Chapter Twenty-One: The Supreme Treasures of the Six Realms

“Hm?”
The Gold-Gulping Beast hurriedly lowered its head in apology.

“My cousin entrusted you with something—be sure to handle it carefully and make a good job of it.”

Clapping its chest in assurance, the Gold-Gulping Beast declared, “Second Master Xue’s business—I’ll give it my all.”

“Though you are a spirit beast, there is some kindness in your heart. Those minor flaws...” Jiang Lan glanced at the creature’s mouthful of golden teeth, which nearly blinded her, “...are no great matter. Stay here in this monastery for now.”

As if receiving a royal pardon, the Gold-Gulping Beast prostrated itself in gratitude, so moved that it immediately became rather cheeky, sprawling at Jiang Lan’s feet.

“You have no trusted servant by your side, Great Immortal. If you don’t mind, I would be honored to serve you.”

The beast had its calculations. That day at the Duke of Wei’s residence, it had merely passed by and sensed the aura of precious treasures within. It had gone in on a whim, only to be discovered, and before it could escape, had been thoroughly beaten by the person before it and relieved of many treasures—a memory that still pained it deeply.

After all, it had cultivated for over a thousand years and was a Gold-Gulping Beast that had touched the threshold of immortality. Whether immortal or monster, anyone with eyes could tell at a glance.

But this person before it—no matter how it looked, it could discern nothing. Just an ordinary mortal, not a Daoist, young in years—yet possessed of such divine power.

Jiang Lan, face full of distaste, promptly kicked the round, plump thing away from her feet.

“Have you ever looked in a mirror?”

The Gold-Gulping Beast bore a likeness to a toad, but always insisted it was a descendant of the Golden Toad.

Even if it were a Golden Toad, that species still ranked among the top ten ugliest monsters.

A case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Producing a small bronze mirror, the kind women used, from who knows where, the beast gazed at its own reflection. “Great Immortal has a discerning eye! I am the handsomest in my entire village.”

Seeing the greasy residue on its comb, Jiang Lan shuddered. “Perhaps you should go down the mountain and have your eyes checked?”

“My eyes? Which pair do you mean, Great Immortal?”

Looking at the wide face crowded with eyes and that gaping mouth, Jiang Lan regretted ever asking it to show its true form.

“Better change back to your former appearance.”

The Gold-Gulping Beast didn’t hesitate, instantly transforming back, though it remained fixated on the question of which eyes.

Surveying the pile of tribute at her feet, Jiang Lan couldn’t help but ask, “With your love of money, how have you managed to stay in a temple for so long?”

The Gold-Gulping Beast could only sigh. “Great Immortal, you don’t know what it’s been like recently. All sorts of powerful monsters have come out—flying in the sky, swimming in the sea, roaming the earth. Any one of them could crush me with a finger. This place may be austere, but at least it’s safe!”

“For us Gold-Gulping Beasts, the greatest taboo is having riches but no life.”

Jiang Lan said nothing, drawing from her sleeve a fox-shaped jade pendant. The green jade glimmered with a soft, mysterious light—an extraordinary spiritual object even in all Six Realms.

The Gold-Gulping Beast’s eyes lit up at the sight of the treasure in her hand. It was this very jade that had first drawn it, leading to that memorable thrashing.

“Great Immortal, though I don’t know its origins, by the look of it, that jade must be a peerless treasure of the Six Realms.”

Jiang Lan thought to herself, of course it is—her grandfather had worn it for countless millennia.

“You say monsters are running rampant outside?”

The beast nodded vigorously. “All sorts, Great Immortal. I was lucky to make it back alive.”

In its eyes, though the person before it seemed nothing more than a mortal with no magical cultivation, there was an uncanny power about her, surely the reincarnation of some immortal who despises monsters.

But the beast was wrong. Jiang Lan—or rather, Yin Xun—had never been a good person.

“Do you know where the trouble started?”

The Gold-Gulping Beast hesitated, glanced around, then steeled itself.

“I heard the Demon King has vanished!”

Jiang Lan’s heart gave a jolt. News spread so quickly?

The beast sat down. “Great Immortal, you don’t know—our current Demon King is incredibly lazy. My great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, even after ten thousand years of worship, never saw him once.”

“He never appeared. If not for the presence of the soul stone, everyone would have thought the gods wiped him out.”

“I only learned after escaping some powerful monsters recently that the Demon King’s soul stone suddenly went dark—no warning at all. The demon realm is in chaos.”

“But then there are rumors the king is merely missing. No one really knows the truth.”

The Gold-Gulping Beast looked up at the eaves. “It’s a mess out there. Here, at least, it’s safe.”

Jiang Lan also gazed at the ancient, venerable monastery, bathed in Buddhist light. This beast had never harmed a soul, bore no scent of blood. Buddhism was ever merciful, and thus offered its protection.

Long years spent among monks had left it imbued with Buddhist aura. With diligent cultivation, it might even reach the rank of earth immortal.

“Are there powerful monsters near Jiankang?”

“Yes,” the beast nodded. “And not just a few—they’re formidable.”

Jiang Lan nodded, her mind clear.

“Do you know of someone called Aunt Bai?”

Eyes widening, the beast exclaimed, “Great Immortal, you know Aunt Bai?”

Jiang Lan shook her head—she’d only heard the name yesterday.

The beast sighed. “You really should visit her. Aunt Bai’s only been here a decade or so, but her strength is not to be underestimated. It’s because of her that the monsters outside Jiankang dare not act rashly.”

“Is she truly so powerful?” For a monster to keep a whole host of powerful spirits in check, Jiang Lan felt she ought to remember such a being—unless that person was not a monster at all.

“She’s formidable, absolutely!” The beast, still wearing Master Kongkong’s compassionate face, babbled on at length.

After a time, Jiang Lan could only conclude that Aunt Bai was, as her name suggested, a woman—her magical strength unclear, but no doubt impressive.

Recalling her sister’s message, Jiang Lan gave a word of advice. “With great monsters about, the Astronomical Bureau in Jiankang won’t stand idly by. Most of them don’t care about good or evil, only whether one is human or monster. If you meet any good-hearted ones, and can help without revealing yourself, do so. After all, you are of the same kind.”

Of the same kind—the Gold-Gulping Beast savored the words. Same kind? Which kind? Gold-Gulping Beasts?

Could she mean the monsters?

By the time it came to, Jiang Lan was nowhere to be found.

Clapping in delight, the beast exclaimed, “The Great Immortal is truly remarkable—coming and going without a trace. Wonderful, truly wonderful!”

But Jiang Lan had nothing like such speed—nowadays, her mortal eyes found even walking a chore.

As the strange wind swept her up, Jiang Lan lay at its center, still seeking a more comfortable position.

At last, she arrived atop a distant peak, the black wind coming to a halt.

Jiang Lan landed with a thud from just over three feet up. Not far, but the ground was rough and pebbled, and the pain was sharp.

She silently cursed the spirit for its trouble.

Nearby, the black wind twisted into a small tornado. From its eye stepped a tall man in black robes, holding a black folding fan—faceless.

No, perhaps it was simply that no one had ever seen his face.