Chapter 116: World Four 【2】

Wen Ruyue and her group of five were from the Sky Vault Sect. All were personal disciples of the Sect Master, and they roughly represented the strength of the Sky Vault Sect’s younger generation.

The Sky Vault Sect was one of the Eight Major Sects in the modern world. Although their ranking was perpetually at the very bottom, they were still an officially recognized cultivation sect. This meant they could possess a large area of land for their Sect Grounds and enjoyed certain privileges.

To give a simple example, every disciple of the Eight Major Sects was considered official personnel with a formal position. They could enjoy all the benefits of a civil servant, and their direct relatives within three generations also received certain preferential treatment.

However, while enjoying these benefits, each disciple of the Eight Major Sects had to assist the officials with at least three tasks per year. They also promised not to proactively reveal their identities to ordinary people, nor deliberately promote feudal superstitions for personal gain.

If individuals already in the know proactively commissioned them, the registered official cultivator could complete a transaction with the client, but needed to pay taxes according to the personal income tax rate.

In the Age of Dharma Decline, the Spiritual Power in the air was pitifully scarce. The Sect Masters of the Eight Major Sects were all trapped at the Golden Core Stage and, no matter how hard they tried, they could not form a Nascent Soul.

Therefore, as long as one successfully established a Foundation, they were considered a person of renown within a cultivation sect. According to official statistics, there were currently only double-digit Golden Core cultivators, and Foundation Establishment cultivators barely numbered a thousand.

Among the five disciples of the Sky Vault Sect Master, Wen Ruyue had the highest Cultivation Base, already at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage. She was not the least bit inferior to the Eldest Senior Sisters or Eldest Senior Brothers of the other seven sects. Breaking through to the Golden Core Stage was only a matter of time.

Besides Wen Ruyue, the second-ranked Tang Ming had also broken through to Foundation Establishment and was currently in the Early Stage.

The third-ranked Gong Cang and fourth-ranked Zhu Qiuyu were both at the ninth level of Qi Condensation. The Junior Brother, Qin Guang, was only at the sixth level of Qi Condensation, solidly at the bottom of the five in terms of cultivation.

Wen Ruyue had been adopted by Head Wen from an orphanage. She had been at Head Wen’s side since she was babbling. After her Spiritual Root was detected at age six, she formally became Head Wen’s disciple.

Tang Ming and Gong Cang were sent to the Sky Vault Sect by their parents, who had contact with cultivators, after they finished elementary school. They started cultivating at twelve and were now both twenty-seven or twenty-eight, slightly older than the twenty-five-year-old Wen Ruyue.

Zhu Qiuyu’s parents were also cultivators. Originally, she cultivated within the small sect her parents belonged to, but the resources of a small sect were simply too poor, and it disbanded when Zhu Qiuyu was fifteen.

The government has certain powers to assist in managing all cultivation sects. Thus, under official arrangement, the talented Zhu Qiuyu was noticed by Head Wen and accepted as her fourth disciple. Her parents also became ordinary disciples of the Sky Vault Sect.

Zhu Qiuyu was one year younger than Wen Ruyue, only twenty-four this year. While cultivating, she also successfully obtained dual degrees from a key university. After graduation, she set up a Karma Store, selling various small trinkets that had been consecrated, suitable for ordinary people to play with and wear.

Qin Guang was the youngest. At twenty-two, he had just graduated from university this year, and his entry into the sect was also the latest.

Qin Guang had a very special constitution. He was the type whose body would slowly absorb Spiritual Energy even without cultivating. To low-level Spirits and Monsters, he was an extremely rare tonic. Eating him could elevate one from the Foundation Establishment Early Stage to the Mid Stage, saving them many years of hard work.

Qin Guang’s luck was also good. His parents once inadvertently helped a Rogue Cultivator. To repay the kindness, the rogue cultivator gave him a treasure that could conceal his aura, helping him hide his constitution until he was sixteen.

When Qin Guang’s special constitution was exposed and he was targeted by those Spirits, he happened to encounter Head Wen, who was sending her disciple to school. She saved Qin Guang in passing, and to give him the ability to protect himself, she also accepted him as her final disciple.

—

After finding the exit and successfully leaving this Secret Realm, the Secret Realm, having lost its supply of Spiritual Energy, collapsed and perished.

According to common rules, a Secret Realm containing a Divine Beast Remnant Soul was usually a high-grade realm hiding many treasures.

But unfortunately, there was also a slumbering little Divine Beast inside the realm. In order to allow its child to survive in the Age of Dharma Decline, the Remnant Soul had used all the treasures and high-quality Spirit Stones in the realm to raise the child.

So, aside from the little Divine Beast still refusing to come out of Wen Ruyue’s arms, and the Tiger Fang in Junior Brother Qin Guang’s Storage Bag, each person’s harvest only consisted of some average quality Spirit Stones, barely enough to offset the wear and tear on their treasures.

After listening to her disciples’ accounts, each speaking in turn, Head Wen couldn’t help but look at the little Divine Beast now lying asleep in Wen Ruyue’s arms.

“Divine Beasts and Spirit Beasts are different. Ordinary cultivators cannot tame them. If it’s a Master-Servant Contract, it would be with the Divine Beast as master and the cultivator as servant. The best outcome would be signing an Equal Contract.”

Head Wen’s voice was unhurried and calm, sounding very fitting with the aura she exuded, giving others a very gentle, warm feeling.

“Master, this is the Divine Beast Relic I picked up. It’s a tooth from the little Divine Beast’s mother,” Qin Guang said.

Only after confirming the little Divine Beast was still sleeping soundly in Wen Ruyue’s arms did Qin Guang take the item out of his Storage Bag.

Head Wen took it and looked it over. “Mm, this item is good. It’s a treasure for breaking arrays in itself. You can keep it.”

“Master, can we use this Tiger Fang to make the little Divine Beast understand its mother’s intention? Its mother wanted us to protect the little Divine Beast and, ideally, let it grow up smoothly,” Qin Guang asked.

Head Wen raised an eyebrow slightly. “Did you say anything in front of the little Divine Beast?”

Qin Guang nodded and told Head Wen what he had said, as well as how the little Divine Beast had bared its teeth at him and snatched away a Spirit Stone.

Head Wen glanced at the bulging front of her Head Disciple’s clothes and frowned slightly. “Divine Beasts are different from ordinary Spirit Beasts. They are sentient from birth and have Inherited Memory. It’s not an exaggeration to say they are born with knowledge.”

Hearing Head Wen’s words, the expression on Qin Guang’s face froze for a moment. “Master means the little Divine Beast could already understand what we were saying?”

“Mm. Since the little Divine Beast is close to Ruyue, let Ruyue raise it for now. There’s no need to rush the contract matter,” Head Wen said.

“With Spiritual Energy so thin now, raising a Divine Beast is no simple matter. Look at that Divine Tortoise with Black Tortoise bloodline in the Beast Taming Sect. Not only does it swallow many Spirit Stones daily, it also needs the Beast Taming Sect Leader and the Elders to nourish it with their own Spiritual Power once a month.”

Head Wen didn’t state her stance directly but laid out the pros and cons to her disciples, letting them make their own decision.

“The little Divine Beast’s bloodline is purer. Its Growth Period will also be exceptionally long, possibly a decade or even several hundred years.”

“However, even a Divine Beast in its Growth Period has formidable strength. If the Divine Beast is willing to cooperate with you, Cross-Rank Combat won’t be a problem. Moreover, Divine Beasts inherently suppress Demons, Evil Spirits, and Ghosts. Even a cub can easily severely injure Evil Spirits.”

Wen Ruyue and the others listened very seriously. When it came to heavenly treasures and Spirit Stone resources, the wealthiest was naturally Wen Ruyue, the Eldest Senior Sister.

The poorest was naturally Qin Guang, who had entered the sect late, had a low Cultivation Base, and no parents or clan to rely on.

“Master, my constitution is special. If I form a contract with the little Divine Beast, can I use the Spiritual Energy I absorb to nourish it?” Qin Guang said, a trace of hope in his tone.

Qin Guang: “If the little Divine Beast can restrain Evil Spirits, as long as I follow it, will I not have to worry about being captured and eaten by those Spirits?”

“Indeed, Junior Brother’s constitution is special. Although he can absorb Spiritual Energy anytime and anywhere, he can only utilize a very small portion. If he forms a contract with the little Divine Beast, perhaps he could use the unusable Spiritual Energy to nourish it,” Tang Ming spoke up.

Gong Cang also nodded. “Master, how about letting Junior Brother try? If the little Divine Beast can accept Junior Brother, it would benefit both of them.”

Zhu Qiuyu hadn’t intended to voice her opinion, but seeing the little Divine Beast in her Eldest Senior Sister’s arms had woken up and poked its head out, she still spoke.

“Master, the little Divine Beast is awake now. Since it can understand our words, why not let the little Divine Beast choose for itself?” Zhu Qiuyu looked away with difficulty.

As a seasoned fur-connoisseur, the fact that Zhu Qiuyu could resist petting the little tiger’s head was already the result of intense self-restraint.

Head Wen didn’t state her opinion but looked towards her reticent Senior Disciple. “Ruyue, what do you think?”

“Let’s go with what Junior Sister says. Whoever the little Divine Beast is willing to follow, let it follow.” After speaking, Wen Ruyue unzipped her jacket and brought out the little Divine Beast, which had been soaked in her scent.

Jing Ke, who had just woken up, was a bit dazed. She looked around with her round, wide eyes. Realizing she was about to be put down on the ground, Jing Ke directly clung to Wen Ruyue with all four paws, even her tail wrapped around her arm. Her main principle was: no letting go.

Wen Ruyue frowned slightly, seemingly hesitating about whether to forcibly pull off the little Divine Beast that was holding on so tightly.

“Master, there’s no need for a choice here, is there?” Zhu Qiuyu rubbed her chin. “The little Divine Beast clearly likes Eldest Senior Sister a lot.”

Qin Guang’s eyes dimmed. With a hint of concern, he said, “But doesn’t Eldest Senior Sister not like animals? Besides, she’s a Specially-Appointed Advisor to the Special Administration Bureau and has to go on missions from time to time. Isn’t it a bit inconvenient to bring the little Divine Beast along?”

“Why not first raise the little Divine Beast at the Sect Grounds? I remember white tigers are a Class 1 nationally protected animal. If it follows Eldest Senior Sister around, someone might report her to the police out of public spiritedness, causing trouble for the authorities.” Qin Guang looked at Wen Ruyue as he spoke.

“Eldest Senior Sister, what do you think of my suggestion?” Qin Guang asked.

Part of what Qin Guang said was objective fact. While Wen Ruyue was the Eldest Senior Sister of the Sky Vault Sect, she also worked at the bureau officially known as the Special Anomalous Incidents Management Bureau, or the Special Administration Bureau for short.

Compared to ordinary registered cultivators, Wen Ruyue, as a Specially-Appointed Advisor, had higher authority. She could mobilize some official personnel for her tasks and even obtained a license for Sword Flight.

Correspondingly, as a Specially-Appointed Advisor, Wen Ruyue had more things to handle. Answering inquiries from the Special Administration Bureau over the phone was a daily occurrence. She also had to assist in completing more than ten B-rank Tasks per year.

“Master, can the little Divine Beast stay at the Sect Grounds?” Wen Ruyue didn’t answer Qin Guang’s question but looked directly at her Master.

“If the little Divine Beast is willing, I would be very happy to see an extra layer of protection for the Sect Grounds,” Head Wen said gently.

“The Spiritual Energy here is dense, more suitable for you to live than outside.” Wen Ruyue looked down at the Little White Tiger clinging to her without letting go, her tone slightly stiff. “I know you can understand. If you want to grow up, you need to absorb a lot of Spiritual Power.”

“If you follow me, you’ll go hungry and be confined inside the house.” Wen Ruyue spoke stiffly.

Staring into the clear, transparent amber eyes for less than three seconds, Wen Ruyue instinctively averted her gaze. Her hands holding the Little White Tiger also became much stiffer.

Why was the little Divine Beast staring at her like that? Did it truly want to leave with her?

But she had never been able to keep anything alive since she was young. Whether it was flowers, grass, kittens, puppies, or even Spirit Beasts with strong Vitality, after a few days in her care, they would all become listless and on the verge of death.

Jing Ke tilted her head. Finding Wen Ruyue looking down at her, she directly stuck out her tongue and licked her chin.

The barbs on a cub’s tongue were not sharp. Wen Ruyue, having been licked, consciously felt her chin itch slightly, as if it had become wet.

Head Wen saw this and chuckled softly, a trace of relief in her eyes. “It seems the little Divine Beast likes you very much. Ruyue, give raising it a try. If the little Divine Beast doesn’t want to stay, you can send it back to me then.”

Head Wen had raised Wen Ruyue single-handedly and naturally knew about her childhood experiences.

Similarly, Head Wen also knew the reason her Head Disciple couldn’t raise small animals well. It was because her Head Disciple and youngest disciple shared the same constitution: a physique that automatically absorbed Spiritual Energy from the surroundings.

It was just that the Head Disciple’s constitution was even more special and hidden. If it weren’t for Spirit Beasts also being affected, Head Wen might not have necessarily noticed.

Head Wen’s decision to make an exception and accept the sixteen-year-old Qin Guang as her final disciple was, to a certain extent, a case of loving one thing extending to another.

“Master, I have to assist the Special Administration Bureau with tasks. I can’t be home every day,” Wen Ruyue said, frowning.

“Master, to outsiders, the little Divine Beast looks like a cub of a Class 1 nationally protected animal. Wouldn’t it be better to just keep it at the Sect Grounds?” Qin Guang chimed in from the side.

As a university graduate without a proper job, Qin Guang spent the most time at the Sect Grounds.

As long as the little Divine Beast stayed at the Sect Grounds, Qin Guang believed he could use enough time and sincerity to win over the little Divine Beast.

Head Wen didn’t comment on her youngest disciple’s reasoning, just looked gently at her Head Disciple.

“The Special Administration Bureau doesn’t count as ordinary citizens. If the little Divine Beast is willing, it wouldn’t be impossible for you to bring it on missions.” Head Wen said, “With the little Divine Beast, you might be able to complete tasks more easily.”

Wen Ruyue’s frown deepened. Someone who didn’t know the situation would likely think she was very resistant to the Little White Tiger clinging to her and refusing to let go.

But the Little White Tiger, Jing Ke herself, could sense Wen Ruyue’s skyrocketing heart rate. And Head Wen, as both master and adoptive mother, knew very well how much her Head Disciple loved fluffy little animals as a child.

To be more precise, the grown-up Head Disciple still loved fluffy things. Otherwise, the Head Disciple wouldn’t have specifically moved out to live on her own just so she could hug fluffy plush toys and sleep without restraint.