The tall, thin disciple quickly extended both hands, respectfully took the token, only glanced at it, and immediately returned it.

This was just a formality—that purple robe was the best token.

"So it's Senior Brother Su!" He turned around and shouted toward the mountain gate, "Xiao Liu! Hurry up and come out! Take Senior Brother Su to Senior Uncle Qin's cave dwelling! Serve him well along the way, and don't you dare be negligent!"

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth ran out at the sound, curiously sizing up Su Ming. When he saw that purple robe, the youth's eyes brightened. He quickly lowered his head and walked respectfully to Su Ming's side to lead the way.

Along the path, the Beast Peak disciples they encountered all turned to look.

"A True Disciple from Formation Peak? What's he doing here?"

"Isn't that... Su Ming from the Repair Hall? I heard he came back from the Northern Border and was directly promoted to True Disciple!"

"The one from the Cold Pool?"

"That's right! It really is him!"

Several younger disciples cast envious and admiring glances but didn't dare approach to strike up a conversation. They just stood at a distance, whispering among themselves.

As the two passed by a spirit beast garden, a middle-aged disciple who was grooming a spirit deer raised his head and happened to catch sight of that dazzling purple.

He froze for a moment, rubbed his eyes, and then a delighted smile broke across his face. He put down his work and hurried over.

"Su Ming! It's really you!"

Su Ming turned and recognized the person. It was Old Zhou, a Beast Peak disciple he had met briefly before at the Administration Hall.

Old Zhou walked up close, instinctively wanting to pat Su Ming on the shoulder, but his hand stopped halfway when he saw that purple robe. He sheepishly withdrew it and rubbed his hands together on his own clothes. "Ah, look at me... I should be calling you True Disciple Su now!"

Su Ming smiled. "Senior Brother Zhou, you're too polite. Just call me Su Ming."

"That won't do! Rules are rules!" Old Zhou waved his hands repeatedly, but the smile on his face grew even more sincere. "But still... kid, you're really something! Back when we were queuing at the Administration Hall, I could tell you weren't ordinary, and sure enough, you've soared to the heavens now!"

A few younger disciples who were cleaning the beast pens nearby heard this exchange, and their eyes all lit up.

So this was the Su Ming who single-handedly solved the Cold Pool problem?

Old Zhou seemed to enjoy being the center of attention. He turned to those younger disciples and waved his hand. "What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and call Lei Hu over! Tell him the True Disciple Su he's always talking about has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, the disciples scurried off in a flash.

Old Zhou then pulled Su Ming over to the shade of a nearby tree and started chattering incessantly. "You have no idea, that brute Lei Hu now boasts to everyone he meets about how 'I did a mission with True Disciple Su.' The Cold Pool incident—every single person on our Beast Peak remembers your favor."

Su Ming humbly said, "I just got lucky and happened to think of the right approach."

"What luck? That formation skill of yours is the real deal." Old Zhou sighed with emotion. "Back then you were just an outer sect disciple, yet you dared to take on such a tricky job. Now that you've become a True Disciple, it's truly well-deserved."

As they were talking, a heavy thudding sound came from the distance, like drumbeats, accompanied by a loud, booming voice.

"Brother Su! It's really you!"

Lei Hu's iron-tower-like figure appeared at the end of the path. He was panting heavily, his face flushed red.

He charged up to Su Ming in a few steps, spread his broad palms wide, and instinctively tried to give Su Ming a bear hug.

Old Zhou was quick-eyed and quick-handed. He grabbed Lei Hu's arm. "Watch yourself! He's a True Disciple now!"

Lei Hu's movement froze. Only then did he notice the purple Daoist robe on Su Ming. He scratched his head, grinned widely, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and chuckled. "Right, right, right. I almost forgot. Then... should I call you True Disciple Su now?"

Su Ming looked at his simple, honest demeanor and also laughed. "Brother Lei can call me whatever he wants."

"I knew you weren't the kind of person to forget your roots!" Lei Hu was overjoyed at this. He slapped his own chest, making a thumping sound. "Back at the Cold Pool, I could already tell—you were definitely not someone who would stay in a small pond!"

He pulled Su Ming aside and spoke with great enthusiasm about how the three Jade Water Python eggs had successfully hatched. He said those three little snakes were now thicker than his arm, full of spiritual intelligence, and it was the greatest joyful event on Beast Peak in recent years.

The more he talked, the louder his voice grew, and soon a crowd of Beast Peak disciples had gathered around, all looking at the purple-robed youth standing at the center of the crowd with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.

Xiao Liu walked half a zhang ahead, his footsteps very light. The plants and trees in the core area of Beast Peak grew tall and lush, and a layer of light green moss covered the bluestone path. The scent of the air had changed. The smell of earth mixed with the fishy odor of beasts and fowl had faded, replaced by a crisp, clear fragrance of grass and wood.

Su Ming walked steadily. The hem of his purple True Disciple robe brushed against the grass leaves without picking up a single drop of dew. After the Like Water Art broke through to the fourth layer, "Abyss," the liquid spiritual energy circulating within his body moved like deep-sea currents, automatically repelling the surrounding moisture.

A middle-aged man walked toward him from the opposite direction.

He wore dark blue steward attire, and a bronze token carved with a beast's head hung from his waist. He had been walking quickly at first, but when his gaze swept over Su Ming's purple robe, his footsteps stopped.

The middle-aged man took the initiative to step forward, cupped his fists, and performed an extremely standard sect greeting.

"A True Disciple from Formation Peak graces us with his presence. I failed to welcome you from afar. I am Liu Cheng, a steward of Beast Peak."

Su Ming stopped and raised his hand to return the greeting.

"Steward Liu, you're too polite."

Liu Cheng straightened up, a smile spreading across his face, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes squeezing together.

"It's not politeness. True Disciple Su's resolution of the incubation formation issue at the Cold Pool—everyone on Beast Peak remembers it in their hearts. That kid Lei Hu chatters about it in the dining hall every day, so everyone can't help but hear about it."

Su Ming lowered his head slightly and didn't acknowledge this flattery.

Liu Cheng was a perceptive man. He immediately changed the subject.

"Senior Uncle Qin's cave dwelling is built at the very back of the back mountain. That place is remote, with many branching paths, and even ordinary disciples aren't usually allowed in. Let me guide you there."

"I'll trouble Steward Liu, then."

The two walked along a narrow, leaf-strewn path deeper into the mountain. Xiao Liu obediently fell back and followed behind.

Liu Cheng walked half a step behind Su Ming, lowering his voice as he introduced things along the way.

"True Disciple Qin's talent is truly excellent. The hot-tempered spirit beasts on Beast Peak are more affectionate toward him than they are toward their own mothers. It's just that..."

Liu Cheng sighed.

"It's just that his temperament is too withdrawn. He spends all day just staying with the beasts and might not speak two sentences in ten days or half a month."

He turned to look around, then lowered his voice even further.

"Peak Master Xuanheng is also worried about him. He sends people to check on him every few days. True Disciple Luo Feng came over a few times before, but he ended up being chased and pecked by that mutated spirit crane that Senior Uncle Qin keeps. Even two formation plates were pecked to pieces. After that, no one dared to take on this errand anymore."

The corner of Su Ming's eye twitched twice.

He turned to look at Liu Cheng.

"So Master sent me here because no one else dared to come?"

#