This breeding had lasted ten years. During that time, Chen Jiuge had no idea exactly how many Jade Beasts he had cultivated. In any case, all the Elders in the Sect who were interested in Spirit Beast Breeding, or in the Jade Beasts themselves, essentially had enough samples.
Chen Jiuge thought that by handling the Elders, he could relax for a while, since the past ten years had indeed been exhausting.
Unexpectedly, the disciples of Myriad Beasts Sect, especially the female disciples, had developed a huge passion for Jade Beasts.
"Senior Brother Junior Elder, I wonder if you could sell me a little rabbit?" a Junior Sister asked, batting her big eyes and cooing at Chen Jiuge.
Chen Jiuge kept retreating. What kind of title is ’Senior Brother Junior Elder’? And why does this Junior Sister look a bit scary?
Wen Ruo promptly appeared and stopped the Junior Sister’s advance. "Be good and go line up. Jade Beasts are in high demand; you’ll need to wait a bit longer."
"Thanks for saving me, Senior Sister. That was really scary," Chen Jiuge said, wiping away non-existent cold sweat.
Wen Ruo’s expression was somewhat cold, as was her tone. "Junior Brother, with Chen Tingting and that little member of the Demon Clan here, you didn’t really need to come out personally, did you?"
Chen Jiuge hadn’t noticed anything amiss, just smiled bitterly. "There are too many appointments, and I still need to ensure the health of the Jade Beast horde. They can’t breed indefinitely. I came out this time to tell the disciples to stop making appointments; the queue has extended a thousand years into the future."
Hearing this, Wen Ruo’s expression softened considerably. "Junior Brother, you go back first; I’ll handle things here."
"Thank you so much, Senior Sister," Chen Jiuge said gratefully, feeling really out of his element in dealing with the situation he had just encountered.
Once Chen Jiuge had vanished from sight, Wen Ruo fixed a sharp gaze on the coquettish female disciple. "Don’t always think about breaking the rules, alright?"
The female disciple trembled and covered her face as she left.
"Well, well, my little Ruo can even keep a straight face now," Bai Yao suddenly appeared, sporting a strange smile.
Jun Sandao explained somewhat awkwardly, "We weren’t spying; we just happened to see."
Wen Ruo’s complexion remained calm. "I am maintaining order."
"This isn’t even your cave mansion, TSK TSK TSK. You maintain order for Junior Brother but never for me, your good sister," Bai Yao teased.
"Does your cave mansion even need someone to maintain order?" Wen Ruo responded disdainfully.
Bai Yao’s face darkened. She thought about the Divine Beast cubs scampering all over the place; indeed, there was no need. Most people couldn’t handle these little creatures thrashing about. Ever since she and Jun Sandao became a Daoist couple, she had been staying at his place, probably leaving just that lazy Star Dragon at her own.
"Alright, what brings you here this time?" Wen Ruo interrupted Bai Yao’s reverie.
"It’s about my family’s affairs. I was hoping to ask you and Junior Brother Chen to come back with me and put on a show of force," Bai Yao said, somewhat gloomily.
Isn’t Jun Sandao with you enough? Wen Ruo thought for a moment that the Bai Family seemed to have only one Heavenly Immortal ancestor who was about to face his Tribulation.
Bai Yao frowned deeply, annoyed. "I can’t always have Sandao use the Jun Family’s influence to pressure people, right? After all, they are my relatives."
"So, you decided to turn to me and my Junior Brother? You should have asked Martial Master Senior Brother instead; he’s a Heavenly Immortal and would solve it in no time," Wen Ruo suggested.
"Senior Brother has gone out. I can only rely on you guys now?" Bai Yao pleaded, clinging to Wen Ruo’s hand.
"Alright, alright, I can join you. But as for Junior Brother, you’ll have to ask him yourself."
"Go out? Sure, I agree!" Chen Jiuge was thrilled. Finally, someone had invited him out. He was really sick of all the orders for breeding Jade Beasts.
"Uh, Junior Brother, aren’t you going to ask where we’re going?" Bai Yao was surprised. Junior Brother Chen has been so busy recently; how could he agree so readily?
"It doesn’t matter where, just not in the Eden Garden. I really don’t want to cultivate Spiritual Beasts right now, especially not Jade Beasts," Chen Jiuge said, gritting his teeth.
"Okay, then, Junior Brother, get ready. We’ll leave right now."
"What’s there to prepare? Let’s just go," Chen Jiuge said, promptly picking up Luwu Tianque, who had just entered the small courtyard.
Tianque’s chubby little face showed pure confusion. "Where to? I’m not going! Yaoyao is going to take me to eat something delicious soon. I won’t go!"
Ignoring Tianque’s cries, Chen Jiuge and the others immediately set off for the Bai Family.
「On the Flying Boat」 Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel[f]ire.net
Tianque never stopped talking. Chen Jiuge puzzled over what exactly had been taught during that special training. Why had a perfectly normal Divine Beast Luwu turned into such a chubby foodie, even more outrageous than Jiao Yue?
"Junior Brother, this Spiritual Beast of yours is really interesting. It looks somewhat like Luwu, too. Do you think I could also raise one?" Bai Yao asked, squatting curiously and poking Tianque’s chubby face.
Chen Jiuge’s face darkened upon hearing this. "Senior Sister, is it possible that it actually *is* Luwu?"
Bai Yao was stunned. Wasn’t Luwu supposed to have a human face and tiger body, handsome and a reliable, number one Divine Beast for guarding homes? This chubby kid is Luwu?
Jun Sandao was also extremely curious. "Let me see."
"HA, this little chubby guy really is Luwu!" Jun Sandao exclaimed, a bit startled by the image of Luwu displayed by the magic.
"Junior Brother, how did you cultivate this?"
"That would be thanks to the Sect Master," Chen Jiuge said, staring pointedly at Jun Sandao.
Jun Sandao felt a bit uneasy under Chen Jiuge’s gaze. Then, he remembered his own father’s Luwu and thought, If she trained it, it might not be impossible.
Tian Que, however, was not influenced by the others. For him, nothing was more important than eating!
"We have arrived at White Burning Immortal City!" Wen Ruo reminded them.
"Yes, we have," Bai Yao said, somewhat melancholically.
Chen Jiuge, however, felt somewhat different. This familiar Immortal City... his last visit was over a thousand years ago. It really made him nostalgic.
The Bai Family was the sole hegemon of White Burning Immortal City because they had a Heavenly Immortal ancestor. Furthermore, with Bai Yao becoming a prospective Core Disciple in her early years, their status had become unquestionable. By now, virtually all of White Burning Immortal City operated on the Bai Family’s word.
"Actually, my memories of the family are also quite vague. Since becoming a prospective Core Disciple two thousand years ago, I’ve mostly been cultivating in the Sect and hardly had time to return home," Bai Yao said self-mockingly, looking at the familiar yet foreign street scenes.
"Don’t worry, we’re here with you," Jun Sandao said comfortingly, putting his arm around Bai Yao’s shoulder.
Chen Jiuge could hardly stand it. "One of you is a prospective Core Disciple, and the other is the Sect Master’s son. Is all this drama really necessary?"
Wen Ruo agreed, "It is indeed a bit much."
Jun Sandao coughed awkwardly twice.
Amidst their group’s banter, they arrived at the Bai Family.
Unlike the Chen Family, which gathered all its members in the core area, the Bai Family gathered disciples with cultivation talent together. Others were dispersed across various parts of White Burning Immortal City.
This method had its pros and cons. The advantage was resource conservation, allowing the strong to become stronger. The downside was a certain decrease in family cohesion, since not every Cultivator’s child possessed great cultivation aptitude.
As a Core Disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect, Bai Yao’s status was not much lower than that of the Bai Family’s Old Ancestor. In the eyes of outsiders, her position might even be considered higher. Hence, the four of them were treated with the utmost hospitality.
"You are not needed here. Leave," Bai Yao coldly dismissed the gracefully postured Maids. Then, she turned to Bai Dinglong, the current Family Head of the Bai Family. "Great Uncle, tell me, what’s the situation?"
With only five people in the hall, Bai Dinglong decided not to hide anything. He looked at Bai Yao with some affection and said, "I’m about to die."
Bai Yao was shocked. How is that possible? Bai Dinglong was a True Immortal, a seasoned one at that, with mid-level strength among True Immortals. How could he possibly die so inexplicably?
"The situation is a bit complex, but that’s the truth. I probably have only about a hundred years of Life Span left," Bai Dinglong said with some emotion.
"Then what about the Old Ancestor?"
"The Old Ancestor is fine; he has already overcome this Life Span Tribulation."
"So, it’s not the Old Ancestor whose Life Span is nearing its end, but you, Great Uncle?" Bai Yao was thoroughly confused.
"Correct. The main reason I called you back this time is because our Bai Family, along with the Yan Family, discovered an Earth Flame Stone vein. We decided to use the outcome of a duel between True Immortals to divide the mining profits," Bai Dinglong explained.
How boring. Bai Yao’s expression turned unsightly; she felt they had used such a crude lie about some Earth Flame Stones just to trick her back.
"Ah Yao, don’t underestimate the resources of a large Earth Flame Stone vein. It’s very important for our Bai Family, unlike for the Myriad Beasts Sect," Bai Dinglong explained.
The discussion ended unhappily, though Bai Yao ultimately agreed to represent the Bai Family in the battle.
「Bai Yao’s Childhood Attic」
"I’m so angry! I thought it was something significant, but it turned out to be such a trivial matter!" Bai Yao exclaimed, smashing her wine glass onto the table.
"Actually, I think there’s more to it," Wen Ruo guessed.
"Indeed. This is likely also about the upcoming election for the next Family Head of the Bai Family. It won’t be long before visitors start arriving," Jun Sandao agreed.
"Sandao, set up an Array and close the door. We won’t see anyone," Bai Yao declared with a wave of her hand. Jun Sandao reluctantly complied.
Chen Jiuge suddenly laughed out loud. It reminded him of the saying from his past life: ’Close the gates and release the hounds.’
Jun Sandao’s guess was correct. Over the next few days, people kept visiting, but they were unable to break through the Array Jun Sandao had set up. They could only reluctantly leave Sound Recording Talismans at the door, hoping Bai Yao would listen to their terms.
Reading the content of these Sound Recording Talismans, Chen Jiuge was thoroughly amused.
"Bai Yao, it’s your Third Uncle! If you support me as the Family Head, I will definitely fully support your development in the Myriad Beasts Sect and make you a Core Disciple!"
"Senior Sister Bai, look at this one! This one’s good! He’s actually offering direct support for you to become a Core Disciple!" Chen Jiuge couldn’t hold back his laughter. Who is this person? Even the Bai Family’s Old Ancestor wouldn’t dare make such a promise!
Bai Yao looked speechlessly at Chen Jiuge. "Junior Brother, if you’re too idle, go take a walk outside. And stop looking at these Sound Recording Talismans."
Seeing Bai Yao snatch the Sound Recording Talisman away, Chen Jiuge immediately picked up the still-sleepy Tianque and said, "Alright then, I’ll go take a walk outside."