One day later.
"Thank you both for saving me. I am Xiong Zhuangzhuang, a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. If you ever need anything in the future, you can find me at the Beast Taming Sect. I will not refuse."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang clasped his hands and thanked Xu Yi and the other two repeatedly.
If it weren't for their righteous intervention this time, he would surely have become a victim of the previous group's blades.
The debt of saving a life, he could only repay by offering his utmost loyalty and keeping it in his heart.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang?
Xu Yi's lips curved upward. Then, she suddenly realized, and said with surprise, "You are from the Beast Taming Sect, do you know Yin Li?"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang was stunned. After coming to his senses, he was overjoyed. "So you two also know junior sister Yin. She is my junior sister from the same sect."
Xu Yi exclaimed how coincidental this was. Just after separating from Yin Li and the others, they encountered someone from the Beast Taming Sect again.
Lu Zaiye, being meticulous, calmly asked, "Since you are from the Beast Taming Sect, where is your contracted beast?"
Lu Zaiye had dealt with people from the Beast Taming Sect several times before. They were always accompanied by their contracted beasts, inseparable.
Someone like Xiong Zhuangzhuang, whose life was hanging by a thread, yet whose contracted beast did not appear, was very suspicious.
Upon hearing the question about his contracted beast, the smile on Xiong Zhuangzhuang's face gradually faded.
He irritably wiped his face and said dejectedly, "My contracted beast is injured. I came to the Ten Thousand Monster Ridge this time to find the Soul Returning Demon Fruit to save it."
As soon as he heard the news of the Soul Returning Demon Fruit, he had rushed over. Now, he realized how difficult it was to find the Soul Returning Demon Fruit on his own.
However, he was unwilling to return empty-handed.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang now faced a crucial decision: continue searching for the Soul Returning Demon Fruit here, or return to the sect and make other plans.
But he himself did not know which path to choose.
Xu Yi and Lu Zaiye exchanged glances. So that's how it was.
Xu Yi felt a little sympathetic towards him but had no intention of helping him search.
Setting aside the fact that Xiong Zhuangzhuang didn't know the exact location of the Soul Returning Demon Fruit, even if he did, why should she and Lu Zaiye risk danger to help him?
He wasn't from the Xuanji Sect, so why should she trouble herself?
After a moment of thought, she took out several bottles of elixirs from her storage ring and handed them to Xiong Zhuangzhuang. "Take these. They might be useful."
These elixirs were not brought from the Xuanji Sect, but were obtained from other cultivators along the way. She didn't feel any pain in giving them away.
"I can't accept them." Xiong Zhuangzhuang's cheeks turned red, and he waved his palm, as large as a fan, back and forth.
He was already indebted to these two and didn't know how to repay them. How could he have the nerve to accept their gifts again?
Xu Yi shoved them into his hand, unconcerned. "Take them. Since you're already in debt, why not owe a little more?"
Lu Zaiye: ...
Xiong Zhuangzhuang, however, was convinced, and his lips spread into a grin, revealing a row of white teeth.
"Thank you very much. By the way, I haven't asked for your esteemed names. If I am fortunate enough to leave, I will personally visit to express my gratitude."
Xu Yi raised her chin slightly, proudly stating, "We are disciples of the Xuanji Sect. I am Xu Yi, and he is Lu Zaiye. You are welcome to visit our Xuanji Sect."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang played along with a look of astonishment and then began to exchange pleasantries with Xu Yi.
"No wonder you two look so capable; you are actually disciples of the Xuanji Sect."
"Not at all, your Beast Taming Sect is also very good."
"Fellow Daoist Xu is too modest. The reputation of the Xuanji Sect is well-known throughout the Kyushu Continent."
"Hahahaha, your Beast Taming Sect is also quite famous."
"..."
Lu Zaiye: ...
He suddenly felt out of place.
After the two finished their effusive compliments, they both felt a sense of closeness.
Xu Yi and Xiong Zhuangzhuang exchanged imprints for their sound-transmitting plates and prepared to bid farewell.
As Xu Yi was leaving, Xiong Zhuangzhuang called out to her and gave her a gift she could not refuse: an elixir that could make beasts speak human language.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang had suddenly remembered Xu Yi might need it after seeing the Four-Winged Blood Horse.
As expected, Xu Yi accepted it without any hesitation.
After the two left, leading their horses, Xiong Zhuangzhuang plopped down on the ground.
He had to seriously consider his next course of action.
Before he could come to a conclusion, the sound-transmitting plate at his waist vibrated lightly again.
It must be his junior sister sending him a message.
He eagerly pressed the switch of the sound-transmitting plate, and a crisp female voice came out.
"Senior Brother, where are you now? I have already arrived at the Ten Thousand Monster Ridge."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang jumped up from the ground as if his backside were on fire and roared into the sound-transmitting plate, "Why did you come here! Don't come! Go back quickly!"
Outside the Ten Thousand Monster Ridge, Yin Li, who had finally received Xiong Zhuangzhuang's reply, felt relieved. However, she pretended to be scared and said, "Senior Brother, where are you? I'm at the entrance of the Ten Thousand Monster Ridge, and I'm so scared. Come and pick me up quickly."
Beside her, Zhou Cheng's bones softened upon hearing Yin Li's coquettish voice. He secretly thought that if they were married, and Yin Li spoke to him like this, he would be able to keep her.
On the other end, Xiong Zhuangzhuang's anxious voice came through, "Stay right there and don't move. Wait for me."
The sound of the wind could still be heard in his words.
Yin Li retracted the sound-transmitting plate with satisfaction and said to Elder Chiyu, "Elder, Senior Brother will be here soon."
Elder Chiyu nodded gently, his expressionless.
Although Xiong Zhuangzhuang promised to come quickly, he was inevitably subjected to other accidents along the way. By the time he met Yin Li and the others, another five days had passed.
"Elder Chiyu, Junior Sister Yin, and Junior Brother Zhou, why are you all here?"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang was stunned to see the three of them.
"Senior Brother."
"Senior Brother Xiong."
Yin Li and Zhou Cheng greeted him in unison.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang couldn't help but look at Junior Sister Yin, his eyes wide, silently asking, You didn't come alone, did you?
Yin Li pursed her lips, chuckled softly. If she hadn't said that, how could she have tricked Senior Brother into coming?
Xiong Zhuangzhuang also realized what was happening and rubbed the back of his head helplessly.
Elder Chiyu saw that although Xiong Zhuangzhuang looked disheveled, his complexion was still decent, so he said, "Since you've been found, you should return with us."
"Elder Chiyu, I don't want to go back." Xiong Zhuangzhuang clenched his fists. "I must find the Soul Returning Demon Fruit."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang had figured it out on his way here.
If he didn't find the Soul Returning Demon Fruit, Xiong Da would surely die. Even if he lost his life, he could not give up.
Before Elder Chiyu could speak, Zhou Cheng interjected, "Senior Brother Xiong, the Soul Returning Demon Fruit is not that easy to find. Why don't we go back first and think of other ways?"
Zhou Cheng had come along to curry favor with Yin Li, and he didn't want to go to the Ten Thousand Monster Ridge. Upon hearing that Xiong Zhuangzhuang refused to go back, he was even more anxious than Yin Li.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang ignored him and clasped his hands in front of Elder Chiyu, earnestly saying, "I hope the Elder will grant my request."
Elder Chiyu was aware of Xiong Zhuangzhuang's contracted beast and knew how much beasts affected cultivators.
Although it was possible to change contracted spirit beasts, both the beast and the cultivator would suffer severe damage afterward. They would not resort to this unless it was absolutely necessary.
Moreover, he had already considered this possibility when he came.
The Sect Master's instructions were that if Xiong Zhuangzhuang could be brought back, it would be best. If not, they were to accompany him in searching for the Soul Returning Demon Fruit for five years.
After five years, regardless of whether Xiong Zhuangzhuang was willing or not, they would forcibly take him back.
Under Xiong Zhuangzhuang's expectant gaze, Elder Chiyu finally nodded in agreement.