Chapter 246: Chapter 243: Returning to the Cave Abode and Wrecking the House

Seeing the celestial phenomena of Core Formation dissipate,

Li Ping smiled and nodded before turning to leave.

Although Xiao Yunzhi’s path to the Golden Core was now complete, she couldn’t possibly emerge from seclusion right away. She would have to remain in seclusion for a while longer to stabilize her new realm.

It could take anywhere from several months to over a year.

Li Ping wouldn’t be able to see her during this time anyway, so there was no reason to remain.

He returned to the main hall.

Along the way, every Flying Snow Sect cultivator who saw Li Ping bowed, their attitude a few degrees more respectful than before.

After all, Li Ping wasn’t just a high-tier Alchemist; his sister was also a newly minted Core Formation Master.

As Master Xiao’s older brother, Alchemist Li’s status had risen accordingly.

Li Ping’s expression turned a little strange as he noticed this.

’How have I inexplicably ended up looking like a kept man?’

...

Back in the hall where he was temporarily staying, Mei Hao happened to arrive with a batch of Spirit Medicine, requesting he perform Alchemy.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Li!" Mei Hao said cheerfully as soon as he entered the hall. "With Master Xiao achieving the Golden Core, you’re set for a comfortable life, Fellow Daoist Li."

Beneath the congratulations, Li Ping could see the envy in his eyes.

Li Ping completely understood Mei Hao’s feelings. It was just like in his past life on Earth—if a close relative suddenly struck it rich, it was perfectly normal to attract envious looks.

Having a Core Formation Master for a sister—whether by blood or by oath—meant that in others’ eyes, he was set to enjoy numerous benefits.

Some of these benefits were tangible, others invisible.

"Heh, you’re too kind, Fellow Daoist Mei," Li Ping said with a smile and a shake of his head, not wanting to discuss the topic further.

Seeing Li Ping’s reluctance to talk, Mei Hao took it as modesty. He smiled and changed the subject, bringing up the progress of the repairs at Changping Square.

Li Ping had previously expressed his concern about this and his desire to move back to Changping Square as soon as possible.

The Flying Snow Sect had taken his request very seriously.

He explained, "The cave residence you were renting, Fellow Daoist Li, was destroyed during the chaos before the new year. However, our Sect has already rebuilt it. We just need to wait for an Array Master to lay down the Array, and it will be good as new. Furthermore, the Sect Leader has promised that as long as you remain in Flying Snow City, you may live in this cave residence free of charge."

Li Ping nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. In that case, I must thank Sect Leader Shi for her kindness."

The rent for a single cave residence was nothing to him.

But Shi Yutong’s gesture was quite gratifying. He had to admit, the woman was remarkably generous in her dealings.

After a bit more small talk, Mei Hao left the Spirit Medicine and took the finished Pills.

Li Ping, in turn, patiently fired up his cauldron to begin his Alchemy.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Yunzhi still hadn’t emerged from seclusion, but the Array at his Changping Square cave residence had been fully repaired.

Upon being notified, Li Ping disregarded Shi Yutong’s repeated entreaties to stay and immediately moved back into his cave residence at Changping Square.

Standing before his brand-new cave residence, Li Ping glanced at the one several hundred feet away, a wistful look in his eyes.

’Actually, having a pair of beautiful snow-maiden twins as neighbors was quite nice. When I got tired from cultivating, they were easy on the eyes.’

’Too bad they had the hearts of vipers and wanted to plot against me. I had no choice but to personally send them on to their next reincarnation.’

’If they were quick about it, they’re probably already in a womb by now!’

Shaking his head, Li Ping activated the cave residence’s Array and stepped inside.

Once the Array was sealed and he had checked that everything was in order, Li Ping finally began to relax.

Cultivating within the Flying Snow Sect allowed one to enjoy a Tier Three Spirit Vein, something his Changping Square residence couldn’t hope to match.

But there, he was constantly under the watch of Master Qianxue. There was no privacy, which made it inconvenient to do many things.

In terms of privacy, this cave residence was actually a cut above the Flying Snow Sect.

He slapped the two Spirit Beast Pouches at his waist, and the Desolate Fire Sparrow and the Earth Spirit Rat shot out as streaks of light.

The Earth Spirit Rat lay obediently on the ground, its little eyes darting about, while the Desolate Fire Sparrow circled excitedly around Li Ping, letting out low cries from time to time.

Back in the Flying Snow Sect, it hadn’t been convenient for Li Ping to let it out, and the bird had been utterly cooped up.

As for the Earth Spirit Rat, its origins were tied to the Seven Immortals of the North Pole. Li Ping didn’t want anyone to know that the Seven Immortals and an unfamiliar late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator had died by his hand, so he had kept it hidden in its Spirit Beast Pouch as well.

Taking a bottle of Tier Two Beast Feeding Pills from his Storage Bag, Li Ping started to feed his two Spirit Beasts.

"One for you, and one for you..."

Li Ping flicked a Beast Feeding Pill toward each of his Spirit Beasts, but the Desolate Fire Sparrow wasn’t having it.

"CHIRP~"

After gobbling down the Beast Feeding Pill meant for it, the sparrow let out another cry, shot forward like a streak of fire, and snatched the Earth Spirit Rat’s Pill right out of the air.

And that wasn’t all.

It then proceeded to circle over the Earth Spirit Rat’s head, posturing as if it were about to pounce.

It was as if to say, "The master only needs me! What’s this little trinket?"

The Earth Spirit Rat was only at the early stage of Tier Two. Its bloodline was inferior to the Desolate Fire Sparrow’s, and it wasn’t a fighter. Faced with the sparrow’s provocation, all it could do was bury its head in the ground and tremble.

Seeing this, the Desolate Fire Sparrow’s cries grew even shriller as it puffed out its tail feathers, looking utterly smug.

"Enough," Li Ping said, exasperated, and called the Desolate Fire Sparrow back.

He fed the whole bottle of Beast Feeding Pills to it and ordered it to go find a place to rest.

Only then did he pull out another bottle of Tier Two Beast Feeding Pills for the Earth Spirit Rat. The rat was a highly intelligent type of Spirit Beast; after eating the Pill, it could feel the immense benefits it provided.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK~"

The Earth Spirit Rat’s little eyes darted about as it circled Li Ping excitedly. It then prostrated itself before him, repeatedly bowing and kowtowing as if to say, "Great master, this little rat is so happy! I’ll follow you for the rest of my life!"

Li Ping couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

The Earth Spirit Rat was a very rare type of Demon Beast with the special ability to find Celestial and Earthly Treasures. He was definitely going to make it his own Spirit Beast.

Besides, he was all alone in the world; he didn’t have to worry about things like passing down a Spirit Beast bloodline.

It had been inconvenient to do this back at the Flying Snow Sect, but now that he was in his own cave residence, Li Ping was eager to formally tame this Exotic Beast.

He took out the beast taming plate and, through it, commanded the Earth Spirit Rat before him not to resist.

He then placed several types of Restrictions on the Earth Spirit Rat to ensure it could never escape his control. Only then did he crush the beast taming plate in his hand, completely destroying it in a crackle of lightning.

From now on, the Earth Spirit Rat would be under his control alone.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK~"

The Earth Spirit Rat lay before Li Ping, looking up at him with its small, pitiful eyes.

Sensing the effects of the various Restrictions on its body, Li Ping smiled. He then fed the entire bottle of Tier Two Beast Feeding Pills to the Earth Spirit Rat and ordered it to find a spot in the courtyard to absorb the medicinal energy.

He also ordered the two beasts not to fight each other.

With all that done, he returned to his training room, took out the Jade of the Spiritual Eye, and prepared to enter seclusion to cultivate.

’Oh, right,’ Li Ping suddenly thought of something else.

’The Earth Spirit Rat could sense the Treasures in my Storage Bag. There’s no guarantee other Exotic Beasts in this world don’t have similar abilities. I have to guard against that.’

With that in mind, he left the room and went back into the courtyard, summoning the overstuffed Earth Spirit Rat to question it carefully.

After questioning it, he finally understood. The reason the Earth Spirit Rat could find all sorts of Celestial and Earthly Treasures—even those hidden in a Storage Bag—was because it had a special nose that could smell the "scent" of a Treasure.

"Treasures have a scent?" Li Ping was astonished.

After a moment’s thought, he took a scented sachet from the Bai sisters’ Storage Bag and hung it from his waist. He then had the Earth Spirit Rat try to sense him again.

Sure enough, with the sachet’s fragrance muddling the "scent," the Earth Spirit Rat’s senses became much less distinct.

Li Ping hung two more sachets from his waist. "How about now?"

"SQUEAK SQUEAK~"

The Earth Spirit Rat let out a series of anxious squeaks. The meaning transmitted through their spiritual connection was that it could no longer smell the scent of the Treasures on Li Ping’s person.

Li Ping nodded in satisfaction.

’Perfect.’

’I have to admit, female cultivators have their uses after all.’

His worries assuaged, he returned to his training room to resume his arduous cultivation.

...

However, a few days later, he was forced to stop his training and emerge from seclusion.

The Desolate Fire Sparrow and the Earth Spirit Rat were fighting in the courtyard.

The Desolate Fire Sparrow’s powerful bloodline made its combat strength far superior to the Earth Spirit Rat’s. But the rat possessed a Divine Ability similar to Earth Escape, and whenever it was losing, it would just burrow into the ground.

Seeing it burrow, the Desolate Fire Sparrow would land and use its sharp talons to dig one deep pit after another, turning the courtyard into a total mess.

"Both of you, get over here!"

Li Ping shouted, his face cold as he surveyed the state of his courtyard.

Seeing their master’s anger, both Spirit Beasts obediently landed before Li Ping.

"You’ve both lost your Beast Feeding Pills for next month!" Li Ping said, his face stern. "No more fighting. If it happens again, you can forget about ever eating another Beast Feeding Pill! Do you hear me?"

"CHIRP~"

The Desolate Fire Sparrow grew frantic at the thought of having no Pills to eat. It began chirping incessantly, trying to make Li Ping take back his words.

But Li Ping was resolute. "Keep chirping, and you’ll lose the month after that, too!"

"COO COO."

Seeing that Li Ping’s mind was made up, the Desolate Fire Sparrow let out two low coos, wisely conceded defeat, and stopped arguing. It spread its wings, flew to a nearby shrub, and closed its eyes to rest.

The Earth Spirit Rat, however, was another story.

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK! SQUEAK!"

It gestured wildly with its front paws, letting out a series of urgent squeals, clearly indignant about Li Ping’s decision.

Li Ping said irritably, "You two were fighting and tore up the courtyard. I dock you one month’s worth of Beast Feeding Pills, and you dare to complain?"

At this, the Earth Spirit Rat grew frantic.

It raised its front paws and waved them back and forth in a strikingly human-like gesture of protest.

At the same time, its meaning was transmitted to Li Ping through their connection: "Master, this little rat objects! I wasn’t fighting the fire bird! I was being chased *by* the fire bird!"

It had been chased and beaten by that fire bird, yet its master was punishing both of them without a second thought. The Earth Spirit Rat felt deeply wronged.

Li Ping finally understood. But when he glanced over at the Desolate Fire Sparrow, he saw it standing on its branch with its eyes closed, fast asleep.

He couldn’t tell if it was really asleep or just faking it.

Li Ping was left speechless.

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