“Immortal?” Upon hearing Jiang Xiaobai’s words, Zhou Bin chuckled: “According to the secular world, what we cultivate indeed aligns with immortality, but…” Continuing, Zhou Bin sighed and added: “But once you truly embark on this path, you’ll realize how distant and unattainable this immortality is!”

“Sigh, if I had the chance to choose again, I’d prefer to walk an ordinary life. From birth to death, it might be more challenging, but at least it comes from the heart and not like now… where many things are beyond my control!” Zhou Bin’s voice suddenly stopped, then he quickly laughed and patted Jiang Xiaobai’s shoulder: “Brother, don’t let my words affect you. You have backers; your path should be smoother!”

“I don’t have any backers!” Jiang Xiaobai replied with a bitter smile.

He did not even understand why he had been brought here. Perhaps it was out of pity for his severe illness? With a silent sigh, Jiang Xiaobai exhaled and then said: “This path might be difficult, but at least it’s better than my current state!”

As he spoke, a smile appeared on Jiang Xiaobai’s pale face, and he recited softly: “Thoughts continue endlessly in dreams, and this journey, leisurely, seems like ascending to immortality!”

“Anyway, I’ve made up my mind to follow this path!” At the end of his speech, his eyes shone with a fervent gleam. Having once died and lived again. Thirteen years of illness, thirteen years of torture; he persevered. No matter how difficult the path ahead may be, for him right now, it still represents hope, a beacon of light.

“Thoughts continue endlessly in dream, this journey, leisurely, seems like ascending to immortality!” Zhou Bin, hearing these words from Jiang Xiaobai, had a look of appreciation in his eyes and said: “I still don’t know your name, brother?”

“Jiang Xiaobai!” Jiang Xiaobai answered.

“Brother Jiang, the poem you just recited captures the essence beautifully!” Zhou Bin once again expressed his admiration: “Heh, it seems that at least in the secular world you were quite the scholar, huh?”

“No!” Jiang Xiaobai shook his head: “Just a sickly one!”

“A sickly one? What’s that?” Zhou Bin was momentarily puzzled, then he probably understood it meant someone frail because of illness and did not pursue the topic.

Indeed, Jiang Xiaobai looked very weak, and his hair had turned considerably white. In addition, during his unconscious state, he had fits of severe coughing. At times, blood even spilled from the corners of his mouth. Of course, this is also why he believed Jiang Xiaobai must have backers because such an ill person would be impossible for Yunjian Sect to accept.

With a silent sigh, Zhou Bin spoke words of comfort: “Brother Jiang, it’s fate that brought you here. If you can embark on the path of cultivation, perhaps your illness can be cured!”

“And, with your talent… heh, you might even become a Confucian cultivator!”

“A Confucian cultivator?” Jiang Xiaobai’s pale and handsome face showed puzzlement.

“Yes!” Zhou Bin said with an intrigued look: “Our Yunjian Sect has a Confucian Sword Ancestor who entered the path with his poetic talent, attractive without end. It’s because of his protection that our sect can remain in peace!”

Speaking of which, Zhou Bin paused: “However, it is rumored that the Confucian Sword Ancestor suffered an internal injury when attempting a breakthrough some time ago and is currently in seclusion!”

“Is that so?” Jiang Xiaobai was somewhat surprised.

“Um, but with the Confucian Sword Ancestor’s abilities, the seclusion should not take too long!” Zhou Bin said with a smile: “When your talent is recognized by our Confucian Sword Ancestor, I believe he will definitely take a liking to you!”

“In that case, Brother Jiang, you’ll soar to the heavens!”

“Borrowing your good words!” Jiang Xiaobai’s smile was unrestrained.

Zhou Bin no longer said much and led Jiang Xiaobai in a particular direction. On the way, Jiang Xiaobai took the opportunity to learn about the Spirit Beast Caretaking Place. Only then did he understand that the place was where the entire Yunjian Sect bred its spirit beasts, from the sect master and elders down to the ordinary disciples’ monsters, all of which were housed here.

“Big Brother Zhou, what’s the difference between monsters and spirit beasts?” Jiang Xiaobai asked curiously.

“There’s no real difference!” Zhou Bin explained: “It’s just whether they have been subdued or not!”

“I see!” Jiang Xiaobai realized.

With some hesitation, Zhou Bin still asked: “Brother Jiang, do you know why people often lack in the Spirit Beast Caretaking Place?”

“Hmm, I could guess!” Jiang Xiaobai spoke: “Probably bitten to death by those spirit beasts?”

Zhou Bin was surprised and looked at Jiang Xiaobai: “Oh, you’re not afraid?”

“Scared!” Jiang Xiaobai frankly admitted: “When I was on my way up the mountain, I was almost bitten to death by a beast!”

Zhou Bin looked even more surprised and asked: “Which mountain?”

“I’m not very sure! It was on the way here.” Jiang Xiaobai shook his head and briefly described his experience.

“Eh, you’re talking about the outer mountain range. There shouldn’t be any beasts haunting that area,” Zhou Bin laughed: “I suppose what you encountered must have been a regular wild animal!”

Jiang Xiaobai appeared puzzled. He remembered that Old Master Song spoke of a beast, and whatever he saw did not look like a regular wild animal. During his bewilderment, Zhou Bin’s voice suddenly called out: “We’ve arrived!”

Jiang Xiaobai lifted his head and noticed a cave mansion ahead. Zhou Bin led him to the entrance of the cave mansion, bowed, and respectfully announced: “Elder Huang, I have brought the newcomer for you!”

As Zhou Bin spoke, the door of the cave rippled and then opened. Following Zhou Bin inside, Jiang Xiaobai was led to the depths where he saw an elderly man sitting cross-legged. As Jiang Xiaobai surveyed, the elder opened his eyes. When their gazes met, Jiang Xiaobai’s mind went blank for a moment. Although he quickly recovered, he still felt slightly dizzy, making his already pale complexion even whiter.

“Quickly kneel!” Zhou Bin’s voice rang beside him.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai knelt down in front of the elderly man and said: “Jiang Xiaobai greets Elder Huang!”

The elder indifferently looked at Jiang Xiaobai and said: “From today onwards, you will be one of my beast caretakers!”

After speaking, the elder raised his hand and two pill bottles and a stone appeared out of thin air. Dropping them in front of Jiang Xiaobai, the elder continued: “The white bottle contains Detoxifying Pills. Swallow one, and you can sustain yourself for a day, there’s a thirty-day supply!”

“That purple bottle contains a Spirit Pill. Use the Spirit Pill along with that Spirit Stone to aid your cultivation!”

“These are your rewards for initially joining my custody!”

After this, Elder Huang Linyuan took out a book and threw it in front of Jiang Xiaobai and added: “This book is the Qi Refining Volume. You should cultivate well, and if you reach the second layer, you can become a formal disciple of mine, Huang Linyuan, and learn advanced beast taming arts!”

“Thank you, Elder Huang! May I ask if this Immortal Pill can cure my illness?” Jiang Xiaobai picked up everything and his eyes lit up. Perhaps due to excitement, his breathing became rough, and he couldn’t help but cover his chest and cough violently.

Elder Huang wrinkled his brows, looking slightly repulsed but still said: “Yesterday, when you were brought here, I have examined you!”

“Your illness is quite strange, I couldn’t identify the exact problem!”

“However, you don’t have to be too sad. As long as you diligently cultivate, I believe your condition should improve with the nourishment of spiritual energy!”

With that, Huang Linyuan added: “As for whether it can be completely cured, that depends on your own destiny!”

“Really?” Jiang Xiaobai initially felt disappointed when Elder Huang mentioned that he couldn’t diagnose his illness, but the latter’s words made him excited again. However, this also made him cough violently again.

“Um, the tasks in our Spirit Beast Caretaking Place will be introduced and arranged by Zhou Bin, and you may now leave,” said Huang Linyuan as he watched Jiang Xiaobai’s coughing with a frown of dislike.

Jiang Xiaobai did not dare to hesitate, stood up holding his chest, and followed Zhou Bin to the outside. When the two reached the entrance of the cave, they happened to encounter a woman walking towards them. The woman had an extraordinary temperament, and upon seeing Jiang Xiaobai, she was immediately surprised: “Oh, you’re awake!”

As she spoke, the woman saw the confusion on Jiang Xiaobai’s face, smiled, and explained: “Ah, you were brought up the mountain by me!”

Jiang Xiaobai became even more puzzled. He remembered that before he passed out, he saw a woman, but she didn’t look like this. However, despite his doubts, he still bowed and said, “Thank you, Miss!”

The woman giggled and took out a letter from her body and handed it to Jiang Xiaobai: “By the way, this letter is from your servant who asked me to give it to you!”

“Is it from Grandfather Song?” Jiang Xiaobai’s eyes flashed with joy, and he immediately took the letter, bowing once more: “Thank you, Miss!”

“Do you know anything else to say besides these words?” the woman asked.

Jiang Xiaobai was taken aback, his speechlessness showing as he pursed his lips. Having been a person of two lives, he had never been with a girl and truly lacked experience in dealing with them.

“Okay, I won’t tease you anymore. You should be on your way!” Seeing Jiang Xiaobai’s awkwardness, the woman couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh, watching the two leave before walking into the cave.

Inside the cave, Huang Linyuan sat cross-legged, and when the woman entered, he stood up and asked, “Miss Chu Yao, what brings you here?”

“My Master’s beast suffered a minor injury during this trip and is currently in the east district. Elder Huang, please take extra care of it!” Chu Yao said.

“Certainly!” Huang Linyuan nodded with a smile.

Chu Yao indicated that she was ready to leave, but then she suddenly thought of the outer mountain and the beast that injured Jiang Xiaobai, looking back at the elder and asking, “Elder Huang, does our sect have someone who raises white spirit beasts?”