Upon seeing Yang Huan and Yue Li, Da Bai immediately thought, Not good.
Luckily, the White Tiger was very capable and clearly valued Da Bai. After foiling Yang Huan’s sneak attack, neither beast was a match for the White Tiger in a head-on confrontation.
Watching Yang Huan and Yue Li retreat, Da Bai exclaimed excitedly, "Sis, Sis, you’re so awesome!"
Licking the slight injury on its paw, the White Tiger nodded, quite pleased. It then glanced at Da Bai with some disdain. Da Bai’s strength was clearly not inferior to those two beasts, yet he had skittered away in fear upon seeing them. If it hadn’t been for Da Bai ultimately disrupting Yang Huan’s attack, the White Tiger would have almost thought their previous fight was a dream.
How can a beast be so timid?
"You didn’t bring him back???" Yue Meng stared at the two disheveled beasts, somewhat in disbelief.
Who was Da Bai? Eden Garden’s laziest ’King of Debtors.’ Although a Divine Beast, his one-on-one combat strength was probably the weakest, and he was also terrified of pain.
After earnest explanations from Yang Huan and Yue Li, Yue Meng reluctantly believed them.
"Alright, in that case, I’ll offer five hundred Top Grade Spirit Stones. Get it done for me as soon as possible—three days at most. My Spiritual Medicines are all prepared," Yue Meng said, still somewhat reluctant.
"Don’t worry, absolutely no problem!" Yue Li slapped his chest, guaranteeing they would complete the task now that the price had increased.
In the small courtyard, Chen Jiuge looked at War Song, a headache forming. "What do you need so many monkey Spiritual Beasts for?"
War Song pushed up the sunglasses he’d swiped from Da Bai and said, "I want to form an army."
"Fine, but you’ll have to cover the Spirit Stone expenses for those Spiritual Beasts yourself. I’ll only provide half the resources as support for your startup. No problem with that, right?" Chen Jiuge thought for a moment and agreed. After all, War Song forming an army would ultimately benefit him too, especially since the number of Spiritual Beasts he could personally contract was limited. He offered half the resources to prevent War Song from abandoning the project halfway. One always treasures and feels more emotionally invested in endeavors they’ve poured their own heart and soul into.
As for the source of the monkey Spiritual Beasts, Chen Jiuge called over Da Shan.
Patting Da Shan’s adorable little monkey head, Chen Jiuge said to War Song, "Da Shan has spent a long time among the monkey troops in the Ecosystem. You can have Da Shan take you there. Whether you can manage that group of monkeys is up to you."
"Once you have them, get a clear count of their numbers and strength, and report it directly to Chen Tingting. I’ll give her a heads-up."
"Alright! Da Shan, let’s go!" Hearing this, War Song immediately hoisted Da Shan onto his shoulder and headed straight for the Ecological Park.
Watching War Song rush off, Chen Jiuge smiled and shook his head. Still, it’s good to have such enthusiasm.
Yang Huan and Yue Li returned to the valley. Having learned their lesson from last time, they had specifically brought Ao Yi along.
"So, you two will stall the White Tiger while I capture Da Bai, correct?" Ao Yi confirmed again.
"That’s right," Yang Huan nodded.
"Then let’s hurry. That Fire God was checking out other female Spiritual Beasts when he was with me yesterday. I still need to go teach him a lesson," Ao Yi said, her eyes glinting dangerously.
Yang Huan and Yue Li exchanged glances. Female Spiritual Beasts are terrifying, they thought. It’s better to be single.
It’s often said that enemies see red when they meet. While the White Tiger, Yang Huan, and Yue Li weren’t mortal enemies, they were certainly adversaries.
Da Bai, who wanted for nothing in terms of food and drink here, decided to help the White Tiger once more and resist to the very end.
Unfortunately, with Ao Yi involved this time, Da Bai was captured despite his fierce struggle.
Looking at the two bound Spiritual Beasts before her, Yue Meng was somewhat confused. "I only wanted Da Bai. What’s with this White Tiger?"
Seeing the badly injured White Tiger, which, despite its wounds, struggled fiercely with a ferocious expression, Yang Huan explained helplessly, "There was no other way. Its resistance was too strong. When we were bringing Da Bai here, it kept chasing us. Once we left the Ecosystem, it repeatedly crashed into the Barrier. You know we don’t have Spirit Stones, so we could only subdue it and remove its restraints to bring it out."
"Fine. This also proves you weren’t deceiving me. I’ll talk to my master and buy it," said Yue Meng. As the second wealthiest individual in Eden Garden, she certainly displayed the air of a nouveau riche.
Looking at the White Tiger before him, then at Yue Meng who seemed intent on buying it, Chen Jiuge felt a headache coming on. After learning the full story, his head throbbed even more.
Is this White Tiger really so stubborn? Chen Jiuge wondered. They’ve only known each other for a day, yet its bond with Da Bai seems so deep, as if it would die for him.
"You don’t need to buy it," Chen Jiuge waved his hand. "I have plans for this White Tiger; I intend to form a Contract with it. I just haven’t yet prepared the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures needed to enhance its Spiritual Wisdom."
"Alright, then I’ll give it to you. Just don’t come asking me for Spirit Stones later," Yue Meng said, a hint of regret in her voice.
Da Bai rolled and scrambled to the front of Chen Jiuge and Yue Meng.
"You...?" Chen Jiuge asked hesitantly.
"Sister Yue Meng, I was wrong! I won’t run anymore! I’ll pay for the White Tiger’s Spirit Stones!" Da Bai declared solemnly, looking at the White Tiger beside him.
However, since the bruises and swelling on his face hadn’t subsided, he looked rather comical. Chen Jiuge, who had been contemplating how to properly train Da Bai in the future, immediately said, "Fine. You can borrow the Spirit Stones for now, but you must repay them. And from now on, you’ll also be responsible for the White Tiger’s food."
Da Bai hesitated for a moment. Then he thought about how the White Tiger had been captured while fighting so hard to protect him. If it were bought by Yue Meng now, he would truly feel unworthy of being a beast.
After a series of complex calculations, Chen Jiuge came up with a number.
"So, if you diligently tend the fire for Yue Meng, you’ll only need to work for five hundred years to pay off the debt," Chen Jiuge announced, revealing a figure that made Da Bai dizzy.
"Five... five... five hundred years?" Da Bai felt lightheaded. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if the White Tiger was bought by Yue Meng, he thought. At least with her, it wouldn’t have to worry about food or drink. But I’ve already given my word. Wouldn’t it be too embarrassing to take it back now?
He looked at Chen Jiuge’s serious face, then at Yue Meng’s teasing expression.
Da Bai clenched his teeth. "I’ll buy it!"
"Good. In that case, I won’t charge you Spirit Stones for the Treasure needed to enhance the White Tiger’s Spiritual Wisdom. In a few days, I’ll have the White Tiger go find you," Chen Jiuge praised. He does have some backbone after all. Truly my Spiritual Beast, he thought with pride.
Time was short. To enhance the White Tiger’s Spiritual Wisdom, Chen Jiuge reluctantly spent one hundred thousand Merit points to exchange for a drop of Immortal Grade Soul Treasure Liquid.
The Myriad Beasts Sect’s Spiritual Beast Magic Technique for forming Contracts was quite domineering. When contracting a Spiritual Beast with lower cultivation, the beast’s consent wasn’t even required. After forcefully forming a Contract with the White Tiger, Chen Jiuge administered the Soul Treasure Liquid to it.
Watching the White Tiger’s eyes gradually clear, Chen Jiuge said with satisfaction, "From now on, your name is Bai Ya. Here are one thousand Top Grade Spirit Stones. This is your initial capital. Once it’s spent, you’ll need to work or find other ways to earn more Spirit Stones."
Now named Bai Ya, she understood that her life and death were in the hands of the human before her. She didn’t resist, simply nodding. She took the Storage Bag containing the Spirit Stones and quietly left to find Da Bai.
I’ve ended up in this state, and Da Bai is largely to blame! she fumed internally. And it seems he even ’bought’ me earlier? That’s unacceptable! How could I, Bai Ya, be bought by such a wimp?