Could it be that I am the cruel villain?

"The final realm they cultivate to is the cultivation of the Dharma form, or in other words, cultivating their essence once again to become spiritual beasts, serving as their ultimate trump card. That Fox Clan chief was such a case, with the true form of a six-tailed demon fox."

"If Lu Luo also wishes to reach such a realm and reveal her true form, she needs to cultivate to at least the Divinity Transformation Stage to have the capital for it."

After a pause, he looked outside the door and noticed Ao Qing slipping in once again, its ears twitching as if hearing Liu Tangxi discussing it, letting out an affectionate "awoo."

It kept rubbing its fluffy head against Liu Tangxi's calf, acting very much like a pup trying to win its owner's favor.

Reaching out his hand, he scratched under the little pup's—no, Ao Qing's—chin, showing a look of contentment, then closed its eyes and curled up in the woman's arms, dozing off.

"I'm so envious. If only I could lie on senior sister's lap too..."

"Hmm?"

Eyebrow arched.

"Cough, nothing, senior sister, please continue."

Accidentally voiced his thoughts, immediately putting on a serious face as if attentively listening, but the woman only blinked her eyes, not minding her junior's wild ambitions, and continued at her leisurely pace.

"Conversely, high-level spiritual beasts strive to transform into humans."

"Transform to live and cultivate alongside us. Before that, they can't learn Human Clan cultivation techniques, but once they transform successfully, they can truly become human."

"Not only can they learn Human Clan cultivation techniques and use magic treasures, but they can also live as humans and similarly invoke their Dharma forms, transforming back into a beast. Imagine, if with a spiritual beast's physique and spiritual energy, they can also use various Daoist skills, who in this world could surpass them?"

"Therefore, Xiao Qing's transformation cannot encounter any mishap. If delayed too long, she won't familiarize herself with a human body and won't have time to learn many cultivation techniques; then she might not be able to follow you to the Phoenix Heavenly Cave Secret Realm."

"Huh?" His jaw almost dropped to the ground, "She's going too?"

With wide-open eyes, Ao Qing, lying on the senior sister's lap, seemed a bit dissatisfied, baring its teeth at Jiang Feng, "aw aw," as if expressing its displeasure.

"What, you don't want her to follow? In the future, you two can look out for each other, not to mention I've already visited most places within the Demon Race's territory without finding any inheritable traces from Xiao Qing's clan. There might be some discoveries in the Grotto Heaven."

Tilting his head in confusion.

Clearly, Jiang Feng still had a relatively conventional social view, overlooking that this was a world of immortal cultivation and especially overlooking that there were two Demon Race members right beside him.

"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. I mean, can spiritual beasts go too? Won't she be troubled by the sect's regulations? After all, demon beasts don't count as official disciples..."

Before he finished speaking, Ao Qing lifted the wing on her left back.

Her fluffy feathered wings spread open, a mix of green and blue, looking very pretty. With her small mouth biting near the root of her wing, she seemed to be taking out something. Quickly, with a toss of her head.

Swoosh!

Caught it swiftly.

Upon careful inspection, it clearly had the words "Swordmaster Peak Guardian Mountain Beast Ao Qing" written on it!

Indeed, this was a formally ranked spiritual beast.

Turning the token over and over in his hands, it was a size larger and more exquisite than his own sect token, and its rank was higher than Jiang Feng's!

This left someone dumbfounded, daring to realize this little ancestor was a Guardian Mountain Beast?

Your Guardian Mountain Beast bites the disciples' butts every day?

With a few degrees of smugness in its eyes, opening its mouth wide and letting out a few more "aw aw" sounds as if showing off, Ao Qing messed around again under her wing root, then grabbed another token.

Pa!

Caught it again.

"Holy sh*t!"

Sufficiently startled almost to drop the token, for it was unexpectedly heavy, as if a mountain, weighing a conservative estimate of three to four hundred pounds, requiring both hands to hold it steady.

Even so, it almost made him lose grip on this thing, for the token was shaped like an ox head, and the words on it...

"You snatched even the token of the Kui Ox Ancestor!?"

Swordmaster Peak truly harbors hidden talents.

"Awo, ooh!"

With a few strange howls that sounded like a futile argument, Jiang Feng deciphered its meaning—most likely snatching it from the ancestor's nest while he was asleep!

His vision went black, his heart nearly stopping; no wonder everyone said Swordmaster Peak harbored hidden talents. Not only the people are skilled, but even a spiritual beast is daring enough to rob the ancestor's nest directly.

That Kui Ox Ancestor is, after all, an ultimate old monster of eight thousand years.

"What are you afraid of? It's just a token. The ancestor doesn't meddle in worldly affairs often. Taking it for a few days is no big deal."

Fitting the character.

Saying frightening things with a nonchalant expression, likely only Liu Tangxi wouldn't take such things to heart.

His mouth moved as if wanting to say, "No wonder our Swordmaster Peak gets such a beating," but the words stuck in his throat, unspoken.

"Xiao Qing's lineage is exceptional; she's smart, sensible, and endearing, cherished by the ancestor."

"Not only did the ancestor teach her the True Art of the Celestial Cyan Kui Beast for cultivating her beast form, but also personally guided her on transforming forms, treating her as one of his own. Don't mention pilfering a few tokens from the ancestor's room; even playing on the ancestor's head would only earn a smile."

"Demon beast transformation is such a tough problem. No one at the Purple Cloud Palace can resolve it; only with the ancestor present within the mountain gate can it be attempted. At other sects, even with Xiao Qing in hand, they'd be at a loss."

"The matter of heading to the Phoenix Heavenly Cave wasn't decided by me but decreed by the ancestor. Even if our sect disciples live long, we can't match the ancestor's perspective. It was his suggestion, having personally encountered Xiao Qing's clanspeople in ancient times."

"Today, that region has long vanished. Given its proximity to the Phoenix Heavenly Cave Secret Realm, this idea came up. Junior brother, two years from now, you'd have to help keep an eye out for Xiao Qing's inheritance."

Nodding lifelessly.

Now, he's discovered his tasks only grow heavier. Originally, the Nine Peaks Martial Meet had him in shambles, unable to sleep well at night.

Today, having sparred with experts, I've fought myself to shreds, and might have to face it non-stop for half a month. Yet, before even laying down to catch a breath—

Senior sister brings "good news" again.

Seeing her junior brother's half-hearted appearance, how could Liu Tangxi not know what he's thinking? For a twenty-year-old, the weight he bears is indeed excessive.

As they say, what easily breaks is fresh. If you impose too much pressure, it might lead to a problem with a young person's mindset. In such times, one often needs to slap and indulge to pacify, vulgar as it sounds, yet a realistic approach.

Therefore.

"Mm, mm..."

Clearing her throat.

"At the Southern Border, I've already sent a letter, handed it over to Aunt Yun."

Jiang Feng, discouraged, twitched his ears.

"The letter naturally asks about Cen Yueyue's plans for the coming two years, and whether that Little Saintess from the Southern Border is engaged, whether her family arranged a marriage."

His spine gradually straightened up.

Only dozing Ao Qing lifted her eyelids, a hint of disdain in her slanted eyes as if mocking someone's favoritism over camaraderie.

"And, where does she plan to gain experience? Last time you met Elder Clan Chief Cen, he praised you highly, and at least... in the village, there shouldn't be too many who oppose."

"Two years later, when you head to the Phoenix Heavenly Cave Secret Realm, that's the East Sea's turf. Whether it's the Cen Family Village or other powers, our purpose aligns, likely having disciples head for the East Sea and nearby forces. I picked a great meeting spot for you both, Shuangfeng City."

Slowly scratching under Ao Qing's chin.

Grr~

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"So, do you feel motivated now?"