Just as the tribulation lightning was about to strike Li Xiaobai, Su Qihan soared into the sky.
She charged forward recklessly, intending to sacrifice herself to block the tribulation lightning.
"Sigh, foolish child." A figure suddenly appeared and intercepted Su Qihan.
When Su Qihan saw who had come, she cried out in surprise and joy: "Father!"
The newcomer was none other than Minister Su of the current court, a Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal of the Huawen Grotto-Heaven.
"Li Xiaobai is our Su family's son-in-law. How could your father just stand by and do nothing? Stay put and don't cause trouble," Minister Su reassured Su Qihan, sighing inwardly.
A daughter grown is a daughter lost.
Although Minister Su recognized Li Xiaobai's potential, he had considerable reservations about his conduct.
Originally, Minister Su had intended to recruit Li Xiaobai as the Su family's son-in-law, pass down the family's heritage to him, guide him toward immortality, arrange an official position in court, and pave the way for him step by step — all while building a pillar of strength for the Su family.
But Li Xiaobai spent his days wandering about, collecting poetic inspiration in the countryside, showing not the slightest interest in an official career. Such behavior deeply rubbed Minister Su the wrong way.
He had made his share of attempts and efforts, but Li Xiaobai's sights were far too high to care about the petty court of the Huawen Grotto-Heaven. After all, he was one of Gu Yue Fang Yuan's clones — his ambitions were vast, far beyond what the Huawen Grotto-Heaven could ever contain.
"This brat may be oblivious to the times, but he is still a member of our Su family, the man my daughter loves. Though his tribulation ascension this time is utterly reckless and shows no sense of his own limits, I still have to protect him!" Minister Su thought with a silent sigh. He swept his official robes and conjured a brilliant arc of rainbow light that surged toward the three sickly green bolts of tribulation lightning.
"How hateful, how hateful! So it really is Minister Su!" Du Zhixiao saw the scene and trembled with fury, roaring aloud. "I refuse to accept this! Li Xiaobai, you're too lucky — to have such a powerful figure looking out for you! I hate it, I hate it so much!"
Just as Du Zhixiao watched his scheme about to fall apart, a figure suddenly burst out from the ground to his left.
The figure shot through the air — unmistakably a Gu Immortal.
The masked Gu Immortal charged straight at Minister Su.
Minister Su had no choice but to engage, his face brimming with anger: "Very well then! Minister Su has no shortage of political enemies. Which one of them are you? To have such methods!"
The masked Gu Immortal deliberately roughened his voice: "Minister Su, you're a sensible man. You have a fine son-in-law, but this son-in-law is far too outstanding. Your Su family would do well not to grow too powerful! From this point on, don't even think about helping him."
"Someone's helping me?!" Du Zhixiao was momentarily stunned before wild joy erupted within him, and he couldn't help but dance with glee.
"Father!" Su Qihan cried out from the ground below. "Hurry, help Xiaobai!"
Whoosh.
The tribulation lightning struck again, and Li Xiaobai could only activate his killer move, forming a wall of poetry.
Du Zhixiao screamed: "You won't block this!"
Another plume of grey smoke rose from his body, once again amplifying the calamity's power.
The tribulation lightning shattered the poetry wall. Although the vast majority of its force was neutralized, traces of sickly green flame still clung to Li Xiaobai's body, continuing to burn relentlessly.
"Xiaobai!" Su Qihan's face went pale with terror, and she was about to charge forward regardless.
Even if she had no solution, she wanted to live and die together with Li Xiaobai!
But at the critical moment, Li Xiaobai's arm suddenly burst free from the qi cocoon and waved toward Su Qihan below. "Don't act rashly! In this dire situation, on the brink of death, my emotions surge and flashes of inspiration spark within me. I feel an urge — an urge to compose a poem."
"What?" Su Qihan froze.
The battle between Minister Su and the masked Gu Immortal also paused for a moment.
Minister Su couldn't help but glance sideways. In both the court and the martial world, stories of Li Xiaobai turning the tide with poetry and rising from desperate situations had become widely known.
"Again? Let's see if you actually have the ability to best the heavens!" Du Zhixiao's face was gloomy beyond measure.
Back then, he had been on the verge of certain victory with an overwhelming advantage. Then Li Xiaobai suddenly recited a poem and reversed everything, snatching victory from defeat.
That experience had since become the deepest shadow haunting Du Zhixiao's heart!
Everyone listened with all their might as Li Xiaobai recited: "Beneath the pines, I ask the lad, who says his master has gone gathering herbs. He's somewhere in this very mountain, but the clouds run deep and no one knows the place."
Twenty black characters danced from Li Xiaobai's mouth, forming four lines that circled around him in a swirling orbit.
After a few breaths, the four lines of poetry transformed into a dense fog that churned and rolled ceaselessly.
The sickly green flames burning on Li Xiaobai's body were all absorbed into this mass of clouds.
With a soft whoosh, the white fog vanished abruptly, and the green flames disappeared entirely — no longer able to torment Li Xiaobai.
Du Zhixiao stared in dumbfounded silence.
Minister Su praised enthusiastically: "Excellent poem, excellent poem! The wording is concise and direct, and what makes it truly precious is its emotional depth — profundity emerging from simplicity. Simple brushstrokes capturing complex feelings, the emotion sincere and genuine yet full of rises and falls!"
Su Qihan clasped her hands together before her chest and gazed up at Li Xiaobai, her eyes shining with adoration: "My Li is simply extraordinary! This poem uses plain imagery with no adornment, its forms natural, yet its colors vivid and perfectly balanced. Lush green pines, drifting white clouds. The verdant standing pines hint at boundless vitality within, while the vast white clouds stretch deep and misty, impossible to grasp — evoking images of a beloved on the other side of autumn waters, nowhere to be found. It's too beautiful, this poetic scenery is truly too beautiful!"
The masked Gu Immortal burst into hearty laughter: "I understand now. I get it. Li Xiaobai, you are a true recluse. The white clouds in your poem represent your noble purity, and the ancient pines are your unyielding character. You wish to leave behind the clamor of the mortal world and ascend to the realm of white clouds and green pines, beyond the dust and grime. It was I who worried needlessly — how could a person of your caliber ever condescend to dwell in a court? Very well, very well. I'll take my leave now. A talent like yours — to destroy you would truly be a great pity. It would be a loss for the world of poetry and literature! I have no desire to become a sinner of history."
Having said this, the masked Gu Immortal actually withdrew and departed.
Leaving behind Minister Su with a complex expression on his face.
"He's gone? Just letting him off like that?!" Du Zhixiao spat out a mouthful of blood. He stumbled several steps and barely managed to hold himself upright, refusing to collapse backward.
"Again, just like that — again I'm subdued by Li Xiaobai's poetic talent! I refuse to accept this, I refuse! Such treatment should belong to me alone!"