"Because the method I used to steal it was to first cultivate the Wind Thunder Apricot into a state of false death, then secretly transplant it while burning the failed experimental plants, no one discovered my foolish act during the centuries spent perfecting the secret art."
Bai Canghai gave a bitter smile. "It was not until the Great Elder joined the project that my actions were completely exposed... To be honest, even now, I still do not know how he discovered that I had hidden the Wind Thunder Apricot. Back then, I had been extremely meticulous and had left virtually no traces."
Lin Yi guessed that the Great Elder's discovery might have been related to his mastery of the Path of Divination.
"What happened afterward?"
"Afterward, to prevent the Academy from taking away the Wind Thunder Apricot in my inner world, I did something even more foolish. I severed the Wind Thunder Apricot's vitality and destroyed all hope of its growth. Seeing that I remained unrepentant, the Great Elder stripped me of all my possessions and expelled me from Starfall Academy."
Bai Canghai's voice was filled with remorse. "After that, I wandered muddleheaded through the various worlds. It was not until ten thousand years ago that I finally settled in Starfall City and barely found some stability."
After hearing Old Man Bai recount his past mistakes, Lin Yi could not help sighing. "Alliance Leader Bai, the nature of this matter is far too serious. Even if the Vein Master of the Seventh Branch stepped forward, it would be impossible to get you back into Starfall Academy."
No matter which upper-echelon figure at the Academy judged Bai Canghai's actions, they would consider them an unforgivable betrayal.
A traitor who had embezzled public property.
The fact that he had survived and had