"Thank you for your concern, Elder Han. I plan to wait here for the Sect Leader. If you’re in a hurry, you and the other three senior brothers can go on ahead. We’ll catch up after he comes out."

After saying this, Jiang Wanqin found a spot and sat down cross-legged, looking as if she truly intended to wait.

Seeing how naive Jiang Wanqin was, the corner of Han Yunlong’s eye twitched. He let out a dry laugh.

"There’s no rush. Let’s wait together. Besides, without Sect Leader Fang, I feel uneasy."

Jiang Wanqin said, pleasantly surprised:

"Thank you, Elder Han! When the Sect Leader returns, I’ll be sure to tell him of your kindness."

As Han Yunlong retreated with his face in his hands, Jiang Wanqin stared blankly at the silvery river in the distant sky and murmured,

"It’s so beautiful."

...

’That was close. If I hadn’t run so fast, I would’ve been a goner.’

Deep underground, a golden Bear Owl Beast, still visibly shaken, transmitted this thought into Fang Qingyuan’s mind, instantly piquing his curiosity.

’Senior, you are so powerful. What could possibly threaten your safety?’

The Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast glanced at Fang Qingyuan, initially unwilling to respond. But when its gaze landed on Jinbao, its bearish face softened, and it began to explain:

’See those silver insects? They’re actually manifestations of the Old Lion’s consciousness. When the Old Lion is sleeping, these silver insects usually don’t move.

’But in recent years, these insects have been flying out of Awakening Lion Valley and spreading everywhere. Some have even made it over to my territory. I had a subordinate—one who had already formed a Demon Pill—get curious and poke at the insects. Its soul was ripped right out of its body on the spot. Terrifying, isn’t it?’

Communicating with the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast was convenient and unambiguous for Fang Qingyuan, all thanks to his All Things Heart Sound Divine Techniques. The beast’s thoughts weren’t conveyed in actual words; Fang Qingyuan’s ability processed them, giving them this conversational style.

After hearing the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast’s explanation, Fang Qingyuan thought for a moment and asked when this change had begun. As he had expected, the signs first started appearing fifteen years ago.

At this, Fang Qingyuan guessed, ’This must be because those Divinity Transformation Cultivators came and disturbed the Old Lion back then. That’s why it isn’t sleeping soundly and is so cranky.’

After a bit more discussion about the silver insects, the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast started asking about all the little details of how Fang Qingyuan had raised Jinbao. Fang Qingyuan recounted some of the more amusing stories, which the ancient beast found thoroughly entertaining.

After a long while, the Golden Reng Bear Owl Beast sighed and spoke,

’It’s a shame I don’t dare leave the Barbaric Wilderness. If I did, I’d be courting death. And you can call me Bear Wind. I’m related by blood to this little one’s mother.’

’Strange. It’s clearly a metal-attribute beast, so why is "Wind" in its name? And I guessed right—he really is Jinbao’s relative. But what does he mean, he doesn’t dare to leave the Barbaric Wilderness?’

Fang Qingyuan was curious, but he was sensible enough not to ask. For Jinbao’s sake, Bear Wind hadn’t made things too difficult for him, but that didn’t mean he could act without restraint in front of a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast.

Perhaps because he hadn’t spoken with anyone in years, Bear Wind now felt a strong urge to talk.

Nascent Soul Ancient Beasts were capable of speech; Fang Qingyuan had seen Di Yuanpu’s giant crocodile let out a human-like laugh before. But Bear Wind had spent his entire life in the Barbaric Wilderness and didn’t understand human language. Their current conversation was only possible because of Fang Qingyuan’s Divine Techniques.

Before Fang Qingyuan could offer any opinion, Bear Wind started talking nonstop, pouring one thought after another into Fang Qingyuan’s mind.

’Three hundred years ago? Or was it longer? I slept for so long, I’ve forgotten. I only remember that under this little one’s father’s protection, we were very happy. We even chased off several Divinity Transformation Ancient Beasts that tried to steal our territory.

’But that time was different. I’d never seen such a powerful and strange being. The forest was burning, the earth was groaning, and what was most terrifying was a furless, two-legged creature. It just said a few strange words and led the little one’s father away.

’Sensing things were bad, I fled deeper into the wilderness. Many were trying to catch me back then, but thankfully, a mother elephant took me in and held off my pursuers. After that, I...’

Fang Qingyuan was listening intently, right at a crucial part of the story, when he suddenly realized Bear Wind had stopped. He looked up to see Bear Wind’s eyes were shut. The beast had fallen fast asleep.

’Just like that?’ Fang Qingyuan was speechless. He waited patiently for a long time. After two days passed and Bear Wind still hadn’t woken, Fang Qingyuan signaled to Jinbao, and man and beast began to sneak toward the cave entrance.

’The silver insects outside should be gone by now. I can’t stay here long. An ancient beast of Bear Wind’s level has an incredibly long lifespan—who knows if he’ll sleep for years? I can’t afford that kind of delay. If too much time passes, everyone outside might think I’m dead. It would be a joke if the Qingyuan Sect elected a new Sect Leader.’

But after only a few hundred feet, a thick barrier of golden light appeared, blocking their path. Fang Qingyuan tried various techniques, but the barrier didn’t even tremble.

Not one to give up, Fang Qingyuan activated his Vertical Earth Golden Light Technique, but he found the surrounding walls were incredibly hard. There was no way to tunnel out.

’Do I have to use the Five-Colored Divine Light?’

’This Divine Technique is of an extremely high level. What if it startles Bear Wind awake and incites his greed?’

Fang Qingyuan stared at the golden light barrier, starting to fret. A ward set by a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast was no simple thing to break.

Just then, Jinbao, who was behind him, sniffed the air. Its eyes lit up, and it leaped past Fang Qingyuan. Facing the barrier, it opened its great maw, revealed its sharp fangs, and took a bite.

CRUNCH! CRUNCH! The thick, shimmering barrier was like a cracker in Jinbao’s mouth. After just a few bites, a large gap had appeared.

Fang Qingyuan watched from the side, dumbfounded. He knew Jinbao had strong teeth, but being able to just eat the barrier was beyond his comprehension.

A moment later, Jinbao had chewed a hole in the barrier large enough for Fang Qingyuan to get through. But now, Fang Qingyuan wasn’t in such a hurry to leave.

The substance that made up the barrier was clearly valuable, resembling amber. From the pieces Jinbao had just eaten, Fang Qingyuan could feel the little beast’s Magical Power surging wildly.

He couldn’t let the rest go to waste. So, Fang Qingyuan directed Jinbao to keep chewing while he gathered the fragments into his storage pouch.

As the golden light barrier dwindled, a pained expression appeared on the sleeping face of Bear Wind, deep within the cave.

Once Fang Qingyuan had gathered up the last of the golden light barrier, he took the round-bellied Jinbao and continued upward.

Half a day later, after winding their way through a complex cave system, Fang Qingyuan and Jinbao finally emerged from an unfamiliar tree hollow.

The first thing Fang Qingyuan did upon emerging was check the sky. Seeing no trace of the silver insects, he finally took out a Communication Talisman and attempted to contact Han Yunlong and the other Cultivators.