100: Banquet Incident

Xiao Qinghan breathed a sigh of relief, quietly glancing at Lin Feng, who stood beside her with a calm expression. Seeing that he seemed unaffected, the slight embarrassment in her heart slowly subsided. Helpless yet amused, she allowed herself to be pulled forward by Yan Yuerong.

Yan Xingyuan accompanied Lin Feng by his side, introducing the layout of Hundred Beasts Mountain and some common types of Spirit Beasts.

He pointed to a valley in the distance enveloped in a halo of light: "That is the 'Spirit-Nurturing Valley'. The environment inside is unique and most suitable for the breeding and habitation of gentle Spirit Beasts. The core Spirit Beast cubs for this grand ceremony are kept there."

Lin Feng looked in the direction he pointed and nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the valley. Spiritual light swirled at the valley entrance, where a few Hundred Beasts Mountain Disciples could be vaguely seen standing guard. Everything appeared orderly.

Yan Yuerong was arm-in-arm with Xiao Qinghan, pointing to a snow-white Little Beast with a single horn on its forehead not far away. Just as she was about to introduce it, she saw the Little Beast, which had been grazing on Spiritual Plant, suddenly lift its head. It twitched its wet nose twice, as if it had smelled something that attracted it.

The next moment, to everyone's surprise, it trotted toward the slowly approaching Lin Feng. It gently rubbed its soft horn against his hand hanging by his side, emitting a purring sound from its throat, appearing exceptionally gentle and obedient.

Yan Yuerong's eyes widened instantly: "Oh my. Th-this is a 'Moon-Gazing Rhino' cub. They are the most gentle and spiritual by nature, and they especially love to get close to Cultivators who possess pure Wood-element spiritual power... B-but it is actually being so proactively affectionate toward you?"

She looked at the exceptionally affectionate Little Beast, then at the calm-faced Lin Feng. "It has never been this... this enthusiastic toward strangers."

Beside her, Xiao Qinghan was also slightly stunned, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes. She was well-versed in beast taming and knew deeply that the Moon-Gazing Rhino was a highly spiritual Spirit Beast, especially sensitive to Qi. It was extremely rare for it to be so unreservedly affectionate toward someone it was meeting for the first time.

Even the usually composed Yan Xingyuan had a flash of astonishment in his eyes. He stepped forward, carefully observing the Little Beast rubbing its head against Lin Feng's palm, then looked at Lin Feng: "Junior Brother Lin... to be favored so much by a Moon-Gazing Rhino is truly rare." As the Young Lord of Hundred Beasts Mountain, he had seen countless interactions between Spirit Beasts and Cultivators, but such natural and rapid intimacy was definitely not ordinary.

Lin Feng felt the warm touch from his palm and the sense of natural intimacy conveyed by the Little Beast, yet his expression remained calm. He raised his hand, gently stroking the Moon-Gazing Rhino's horn, and said in a low voice: "Perhaps it is a coincidence."

The Little Beast narrowed its eyes in enjoyment and rubbed even more happily.

Yan Yuerong looked at the enjoying Moon-Gazing Rhino, then at the unflappable Lin Feng, and couldn't help but lean in to whisper to Xiao Qinghan: "Sister Qinghan... your Junior Brother seems a bit impressive, doesn't he...?"

Xiao Qinghan did not answer, only looking at Lin Feng's profile, her eyes flickering slightly, lost in thought.

Yan Xingyuan gave Lin Feng a thoughtful look before resuming his gentle smile: "Junior Brother Lin is being too modest. Being so compatible with a Spirit Beast is rare. Please, follow me; there are a few more quite peculiar Spirit Beasts ahead for you to see."

The group continued walking deeper inside. Yan Yuerong remained enthusiastic, introducing everything they saw along the way. Xiao Qinghan was also drawn back in, whispering with Yan Yuerong about beast-taming techniques and nodding from time to time.

Lin Feng followed silently, his gaze calmly sweeping over each peculiar Spirit Beast. Most of the Spirit Beasts appeared full of vitality and were well cared for.

However, when passing an area where several large and seemingly irritable "Rock-Armored Beasts" were kept, his footsteps paused slightly.

What radiated from those Rock-Armored Beasts, which were constantly pawing the ground and breathing heavily, was not pure wild restlessness, but rather mixed with a trace of... indescribable anxiety and pain.

This feeling was extremely weak and fleeting, quickly covered up by their deafening neighs.

Almost simultaneously, Xiao Qinghan beside him also frowned slightly, her gaze lingering on those Rock-Armored Beasts for a moment longer, before she whispered to Yan Yuerong: "Yuerong, these Rock-Armored Beasts... seem unusually restless? Is it like this usually?"

Upon hearing this, the smile on Yan Yuerong's face faded slightly, and she sighed: "Yes, I don't know what has been going on lately. Several of the big guys in the beast-taming arena have become a bit irritable and difficult to tame. Father and several Elders have put in a lot of effort. Perhaps it is... because they are approaching their breeding season?"

Her tone was filled with uncertainty, but she quickly raised a smile again: "But don't worry, with the Restriction in place, they won't be able to run out."

Xiao Qinghan nodded and did not ask further. She was skilled in beast taming, and her perception of Yao Beast emotions far exceeded that of ordinary people. The anxiety she felt just a moment ago did not seem to be explained by simple breeding season restlessness.

Subsequently, Yan Xingyuan led them to an open-air banquet venue. Many Cultivators who had come to attend the gathering had already gathered here, clinking cups and chatting happily.

Hundred Beasts Mountain Disciples, dressed in uniform attire, wove through the tables, serving spiritual fruits and fine wine.

The banquet atmosphere was lively. In the central open space, Hundred Beasts Mountain Disciples occasionally led out well-trained Spirit Beasts to perform, drawing bursts of applause.

At the main seat, Hundred Beasts Mountain Sect Master Yan Shi wore a smile, raising his glass to exchange greetings with guests from all sides.

Xiao Qinghan was also drawn to a "Flame-Tailed Fox" performing a fire-walking act, but as she watched, her delicate brows furrowed slightly.

The Flame-Tailed Fox's movements appeared agile, but at critical moments, they always revealed a sense of stagnation, and the depths of its eyes lacked the lively spirit that a Spirit Beast should have.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became even more heated. Just then, a Hundred Beasts Mountain Elder stepped onto the stage with a flushed face and announced loudly: "Next, I invite all Fellow Daoists to observe a third-rank 'Shadow Leopard' that our sect has recently tamed. This beast is as swift as lightning and hard to tame; it took a great deal of effort for our sect."

Two Disciples cautiously pushed a huge iron cage into the center of the venue. Inside the cage, a pitch-black, leopard-like Yao Beast was growling, its scarlet eyes scanning the surrounding crowd.

The Elder formed a hand seal, and a beam of spiritual light shot into the cage, seemingly attempting to control it for the demonstration.

However, upon being stimulated by the spiritual light, the Shadow Leopard not only failed to act according to the instructions but instead let out a roar, its eyes instantly turning blood-red.

It began to smash into the iron cage frantically, and the specially made cage bars emitted a "creaking" sound, unable to bear the weight.

"Not good! Quickly reinforce the Restriction." The Elder's expression changed, and he shouted hurriedly.

Several Disciples immediately stepped forward, frantically casting various spells to reinforce the cage. However, the Shadow Leopard seemed to have completely lost its reason, its power surging, and it slammed into the cage with a violent force.

"Boom!" A corner of the cage door was forcibly smashed open, and a black shadow shot out, lunging straight at the nearest crowd.

"Ah. Run!" "Stop it." The guests exclaimed in alarm, retreating one after another.

Several Hundred Beasts Mountain Disciples hurriedly unleashed their Magical Artifacts to intercept it, but they were easily knocked aside by the Shadow Leopard.

Sect Master Yan Shi stood up from the main seat, his face grave, and shouted sternly: "Take it down. Do not harm the guests."

In the end, it took two Elders with higher cultivation levels working together to barely subdue the Shadow Leopard again with a containment formation and drag it away.

The Elder, covered in sweat, repeatedly bowed and apologized to the frightened guests: "Everyone, you have been frightened. Please forgive us. This beast's wild nature has not been fully removed; it is our sect's failure in taming..."

However, during the chaos just now, Xiao Qinghan, relying on her beast-taming instincts, had taken the opportunity to get a little closer.