Chapter Seventeen: I Cannot Go Back on My Word

"I'm here today to deliver a message. Representatives from the nine major sects and the four great empires have already sent people in. There are nearly a thousand Spiritualists, including over twenty Spiritual Emperors. However, there's been no movement from the Spiritualist Mansion," Shen Zixuan said to the Pixiu.

"It seems there are more people this year. I'll send some high-level spirit beasts to deal with them later," the Pixiu replied.

Shen Zixuan smirked mischievously. "By the way, did you forget something?"

"Oh? What is it?" the Pixiu asked, puzzled.

Shen Zixuan walked over to Su Xue'er, placed his hands on her shoulders, pushed her forward slightly, and said to the Pixiu, "This is my mom. Since you and I are sworn brothers, you should also call her mom."

After a moment of silence, the Pixiu remained motionless. Shen Zixuan waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, seems like someone broke their promise."

Suddenly, the Pixiu knelt down. "Son, I pay my respects to Mother."

Shen Zixuan immediately turned to Su Xue'er with a smile. "Mom, look, you've gained another son."

"Um..." Su Xue'er turned to look at the Pixiu. "You... you can stand up, it's awkward like this."

"Kid, I remember you were an orphan. Why now?" the Pixiu asked Shen Zixuan.

"Not saying for now. We'll talk when there's time. Right now, the most important thing is to quickly help my mom advance her cultivation," Shen Zixuan said.

The Pixiu understood what Shen Zixuan meant. "It will take at least a year to fully refine the immortal grass within your body," the Pixiu said to Su Xue'er.

Su Xue'er was initially surprised but after a moment of contemplation, she understood why Shen Zixuan suggested she stay here for a year. Watching Shen Zixuan's proud expression, she shook her head silently, sighed inwardly, and thought, This child, really.

Then Shen Zixuan said to the Pixiu, "Big brother, this time I think we should let some older spirit beasts drive them away."

The Pixiu nodded. "Yes, I plan to send the Bloodthirsty Demon Pearl tribe from the west to handle this. You go and assist them now."

"Okay." Shen Zixuan readily agreed. Before leaving, he hugged Su Xue'er. "Mom, I'm off now. You stay here for a few days."

After Shen Zixuan left, the Pixiu took Su Xue'er to a cave on the other side of the lake.

The cave was neither too big nor too small, with enough space to accommodate several Pixiu-sized creatures.

After entering, Su Xue'er noticed a chair placed against the wall. She walked over and sat down.

Curious, Su Xue'er asked, "Who used to sit in this chair?"

The Pixiu, now crawling not far from Su Xue'er, heard her question and replied, "It used to belong to a human. She didn't dislike spirit beasts and even helped them hunt down humans who killed spirit beasts. But speaking of it, your voice bears some resemblance to hers."

"Do you know what that human's name was?" Su Xue'er continued to inquire.

"I've never seen her face, and she didn't know her own name either. But I remember one of her friends was named Luo Bai," the Pixiu answered.

"Right, how do you categorize spirit beasts?" Su Xue'er asked curiously about spirit beasts.

"Spirit beasts are classified just like humans, into different ranks. Typically, ordinary spirit beasts enter the cultivation path after a hundred years. According to your Spiritualist classification, they are divided into levels of a hundred years, five hundred years, a thousand years, three thousand years, five thousand years, ten thousand years, thirty thousand years, and a hundred thousand years. Higher-level spirit beasts beyond that haven't been seen yet," the Pixiu slowly explained to Su Xue'er. After hearing this, Su Xue'er continued, "What rank are you now?"

"I am at the thirty-thousand-year level," the Pixiu replied, shocking Su Xue'er. She asked further, "Then why haven't the strong ones on the continent come to exterminate you?"

The Pixiu smiled. "You may not know, but the external forces are intricate and complex. None of them are willing to mobilize all their power to exterminate us because if they fail, they'll become lambs to the slaughter. Moreover, although our Treasure Gathering Valley may not be as large as other forests, from the outside, it seems to only have one or two ferocious beasts. In reality, the number of ferocious beasts inside is beyond their estimation."

Su Xue'er was once again astonished. "So, no force can enter the Treasure Gathering Valley?"

"No," the Pixiu shook its head. "There is one force that could destroy our Treasure Gathering Valley."

"Who?"

"The Spiritualist Mansion," the Pixiu replied confidently.

"The Spiritualist Mansion?" Su Xue'er found it hard to believe.

"You're still a child at heart. The Spiritualist Mansion's foundation is much stronger than the sum of all the forces on the continent. Moreover, there are three top-tier Spirit Gods presiding over it," the Pixiu's tone carried a hint of helplessness, indicating the incomprehensible strength of the Spiritualist Mansion.

Su Xue'er couldn't help but think of Yushi and thought, Indeed, he has the capital to be arrogant. But... oh well, let's not mention him.

Suddenly, the Pixiu stood up and said, "M-mother, let me help you refine the immortal grass within you." The Pixiu's stutter made Su Xue'er chuckle. "You don't have to force yourself to call me that. Just call me Xue'er."

"No, as the king of the Treasure Gathering Valley, I cannot go back on my word," the Pixiu said firmly, leaving Su Xue'er with no choice.

"Then let me ask you a question. If the Spiritualist Mansion really wanted to deal with the Treasure Gathering Valley, what would you do?" Su Xue'er asked a very practical question, making the Pixiu smile and leaving Su Xue'er baffled. "What's so funny?"

"If that day really comes, they will definitely perish in the Treasure Gathering Valley," the Pixiu's eyes were sharp, showing no hint of jest.

"Then do you have a way to deal with them?" Su Xue'er continued to ask, suddenly becoming more interested in spirit beasts.

"On this Tianling Continent, there are many spirit beasts with cultivation of over ten thousand years. And I have a brother who is the King of Ten Thousand Beasts, the Blood-Bathing Qilin, gathering all the divine beasts on the entire continent. I think the people of the Spiritualist Mansion must have guessed this and won't fall for it easily."

Su Xue'er listened with great interest. At this moment, the Pixiu's tone suddenly became solemn. "However, after listening to all this, you can die now."

Su Xue'er was suddenly frightened by this statement, her back turning cold. When she saw the Pixiu making a move, Su Xue'er closed her eyes, thinking, It can't be, is it turning hostile now? Looks like I'm going to die today.

All she heard was the sound of claws hitting the ground. When Su Xue'er opened her eyes, she found herself unharmed. Not far away, at the entrance of the cave, the Pixiu's claws were pressing down on two people, their bodies mangled, only recognizable by their black clothing.

After briefly dealing with them, the Pixiu came to Su Xue'er's side and apologized, "I'm sorry, those two have been following you since you arrived at this lake. I was afraid they might harm you, so I took action. I'm really sorry for scaring you."

Hearing the Pixiu's explanation, Su Xue'er relaxed and replied, "It's okay, as long as they're taken care of." She couldn't help but wonder, Who was secretly tracking me?