, but time was running out.

Junior Brother Bai Ming immediately calmed himself and began a new round of analysis.

"It seems the escape will be within these next few days. This is quite rushed."

Xiaoxue asked with concern, "Young Master, what is your current cultivation level?"

Junior Brother Bai Ming smiled. "Qi Refining Stage 8. Although I haven't reached perfection, I have found a way to break this seal." He cupped his hands in a salute. "Let's proceed with the original plan. Regardless of the final outcome, I want to thank you first, Xiaoxue."

Looking at Junior Brother Bai Ming's gentle smile, Xiaoxue's expression froze. "I will do my best to help you, Young Master."

Junior Brother Bai Ming shook his head. "No, Xiaoxue, you have already done enough. I don't want to expose you. Once I am out of the Song family gates, let me handle it myself."

Xiaoxue's heart skipped a beat. "Mm."

Junior Brother Bai Ming turned his head. "By the way, what is the approximate cultivation level of the Cultivator guarding the back door?"

Xiaoxue looked puzzled. "Qi Refining Stage 7. Why do you ask?"

"Then the plan can be slightly adjusted. When escaping through the back door, I won't need to hide in a wooden crate. With my current cultivation, anyone below Qi Refining Stage 8 cannot detect my aura."

Xiaoxue gripped the towel tightly with her small hands. "Will there be any problem?"

She knew that Junior Brother Bai Ming did not want her to be too involved in this matter, but Junior Brother Bai Ming had been cultivating for less than a month.

Could he really do this?

Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes were firm, signaling Xiaoxue to rest assured.

In fact, he had been conservative.

According to his private estimation, thanks to the special effects of his spiritual root, even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would have difficulty detecting his aura without careful investigation.

The excellent movement technique in his cultivation method would allow him to escape through the gates in the blink of an eye.

Xiaoxue nodded. "Then we will do as you say, Young Master. I will make some small talk with the guard at that time."

In the flickering candlelight, the two finalized the remaining details. The girl in white left the secret room, and the cold prison cell was left with only the young man once again.

Junior Brother Bai Ming looked at the iron door not far away, his eyes thoughtful. "This is truly sudden."

Originally, according to the original plan, there should have been a few more days for cultivation.

But in the end, plans cannot keep up with changes.

When Song Wanqing breaks through, Patriarch Song's focus will definitely be there, and the defensive forces will also be concentrated there.

And his location is roughly at the intersection of the second barrier and the first barrier.

To increase the power of the barrier, the second barrier should shrink slightly towards the center.

The first barrier serves as a warning and alert; its defensive power and restrictions are not great. It is mainly for alerting outside Cultivators and notifying Patriarch Song immediately upon being broken.

The second barrier is the core of the Song family's defense; it is said to be able to withstand three strikes from a Nascent Soul Cultivator and was built by Patriarch Song at a great cost.

Fortunately, he does not need to break through the second barrier; he only needs to quietly slip out through a gap in the first barrier.

Junior Brother Bai Ming recalled Xiaoxue's information and his own analysis, digesting it all.

A cold sensation came from his back. Junior Brother Bai Ming looked at the candlelight above his head, its small body swaying in the breeze, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

Just like Junior Brother Bai Ming's current mood, blurred and uncertain under the interference of various factors.

In a few days, all of this will be completely over.

He should have felt relieved, but his heart was filled with various complex emotions: doubt about whether he could escape, and a sense of loss of control as the plan was forced to be moved forward.

Under the torture of these days, he didn't know if his spirit had been damaged. He looked forward to getting out, but also felt fear and dread of the unknown outside.

Come to think of it, he seemed to have never properly explored this place.

He was captured by strangers as soon as he transmigrated. He thought he had found salvation, but it was just another prison.

Sometimes he couldn't help but wonder, are the people in this world all just a bunch of guys who only care about themselves and ignore the suffering of others?

After all, this is not his original world. Being able to cultivate means that personal interests can override the collective.

An individual's weight is greater than a group's, and one person's preferences can even influence a family.

Strength is respected, and individual power is greater than everything.

Melancholy was like a splash of paint, splattered onto Junior Brother Bai Ming, staining most of his body in a gray tone.

The future outcome was still unknown to him. Even though his cultivation had reached Qi Refining Stage 8, he still did not have full confidence that he could escape this massive Canglan City.

The changes in the situation brought a trace of panic to his heart, bringing more variables to the future.

Confusion.

On the eve of implementing the plan, a trace of confusion actually arose in Junior Brother Bai Ming's heart. He knew that he shouldn't have such emotions at a time like this.

But in his original world, he was just an ordinary young man. Having walked through these two ordeals out of nowhere, it could already be said that his will was firm if he hadn't collapsed yet.

Several dark clouds permeated his heart, unable to dissipate for a long time.

Junior Brother Bai Ming leaned against the wall, thinking about how to implement the plan as best as possible, without a single mistake.

After a while, the breeze brought by the opening of the iron door dissipated, the candlelight became stable, and the light shone into Junior Brother Bai Ming's eyes.

Junior Brother Bai Ming straightened his back. "No, it shouldn't be like this."

A strong emotion arose from his heart.

The desire to escape overcame all other emotions, and even the hatred for Song Wanqing was temporarily put aside.

Junior Brother Bai Ming felt the warm spiritual root in his body. Relying on this thing that came into being at the right moment, he had the confidence that he could do it.

Regardless, only by escaping first would he have room to maneuver, and only then would he have a future as vast as the sea and sky.

Junior Brother Bai Ming clenched his fists. "It's just a mere upheaval. Compared to the torture I've experienced these days, what does this count for? When have I, Junior Brother Bai Ming, ever been afraid!"

A light named hope flickered once again in the young man's heart, shooting towards the distance through his eyes, piercing straight through the cold walls of the secret room, and shining all the way to the outskirts of Canglan City.