Granduncle?

The Bai Family's hereditary cultivation art, "Profound Ice Qi," inherently extinguished emotions and desires. Almost every member of the Bai Family who achieved success in cultivating it wore an expressionless, frost-cold face.

Thus, it was hardly surprising that Bai Hengqiu employed ruthless, merciless methods.

Although Lu Xuanqing did not know why Bai Hengqiu had come to Connors Star, he was undoubtedly a formidable figure, and she had no choice but to remain on her guard. However, with an expert like Bai Hengqiu holding the field, backed by more than a dozen spacecraft, Lu Xuanqing and Liu Xing had practically no chance to resist.

Curious, Liu Xing could not help asking Lu Xuanqing in a low voice, "Is this Bai Hengqiu really that powerful?"

Lu Xuanqing nodded and secretly transmitted her voice to Liu Xing. "He's extremely powerful, far beyond our ability to fight. Whatever happens next, you must not reveal anything about the Spirit-Devouring Beast. Leave everything to me."

Bai Hengqiu was so powerful that Lu Xuanqing feared he could hear even a whispered conversation, which was why she had used voice transmission to warn Liu Xing. Liu Xing had no means of transmitting his voice, so he could only give a slight nod.

Just then, a white figure flew out of the largest spaceship, drifting as lightly as a feather through the air. In the blink of an eye, he arrived before Liu Xing and Lu Xuanqing, hovering a little over ten meters away.

Liu Xing studied this renowned disciple of the Bai Family. He stood tall and straight, dressed in a crisp white security uniform. Five gleaming gold stars on his chest marked his rank as Chief Superintendent.

Bai Hengqiu had a square face, his expression blank as though coated in frost. Every movement carried an authority that inspired awe without any display of anger. He looked down at Liu Xing and Lu Xuanqing, his arrogant bearing suggesting that, in his eyes, the masses were nothing more than ants.

That first glimpse alone left Liu Xing thoroughly irritated with Bai Hengqiu.

Liu Xing had an inborn pride deep in his bones. He could tolerate someone being stronger than him, but not that smug, "I'm number one under heaven" look.

Bai Hengqiu's swagger, as though he held every winning tile in the game, especially rubbed Liu Xing the wrong way. If Liu Xing had possessed enough strength, nothing would have pleased him more than punching a poser like this to the ground, then stamping hard on his face a few times.

Naturally, Bai Hengqiu had no idea that Liu Xing was fantasizing about how to deal with him. After sweeping a glance over Liu Xing, he recognized him as a worthless fool incapable of cultivation and turned all his attention to Lu Xuanqing.

Bai Hengqiu privately found something strange. According to his information, Lu Xuanqing had only just reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Why did she now appear to be only one step away from forming her Golden Core? She had been injured; even if she had recovered during this time, her cultivation should not have improved so dramatically.

But Bai Hengqiu hid his thoughts deeply and had confidence in his own strength. He saluted Lu Xuanqing from a distance and said, "You must be Fellow Daoist Lu. The Heavenly Demon Sect has always enjoyed good relations with our Bai Family. That you were injured on our territory leaves us deeply ashamed. To allow us to fulfill our duties as hosts, why not come with me to the Bai Family to recuperate? It would surely be better than staying somewhere with such sparse spiritual energy."

Although Bai Hengqiu spoke politely, his face remained icy cold, making him seem rather odd. Lu Xuanqing, however, returned his salute without any change in expression. "Thank you for your concern, Superintendent Bai. However, I have an arrangement with my sect elders and must wait here for a summons from my two granduncles. I would not dare leave without permission. I can only gratefully decline your kindness."

Lu Xuanqing knew that, with Bai Hengqiu's cultivation, he could certainly tell whether she was injured. Yet he still invited her to the Bai Family under the pretext of recuperation. Clearly, he had another motive, most likely the Spirit-Devouring Beast.

Lu Xuanqing knew she was no match for Bai Hengqiu if she openly fell out with him, so she invoked her two granduncles, hoping this mixture of truth and falsehood would intimidate him.

Bai Hengqiu's expression did not change. "Are the granduncles you mention Senior Lu Yangong and Senior Sun Yanbo? What a coincidence. Senior Lu happens to be visiting our Bai Family and has accompanied me on this trip. Why don't you come aboard with me and meet him?"

Lu Xuanqing did not believe a word of this. Feigning a relaxed smile, she said, "You must be joking, Superintendent Bai. Why would Granduncle Lu be a guest aboard your spaceship? I have long admired the Bai Family's reputation, and an opportunity to visit would be a pleasure. However, I am bound by my sect's orders and truly cannot leave. Please forgive me."

Bai Hengqiu said, "Your granduncle himself is here. Does that still not outweigh your sect's orders?"

Lu Xuanqing's heart tightened. She did not know why Bai Hengqiu was so determined to get her aboard. Just as she was about to refuse again, a calm voice suddenly sounded from above. "Little Qing, I never thought you would put on greater airs than an old codger like me. This poor old man was born to run errands, so I've had to come down to see you."

As those words rang out, a streak of black light shot from Bai Hengqiu's spaceship. In the blink of an eye, it reached them and transformed into a black figure, standing beside Bai Hengqiu in midair.

Liu Xing studied the black figure and saw an elderly man in a black robe, his head covered in silver hair. The old man was unremarkable in appearance, with a weather-beaten face and coarse hands and feet. At first glance, he looked like the most ordinary old farmer imaginable.

Yet a hint of cold light seemed to lurk in the black-robed old man's slightly narrowed eyes, giving them a piercing sharpness that made it difficult to meet his gaze.

Because of his own old man, Liu Xing felt an involuntary sense of affinity upon seeing this black-robed elder. Lu Xuanqing, however, turned pale with shock.

"Granduncle Lu, is it really you? Why are you together with the Bai Family?"

In her agitation, Lu Xuanqing even forgot to step forward and pay her respects, instead blurting out one urgent question after another.

Lu Yangong did not answer her questions. Instead, he asked, "Little Qing, it's only been a little over a month since we last met. Let's leave catching up for later. Where is that thing? Do you still have it?"

PS: Hehe, it's the weekend! How many brothers and sisters are still holding the fort at their computers, waiting for an update? Now that I've updated, where are your recommendation votes? Hear me shout myself hoarse: Give me votes!!!!