C7 Root Suppression

No sooner had the Grand Upper Elder departed than someone emerged from the sidelines.

The Second Prince doubted that Bai Yu had any protection, believing even the Grand Upper Elder sought to discipline him.

"Snap!"

A small stone sailed through the doorway and clattered onto the table.

Bai Yu opened his eyes, glanced toward the entrance, and saw the Second Prince standing there.

It had been quite some time since Bai Yu had encountered such petty provocation and he intended to disregard it.

Yet the Second Prince persisted in tossing stones, irritating Bai Yu.

Stepping out of the courtyard, Bai Yu was met by the advancing Second Prince.

"The Elder has retreated to the courtyard. No one will save you now. Say your prayers."

Bai Yu simply smiled, feigning deafness to the taunt.

"You think you can take me on? I doubt you're up to the task."

Setting aside all else, the Second Prince was no match for Bai Yu.

Bai Yu approached the Second Prince and confronted him.

With a surge of power in his palm, he struck Bai Yu with force.

Bai Yu, with a single hand to his chest, effortlessly deflected the Second Prince's blow.

Before the Second Prince could gather his wits, Bai Yu had vanished from sight.

"What? Such a thing is possible?"

Like a specter, Bai Yu materialized behind the Second Prince and delivered a crushing palm strike to his back.

"Thud!"

The Second Prince's body tumbled through the air like a rag doll before crashing to the ground.

Neither had exerted their full strength, so their cores remained unharmed.

It was precisely because they held back that the elder did not intervene.

Otherwise, the elder would never have allowed their confrontation.

Clutching his chest, the Second Prince slowly crawled forward.

Bai Yu stood before him but chose not to block his path.

"I have no interest in dealing with you, but don't mistake that for fear. Let there not be a next time."

He turned and made his way back to the courtyard, leaving the Second Prince on the ground.

The Second Prince watched Bai Yu walk away, his face etched with resignation.

Outmatched, he could not hope for a mutually destructive outcome.

Besides, he was unlikely to achieve even that, given that Bai Yu's Root was an entire level above his own.

Clutching his wound, he made his way back to the courtyard and sought out Dust Taoist.

Dust Taoist was deep in meditation within his room. Roused by the noise at the door, he emerged to investigate.

Upon seeing the wounds on the Second Prince, he immediately discerned they were merely superficial.

Clearly, this was the result of a scuffle between disciples.

"Master, Bai Yu struck me just for looking at him. Do you truly favor him that much?"

Dust Taoist listened to the Second Prince's plea for retribution with an eerily calm voice.

"Bai Yu has been chosen as a disciple by the Grand Upper Elder; his character and Root are essential. Are you claiming he struck you?"

Dust Taoist expressed significant skepticism towards the Second Prince's accusation, finding it hard to believe that Bai Yu would initiate a confrontation.

Without waiting for the Second Prince to respond, Dust Taoist gestured towards the water tank by the entrance.

"I have no interest in your explanations. Descend the mountain and fill the tank with water. If it's not full, don't bother returning."

With a flick of his sleeve, Dust Taoist sent the Second Prince flying out into the courtyard.

The room's door shut firmly; Dust Taoist had not given the Second Prince's words any credence.

"I refuse to believe that everyone in the Star Cloud Sect is aligned against me."

The Second Prince was seething with frustration, puzzled by the turn of events.

He cast a final glance at Dust Taoist before stepping outside.

Failing to fulfill Dust Taoist's assigned task could indeed mean spending the night outdoors.

Bai Yu might feel a surge of excitement knowing that Dust Taoist had consistently defended him.

After six hours had passed, darkness enveloped the sky.

Only after the Second Prince had completely filled the water tank did he allow himself to straighten up.

"At last, it's finished."

He returned to the room to discover that Dust Taoist had departed.

With numerous elder meetings to attend within the Star Cloud Sect, Dust Taoist's presence was undoubtedly required.

Circling the courtyard several times, the Second Prince's resentful gaze once again settled on Bai Yu's quarters.

"I was caught off guard today, but I refuse to believe he can best me tonight."

The Second Prince donned a new set of clothes, ensuring that his identity remained a mystery to those outside.

Numerous disciples meandered by, yet the Second Prince held back from revealing himself.

Only after the last disciple had passed did he approach the courtyard gate, peering inside with cautious curiosity.

Without waiting for Bai Yu's consent, he scaled the wall and slipped into the courtyard.

Inside, the courtyard was spotless, seemingly untouched by human presence.

The door was firmly closed, suggesting that its occupant might have already departed.

He crept to the adjacent wall, probing the Dust Taoist's quarters, only to find them equally deserted.

"Could it be... the Elder has taken Bai Yu to be apprenticed?" he pondered.

With all the elders absent, it seemed likely that Bai Yu had been taken away.

Should Bai Yu have been accepted by the Grand Upper Elder, the Second Prince would need to carefully weigh his next move.

He circled the courtyard several times, his gaze hardening with each pass.

He found it hard to believe the Grand Upper Elder would actually accept Bai Yu as a pupil, considering Bai Yu's resemblance to a rebellious wild horse.

Exiting the courtyard unseen, he set off alone towards the main hall.

He hadn't gone far when two figures emerged nearby.

Eavesdropping on their conversation, the Second Prince learned of Bai Yu's whereabouts.

"I just saw Bai Yu by the pond earlier. He's unbearably arrogant."

"Well, if you possessed a golden Root, I reckon you'd be even more conceited than he is."

Roots are innate, beyond the reach of envy.

The pair continued their stroll and conversation, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.

The Second Prince emerged from his hiding spot, a cold smirk on his lips.

"So, you're by the pond. Here I thought you'd gone to seek a mentor, yet you remain as haughty as ever."

Veiled by the night, the Second Prince made his way toward the pond.

With no elders in sight, his surreptitious movements went unnoticed.

And the ordinary disciples? With just a bit of caution from the Second Prince, none would detect his presence.

Besides, the pond's edge was deserted, and there sat Bai Yu, lost in thought.

Murmurs of conversation could be heard in the background, yet no action was taken.

He had to make sure no one witnessed him as he tossed Bai Yu into the pond, reclaiming the dignity he had lost during the day.

The day was still young, and many disciples enjoyed taking strolls outside, immersing themselves in the lifestyle of the Star Cloud Sect.

Unbeknownst to the Second Prince, Bai Yu had already spotted him as soon as he approached the pond.

Wearing a look of resignation, he muttered under his breath, audible to no one but himself.

"Why must you cling to me so persistently? It looks like I have no choice but to take drastic measures this time."

He purposefully sat on the bench, feigning ignorance of the Second Prince's presence.

As time trickled by, the chatter around them dwindled, signaling that the disciples had retreated to their rooms.

With the absence of the disciples, the Second Prince found his opportunity.