The cat demon defies the heavens and is the emperor’s only beloved disciple!

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the sky was just beginning to lighten.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation.

A gentle morning breeze caresses the courtyard, causing the emerald bamboo to sway gracefully, its leaves rustling softly, exuding a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

A golden pill floated in mid-air, its entire body radiating a warm golden light.

Several streams of spiritual energy, like wisps of silk, flowed from the fingertips of the six people and were precisely injected into their dantian.

At the core of the golden elixir, a small, crystalline dragon suddenly came to life, its scales and claws twitching, its whiskers and tail swaying, as if it were about to break free from the elixir.

The tense expressions of the six people on the ground relaxed, and relieved smiles appeared on their faces.

Chen Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze intense, and said in a clear voice:

"You've all worked hard, let's wrap this up!"

His voice was steady, yet it couldn't hide the satisfaction within.

The six people slowly finished their practice as instructed, their spiritual power gradually fading away, and the courtyard returned to tranquility.

Chen Xuan slowly stepped forward, reached out and firmly grasped the golden core in his palm. A warm sensation spread through him. As he walked towards the stone table, he murmured:

"Yun Che, Yun Che, you've finally come back to life!"

His tone was gentle, carrying the relief of someone who had been waiting for a long time.

Yesterday morning, the Wuji Sect sent a message saying that the cultivation of the Soul-Nourishing Grass was progressing very well, and that this pill was the key to helping Yun Che reshape his soul, using that spiritual grass as a guide.

Chen Xuan took the lead and sat down on the blue stone bench, carefully placing the golden pill into the jade bottle in the center of the stone table.

The spiritual spring water in the bottle was crystal clear, with a faint glow. After the golden pill sank in, the surface of the water rippled slightly, and the little dragon appeared and disappeared in the water, showing even more vitality.

Tianyan Sect Master Jun Yan made no attempt at formality, sitting directly opposite Chen Xuan. He casually picked up a Crimson Cloud Spirit Fruit from the jade plate, took a bite, and the juice overflowed, filling his mouth with fragrance.

He praised with a smile:

"Shuangyue's insight is truly remarkable. Arranging for Miss Siyao to lead the team to plant the Soul-Nourishing Grass is a brilliant move!"

"If it weren't for Miss Si Yao's expertise in the art of cultivating spiritual plants and her meticulous care day and night, how could such rare spiritual herbs have grown on schedule?"

"Chen Xuan, how should you reward these two beauties?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan stroked his beard, chuckled, and nodded, saying:

"Shuangyue, Siyao, and Muqing are all pillars of society and their contributions are indispensable."

His words were concise, yet every word conveyed praise.

Jun Yan nodded in agreement, then picked up another spiritual fruit, filling the courtyard with the fragrance of tea and fruit, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

On the other side, Xingze, dressed in a purple robe, had a cold and stern expression.

Holding an ancient book in one hand, he strolled slowly while studying it intently, occasionally tapping the pages with his fingertips as if deducing its mysteries.

The other three elders sat around a nearby stone table, slowly sipping their spiritual tea.

As the tea steamed, spiritual energy slowly returned, replenishing the vital energy that had just been depleted.

Everyone chatted and laughed, and Chenxuan and Junyan discussed recent events in the sect.

Xingze occasionally glanced back, and though he didn't say anything, he exuded a calm and composed demeanor.

This small space perfectly embodies the harmony and vitality of the sect.

However, the joy was short-lived, and a sudden change occurred.

A communication talisman flew through the air like a streak of light and landed directly in the center of the stone table.

The talisman moved on its own without wind, emitting a rapid, clear sound:

"All the Soul-Nourishing Grass in the Drunken Forest has withered, and the Soul-Nourishing Seeds have vanished without a trace. The situation is urgent. Please, Sect Master, come immediately!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan's smile vanished instantly, his face turned deathly pale, and he abruptly stood up, his fingertips trembling slightly.

"How could this be..."

Before the words were finished, the bamboo shadows in the courtyard fell silent. The previous peace and tranquility vanished, leaving only a heavy and deathly stillness.

Jun Yan put down the spiritual fruit, his brows furrowed.

Xingze closed the ancient book, his gaze sweeping sharply over the talisman.

The elders also stopped drinking and focused their attention. The spiritual tea was still warm, but no one paid any attention to it.

This sudden change was like a frost covering the sky, freezing all the warmth of the morning light.

Followed by.

Chen Xuan instructed the three elders to stay behind and guard the golden elixir inside the jade bottle.

Xie Xingze and Jun Yan swayed in the wind.

In the blink of an eye, he stepped into the air and landed on the edge of the Drunken Evening Forest.

What comes into view is that the once fragrant Drunken Forest is now a scene of decay.

The entire area of ​​the soul-nourishing grass has withered and turned yellow, its spiritual essence completely dissipated, except for the central plot.

The young Jin Xi was surrounded by a pale golden life force.

He was seen making hand seals with lightning speed, forcibly stimulating the remaining grass to grow with wood-based magic. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his face was slightly flushed.

The hundred disciples of the Wuji Sect stood in four directions, their hands forming hand seals as they focused their minds on protecting the Dharma.

Although the fluctuations in spiritual energy were faint, they were not chaotic at all, each striving to maintain the last vestige of life in the forest.

Looking at the scene before him, which was being salvaged with great effort, Chen Xuan's tense expression eased slightly, and his eyes revealed undisguised relief.

"Ah."

Chen Xuan uttered a single word.

Everyone turned around abruptly upon hearing the sound.

Upon seeing that it was Chen Xuan, Jun Yan, and Xing Ze who had come in person, their hearts tightened immediately, and they all knelt down, their voices filled with fear and self-reproach:

"Greetings, Sect Master! Greetings, Sect Master Junyan and Elder Xingze! We failed in our duty to protect the grass, and we beg the Sect Master's punishment!"

Chen Xuan raised his hand, his tone calm and without anger:

"Please rise, everyone. This matter is sudden and not your fault."

The disciples then rose tremblingly, stood with their heads bowed to one side, and dared not utter a sound.

Chen Xuan's gaze swept across the woods, but he did not see Shuangyue's figure. He immediately asked in a deep voice:

Where is Frosty Moon?

The voice just fell.

Jin Xi immediately withdrew the fertility-inducing spell, quickly stepped forward, cupped her hands in greeting, and replied in an urgent and concise tone:

"Reporting to the Sect Master! Our Sect Master is staying in the small wooden hut in the forest to heal Senior Sister Si Yao's injuries, and hasn't left all night!"

"Is Miss Si Yao injured?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan's expression changed drastically, and his composure vanished instantly.

Panic welled up between his brows, and he immediately turned to look at Jin Xi.

"Little Qilin, quickly take this old man to see!"

Jin Xi didn't even look up, only focusing on tending to the Soul-Nourishing Grass that was about to wither completely, and casually replied:

"Sect Master, I'm busy saving the grass and can't leave. I'll have Lingyao take you there!"

After saying that, he raised his hand to his lips and let out a sharp whistle.

Moments later, a dark figure leaped down from the hilltop in the forest, its four hooves pounding the wind—it was the demonic beast Lingyao.

It moved as nimbly as a leopard, and in a few leaps it reached Jinxi, raised its head and nuzzled Jinxi's hand, obediently waiting for orders.

"Lingyao, take the sect leader to the wooden house and find Senior Sister Siyao."

Jin Xi simply gave the order.

Awooo!!

Lingyao looked up and called out twice, then nodded in agreement.

Seeing Jin Xi's casual and rude behavior, Chen Xuan was not angry at all. Instead, he was too concerned about Si Yao's safety to bother with her.

However, Xingze and Junyan, who were standing beside him, both frowned imperceptibly.

Jin Xi was merely a junior member of the sect, yet she treated Chen Xuan, an elder, with such casualness and disrespect, which was truly overstepping her bounds.

However, both of them knew that the matter was of great importance and it was not appropriate to argue at this moment, so they suppressed their displeasure and remained silent.

With Lingyao leading the way, Chenxuan and the other two quickly crossed the withered field of spirit herbs and arrived at a simple wooden house in the forest.

A thick purple barrier enveloped the wooden house, brimming with spiritual energy. It was Frost Moon's innate barrier, indestructible.

Chen Xuan immediately turned around and said in a deep voice to the two people behind him:

"Xingze, Junyan, you two step aside and wait. Do not approach."

Xingze and Junyan immediately realized what was going on.

This barrier was set up by Frostmoon for healing purposes. Unauthorized intrusion would not only easily disrupt the treatment, but also...

The two immediately bowed in agreement, lightly touched the ground with their toes, and stood quietly a few meters away.

Only Lingyao stood beside Chenxuan, digging at the ground and refusing to leave.

A pair of red beast eyes stared intently at the wooden house, howling anxiously, clearly worried that Frost Moon hadn't come out all night and wanting to rush in after her.

Seeing Lingyao's stubbornness, Chenxuan frowned slightly and, unwilling to get entangled any further, lightly waved his sleeve.

A gentle yet irresistible spiritual energy surged forth.

boom! !

Caught off guard, Lingyao was flung several feet away and landed heavily on the ground. He rolled over before getting up, howling in grievance, but dared not go forward again.

Upon seeing this, Xingze and Junyan immediately turned around in unison.

With his back to the wooden house, he kept his eyes straight ahead and never peered into the house.