Zhao Ruorui stared at Shen Qixi in astonishment.

The Thunderbird had launched a sneak attack, and he hadn’t even noticed!?

Yet this mortal had detected it first and even managed to capture the Thunderbird!

Neither noticing nor capturing it seemed like something Shen Qixi should have been capable of.

The Thunderbird was a demonic beast at the Foundation Establishment level, often appearing in groups.

When a single Thunderbird appeared, relying on its small size, it would frequently ambush its prey. The electricity generated by the flapping of its wings could paralyze a cultivator’s nerves.

And the moment a cultivator noticed it, the Thunderbird would let out a sharp cry, temporarily robbing the cultivator of their senses… Sometimes, life and death hung on that very instant.

Just now, the Thunderbird had silently appeared behind his neck—he had almost… Zhao Ruorui’s back was drenched in cold sweat.

“Shiniang, thank you,” Zhao Ruorui forced out after a pause.

Thunderbirds weren’t known for being overwhelmingly powerful. Despite being Foundation Establishment-level demonic beasts, cultivators could still kill them with spells, even if they were at a lower cultivation stage.

But Zhao Ruorui never expected Shen Qixi to wield spiritual energy with such skill.

That spell didn’t look like an ordinary wood-attribute technique—it seemed like a high-level one.

Had the Immortal Venerable taught her?

Shen Qixi ignored Zhao Ruorui, instead curiously teasing the Thunderbird with wood-attribute spiritual energy from her fingertips.

Zhao Ruorui couldn’t help but speak up: “Shiniang, this isn’t an ordinary little bird.”

“It’s a Thunderbird, a demonic beast. It’s best to kill it quickly.”

“Shiniang is handling things—don’t interrupt, junior,” Shen Qixi said.

Zhao Ruorui’s eyes widened.

Hmph!

He was just trying to help!

Fine!

[You have successfully captured the demonic beast Thunderbird.]

[Would you like to tame the Thunderbird?]

Tame?

Shen Qixi was surprised.

She wasn’t a beast tamer—could she really tame a demonic beast?

In this world, cultivators were divided into many types. Aside from the usual spell-casting cultivators, there were also specialized beast tamers, treasure appraisers, and so on.

But most of these required innate talent, something one was born with.

For example, beast tamers, upon awakening their spiritual energy, could sense a connection with animals, demonic beasts, and even divine beasts.

If an ordinary cultivator tried to forcibly tame a beast, not only would they fail, but they might also suffer backlash from the demonic beast.

Beast tamers were a rare talent, and sects specializing in beast taming were few and far between. Since arriving in the cultivation world, Shen Qixi had never met one.

Though… her usual range of activity was quite limited, so it wasn’t surprising she hadn’t encountered one.

[Host, you just used the Wood Softening Technique on the Thunderbird.]

[This has increased the likelihood of successful taming. You may attempt it.]

“But… isn’t the Wood Softening Technique a skill for turning plants into puppets? What does that have to do with taming demonic beasts?” Shen Qixi asked.

[Tsk tsk, the effects of skills can sometimes overlap—they’re not rigid.]

[What’s the big difference between plants and animals? Nothing.]

Was there really no difference?

This system was way too overpowered.

It seemed like it constantly ignored certain restrictions of this world.

[However, your current mastery of the Wood Softening Technique is minimal, insufficient to turn a target into a puppet.]

[So the system automatically adjusted it to a beast-taming mode.]

[The current success rate is 60%. You can give it a try.]

Well, she had nothing better to do. Shen Qixi chose to tame the Thunderbird.

[Attempting to tame the Thunderbird…]

[Please do not shift your focus away from the Thunderbird…]

[3, 2, 1…]

[Congratulations! You have successfully tamed the Thunderbird!]

Shen Qixi suddenly heard a sharp chirp!

She looked at the Thunderbird—its beak was tied shut, so it shouldn’t have been able to make a sound.  

Shen Qixi realized the Thunderbird was speaking to her through divine sense.  

It really had been tamed!  

“Master?” the Thunderbird asked cautiously.  

Before being tamed, as a demonic beast, the Thunderbird had wanted to attack humans.  

But after being tamed, it naturally felt attachment and affection toward its master.  

“Are there any Thunderbird flocks nearby?” Shen Qixi asked.  

“Yes, yes, yes!” the Thunderbird replied.  

Shen Qixi frowned.  

That meant she couldn’t stay in midair with Zhao Ruorui any longer.  

Though she trusted the protective spells Rong Xueci had left behind, she couldn’t just stand there as a target, could she?  

“Master, don’t send me away,” the Thunderbird suddenly pleaded.  

“Hm?” Shen Qixi responded patiently.  

The Thunderbird stared at her with its beady black eyes.  

Sniffle.

The human who tamed it was so gentle.  

“I was already an outcast, so I left to scout alone.”  

“If I go back, they’ll bully me.”  

Shen Qixi raised her finger, and the wooden vines binding the Thunderbird loosened. She gently stroked its feathers.  

The Thunderbird nuzzled her finger affectionately.  

Zhao Ruorui’s expression shifted from tension to shock to utter bewilderment.  

Why is this Thunderbird so attached to Shiniang!?

This is insane.

“There’s a Thunderbird flock nearby. We should leave,” Shen Qixi said to Zhao Ruorui.  

Zhao Ruorui nodded.  

When he snapped out of it, he suddenly wondered—why am I listening to Shen Qixi’s orders? 

“Husband, a Thunderbird flock is approaching. I’m sorry, but I have to move from this spot.”  

“If you want to regroup with me, please tell me your location.”  

Shen Qixi left a message for Rong Xueci using the communication artifact.  

Deep down, she didn’t expect Rong Xueci to respond.  

Rong Xueci was always good at one-sided communication.  

But sometimes, his solutions weren’t necessarily the best.  

She needed to try relying on herself.  

Listening to Shen Qixi’s words, Zhao Ruorui thought, For Shizun’s sake, it’s fine if I humor her.

“Shiniang, I know a safe place nearby. There aren’t many demonic beasts there because I already cleared them out,” Zhao Ruorui said.  

Shen Qixi looked at him warily, as if weighing the credibility of his words.  

Zhao Ruorui’s expression darkened. “You don’t trust me?”  

Shen Qixi said nothing.  

The arrogance on Zhao Ruorui’s face gradually faded.  

He remembered what he had done.  

And Shiniang… wasn’t the weak, useless mortal he had stubbornly believed her to be. She had even saved him.  

Finally, he said somewhat awkwardly, “Shizun is also in the secret realm right now. I wouldn’t dare do anything to you.”  

Zhao Ruorui was Rong Xueci’s disciple—he understood Rong Xueci.  

He had even mentioned that Rong Xueci would “kill his wife to prove his Dao”…  

Perhaps Zhao Ruorui could give her more information about Rong Xueci.  

It might help her think more clearly about her future with him.  

Shen Qixi followed Zhao Ruorui to the place he had mentioned.

Indeed, there weren’t many demonic beasts around.

“I wonder where Shizun went,” Zhao Ruorui muttered.

Shen Qixi fell into deep thought.

Why did Rong Xueci lie?

After a while, a flock of Thunderbirds soared past overhead.

“Chirp chirp…” The Thunderbird Shen Qixi had tamed hid in the collar of her robe, peeking out timidly.

[Host, you can store tamed demonic beasts in the Beast Space.]

[Demonic beasts can cultivate and improve their strength inside the Beast Space.]

Shen Qixi willed it, and the Thunderbird vanished.

“Shiniang…” Zhao Ruorui spoke up.

“What is it?” Shen Qixi frowned slightly.

“That Thunderbird disappeared,” Zhao Ruorui said.

Shen Qixi: “I put it away.”

Did she use a magical artifact? Zhao Ruorui wondered.

Who knows how many artifacts Shizun left her.

Not far away, a group of cultivators finished off the remaining Thunderbirds.

Facing an entire flock was no easy feat.

Panting heavily, they scanned their surroundings and spotted Zhao Ruorui and Shen Qixi.

“Fellow Daoists!”

“Fellow Daoists from Beichen Sect!”

Three cultivators hurried over.

“Could we take shelter here as well?”

“Fine,” Zhao Ruorui agreed.

With danger everywhere, sticking together was for the best.

The three cultivators sent a message, and soon after, a cultivator in purple robes arrived. “Exhausted… exhausted… Thankfully, the Immortal Venerable showed up.”

Shen Qixi looked up sharply.

“Hm?”

“A Qi Refining cultivator?” The purple-robed cultivator eyed Shen Qixi curiously.

Zhao Ruorui stepped in front of her and glared.

“You’re Zhao Ruorui, the Immortal Venerable’s disciple?”

Noticing the ice-attribute artifact on Zhao Ruorui’s wrist, the purple-robed cultivator recalled rumors of a young prodigy with supreme ice spiritual roots—Rong Xueci’s disciple, a rising star of the Zhao family. He smiled politely. “My apologies.”

“Was the Immortal Venerable just fighting alongside you?” Shen Qixi asked.

“Ah, yes!”

“The Immortal Venerable and I were amazing! We took down those frenzied demonic beasts! So strong!”

Shen Qixi blinked innocently. “Did the Immortal Venerable mention what he plans to do next?”

The purple-robed cultivator’s expression turned awkward.

He’d been too busy fleeing for his life to ask.

“The Immortal Venerable was busy communicating with his wife—he had no time for me,” the cultivator said, lifting his chin.

“Liar!” Zhao Ruorui suddenly seized the man by the throat, icy spiritual energy coiling around him. His voice dropped dangerously. “Are you real? Or an illusion?”

The cultivator trembled, utterly confused about what he’d said wrong.

Shen Qixi’s heart pounded erratically. Forcing a smile, she feigned curiosity. “What wife?”

“A silver-haired woman was traveling with the Immortal Venerable.”

“She wore a mask—couldn’t see her face.”

“The woman beside the Immortal Venerable… she’s his wife, right?” The cultivator gulped, suddenly realizing his blunder. This Qi Refining woman with the Immortal Venerable’s disciple… isn’t she the actual wife?

“Unless… she’s another woman the Immortal Venerable knows?”