Chapter 202: Spirit Beast Breakthrough
"Indeed. This boy must be severely punished!"
Many of the Golden Core Masters on good terms with the Song Family chimed in with their agreement.
Even some of the other Golden Cores, including a few higher-ups from the Sect’s main faction and the Neutral Faction, were somewhat displeased.
They all felt that Zhang Chi’s behavior had indeed gone too far.
RUMBLE...
But at that very moment, the sky deep within the Cangwu Sect suddenly filled with dark clouds, and the roar of immense thunder echoed through the air.
WHOOSH...
Then, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi grew turbulent, quickly surging like a tide toward the sect’s depths.
"This... Is someone solidifying a Golden Core?"
"No, that’s not it. There’s Demonic Qi in those dark clouds. A Demon Beast is about to break through to Tier Three!"
"What’s going on? How could a Demon Beast be breaking through within the Sect?"
All the cultivators present were instantly stunned and turned to look toward the sect’s depths, the Sect Leader and the other Golden Core Cultivators included.
With their higher cultivation, they were better able to deduce what was happening.
"This likely isn’t a Demon Beast breaking through, but rather a fellow disciple’s Spirit Pet!"
"Whose Spirit Pet could it be to have such incredible fortune?"
"Regardless, this is a great thing. While a Tier Three Spirit Pet can’t match a Golden Core Cultivator, it isn’t far behind."
"Exactly. And with such a huge commotion, the quality of the Demon Pill this Spirit Pet is forming definitely won’t be low!"
"Come on, let’s go take a look!"
After some more speculation, the Sect Leader and the others immediately put the matter of Master Jian and Zhang Chi to the back of their minds.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Then, they transformed into dazzling streaks of Escape Light and flew toward the depths of the sect.
"Let’s go too!"
The Golden Cores on the Floating Airship and the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present all followed suit.
Clearly, every cultivator present was intensely curious to see what was happening.
"What’s going on with our junior brother?"
"Exactly. Didn’t we tell him that we were all leaving first thing this morning and that he should be ready?"
"He couldn’t be trying to get out of the mission, using this as a way to delay things, could he?"
"I doubt it. Our junior brother isn’t that kind of person. Besides, it’s pointless. It would only get him punished and make us all a laughingstock!"
"Sigh... He still hasn’t come out. I’m afraid he’s going to be punished by the Sect because of this."
"There’s nothing for it. We’ll just have to try and plead his case later."
"Right. If worse comes to worst, we can risk it and threaten the Sect Leader and the others. Just say that none of us are going and see how they punish our junior brother then!"
At that moment, inside Master Jian’s cave residence, Li Ruohai and the others were waiting outside the Cultivation Quiet Chamber.
Even Master Jian was there.
Everyone was anxious, but also helpless.
Only Master Jian remained relatively calm, though she frowned slightly, feeling that something about today was unusual.
RUMBLE...
Then, a moment later, thunder rumbled, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi fluctuated erratically, and a powerful pressure began to radiate from within the Cultivation Quiet Chamber.
Only then did they realize this was no simple matter.
"Is that a Spirit Beast breaking through to Tier Three? Our junior brother has a Spirit Pet? And it’s already at this stage?"
"Was he waiting for his Spirit Beast to break through? That kid! He was planning a huge surprise for us!"
"Exactly! While the Spirit Beast’s breakthrough won’t change our mission schedule, with a Tier Three Spirit Beast to help him, our junior brother’s safety will be much more secure!"
"No wonder he insisted on cultivating today. It turns out his Spirit Beast was on the verge of a breakthrough!"
They immediately deduced the truth.
Overjoyed, they all exited the cave residence and stood guard outside.
This would prevent them from affecting the Spirit Beast’s breakthrough, while also allowing them to act as guardians for Zhang Chi’s pet and prevent any outsiders from interrupting the process.
"What a huge commotion!"
"Yeah. This Spirit Beast’s grade must be quite high, wouldn’t you say?"
Once outside the cave residence, they were even more awestruck by the sight of the dark clouds in the sky and the converging Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.
"That boy... he’s been coming here to use my cave residence all this time. Was it for his Spirit Beast? And he didn’t even tell me! Once his Spirit Beast is done breaking through, I’ll have to teach him a proper lesson!"
Master Jian had a sudden realization, thinking she now understood the truth, and chided him with a laugh.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Just then, dazzling streaks of Escape Light flew in from the horizon, arriving before them in the blink of an eye.
The one in the lead was none other than the Sect Leader of the Cangwu Sect. He was followed by many other Golden Cores, and even a large number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
"Isn’t this Master Jian’s cave residence?"
Upon arriving, the crowd of cultivators was full of surprise and confusion.
"Senior Sister Jian, what’s happening? Do you have a Spirit Pet that’s breaking through?"
The Sect Leader spotted Jian Jinfeng and the others at once, stepping forward to ask the question directly.
The other cultivators all pricked up their ears.
"A Spirit Pet is indeed breaking through, but it is not mine. It belongs to my young disciple, Zhang Chi!"
"His Spirit Pet reached the final stage of its breakthrough today, which is why he has kept you all waiting. He came to my cave residence to cultivate for a smoother breakthrough. I trust none of you have any objections to that, do you?" Master Jian said with a faint smile.
Her tone was level, but she was inwardly delighted, and every word she spoke carried with perfect clarity to the ears of the cultivators present.
Evidently, even though she hadn’t been at the sect’s main plaza, she could guess what the other cultivators had been thinking.
And with her disciple’s Spirit Pet making such a breakthrough, she, as his master, undoubtedly shared in the glory.
’My young disciple... his aptitude may not be stunning, but he truly is blessed with great fortune. Otherwise, he would never have obtained such a Spirit Pet. This aligns with what Celestial Star True Monarch once said. It’s just a pity I will certainly not live to see the day he reaches his full potential!’
At the same time, Jian Jinfeng couldn’t help but feel both gratified and regretful.
"What? Zhang Chi’s Spirit Pet?"
"Incredible!"
"That kid actually has such a powerful Spirit Pet?"
"This is a blessing for the Sect!"
Hearing this, the cultivators were utterly astonished, the Sect Leader included.
Even though Zhang Chi was one of the Sect’s True Inheritors, many of the Golden Cores had not paid him much attention.
After all, a True Inheritor merely had the potential to reach the Golden Core realm; it was no guarantee, let alone a guarantee of forming a high-quality Golden Core.
But now, Zhang Chi had truly entered their sights.
With a Spirit Pet at the Golden Core level, his own importance was already comparable to that of a Golden Core Cultivator, to say nothing of the fact that this pet also seemed to be one of great fortune!
’Damn it, that kid actually has a Golden Core-level Spirit Pet?’
’This boy must not be allowed to live!’
Upon seeing this, the Golden Core Dwarf from the Song Family was not only astonished, but his expression soured as he couldn’t help but feel a grave threat.
Meanwhile, the other Golden Cores of the Song Family were also present, including Song Youdao, and every one of them was filled with killing intent.
’That kid is lucky, but far too stupid,’ they thought. ’To have such a powerful Spirit Beast and not know enough to hide his strength!’
But in the next moment, they also felt a sense of relief and contempt.
They were relieved to have learned Zhang Chi’s trump card in time, and contemptuous because he apparently didn’t even understand the wisdom of laying low to build up his strength.
After all, while a Level Three Demon Beast was powerful, it was not yet enough to make them feel fear.
"Senior Brother Zhang’s Spirit Pet is solidifying its Pill?"
A short while later, Chen Bufan, Chen Ling’Er, Qin Susu, and the others finally arrived on the scene, equally astonished.
Like everyone else, they had been waiting for Zhang Chi at the sect’s main plaza. After a long wait with no sign of him, they had begun to worry that he and his group would be punished, never expecting something like this to happen.
’Could it be those six Spirit Snakes?’
Among them, Qin Susu, He Shi, and He Yan immediately made a further connection.