Since it had already become reality, Hou Niao had no choice but to face the problem squarely. Continuing to treat her with hostility now would do nothing but make trouble for himself.
So he had to act friendlier, first dismantling the little peacock's wariness, then finding the right time, the right setting, and the right person to foist this burden onto.
"We're going to Anhe Palace, the headquarters of the Anhe Daoist Sect. There are over a thousand cultivators there, including many envoys from the upper realms who, like you, smuggled themselves here through Hell Star. Nineteenth Aunt, you can look down on the Jin Xiuzhen Realm, but you can't underestimate those people. That's why I told you that you absolutely mustn't reveal your true form. Even the Peacock Clan can't take the traditions behind them lightly, can it?"
The little peacock snorted, but her tone was noticeably less forceful than before. Clearly, she knew how formidable they were.
"Which ones?"
"Taiqing, Yuqing, Shangqing; Taixuan, Yellow Court, Zixiao; Hunyuan, Chisu, Guangling; Dafang, Zhouyi, Dongyuan, Yunji. You've heard your elders mention them, haven't you, Nineteenth Aunt?"
The little peacock eyed him suspiciously. "All you know how to do is frighten me with those names. They each have their own traditions, so why would they all gather here?"
Hou Niao sighed. "I'll explain later. That's also why I've stayed here. But what I want to know is, did you meet any of them on Hell Star?"
The little peacock shook her head repeatedly. "I sneaked in. Grandpa Lingbao let me in through the back door, probably during the last few days before the Spatial Passage opened. So I don't know anyone, and no one knows me."
Hou Niao nodded. This Medicine King Cauldron certainly knew the ways of the world. So the