Nan Xunran paid no heed to Jiang Ruxi behind him and walked straight toward the Exotic Beast Hall.
When he descended to the lower realm, he had left the Xuan Ice Spirit Dragon, still in its infancy, in the Exotic Beast Hall's care.
Now that he had returned, he intended to take it back.
Exotic Beast Hall
Nan Xunran stood quietly before the gates of the Exotic Beast Hall, his gaze steady and focused as he studied the mysterious gates.
All manner of strange exotic beasts had been intricately carved into them, every line delicate and lifelike.
A vast and intricate formation surrounded the Exotic Beast Hall.
Countless mysterious runes and lines interwove to form the formation, which shone with a strange light.
Divine Son Token in hand, Nan Xunran strode toward the Exotic Beast Hall. The token glowed faintly in his hand, symbolizing his supreme authority and status.
Yet when he tried to enter, he unexpectedly discovered that the Divine Son Token's access had been revoked.
The unexpected situation made him frown slightly, and a trace of doubt rose in his heart.
Just then, the hall master sensed Nan Xunran's presence and flashed out like a gust of wind.
Upon seeing Nan Xunran, the hall master immediately cupped his hands in a respectful salute.
After learning why Nan Xunran had come, a trace of apology crossed the hall master's face. He then led the way without hesitation.
The hall master bowed slightly and explained respectfully, "Your Divine Son Highness, the Exotic Beast Hall's formation was replaced a few days ago. The Divine Son Token's access has yet to be updated, which is why this happened."
Nan Xunran nodded slightly, his expression calm. He showed no great displeasure at the situation and merely said, "It's fine. Just take me inside."
The hall master hurriedly moved both hands and muttered an incantation. Streaks of mysterious light flickered under his control, instantly activating the complex and powerful formation.
As the light flowed, the hall master strode forward, leading Nan Xunran into the formation that glowed with strange light.
Once they had entered the formation, the hall master stopped and turned to face Nan Xunran. He continued, "As for why we changed the formation, we truly had no choice.
"A disciple of a branch family actually broke into the Exotic Beast Hall and tried to steal the Wind-Thunder Beast.
"I don't know what secret he possesses, but he broke through the previous formation with astonishing ease. To prevent anything similar from happening again, we replaced it with a formation from High Antiquity."
Upon hearing this, Nan Xunran thought to himself, Another Son of Destiny?
After all, the Nan Clan had never had any simple formations. Even an ordinary formation was extremely difficult to break, if not impossible.
He murmured thoughtfully, "Someone from a branch family..."
His thoughts drifted like flying willow catkins. First, it occurred to him that this person's ability to breach the Nan Clan's invariably sturdy formation so easily was no coincidence, nor could it have been mere luck.
Such people often possessed fortuitous opportunities and secrets beyond ordinary imagination. Perhaps he had some special power or talent that allowed him to deal with the Nan Clan's formation so effortlessly.
Perhaps he had some unknown extraordinary encounter that had given him the key to breaking the formation.
Or perhaps, like that Son of Destiny from the lower realm, he really did have a mysterious and unfathomable master helping him from the shadows, giving him teachings and guidance beyond anyone else's reach.
Or perhaps he had received the unique inheritance of a Great Power skilled in formations, granting him such extraordinary abilities.
After a flash of dazzling light, the hall master and Nan Xunran vanished from where they stood. The next moment, they appeared at the Xuan Ice Spirit Dragon's location.
Together, they passed through corridor after corridor until they came before a massive iceberg. The hall master pointed at it and said, "This is the habitat we built especially for the Xuan Ice Spirit Dragon."
As the hall master's words fell, a strange light could be seen flickering faintly within the iceberg.
Immediately afterward, an ice-blue figure flew swiftly out of it, charging straight at Nan Xunran.
It was the Xuan Ice Spirit Dragon. Though not yet fully grown, it had already displayed an extraordinary spiritual charm.
After circling Nan Xunran several times in delight, it landed affectionately beside him and rubbed its head against his cheek, letting out soft dragon cries, as though telling him how much it missed and depended on him.
Nan Xunran reached out and stroked the Xuan Ice Spirit Dragon's head with slow, gentle movements.
"Have you been well all this time?" Nan Xunran asked calmly.
The Xuan Ice Spirit Dragon gave a joyful cry, then continued nuzzling against him.
Watching the heartwarming scene from the side, the hall master could not help but be filled with emotion. His Divine Son Highness truly was a graceful young gentleman!
He was so gentle and refined, and his relationship with the Xuan Ice Spirit Dragon was so good. How could anyone who got along so well with an exotic beast be a bad person?
"It seems it's been well cared for here." Nan Xunran turned to the hall master and nodded slightly in thanks.