Several days later.

Supreme Mystery Sanctuary, Jade Flower Peak.

Inside the Cave Abode, Qi Yuan sat upon the main seat, his face stern and his tone as cold as iron as he stared down at the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox.

“Your Sister Bai is currently in seclusion attempting to form her Golden Core. With no one left to plead for mercy on your behalf, this Holy Scion is going to properly teach you the rules of being a spirit pet.”

He pointed a finger toward the cave entrance.

“You gnawed those century-old spirit mushrooms by the door clean, didn’t you?”

The fox demon shrank back, fear flickering in its eyes as it whispered weakly, “Master, those were just common Green Spirit Mushrooms. They grow by the roadside and no one even picks them! This little demon was just feeling a bit gluttonous and needed to grind my teeth…”

Before it could finish its excuse, Qi Yuan grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and hoisted it into the air.

Panic seized the fox immediately. “Master! I really didn’t mean to! How about you put those mushrooms on my tab? I promise to repay you double in the future!”

Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with disdain.

“That isn’t the point. The point is that my Jade Flower Peak does not support idlers… or idle demons!”

“As this Holy Scion’s spirit pet, instead of cultivating diligently to pay off your debts, you spend all day lying flat, rotting away, and mooching off me while waiting for death. Are you planning to default on your debt?”

He reached out and pinched the soft fur on the fox’s head, his expression deadly serious.

“Rather than taking you out and embarrassing me, I might as well skin you right now. It would make a perfect fox-fur scarf for your Sister Bai. What do you think?”

“No! No! Master, spare me!”

The fox trembled violently, wailing with a tragic expression. “Master, please be merciful! Let me off just this once! I will cultivate hard! I swear I won’t be lazy anymore!”

Qi Yuan snorted coldly. “Since you put it that way, this Holy Scion will give you a chance. You have one year. Within this year, you must reach the Golden Core realm. Otherwise… you know the consequences.”

Faced with such a naked threat, the fox didn’t dare breathe too loudly. It hurriedly nodded its head.

“Thank you, Master, for not killing me! This little demon will risk its old life to successfully take human form within the year!”

Once intelligent demonic beasts reached the Golden Core realm, they often preferred to take human form, as the human race was widely recognized in the cultivation world as the form most compatible with the Dao.

“Remember your words. Now, get lost and cultivate.”

Qi Yuan nodded expressionlessly and released his grip, dropping the fox onto the floor.

“This little demon is leaving! Leaving right now!”

Feeling as though it had been granted a general amnesty, the fox scrambled up and fled the cave in a frantic tumble.

Watching the fox’s disheveled retreat, Qi Yuan smiled faintly.

If a spirit pet misbehaves, it’s usually because the owner spoiled it. A good beating usually fixes the problem.

Just then, a respectful voice echoed from outside the cave abode.

“Lord Holy Scion, the Sect Leader has arrived in person. Please come out to welcome him.”

What?

Qi Yuan paused for a second, stunned. He quickly snapped out of it, deactivated the restrictions guarding the cave, and hurried out.

Seeing Daoist Hengzhen standing by the entrance, Qi Yuan didn’t dare to delay. He stepped forward and bowed deeply.

“Disciple pays respects to Master Sect Leader.”

“No need for formalities.”

Daoist Hengzhen nodded slightly. He turned his gaze toward Qi Yuan, his expression brightening with joy.

“Excellent! You have indeed successfully condensed your Nascent Soul. Come, let us speak inside.”

“Yes, Master.”

Although Qi Yuan was puzzled as to why Daoist Hengzhen—who should have been in seclusion—would suddenly visit, he obediently led the way into the cave abode.

After they took their seats in the reception hall, Daoist Hengzhen cut straight to the chase.

“Disciple, exactly what grade of Nascent Soul did you form?”

Qi Yuan had prepared for this question long ago. He answered without hesitation.

“Reporting to Master: The spiritual power of the Nascent Soul I condensed is highly concentrated and shimmers with a faint divine light. It bears a strong resemblance to the ‘Divine Splendor Nascent Soul’ described in the Sanctuary’s records. I believe it should be considered a Divine Splendor Nascent Soul…”

After breaking through, Qi Yuan had actively suppressed the various phenomena of his true Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul, disguising it externally as the slightly inferior Divine Splendor Nascent Soul.

The reason was simple: A Divine Splendor Nascent Soul already represented the peak level of top-tier prodigies within the Realm of Cloud and Mist.

Anything higher wouldn’t be a pleasant surprise; it would be a terrifying shock.

Currently, the Righteous and Demonic paths were in a standoff. Although the Righteous path held a slight advantage, the Demonic path was not a soft persimmon waiting to be squashed.

The cultivation world had appeared calm in recent years only because both sides were secretly amassing strength for the next Great War.

In this political climate, if news leaked that the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary’s Holy Scion had achieved a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul, he would instantly become the number one assassination target for every demonic faction.

Even other Righteous Sanctuaries might secretly be pleased to see a peerless monster die before he could fully mature, lest the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary become too dominant in the future.

Having lived two lives, Qi Yuan was well aware of the darkness of human nature. He understood the concept that “tall trees catch the wind” and “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.”

Before becoming truly invincible, the best strategy was steady, low-key development.

It wasn’t that he distrusted his sect’s resolve to protect him, but he couldn’t entrust his life entirely to others.

More importantly, the tasks assigned by this Trash System were becoming increasingly abstract and deranged. If he had a group of bodyguards watching his every move, where would he put the Holy Scion’s dignity?

Just as these thoughts flashed through his mind, Daoist Hengzhen laughed heartily and stroked his beard.

“Hahaha… Good! No wonder Elder Mo said the spiritual power within your Nascent Soul was exceptionally profound. You are truly worthy of being my final disciple. You have not disappointed me!”

Daoist Hengzhen patted Qi Yuan’s shoulder with immense satisfaction.

“Breaking through two major realms in such a short time proves your foundation is rock solid. Even as a latecomer, you are now fully capable of competing with the Holy Scions and Holy Maidens of other Sanctuaries.”

“Coincidentally, a Tribulation Crossing Supreme Elder from the Exquisite Sanctuary recently survived her Dao Tribulation and ascended to the Great Ascension realm.”

“This is a joyous occasion for the entire cultivation world. In half a month, the Exquisite Sanctuary will hold a Grand Celebration and has invited many fellow cultivators to observe the ceremony.”

“Our Supreme Mystery Sanctuary is on the guest list. As our Holy Scion, you will represent the Sanctuary at this event.”

Suddenly, Daoist Hengzhen frowned, as if recalling something unpleasant. He added a specific instruction:

“If your Eldest Senior Brother asks to go with you, ignore him. Refuse him directly. Just tell him it is my order.”

Go to the Exquisite Sanctuary for a party?

Qi Yuan was momentarily taken aback, but he reacted quickly, bowing in compliance.

“This disciple respectfully obeys Master’s command.”

At the mention of the Exquisite Sanctuary, his mind instinctively drifted to the original host’s younger sister… Qi Yao.