C12 Meeting the Earth-shattering Golden Beast.

Lee Yiran let out a sigh as he suddenly sat up, relieved it was only a dream.

Feifei, still groggy from sleep, was rudely awakened by a cacophony of shouts. Red Flame was beside herself with anger, hurling curses left and right. As dawn broke, she remembered that Su Xiaoxiao was starting school today and that she was supposed to be there. In a panic, she quickly got ready.

Thankfully, they weren't running late. Together with the patiently waiting Su Xiaoxiao, they headed to Mirror Heaven Academy.

Upon arriving, Lee Yiran made a beeline for the principal's office, only to find Chen Ruian absent. Instead, a woman was there, busily organizing papers. He noticed she was in a wheelchair, her lower body paralyzed.

"Oh, you've arrived," she greeted, wheeling forward. "My father had to step out, but he informed me of your visit... You must be Young Master Lee, and you're Su Xiaoxiao, correct?" The woman introduced herself as Chen Qing, expressing her gratitude for the help Lee Yiran had provided her father.

Lee Yiran observed that despite her frail appearance, Chen Qing seemed spirited, with short, sharp eyebrows and delicate, slender fingers. He thought to himself how unremarkable Chen Ruian looked compared to his rather attractive daughter.

A subtle fragrance wafted from Chen Qing, causing a brief stir within Lee Yiran before he regained his composure and offered her a smile.

Chen Qing wasted no time in summoning staff to get Su Xiaoxiao settled into her classes. Lee Yiran was curious to learn more about Chen Qing, but considering they were strangers and she was preoccupied with official duties, he decided it would be better to inquire about her through Chen Ruian at a later time.

Stepping outside, Lee Yiran watched the hustle and bustle of students and chose to observe the academy's teaching methods to pass the time.

He casually tagged along with a student to check out the classes. The student, an endearing girl, was in the midst of a conversation with her friend:

"Xiao Yun, did you manage to get through that creepy teacher's class? I got failed again. It's infuriating. He's just out to get us," she lamented.

"No luck here either. I wouldn't bother with his class if it wasn't mandatory. It's just too gory," chimed in her friend, the girl with the small eyes.

Lee Yiran's curiosity was sparked by them. She cautiously trailed behind, eventually reaching a vast grassland encircled by protective barriers, where numerous students had already gathered.

Despite being older, he was taking a mandatory course for the entire school. The teacher was notoriously tough, with an exceptionally low pass rate, which explained the presence of other older students. Thus, Lee Yiran's appearance wasn't out of the ordinary.

The students were chatting among themselves as they waited for the teacher to arrive. Through snippets of conversation, they learned that the teacher, Mr. Lu, specialized in outdoor classes focused on various demonic beasts, highlighting their vulnerabilities and behaviors.

Soon, the teacher made his entrance—a middle-aged man with a scarred face. The chatter ceased as Mr. Lu announced, "Today, I'll introduce a fascinating beast. I expect everyone to thoroughly enjoy themselves!"

Many students looked terrified, but Mr. Lu was indifferent to their apprehension. He produced a palm-sized, gray bird with a smooth beak from a cage. The bird was fast asleep as he placed it on the ground, instructing the students to remain within the area for half an hour before he casually walked beyond the barrier, hands clasped behind him.

The students were puzzled by his actions. The bird lay motionless on the ground until a daring student kicked it. Lee Yiran recognized the bird and tried to intervene, but it was too late.

The bird's eyes snapped open, and with a swift whoosh, it vanished from sight. Before the students could grasp what happened, a series of piercing sound waves emanated from the airborne bird, vibrating their eardrums and causing intense headaches. Most students clutched their ears, crying out in distress.

Trapped within the barrier, the bird frantically collided against its confines as it continued to emit the shrill sound waves. The students on the ground wailed in agony, some desperately launching attacks in an attempt to silence the noise, but the bird's small size and swift movements made it an elusive target.

Several girls, in excruciating pain, screamed and pleaded at the barrier's exit for the teacher to release them. However, he merely observed in silence, unmoved by their pleas. With no other choice, the girls sought refuge wherever they could, but the relentless sound waves penetrated every nook, their force amplified within the enclosed space.

At that moment, a slightly overweight boy erected a modest barrier, beckoning others to take shelter. The students seized the opportunity to catch their breath. The boy, Shen Song, was visibly sweating as he urged, "We need to think of something fast—I can't keep this up much longer." Someone recalled a creature from a book, the Sky Shaking Golden Beast, known for its sturdy body and its ability to harm with sound waves.

The group quickly inquired about any weaknesses, but the only detail he could recall was that the creature preferred solitude and wasn't aggressive. This left everyone at a loss for words.

Then, someone proposed a collective assault to restrict the beast's aerial maneuverability, hoping to inflict some damage. With no other options, they launched their attack as Shen Song's strength waned and the barrier gave way.

A barrage of attacks filled the sky—sword energy, blasts of cold, and chunks of earth converged in a relentless onslaught. The irritating sonic assault ceased momentarily, prompting cheers from the crowd.

As the dust settled, the Sky Shaking Golden Beast emerged unscathed, its sound waves even more piercing than before. With no alternative, the students covered their ears and sought cover, many succumbing to unconsciousness.

Lee Yiran, aware of the creature's herbivorous nature, knew it posed little threat. The sound waves, while jarring, would only cause nausea and discomfort at worst. Thus, he refrained from intervening.

He kept the beast's vulnerability to himself, preferring to watch the chaos unfold without adding fuel to the fire. Channeling his energy to ward off the sound waves, he then feigned collapse, sprawling out on the ground.

After an excruciating half-hour, most students lay passed out, with only a handful enduring the ordeal. Teacher Lu entered the fray with a stoic expression, observing the Sky Shaking Golden Beast's relentless attacks on the barrier, its sonic barrage unceasing.

With a small knife, Teacher Lu sliced his finger, directing droplets of blood towards the beast. The conscious students watched in bewildered silence. Then, with a sharp squeak, the Sky Shaking Golden Beast fell silent, its eyes shut, plummeting gracefully into unconsciousness.

Lying on the ground and feigning unconsciousness, Lee Yiran couldn't help but laugh inwardly. The Sky Shaking Golden Beast's cowardice was as predictable as ever. Indeed, it had been frightened into emitting a sound wave. This creature was inherently timid, always hiding and screaming at the sight of people, and it had a particular fear of blood—enough to faint at the mere sight of it.

The student who had passed out was taken for medical treatment, and Lee Yiran seized the chance to slip away. As luck would have it, she spotted Chen Ruian returning to Mirror Heaven Academy and quickly pulled him aside.

Chen Ruian greeted her with a smile, "Ah, you brought your disciple over today. Why haven't you headed back yet?"

"I ran into your daughter and something puzzled me. I was hoping you could clear it up for me," Lee Yiran said.

"What's got you so curious?" Chen Ruian asked, intrigued.

With a mischievous grin, Lee Yiran teased, "Is she really your daughter? Can an old guy like you actually have such a beautiful daughter?"

Noticing Chen Ruian's irritation, Lee Yiran dropped the jokes and inquired about the cause of his daughter's paralysis.

Chen Ruian's expression turned to one of deep regret as he recounted the story. His daughter had been healthy until he crossed paths with some enemies who, too cowardly to confront him directly, targeted her instead. She was poisoned, and though he managed to save her life, the toxins remained in her system. For years, he had searched for a cure to no avail.

"I remember now; you were so desperate back then, venturing into the Ghost Cloud Secret Cave. Chi Yan and I thought you were the type to risk life over wealth," Lee Yiran reminisced.

"Yes, if it hadn't been for you and Lord Black God, I wouldn't have gotten the Fire Melting Grass, let alone survived," Chen Ruian replied.

Lee Yiran clapped him on the shoulder, chuckling, "Let's leave the past in the past, Old Chen. Bring your daughter to my place tomorrow. I've stumbled upon something quite intriguing, haha."

Chen Ruian was eager to hear more, but Lee Yiran just gave him her address and dashed off.

Back in the office, he found his daughter still immersed in her work. With affection in his voice, he said, "Qing'er, take a break. You're just starting to recover."

Chen Qing organized the papers in her hand and smiled. "I'm okay. It's just some light work. Plus, I tend to get restless when I'm not busy."

"By the way, Qing'er, you met Lee Yiran earlier, didn't you? What did you think of him?"

"Well, he seems a bit flighty, kind of goofy. He's always grinning for no apparent reason." Chen Qing recalled Lee Yiran's unfocused gaze.

"He is a bit odd, but he's got a good heart," she mused, recalling Lee Yiran's words. "Tomorrow, join me for a visit to his place. Perhaps, well, perhaps he knows a way to cure your condition."

Chen Qing was skeptical. "He seems young and unremarkable. I doubt he can help. Father, you shouldn't worry so much about me."

"Don't worry about it. Consider it a gesture of gratitude for his assistance. And don't sell him short; he might just have the solution we need!"

Chen Ruian remembered the astonishing skills Lee Yiran had demonstrated in the secret cavern.

Although Chen Qing remained unconvinced, she owed him a debt of gratitude. It was only proper to visit, so she agreed.

Upon returning home, Lee Yiran discovered Chi Yan and Feifei feasting on a mountain of food, including some rare spirit fruits seldom seen in Lin City. He was puzzled; Chi Yan wasn't one to buy food, especially not these exotic items.

"Don't be surprised, it wasn't me. Fatty Yuan dropped by and he brought all this," Chi Yan explained between bites.

"Fatty Yuan? Given his 'no profit, no rise' attitude, what's gotten into him to be so generous?"

"He claimed to have found a secret realm and wants us to scout it out first."

"Ha, really? I've been itching for some action. When do we leave?"

"Not sure yet. He'll notify us. We should receive more details in a few days."

Fatty Yuan, whose real name was Yuan Yuan, was a trader. Lee Yiran and Chi Yan had plundered many secret realms, accumulating more loot than they could easily sell. By chance, they met Yuan Yuan, and the trio clicked instantly, collaborating on numerous occasions.

Lee Yiran dove into the feast without another word, gobbling it up with such ferocity that it provoked Crimson Flame Feifei into a fit of outraged squawking.

The following day, Chen Qing took extra care with her appearance before accompanying her father to Ye Mansion. Surveying the decrepit estate, she recalled Lee Yiran's worn clothing and felt a pang of empathy, wondering if perhaps he too had known hardships. After what seemed like an eternity, a weary Lee Yiran emerged to greet Chen Ruian.

"Old Chen, what brings you here at the crack of dawn?" Lee Yiran grumbled, still groggy from the late night, which had been prolonged by his spat with Feifei over the food.

"Uh, my apologies. You remember my daughter, Chen Qing. Aren't you going to invite us in?" Chen Ruian inquired, with a hint of discomfort.

Chen Qing trailed behind her father into the unkempt courtyard, noting the owner's apparent lack of interest in upkeep. The hall was stark and devoid of the customary offer of tea—a clear sign of the host's indolence.

Lee Yiran slumped into a seat and promptly shut his eyes, yearning for more sleep. Chen Ruian, unable to relax, coughed pointedly, eliciting a smile from Chen Qing.

Roused, Lee Yiran shook his head to dispel the last vestiges of sleep and asked Chen Qing, "Come, give me your hand."

Chen Qing hesitated, but at her father's encouraging glance, she stepped forward and extended her slender arm. As he grasped her wrist, she was surprised to find his skin even softer than her own. A surge of spiritual energy radiated from his warm palm, coursing through her, and she blushed deeply.

After assessing Chen Qing's condition, Lee Yiran closed his eyes once more, deep in thought.

"Uh, brother, what's the verdict? Do you have any solutions?" Chen Ruian asked, filled with hope.

Lee Yiran pondered for a moment before admitting that this was beyond his expertise. "Hold on, I'll call over the stinky bird to have a look," he said, and disappeared into the back room amidst a ruckus.

Chen Qing watched with curiosity as Lee Yiran returned clutching a black bird that could speak. She found herself irresistibly drawn to the peculiar creature, stealing several more glances.

"Lee Xiaoqi, is this the umpteenth time you've interrupted my sleep? Believe me, I'm this close to setting all your clothes on fire!" Crimson Flame fumed with rage.

Lee Yiran pleaded softly, incessantly begging for mercy.

"Um, Mr. Black God, could you possibly consider my old age and help my daughter?" Chen Ruian implored, his eyes brimming with tears.

Crimson Flame regarded Chen Ruian with contempt. His own status was far too noble to acknowledge such an insignificant creature, but Lee Yiran's pleas couldn't be ignored. Reluctantly, he turned his gaze to Chen Qing.

Chen Qing's complexion drained of color, feeling the weight of Crimson Flame's stare as if her very fate hung in the balance. How could this black bird instill such dread?

Then, out of nowhere, a 'puff' sound broke the silence. Before Chen Qing could even register what happened, Crimson Flame had nipped her. The wound was small, but fresh blood began to seep out.

Chen Qing let out a piercing scream.