Chapter 865: Chapter 865: Searching for Pets
"Master!" Ji Liuying saw Chen Guan emerge and immediately bowed respectfully.
In her heart, she had already decided that Chen Guan was the teacher Ji Changsheng mentioned. She even guessed that the ring was taken by the pet sent by Chen Guan.
However, Ji Liuying did not ask anything. She felt that whatever Chen Guan did, he had his reasons.
Although Chen Guan was indeed the teacher Ji Changsheng had spoken of, his situation was somewhat different from what Ji Liuying had imagined.
His true strength had not reached the Celestial King level, not even the Ninth Awakening, which was completely different from what Ji Liuying expected.
Ji Liuying thought Chen Guan deliberately approached her because he had been entrusted by King Ji to guard the Ji Family.
And she was the one chosen by Chen Guan. She would restore the Ji Family’s former glory under Chen Guan’s guidance.
Ji Liuying also believed that Chen Guan’s strength could certainly rival a Celestial King, or even excel in certain areas. Everything now was just a disguise.
All of Chen Guan’s concessions were just to give her time to grow.
"Liuying, I need to make a trip to Evil God Mountain," Chen Guan said.
Upon hearing this, Ji Liuying immediately said, "Master, the family has just arranged for me to train in the area near Evil God Mountain. I’ll escort you there."
"No need to ascend Evil God Mountain. I just need to find a Celestial Eye Evil Ghost, an Eight Awakenings Celestial Eye Evil Ghost." Chen Guan replied.
"If you just want to find a Celestial Eye Evil Ghost, you don’t necessarily have to go to Evil God Mountain. But it’s not easy to encounter one with Eight Awakenings; most are Nine Awakenings." Ji Liuying didn’t ask why Chen Guan wanted an Eight Awakenings Celestial Eye Evil Ghost, but thought for a moment and said, "I’ll accompany you, Master, to find it no matter what."
"Alright." Chen Guan nodded with a smile, not intending to explain further.
The two set out together. Before leaving the Ji Family city, four Ninth Awakening powerhouses arranged by the Ji Family approached Ji Liuying.
Now Ji Liuying was considered the Ji Family’s number one seed candidate; the results of her tests had greatly shocked the high ranks of the Ji Family.
Currently, the Ji Family holds her in high regard. To leave the Ji family’s territory, they provided her with top-tier security forces.
Ji Bei, Ji Nan, Ji Dong, and Ji Xi—these four were top bodyguards deliberately cultivated by the Ji Family. Perhaps their combat prowess wasn’t the strongest among those with Nine Awakenings, but in terms of protection ability, they were absolutely top-tier.
These people were cultivated by the Ji Family to protect important figures.
Originally, Ji Liuying didn’t have the qualifications for them to be deployed. Now things were different; the deployment of all four at once showed how much the Ji Family valued her.
To calculate it carefully, these four elders were in Ji Liuying’s great-grandfather’s generation.
They treated Ji Liuying like a treasure, yet Ji Liuying brought along someone fully armored, with even their face covered, which concerned them.
Initially, they didn’t agree to Ji Liuying bringing someone of unknown origin, but Ji Liuying was very persistent, stating this person was her self-invited teacher, yet couldn’t clearly explain the origins of this teacher.
According to the Ji Family’s regulations, such a person must not remain by Ji Liuying’s side.
Firstly because of Ji Liuying’s persistence, and secondly because she wasn’t originally a key seed cultivated by the Ji Family, just an unexpected outcome. Now, related matters concerning her hadn’t been arranged.
It’s not that there’s no time, but some resources were already allocated to other seeds. With Ji Liuying suddenly emerging, many matters became difficult to handle, and internal family resistance was formidable.
What Ji Liuying could receive currently wouldn’t be much, inevitably leading to some shortcomings.
Ji Liuying was quite content; at least now her matters and words still held sway.
Ji family’s four elders, north, south, east, and west, watched Chen Guan closely along the way, and the more they watched, the more they disliked him.
It was mainly because Ji Liuying was extremely respectful towards Chen Guan on the journey, always calling him Master, and acted as if she was a student valuing the apprenticeship bond, attending to everything for Chen Guan. She truly resembled a novice disciple.
Several elders couldn’t bear it. They had strong figures within the Ji Family, so there was no need to learn from an outsider of unknown origin. Besides, they looked down on those outside the Ten Great Families.
Initially, Ji Liuying didn’t refute them, but upon multiple repetitions, she sternly told them: "Before anyone was willing to teach me alone, it was he who taught me. Once a teacher, forever a father. I ask you elders to respect my teacher."
The elders were rendered speechless, having lived long enough to understand Ji Liuying’s words.
Ji Liuying was clearly saying: The Ji Family didn’t care about her before, nor did anyone favor her, with no additional care given. Now, they come and say these words and want to drive her teacher away—where’s their face?
The four elders said no more, but their dislike for Chen Guan intensified.
Ultimately, Ji Liuying was still the Ji Family’s genius, and a top-tier one at that. How could she acknowledge an outsider as a teacher? Moreover, this person was not a top powerhouse among the Ten Great Families.
They wanted to find an opportunity to showcase their own strength, to let Chen Guan know how strong the Ji Family’s true powerhouses were, and make him retreat in face of difficulty.
But who knew Chen Guan seemed like a shameless rogue, indifferent to whatever they said or did, as if he didn’t hear anything. He remained calm, uninterested in engaging with them, calmly enjoying Ji Liuying’s service, making the elders infuriated. They didn’t consider Chen Guan qualified to be Ji Liuying’s teacher.
Fortunately, Ji Liuying’s performance along the way made them increasingly delighted.
Ji Liuying’s skillful use of the Innate Eight Techniques had already surpassed these old-timers.
Ji Liuying couldn’t say it was taught by Chen Guan, otherwise the Ji Family would surely investigate Chen Guan thoroughly, and might even conflict with him, which Ji Liuying did not want to see, so she could only claim it was her own realization.
All of this had Chen Guan’s approval; Ji Liuying wasn’t trying to take credit for herself.
"Master, there is a Celestial Eye Evil Ghost up there, not sure if it’s at the Eighth Awakening, the disciple will go check it out first." Ji Liuying found a Celestial Eye Evil Ghost and immediately charged towards it on her mount.
The four elders from the East, West, North, and South did not step in to help with the battle; they were only responsible for Ji Liuying’s safety and would not intervene in Ji Liuying’s training.
They would only take action if unexpected situations occurred.
With Ji Liuying’s current abilities, even confronting a Ninth Awakening Secret God Celestial Eye Evil Ghost, she wouldn’t die instantly. Moreover, this one was obviously an Unparalleled Celestial Eye Evil Ghost.
Ji Liuying was familiar with the data on Celestial Eye Evil Ghosts and engaged in battle, even gaining the upper hand.
"Master, this one isn’t an Eighth Awakening Celestial Eye Evil Ghost; it should be a Ninth Awakening. Do you need it?" Ji Liuying forced out three Secret Collections from the Celestial Eye Evil Ghost and confirmed its level, loudly asking Chen Guan.
"No need." Chen Guan shook his head directly.
Ninth Awakening Celestial Eye Evil Ghosts, even if turned into pets, he couldn’t summon them.
Ji Liuying then moved to slay the Celestial Eye Evil Ghost. An Eighth Awakening defeating a Ninth Awakening wasn’t difficult for the Ji Family’s top talents, especially since Celestial Eye Evil Ghosts were Secret Spirits they were familiar with.
Throughout the journey, Ji Liuying was helping Chen Guan find Celestial Eye Evil Ghosts, even changing the original itinerary to go to areas where Celestial Eye Evil Ghosts were more likely to appear.
This made the four old gentlemen increasingly displeased, and Ji Nan couldn’t help but speak, "What are you looking for an Eighth Awakening Celestial Eye Evil Ghost for?"
"To catch one as a pet." Chen Guan casually replied.
"Couldn’t a Ninth Awakening be used as a pet?" Ji Nan asked again.
"No, I can only summon Eighth Awakening pets." Chen Guan said.
The old gentlemen had their doubts initially, but now hearing Chen Guan admit it himself, they regarded him even less.
Why should an Eighth Awakening cultivator be the master of the Ji Family’s Eighth Awakening talent?
As the Ji Nan elders were contemplating how to drive this mysterious person away from Ji Liuying, they heard Ji Liuying’s joyful voice from the front, where she was still battling a Celestial Eye Evil Ghost.
"Master, this Celestial Eye Evil Ghost is definitely Eighth Awakening." Ji Liuying fought while retreating, leading the Eighth Awakening Celestial Eye Evil Ghost in this direction.
"Liuying, you should back off." Chen Guan beckoned Ji Liuying to retreat, then summoned the Ten Thousand Poison Insect Emperor forth.
The Ten Thousand Poison Insect Emperor was now at the Eighth Awakening Level 77, far exceeding Chen Guan’s level. The mountain’s Primordial Energy proved too nourishing, even a Secret Spirit like the Ten Thousand Poison Insect Emperor, which grew only with Poison Primordial Energy, was pushed to Level 77.
Ji Nan and the others saw Chen Guan summon a delicate-looking Secret Spirit, akin to a Flower Fairy, and awaited to see how he would use this dainty Secret Spirit to kill the Celestial Eye Evil Ghost.
An Unparalleled quality Celestial Eye Evil Ghost, though not as terrifying as a Celestial Eye Evil God, wasn’t easily dealt with either.
Beside those pupil techniques that could drive one to madness, its physical strength was formidable, adept at close-quarters combat, and enhanced by the Evil Ghost Possession Secret Law, further boosting their physique.
Though not an Undying Body, breaking their defense and killing them wasn’t an easy feat.
Ji Liuying managed to defeat a Celestial Eye Evil Ghost across levels due to meticulous preparations and targeted abilities and secret treasures.
Chen Guan summoned a Secret Spirit Pet that seemingly wasn’t effective in close combat; it probably couldn’t breach the Celestial Eye Evil Ghost’s defense, probably utilizing the Secret Law to kill it.
To their surprise, the dainty-looking Ten Thousand Poison Insect Emperor merely glanced at the Celestial Eye Evil Ghost, and before it could charge no more than a few steps forward, it directly dropped dead.
"What ability did that Secret Spirit use?" The group of Ji Nan were stunned; they hadn’t discerned how the Celestial Eye Evil Ghost died.
While still puzzled, they saw Chen Guan reach out and pull over a fluffy Secret Spirit, which resembled a panda-like small raccoon bear but with somewhat off-coloration.
The next second, they saw the small raccoon bear embrace its head with its paws, exerting power towards the Celestial Eye Evil Ghost’s corpse, emitting a Secret Realm halo resembling a yin-yang fish.
"Damn... A Seventh Awakening small raccoon bear..." Ji Bei couldn’t help but exclaim, and the other three old gentlemen’s eyes nearly popped out.
The small raccoon bear’s ability was strong, but its innate aptitude was too poor, and many powerhouses from the Ten Great Families expended countless Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, yet at most, they cultivated small raccoon bears to the level of the Fourth or Fifth Awakening, rarely reaching the Sixth Awakening.
Chen Guan’s small raccoon bear unexpectedly reached the Seventh Awakening, even these old Ji Family relics found it unprecedented.
A Seventh Awakening small raccoon bear meant it had the ability to transform the dead Secret Spirits from the Great Cave Heaven into pets; it was simply a bug-like ability, akin to a Treasure Basin, endlessly dredging out various rare pets.
