Volume 5, Chapter 23 – The Bai Family’s Honored Ancestor

——”Stand down, you must not be disrespectful to the Honored Ancestor!!”——

With this voice full of authority descending from above, carrying an oppressive force with it.

All the Bai family members instinctively trembled, and the two Bai family elders Bai Qian and Bai Hua’s expressions changed dramatically. Without a word, they dispersed the power they had accumulated in their hands and assumed respectful welcoming postures toward the voice above.

Seeing all the hostility focused on her completely dissipate, Ailiya also released her grip on her sword hilts.

Then, the silver-haired girl thoughtfully raised her head and looked toward the source of the voice.

At this moment, a boy surrounded by pale blue spiritual power with white hair was slowly descending from above with his hands clasped behind his back. Although he looked like a child around ten years old, the boy constantly emanated an aura of natural authority without anger.

This child? Who was he?

Such questions couldn’t help but arise in Ailiya’s mind.

Although she didn’t sense any hostility from him, Ailiya still maintained sufficient vigilance.

…

On the other side, as the boy gradually descended from the air and hovered before everyone, Grand Elder Bai Qian hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

“Lord Bai Shangxue, you’ve come.”

For Elder Bai Qian to be so respectful, the boy’s identity was self-evident—he was the true current ruler of the Bai family, the great-grandfather of Bai Xu and the others… Bai Shangxue.

After bowing, Bai Qian immediately said with extreme puzzlement while warily watching Ailiya in the distance:

“Lord Bai Shangxue… what you just said? About not being disrespectful to an ancestor? She, she is an ancestor?”

Faced with this question, Bai Shangxue looked thoughtfully at Ailiya once, then slowly nodded.

“Yes, she is indeed our ancestor.”

Though he had a child’s appearance, the words he spoke were quite deep, magnetic, and carried an indescribable sense of oppression.

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Upon hearing this, the confirmed Bai family members all showed expressions of stunned disbelief, looking at Ailiya with complete incredulity.

She, she was an ancestor??

Of course, this sudden wave of changed gazes also left Miss Ailiya bewildered. The silver-haired girl suddenly shuddered and accidentally stepped back two steps.

Huh? What was happening?

…

“Lord Bai Shangxue, are you serious? You mean that Bai Lin didn’t cause spatial fractures just now, but successfully summoned an ancestral spirit?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.”

“This?”

The white-haired Bai Qian pressed his head, looking at Ailiya with complete disbelief:

“No, wait? Lord Bai Shangxue, her silver hair, cherry-colored pupils? None of this looks like our Bai family people!”

“What of it?”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Bai Shangxue smiled dismissively.

“A thousand years ago, when spiritual power hadn’t declined, powerful spiritual energy could influence hair and eye color. Back then, forget silver hair—there were golden hair, blue hair, purple hair, even rainbow hair. What’s so surprising about that? As for eye color, it’s the same principle. Have you forgotten about Nuoyu? Wasn’t her eye color also unusual?”

“That’s… true. But, but ancestral spirits are soul entities! She’s clearly corporeal!”

Pointing at Ailiya’s body, Bai Qian shouted somewhat anxiously:

“How can ancestral spirits have physical bodies? And she clearly has complete consciousness!”

So-called ancestral spirits were actually wisps of remnant souls left in the world after powerful Bai family ancestors died.

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These remnant souls possessed one-fifth, or even one-third, of their living strength.

Although these soul fragments still had combat ability, the vast majority had no consciousness, at most retaining some insignificant instincts.

However, this silver-haired girl who had appeared in the hall? She was clearly the type with complete mental faculties!

Bai Qian’s question obviously voiced the doubts in many Bai family members’ hearts.

Regarding this, Bai Shangxue still maintained his dismissive attitude:

“This just shows how ignorant you younger generations are… Although the vast majority of ancestral spirits are ethereal, if an ancestor was powerful enough in life, they can not only maintain their sanity but even use the massive soul power from the ceremony to condense a physical body when summoned. Such cases have occurred before.”

“There are such things?”

“What, Bai Qian? Do you want to question me?”

Bai Shangxue’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze toward Bai Qian becoming increasingly sharp, directly causing the latter to tremble involuntarily.

“I, I wouldn’t dare.”

“Hmph.”

After a cold snort, Bai Shangxue continued to cast his sharp gaze over the surrounding Bai family members.

“Most importantly, didn’t you see that the Divine Monument resonated?”

Hearing this, the Bai family members looked in bewilderment toward the stone tablet carved with ancient characters that had somehow floated beside the silver-haired girl.

The moment they saw this scene, everyone froze in place.

“In any case, this person is our ancestor. Put down your weapons and show no disrespect!”

The voice imbued with spiritual power quietly echoed within the hall.

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Faced with the rebuke from the clan’s highest authority, the Bai family members exchanged glances before putting down their weapons and dispersing their spiritual power.

Although people might still harbor doubts in their hearts, no one dared question Bai Shangxue’s words.

After all, he was the absolute powerhouse who had ruled the Bai family for a hundred years.

After seeing that the family members no longer expressed doubts, Bai Shangxue said no more and silently floated before the silver-haired girl.

“Please come with me, Honored Ancestor.”

Smiling, Bai Shangxue spoke to Ailiya with a friendly attitude completely different from before.

While speaking, Bai Shangxue gestured invitingly toward a nearby exit.

Ailiya: “…”

Although she was completely confused by all this, Ailiya could clearly sense that this boy with an old man’s voice harbored no ill will toward her.

After understanding Bai Shangxue’s intent, Ailiya silently nodded.

Dispersing her Augury Force, she followed Bai Shangxue as they slowly left the summoning hall.

…

All along the way, all Bai family servants and clan members cast bewildered and surprised gazes at this special combination of Bai Shangxue and Ailiya.

Everyone was obviously wary of Ailiya’s identity, but constrained by the true family head’s authority, no one dared step forward to obstruct them, all silently making way.

Thus, under the complex gazes of everyone, Bai Shangxue led Ailiya to a room in the Bai family main residence.

Pushing open the room door and looking at the simple and unadorned furniture and decoration inside, an imperceptible trace of sadness flashed through Bai Shangxue’s eyes.

Of course, this family head who looked like a young boy quickly restrained his emotions and made gestures inviting Ailiya to enter the room.

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Seemingly knowing that Ailiya didn’t understand their language, Bai Shangxue didn’t speak but continuously used sign language trying to communicate.

Fortunately, Ailiya wasn’t like a certain blockhead mother of hers and was quite intelligent.

Soon, Ailiya understood the other party’s intent from Bai Shangxue’s expressions and movements.

He wants me to stay here temporarily? Then he’ll arrange water and food for me… and let me rest well first?

“…”

Looking at the small boy hovering in mid-air before her, Ailiya’s lips curved up slightly, showing a ‘grateful’ smile. After enduring the Abyssal Lord’s oppression for so long, Ailiya indeed urgently needed to rest well to heal and recover her strength.

However, while expressing gratitude, Ailiya also tried making some gestures.

She pointed at herself, then at the room, then at Bai Shangxue, and finally assumed a questioning posture.

Although she didn’t speak, Ailiya successfully conveyed her meaning to Bai Shangxue.

——”Why help me? And trust me so much?”——

Regarding this question, Bai Shangxue smiled slightly and made no gestures, but shook his head bitterly.

Then, under Ailiya’s surprised gaze, Bai Shangxue slowly raised his hand and gently patted Ailiya’s head like an elder would.

At first Ailiya wanted to retreat, but seeing that he harbored no hostility and noticing the sadness in his eyes, for some reason… she just let him pat her.

A ten-year-old boy patting a nineteen-year-old girl’s head—the scene was somewhat surreal.

Faced with Ailiya’s puzzled gaze, Bai Shangxue didn’t reply with gestures like before, but murmured to himself:

“I may be old… but fortunately… these eyes of mine… can see more and more things…”

Ailiya: …Hm?…