Roar—roar!
The Crimson Flame Qilin let out a deafening roar to welcome Chen Wuyou and Shangguan Mo.
"Is that... Xiaoqiu?" Unconcealed shock filled Yu Luo's face.
Could a big fellow like this really be called a spirit pet?
"Uh, yes," Chen Wuyou hurriedly explained. "It wasn't this big a while ago. It must have been eating well lately, so it grew a bit fast."
No sooner had Chen Wuyou finished speaking than Xiaoqiu suddenly carried Shangguan Mo on its back, walked right up to Yu Luo, stretched out its huge head, and sniffed carefully.
Instantly, the oppressive aura emanating from Xiaoqiu pinned Yu Luo to the spot, unable to move.
Though not yet fully grown, Xiaoqiu had been nourished by the Yan Yan Stone vein, and its current strength had reached the Xuanling Realm Sixth Layer, comparable to an outer sect elder of the Xuanyang Sect. Yu Luo, at the Xuanling First Layer, was naturally no match for it.
As for Shangguan Mo and Chen Wuyou, who would ever fear a spirit pet they had raised themselves since it was little?
Roar—roar!
Xiaoqiu suddenly let out a low growl.
Clearly, it did not like Yu Luo.
"Xiaoqiu, get away from the pretty Senior Sister right now!" Shangguan Mo patted Xiaoqiu's head.
"Xiaoqiu, back off!" Chen Wuyou frowned and sharply rebuked.
The Crimson Flame Qilin, so imposing just a moment ago, obediently backed away.
As the oppressive aura dissipated, Yu Luo turned pale, feeling weak all over and short of breath. Had Chen Wuyou not reached out to steady her in time, she probably would have collapsed to the ground.
"Sorry about that, Junior Sister Yu Luo." Chen Wuyou looked slightly apologetic as he channeled spiritual power to her. "After all, this fellow is a Crimson Flame Qilin. It probably sensed the Biluo Liutian you cultivate, which is why it was somewhat hostile toward you."
"I'm fine, Senior Brother." Yu Luo waved her hand. Today, she had truly witnessed the terror of an ancient spirit beast for the first time.
With such oppressive might, ordinary cultivators of the same realm would likely be completely powerless before it.
Because of this episode, Chen Wuyou didn't dare let Xiaoqiu get close to Yu Luo again, so he had Shangguan Mo take Xiaoqiu off to play in the distance.
Still, it worked out for the best. With things turning out this way, wouldn't it leave just him and this beautiful junior sister?
Hehe.
A moment later, with Chen Wuyou's help, Yu Luo finally regulated her breathing.
Looking at the Crimson Flame Qilin in the distance, whose every move could shake the heavens and earth, Chen Wuyou said helplessly, "Ever since this fellow was placed here, it's probably played king of the hill quite a bit. Its temperament has gotten somewhat wild."
Chen Wuyou secretly resolved that given the chance in the future, he would definitely bring the old man over to properly discipline Xiaoqiu.
"An ancient spirit beast should be like this." Yu Luo slowly shook her head.
Chen Wuyou turned his gaze to Yu Luo, quickly searching for a topic to close the distance with this cold-natured junior sister. "Junior Sister Yu Luo, I heard from the inner sect disciples earlier that you've only been in the inner sect for half a year. I wonder which elder you study under?"
To be honest, Chen Wuyou was asking a redundant question, because he could count the people he knew by name in the Xuanyang Sect on one hand.
"Elder Moyun of Lingtai Peak," Yu Luo replied.
Hearing this, Chen Wuyou was somewhat surprised, as he was actually quite familiar with this Elder Moyun. He asked curiously, "I remember Uncle Mo... no, Elder Moyun, he's someone who can never stay still. How is it that your personality is the complete opposite?"
"Is that so?" Yu Luo forced a faint smile, the light in her eyes dimming instantly. "Perhaps... our experiences are different."
Seeing this, Chen Wuyou's eyelid twitched, thinking to himself that this was bad—he had probably brought up some forbidden topic.
Thus, Chen Wuyou hurriedly changed the subject. "Junior Sister, you've already stepped into the Xuanling Realm at such a young age, which can be called exceptional talent. With Elder Moyun's guidance, I'm afraid before long, even Senior Brother Sikong won't be your match."
"But aren't you the same, Senior Brother?"
"I'm no good. I've just been idling away my days in the Xuanyang Sect for so many years," Chen Wuyou waved his hand and said jokingly. "People outside all say that ten years ago, everyone knew Chen Wuyou was a genius, and ten years later, everyone still knows that Chen Wuyou was a genius ten years ago."
"So, I can't compare to you, Junior Sister. My biggest goal in this life is just to live happily until I die of old age."
"Everything else is just a bonus."
Like going to the Northern Domain, for instance.
Hearing this, Yu Luo just gave a faint smile and didn't reply.
Seeing this, Chen Wuyou felt a bit troubled. This junior sister had so few words that it was almost pitiful; at this rate, how was he, a gentleman, supposed to woo a modest, fair maiden...
Wait a minute. Speaking of which, why did he suddenly feel like he had forgotten someone?
Whatever, forget it.
Enjoying the present was the most important thing.
"Big Brother Wuyou!" At that moment, Shangguan Mo's voice suddenly rang out from the distance. Chen Wuyou looked toward the sound and saw the young girl running happily in his direction.
Behind her, Xiaoqiu was just as jubilant... and then came the earth-shaking vibrations.
Chen Wuyou was badly startled, hurriedly stood up, pointed at Xiaoqiu, and shouted, "Xiaoqiu, you stay right there and behave yourself!"
Roar~~~
Xiaoqiu let out an aggrieved roar, but obediently stopped, drooping its huge head and standing frozen in place.
Chen Wuyou breathed a sigh of relief, then pulled his gaze back to look at the running Shangguan Mo.
"What is it, Mo'er?"
"Big Brother Wuyou, pretty Senior Sister, look at this!" The young girl ran up to the two of them excitedly, opened her fair little hands, and revealed a crystal-clear red jade stone.
"This thing..." Chen Wuyou took the jade stone, feeling a sense of familiarity. After examining it for a moment, he suddenly seemed to think of something, retrieved the Chiyang Sword from his storage bag, and placed it side by side with the jade stone for comparison.
"It really is a Yan Yan Heart." A moment later, having reached a conclusion, Chen Wuyou curved his lips into a smile. "Mo'er, where did you get this thing?"
"Xiaoqiu gave it to me! It said a bunch of these things popped up at the bottom of the lake these past few days."
As she spoke, Shangguan Mo pointed at Xiaoqiu, who was standing quietly in the corner as punishment.
The latter seemed to hear their conversation as well, and when Chen Wuyou's gaze turned its way, it proudly shook its huge head.
"This guy." Chen Wuyou smiled helplessly, then returned the Yan Yan Heart to Shangguan Mo.
"Mo'er, remember to carry this thing with you from now on."
"Why?" Shangguan Mo asked, tilting her head up.
Chen Wuyou thought for a moment and said, "Because this is a gift from Xiaoqiu. Isn't it very meaningful since it's the first time it gave you something?"
Hearing this, Shangguan Mo held the Yan Yan Heart in front of her, blinked her watery eyes for a long while, and flashed a cute, pretty smile. "I know, Big Brother Wuyou!"
After Shangguan Mo walked away, Yu Luo gazed at the Yan Yan Heart, which was glowing brilliantly under the light, a look of curiosity on her face.
Chen Wuyou noticed this and naturally understood what she was thinking, immediately saying with a smile, "Junior Sister wants to ask why I'm not interested in those Yan Yan Hearts, right?"
"Mhm."
"If I could, I'd want Xiaoqiu to dig all of them out too," Chen Wuyou stroked the blade of the Chiyang Sword and said with some regret. "Pity I won't be making this windfall."
"Why?"
"As Junior Sister knows, the Yan Yan Heart is the essence of the Yan Yan Stone, a spiritual treasure born only when a Yan Yan Stone vein reaches a certain stage of development. Spirit weapons forged from it are invariably top-grade; and if a cultivator keeps one by their side, the pure spiritual power contained within can continuously nourish the body and achieve the effect of consolidating one's foundation."
"Precisely because the Yan Yan Heart possesses extreme spirituality, maintaining it is exceptionally difficult. As of now, only three methods are known."
"The first method is to let it stay in the mineral vein forever, but that has no meaning."
"The second is to refine it directly into the body, but that only helps with cultivating fire-attribute spirit skills."
"And the third method," Chen Wuyou looked at Xiaoqiu, who was playing happily with Shangguan Mo, and said softly, "is to use the vital blood of a high-grade fire-attribute spirit beast as a vessel to prevent the spiritual energy of the Yan Yan Heart from dissipating."
"Xiaoqiu..."
"Now, Junior Sister knows why I don't want those Yan Yan Hearts."
"So that's how it is." Yu Luo nodded, couldn't help but cast a deep glance at Xiaoqiu and Shangguan Mo.
"Crimson Flame... Xiaoqiu is really close to Junior Sister Mo'er."
"Yeah." Chen Wuyou raised his head and gazed up at the azure sky. "Mo'er has always treated Xiaoqiu like special family. Of course, I feel the same way."
Chen Wuyou didn't notice that during the brief moment he tilted his head to look at the sky, the light in Yu Luo's eyes grew dimmer and dimmer, and her figure appeared increasingly forlorn.
"Senior Brother Wuyou, it's getting late. I'll be leaving first."