Intercepted

The lobby was very quiet, and the arrangement of altars and shrines gave it an eerie and solemn feel.

Grandpa Tao respectfully lit three incense sticks, bowed, and spoke softly, as if reporting to an elder in his family.

"Lord Bai the Fourteenth, we've arrived."

Lu Bai stood aside, waiting silently.

They didn't have to wait long before a figure appeared on the painting, like a watercolor painting gradually becoming clearer—it was none other than Lord Bai the Fourteenth.

With a light step, it sat cross-legged on the shrine, almost making people think it was going to collapse it.

Lord Bai the Fourteenth looked Lu Bai up and down, growing more and more fond of him. "You two youngsters have kept me waiting quite a while."

Hearing this, Grandpa Tao was about to explain when it waved its hand and said, "Xiao Gui, you can go down now. Let me talk to Xiao Bai."

Having said that, Grandpa Tao dared not object and could only nod in agreement. "Then I'll wait outside."

It seems that Lord Bai the Fourteenth was indeed getting impatient. Before Grandpa Tao even left the main hall, he eagerly beckoned to Lu Bai and said, "Little Bai, I reckon you've already guessed my plan. So, how about it? Want to be my Incense Officer?"

After observing him up close, it can be quite certain that Lu Bai has exceptional talent; he's practically a born prodigy, and this is what he's meant to do.

It is important to know that the more capable the incense burners are, the more abundant the incense offerings will be received by the deities.

In this way, all the immortals under the Four Great Sects systems hope to find a good Incense Officer.

The problem is that finding the right fit is crucial, and talent is something that can't be found anywhere. Most Incense Officer masters are simply the best among the Shorty.

Despite his seemingly lackluster performance in the fight against the Fox Immortal spirit, Grandpa Tao is actually one of Lord Bai the Fourteenth's most formidable generals.

Take the incense masters under Lord Bai the Fourteenth as an example. There are a total of twenty-two Incense Officer, but only two of them can withstand his spirit invocation.

They're all the kind of things where even the slightest movement would make you worry about whether the Incense Officer himself could handle it.

As a member of the lawful faction, it's inappropriate for Lord Bai the Fourteenth to treat incense sticks as disposable items, and the Incense Officer himself certainly wouldn't be happy about it either.

As for Gaze Incense, my aptitude is too low, so I can't possibly utilize much of its Mana.

Lu Bai was different. Even though Lord Bai the Fourteenth had not officially "Open Top" yet, the high affinity he exuded with the immortals was enough for him to recognize him as a promising talent.

Of course, we'll only know how good it is after we "Take Method" (obtain the information).

In any case, Lord Bai the Fourteenth was quite friendly towards such a talented person. Although in this world, no one would usually refuse to become a head of the incense shop, he still decided to ask Lu Bai's wishes first, so as not to make the other party think that he was forcing him.

"Little Bai, don't worry, my reputation in the surrounding area is top-notch. No matter who you ask, they'll all give me a thumbs up when they hear my name."

Lord Bai the Fourteenth added with a smile, "How about it? Be my incense stick?"

Lu Bai was only somewhat resistant to having his body taken over by the immortals. If it was to burn incense to clear his mind and give him more abilities, that would be quite good.

He nodded and asked, "Okay, what should I do?"

"That's excellent."

Lord Bai the Fourteenth made no attempt to hide his joy, rubbing his hands together.

With a flick of his finger, a futon flew out from the corner. "Sit on this, you don't need to do anything else, I've got you covered."

Lu Bai did as instructed.

In the Four Great Sects theoretical systems, the so-called "Take Method" actually refers to controlling a person's consciousness and body through some special means.

Symptoms such as fever, delirium, and coma are actually negative chain reactions.

Lord Bai the Fourteenth jumped down from the shrine with great joy, circled around Lu Bai, and muttered incantations.

However, this process was doomed from the very beginning.

Lord Bai the Fourteenth's expression turned ugly at a visible speed.

Then, without saying a word, it vanished from the lobby in a flash, leaving Lu Bai sitting cross-legged in a daze.

Under a banyan tree in the backyard of the mansion.

Snap~

The black pieces landed on the chessboard. The elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a long black robe, played the game alone, exuding a refined and gentle air.

"Chang Shengtian!"

Lord Bai the Fourteenth appeared out of nowhere in the courtyard, angrily demanding, "Why aren't you staying in your own woods? What are you doing here?"

The old man, known as Chang Shengtian, didn't even turn his head and calmly said, "Little Fourteen, the world is in chaos. If you don't change your impetuous nature, you'll probably suffer a great loss."

Lord Bai the Fourteenth's face sprouted a dense layer of sharp spikes. "This is my territory, don't be too arrogant. If you don't leave, I won't be so polite."

It made threatening remarks, but didn't seem to actually intend to attack.

Chang Shengtian held a black chess piece between his fingers. "I'm not here to beat you up this time, don't get agitated."

The sharp edges on Lord Bai the Fourteenth's face twitched. Before he could relax, he immediately realized something and said warily, "You probably don't need Incense Officer in that forest, do you?"

"Need."

Chang Shengtian turned around leisurely, staring at Master Bai with a half-smile.

Lord Bai the Fourteenth glared at him. "No matter where you found out, I'm not giving it to you. I got here first!"

"When did you start to have the illusion that you were here first?" Chang Shengtian's pupils suddenly contracted and lengthened, turning into chilling, vertical pupils.

"Don't say I bullied you; you can go back and take a closer look."

It snorted coldly and continued, "Let me tell you, I've almost finished the ritual; only the final Open Top of the crown chakra remains."

Lord Bai the Fourteenth's face turned pale and then red. He remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "You've been holed up in the forest for so many years, it's a waste to find Incense Officer to be a servant. Why do you have to cause me trouble? I still have to guard such a large area, so why not give this person to me?"

"The world is in chaos, so I'm making some preparations in advance."

Chang Shengtian scoffed, "That's none of your business."

Having known him for so many years, Lord Bai the Fourteenth knew very well that this seemingly gentle and refined fellow was actually a madman.

If he were to forcibly take Lu Bai as his Incense Officer, this madman would probably destroy him in a fit of anger. A madman is perfectly capable of doing something that harms others without benefiting himself.

"Okay, let's each compromise."

Lord Bai the Fourteenth put away the sharp edges on his face.

Chang Shengtian retorted aggressively, "Why should I back down? Get this straight, you're the one who came later."

"But you never set up Incense Officer!"

As he spoke, Lord Bai the Fourteenth almost lost his temper again, but he barely suppressed his anger. "Making Lu Bai offer incense to the Bai and Liu sects is my bottom line."