Cultivation Online

Still in his Heavenly White Tiger form, Yuan offered the guard a calm smile. ”I am who you think I am. Do me a favor and keep it quiet, will you? I don’t want to cause a panic.”

The guard gave a silent nod, his face pale with disbelief.

”Thanks,” Yuan said before turning to approach the massive residence before him.

Even after Yuan had disappeared from his sight, the guard remained seated on the ground, motionless, as if he had forgotten how to stand.

Before entering the residence, Yuan activated Shadow Veil and completely erased his presence.

Then, once inside, he began wandering the place.

After wandering for several minutes, Yuan noticed several powerful presences gathered in one room, so he approached the room and eavesdropped from outside.

”It’s been half a year since the Immortal Monarch left. Do you think he’ll return any time soon?”

Yuan knew the people gathered inside the room were the elders even before they spoke based on their aura.

”Who knows? He could be coming here right now for all we know,” one of them casually remarked, unaware that he’d hit the nail on the head.

”I just hope that he’s satisfied with the changes. It wasn’t easy to suddenly change rules that had been in place for many generations.”

”If not, we’re probably screwed. The Immortal Monarch could kill all of us with just his words alone.”

”There’s no way he’d do something like that, right? According to historical records, the Immortal Monarch worked to protect the beast race from humans and from each other. He’s essentially the reason beasts and humans can co-exist in this day and age,” said another.

”He’s saved some and completely eradicated others, especially those who defied him. Some even considered him a tyrant,” the Eleventh Elder revealed, his voice carrying a clear tremor of fear.

”In that case, aren’t we defying him right now? After all, we—”

”Enough.” The Clan Leader’s voice suddenly interrupted. ”Nobody is to mention this subject again, especially not before the Immortal Monarch.”

”But if he finds out...”

”I said enough! I will figure things out myself!” the Clan Leader snapped.

Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly after hearing this.

”What do you think they’re trying to hide from you?” Feng Yuxiang asked, her voice full of curiosity.

”Who knows? But I will figure it out.”

Yuan stopped listening to them shortly after when their conversation drifted off topic, and he continued to wander the residence.

Sometime later, Yuan stopped before another room when he sensed a familiar presence within, and it was none other than Bai Sulan.

Yuan knocked on the door after realizing it was her.

”W-Who’s there?!” Bai Sulan’s terrified voice rang out a moment later, as if she’d just seen a ghost.

With Yuan’s Shadow Veil still active, she couldn’t sense anyone outside her door, despite the unmistakable sound of knocking. In her panic, she assumed it could only be a ghost.

”It’s me,” Yuan calmly replied.

It took a moment, but Bai Sulan recognized his voice. Although she couldn’t believe it, she still had to confirm it.

Once she opened the door and saw Yuan standing outside, her eyes widened with shock and confusion.

”Who are you?” she asked, not recognizing his new appearance.

Yuan deactivated his Heavenly White Tiger and returned to his original appearance.

”Handsome lit—” Bai Sulan quickly covered her mouth after recalling his true identity.

Yuan smiled and said, ”Just call me whatever you feel comfortable.”

”B-But you’re the Immortal Monarch... You’re our Ancestor’s Master...” she spoke nervously.

”So what?”

”I might get punished for not respecting you.”

”I gave you permission, so who would dare to punish you?”

”If you say so, handsome big brother...” Bai Sulan said.

”Can I come inside? I came here secretly, and I don’t want the others to find out yet.”

She nodded and gestured for him to enter her room.

”How come I cannot sense your presence even though I am staring right at you?” she asked once he closed the door.

”I am using a technique to hide my presence.”

”I see... Then why are you hiding from the others?”

”I want to see if the Heavenly White Tiger Clan—the Clan Leader and the elders actually acted on their promise and changed the way they managed the clan.”

”In that case, you don’t have to worry,” Bai Sulan said reassuringly. ”Things have definitely changed for the better. While a hierarchy still exists within the clan, it’s no longer as rigid, and we’re no longer executed for failing our trials.”

”That’s good to hear. What about you? Did anyone try to steal the blood I gave you?” Yuan asked.

Bai Sulan let out a soft chuckle. ”No one’s dared to take it by force, but plenty have tried to convince me to share it, offering treasures and all sorts of things. Naturally, I refused.”

”By the way, is this really your blood?” Bai Sulan asked, retrieving an empty glass vial. ”Why does it taste so good? I meant to try just a drop, but before I knew it, I’d finished the whole thing.”

Yuan smiled and said, ”Want to confirm it?”

She nodded eagerly.

Yuan retrieved a drop of his own blood before her eyes and flicked it into her mouth.

”Wow! This tastes even better than before!” she exclaimed.

Since Yuan’s bloodline had advanced after refining the Heavenly White Tiger’s Blood Essence, it was only natural that the quality of his blood had improved as well. Of course, Bai Sulan wasn’t aware of this fact.

”How does this work? Why does it taste so good?” Bai Sulan then asked.

”I don’t know, but it likely has something to do with my bloodline.”

”Do you do something special to give it this taste? Can you give out as much blood as you want? Is there a limit?” She then bombarded him with several questions.

Yuan raised an eyebrow and pondered silently for a moment before responding, ”That’s a good question, but I’ve never considered it, nor have I ever reached a limit.”