Chapter 287: Account

The familiar appearance of Silver Cloud Ancestor made Wang Yu recall someone.

It was Chen Tianxing, the top true disciple he had seen at the Seven Wonders Immortal's Dharma Assembly.

This Elder Chen also appeared riding a Jin Gang-type automaton from the Tian Gong Sect, similarly looking like a youth, yet the other two true disciples showed him great respect.

If he remembered correctly, this Elder Chen was also a disciple of the White Tiger lineage.

"I never expected that such a minor Jialan Secret Realm would yield clues to the Jialan Immortal—even the relic of his original treasure, the Lianyue Mirror, appeared, and it seems to have developed a spirit," said Heaven Toad Ancestor with a smile.

"A spirit can only arise when a treasure has developed sentience and nurtured it to its utmost limit."

"If this is true, then Jialan Immortal's strength was greatly underestimated by the outside world—he likely already reached mid-Nascent Soul stage even among Nascent Soul cultivators." The voice of Li Huo Ancestor emerged from the blue statue.

"A fourth-rank spiritual treasure? Legends say only when a fourth-rank treasure develops a spirit can it ascend to fifth rank—no one knows if this is true or not," said Heaven Toad Ancestor, his gaze flickering slightly.

"Fifth-rank matters are too far off. First, let's hear how the youngster encountered this spirit in the secret realm," said Silver Cloud Ancestor, waving his hand and sitting cross-legged on the central cushion, his eyes expectantly fixed on Wang Yu.

"Wang Yu, recount everything exactly as it happened—be as detailed as possible, and tell only the truth, no exaggeration or falsehood," said Heaven Toad Ancestor calmly to Wang Yu.

"Master, this matter also involves the task I and Sister Ximen undertook—should I include that as well?" Wang Yu hesitated, then replied cautiously to Heaven Toad Ancestor.

After all, it involved the main herb for the third-rank longevity pill—he didn't know whether Heaven Toad Ancestor wished the other two Jin Dan to learn of this.

"Master? Brother Ximen, is this youngster your newly accepted disciple? And did you secretly assign him and Mei'er another task within the Jialan Secret Realm?" The voice of Li Huo Ancestor, surprised, came from the blue statue.

Silver Cloud Ancestor's gaze also snapped toward Heaven Toad Ancestor, equally startled.

"Ahem, Wang Yu did indeed become my disciple by chance, but due to his low cultivation, he's still only a registered disciple. As for sending Mei'er into the Jialan Secret Realm, it was merely to gather a few Xue Yuan Mushrooms—not something that needs concealment."

"Wang Yu, since Mei'er is involved, there's no need to hide anything—speak fully. I'll question her myself afterward," said Heaven Toad Ancestor, coughing lightly, his expression unchanged.

"Yes, Master."

Wang Yu bowed respectfully.

For some reason, he felt that the Heaven Toad Ancestor before him seemed different from the one he had met before—there was something odd in the depths of his gaze.

But before he could decide how to begin, Silver Cloud Ancestor spoke in a hoarse, aged tone:

"Xue Yuan Mushrooms—so Brother Ximen intends to find someone to brew the Jiuyuan Huoming Pill."

"Too bad, I took one of these pills in my youth—they no longer benefit me."

"As for Brother Li Huo, you're still young—you don't need a longevity pill yet."

"Not lacking longevity now doesn't mean you won't lack it later. Third-rank longevity pills are extremely rare—it's always better to prepare one early."

"Brother Ximen, if you can find someone to brew two Jiuyuan Huoming Pills, please reserve one for me—I'll pay any price," said the blue statue calmly.

"No problem—as long as Brother pays the price, Wang Yu, begin," replied Heaven Toad Ancestor without blinking, then turned to Wang Yu again.

Wang Yu's heart leapt, and he immediately began recounting:

"This matter begins when Sister Ximen and I entered the underground cavern where the Xue Yuan Mushrooms grew and together slew a rare variant beast…"

Excluding the matter of the Overclocking, Wang Yu recounted in full the entire sequence of his encounter with Gong Yue in the secret realm.

He described how he had idly picked up the oval stone containing Gong Yue in the cavern, then recounted the eight bas-reliefs of Jialan Immortal, the teleportation array, his separation from Sister Ximen, his hard-won escape from the temple ruins' restrictions, the sudden anomaly of the oval stone cracking open, and Gong Yue's emergence…

Clearly, as he spoke of Gong Yue, the three Jin Dan Ancestors' gazes grew serious, occasionally interrupting to ask detailed questions.

For instance, how ethereal Gong Yue's body was upon first appearing, whether he had formed hand seals or chanted incantations when transporting Gong Yue to the top level of the stone tower…

When Wang Yu described how Gong Yue immediately slew a demon that seemed to be the residual soul of Jialan Immortal's former spiritual beast, the three Jin Dan Ancestors exchanged surprised remarks, confirming that Jialan Immortal had indeed once owned a Moon-Sucking Spider spiritual beast—though its exact realm was uncertain, some said it was Jin Dan peak, others claimed it was Nascent Soul.

When Wang Yu mentioned that the monk Yuan Tong of Jin Gang Temple might be the reincarnation of Jialan Immortal's current true soul, Heaven Toad Ancestor couldn't help letting out a series of cold snorts, clearly displeased with the Jin Gang Temple.

But when Wang Yu described how Gong Yue transformed the moon above the temple ruins into the Lianyue Treasure Mirror, the three Jin Dan Ancestors questioned him with even greater precision.

From the mirror's overall size and color, down to the approximate number of spiritual patterns on it, whether he could recall even one or two, and even Gong Yue's expression at the time—they probed with meticulous care.

When Wang Yu recounted how he and Yuan Tong jointly slew the suspected Foundation Establishment monk, the three Jin Dan Ancestors were slightly surprised, but none pressed for details of the battle.

Clearly, in their centuries of experience, a Qi Condensation cultivator defeating a Foundation Establishment opponent, though rare, was not truly astonishing.

When Wang Yu described how Gong Yue kept her promise, granting Yuan Tong a Vajra Body Relic and sending him a young Qing Feng Wolf, then teleporting them away, he inadvertently omitted the fact that Gong Yue had given him a spiritual beast pouch.

Finally, he concluded his account with the sight of the stone tower flying away into the sky.

"Did Gong Yue give you that wolf pup?" Heaven Toad Ancestor asked immediately after he finished.

"It's on me."

"Summon it out—let the three of us see it," said Heaven Toad Ancestor without hesitation.

"Yes."

Wang Yu dared not refuse. He reached with one hand toward his waist's spiritual beast pouch, and the next moment, he pulled out a fluffy, green wolf pup.

The small green beast hung limply, eyes half-closed, clearly still half-asleep—adorably so.

Heaven Toad Ancestor simply reached out one hand.

The green pup shot upward with a "whoosh," instantly drawn into his grasp by invisible force.

Seeing this, Silver Cloud and Li Huo Ancestors both turned curious gazes toward the pup.