The Master of Beasts

"Why have you brought me here? Don't tell me you're going to say someone here can solve Silver Flower's problem?" Lan Tian asked Ba Tianba, baffled.

"I don't know, but it might be possible," Ba Tianba replied, having calmed down.

Unlike humans, Spiritual Beasts' emotions don't weaken with higher Cultivation. In fact, they tend to grow more nostalgic with age. That's why some Guardian Beasts still protect their master's family or Sect even though their master has long since passed away.

As Chen Jiuge watched the Golden Immortal powerhouse return to the courtyard, he knew Ba Tianba wouldn't harm him. Nevertheless, his heart shivered. He felt like a small animal encountering a natural predator, deeply uneasy.

"Elder, is Yaoyao alright?" Chen Jiuge tentatively asked.

"She's fine, she's fine." Ba Tianba's mood improved considerably at the thought of his daughter.

"This is Lan Tian. We've come because there's something we need to verify with you, something very important. You must tell us the truth," Ba Tianba said earnestly.

Chen Jiuge swallowed. "Okay," he said nervously.

"Your Karma Divine Skill, can it cleanse a specific Bloodline, or completely purify a Spiritual Beast of another foreign Bloodline within it?"

Seeing the grave expressions of the two powerhouses, Chen Jiuge cautiously replied, "It should be possible."

"However, cleansing the Bloodline of a Spiritual Beast with a higher Cultivation than mine might require their cooperation. They must not resist; otherwise, the process can easily fail."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tian frowned. His disciple is only at the Divinity Transformation Realm; he probably can't cleanse the Demon Clan Bloodline within Silver Flower, he thought.

"Let's try it first. If it doesn't work, we'll have the old man bring out some Treasures to boost Little Nine's Cultivation a bit. We have to try. The old man can't be so stingy as to not part with a few Treasures, can he?" Ba Tianba suggested.

"That works. After all, it's still a glimmer of hope. I'll go talk to Silver Flower about this first; you wait here."

As Lan Tian walked away, Ba Tianba turned to Chen Jiuge and said, "Little Nine, if you can handle this, you can come to me for anything in the future. I'll ensure you're safe within the Myriad Beasts Sect."

Chen Jiuge replied weakly, "Elder, it seems you haven't told me what this is about yet?"

"Huh? Did we not mention it?" Ba Tianba looked puzzled. "Then I'll tell you now." He then began to roughly explain Silver Flower's situation, omitting the story between her and the Great Elder, of course.

"So, Elder, you want me to cleanse the Bloodline of Heavenly Immortal Granny Silver?" Chen Jiuge looked incredulous. Are they perhaps overestimating me?

"Is that not possible?"

"I've never tried to use my Divine Skill on someone with such High Cultivation; I don't know if I can do it," Chen Jiuge didn't outright refuse. This matter clearly comes with great benefits, he reasoned. At the very least, I'll gain the favor of three Golden Immortals and Granny Silver, and I can test the limits of my Golden Finger. There's no reason for me to refuse.

「On the other side, back on White Lotus Mountain Top.」

Lan Tian looked at Silver Flower leaning against Ye Sheng, a mix of emotions and pity welling within him. "Ye Sheng, Silver Flower, Tianba has discovered a disciple who awakened the Karma Divine Skill. His skill can cleanse the Demon Clan Bloodline."

"A disciple? What's his Cultivation? Silver Flower is a Heavenly Immortal; can he do it?" Although Ye Sheng felt a flicker of excitement, he maintained a composed exterior.

"He's Wen Tianming's disciple, only at the Divinity Transformation Realm. Regardless, we should still try."

Ye Sheng fell silent. Lan Tian and the others weren't aware of the full situation, but Ye Sheng and Silver Flower knew all too well that if the Bloodline cleansed wasn't the Demon Clan's but some other, Silver Flower's Life Span might be shortened even further.

"Ye Sheng, go give it a try," Jun Linseng sighed, suddenly appearing at the courtyard entrance. "The Divine Skills awakened by this disciple seem different from the last one. It's more akin to the divine powers of that ancient ancestor recorded in our history. Cultivation is a manageable issue. Take out your Golden Lotus Birth Pool for him to use; assisting his Cultivation will be a trivial matter."

A muscle twitched at the corner of Ye Sheng's usually composed mouth. "The Golden Lotus Birth Pool? Are you unaware that I spent tens of thousands of years collecting rare Immortal Elixirs to create this Treasure? But for Silver Flower... very well."

"Agreed," Ye Sheng responded placidly.

"Then I'll call the disciple over." A hint of joy touched Ye Sheng's face upon seeing the Sect Master's approval.

At this moment, Silver Flower, leaning on Ye Sheng's shoulder, spoke up, "No, if we're asking for help, we should go to them."

The group of Golden Immortal experts obediently heeded Silver Flower's words without objection.

As Silver Flower was about to leave the courtyard, she suddenly remembered the two little Flood Dragons and chuckled, covering her mouth. "I almost forgot about you two little things."

***

Chen Jiuge had only stepped away to fetch his teapot. When he returned, several powerful figures had appeared in the courtyard. Am I seeing things? he wondered, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

"Jiuge, what's all this? Did you think you were dreaming?" Jun Linseng, who had met Chen Jiuge before, was the first to speak. "Tianba must have told you about Silver Flower's situation. Give it a try."

"Sect Master, I can't promise anything. My Cultivation is too low," Chen Jiuge said, shaking his head.

"Let's see first. Later, the Great Elder—ah, you're Wen Tianming's disciple, so the Great Elder would be your Ancestral Master. We'll have your Ancestral Master boost your Cultivation," Jun Linseng said, realizing the connection.

"Ye Sheng, no need to feel so pained. After all, he's one of our own disciples," Jun Linseng teased.

"I'm not as petty as you," Ye Sheng said calmly, then turned to Chen Jiuge. "I will first help you enhance your Cultivation. You will then help Silver Flower purge the Demon Clan Bloodline. As for how much you can grow, that will depend on your own perseverance and talent."

As a Golden Immortal at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Realm, Ye Sheng naturally possessed his own Grotto Heaven Magic Treasure—or rather, it should be called a Pocket World.

A pool, not more than a few meters in length and width with a golden lotus growing in the middle, was placed by Ye Sheng in the courtyard.

When Ye Sheng removed the Barrier over the Golden Lotus Pond, a surging wave of Spiritual Energy instantly swept through the Eden Garden. Chen Jiuge saw nearby Spirit Grass growing wildly, and many Spiritual Beasts on the brink of breakthroughs advanced through their Realms. The Plant Elves close by sported even brighter flowers atop their heads, a symbol of the inherent increase in their Life Force.

What level of Treasure is this, for its mere aura—its Life Aura and Spiritual Power—to have such a profound effect? Chen Jiuge marveled.

"This is the Golden Lotus Birth Pool, cultivated from countless Immortal Elixirs I've gathered over tens of thousands of years," Ye Sheng explained. "The Spiritual Energy it contains is very gentle; even Cultivators who have not yet become immortal can absorb it, though the process might be somewhat painful. How much you can absorb will depend entirely on your own capability."

"Go ahead. This is your Ancestral Master's cherished Treasure. No need for any preparations; just get in," Jun Linseng smiled.

"Okay." Chen Jiuge naturally wouldn't refuse. My Cultivation is far too low, he thought. I can't miss this opportunity.

"By the way, I've already released those two little Flood Dragons in your Eden Garden," Silver Flower turned and said with a smile.

"Thank you, Granny Silver," Chen Jiuge expressed his gratitude.

Once they were outside the courtyard, Jun Linseng laughed. "Ye Sheng hasn't joined us like this for many years. While Jiuge is still inside, shall we explore a bit? I'll call over Zhi Duoxing and the others to catch up with Tianba and the rest."

"As you wish."

Watching Ye Sheng turn sharply and depart with Silver Flower, Jun Linseng sighed, "Old Second Ye is still as tsundere as ever."