The Master of Beasts

Hua Jianyu did not come alone; Die Luowu and Wudao Tian were with her.

Previously, when Chen Jiuge notified Hua Jianyu, he had been somewhat vague, which piqued their interest, so they decided to come along.

Wudao Tian looked at the lively Jade Beasts with some surprise and said, "Junior Brother, you work fast. You've already cultivated Jade Beasts?"

"Um, I was just curious. After all, these are species created by a Great Power from ancient times."

Before long, the group encountered a mutant Jade Fox. The pitch-black Jade Fox spotted Hua Jianyu instantly. She always brought delicious Spirit Jade for it, so it had a vivid memory of her.

A twirl and a leap, landing gracefully in an embrace?

No, this time Hua Jianyu didn't reach out to catch it but instead asked quizzically, "Junior Brother, do all your Jade Foxes look the same? This one behaves just like mine when it sees me."

Chen Jiuge, feeling rather embarrassed, looked down at the Jade Fox that had landed painfully on its bottom and uttered, "Is it possible that this *is* your Jade Fox?"

"Ah?"

"Hmm?"

"HISS?"

These were the varied reactions from the three. Chen Jiuge awkwardly picked up the aggrieved Jade Fox and explained, "Actually, I don't even know how it turned out like this. It was fine just a few days ago. This morning, I came over and found it had changed."

"But I've checked, and it has had a significant breakthrough in its Bloodline. Its potential now far exceeds Seventh Rank. Yu Heng described it as a mutation, like a Spiritual Beast Bloodline Mutation."

"In other words, this Jade Beast should be the only mutated Jade Beast in the world. So it's a bit black, but still quite adorable, isn't it?"

Hua Jianyu looked at the Jade Fox nibbling on a piece of Spirit Jade and fell into thought. Why black again? I specifically chose the whitest one, so why did it still turn black?

Chen Jiuge didn't realize Hua Jianyu's mind wasn't on his words and kept enthusiastically explaining.

Witnessing Hua Jianyu remaining unmoved and his Senior Brother getting so excited he was almost steaming, Chen Jiuge let out a long sigh and said, "Junior Sister, if you're not satisfied, I can cultivate another one for you. But this time, Senior Brother, you'll have to provide the Immortal Jade for the cultivation."

"Ah, oh, I'll pay, no problem! Junior Brother, could you cultivate a mutated Jade Beast for me too?" Wudao Tian asked, his eyes shining brightly.

A Jade Beast mutation, one of the rarest in the world! Irrespective of its strength, it would certainly be awe-inspiring to ride. I'll introduce it like this: 'This is one of the only mutated Jade Beasts in the whole world, not something any common Divine Beast can compare with.'

"PHEW, this feeling is absolutely exhilarating!"

"I don't know if I can cultivate another, but I will try my best," Chen Jiuge said, hesitant to make any promises. Although the Jade Fox had undergone a Bloodline Mutation, it seemed unchanged from before, except for an enhancement in its Bloodline Grade and overall strength.

Therefore, Chen Jiuge dared not extract its Bloodline and inject it into other Jade Foxes—it was their only specimen, after all.

"Junior Sister Hua, I hate to say it, but it seems you're just destined for black. Look, 'Little Coal Ball' before was also black, and you discarded it. Now even the White Fox you chose turned out so black. What does that prove? It proves you're simply fated to be with black! Take my advice, just keep this one," Wudao Tian clapped his hands, delivering this controversial opinion.

"..."

Initially indecisive, Hua Jianyu's resolve shattered upon hearing this. No, I refuse to take a black one! I don't believe I can't have a Spiritual Beast of another color!

In the end, Hua Jianyu still decided to choose another Jade Fox, while Chen Jiuge reluctantly accepted the mutated black fox for himself.

After all, Senior Brother wanted a rideable mutated Jade Beast, and Chen Jiuge was genuinely afraid that his Senior Brother might crush the fox.

Tearfully accepting the vast amount of Immortal Jade left by his Senior Brother, Chen Jiuge was so moved that tears of joy streamed from the corners of his mouth. That's our Senior Brother for you, ever so generous!

---

The Jade Beast Hua Jianyu joyfully selected was a white sika deer, while her Senior Brother chose a green lion. Chen Jiuge even tried convincing his Senior Brother to choose a different color, but as this lion was the most domineering of all, his Senior Brother refused to switch, and Chen Jiuge could do nothing about it.

Five years passed. Seeing that the two Jade Beasts had broken through to Seventh Rank without any change in color, Chen Jiuge was certain there had been no mistake this time, so he notified his Senior Brother and Hua Jianyu to come and fetch them the next day.

---

「The following day.」

The three rushed over in a great hurry.

"HAHAHA, Junior Brother, how is it? Where's my Jade Lion?" Senior Brother Wudao Tian asked eagerly.

Chen Jiuge said shamefacedly, "Senior Brother, I haven't figured out this Jade Beast mutation yet; I just cultivated their Bloodline up to Seventh Rank."

"I see." Wudao Tian felt somewhat disappointed, but then he remembered that Jade Beasts were now quite rare and seemingly only available from Junior Chen, so his mood lifted again.

"Senior Brother, my little deer hasn't turned black this time, right?" Hua Jianyu also asked anxiously.

"Don't worry, absolutely not this time. I personally watched over it, and just yesterday, it was as white as snow. Let me call them over," Chen Jiuge reassured her.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Black Eye came over with two pitch-black Jade Beasts.

Beyond the ecstatic Wudao Tian, Chen Jiuge, Die Luowu, and Hua Jianyu were plunged into deep contemplation.

Hua Jianyu, sounding somewhat frantic, asked, "Senior Brother, is this the 'snow white' you mentioned?"

"Sister," Die Luowu comforted, "I think black isn't too bad, actually."

"It's impossible! How could it be?" Chen Jiuge was baffled. "It was snow white just yesterday! Why did it turn like this overnight?"

Recalling that Black Eye had been in charge during the Jade Beasts' last two transformations, Chen Jiuge sternly looked towards the distracted Black Eye and asked, "Black Eye, what did you do with them last night?"

"Ah, nothing much, just the usual. If I had to point out something different, I took them to the Spiritual Plant Garden. Bi Yan is about to be born, so I just picked some Spirit Fruit to nourish it," Black Eye said with an innocent face.

"If there really is a problem, it must have occurred in the Spiritual Plant Garden," Chen Jiuge put forward a rather unlikely theory.

"Let's go check it out! We must find the reason. I refuse to believe it!" Hua Jianyu said through gritted teeth.

Wudao Tian, riding the black Jade Lion and looking full of spirit, said, "Junior Sister, listen to your Senior Brother's advice: you're just fated for black."

"Dao Tian!" Die Luowu said disapprovingly. Didn't he see that their Senior Sister was so angry she was forgetting her demeanor? And he was still adding fuel to the fire.

---

Following Hua Jianyu's wishes, the group, led by Black Eye, arrived at the Spiritual Plant Garden.

Over the years, nearly all the Spirit Plant trees in the garden, except for a few with especially lengthy maturation periods, had fruited. The sight was pleasing, and the aroma made one salivate.

"Junior Brother," Wudao Tian remarked, somewhat enviously, "your Spiritual Plant Garden is quite interesting, all filled with Spirit Fruit. Remember to brew plenty of Spiritual Wine; you can't let these go to waste."

As an unrestrained man with his heart set on the Immortal Dao, Wudao Tian hadn't had time to collect many Spirit Plants. More accurately, he was too busy fighting and now also had to accompany his Daoist couple, leaving him no time to gather any Spirit Plants.

"No problem, no problem. I've posted quite a few wine-brewing tasks at the Task Hall," Chen Jiuge nodded.

"Let's get to the point first. The Spiritual Wine isn't urgent," Die Luowu said, rolling her eyes.

Black Eye pointed at a Linglong Fruit Tree not far away and said, "I just picked some Linglong Fruits. I wasn't paying much attention to these two; they were nearby. They hadn't turned black when I left."

"But when Master notified me earlier, I found them, and that's when I discovered they'd turned black."

"Were you here last time too?" Chen Jiuge asked.

"Yes, Linglong Fruits are good for Bi Yan's body. I usually come here every year around this time," Black Eye nodded.

"Everyone, take a look around. The Jade Beasts must have eaten those Spirit Fruits by mistake. My Spirit Fruits are at least Seventh Rank, and there are quite a few of Immortal Rank ones too. So it really could be that some fruit tree induced their mutation," Chen Jiuge felt this far-fetched guess might actually be true.

All present were True Immortals, and one was even a Heavenly Immortal. Finding gnawed-on Spirit Fruit trees was quite simple for them.

---

Ksitigarbha Tree: It is a rather Netherworld-like tree because the Spirit Fruits growing on it greatly resemble a Buddha. Coupled with the legend of it coming from the Netherworld, it was given this peculiar name. Its Grade is also extremely high, having reached the Heavenly Immortal Level.

Due to its rather underwhelming utility, not many forces cultivate it. Its only purpose is to protect living beings from the invasion of Netherworld Energy.

This is of minimal use to Cultivators—it might as well be useless—since only mortals and Low Rank Cultivators face this particular problem. High Rank Cultivators are more concerned with their Cultivation, and Immortals, with their True Spirits maintaining their indestructibility, do not even consider Netherworld invasions.

Seeing the two pitch-black Jade Beasts devouring the fruits with relish, Chen Jiuge said after a moment of silence, "This must be the reason."

"Besides," he continued, "I have another theory. The Jade Beast species might not be complete, which is why they are susceptible to erosion by Netherworld Energy. This would cause them to spontaneously consume Ksitigarbha King Fruits. Otherwise, Jade Beasts wouldn't eat anything other than Jade-based food."

"Netherworld Energy? This is no simple matter," Wudao Tian frowned slightly.

In this world, with reincarnation, there was naturally also the Underworld. Netherworld Energy originated from the Underworld. Not everyone there was dead; many living beings existed because the Underworld itself was a great power, much like the Myriad Beasts Sect.

However, all members of this great power had sworn a Dao Vow to abide by the Heavenly Dao's laws of reincarnation. Ordinary Cultivators couldn't see them, let alone interfere with their actions.

"Junior Brother, wait a moment. I'll ask Master to inquire," Wudao Tian said, looking a bit regretful. "If it strongly impacts the cultivation of Jade Beasts, we may have to give up for now."

An hour after Wudao Tian sent the message, the Sect Master's reply came.

"No problem. Continue to cultivate. Feed Ksitigarbha King Fruits when possible, and there will be no further issues after feeding."

"Junior Brother, it seems you can continue cultivation! Sister Hua, you believe what I said now, right? You're destined for black," Wudao Tian said, his eyebrows dancing.

Chen Jiuge also looked at Hua Jianyu with sympathetic eyes. Now Jade Beasts will likely all turn black—in fact, devoid of any other color.

Hua Jianyu showed a resigned expression. As a Cultivator, she naturally wouldn't allow her future Spiritual Beast to retain any hidden dangers, so the Jade Beasts had to be black.

In the end, Hua Jianyu chose to take both the previous Jade Fox and the current Jade Deer. The extra one was paid for by her Senior Brother. There was no way around it; her Senior Brother had spoken carelessly and offended someone—even offending his Daoist couple's best friend—so the cost had to be paid.

"Junior Brother, you'll be in charge of cultivating the Jade Beasts. I won't even mention whether I have the time. Without the Ksitigarbha Tree, it's rather unsuitable for me. Take this Enlightenment Jade," Wudao Tian said, stuffing a pitch-black Jade Pearl into Chen Jiuge's embrace. He also left behind a hefty sum of Immortal Jade, which, judging by the amount, might have been all his recent earnings.

Watching his Senior Brother generously hand over treasures like a gift-bestowing youth, Chen Jiuge was deeply touched. Isn't this just like my Senior Brother? Truly lovable!