Nan Mingzi was overjoyed, his grin stretching practically from ear to ear.
Of his two newly recruited disciples, one had a supreme-grade spiritual root.
The other seemingly had mediocre aptitude with triple spiritual roots, yet she had actually gone and contracted the ancient Divine Beast Baize!
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it himself!
From tomorrow onward, he could strut proudly through the sect. Anyone who saw him would have to praise him for his keen eye.
After escorting his two disciples back to their quarters, he suppressed his wild joy, striving to make himself look like a steady and reliable master. He smiled warmly and said, “Rest early and get some good sleep.”
But the moment he turned around, his true colors showed. Hmph, Bai Buzheng actually wanted to fight him for disciples?
Tomorrow, he would steal one of Bai Buzheng's precious seven-colored spirit chickens to stew a nourishing soup for his two dear disciples!
...
Returning to her living quarters, Xue Mingzhao looked at Baize with curiosity, sizing it up from head to toe.
So this was the legendary Divine Beast Baize, which knew everything in the world and was fully aware of the origins and true forms of every ghost, monster, and spirit under heaven.
In ancient mythology, Baize held an extremely high status as an auspicious beast that ushered in good fortune and warded off calamity.
Stared at by her, the miniature version of Baize felt a bit self-conscious. Its small claws scratched at the floorboards as it rubbed against Xue Mingzhao's leg. “Master.”
Then, it nudged its head into her palm, rubbing against it softly. “Master smells so good. Give me a kiss, Master.”
Xue Mingzhao reached out and petted it a few times. The soft, fluffy texture was indeed very comfortable, and she couldn't help but mutter to herself that the legendary ancient auspicious beast was acting just like a clingy puppy.
Just then, a sudden sneer rang out, its tone incredibly irritating.
“Tsk, you're truly a disgrace to ancient divine beasts. To think the grand Divine Beast Baize is actually acting cute to a weak human. Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock if word gets out?”
Baize abruptly pulled its head back from Xue Mingzhao's hand. Its posture went rigid as it put on the majestic air of an ancient auspicious beast, barking in a deep voice, “Who is hiding in the shadows? Come out!”
Xue Mingzhao pointed at her lower abdomen and explained with a smile, “Inside my dantian. My spiritual root is talking to you.”
Baize's pupils dilated slightly. “A spiritual root? It can speak?!”
The Chaos Spiritual Root snorted disdainfully. “What a country bumpkin. And you claim to know everything? You have no worldly experience at all.”
Baize was indignant. “I do know everything, but I've never heard of a spiritual root that can talk!”
The Chaos Spiritual Root intentionally mimicked Baize's earlier tone, drawing out its voice. “Give me a kiss, Master~”
“Hahahahaha!”
Flying into a rage out of embarrassment, Baize snapped, “So what? At least I'm an ancient auspicious beast. That's much better than you, a blob of a spiritual root that can't even take shape. You're not jealous of me being close to Master, are you?”
The Chaos Spiritual Root was furious. “I'm jealous of you? You're a divine beast, yet you can't even beat a third-tier demon beast right now, and I'm jealous of you?”
Xue Mingzhao quickly stepped in to break up the fight. “Alright, alright, stop arguing. You're both my good babies.”
Chaos snorted and fell silent.
Baize turned its head away. Having its clingy behavior caught red-handed left it feeling utterly mortified.
Who could have imagined that a spiritual root would have its own consciousness?
Looking at Baize, Xue Mingzhao could no longer hold back the question she had been harboring: “Why did you contract with me?”
Baize blinked in confusion. “Didn't you say 'I want you', Master?”
Xue Mingzhao scratched her head awkwardly. “No... I mean, you're a divine beast after all. Why would you contract with me, a disciple whose cultivation has only just begun?”
Hearing this, the Chaos Spiritual Root chimed in chillingly, “So you finally admit you're useless?”
The more Xue Mingzhao thought about it, the more bizarre it seemed.
Shen Chaoyue, the "favorite daughter of the Heavenly Dao," had been standing right there.
Instead of choosing the chosen one, Baize had bound itself to her, a beginner cultivator with triple spiritual roots. It was simply ridiculous.
Baize answered honestly, “Because Master is—”
Just as it started, it suddenly froze. Its mouth opened and closed like a skipping record, unable to produce a single syllable.
It grew anxious itself, covering its mouth with its paw as it tried again. “Because Master is—”
Still, no sound came out.
The Chaos Spiritual Root said in surprise, “It's blocked by a Heavenly Dao restriction. It can't speak of your identity.”
Xue Mingzhao was utterly dumbfounded. “??? A Heavenly Dao restriction? I'm just an ordinary, unremarkable cultivator. How could I have anything to do with the Heavenly Dao?”
Could she be the Heavenly Dao's true daughter instead of Shen Chaoyue?
Xue Mingzhao's eyes darted around. “Let me ask a different way then. Am I the Heavenly Dao's true daughter? If yes, nod. If no, shake your head.”
Baize instantly stiffened into a stone statue. Its mouth kept opening and closing with effort, but it couldn't utter a single word even after a long while.
Xue Mingzhao collapsed onto the bed. It seemed a Heavenly Dao restriction wasn't something that could be bypassed with petty tricks.
In any case, she was very satisfied with her current life. As for her identity, whatever.
She casually pulled Baize into her arms. “No more thinking. Time to sleep! I still have to choose treasures tomorrow!”
...
The next day, Nan Mingzi led the two of them to the entrance of the treasury, nagging repeatedly, “The treasures in the treasury are all stored inside glazed treasure cases, which emit a soft glow on the outside.
The stronger the treasure, the brighter the glow. The most dazzling supreme treasures will even choose their own masters. If you do not obtain their recognition, the case's lid will never open.
You should prioritize those with strong spiritual light. If you cannot establish a connection with them, then settle for the next best thing.
You only have one shichen. Under no circumstances should you come out empty-handed!”
Huang Siqi listened with a forehead full of black lines. Fortunately, the rules restrict each person to taking only one item. Otherwise, I bet you'd want your two disciples to empty the entire treasury!
He turned to Shen Chaoyue and advised gently, “Do not set your mind solely on chasing the brightest treasure cases. Treasures make their own choices; you cannot force it.
Once inside, calm your mind and pick an item that matches your own path.”
Then, Huang Siqi stood side by side with the five peak masters, each holding a jade talisman in their hand.
The six of them simultaneously poured spiritual energy into the six grooves of the massive treasury doors, and the jade talismans lit up with a soft white light.
The heavy doors buzzed and vibrated, slowly opening to both sides.
Huang Siqi looked at the three of them. “Go on in. Remember, you only have one shichen.”
Nan Mingzi had cradled the little Baize in his arms early on, showing it off to the other elders intentionally or otherwise.
Unexpectedly, Baize twisted its body and broke free from his embrace. With a leap, it landed squarely and squatted right on top of Nan Mingzi's head.
That's right, it sat right on Nan Mingzi's head.
It only let its master hold it; even its master's master had no special privileges.
Nan Mingzi didn't mind in the slightest, boastfully bragging to the other elders with a chuckle, “See that? My disciple's contracted beast, the ancient Baize!”
Rate on N.U.
