The Master of Beasts

Chen Jiuge, having concluded his cultivation for the day, used the Cleaning Technique to brush away dust from his body, revealing a physique crisscrossed with scars that were rapidly fading.

"Senior Brother Chen, Sister Li has arrived," said Chen Tingting, her face flushing red as she saw the shirtless Chen Jiuge. "It seems she has something important to report."

"Ah, Junior Sister Chen." Putting on his vestment robe, Chen Jiuge smiled. "I'll go right away. How have you been doing in Eden Garden lately?"

"Thanks to Senior Brother Chen's help, I've been doing well in Eden Garden."

"Mm."

Inside the small courtyard, Chen Jiuge saw Li Qiwen standing respectfully to the side and casually brewed a cup of Spiritual Tea for her. "Have some tea. You've been working hard lately too."

"It is my duty," Li Qiwen replied, sitting upright with a solemn expression. "This time, I bring some rather unfortunate news."

"Let's hear it."

From Li Qiwen's account, Chen Jiuge gained a general understanding of the situation.

The Tongxin Inn and the general store, both recently completed, had opened for business. This was initially a good thing, signifying that Chen Jiuge now fully owned his properties, which would broaden his means of obtaining cultivation resources and increase their quantity.

For a while after opening, profits were indeed good. Owing to Chen Jiuge's status as a Direct Disciple, many people showed him respect. Coupled with the Tongxin Inn's moderate pricing, everyone had tacitly accepted its presence.

Half a year passed. The dozen or so Immortal Cities closest to Hundred Herbs Peak remained as usual. However, in Immortal Cities slightly farther away, dissenting voices began to emerge. Notably, Radiant Immortal City, the most distant, had started to openly move against the Tongxin Inn. Many of their personnel were injured, and even a shipment of goods transported by Giant Rhinoceroses was stolen.

"So, on the surface, the ones who took action are from the Yue Family of the City Lord Mansion, but it's highly likely they're actually from the Nangong Family, who are at odds with the Yue Family?"

"That's correct. The Yue Family's main business is mining rare ores for the Myriad Beasts Sect, and they don't focus much on businesses within the city. In contrast, the Nangong Family primarily focuses on city-based industries and is involved in various sectors."

"Because of their dominant position, the charges for those industries are relatively high," Li Qiwen analyzed.

"What's the approximate cultivation level of those who attacked? I remember Radiant Immortal City isn't very large, right?"

"They should be at the Returning to Void realm. Both the Nangong and Yue Families in Radiant Immortal City are side branches. The City Lord, their strongest, is a True Immortal from the Yue Family."

Chen Jiuge frowned deeply. While Radiant Immortal City wasn't particularly strong, both the Yue and Nangong Families were Heavenly Immortal Families. Moreover, their patriarchs both had hopes of breaking through to the Golden Immortal realm. Even as side branches, they shouldn't be overstepping their bounds this blatantly. The most critical issue is that my side indeed lacks high-end combat power. The relatives from the Chen Family who came to help mostly have low cultivation talent and are better at business; they're mainly at the Nascent Soul stage. As for the Loose Cultivators introduced by my parents, there are a few at the Returning to Void realm, but setting aside the combat capabilities of Loose Cultivators, asking them to confront great families with Heavenly Immortals so soon after arriving... they'd probably just flee. Should I ask Bali to take action? No, Bali has the combat capability, but his Spiritual Wisdom is too low. If he kills too many, the True Immortal of the Yue Family might intervene. Right, I almost forgot about that creature!

He took Li Qiwen to the farthest corner of Eden Garden.

Seeing the expanse of yellow sand before her, Li Qiwen exclaimed in surprise, "There's a desert here too?"

"This wasn't here originally," Chen Jiuge explained, smiling as he observed the figure flickering in and out of the sands, "but it exists because of that creature, which I had almost forgotten."

It had wings on its back and a bright yellow body—the Ming Snake, a Disaster Beast that brings drought.

The chilling hiss made Li Qiwen shiver. Staring at the enormous creature before her, she couldn't help but feel a trace of fear from the depths of her heart. This winged snake seems somewhat terrifying.

"It's rare for you to visit me," the Ming Snake said rudely to Chen Jiuge.

Regarding the Ming Snake's resentment, I can only manage a bitter smile. Since forming the Contract with it, I've had to keep it in this most remote corner to prevent it from destroying Eden Garden's ecosystem. As a Disaster Beast, the Ming Snake is also extremely aloof and proud, unwilling to interact with other Spiritual Beasts. The resentment it has accumulated over these many years could probably pierce the heavens. He assessed the Ming Snake's cultivation. Good heavens, it's at the peak of Returning to Void, just one step from Mahayana! It probably hasn't broken through yet due to the limitations of my own cultivation. This time, things are looking up.

"There is something I need you to do. You can leave, but you must listen to her," Chen Jiuge said, pointing to Li Qiwen beside him.

"Fine. But after I complete the task, I want to spend some time outside," the Ming Snake nodded.

"Alright. After all, you've been cooped up for so long; you deserve to go out and stretch your... coils a bit." Seeing the Ming Snake nod, Chen Jiuge breathed a sigh of relief. I thought it might make some outrageous demands.

"The Ming Snake is now under your care. With the capabilities of a Disaster Beast, it can even challenge a Mahayana cultivator, which is more than enough to handle those raiding the merchant caravans," Chen Jiuge instructed.

Looking at the terrifying Ming Snake, Li Qiwen's knees felt weak. "Is it just to handle the raiders? Won't the Yue Family and Nangong Family get involved?"

"If they aren't fools, they won't. The fact that I could enlist the Disaster Beast, Ming Snake, already proves my status and capabilities. If they still insist on intervening, then I'll have no need for restraint."

Though Li Qiwen didn't fully grasp the intricacies involved, she obediently took the Ming Snake and headed to Radiant Immortal City.

"Let's hope no fools show up. But to avoid any surprises, I still need to inform Senior Sister. I'm too weak right now; I still have to rely on her," Chen Jiuge muttered to himself.

Wen Ruo, who had successfully overcome the Heart Demon Tribulation, spent her days either tending to the flowers and plants outside her cave mansion or watching the sea of clouds from the peak. It was said she was adjusting her state to welcome the coming Heavenly Tribulation.

"Junior Brother, one doesn't visit a temple without a cause. Spit it out, what trouble have you brought this time?" Wen Ruo asked while watering her plants.

Chen Jiuge felt a bit embarrassed. It seems like every time I come looking for Senior Sister, it's about some trouble.

After Chen Jiuge briefly explained the situation with Radiant Immortal City, Wen Ruo said irritably, "For such a trivial matter, you actually sent an immature Disaster Beast, the Ming Snake? That's making a mountain out of a molehill! Do you even realize how precious Disaster Beasts are?"

"Ah." Chen Jiuge wondered if he had misheard.

Watching her confused Junior Brother, Wen Ruo put down her watering can and said, "Even though the Heavenly Tribulation for a Disaster Beast is stronger, thanks to their profound Catastrophe Energy, as long as their foundation isn't damaged, they basically become True Immortals upon reaching adulthood. In some ways, they are even rarer than Divine Beasts."

"The main branches of both the Nangong and Yue Families are very respectful towards Master. As Master's Direct Disciple, even if your official apprenticeship ceremony hasn't been held yet, you are not someone that inconsequential side branches can afford to offend."

"However, since you've already sent the Ming Snake out, let it be. I'll speak to those two families. From now on, for such minor matters, just go directly to Gu Lao. Master has subordinate forces, and they can handle these small issues." Wen Ruo chuckled. Does this Junior Brother of mine not understand the significance of being our Master's disciple?

Chen Jiuge scratched his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He recalled how he always troubled his Senior Sister and then invited her, "Senior Sister, would you like to come for dinner at Eden Garden this evening?"

Wen Ruo tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then said, "Sure. But Yaoyao might come too. Is that okay?"

"Senior Sister Bai is coming too? No problem!" Chen Jiuge was slightly surprised but readily agreed.