Chen Xiaoyu had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage. With the assistance of the Flame Demon, even if she couldn’t compare to those prodigies, she wouldn’t be far behind.
The Seventh Rank Bloodline of the Flame Demon had already surpassed many others.
It was quite frustrating to think about; among Chen Jiuge’s own Lifebound Spirit Beasts, Black Eye was still just a Sixth Rank Hellhound Bloodline, always a hair short of the Seventh Rank three-headed Hellhound.
Chen Jiuge muttered, watching Yue Meng pound herbs with her rump in the air, "Forget it. Black Eye’s Bloodline might be a step lower, but it’s diligent enough to have reached the Nascent Soul Realm. For now, I should focus on raising Yue Meng’s cultivation as quickly as possible."
Yue Meng, who was diligently trying to meet her monthly quota, couldn’t help but shudder. She cautiously looked around to find her master staring at her.
Moving her body stiffly, and seeing that nothing strange seemed to have stuck to her and she remained as beautiful as ever, Yue Meng flicked her little tail proudly. Could it be that her master had finally come around? Did he realize my beauty?
"Yue Meng, your Sect mission should be over after this month, right?" Chen Jiuge said thoughtfully.
"Yes," Yue Meng replied, somewhat disappointed.
"Remember to let me know when it’s finished," Chen Jiuge said, planning to carefully arrange Yue Meng’s cultivation schedule.
As a not-so-pure Moon Rabbit, Yue Meng’s potential was nonetheless immense.
Pureblood Moon Rabbits were legendary Immortal Beasts. So, even though Yue Meng was only contracted when Chen Jiuge reached the Golden Core stage, and despite often sleeping soundly at night instead of cultivating, her cultivation speed was remarkably fast. Consider that Black Eye, contracted at the very beginning, had only reached the Nascent Soul stage a few years ago.
War Song was a different case. Fighting Demon Apes could continuously improve their cultivation through constant battle, making them a special kind of Spiritual Beast.
Moon Rabbit cultivation primarily relied on absorbing Moonlight Power. So, Chen Jiuge planned to visit the workshop to see if there was any Moonlight Dew—an elixir and spiritual material condensed from Moonlight Power.
If that didn’t work, he would have to use Merits to exchange for it at the Pill Hall. However, Merits were precious, so it was best to avoid using them if possible.
「Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.」
At a Medicine Garden of the Myriad Beasts Sect’s Outer Sect, a mature-looking, beautiful woman expressed reluctance upon receiving the Spiritual Medicine Yue Meng handed over. "Little fellow, are you not continuing?"
"Aunt Wen, I’ve been doing this task for over three years now, and I’ve earned enough Spirit Stones for my use," Yue Meng replied nonchalantly, counting her Spirit Stones.
Observing the money-grubbing Yue Meng, the beautiful woman, Wen Shuiruo, didn’t say much, only sighed with regret. "If only you were my Spiritual Beast. That boy is so lucky to have found a Moon Rabbit."
Yue Meng was clearly accustomed to the beautiful woman’s complaints. She rolled her eyes almost imperceptibly, privately griping. If I were your Spiritual Beast, I’d have to pound herbs every day! This bunny would be worked to death!
After counting the Spirit Stones, Yue Meng happily put them in her Storage Bag, waved her hand, and skipped away cheerfully.
She had wanted to go to the workshop to buy some things. She’d heard that the newly released rouge was especially pretty and had a wonderful fragrance. But, remembering her master had asked to be informed once her task was done, she had to suppress her excitement for now.
In the valley, Chen Jiuge, who had just finished assisting a Red Flame Sheep with birthing, greeted the hopping and evidently cheerful Yue Meng. "Yue Meng, is your task finished?"
"Yeah, Master! See how good I am to you? I came back to tell you as soon as I was done!" Yue Meng said, seeking praise.
Looking at the highly spirited Yue Meng, Chen Jiuge nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. From now on, don’t go out. You can leave once you break through to the Nascent Soul Realm."
The corners of Yue Meng’s mouth drooped. "Master, what do you mean by that?" she asked in disbelief.
"What do I mean? Look at yourself! Black Eye broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm years ago, and War Song did it more than a decade ago. You’re still at the Golden Core Realm. Aren’t you ashamed?" Chen Jiuge sneered.
"But Master, aren’t you also at the Golden Core Realm?" Yue Meng said, completely baffled.
"Me, Golden Core Realm? You have the nerve to say I’m Golden Core Realm? If you had broken through, I would have advanced long ago! Enough said. For the foreseeable future, don’t even think about going out. Break through, then you can go out," Chen Jiuge stated coldly.
Seeing the look of refusal on Yue Meng’s face, Chen Jiuge sighed. "Once you break through, I can buy you Youthful Pills. Haven’t you always wanted them?"
Yue Meng had longed for Youthful Pills for a long time, as they could only be exchanged for with Merits. Hearing Chen Jiuge’s promise, her eyes immediately lit up. "Really?"
"Really." Chen Jiuge didn’t know what to say to this vain rabbit.
That night, Yue Meng, having finally decided to get serious, lay for once on a bluestone, absorbing Moonlight Power.
A pillar of pure white, cold light enveloped Yue Meng. As expected of an Immortal Grade Moon Rabbit Bloodline. Even though the Bloodline’s purity is only Seventh Rank, this cultivation speed is incredible, Chen Jiuge thought in amazement.
About an hour later, the pillar of light slowly faded. Chen Jiuge, his expression a mixture of confusion and disbelief, watched Yue Meng shake her short little legs and prepare to sleep.
"You’re done cultivating???" Chen Jiuge stared at Yue Meng, his face darkening.
"Yes, I’m done. It’s been a full hour; time for my beauty sleep," Yue Meng said, looking at her master strangely. Doesn’t he know that staying up too late is bad for you and can cause wrinkles?
"But you’re a Spiritual Beast, a Golden Core Realm Spiritual Beast at that! How old are you? Compared to humans, you’re just a child. How could you possibly get wrinkles?" Chen Jiuge was almost floored by Yue Meng’s words.
"Master, you don’t understand women," Yue Meng said disdainfully.
Chen Jiuge’s face darkened further. He pinned Yue Meng down. "You are to cultivate properly! I’m confiscating all this miscellaneous stuff you have. You can ask for it back when you break through."
As Chen Jiuge was a Fourth Rank Body Refiner, Yue Meng’s struggles were futile. Her numerous Storage Bags were completely emptied.
"Master, leave me a little!" As soon as he released her, Yue Meng clung to Chen Jiuge’s leg, her eyes welling with tears.
"Cultivate properly." Leaving behind the Moonlight Dew and Star Moon Tears he had prepared, Chen Jiuge walked away heartlessly.
Looking at the elixirs, which radiated potent Moonlight Power, Yue Meng felt utterly dejected.
Roughly a quarter of an hour later, Yue Meng climbed up, gritting her teeth. She grabbed the elixirs and said fiercely, "Damn Master! Wait until my cultivation breaks through! I’ll drink all your favorite Spiritual Wine!"
With the aid of the Moonlight Dew and Star Moon Tears, the phenomenon of Yue Meng’s cultivation became even more pronounced. The originally somewhat ethereal pillar of light solidified. Under the moonlight, her snow-white fur grew even shinier, gaining a mysterious allure.
Back at his residence, Chen Jiuge didn’t inspect Yue Meng’s Storage Bags. As an open-minded Beast Master, he wouldn’t pry into his Spiritual Beasts’ secrets and gave them ample freedom. They each had their own Storage Bag, and Chen Jiuge even gave them a batch of Spirit Stones annually for them to buy things they liked.
"I hope Yue Meng breaks through soon," Chen Jiuge mumbled to himself, his face flushing slightly. "I’ve been at the Golden Core Realm for a very long time; even my Body Refinement cultivation has reached the Fourth Rank. If I don’t break through to the Nascent Soul Realm soon, it’ll be too embarrassing."
Possessing superior Spirit Roots, a powerful Divine Soul, and even the aid of a Golden Finger, to still not have reached the Nascent Soul Realm after more than a hundred years of cultivation was a pace that truly made one feel ashamed. Most of his peers with similar talent had already advanced to the Nascent Soul Realm and entered the Inner Sect.