The Golden Egg

"Ding! The system has issued a task."

[Task Description: Expand the sect's membership]

[Task Content: Take in seven disciples (three already taken in)]

[Task Reward: Current Most Needed Treasure Chest*1, Master Virtue Points*10000]

Bai Yuan looked at the newly issued task, but he was in no mood to deal with it for now. He opened his Attribute Panel.

[Host: Bai Yuan]

[Cultivation: Qi Refining Ninth Layer]

[Items: Foundation Establishment Pill Formula, Current Most Needed Treasure Chest]

[Special: Beginner Alchemist, Beginner Artifact Craftsman, Beginner Array Master, Beginner Talisman Master]

[Number of Disciples: 3]

[Bound Disciples: Bai Yu (Current Binding Limit: 1) (After binding a disciple, whenever that disciple advances, the host will advance by the same amount.)]

[Master Virtue Points: 15300]

[Shop: Click to open]

[Current Task One: Refine a Foundation Pill. Reward: Intermediate Alchemist, 1,000 Master Virtue Points]

[Current Task Two: Break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Reward: Bound Disciple Limit*2, 10,000 Master Virtue Points.]

[Current Task Three: Take in seven disciples (three already taken in). Reward: Current Most Needed Treasure Chest, 10,000 Master Virtue Points.]

"Looks like I have to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage before I'll have enough Master Virtue Points to exchange for the Great Dream Heavenly Immortal Art," Bai Yuan muttered.

The Great Dream Heavenly Immortal Art cost twenty thousand Master Virtue Points. With no other tasks available now, he could only choose between breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage or taking in another four disciples.

Compared to taking in disciples, Bai Yuan felt that refining a Foundation Pill and helping Bai Yu break through would be easier.

After all, most weak Soul Beasts had not developed Spiritual Intelligence, while powerful Soul Beasts would never acknowledge him as their master. Taking humans as disciples outside was also too difficult. He had now offended the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and a Titled Douluo might come knocking at any time.

Watching Xiao Wu get "buried alive," Ning Rongrong subconsciously swallowed, her heart trembling with fear. She was secretly glad that person was not herself.

Serves you right for calling me a coward! Ning Rongrong cursed inwardly, then ran to Bai Yuan's side and wrapped her arms around his.

"Young Master Bai, I count as your fiancée now, right?" Ning Rongrong tried her best to make her voice sound gentler and more harmless.

From how Bai Yuan had treated Xiao Wu, she could tell that he was not a man obsessed with beauty. Otherwise, he would not have suppressed Xiao Wu so mercilessly.

Since beauty was useless, Ning Rongrong decided to try another approach.

Bai Yuan's lips twitched. He glanced at the exceedingly adorable girl beside him and reassured her, "As long as you don't cause trouble, it counts."

Ning Rongrong let out a breath of relief. "I promise I won't cause trouble. If you tell me to go east, I'll never go west."

"Then go find Bai Yu and have her teach you how to cook," Bai Yuan said.

Ning Rongrong's expression stiffened. Still, she released his arm and returned to Bai Yu's side. "Sister Bai Yu, please teach me how to cook and stir-fry."

Bai Yu said expressionlessly, "I'm older than you. You should call me Sister."

Ning Rongrong looked at the white-haired loli in front of her, who was spouting nonsense with a straight face, and smiled. "I'm your Master's fiancée. Shouldn't you be calling me Master's Wife?"

Without even raising her head, Bai Yu turned and walked toward the upstairs kitchen.

"We'll talk after Master marries you."

Bai Yu understood her Master very well. She knew that Bai Yuan was merely placating Ning Rongrong to make her behave, so she did not take it seriously.

That night, after Bai Yuan ate a meal prepared by Bai Yu, he made Ning Rongrong finish the food she had cooked. Then the master and disciple left.

For the time being, Bai Yuan had no intention of opening the Current Most Needed Treasure Chest, because if used well, it could save his life.

As for helping his second disciple, the Tree Demon, take human form, Bai Yuan did not think there was any rush. He could not bind a second disciple yet anyway. Everything could wait until he reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Watching Bai Yuan and Bai Yu push open the door and leave,

Ning Rongrong's heart churned restlessly. Especially after half an hour, then an hour, then two hours...

Ning Rongrong was nearly unable to stop herself from pushing open the door and leaving.

Hold it in, hold it in. I absolutely have to hold it in. Bai Yuan must have done this on purpose. This is a trap. He's testing my resolve!

Outside is still the Star Dou Great Forest. As an auxiliary-type Soul Master, there's no way I could make it out alive. Ning Rongrong muttered inwardly, desperately suppressing her longing for freedom.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuan was leading Bai Yu through the Star Dou Great Forest in search of the herbs needed to refine the Foundation Pill.

Over the years, Bai Yuan and Bai Yu had collected almost all the ingredients needed to refine the Foundation Pill. Only one main ingredient remained.

The two searched for medicinal herbs while avoiding Soul Beasts in the forest. Clearly, they were experts at this and moved with practiced ease.

Suddenly, after confirming there were no Soul Beasts nearby, Bai Yu spoke up. "Master, aren't you worried your fiancée will run away?"

Bai Yuan glanced at his disciple, who seemed to be plotting mischief against him again, and said blandly, "We've lived together for six years. Don't you understand Your master's thoughts by now?"

Bai Yu asked with a smile, "Thoughts? What thoughts? Could it be that Master has thoughts about me?"

Covering her little mouth, Bai Yu revealed a look of realization. "That makes sense. Master made my appearance himself. Back then, you must have made me look like the type you liked best, right?"

Bai Yuan nearly tripped on level ground.

But hearing Bai Yu say that made him feel somewhat awkward. Back then, he really had shaped her according to his favorite type.

It was only because of certain later circumstances that he had made her into a loli version, with the result that she could no longer grow up.

Bai Yuan looked at Bai Yu sympathetically, then lovingly patted her head. Without saying a word, he continued on his way.

Over the past few years, they had basically explored all the surrounding areas, yet they had never found that main ingredient. This time, they had to venture deeper.

Of course, given Bai Yuan and Bai Yu's current strength, they did not dare go too deep. At most, they wandered around areas inhabited by ten- to twenty-thousand-year Soul Beasts.

After searching all night, the two still found nothing. Instead, they were attacked by several Thousand-Year Soul Beasts along the way.

However, Soul Beasts of that level were easy for both Bai Yuan and Bai Yu to handle.

"Master, is it really alright for you to make your disciple stay up all night like this?" Bai Yu asked as she lay on Bai Yuan's back, unwilling to walk.

Bai Yuan said blandly, "What's wrong with it? An extra person means an extra pair of eyes. If I miss something and you see it, we won't have to take so many wrong turns."

Bai Yu said irritably, "Master, you've been searching for so many years without finding it. It's not a solution to keep searching aimlessly like this!"

"Then how do you think we should look for it?" Bai Yuan asked.

Bai Yu lay silently on his shoulder.

But suddenly, Bai Yu raised her hand and pointed toward a tree hollow not far away. "Master, don't you think that white flower looks like the Heavenly Spirit Flower you've been searching for?"

Bai Yuan turned to look. A pure white flower was blooming inside the tree hollow. Beside it lay an egg with a golden base, yet covered in brilliant colors.

What kind of Soul Beast egg is that? Bai Yuan became wary.