Chapter 1146: Chapter 909: The Old Monk, Part 2

Before leaving, Lord Sang also gave a mid-level Earth-grade Purification Cultivation Technique—"Holy Light Heart Method."

Jiang Yuan had previously obtained a technique of the same level, "Primal Wild Barrier-Breaking Heart Method," which could increase poison resistance, allowing one to avoid the corruptive aura of the Ghost Realm. At that time, he let Bai Yunqi learn it and slowly taught the members of his courtyard. By now, they had mostly learned it.

He thought it wouldn’t hurt to learn more skills, so he decided to bring this technique back for everyone to cultivate. In the future, they could venture into dungeons to fight monsters and level up during their free time, so he accepted it happily!

"Here are three Jade Marrow Pills, please accept them, Lord Sang." After all, besides the rich, these Elixirs were hard to sell, so Jiang Yuan casually took out a few as a gesture of goodwill and added, "I heard that the Gathering of All Realms often has Ninth Grade pill formulas.

Lord Sang might want to have a look. If you find a formula and gather the materials, I can refine a Ninth Grade Elixir.

Your old injury shouldn’t be numbed with Elixirs forever; it would be best to solve the underlying problem soon, so your cultivation could advance, sparing you from those Mountain Masters who are eyeing you covetously."

Sang Lishan smiled wryly and said, "Who can say otherwise? But I took an appraiser with me several times and had terrible luck, so I suppose it’s not meant to be yet. I’ll wait a little longer. When I do find the formula and gather the materials, I will trouble you."

Du Li managed to find two Ninth Grade pill formulas at the Gathering of All Realms in a single visit, while Lord Sang couldn’t find even one—so there wasn’t much help he could offer. Jiang Yuan exchanged some polite remarks and returned to his courtyard with the sheepish Shi Hu in tow.

Upon landing, Shi Hu noticed the entire courtyard thriving with Spiritual Energy, resembling an Immortal Realm. Looking up, it was shocked to see the Immortal Mountain Palace in the sky and its jaw dropped, "Benefactor, is this the courtyard you mentioned before? Oh my, I must have been blind! Had I known your courtyard was so magnificent, I’d have stayed for a few days!"

As soon as it said this, it remembered Sang Lishan’s mocking words about it being selfish and ungrateful.

The benefactor had already saved it twice, and now, finally being alone with him, it was improper to not express gratitude and only think of taking advantage of staying at someone else’s courtyard.

"Ahem ahem!" Shi Hu immediately coughed a couple of times and added, "Though I’m injured, after treatment I’m more or less recovered. I owe you my heartfelt thanks for saving me again! If you need anything, feel free to ask me!"

Jiang Yuan didn’t want the conversation to be interrupted, so he took it to the Floating Market.

With the door closed, he got straight to the point, "I wanted to see you, which is why I used the Summoning mark, but I got delayed by the Ghost Realm incident. Now we need to have a serious talk about your ascension as a Divine Beast."

"Ascension? Divine Beast?!" Shi Hu’s naive, furry face moved closer, with its tiger eyes shining brightly, "Benefactor, you must be joking, right? Is it true?"

"You were formed from the Divine Power of the previous Four Symbols White Tiger scattered in the Wilderness World. So..."

Shi Hu’s expression subtly shifted and interrupted, "The benefactor’s words are no different from Xuanyuan Yangguang’s. Following that logic, are you going to say I should undertake the duty of saving the world?"

Jiang Yuan didn’t expect Xuanyuan Yangguang’s influence to be this strong.

He was momentarily stunned and retorted, "Earlier when I mentioned ascending as a Divine Beast, you seemed willing. Why not see the so-called savior duty as a necessary trial? Once completed, you could ascend and become the Four Symbols White Tiger. Wouldn’t that be good?"

"Of course not!" Shi Hu stubbornly retorted, "I told the benefactor before, I don’t acknowledge anything Xuanyuan Yangguang said! I am a spirit of heaven and earth, naturally bred, not owing anything to anyone, so why should I undergo trials?

The benefactor perhaps doesn’t understand, thinking like your cultivators that I need cultivation and trials to advance and ascend.

In fact, that’s not true; spirits of heaven and earth don’t need cultivation at all!

Take me, for instance; I only recently gained sentience, yet my realm should be equivalent to a Demon Cultivator’s Seventh or Eighth Layer in the Divine Travel Realm. Having such strength from birth, it wasn’t for Xuanyuan Yangguang sealing and suppressing me, I would have ascended long ago.

Why must I suffer through trials, take on some saving-the-world duty, making life arduous when I could ascend naturally in due time while being happy and carefree every day?"

Jiang Yuan: ...

Luckily, the system didn’t prompt a new task; perhaps with a different approach, Shi Hu might agree.

"The problem before you is simple: either take on the responsibility to trial and ascend; or return the White Tiger Divine Power. In this End of Dharma Era, ascension is hopeless. If you’re unwilling, plenty of Demon Cultivators and Demon Beasts are ready to replace you."

After thinking it through, he solemnly said, "Before summoning you, I just found an Elder Dragon possessing Cyan Dragon Divine Power. He didn’t want to bear any responsibility, so his innate divine strength was stripped away. You grew so rapidly and increased your realm without cultivation, all due to the support of the Power of Heaven and Earth and the favor of the Heavenly Dao.

If you only benefit without taking responsibility, the Heavenly Dao’s favor and support will disappear. At that point, you may truly fall into being a Demon Cultivator, making future ascension possibly unattainable."

Saying that, Jiang Yuan took out the Cyan Dragon Divine Power from his Storage Bag, "Look, at your birth, there was also a similar White Tiger Divine Power within you. Your choice is to become a Divine Beast or let someone else take this shortcut."

"Then, I certainly..." Shi Hu could feel the immense and sacred power within the small lump, swallowing its saliva nervously, "Benefactor, how do you know there’s another lump inside me? What if you and Xuanyuan Yangguang made a mistake and picked the wrong tiger?

I do want to ascend as a Divine Beast, but trials are really hard for me. You know, I was suppressed as soon as I was born and haven’t enjoyed freedom for long. Now, tricked into entering the Ghost Realm...

Could I first enjoy myself for a hundred or eighty years? If not, how about three to five decades? After all, I’ve just gained my freedom, only to be immediately bound by savior duties—it feels unfair..."

[Special Task: White Tiger]

[Task 1: Within three months, find Shi Hu and discuss the issues regarding the support of the Power of Heaven and Earth and the ascent of the White Tiger, completed. Reward: Divinity +2 has been issued]

[Task 2: Within five minutes, make Shi Hu choose. Reward: Spirit Stone +10000]

[Task Countdown: 00:04:58]

"You don’t have time to hesitate anymore; I need your answer immediately, or..." Jiang Yuan sighed lightly, putting away the Cyan Dragon Divine Power, helplessly saying, "The Wilderness World doesn’t have time to wait for you to wander freely for years. If you seek freedom, once the divine power is stripped, you can go anywhere you please.

But be careful; having your innate divine power stripped is not just a matter of physical pain. After healing, your excellent talent disappears. Without the Heavenly Dao’s favor, you’ll become an ordinary being, and the road ahead may not be easy, nor truly free."

The countdown ticked, Shi Hu rubbed its large paws, furrowing its brows.

After a full two minutes, it reluctantly said, "Alright then, I’ll take on the responsibility. Benefactor, please tell me what to do next?"

[Special Task: White Tiger]

[Task 2: Within five minutes, make Shi Hu choose, completed. Reward: Spirit Stone +10000 has been issued]

[Task 3: Take Shi Hu as a contract pet. Reward: Exclusive Pet Collar +1]

From the system’s tasked release, it clearly had little faith in Shi Hu. When Yan Xuan got the collar, it was because he was hard to manage; the Demon-Subduing Pestle along with the collar finally settled it, Shi Hu was even more likely to be halfway through and bail.

"Since you’ve decided, first, you must acknowledge me as your master and become my Spirit Pet." Jiang Yuan suspected that if the task weren’t completed, and the collar hadn’t been issued, Shi Hu might already be regretting it, and the system wouldn’t hesitate to use the Demon-Subduing Pestle to strip its divine power.

"What?" Shi Hu froze instantly.

Repaying one’s benefactor is one thing, but becoming someone’s Spirit Pet is quite another!

Back then, when Xuanyuan Yangguang made his request, he only dared to say he’d utilize me, and I didn’t even agree. But this one directly wants to be my master? How could one tolerate that?

Even if you’ve helped me, repaying that debt doesn’t mean I should sell myself as a pet, does it?

"If you’re unwilling, that’s normal; you can think about it. How about..." Jiang Yuan had a sudden inspiration, "I can take you to meet the Elder Dragon.

He also encountered Xuanyuan Yangguang and was suppressed by him. However, he chose freedom and did not want to bear any responsibility. You both could meet and discuss, maybe it’ll help you make a clearer choice."

Yan Xuan, hearing about a "visit," immediately followed, eager to see how the Elder Dragon was now.

Earlier, Shi Hu felt the idea of acknowledging a master was somewhat losing face, but upon hearing that this more powerful predecessor, future Black Tortoise, repeatedly calling someone master, it seemed to waver slightly.

Just as it was mulling it over, Jiang Yuan transported them both to Yellow Dragon Ridge, where a wave of stagnant earthy odor and strong stench hit them face-on.

"Ew, why is it so smelly?" Yan Xuan covered his nose in disgust, muttering, "Master, could it be that the Elder Dragon died after losing his divine power, lying there stinking?"