The Golden Refined Bear Beast cracked open its massive maw in a joyful grin. Seeing Jinbao was like seeing a long-lost relative. It strode forward, casually shoved Fang Qingyuan and Jiang Wanqin aside, and then swelled in size until it was even larger than Jinbao. It reached out a paw, intending to pat Jinbao on the head.

Jinbao was aghast at the sight. It instinctively tried to hide behind Fang Qingyuan, but Fang Qingyuan, on the ground, was frantically signaling to it with his eyes.

At the same time, Fang Qingyuan used the Voice of All Things to send an order into Jinbao’s mind:

"Don’t be afraid, Jinbao. I don’t think this Bear Owl Beast means any harm. It might even be your long-lost uncle or something. Just relax. If things go south, I’ll grab you and we’ll bolt."

Reassured by Fang Qingyuan, Jinbao calmed down. So, when the Golden Refined Bear Beast’s paw touched its head, Jinbao didn’t struggle.

The Golden Refined Bear Beast grew even more delighted. It suddenly let out a ferocious roar. Moments later, this stretch of the Land Realm was thrown into chaos as a huge horde of various bear-type demon beasts arrived in short order.

The more powerful Golden Core Bear Beasts gathered around the Golden Refined Bear Beast, surrounding Jinbao. Many other Bear Beasts, who looked even more ferocious than Jinbao, could only be shoved to the side, unable to get close.

When Han Yunlong and the other Cultivators saw this, their jaws dropped. They had all thought their lives were over, but now none of the demon beasts were paying them any mind. They were all busy fawning over the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast.

Even so, Han Yunlong and his group didn’t dare make a single move. They were afraid of disrupting the current peaceful scene. If they happened to displease the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast, any single Golden Core Demon Beast here could wipe them all out.

Fang Qingyuan and Jiang Wanqin stood to the side as if they were invisible. At this moment, the entire focus was on Jinbao.

Jinbao’s black-and-white face showed a mixture of confusion, bewilderment, and helplessness. It had no idea what this Nascent Soul Level Ancient Beast saw in it.

After a few moments, more and more demon beasts showed up to report in. It made Fang Qingyuan suspect that the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast’s roar had summoned every demon beast from hundreds of miles around.

Only when the area had become a veritable mountain and sea of beasts, with nothing but Bear Beasts as far as the eye could see, did the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast point at Jinbao with satisfaction and let out another roar.

But awkwardly, Jinbao couldn’t understand it. Unlike the demon beasts native to this land, who could grasp the meaning of the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast’s words, Jinbao was an outsider. It couldn’t understand the local dialect.

So, Jinbao instinctively shot a pleading glance toward Fang Qingyuan. But it had forgotten that every eye was fixed on it. As it turned its head, all those gazes converged on Fang Qingyuan.

Being stared at by over a thousand ferocious demon beasts, Fang Qingyuan’s heart skipped a beat. But he knew that if he showed any fear, the consequences would be unimaginable. So, he offered a gentle smile, shielded Jiang Wanqin behind him, and spoke to the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast.

"Fang Qingyuan, Master of the Qingyuan Sect, pays his respects to you, Senior."

The Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast didn’t understand human speech, but Fang Qingyuan’s words were accompanied by a fluctuation of Divine Sense. At the same time, a faint wisp of Divine Soul Power manifested in the beast’s mind.

The Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast didn’t immediately destroy this power. It stared suspiciously at Fang Qingyuan for a few moments, glanced at Jinbao, and finally accepted the connection.

"Strange two-legged beast, what is your relationship with this Yin Yang Bear Beast?"

The Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast posed the question in its mind, and Fang Qingyuan immediately replied:

"I am the one who raised it. It has been in my care since it was young, which is why we are so close."

The Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast’s expression softened slightly. It then began to press Fang Qingyuan about where he had found Jinbao.

Regarding this, Fang Qingyuan instantly recalled the dying gold-attribute Nascent Soul mother beast at the foot of Qingfeng Mountain all those years ago. Although the two beasts looked nothing alike, they were both gold-attribute and at the Nascent Soul Level. ’There must be a connection,’ he thought.

Seeing how much the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast valued Jinbao, Fang Qingyuan decided to take a gamble. He would bet that this beast had a very close relationship with Jinbao’s mother.

And so, Fang Qingyuan recounted his discovery at the foot of Qingfeng Mountain to the Nascent Soul Ancient Beast before him. He explained everything: how he found Jinbao, and how its mother had pleaded with him.

Of course, the ball of Gold Spirit Power that Jinbao’s mother had sealed within his body—which Fang Qingyuan had long since had the Immortal Mansion absorb—he naturally omitted from his tale.

After hearing all this, the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast remained silent for a long time. After a moment, its expression twitched. With a flap of the small wings on its back, it swept up Fang Qingyuan and Jinbao and flew off.

Out of the corner of his eye, Fang Qingyuan saw countless tiny, silver, glowing insects suddenly gather in the distant sky, forming a winding ribbon of light. Accompanied by the gurgling of a stream in the night and the clear glow of the stars and moon, it looked like a silver celestial river flowing slowly by—a masterpiece of nature, exquisitely beautiful.

The Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast’s speed was incredible. As these small insects appeared, it was already flying into a massive cave, plunging deep into its recesses.

At the same time, the various demon beasts outside scattered in a flash. Like wolves fleeing and rabbits bolting, they vanished in an instant, leaving only Han Yunlong and the other human Cultivators standing there in a daze.

"Miss Jiang, your Sect Leader will be alright, won’t he? I saw he seems to have quite a deep connection with the demon beasts here. I’m sure he’ll be fine."

Han Yunlong approached Jiang Wanqin, feigning concern to fish for information. But to his disappointment, Jiang Wanqin knew even less than he did.