Jian Dan was playing with Xiao Yue at Beast Peak when she got a message from Shou Min, and she stopped by to check on Hu Yi too.
After reading the jade slip, she could only shake her head helplessly. Beast tamers really were all the same, always eager to try anything without worrying about getting parasitized themselves. She casually replied to Shou Min, telling her to report any abnormality right away, then tucked the jade slip away.
Jian Dan leaned back in a rocking chair beneath an ancient mulberry tree, looking relaxed. Four attendants stood nearby while Xiao Yue had long since darted off somewhere.
Since most of her affairs were taken care of, she decided to bring Xiao Yue out for a stroll around Beast Peak, without bothering to notify the peak lord.
She even gave Xiao Yue a mission, sending him to sniff out news from the spirit beasts and demon beasts on the mountain. Meanwhile, she enjoyed the scenery and checked the latest message slips from Heavenly Sword Sect.
After the Hua family planted their mark again, Jian Dan sent word to Wei Zhengrong, telling him to have someone keep a close eye on Du Yunfei of Flowing Fire Sect, and also informed him that the girl was the one who'd possessed by Du Yanran.
After reading the slip, Wei Zhengrong not only dispatched someone to investigate, he also reviewed all the clues in reverse order. Once he confirmed the message was accurate, he locked onto Du Yunfei without hesitation.
Because of the Hua family's mark, they didn't leave anyone behind. Meanwhile, the cultivator Wei Zhengrong sent, a Golden Core stage, reported back after monitoring Du Yunfei for a while.
"This little girl in Qi Refining is really strange. Whether she's alone or in a group, she always walks away with something. Everyone around her either shields her or ends up as cannon fodder."
Wei Zhengrong thought about it for a moment, then recalled the Golden Core cultivator and instead pulled a Nascent Soul expert from the Shadow Division. He warned him not to take Du Yunfei lightly, even preparing a jade slip that contained everything they'd collected about Du Yanran.
After reading it, Ding from Shadow Division let a strange glint flash through his eyes. His face was hidden behind a mask, but he finally understood why they were watching such a small fry. She wasn't ordinary. People said she carried great fortune.
Otherwise, how could she still be alive and kicking after all the suppression from Jian Lu Zūnshàng, even changing skins in the end? Clearly, the Heavenly Dao was favoring her.
"She might carry fortune, but she owes Zūnshàng karmic debt. Don't worry. Just watch her until she forms her Golden Core. Then you can report back. As for her chances and encounters, if you can snatch them, snatch them. But be careful."
"Yes, I'll follow orders."
Ding accepted the task and immediately headed for Flowing Fire Sect to begin his surveillance and interception.
After Jian Dan read the report, she gave a small nod of approval for Wei Zhengrong's caution. She was just about to check on the progress of her three disciples when Xiao Yue came running back in a panic, several female cultivators trailing behind.
Jian Dan raised a brow. Where had this little one gone to stir up trouble?
Xiao Yue shrank down and dove straight into her arms. Those women were terrifying. The way they looked at him made it seem like they wanted to swallow him whole.
Jian Dan stroked him, finding no injuries, so she guessed he'd just been teased. At that moment, a huge shadow passed overhead, followed by a tiger's roar.
Hu Yi folded his wings, dropped down in front of her, bowed on one knee, then lay down on the grass by her feet.
The female cultivators chasing Xiao Yue stopped in their tracks when they saw Jian Dan. They pushed and nudged each other nervously before finally stepping forward.
"Greetings to Mo Yue Zūnshàng!"
"Rise."
She swept her gaze over them. All four were Nascent Soul stage, freshly advanced by the look of it. They'd probably come to Beast Peak to choose spirit pets, only to set their sights on Xiao Yue and chased him here.
When Xiao Yue wasn't baring his fangs, his dumb, cute act was very deceptive. No wonder female cultivators loved him. Otherwise, why would he get bullied by Mo Qi every time they met?
"Xiao Yue's my beast. Go pick another spirit beast or demon beast."
"Yes, Zūnshàng."
The four bowed quickly, then left in haste.
"Hu Yi, how're you getting along at Beast Peak?" Jian Dan asked, nudging him lightly with her foot.
"Not bad. The cultivation environment's way better than the forest I was stuck in. The only problem's there're no decent opponents. The big guys here have no fight in them."
"Of course. These are spirit beasts raised in captivity. Most can't leave until they're contracted. You're the exception."
Hu Yi snorted, clearly depressed. Did he really have to be contracted before he could leave?
"Zūnshàng, are you planning to contract me?"
"You? I'd only make you pull a cart. Why would I waste a contract on you? Your cultivation's too low."
The implication was clear, and Hu Yi looked more miserable than ever.
"If you want go back to your old place, I won't stop you."
His eyes lit up, then dimmed just as fast. The one who bullied him had already been killed by a female from Heavenly Sword Sect, but if he returned now, he'd definitely get targeted. Staying here was safer.
"I'm afraid I'll get ambushed if I go back. I'll stay here."
Jian Dan chuckled softly, then lifted her gaze skyward as if sensing something. She turned to Hu Yi.
"I've found you a good master. In a moment, do your best to impress her."
A streak of light flew straight toward her and landed, revealing Miao Yunrong.
Her steps quickened as soon as she spotted Jian Dan smiling at her.
"Yunrong greets Mo Yue Zūnshàng!"
"You're still so formal with me? Sit, let's talk."
At her gesture, an attendant set out a fresh seat.
Miao Yunrong lifted her black robe slightly and sat down beside her.
"You've just broken through to Divine Transformation?"
"Yes. I just stabilized my realm. I wanted to relax a bit before taking a sect mission and heading out for training."
Her features were still delicate, but the arrogance on her face was gone, replaced by a bright, open smile.
"Not bad. You've worked hard to raise your cultivation this quickly."
"It was only thanks to Zūnshàng's help that I escaped disaster back then. I never got the chance to thank you properly."
Miao Yunrong stood and gave a solemn bow.
"No need to be so polite. The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Bed you promised, I received it. It's very useful."
Jian Dan smiled enchantingly, lifting her fan to help her sit back down.
"At the time, things got complicated. I was sent to Mo Yan Zhēnzūn, who stripped away my constitution. My realm collapsed to the early Qi Refining stage. I almost became a mortal. Luckily, Father stabilized my cultivation and sent me to a blessed land to recover. That's why I stand here today."
She spoke discreetly but hid nothing, telling Jian Dan everything.
"In the end, you saved yourself."
"Yes, that's what Master Ancestor told me too. My so-called reluctance to cultivate was actually my body's instinctive defense. It kept me alive long enough to meet you. I even formed my Yuányīng outside. If I'd been inside the sect, my aunt would've supervised, and she definitely would've shattered my dream of forming a Yuányīng. Just thinking about it terrifies me."
Miao Yunrong patted her chest and let out a sigh.
"Every disaster has its blessing. You're fine now, and those who harmed you are already destroyed. Stop looking back. Look forward."
"Yes, I'll follow your words."
She agreed cheerfully, then her gaze kept drifting to Xiao Yue, still nestled in Jian Dan's arms.
Jian Dan smiled, tapping Hu Yi with her fan.
"Here, a gift for you. Didn't you want a beast pet? How about this winged tiger?"