CHAPTER 147: CHAPTER 147: FIGHTING SIDE BY SIDE (SECOND UPDATE)

Jiang Yuan originally didn’t plan to bring him along.

After all, he was just here to see if he could exploit a bug to rack up some attributes. Based on experience, it’s usually unlikely, but why not try—what if it works without spending money?

Then he thought since acquiring the contract pet, they hadn’t really fought side by side. They did need to build some rapport, and if they couldn’t win, they could always flee.

"She’s merely an obsession, so certain conditions have to be triggered." Waving his hand to signal Bai Yunqi to stand behind him, he loudly plotted, "Later when you see her stand up and say, ’Then let’s go,’ holding a duster..."

Bai Yunqi squinted his vertical pupils slightly, "Got it, I’ll give it my all to test her strength."

"No, be ready to run!" Correcting the contract pet’s reckless thought, Jiang Yuan, seeing his shocked pupils, advised sincerely, "If my paper talisman can trap you motionless, and she can sweep all the talisman to dust with one sweep of her duster, the gap is too large! Aren’t you capable of ranged skill attacks? Throw one as you run; you might gain some benefits."

With a fighting spirit reluctantly rising, Bai Yunqi’s face was full of questions, "If we can’t win the fight, what benefits can we gain?"

What ranged skill attack, though the concept seemed a little bizarre, he could still grasp the essence, but this "gain some benefits" from the Venerable Family, what could it mean?

"Is it merely an obsession?" He looked up to observe the nun, who harmonized with the environment again in meditation, pondering what level of cultivation it took to leave an obsession that was nearly indistinguishable from a real person yet maintained such immense power?

Preparing paper talismans and letting Bai Yunqi mimic his posture to ride the golden eagle backwards. Jiang Yuan first opened the trade to buy up any refresh items available, then signaled Bai Yunqi to get ready to run as he tapped the challenge button.

"Oh? You wish to contribute to this world? Admirable and commendable, let’s go then." Before the nun wielded her duster, Jiang Yuan spurred the golden eagle to flee and simultaneously hurled the Heaven-Burning Flame while having the paper talismans encircle and swarm the opponent!

The nun’s duster attack aimed straight ahead, whipped over.

The paper talismans hit by the duster’s golden light shattered instantly, but the latter half remained unaffected, roaring like tigers and wolves, the golden eagle screaming, and even the old bull charged with its horns desperately for a last strike;

Bai Yunqi, after all, being a Great Demon, although his realm had degraded, he still had numerous skills and rich combat experience. During the escape, he immediately noticed the range of the duster attack. Instantly, his snake tail brushed the ground, sweeping past, viciously slamming the nun’s legs with a tail swipe before she could retract her duster.

Everything happened within a very brief span.

Jiang Yuan only saw the flames and the duster’s golden light merge and extinguish in an instant, the flower-blooming grassland blown into disarray by a fierce wind, and then a substantial chunk of health disappeared from the elite monster’s health bar.

But it was merely this instant encounter that gave them the advantage under full preparation.

As the nun retracted her duster, the next second, her body emanated a myriad of lights, and the paper talismans on her turned into shreds, scattered like butterflies in the tumultuous wind.

"Your courage is commendable, youngsters, but your strength is somewhat lacking; this pet of yours is quite noteworthy. Properly nurtured, it shall achieve greatness in the future." The nun ceased her attack, tossed the duster over her arm bend, shook her head with a smile, "Go train for some more years; I see you’ve some potential, here is an Elixir to foster Good Karma."

In the Storage Bag lay two shining Blood Replenishing Pills, one marked with "For Contract Pet Use Only," indicating it boosts pet favorability and bond value when given.

[Expertly crafted Blood Replenishing Pill by Profound Taoist, use to permanently increase Life by 50]

"Thank you, Taoist!" Jiang Yuan beamed, leaving behind a trailing thanks. Both he and the contract pet had already sped out of the Ice Cave.

Bai Yunqi was still shocked by the immense power of just an obsession. When the cold wind from the snowy mountain hit, only then he realized, "Pet? Did she just call me your pet?!"

Feeling offended, the bright red crest on his head stood up, "Such audacity, to insult me!"

"Ah, why bicker seriously with an obsession?" Jiang Yuan quickly laughed it off, casually pulling the contract pet exclusive Blood Replenishing Pill from the Storage Bag, "Here, this is what I meant by gaining benefits. So, what do you think? Want to try it?"

A pure life energy wafted out, and Bai Yunqi’s attention was immediately drawn, "Is this what she meant by fostering Good Karma?"

The Elixir smelled so delightful; he sensed that eating it could leap his power significantly, possibly even extending his lifespan! Although outraged at being called "pet," having an Elixir as compensation could forgive a slip of the tongue.

Yet, there was only one such mild Elixir, and the Venerable Family actually wants to give it to me?

A bit inconceivable, Bai Yunqi’s emotions shifted from shock to anger to craving the Elixir, only a few heartbeats passing, while his horn spikes and clouded crest remained unsettled in place.

Jiang Yuan had already clicked to use, watching the red bar rise slightly, then extending it toward him when he didn’t take it, "Don’t worry, there’s no poison. This is a Blood Replenishing Pill, beneficial for you."

"R-Really for me?" The Elixir was already in his hand, yet he still felt a bit dazed.

This was a Life Energy-packed Elixir!

One of the most coveted Elixirs in the Cultivation Realm, sometimes fighting for such a tiny vitality-boosting Elixir could unleash torrents of bloodshed.

"Eat it quickly; there’s only this one for you to savor tonight. Tomorrow we’ll bring Wan Mingchuan and Yun Mo, to see if we can all snag some benefits!" Jiang Yuan felt fortunate for having stood firm last night. Not only could he farm attributes, but he also could farm them alongside his contract pet. If they could snag four Elixirs tomorrow to share, wouldn’t that be delightful indeed?

Deeply moved, Bai Yunqi added 100 to the favorability, ceremoniously thanked him, and only then swallowed the Elixir.

Jiang Yuan watched as the Elixir was barely swallowed down, the contract pet panel’s health bar nudged upward a bit, favorability rate clicking to four hearts directly.

If only there could be an Elixir like this each day to swallow—how wonderful that’d be! Bai Yunqi’s yearning fantasy sprouted, he wouldn’t mind being called a "pet" anymore. If even the nun’s obsession treated him as Venerable Family’s child, that’d be fine!

"Come back tomorrow!" He thanked Jiang Yuan again, then hurriedly rushed down the mountain to refine the Elixir’s potency.

At 3:15 in the early morning, the entire small courtyard fell into serene slumber.

In the Alchemy Room, two fresh Elixirs were finally produced!

"Wow, so fragrant!" Jiang Yuan clicked to collect the Elixirs, the Alchemy Furnace lid opened, and an aroma filled the entire small room.

[Foundation Establishment Pill: Aids Qi Refining Stage cultivators to break through, increasing the probability of successfully establishing a foundation. Efficacy does not stack with similar effect Elixirs; repetitive consumption is ineffective]

Well, expecting his apprentice to consume a few more to directly break through seemed hopeless.

Spent twenty Gold Coins from the shop to buy two exquisite little bottles for the Elixirs, Jiang Yuan looked at his balance and then at the tasks hanging; he impulsively decided to spend money!

After all, upon completing the charity order, he’d get two Three Pristine Ones Grass; he had just harvested another one in the Ice Cave. He could refine three more Foundation Establishment Pills anytime. But Spirit Plants are rare; he wanted to keep some to see what new Pill Formulas might require them, to avoid having recipes without the herbs.

Then just sell a Foundation Establishment Pill in exchange for Spirit Stones, spend money to complete tasks early!