Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Spirit Pet Bestowed by the Ancestor

Lin Kaishu was now everyone’s vice-captain; with the captain off on his own whims, he had no choice but to lead the team. He guided his fellow disciples through the jostling crowd, enduring many disdainful looks from the inner sect disciples. Yet perseverance paid off, and at last they found Ning Xianyu.

She was sitting alone at the front, having placed a chair for herself, eating spiritual fruits. Others glanced at her from time to time, deliberately avoiding her gaze. Lin Kaishu, feeling helpless, led his junior disciples to greet her respectfully.

Ning Xianyu smiled, “You’re here, sit down.” She divided her spiritual fruits among them, inviting them to eat. These were her people; she had to take care of them.

Lin Kaishu looked around. Everyone else was standing, so how could they sit? But since their elder told them to, they complied, awkwardly taking seats. Their group stood out as an oddity among all the trial teams.

Lin Kaishu and his companions sat as though on pins and needles, itching to jump up at any moment. But with Ning Xianyu silent, they dared not move. Nor did they dare to eat the spiritual fruits; it seemed reckless to indulge at a time like this.

One of the female disciples regretted coming. They shouldn’t have chased after Elder Ning for her cultivation; following her was truly embarrassing.

Ning Xianyu didn’t feel embarrassed at all. To her, cultivators ought not care about face. If you worry about appearances, how can you ever succeed?

She was about to share her peculiar philosophy when Elder Bu Jiao arrived. With a single glance, she spotted Ning Xianyu’s group standing out from the rest, and approached with a smile. “Niece, you seem rather at ease.”

Ning Xianyu quickly jumped up and greeted her, “Greetings, Third Elder.” She offered her spiritual fruit, asking if the elder would like some.

Bu Jiao almost declined, but upon closer inspection, she was shocked and took it, examining it carefully. “Isn’t this a top-grade Fragrant Ling Fruit?”

Ning Xianyu confirmed it was. She’d found these on a snowy mountain; after spotting a patch of fruits just before leaving, she’d begged the Demon Lord for help and gathered them. A beast guarded the fruit, but the moment Xuan Yuan Tunhan released his spiritual pressure, the beast dared not emerge, watching helplessly as Ning Xianyu cleaned the patch.

She didn’t know what benefits the fruit offered, only that it was said to solidify spiritual power, stabilize cultivation, and heal internal injuries. She simply collected them because they tasted good—sweet, like watermelon without the rind.

Bu Jiao looked at Lin Kaishu and the others, noticing each of them had two or three fruits. She couldn’t help but want to cry out about such waste.

“Niece, do you know these fruits are worth over ten top-grade spirit stones each?”

Ning Xianyu paused, “Is it really so valuable?” She had no idea.

Bu Jiao affirmed it. The fruit was rare, growing in remote places guarded by beasts, almost impossible for most to collect.

Lin Kaishu and the others stared at their fruits in shock. They’d felt awkward eating them before, never realizing Elder Ning had given them such treasures. Each had two or three, amounting to dozens of top-grade spirit stones.

Thinking quickly, everyone stowed their fruit in their storage pouches. Such precious things could save lives in critical moments.

Ning Xianyu felt a twinge of regret at giving away such good gifts, but soon let it go. If the old doesn’t leave, the new won’t come; she’d given them away, so be it.

Bu Jiao observed her indifference and asked if she had more. “I can buy them, or trade materials with you.”

Ning Xianyu had more, but didn’t want to hand them all over. After rummaging for a while, she produced about ten. “These are for you, Third Elder.”

She still needed favors from Bu Jiao; cultivating a good relationship was wise.

Bu Jiao accepted the fruit, storing them away, but didn’t take them for free. She produced a stone. “When needed, use this for divination; it will point you in the right direction. But it can only be used three times.”

Intrigued, Ning Xianyu accepted it gratefully. “Thank you, Third Elder. I will cherish it.”

“Cherish what?”

No sooner had she spoken than the Demon Lord’s voice appeared out of nowhere, startling everyone present. The ancestor’s sudden arrival prompted everyone to kneel and shout their greetings.

Except Ning Xianyu, who was still holding the stone, standing there in a daze.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan took her stone, glanced at it with contempt, and tossed it back. “Come with me—I have something for you, to protect your little life.”

He waved for everyone to rise, then strode away.

Ning Xianyu hid the stone and hurried after him.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, further convinced that the ancestor truly favored Ning Xianyu. Look at that—he personally oversaw such a simple trial, and even gifted her a protective treasure. This was genuine affection, considerate in every way.

Ning Xianyu had truly lucked out.

Soon after, Ning Xianyu returned alone, carefully cradling a small black cat. The cat was not large, looked fierce, its brows and eyes sharp, and regarded those around it with utter disdain.

Everyone wondered, what was this creature?

Bu Jiao came over, curious. “Niece, what is this?”

Ning Xianyu answered stiffly, “This is the life-protecting treasure the ancestor gave me.”

It was a spiritual pet.

Yet, no matter how closely they examined it, they couldn’t discern its strength or even its breed—it looked just like an ordinary little black cat. But since it was given by Ancestor Xuan Yuan, it must be formidable.

Everyone regarded the little black cat with reverence, wondering what powers it might reveal.

Bu Jiao laughed, “Niece, may I hold it?”

Ning Xianyu answered awkwardly, “It’s wary of strangers.”

This was the Demon Lord, after all. Even she held it with caution; if she let anyone else handle it, the Demon Lord would probably tear them both apart.

Bu Jiao, disappointed, couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke the cat’s head. “It’s so cute—ah!”

She’d barely finished her sentence when the cat swiped her, leaving a deep gash that bled profusely. Bu Jiao quickly pressed her hand to the wound and tried to heal it with spiritual power, but to little effect.

Ning Xianyu apologized profusely, holding the cat’s paw. Please, if you’re going to pretend to be a cat, at least act the part—if you cause so much trouble, people will soon realize your true identity, and then you’ll be mortified.

Bu Jiao assured her it was fine, but gazed meaningfully at the little black cat, smiling, “So fierce—it’s truly worthy of being the ancestor’s spiritual pet, just as domineering.”

The little black cat—Xuan Yuan Tunhan—changed expression, looking deeply at her in return. The Third Elder’s eyes were indeed sharp; nothing escaped her notice.