The Master of Beasts

Returning to Eden Garden, Chen Jiuge saw Guman drinking tea in the small courtyard.

"Guman," Chen Jiuge greeted respectfully.

"What happened? Tell me," Guman said, setting down his teacup.

After Chen Jiuge described the situation, Guman's expression stiffened slightly. Then he sighed, "I didn't expect Silver Flower's Life Span to have less than a thousand years remaining."

After a moment of reflection, seeing Chen Jiuge's anxious face, Guman reassured him, "Don't worry. Silver Flower's true form is a White Lotus, so she has always considered White Lotus her kin. But the Great Elder... alas."

"This matter is complicated, very complicated. Wait for your Master to finish his seclusion and ask him. The Great Elder is still your Master's grand-mentor; it shouldn't be hard to meet him."

"Love, that single word, doesn't just hurt people; it hurts flowers too."

Watching Guman leave the small courtyard with a gloomy mood, Chen Jiuge understood the complexity involved. He realized Grandma Silver must have made the request because she was sure that both he and Brother Huo had ways to meet the Great Elder. He wondered how Brother Huo would handle it.

Three days had passed since the trip to White Lotus Mountain. Chen Jiuge had temporarily put the matter aside, realizing that a Golden Immortal like the Great Elder was beyond his reach to request an audience with. He could only wait for his Master to come out of seclusion and then subtly probe to see if it was possible.

However, what Chen Jiuge didn't expect was that a turn of events would occur three months later.

「......」

"Are you Chen Jiuge? Wen Tianming's newly accepted disciple?"

Chen Jiuge turned towards the source of the voice. A man built like a wall stood behind him. His deathly pale skin distracted from his gloomy features, and a delicate, doll-like little girl was perched on his shoulders.

When Chen Jiuge briefly sensed the man's Cultivation, he felt as if he were looking at a boundless Ba Snake. Its terrifying snake pupils directly extinguished his Divine Thought.

Watching Chen Jiuge grunt stiflingly, the man said discontentedly, "Didn't Wen Tianming teach you not to casually probe others' Cultivation?"

With a casual wave of the man's hand, Chen Jiuge felt that his lost Divine Thought had not only recovered but had even increased significantly. What level of Cultivation did this man possess?

"Senior Ba, Little Nine hasn't ventured out much for trials," Guman's figure suddenly appeared in the courtyard, addressing the man respectfully.

"Is that you, Guman? I haven't seen you for many years. How come you've aged so much?" the man addressed as 'Senior Ba' joked.

"Alright, Chen Jiuge—Little Nine, right? I'm here on a matter. Let me introduce myself. I am Ba Tianba, Wen Tianming's grand-mentor and also the Ba Snake of your Great Elder. You should know of me," Ba Tianba said nonchalantly.

"The Great Elder's Spiritual Beast, the Golden Immortal Ba Snake!!!" Chen Jiuge's eyes widened, his mind trembling.

"Kid, don't look at me like that. I don't eat people," Ba Tianba said, carefully setting his daughter down. "Zhi Duoxing told me you've awakened Divine Skills related to cause and effect and can refine Divine Beast Bloodlines. I'm here to ask you to perform it on my daughter. As for payment, just name your price."

"Senior Ba is most magnanimous. Just do your best, Little Nine," Guman added from the side.

Hearing Guman say so too, Chen Jiuge felt slightly more confident and cautiously said, "Um, Senior Ba, may I request that instead of payment, you ask the Great Elder to visit White Lotus Mountain?"

"White Lotus Mountain? To see Silver Flower? Kid, do you even know the relationship between the Great Elder and Silver Flower, daring to make such a request?" Ba Tianba grinned, his smile sinister.

"Daddy, scary," the little girl said crisply, hugging Ba Tianba's thigh.

"It's Daddy's fault. Good Yaoyao, don't be scared, don't be scared," Ba Tianba said, looking at his daughter with doting eyes and comforting her softly.

"I can drag that old scoundrel to White Lotus Mountain, but you have to tell me why first."

Following Chen Jiuge's explanation, Ba Tianba understood the reason. A trace of sadness appeared on his already gloomy face. "Silver Flower's Life Span isn't long? That old scoundrel really causes trouble. Not long ago, he even sent my son away. It seems I'll have to beat him up again."

Chen Jiuge shivered. Were these words really for a small fry like him to hear?

"I agree. It's all that old scoundrel's fault. I'll take him to White Lotus Mountain. However, this cannot be considered payment. Silver Flower is my sister; I don't need an outsider's help for her. First, refine Yaoyao's Bloodline. As for what compensation you want, think it over and tell Guman later." Ba Tianba's already dark countenance grew even darker.

Drawing on his previous experience extracting Divine Beast Bloodlines in the Main Hall, Chen Jiuge had specifically learned a set of massage techniques to make this task seem less straightforward.

Placing Yaoyao on the bed, Chen Jiuge looked at the nervous doll-like girl before him and said softly, "Yaoyao, don't be scared. It'll feel very comfortable soon."

"Do we need to step back?" Guman reminded him.

"No, it's fine. It won't affect anything."

The massage technique Chen Jiuge learned was specifically designed for various Spiritual Beasts. With Yaoyao's Nascent Soul Cultivation, she naturally found it comfortable. Coupled with the periodic extraction of her Bloodline, the pleasant sensation caused Yaoyao to continuously make soft, contented cooing sounds.

This massage session lasted an hour. Wiping non-existent sweat from his forehead, Chen Jiuge said to Ba Tianba, "Mission accomplished."

Ba Tianba stepped forward and grabbed Yaoyao's small hand. An unparalleled aura flashed past. Looking at the trembling Guman beside him and the soaking wet Chen Jiuge, he couldn't help but complain, "Guman, has your Cultivation regressed lately? Just a little display of my aura and you're shaking all over. And you, Little Nine, right? Your courage is also lacking. Don't worry, Wen Tianming will take you to witness more grand occasions."

"Very good, very good indeed. Have you thought about what compensation you want?" Ba Tianba asked again, holding the now-asleep Yaoyao in his arms.

"Senior, I still have the same request. I don't need any compensation," Chen Jiuge said firmly. This was a chance to save Ao Yi, so compensation was secondary. Earning a favor from a Golden Immortal was well worth it.

"Think it over carefully. I'll handle Silver Flower's situation. Those two little Flood Dragons won't come to any harm." Ba Tianba frowned slightly, then left after saying these words.

After a long while, Guman slowly said, "The level of a Golden Immortal is truly terrifying."

Chen Jiuge was somewhat perplexed. Guman was a Heavenly Immortal; there was only one Realm difference. Could the gap be that vast?

Seeing Chen Jiuge's puzzled look, Guman explained, "In the Ancient Times, as soon as one became a True Immortal, one could live as long as heaven and earth, immortal and indestructible. But now, a True Immortal can only live for one Hui Yuan. Even Heavenly Immortals need to undergo Tribulation to extend their Life Span."

"And Golden Immortals are still almost immortal and indestructible, although there's a so-called limit to their Life Span. But a Golden Immortal's abilities are too powerful; extending their Life Span is actually quite simple. Those two from Flower Fairy Valley, who are always said to be approaching the limit of their Life Span, are rumored to have already lived for more than one Hui Yuan, and yet they are still alive and well."

"Golden Immortals are the true Immortals, the real deal."

Chen Jiuge nodded thoughtfully. As for what exactly happened in the Ancient Times that led to the current situation, he had no intention of asking. Guman probably didn't know either.

"You did very well today. Senior Ba is very strong, both in terms of power and character. It was right of you not to ask for compensation. At least you've left an impression on Senior Ba. The power of a Golden Immortal who achieved their status through their own efforts is absolutely beyond your imagination," Guman hinted.

A real Golden Immortal?

"As for such secrets, it's best to wait until you become an Immortal. Now is not the time. Focus on your Cultivation for now," Guman said, shaking his head.