After taking a few breaths, he suddenly realized something.
"Where is my physical strength? Why has my physical strength weakened?"
Xiaobai checked his own body and found that it was as smooth and rosy as a newborn baby.
His hard and strong physical strength was gone.
Xiaobai took a deep breath, recalling that earlier, Master seemed to have given him a bowl of brown sugar water.
It had been warm.
After drinking it, his physical strength was gone.
"You treacherous Master, you've ruined my demonic physique again!" Xiaobai growled in a low voice.
"Ah!!!"
Xiaobai let out an angry, low roar, his whole body flushing red.
"I, the Demon Emperor, am irreconcilable with you!"
Had it not been for the loss of his physical strength, he would have definitely charged out right now to fight a decisive battle against his Master!
Ruining his cultivation was one thing, but now you've ruined his demonic physique as well!
Just you wait, Emperor; once I grow up, I will make you pay the price.
Once the Eldest Senior Sister is away from Xiaoyao Peak and there's no one to protect you, see if I don't deal with you!
I, the dignified Demon Emperor, have fallen into your hands twice, and I swear there won't be a third time!
I... I...
I'm going to get my revenge!
Chapter 29: Your Own Disciples Are Better After All
"Click... click... click..."
Yekong sat by the Bitter Sea, boredly toying with a lighter.
"Sigh, fire without smoke is still hard to bear."
"I should go find Senior Brother Qin; the cigarettes he made last time were quite good."
Yekong remembered the mind-refreshing incense Qin Wuyi had lit in his courtyard last time.
It had the flavor of a proper smoke.
Qin Senior Brother must have planted quite a lot of it.
With that thought, Yekong put down his fishing rod, walked down Xiaoyao Peak, and headed all the way toward Yushou Peak.
This was the first time he had strolled over to any of the other peaks.
After walking for about half an hour, Yekong reached the foot of Yushou Peak.
Looking up, Yushou Peak was lush and crystal-clear with dense forests, where numerous animals leaped and bounded through the trees, full of vitality.
Yushou Peak was of vital importance, as it raised all the Demonic Beasts of the entire Stellar River Sect.
After watching for a while, Yekong walked slowly up the mountain with his hands behind his back.
As soon as he stepped onto the peak, two disciples riding Demonic Beasts blocked his path.
"Which peak are you from?" the peak-guarding disciples asked.
"The Peak Master of Xiaoyao Peak, here to pay a visit to Senior Brother Qin!" Yekong said indifferently.
"Xiaoyao Peak?" the mountain-guarding disciples said with a hint of disdain.
In their understanding, Xiaoyao Peak was merely one of the Nine Peaks that only existed because of connections.
Its status was even lower than that of ordinary disciples.
Whatever, I suppose I should go inside and report it.
No matter what, Yekong was still their... granduncle-master.
One of the disciples returned to the main hall of Yushou Peak and reported the news to Qin Wuyi, who was busy handling affairs.
"Peak Master, the Peak Master of Xiaoyao Peak has come to visit!" the mountain-guarding disciple reported truthfully.
"Yekong?" Qin Wuyi frowned, pondering, "Why is he coming to my place out of the blue?"
Qin Wuyi couldn't figure it out, but he still instructed, "Bring him up."
Upon hearing this, the mountain-guarding disciple immediately withdrew and led Yekong to the grand hall on Yushou Peak.
Among the Nine Peaks, Yushou Peak was the largest.
On it, one-third of the population consisted of humans, while two-thirds were Demonic Beasts.
Among them, the Spirit Beast Garden alone occupied nearly half the land of Yushou Peak.
All Demonic Beasts in the entire Stellar River Sect originated from the Spirit Beast Garden.
If Tianjian Peak was the first choice, then Yushou Peak was the second.
Watching Demonic Beasts wandering around and dropping dung everywhere, Yekong shook his head; his own little mountain peak was much quieter.
Following the gate-guarding disciple, he soon arrived at the grand hall.
"Junior Brother Yekong, what brings you to my Yushou Peak so suddenly today?" Qin Wuyi asked casually as he processed paperwork in the hall.
"Didn't you come over to my place to drink tea and light incense last time? I came to ask if you still have the materials for that kind of incense," Yekong replied.
Hearing this, Qin Wuyi looked up at Yekong and asked questioningly:
"What do you want with the mi—mind-refreshing incense?"
Yekong smiled and said, "I liked the smell of that incense and wanted to make some."
Hearing this, a suspicious look appeared on Qin Wuyi's face.
That incense was the most potent miasma incense; a single sniff would knock out a Demonic Beast, and ordinary people couldn't handle it at all. Even I... can only hold out for a moment.
You are merely at the Qi Condensation realm; just how are you able to resist the miasma incense?
Could it be that people with weak cultivation aren't affected by miasma incense?
Qin Wuyi pondered for a moment, sneering inwardly: "Since you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, don't blame your Senior Brother for playing a trick on you."
"Junior Brother Yekong, the mind-refreshing incense you mentioned is planted in the Spirit Beast Garden."
"I can't get away right now, so how about this: I'll have Qin Shou take you in, how's that?" Qin Wuyi said with a smile.
"Then many thanks, Senior Brother Qin!" Yekong cupped his hands in thanks.
"Don't mention it." Qin Wuyi smiled and said to the young attendant beside him, "Go, have Qin Shou get ready and take Junior Brother Yekong to the Spirit Beast Garden."
The attendant nodded and turned to leave.
Before long, Qin Shou was waiting outside the main hall.
"Junior Brother Yekong, off you go." Qin Wuyi instructed.
Yekong cupped his hands in farewell and then walked out of the main hall.
As soon as he stepped outside, he smelled a stench coming off Qin Shou.
"Nephew Qin Shou, how many days have you gone without a bath to smell this stinky?" Yekong fanned the air in front of his nose.
Or could it be that he hadn't washed it off properly after getting sprayed last time?
Qin Shou sneered inwardly. Stinky?
Once you enter the Spirit Beast Garden later, you'll get a taste of real suffering.
"Granduncle-master jokes. Let me take you to the Spirit Beast Garden," Qin Shou said, leading the way ahead.
Yekong kept a distance of five feet from Qin Shou; the smell emanating from him was truly too foul.
At that moment, Yekong suddenly felt that his own disciple was much better after all, taking a bath every single day.
Outside the Spirit Beast Garden.
Before even stepping inside, Yekong heard the roaring sounds of Demonic Beasts.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Yekong stopped in his tracks and frowned slightly.
Why do the Demonic Beasts roar every day? Isn't it noisy?
Can the disciples of Yushou Peak even get a proper rest?
My Xiaoyao Peak is much quieter, with no one disturbing me.
Seeing Yekong stop, Qin Shou couldn't help sneering inwardly.
Granduncle-master Yekong truly is utterly useless; he's too scared to walk just from hearing the roars of Demonic Beasts.
And yet he dared to come to my Yushou Peak?
Still, the real show will begin once he goes inside.
"Granduncle-master Yekong need not worry. The beasts are in rut; it's a normal phenomenon," Qin Shou said.
Yekong nodded. No wonder it was so noisy.
"Open the gate; I am taking Granduncle-master Yekong inside," Qin Shou instructed.
Hearing Qin Shou's words, the disciple guarding the Spirit Beast Garden gate opened a small side door.
Qin Shou led Yekong into the Spirit Beast Garden.
The moment he stepped inside, Yekong instantly felt as though he had walked into a zoo.
Inside,
most of the Demonic Beasts were separated by formations and could only move within their own designated areas.
The stench emanating from Qin Shou made many Demonic Beasts unwilling to approach him.
The foul odor on his body was refined from Demonic Beast feces—exceptionally pungent. Smearing it all over his body could effectively prevent Demonic Beasts from coming near.
Of course, there was one type of Demonic Beast that was an exception.
The Moon-Gazing Hound specifically loved that scent.
Qin Shou maintained a distance of over five meters from Yekong the entire time, simply wanting to watch Yekong make a fool of himself.
The Demonic Beasts separated by the formations didn't want to approach Qin Shou, but seeing Yekong's unfamiliar face, they indeed found it novel and lunged forward one after another, opening their bloody maws.
They were Demonic Beasts, after all—they ate meat.
"Be good, stop acting up," Yekong said with a light smile, a flash of light passing through his eyes.
Looking into Yekong's eyes, the Demonic Beasts felt endless fear. Like little kittens, they lay flat on the ground with their tails raised.
Qin Shou walked in front, deliberately keeping his distance from Yekong.
Granduncle-master, oh Granduncle-master, it's currently the mating season for Demonic Beasts, so you can't blame me; you're the one who insisted on coming.
Yekong walked leisurely behind with his hands behind his back, observing all kinds of Demonic Beasts as if he were strolling through a zoo.
There were all sorts of Demonic Beasts: those that flew in the sky, ran on the ground, and swam in the water.
Powerful, fierce, and brutal Demonic Beasts were isolated by formations and locked up individually.
Gentle-tempered Demonic Beasts with modest strength were allowed to move around freely.
"Granduncle-master Yekong, the Demonic Beasts here are very brutal. You must not get close; otherwise, once they break through the formation, even the Peak Master won't be able to save you," Qin Shou said as he turned his head.
As soon as he finished speaking, he was utterly dumbfounded.
"Where did you get that cat?"
He saw Yekong cradling and petting a very cute, all-blue little cat with short, rounded ears.
This Spirit Beast Garden held countless fierce beasts; where on earth would they keep a cat?
Besides, why did this cat look so familiar?
Even if it was in heat and had taken a fancy to Granduncle-master Yekong, it shouldn't be this well-behaved, right?
Chapter 30: Once Eye Contact Is Made, You Know It's Someone You Can't Afford to Offend
"Oh, I picked it up right here," Yekong pointed to the open space beside them.
Qin Shou turned his head to look and was instantly dumbfounded. The formation right next to them was the one holding fierce beasts.
The fierce beast inside was gone.
"Th... that's a Nascent Soul fierce beast, the Ghost Blue Cat!" Qin Shou's eyes widened as he retreated a few steps, his eyes filled with panic.
The Ghost Blue Cat possessed strength rivaling the Nascent Soul realm and was extremely savage.
When moving, it was like a ghost, leaving not a single blade of grass in its wake.
Although he had broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, he couldn't beat it.
"Oh, so your name is Ghost Blue Cat," Yekong petted the blue cat's tail and placed it back into the formation.
"Meow!" The Ghost Blue Cat let out a cry, as if wanting to be petted some more.
"I'll ask Senior Brother later if he can give it to me. If he says yes, I'll take you with me," Yekong said with a smile, then walked on with his hands behind his back.
"Meow," the Ghost Blue Cat cried out, seeming somewhat impatient.
Qin Shou froze in place. How could such a savage cat become so well-behaved?
This wasn't right!
Even if it was in heat, wouldn't it normally pounce on people the moment it saw them?
"Nephew Qin Shou, let's go," Yekong called out, turning his head.
Only then did Qin Shou snap back to his senses, concluding that Granduncle-master Yekong must have been deceived by the Ghost Blue Cat's outward appearance.
His granduncle-master's cultivation was too low to recognize its danger!
No, I must stay away from Yekong.
Qin Shou quickened his pace and led Yekong deeper inside.
By now, they had walked into the core area.
The beasts locked up here were all powerful and extremely fierce.
Most of the Demonic Beasts in the Spirit Beast Garden had not been tamed; the tamed ones were kept in another zone.
Qin Shou had intentionally led Yekong through the dangerous area to scare him.
After passing through the hazardous zone, the two walked into an open expanse.
There were even more Demonic Beasts here, and none of them were restricted.
These were all tamed Demonic Beasts that only obeyed their masters' commands and were extremely loyal.
Usually, they rested right here within the Spirit Beast Garden.
Upon arriving, Qin Shou walked over to his own Demonic Beast, a colorful leopard, but his beast stayed far away and was utterly unwilling to approach him.
"Be a good boy, go teach the person behind me a lesson," Qin Shou instructed softly.
The colorful leopard didn't listen and turned tail to run.
Qin Shou's forehead was covered in black lines. Just as he was about to chase after it, he noticed his granduncle-master had already walked over.
"Granduncle-master, the things you want are right ahead," Qin Shou pointed forward.
There was a field of medicinal herbs there, containing the main ingredients used to make miasma incense.
As the miasma incense grew, it emitted a peculiar scent. Upon smelling it, Demonic Beasts would fall into a deep slumber, and no matter how fierce the beast, it would become infatuated with it.
Once refined into miasma incense, the medicinal efficacy would become even more potent.
The main ingredients of this miasma incense were also one of the methods the Yushou Peak used to control Demonic Beasts, making them extremely rare.
Yekong looked at the materials before him; these were precisely what he needed.
Now he wouldn't have to worry about running out of smokes.
"Granduncle-master Yekong, please be careful," Qin Shou spoke only after Yekong walked over.
Don't blame me for not warning you; ferocious Demonic Beasts guard the vicinity of the herb field. If you harvest the herbs without pacifying them first, anything that happens won't be my concern.
Qin Shou stood far away, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire.
As Yekong stepped into the herb field, the sleeping Demonic Beast sensed someone trespassing, opened its eyes, and glared with a fierce expression.
Yekong glanced back at it, a flash of light gleaming in his eyes. The sleeping Demonic Beast lowered its head, covered its eyes with its front paws, and went right back to sleep.
Once eye contact is made, you know it's someone you can't afford to offend.
Better just keep sleeping.
Seeing that it was well-behaved and obedient, Yekong stepped further inside, treading on some spiritual plants. He would refine them when he got back to make cigarettes.
Qin Shou had been waiting to watch a good show, but he found that the fierce beast guarding the herb field wasn't making a peep.
Hey, stop sleeping already! Someone entered the herb field to harvest herbs!
Big brother, wake up!
Sleeping all the time is one thing, but someone has actually broken into the herb field and you're still sleeping?
Qin Shou walked over, wanting to wake up the slumbering fierce beast.
What time is it to be sleeping? Look at the situation, will you?
Just as he walked closer, the sound of a dog barking suddenly rang in Qin Shou's ear.
"Woof, woof, woof!"
Qin Shou turned his head with difficulty, only to see a black-and-white dog that looked very much like a wolf running over while wagging its tail.
Seeing this, Qin Shou's eyes widened instantly.
Y-you don't come over here!
"Awooo!" The Moon-Gazing Hound let out a long howl and lunged straight at Qin Shou, knocking him to the ground.
Yekong harvested nearly half of the spiritual plants in the herb field before nodding in satisfaction.
Looking at the somewhat vacant herb field, Yekong couldn't help muttering: "Did I pick a bit too much?"
Well, it's not a big deal; nobody else smokes anyway, so leaving them here would just be a waste.
Yekong shook his head and dusted the dirt off his hands.
Now he was satisfied.
The fierce beast guarding the herb field covered its head with both paws. Sensing Yekong walking past, it peeked out through a tiny gap to steal a glance at Yekong.
As a result, it caught Yekong's smile...
And instantly felt as though the whole world had gone dark.
Too terrifying! That man actually smiled at me—could it be that he wants to eat meat tonight?
I'd better hurry and dig a hole to bury myself.
Seeing the fierce beast burrow into the dirt, Yekong was somewhat surprised.
"I never expected Demonic Beasts to know how to tunnel," Yekong thought, finding it rather novel.
Pity he didn't have time; otherwise, he would have liked to study it properly.
After walking out of the herb field in a few steps, Yekong noticed that Qin Shou, who had been outside, was gone.
Did he leave?
Yekong frowned slightly, then suddenly heard a dog bark.
"Woof!"
Yekong turned his head and saw a large dog not far away, licking Qin Shou.
Yuck!
A bootlicker! Utterly despicable!
Seeing this scene, Yekong turned his head away, pretending he hadn't seen anything.
"Nephew Qin Shou, have fun playing; Granduncle-master is heading off first!" Yekong dropped this remark and turned to leave.
"Bootlicker, get the hell off me!" Qin Shou pushed hard, but the Moon-Gazing Hound kept him pinned down.
Seeing that they were having fun playing, Yekong walked away in silence.
It was better not to disturb their frolicking.
Yekong walked away with his hands behind his back; the items he needed had already been harvested.
Just a few steps away, a colorful leopard lunged at him.
Yekong slowly raised his hand and, as the leopard pounced, sent it flying with a single slap.
"I don't like bootlickers, and I don't like boot-leopards either."
The colorful leopard was sent crashing to the ground, questioning its entire feline existence.
That man is too strong!
Seeing their big brother the leopard get swatted away, the other Demonic Beasts that had wanted to attack Yekong quietly backed off.
Can't beat him, time to bolt.
Seeing that the Demonic Beasts had all behaved, Yekong turned and left.
In the Demonic Beast living area, not a single beast dared to approach Yekong.
When they reached the dangerous area, the locked-up Demonic Beasts dropped to their knees upon seeing Yekong arrive, not even daring to raise their heads.
They were as pious as ministers kowtowing to an emperor.
That was, of course, assuming their bodies hadn't been trembling.
When they reached the Ghost Blue Cat, it leaped straight out of the formation and landed on Yekong's shoulder.
It wanted to follow Yekong outside.
Yekong stroked its head and said softly, "Alright then, I'll take you out with me, but you have to be good."
"Meow," the Ghost Blue Cat called out.
Yekong smiled and brought it along.
Taking it out and handing it over to his disciple to look after would save her from having to take baths every day.
After passing through the dangerous area, they quickly arrived at the main gate.
The Ghost Blue Cat directly turned invisible.
As Yekong walked out and was about to leave with his hands behind his back, he was called to a halt.
"Granduncle-master Yekong, where is Senior Brother Qin Shou?" asked the disciple guarding the Spirit Beast Garden.
Qin Shou had gone in with him, but Yekong had come out while Qin Shou hadn't.
That didn't make sense.
Logically speaking, Qin Shou should have come out smiling while Yekong was trapped inside.
"Oh, he's inside having a great time playing with a wolf-like dog," Yekong replied.
With that, he turned around and left.
Chapter 31: Disobey, and Prepare to End Up in the Pot
"Senior Brother Qin Shou is having a great time playing with a dog?" The gate-guarding disciple was utterly bewildered. What was that supposed to mean?
After freezing for a moment, he suddenly realized the truth.
"It's the Moon-Gazing Hound! Quick, go find the Peak Master!"
By the time Qin Wuyi rushed over, Qin Shou was lying flat on the ground with a lifeless expression, having been licked all over by the Moon-Gazing Hound.
Both of his arms had also been bitten by the hound and he couldn't lift them.
"Woof, woof!" The Moon-Gazing Hound barked twice and turned to run.
Qin Wuyi glanced at Qin Shou lying on the ground and said coldly, "Take him out!"
Two disciples stepped forward and carried Qin Shou away.
That Moon-Gazing Hound fled once it was fully satisfied.
Qin Wuyi produced a spiritual whip, fire seemingly burning within his gaze.
"You beast, asking for a beating!"
Smack, smack, smack, smack!
Qin Wuyi swung his spiritual whip and gave the Moon-Gazing Hound a vicious thrashing.
"Awooo!"
The Moon-Gazing Hound was beaten black and blue, covered in injuries and utterly listless.
Its gaze toward Qin Wuyi was filled with terror.
The other Demonic Beasts present also hurriedly kept their distance from Qin Wuyi, looking rather frightened.
After venting his anger by punishing the Moon-Gazing Hound, Qin Wuyi finally calmed down.
Immediately afterward, Qin Wuyi looked toward his herb field and saw that half of the spiritual plants used for miasma incense were gone.
The fierce beast guarding the herb field was still sleeping in the dirt, snoring away.
"Useless trash! I had you guard the herb field, and you couldn't even do that. What use are you?!" Qin Wuyi cursed furiously.
Hearing this, the fierce beast guarding the herb field instantly woke up and burst out from the soil.