CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER 213 SINCERITY FOR SINCERITY, EVERYTHING HAS A RESPONSE

「Five days later.」

Hong Yuan returned to the Phoenix Creek Sect with Le Congsheng and the others.

On the way to the Deacon Hall to handle the sect entrance procedures, Hong Yuan could clearly feel that the atmosphere within the Phoenix Creek Sect had become much more serious.

Evidently, the intensity of the battle at Nanyang’s Green Sun Prefecture had escalated again, and the sect had suffered considerable casualties.

"Zhang Yunqi, the True Disciple of the Elixir Refining Hall, has fallen!"

"Guan Lan, the practicing disciple from the Scripture Pavilion, has cultivated the Four-side Real Body!"

"Long Zhandu of the Phoenix Creek Tutelage and Zhao Wutian of the Qinglu True Transmission battled for three days and nights without a winner."

Even if Hong Yuan didn’t actively seek it out, news from the frontlines constantly circulated among the Phoenix Creek Sect disciples, serving as a common topic of conversation.

Hong Yuan was not interested in this.

After sending Jiang Nai back to the Spirit Plant Garden, he turned and headed towards the Refining Equipment Hall, towards Master Lin Daoyan’s White Frost Stone House.

Tall and verdant bamboo trees stood neatly in two rows along the path, their green leaves gradually converging at the top, forming a domed "roof."

Entering this sea of bamboo, Hong Yuan followed Greenstone Avenue and soon saw the White Frost Stone House hidden within the bamboo forest.

Just as he caught sight of the White Frost Stone House, Hong Yuan heard a clear, childish voice.

"Little Uncle!!!"

Yue’er, wearing a yellow dress, bounced and skipped as she ran towards Hong Yuan with all her might. The Phoenix Feather Butterfly on her head closely followed her every step.

Seeing the smile on Yue’er’s face, Hong Yuan also smiled.

Opening his arms, Hong Yuan scooped Yue’er high into the air.

Amidst her bell-like laughter, Lin Yiru slowly walked over.

"Little Uncle, I missed you so much," Yue’er said, hugging Hong Yuan’s neck tightly.

"I missed you too, and I brought you a nice gift," Hong Yuan said as he entered the White Frost Stone House with Yue’er in his arms, a smiling Lin Yiru accompanying them.

Since Master Lin Daoyan was not home, Hong Yuan did not go to pay his respects.

He took Yue’er and Lin Yiru to the pond, stopping at the small Blue Stone Square situated over it.

A breeze drifted across the pond. The Red Dragon Carp in the water poked their heads out, looking up with the Phoenix Feather Butterfly in awe at "that man" on the square.

SNAP!

Hong Yuan lightly slapped the Beast Control Bag with his right hand, and a large Fire Feather appeared before them. Its large body was like that of a warhorse, adorned with beautiful red and white feathers. Holding its head high, it possessed an air of elegance and nobility.

"COO, COO."

The Fire Feather let out an anxious call, its large claws scratching the ground of the small Blue Stone Square as it eyed its surroundings cautiously.

As soon as the Fire Feather appeared, both the Red Dragon Carp and the Phoenix Feather Butterfly stared at it intently.

"Yue’er, this bird is called Fire Feather. Do you like it?" Hong Yuan asked, looking down at the child in his arms.

Yue’er nodded quickly, then hesitated slightly. "I like it, but will it be willing to become my partner?"

Become... a partner!?

Hong Yuan glanced sideways at the Red Dragon Carp and Phoenix Feather Butterfly, noticing they were all very attentive to Yue’er.

To treat sincerity with sincerity? This is not the true essence of the Slave Tao, Hong Yuan questioned in his heart.

But his expression remained unchanged, and he smiled in response, "Of course it will. Right, Fire Feather?"

Fire Feather was a Variant Seed and highly perceptive. It hesitated and let out a "COO."

"Little Uncle, please put me down," Yue’er requested.

Hong Yuan placed Yue’er on the Blue Stone pavement. Yue’er took a deep breath and, one small step at a time, approached the Fire Feather.

Lin Yiru, the Red Dragon Carp, and the Phoenix Feather Butterfly all watched nervously, fearing the Fire Feather might lash out.

However, their concerns were excessive. The Jade Pendant and longevity lock Yue’er wore were not mere adornments; they were specially refined Instruments. Lin Yiru also had a set, but she hadn’t liked wearing it when she was younger.

Watching little Yue’er approach, Fire Feather let out an anxious "COO." It was filled with the instinct to flee the small Blue Stone Square. It had no desire to become a Martial Artist’s controlled beast; even if it had to become one, the only master it would acknowledge in its heart was Hong Yuan.

As Yue’er arrived before it, the feathers on Fire Feather’s body bristled, and it clearly wanted to escape the small Blue Stone Square.

"Fire Feather, become my companion," Yue’er said with a beaming smile, extending her hands sincerely.

Viciousness and spiritual light vied for attention in Fire Feather’s pupils. It was a proud Variant Seed of the Fire Tao, unwaveringly loyal to its chosen companions until death.

"Humph!" Hong Yuan scoffed lightly.

Fire Feather’s body trembled involuntarily. With no other option, it lowered its head, its beak touching Yue’er’s hands, accepting her "contract."

"Hehe, Fire Feather, you’re so beautiful," Yue’er said, hugging its neck praisefully.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief at this sight.

Lin Yiru’s eyes glinted. She turned to Hong Yuan with a sly smile. "Yuan, where’s my gift?"

This... Hong Yuan thought, surprised, but still gently patted his Beast Control Bag.

A Zhu Fire Dove appeared before them. Lin Yiru was an Alchemist, and a gentle Fire Beast like the Zhu Fire Dove would be very helpful to her.

"So you do have a heart," Lin Yiru huffed.

Meanwhile, after accepting Hong Yuan’s gift, Yue’er hurriedly took out a scroll from a small bamboo box. She ran towards Hong Yuan, exhilarated, with the Phoenix Feather Butterfly and Fire Feather following behind her. Even the Red Dragon Carp created a floating bubble to drift along.

"Little Uncle, I have a gift for you too." Holding the scroll, Yue’er looked at Hong Yuan with eager anticipation, her eyes filled with his reflection.

"Oh? Can I open it here and take a look?"

"Of course, you can."

Hong Yuan untied the ribbon and spread out the scroll.

Against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, two small, cartoonish figures were happily flying kites on a grassy field...

Hong Yuan gazed at it for a long while before solemnly putting it away.

"Little Uncle really likes your gift," Hong Yuan said, crouching down to stroke Yue’er’s head, making her beam with joy.

The Red Dragon Carp and Phoenix Feather Butterfly behind her were also delighted, and even Fire Feather managed a smile, blending into the joyful atmosphere.

Lin Yiru watched the interaction between Hong Yuan and Yue’er, her lips curving upwards into a beautiful smile.

As the sun set, Hong Yuan bid farewell to Yue’er and Lin Yiru and headed towards his own courtyard.

In the training room, the Original Body had long since emerged from the pool, silently awaiting the return of his Power Tao Incarnation.

As soon as the Power Tao Incarnation arrived, the Original Body eagerly took the scroll, caressing it and examining it repeatedly.

A quarter of an hour later, the Original Body carefully stored the scroll in a wooden box. The wooden box was a fourth-tier Instrument with powerful abilities. Hong Yuan slowly placed the scroll inside. Beside it, a peace charm shed a brilliant, celestial glow.

After closing the box, both the Original Body and the Power Tao Incarnation sat on their Taoist Mats.

Time to transfer the Cultivation Worms and Divine Skill Talismans.

A dense swarm of Cultivation Worms—including the Rapid Bee Worm, Misty Mantis, Rooster Flying Worm, Dog Jumping Worm, and many others—flew from the Original Body’s Aperture towards that of the Power Tao Incarnation. The Original Body possessed a vast array of techniques; defeating enemies of a higher tier was no mere fantasy for him.

After the Power Tao Incarnation received the numerous Worms, he stretched out a large hand. A dark Divine Skill Talisman then slowly floated out from his Aperture.

BUZZ.

The Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Skill Talisman entered the Original Body’s Aperture without causing a ripple.

Now, aside from the Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Skill Talisman, the Original Body only had a few healing-type Worms left.

After waiting so long, the Original Body should also break through the third-tier barrier.

I hope the Myriad Silence Realm I condense will be helpful to the Ice Armor Python Avatar.

To be roasted into a dried dragon by an NPC in the Bloodline Dream Realm... what a terrible disgrace! So embarrassing!

Hong Yuan took a deep breath, then activated the Ten Thousand Heavy Water Divine Power to refine his Original Body.