She coughed several times in a row and gasped for breaths before she finally recovered her strength.

"Why do you have the aura of a Divine Beast on you?"

He looked down at her from above, "Speak honestly, or I’ll search your soul."

Luna rubbed her neck, knowing he had sensed either Soren Phoenix or Mael Valerius’ aura.

She wanted to lie—after all, she didn’t know the situation in this world, who’d dare tell the truth?

But she was afraid he’d really search her soul, so she could only bite the bullet and say, "My husband is from The Dragon Clan."

The very same Mael Valerius, currently being chased across heaven and earth by a certain female cultivator bigwig, suddenly sneezed.

Venerable Master Serenity sneered, "The Dragon Clan went extinct ten thousand years ago."

Her heart skipped a beat and she hurriedly changed her words, "Then... then maybe it’s a draconic bloodline?"

Venerable Master Serenity didn’t respond. A glimmer of spirit light gathered at his fingertip, and he tapped her between the brows, instantly probing something.

Ancient Silver-moon Direwolf, Ancient Winged Serpent, Ten-Tailed Celestial Fox, Celestial Moon-chaser Wolf, Abyssal Demon Wolf, Phoenix, Ancient Taixu Candle Yin.

All of these were Divine Beasts of legend—a few weren’t Divine Beasts, but were ancient rare beasts, extinct since forever—and now, all somehow happened to be the Daoist partners of this woman in front of him.

His gaze flickered minutely, the spirit light at his fingertip dissipated, "Just a mere Golden Core, yet you’ve contracted seven ancient rare beasts."

Luna secretly let out a breath of relief. Apparently, this boss had no intention of killing her.

Who would’ve thought the next second, the man swept his wide sleeve, and she was plucked right out of the hot spring like a chick.

"Since you’ve intruded upon my abode, stay and serve as a cleaning maid. When your seven Daoist partners come looking for you, then we’ll talk."

His tone brooked no argument; with a flick of his sleeve, Luna went splat on the azure-jade floor.

The pain made her face twitch and she cursed under her breath at his lack of tenderness. When she registered what he’d just said, she was stunned. She looked up, "Huh? Maid?"

But Venerable Master Serenity ignored her, and with a wave of his broad sleeve, a plain maid outfit plopped over her head—complete with a Jade Token engraved with ’Mystral’.

He then turned and walked away, sleeves billowing like clouds in the snowy light.

"Tomorrow at 5:00 AM, bring tea to Hall of Serenity."

A chilly voice drifted through the mist, "If you dare run away..."

He hadn’t finished the threat when a distant mountain peak collapsed with a thunderous boom.

Luna fumbled to pull off the maid outfit, shrank her neck at the sight of that fallen mountain in the distance, and thought, Is this the Cultivation Realm’s nuke or what?

Glancing back, the hot spring was empty, with nothing left but a single bamboo leaf spinning into the water.

"Goddammit."

She picked up the Jade Token on the ground and gritted her teeth, genuinely tempted to flee.

Another glance at the collapsed mountain, her mouth twitched, and she caved instantly—not daring after all.

This Mystral Peak was so quiet that you couldn’t catch a bird, much less a human.

She rolled her eyes speechlessly. No wonder he roped her in as a maid—turns out there was no one to do chores.

Suddenly she felt her life was tragically hard.

But then, having few people on Mystral Peak wasn’t all bad—no one to bother her. Pretty decent for cultivation, and Spiritual Energy was plentiful too.

She casually found an empty cave-dwelling and settled in.

The next day at 5:00 AM, Luna donned her plain maid outfit, carrying Spiritual Tea, yawning as she waited outside Hall of Serenity.

"Come in."

A cool voice sounded from inside the hall.

She jolted and scrambled inside at once.

Venerable Master Serenity was meditating. Morning light streamed through the window lattice, making his handsome face look even more ethereal, cold as an immortal.

She gingerly set the cup on the side table. "Venerable Master, please enjoy your tea."

"Mm."

He didn’t even raise his eyelids, just tapped the teacup lightly with a finger. The tea froze over instantly.

Luna: "..."

What the hell, is he that afraid of hot tea?

"I do not care for hot tea."

He said flatly, "Remember this for tomorrow."

Her lips twitched but she answered stiffly, "Yes."

She was just about to back away when a flurry of urgent footsteps sounded outside.

"Venerable Master, a strange-looking man broke into the Spiritual Medicine garden—he has three eyes!"

Luna’s heart skipped. Three eyes? Could it be Corbin Crowley?

Venerable Master Serenity shot her a glance and stood up to go outside. "Come."

She snapped to attention and hurriedly followed, her heart pounding with anxiety.

Outside the Spiritual Medicine garden.

Corvus Crowley’s hair flew wildly, impossibly handsome, the third eye glowing coldly at his brow as he fought several Kaelum disciples in a brawl that made the sky shake and earth quake.

Littered at his feet were seven or eight bruised and battered cultivators, but he remained cold-faced, forcing his way into the garden. "Move! I’m looking for someone."

"How dare a lowborn Demon Clan barge into Kaelum Ruins’ medicine garden as if this is your home?"

The Steward Chief at the front snarled darkly.

Before he’d finished—

The space around them twisted uneasily.

Corbin sensed something and turned sharply.

Through the crowd, he saw the suddenly appearing Venerable Master Serenity and Luna.

His gaze locked onto Luna, his silver eyes blazing, he stepped forward without thinking, "Luna..."

But before he could reach her, several Kaelum Ruins elders and disciples blocked the way, his handsome face twisting with frustration.

Luna was overjoyed to see Corbin, just about to rush over herself, when she was abruptly snagged by Venerable Master Serenity—picked up like a kitten and carried back.

"Your Daoist partner?"

He asked coolly.

Luna was speechless. Could this guy stop grabbing people? Especially in front of so many—how embarrassing can you get?

She answered with a deadpan face, "...Yeah."

Venerable Master Serenity snorted lightly and waved his broad sleeve.

Corbin was instantly trussed up in golden light like a zongzi dumpling and slammed at her feet.

Luna stared at Corbin, immobilized in golden bindings at her feet: "....."

"Breaking into the medicine garden—three months of mountain gate sweeping duty."

The Venerable Master looked down at Corbin’s struggles. "Do it again, and I’ll skin you alive."

Corbin’s silver eyes blazed with fury, face dark with anger—he was just about to transform into his true form.

Luna hastily dove over, but her pleading gaze was on the Venerable Master, "Venerable Master, my partner didn’t mean to enter the medicine garden. You’re a generous man—can’t you let it slide? Please?"

She didn’t really know what had happened, but she could guess—Corbin probably fell into the garden, just like she fell into Venerable Master Serenity’s bath.

Guess they’re both unlucky.

Venerable Master Serenity gave her a cold sideways glance, "My rules aren’t up for negotiation."

Luna watched as the gold bindings on Corbin grew ever tighter. In desperation, she blurted out, "Venerable Master, my husband can cultivate Spiritual Medicine. Why not let him tend the medicine garden instead?"

Corbin: "..."

Since when could he cultivate Spiritual Medicine?

Still, cultivating was probably better than sweeping the mountain gates. At least it wasn’t so humiliating.