Chapter 231

Chapter 231: The Kui Ox Also Becomes Her Contracted Beast

Yuan Jin said: “With about half a month of rest, it will recover. After that, its cultivation will rise fast.”

A pure Divine Beast bloodline is no joke. This was also great for the Ninghua Sect. From now on, the sect would have a Divine Beast holding the fort.

Ye Huai, who rarely spoke, suddenly asked: “The Kui Ox blocked a Heavenly Lightning Tribulation for Junior Sister. Will that affect her?”

Immortal Lord Chang Li thought for a moment, then said seriously: “In general, every Heavenly Lightning Tribulation must be borne by the person. The one it blocked may be added to Sang Ruo’s next Tribulation Crossing.”

Su Xi Yu blurted out: “Then the next time Junior Sister breaks through, won’t she be struck nineteen times?”

Immortal Lord Chang Li answered: “Very likely.”

Next time, the tribulation would be even stronger. Shen Sang Ruo’s Heavenly Lightning Tribulation was already much stronger than normal. Now there would also be one more. Block one now, and a stronger one would make it up later.

Shen did not react much to this. Her master and senior siblings, however, were not happy. They knew she was strong, but they still could not bear to see her hurt. Having Heavenly Lightning hit you hurts a lot.

Yuan Jin also felt the room grow heavy. He rubbed the Kui Ox’s hoof, his mind racing, and finally made a choice that went against old rules.

He said: “I have a plan.”

Everyone looked at him.

He said: “If the Kui Ox signs a Bonding Contract with Sang Ruo and becomes her Contracted Beast, then they count as one. The Heavenly Lightning Tribulation it took will also count toward Sang Ruo. Next time, it will still be eighteen strikes.”

This Kui Ox was too stubborn. He had tried to tame it for years without success. Every day it looked for a chance to slip away and go find Shen Sang Ruo. He knew that forcing things never ends well. Even with a Divine Beast bloodline, he might not be able to draw out its full power. From the way he once refused to recruit Vicious Beasts, it was clear he treasured Spirit Beasts.

Rather than let it be wasted with him, he would offer it to the Ninghua Sect, offer it to Shen Sang Ruo. That was his plan anyway. Shen was young and already a Nascent Soul Cultivator. Following her, the Kui Ox would have a bright future. This would also secure the Beast Taming Branch’s status in the Ninghua Sect. From now on, they would be the sect’s first branch.

After hearing him, everyone agreed it was a great idea and were about to praise his selfless choice.

But the cow reacted first. The Kui Ox that had been limp and out cold suddenly sprang up and shook off chunks of black charcoal.

An energized Kui Ox stood at attention. Song Wei Yan gave Yuan Jin a thumbs up and said: “Elder Yuan Jin, miracle hands!”

Yuan Jin fell silent. He felt like all those years of raising it had been wasted. The real chill is not a big fight.

The excited Kui Ox rushed over to rub against Shen Sang Ruo, smearing a dark patch on her freshly changed robe. She bared her teeth and shoved it away, saying: “Go wash the soot off first.”

The Kui Ox refused to go, acting like it had to sign the Bonding Contract with her right now before it would leave. Shen snapped: “Moo, my foot.”

Watching this, Zhu Miao could not take it anymore. He jumped out of her sea of consciousness and kicked the Kui Ox. Su Xi Yu gasped and said: “Wow, is that the legendary kung fu Bamboo Bear?”

Shen hurried to scoop up the bristling little puffball and stroked him, saying: “Calm down, calm down.”

The black and white ball puffed up round with anger. [Look at that, the kid is so mad he’s almost speaking human words.] The Kui Ox wanting to sign the Bonding Contract so she would face one less Heavenly Lightning Tribulation was something Zhu Miao could tolerate, but the cow was still pushing its luck. The Kui Ox, about to be officially added to the roster, stood tall and refused to back down, lowing right at Zhu Miao.

The little bundle fluffed up again, bared his teeth, and tried to pounce. Shen could already picture what things would be like after bonding with the Kui Ox: the two beasts would argue nonstop, maybe even inside her sea of consciousness. [Headache.]

In the end, they took the simple path. Song Wei Yan led the Kui Ox away, and Su Xi Yu carried off Zhu Miao. Forced apart, the two beasts finally quieted down, and the room grew calm.

Yuan Jin watched Zhu Miao being carried away and said: “Your Bamboo Bear doesn’t seem like an ordinary Bamboo Bear.”

Shen nodded and said: “The Old Shaman of the Phantom Mirage Domain values him a lot. He should be very important to the Phantom Mirage Domain.” She had not wanted to sign a contract with him, but the little one was too strong willed.

Yuan Jin said with a thoughtful look: “I might have guessed his origin.”

She asked: “What is it?”

He added: “This is only my guess.”

Shen said: “Elder Yuan Jin, go ahead.”

At first he had not known much about the Phantom Mirage Domain, but after meeting Zhu Miao he searched through every book he could find. Using his knowledge of Spirit Beasts and the Old Shaman’s attitude, he reached a conclusion and said: “I think he might be the Mountain God of the Phantom Mirage Domain.”

At these words, not only Shen Sang Ruo, but also Immortal Lord Chang Li and Daoist Wu Wei showed shock. They knew her Spirit Beast was not simple, but they had not expected it to be this special.

Ye Huai and Bai Ruo An had only one thought. Even a Mountain God would stick to their Junior Sister as a Contracted Beast. She had opened their eyes once again. Two Contracted Beasts: one a Mountain God, the other with a Divine Beast bloodline. Either one alone would be enough to stun people.

Yuan Jin said: “I’m not certain. If you want a sure answer, you’ll have to ask that Old Shaman.”

Shen said: “I understand. Thank you, Elder Yuan Jin, for telling me.” It looked like she would have to visit the Phantom Mirage Domain again. If Zhu Miao truly was the Mountain God, he was not a Spirit Beast she could keep for herself.

Shen Sang Ruo’s Tribulation Crossing cloud also drew attention outside the Ninghua Sect. The news soon reached the Flying Cloud Sect.

After Shen Dao Chen and Master Ling Xiao heard it, they were both shocked and said: “So fast?”

Even they had to admit her talent was unmatched. Their wish to bring her back grew even stronger. If she had not left the Flying Cloud Sect in a fit of anger, as her father and as her master they would be proud beyond words, and the Flying Cloud Sect would be shining. Their faces showed regret, with a hint of hard to see remorse.

A month passed, and Bai Mu Mu woke up.

Through the System she learned about her own condition. When she heard that Shen Sang Ruo had broken through to Nascent Soul, she flew into a rage and smashed the furnishings of her room.

Why did Shen Sang Ruo rise step by step, smooth and steady, getting better and better, while her own cultivation slipped back, her spirit root gained impurities, and she was almost a waste, even her System malfunctioned. Others might be finished in this state, but she was different. She still had the System as her trump card.

She had to restore her spirit root fast. After thinking it through, she set her sights on Feng He Yun and three others.