The creature stood as tall as a small hill, featuring sharp horns and a black-and-white hide. Looking much like a rhinoceros, it was a formidable Nascent Soul Fierce Beast known as a Black-and-White Rhino.
The Black-and-White Rhino stared at Qin Wuyi with reddened eyes, its hind legs pawing the ground.
"What do you want?" Qin Wuyi backed away a few steps.
The Black-and-White Rhino's strength surpassed that of a typical Nascent Soul Demonic Beast; it was truly among the elite, and Qin Wuyi was not certain he could defeat it. Whenever he came to gather herbs, he always had to pacify it with delicious treats before he dared to proceed.
The Black-and-White Rhino glared at Qin Wuyi. *I can't afford to mess with that man, but you? Surely I can charge at you?*
With a sudden burst of power, the rhino lunged forward. Just as Qin Wuyi prepared to dodge, the ground cracked beneath him, leaving him unable to even stand steady.
*Bang!*
The Black-and-White Rhino’s horn sent Qin Wuyi flying through the air.
...
Xiaoyao Peak.
Yekong returned, cradling the Ghost Blue Cat, and placed it beside him.
The Ghost Blue Cat stretched lazily, curled up on the ground, and fell asleep.
Lin Yaoyao watched her Master return and felt utterly speechless. It was one thing not to cultivate, but now he was keeping a pet? She had thought he’d gone out to handle official business, not to buy a cat. *Sigh, Master, oh Master, if you keep being this lazy, my "Master is a Loser" god-making project is going to go down the drain.*
"Disciple, come here." Yekong beckoned when he saw Lin Yaoyao.
Though reluctant, Lin Yaoyao walked over. "Master!"
"Disciple, you take care of this cat," Yekong said, pointing at the Ghost Blue Cat.
Lin Yaoyao felt a wave of resignation. *I need to cultivate, and you’re giving me a cat to raise? Won't that just waste my time?*
"Meow!" The Ghost Blue Cat let out a cry.
Lin Yaoyao turned to look at the sound, scrutinizing the creature. *It’s actually a Ghost Blue Cat? Where on earth did Master pick this up?* However, she figured it couldn't be very strong; if it were, Master would have been eaten by it long ago. She wasn't thrilled about keeping a cat, but raising a Demonic Beast? That, she could work with.
"Yes!" Lin Yaoyao replied, crouching down to pick up the cat.
"Meow!" The Ghost Blue Cat screeched, glaring at her with murderous intent.
Seeing this, Yekong tapped the cat on the head. "From now on, she is your master. Behave yourself."
The Ghost Blue Cat hung its head, looking aggrieved.
Lin Yaoyao watched this, dumbfounded. *Raising a beast is about building a bond and fighting side-by-side, not just constant scolding.* She figured the cat must be weak; otherwise, it wouldn't be Master bullying it.
Lin Yaoyao picked up the cat and stroked its fur. The Ghost Blue Cat extended its claws, but upon catching Yekong’s gaze, it quickly retracted them.
"I wonder what Ghost Blue Cat tastes like," Yekong said softly.
The remark was a clear threat. *Dare to disobey, and you’ll end up in the pot.*
"Meow~" The Ghost Blue Cat let out a dainty cry, signaling its submission.
"Master, this is a Demonic Beast; you can't eat it," Lin Yaoyao said irritably. *Once it grows up, there’s no telling who will be eating whom.*
Yekong smiled but didn't reply.
Lin Yaoyao held the cat, pondering. "Hmm, I need to give you a name. Zhirou, Youlan, Lanyao... which one sounds better?"
"Just call it Xiaolan," Yekong said casually.
"Xiaolan doesn't sound good," Lin Yaoyao rejected.
"Meow meow!" The Ghost Blue Cat agreed. In its eyes, Yekong was its only true master.
"Spineless thing. What’s so good about 'Xiaolan'?" Lin Yaoyao scoffed, though she decided to call it that anyway. *I like it, can you do anything about it?* The cat couldn't speak, or it definitely would have retorted.
After fishing for a while, Yekong returned to the courtyard inside the Xiaoyao Pavilion. It was time to make cigarettes.
...
Yushou Peak.
Qin Shou lay in his infirmary bed with both arms in slings; they had been bitten by the Moon-Gazing Dog and needed recovery. Qin Wuyi lay on his bed, his back wrapped in layer after layer of bandages. Both men were laid up.
"What exactly is going on in the Spirit Beast Garden?" Qin Wuyi asked.
"The Fierce Beasts in the danger zone are either sleeping or mating. In the living area, those Demonic Beasts avoid me; I can't control them," Qin Shou said helplessly. "The Black-and-White Rhino in the medicinal herb field is also deep in slumber."
As luck would have it, the beasts were either sleeping or mating—there was no madness or frenzy to be found.
"If I had known, I would have waited another day before letting that bastard Yekong in. He plucked most of the spiritual plants used to make the sedatives in the herb field," Qin Wuyi gritted his teeth. Those sedatives were what he used to control the beasts. Now that so many were gone, things would be difficult in the future.
Qin Shou didn't speak. He would never go to the Spirit Beast Garden again. The Moon-Gazing Dog had left him with significant trauma.
"Master, kill the Moon-Gazing Dog and eat it!" Qin Shou suggested.
"If you've got the ability, go kill it yourself!" Qin Wuyi snapped. "The Moon-Gazing Dog is a Nascent Soul Fierce Beast. It’s even more ferocious when the moon is out at night."
Qin Shou fell silent for a moment. "What's the point of a dog that won't listen?"
"It listens, it just has... unique tastes," Qin Wuyi explained. Despite being a powerful beast, the dog’s preferences were peculiar.
"Then, can I lure the disaster elsewhere?" Qin Shou asked.
"What are you planning?" Qin Wuyi asked solemnly.
Qin Shou was silent for a while before saying slowly, "Lure the Moon-Gazing Dog to Xiaoyao Peak, and while we're at it, find the spirit beast of Xiaoyao Peak."
Qin Wuyi closed his eyes. "Do as you see fit." This was effectively granting Qin Shou the authority to proceed.
...
Xiaoyao Peak.
Yekong used his Endless True Flame to refine the materials. He placed all the medicinal plants directly over the flame to roast them, creating a potent, thick aroma. The smoke rose, forming a black cloud that drifted away with the breeze. A heavy scent began to waft across Xiaoyao Peak.
"Yes, that’s the smell," Yekong smiled faintly.
Lin Yaoyao had just finished feeding Xiaolan and was heading out when she caught a whiff of the scent. "A sleep-inducing incense?" She realized instantly and tried to close off her sense of smell, but it was too late.
Xiaobai smelled it and woke from his cultivation. "Hmm? What is that?" He furrowed his brow, took a deep breath, and—*hiss*—collapsed into unconsciousness.
The scent drifted off Xiaoyao Peak. Anyone who smelled it, whether Peak Master or disciple, fell into a deep sleep.
Above the Stellar River, Luoyang Tian smelled the aroma and immediately waved his hand to cast a barrier. "Who... is poisoning us?" He then fell unconscious.
Xiaoyao Peak.
Yekong stopped only when the leaves were roasted to a golden yellow. He plucked some cotton for a filter and rolled the roasted leaves into cigarettes. The cigarettes were ready.
"Now I have something to pass the time," Yekong smiled, lit one with a lighter, and took a puff. It tasted like a real cigarette! Though it was a smoke, it held no harm for him; he puffed and exhaled, and that was it. Of course, it was harmless to him, but for anyone else, one whiff meant an instant knockout. After all, these were ingredients for a powerful sedative, not real tobacco.
Yekong smoked, sitting by the Bitter Sea and fishing, feeling refreshed. He had no idea that except for him, the entire Stellar River Sect had been knocked out cold.
After fishing for a while, he glanced at Lin Yaoyao’s thatched hut. "My disciple isn't cultivating? Is she sleeping? Sigh, she’s too lazy, and with mediocre talent, she doesn't even work hard. And Xiaobai, too, sleeping so soundly!"
Yekong shook his head, sighed, and after fishing a bit longer, went to his own room to rest. The night was incredibly quiet.
The next day, as the sun rose, Luoyang Tian woke up feeling groggy. Everyone in the Stellar River Sect woke up one after another, feeling a throbbing headache. They had all smelled a strange odor and then lost consciousness, though they had no idea what had happened.
Soon after, the three Great Elders and several Peak Masters rushed to the Xinghe Hall.
"Sect Master, did something happen yesterday?" the Second Elder asked, bowing.
Luoyang Tian nodded heavily. "I suspect that members of the Demon Cult released poison into our sect last night. I managed to cast a barrier before losing consciousness, which is why we survived."
"The Sect Master is wise!" everyone bowed. They had all passed out before they could even react. If not for the Sect Master’s barrier, they might never have woken up.
"The Demon Cult is truly despicable! Releasing poison when they can't win in a fight!" Chen Chunyang cursed.
"Agreed, I suggest we eradicate the Demon Cult!" the Great Elder added.
"The Demon Cult Ancestor was sealed by the Sect Master with a single blow, yet they still don't know their place!" the Third Elder said viciously.
They all assumed it was the Demon Cult. It never occurred to anyone that it was actually Yekong roasting tobacco. After all, who else would release such a massive cloud of toxic mist?
Luoyang Tian mused, "Why would the Demon Cult release mist in our sect?" He then transmitted his voice to the Great Elder: "Any clues about the Molue Palace spy?"
"Sect Master, no clues at all," the Great Elder replied.
"Stay vigilant. The Molue Palace never gives up," Luoyang Tian said sternly. "Very well, I am here, so you are safe for now. Strengthen the guard. Report any trace of the Molue Palace immediately!"
"Yes!" they answered and retreated.
People who woke up on the second day were in an uproar.
"We were all knocked out yesterday."
"It must have been the Demon Cult. Who else has nothing better to do than release smoke in the sect?"
"Exactly! Thank goodness for the Sect Master; he must have taken action while we were asleep."
"Long live the Sect Master!"
...
On Xiaoyao Peak, Lin Yaoyao wobbled awake, rubbing her head. She shoved Xiaolan aside and sat down to circulate her energy, regaining her clarity.
"Who released that sleep-inducing incense?" she wondered. *Whatever, as long as everyone is safe.*
In his room, Xiaobai slowly woke up and checked his body. Arms, legs, eyes, nose, ears—everything was there. *I’m alive. I’m fine. I was careless. How could I, the Demon Emperor, get caught by a trick like that? That shouldn't happen.*
Yekong sat by the Bitter Sea, relieved to see his disciples waking up. He hadn't expected the smoke to be so potent; it had knocked his disciples out for an entire day. *I’ll have to hide when I smoke from now on.*
"Qi Condensation +1..."
Yekong watched his cultivation progress and flicked his fishing line. Life returned to peace; for the past few days, his fishing had yielded nothing but "+1 Qi Condensation."
The Carp Dragon in the Bitter Sea swam to Yekong’s feet, circling.
"Breakthrough again," Yekong chuckled. The Carp Dragon had been with him for ten years. Every time Yekong improved or gained something good, the Carp Dragon got a share. It got a drop of soup for every bite Yekong took. Even though it looked like a carp, it had long since evolved into a dragon and possessed great strength. Strictly speaking, the Carp Dragon was Yekong’s true pet.
The Carp Dragon blew a bubble and rolled over. Beneath the surface, in the boundless sea, a golden dragon churned the water, swallowing clouds and spitting mist, looking like the master of the ocean. Only Yekong could see this scene.
Yekong patted the Carp Dragon’s head and played with it for a while before returning to the courtyard for an afternoon nap.
Xiaolan woke up and wandered around with a kingly gait. It didn't need to cultivate; it only needed to eat well and sleep well. "Meow~" It cried out, and once it ensured no one was around, it sprinted to the edge of the Bitter Sea. It wanted to eat fish.
The Carp Dragon looked like a plump, long carp.
"Meow~" Xiaolan meowed, and seeing the dragon surfacing, it pounced. But as it flew over the Bitter Sea, it immediately regretted it. The Carp Dragon transformed into a long dragon, grabbed the cat with one claw, and pinned it underwater.
"Meow meow meow!" Xiaolan was held underwater, completely unable to fight back.
Yekong, who had just gone inside, heard the commotion and came out. He walked to the edge of the Bitter Sea and saw the Carp Dragon playing with a small blue dot. Just as the dragon was about to swallow the cat, Yekong reached out and plucked Xiaolan out.
"You can't eat this one," Yekong said.
The Carp Dragon blew a bubble and dove back underwater.
Yekong carried the soaking-wet Xiaolan, shaking his head. "Why did you go into the water for no reason?"
Xiaolan trembled, whether from fear or the wind, he couldn't tell. "Don't run off randomly again, understand?" Yekong dropped the cat on the ground and returned to the Xiaoyao Pavilion with his hands behind his back. If he hadn't come out in time, Xiaolan would have been buried in a dragon’s stomach.
"Meow~" Xiaolan gave a tentative cry. The Carp Dragon surfaced.
"Meow!" The Ghost Blue Cat’s fur stood on end, and it turned and bolted. *That was way too scary for a cat!*
...
Lin Yaoyao circulated her spiritual power to calm her internal energy, then let out a breath. She sensed someone peeking from behind.
*Is Master peeking again? No, I have to go over and give him a real lecture. He’s old enough to know better; if he doesn't want to cultivate, that’s fine, but peeking at his disciple while she’s bathing? Once or twice is one thing, but every time is too much!*
Lin Yaoyao put on her red dress in the water, leaped out, and used her spiritual power to steam the moisture from her clothes. Looking back, she saw a figure lurking sneakily in the Peach Mountain behind her.
"Come out!" she called out coldly.
Xiaobai heard the fire in his Senior Sister’s voice and realized he’d been exposed. He turned to run, but Lin Yaoyao moved like a fairy, tip-toeing through the air and landing gracefully before him.
"Xiaobai, what are you doing in my Peach Mountain?" she asked, frowning. She had expected it to be Master, not him.
"Sen... Senior Sister, I was just wandering around," Xiaobai lied, his face flushing.
Lin Yaoyao looked at his expression and her face went cold. "Are you going to come over and take your beating, or do you want me to chase you down and beat you to a pulp?"
Xiaobai’s heart sank. *I’m done for.*
"Senior Sister, I really didn't mean to, and I didn't see anything!" Xiaobai defended himself desperately.
"Three..."
"Two..."
"Senior Sister, Senior Sister, don't say one, I’m coming!" Xiaobai ran over, terrified she would be too harsh.
"Lie down!" Lin Yaoyao commanded. Xiaobai obeyed.
Lin Yaoyao broke off a peach branch and laid it across him.
*Whack! Whack! Whack!*
Xiaobai felt the sting on his skin. It wasn't very painful, but it was humiliating! *I am the dignified Demon Emperor! When have I ever been spanked? Stop hitting me, or—or I’ll get angry!* Xiaobai couldn't take it anymore. It wasn't the pain, but the shame! *How can a dignified Demon Emperor be spanked? Stop, or I’ll get angry!*
"Do you know you were wrong?" Lin Yaoyao asked while hitting him.
"I know I was wrong," Xiaobai admitted quickly.
Lin Yaoyao struck him twice more, grumbling, "Learning bad habits instead of good ones! You deserve this!" *It’s one thing to learn peeking from Master, but he’s the Master—I can’t hit him. But you’re my Junior Brother, so you’re fair game!*
Yekong, holding his fishing rod, looked down at the Peach Mountain to see his elder disciple disciplining the younger. Peach blossoms drifted. The Senior Sister held the stick, striking the Junior Brother. *It doesn't hurt, but it’s for his own good.*
After watching for a while, Yekong flipped his hand and took out the "Whip of Ultimate Bliss." *True, I’ve already disciplined my eldest disciple; I can't leave Xiaobai out. A Master must treat his disciples equally.*
Yekong walked over slowly with his hands behind his back.
Lin Yaoyao had just finished when she saw Master approaching. "Master!" she bowed.
Xiaobai was about to get up when he heard Master’s voice. "Keep lying there," Yekong said slowly.
Xiaobai felt a surge of ominous foreboding. *Master, I didn't offend you! Senior Sister hitting me is one thing, but you’re going to hit me too? Do you really think I’m that easy to bully? If you dare hit me, don’t blame me for suppressing you!*
Lin Yaoyao saw the whip and understood. Master was here to "whip" some sense into her brother. The whip had special properties—it felt wonderful after the initial contact. *Brother Xiaobai, enjoy Master’s discipline.*
"Xiaobai, I’m going to whip some sense into you today," Yekong said calmly.
"Be gentle, Master," Xiaobai said weakly. He didn't dare resist with his Senior Sister watching. If he suppressed Master, he would be suppressed by his sister in a heartbeat. *Better to take the beating. The pain is temporary, but suppression is eternal.*
Yekong nodded slightly and brought the whip down.
*Whack! Whack! Whack!*
The whip landed on Xiaobai, leaving only a shallow red mark, accompanied by a faint shimmer of light. Xiaobai had braced himself for the pain, but instead of stinging, it felt incredibly comfortable. His body warmed up as if bathed in sunlight.
*It’s... it’s comfortable.* He suddenly realized that pure spiritual energy was pouring into his body, surging toward his spiritual sea.
*Whack! Whack! Whack!*
Yekong remained expressionless as he continued the "discipline." To an outsider, it would look like a parent beating a disobedient child. Xiaobai felt his mind become crystal clear, as if he had stepped into the Realm of Enlightenment.
*The Realm of Enlightenment? I’m in the Realm of Enlightenment?! Hiss... I get beaten by Master and suddenly I’m enlightened?! A blessing in disguise!*
Xiaobai was instantly lost in the sensation. The Xuanhuang Formula, which he had been unable to grasp, suddenly became perfectly clear.