Venerable Master Serena’s cold gaze swept back and forth between Luna and Corbin Crowley, who was trussed up on the ground by golden light like a zongzi.

"You know how to cultivate Spiritual Medicine?"

His tone betrayed no joy nor anger.

Luna nodded her head furiously, a desperate will to live blazing in her eyes. "Yes, yes, yes, my husband is especially good at growing Spiritual Medicine! I guarantee he’ll make your medicine garden more beautiful than the Immortal Lands!"

After she finished, she secretly kicked Corbin’s leg.

Awkwardness flashed in Corbin Crowley’s silver eyes. Cultivating Spiritual Medicine? He didn’t even recognize any, let alone grow a damn thing.

But under Luna’s relentless meaningful stares, all he could do was squeeze out two reluctant words through gritted teeth. "A little bit."

Serena glanced at him indifferently. With a wave of her wide sleeve, the golden light binding Corbin instantly dissipated.

"You’ll be in charge of this medicine garden. Tend it well. If you ruin any of my Spiritual Medicine... I’ll use your life to make up for it."

The last four words were spoken lightly, but they carried a chilling coldness.

Corbin was used to being domineering—when had he ever suffered this kind of threat and humiliation? The rage in his heart was self-evident.

But he also understood the current situation.

Suppressing the murderous intent surging within him, he calmly swept his gaze around, realizing that every single herb here pulsed with astonishing Spiritual Power, and he didn’t recognize any of the species—they were leagues beyond anything from the Beast Realm.

As for the so-called Venerable in front of him, her strength was unfathomable.

If he tried to fight, he’d have no chance of winning—in fact, he’d probably die a wretched death.

"Luna, let’s do as she says for now. At midnight, we’ll quietly regroup."

He looked at Luna, directly whispering through a secret voice transmission.

Moments like this really showed the benefit of secret voice transmission.

Luna instantly heard him, and replied with an "Okay."

She then bowed to Serena, "Thank you, Venerable Master, for your great magnanimity."

Serena looked at her with a not-quite-smile and brushed her wide sleeve. "Return to the Hall of Serenity. The tea is getting cold."

Luna: "..."

Inwardly, she cursed this block of ice a thousand times over, but on her face she forced a fake smile. "Yes, Venerable Master."

Then she obediently stood up and quickly followed.

Corbin watched their departing backs, a deep furrow in his brow, his mind full of schemes on how to escape this place.

The steward of the garden, face expressionless, came over and threw a storage pouch at him. "Water with Spiritual Spring Water three times a day. Loosen the soil and weed. If you so much as ruin one plant, you’re dead."

Corbin stared at the dusty bag at his feet, then glared at the self-important steward. A cold gleam flashed in his silver eyes.

He’d dominated the Beast Realm—when had he ever endured such bullshit?

Not only was he being worked like a servant, but this puny ant actually dared to throw attitude at him?

"What are you looking at? Get to work!"

The steward shuddered under his stare, his bluster hiding his nerves as he barked, then flounced off with a flick of his sleeve.

Corbin coldly watched the steward’s departing back for a while, then gave a disdainful snort, bent down, and picked up the storage pouch. It was light—just about palm-sized. How much could this measly thing possibly hold?

He was about to toss it aside but stopped, thinking of something.

He tried injecting a bit of demonic power, and instantly sensed an internal space about one zhang square.

Inside lay a few items: three crude Jade Scrolls, a hoe faintly glowing with spirit light, and a gourd about the size of a palm.

He swept the scrolls with his Divine Sense, and a surge of information flooded his mind—turns out, these were the fundamental incantations of "Spirit Rain Decision," "Loosening Soil Technique," plus a pictorial guide for the garden’s Spiritual Medicine and care instructions.

Aggrievedness flashed in Corbin’s silver eyes. He, the ancient Silver-moon Direwolf, had actually sunk this low?

Suppressing the violence bubbling in his chest, he followed the scroll’s instructions and cast "Spirit Rain Decision" over a patch of herbs before him.

A pitiful trickle of spirit rain dripped down—barely better than nothing at all.

Corbin: "..."

His expression grew even darker.

Fighting, he was an expert at. Farming? This was pure humiliation.

Sure, he’d farmed in the Beast Realm—but that was for himself, willingly. This? Forced servitude as a menial. Completely different thing.

Irritated, he put the items away, eyes sharp as he scanned the medicine garden, dense with Spiritual Energy almost to a terrifying degree.

Luna was somewhere here. He had to regroup with her as soon as possible, and then get the hell out of this wretched place.

Sweep the mountain gate? Tend the herbs? Not a damn chance.

...

Mystral Peak, Hall of Serenity.

Luna stood quietly with her head lowered, eyes on her nose, mind on nothing.

On the table, a newly brewed cup of Spiritual Tea sat cooling—she remembered it had to be cold, so she deliberately put two pieces of ice in it.

As for where the ice came from—if anyone asked, it was gathered from the back mountain.

Serena sat on the cloud-bed, picked up the cup of tea casually, and with her fingertips sensed the chill from the porcelain.

She raised her eyes, her cold gaze falling on Luna, appraising her. "You’re quite clever."

Luna forced a fake smile. "Venerable Master flatters me. Serving tea is simply a servant’s duty."