Ghost Illumination

When he heard Wang Yue say this.

Qin Jiu fought back the urge to tear off the black cloth right then and there.

He had his servants load the iron cage onto a carriage.

Spirit beasts were rare to begin with. Even a First-Order Spirit Beast was hard to find in Songshan, let alone a Second-Order or even Third-Order one. And according to the man from the Han Family, the spirit beast in the cage was only half a step away from advancing into a Beast King, a level beyond the Third Order.

Such a treasure was beyond price.

Qin Jiu didn't dare be careless. If anything went wrong, there would be nowhere for him to weep.

Fortunately, after about half an hour.

The convoy arrived home safely.

After having his servants carry the iron cage back to the East Wing, Qin Jiu kept only Wang Yue behind and sent everyone else away.

"A Third-Order Spirit Beast..."

Qin Jiu walked up to the cage, his eyes shining.

That was putting aside the value of the spirit beast itself.

Its innate talent alone was enough to set his heart racing. Even a First-Order Spirit Beast could possess a Purple-grade talent, and a Third-Order...

Suppressing his thoughts, he immediately reached out and pulled the black cloth off the iron cage.

The creature inside was revealed at the same time.

It was something like a deer, but not quite. Its body was pure white, and its eyes shimmered with an icy-blue glow. It was about the size of a calf, with a chain binding each of its four legs to the cage.

"What kind of spirit beast is this?"

Qin Jiu was astonished.

The Qin Family was famous for breeding spirit beasts, but he had never seen one like this.

Wang Yue mused, "This is a Silver Frost Fox. They usually come from the frozen north, but for some reason, one appeared in Songshan County over a decade ago. It caused an uproar throughout the county."

"According to the Record of Ten Thousand Beasts from the Rare Beast Pavilion, if a Silver Frost Fox advances to the Fourth Order, its gaze can bewitch a martial artist's mind."

"Anyone who looks into its eyes will lose their soul and become its puppet."

"That sounds pretty far-fetched."

Qin Jiu studied it closely.

In the end, he simply opened the cage.

Wang Yue's eyelid twitched. "Young master, are you going to..."

"Of course. I'm going to kill it."

Without turning his head, Qin Jiu added, "Uncle Wang, go get a blade and a vessel to collect the spirit beast's blood."

"Young master, this beast is only half a step away from advancing. You're going to kill it just like that?"

"What else?"

Qin Jiu shook his head. "Look at the Han Family. They must have been hoping to raise it, which is why they kept it all these years. But then the Han Family suffered a calamity, and all their effort became a wedding gift for us. If they'd been more decisive back then, they might not have ended up like this."

"I don't want to follow in the Han Family's footsteps."

"That's true."

Wang Yue nodded, then hurried out of the courtyard.

Before long.

He returned with a sharp knife and two round cauldrons made of white jade.

He also brought some unexpected news.

"Young master, someone just reported that the Qian Family was attacked by a demon last night. Their head, Qian Youcai, and his younger brother, Qian Jin, both died on the spot. The Qian Family's guards also suffered heavy casualties."

"The Qian Family?!"

At that, Qin Jiu's pupils contracted.

A chill shot up his spine.

After the Qin Family and the Han Family, this was another prominent family attacked by demons. There were only four families of any consequence in Songshan County, and three of them had been attacked by demons in recent days.

"Then is the Zhao Family next?"

The absurd thought suddenly crossed his mind.

By now.

Qin Jiu was certain.

Someone was plotting something, without a doubt.

There were many experts in Songshan's Inner City. Demons could appear in the Outer City, and they could even wreak havoc in the Inner City, but there was no way they could target only the leaders of the four great families.

"Uncle Wang, go again and have them summon all the Three-Refinement martial masters who are away from home."

Qin Jiu's expression was grave.

Whether this was a conspiracy or simply a demon rampage, the Qin Family needed to gather its martial artists.

To guard against whatever calamity might come.

When Wang Yue returned after taking care of things.

Qin Jiu had him help hold down the Silver Frost Fox.

"Young master, just let this old servant do it."

"We've never dealt with a Third-Order Spirit Beast before. What if this brute has some special ability and hurts you..."

"I'll be careful."

As he spoke, Qin Jiu fetched a round white jade cauldron and placed it beneath the beast's neck, then raised the sharp knife and aimed it at the Silver Frost Fox's throat.

What he valued most was the Bestiary.

He couldn't let Wang Yue wield the knife this time.

"Thud!"

"Roar!"

The blade used to slaughter spirit beasts had been forged a hundred times. It pierced the Silver Frost Fox's throat effortlessly, and the beast soon stopped struggling. A strange, sweet fragrance filled the air.

"Is that the smell of its blood?"

Just as the thought crossed Qin Jiu's mind.

In the depths of his mind.

The Red Seal rumbled and trembled.

[Silver Frost Fox (Third Order)]

[Talent: Ghost Illumination (Gold)]

[Description: In the far north lives a beast called Silver Frost. It runs like the wind and sees as clearly as if the whole world lay bare before it.]

[Talent Status: Available to imprint]

[Imprinting Requirement: seven taels of Cold Jade Marrow]

"It's gold..."

Qin Jiu froze, then was overjoyed.

Although he couldn't yet tell what the Ghost Illumination talent did from its description, its Gold grade said everything.

The Cold Jade Marrow required for imprinting, however, was a problem.

He had never heard of such a thing.

"A Third-Order Spirit Beast is a treasure from head to toe."

At this.

A smile appeared on Wang Yue's weathered face as he said, "The Silver Frost Fox's pelt can be used to make spirit artifacts. Its blood can be drunk or refined into pills, its gall can improve eyesight, and its bones can be dried and ground into powder to temper the skin and speed up progress in First Refining."

"Of course, I still recommend that you refine the spirit beast's blood into pills."

"That is the only way to bring out its medicinal effects completely."

"The only drawback is that it takes time."

"But it's certainly worth the wait. With your martial talent, and the chance to rebuild your foundation, your future potential in the martial path will be immeasurable. That young lady from the Han Family claims to be exceptionally gifted, but compared to you, she's just a frog in a well, staring up at the moon."

Hearing those words.

Qin Jiu couldn't help coughing. He felt thoroughly embarrassed.

"The Han Family's people said earlier that this spirit beast could help an Internal Strengthening martial artist recover from serious injuries. Uncle Wang, your internal organs were damaged from practicing the Cruel Blade Technique. If you drank its blood..."

"Absolutely not."

Wang Yue hurriedly shook his head. "Putting aside the fact that I'm old and there's no difference whether I'm treated or not, drinking the spirit beast's blood would be a waste."

"If it delayed your progress in the martial path..."

"How could I face the old family head after I die? The family head treated me with boundless kindness..."

Inner City, Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Top-floor private room.

Qin Xiong's face twisted with rage as he smashed the redwood Eight Immortals table before him to pieces with one palm.

"That little bastard actually handed the Qin Family over to someone else."

"Since he has no sense of honor."

"Then don't blame me for having none either."

As he spoke, he turned to the person beside him and quickly whispered a few words.

The other man nodded.

Then he hesitated and said, "As for the order that came from the residence earlier, should you..."

"Go back."

Qin Xiong sneered. "How can I vent my rage if I don't go back and see it with my own eyes? And how else can I protect the Qin Family's vast estate?"