C21 Snow Wood Mountain

"I forgot to mention, this is no ordinary Beast Repelling Powder—it's a potent one. For the next two or three years, we shouldn't expect any Spirit Beasts to approach this area."

"What?"

Ye Shen's brow furrowed, his expression souring.

He quickly stepped forward, raising his hands in a respectful gesture towards Feng Huo, his face tinged with panic.

"Senior, please forgive my earlier indiscretion. That Rank 6 Spirit Beast is of great importance to us. I implore you to grant us this favor."

Feng Huo let out a cold chuckle and remained silent, turning to glance at Han Yi and his companions.

Once Han Yi and the others had climbed aboard, the white spirit bird began its ascent.

Feng Huo looked back at Han Yi and gave a nod of approval.

"Indeed. Despite being a Spirit Apprentice, you can hold your own against a Spirit Master. You have remarkable talent!"

The gap between them was slight, but such gaps are not easily bridged—especially considering Han Yi's near miss with Lin Hao.

They made their way back to the Azure Mist Sect.

By the time they reached the sect, night had fully descended.

Bai Yuezhan and Bai Fann were staying with Feng Huo. Bai Yuezhan was no longer confined to his wheelchair, standing up instead.

The news of Bai Yuezhan's recovery would be something to investigate in a couple of days.

[Bai Yuezhan has stood up. Mission complete.

Mission reward: One random draw.]

...

Before long, a peculiar little chick appeared before Han Yi. The chick was a vibrant yellow, with a brown beak and a hint of green on its wings.

It was clearly no ordinary chick.

[Congratulations, you have acquired a Saint Beast, the Green Luan.]

Saint Beasts, Divine Beasts, and even the exalted Super Divine Beasts rank above the common Spirit Beasts.

Saint Beasts like the Green Luan and the Flying Snake...

Divine Beasts such as the Vermillion Bird, the White Tiger, the Azure Dragon, the Black Tortoise...

And the Super Divine Beasts like the Flame Phoenix, the Gluttony...

Yet, sightings of Super Divine Beasts are exceedingly rare nowadays—almost nonexistent.

At least, news of them is scarce.

To think a casual draw would yield the Green Luan, a Saint Beast!

It was even better than the White Spirit Bird. As expected, anything produced by the System was top-notch!

[System Notification: Host must complete the mission within three days and advance to the level of Spirit Master, or all rewards will vanish.]

Upon hearing this, Han Yi's smile vanished.

He had forgotten about this unfinished mission. It looked like he'd be stuck indoors for the next three days, working on increasing his cultivation.

As Han Yi was about to take the little chick, the Green Luan, into his room, it leapt up and bit his hand.

Blood dripped from Han Yi's finger to the ground, forming a pattern, and quickly, the contract was sealed.

The master-servant contract was binding; unless Han Yi chose to dissolve it, the Green Luan had no way to break free.

If Han Yi met an untimely death, the Green Luan would share his fate...

Unless Han Yi terminated the contract with the Green Luan before his last breath.

At the moment the contract materialized, a soft, mushy voice echoed in his mind.

"Big Brother, Big Brother, will you name me?"

Han Yi scanned his surroundings before his eyes rested on the Green Luan.

He crouched down, eyeing the Green Luan with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment.

"Why aren't you blue? Why yellow?"

While speaking, Han Yi lifted the Green Luan's wings and muttered, "And there's even a touch of green. What's going on here?"

The Green Luan, sensing Han Yi's dissatisfaction, hung its head, looking pitiful as tears threatened to spill from its eyes.

Seeing its forlorn expression, Han Yi chuckled awkwardly and withdrew his hand, deciding not to touch it again.

So, he hadn't just signed a Contract Beast, but also taken on a baby? And now he had to raise it from scratch?

The Green Luan fluttered its wings against its chest, pleading, "Big Brother, please don't reject me. I will grow up, and once I do, my feathers will turn blue."

"Hold on, we've established a master-servant contract. From now on, you should call me Master, not Big Brother."

He wasn't particularly keen on these formalities. After all, the contract was signed, and it simply meant having a little fledgling in the Contract Space.

Regarding the name...

Han Yi gazed at the Blue Luan and declared with a hint of resignation, "From now on, your name will be Huang Xiaohuang."

Before Huang Xiaohuang could protest, Han Yi swiftly whisked him back into the Contract Space.

As Han Yi was about to step inside, a disciple approached.

The disciple's eyes betrayed a mix of disdain and discontent upon seeing Han Yi, but he quickly masked his feelings, wary of being discovered.

"Meet at the Azure Mist Sect entrance first thing tomorrow morning," he instructed. "Elder Changfeng has summoned a few of us by name. Make sure you remember."

Why the urgency to gather at the sect entrance? Han Yi pondered the situation but was given no opportunity to inquire further as the disciple turned and left abruptly.

Watching the disciple's retreating figure, Han Yi smirked and entered.

The following day, Han Yi found the others, including Elder Changfeng, already assembled and waiting for him.

Elder Changfeng's scowl was unmistakable as he stared at Han Yi, his face seething with rage.

"Do you have any idea what time it is? You're just arriving now. What, do you think you can defy the heavens?"

Han Yi glanced at the messenger from the day before, who promptly averted his gaze.

"Why are you looking at him? I'm talking to you. Are you deaf?" Elder Changfeng barked.

The messenger had mentioned an early morning gathering at the sect entrance. Typically, sword practice and roll call were held at noon, so Han Yi had assumed the same for today and had even arrived a bit early. How was he to know everyone would be here so much earlier?

Checking the time, it seemed it was indeed noon.

Regardless, Han Yi had arrived late and had no excuses.

Bowing his head, he respectfully addressed Elder Changfeng, "My apologies, Elder. I misunderstood the appointed hour."

Elder Changfeng's features softened slightly with Han Yi's show of contrition, though his displeasure remained evident.

With a curt nod and an air of impatience, Elder Changfeng turned and strode toward the entrance.

"Alright, enough dawdling. Let's get moving."

"Our mission is to harvest the Nine-petal Snow Lotus atop Snowy Mountain. Secure the Nine-petal Snow Lotus, and any other finds are yours to keep."

Snowy Mountain looms just beyond the Azure Mist Sect, requiring roughly half a day's flight to reach.

Essentially, it's a mountain blanketed in snow.

The temperatures there are frigid, chilling to the bone. Rumor has it an ice pond below is to blame, though the true cause remains a mystery.

The Nine-petal Snow Lotus is prized for its detoxifying and hemostatic properties.

Any common poison can be remedied by ingesting the Nine-petal Snow Lotus.

This predicament wasn't just Feng Huo's own making. Upon his arrival, he demanded Han Yi and his disciples gather the Nine-petal Snow Lotus, threatening to ruin his century-old fine wine if they refused.

It was one thing to be sent on a gathering mission, but Feng Huo specifically requested Han Yi by name, claiming it would be a test to strengthen his abilities.

Navigating Snowy Mountain is treacherous, and the disciples Feng Huo usually took were at the pinnacle of Spirit Mastery. Han Yi, merely at the zenith of Spirit Apprenticeship, couldn't help but feel somewhat undervalued.

Nevertheless, for the love of his hundred-year-old wine, he would acquiesce, however grudgingly.