174: The two elders were nearing the end of their lives.

"Please speak, Senior!"

Ding Xiaoxue immediately restrained her smile, bowing respectfully with a solemn expression.

Mysterious Ink looked at her, a hint of gravity flashing in his small eyes.

"Although you have now broken through to the Golden Core Realm, during this period of the Sect's Mountain Closure (fengshan - mountain closure), remember, do not take even one step out of the Beast Taming Sect's mountain gate!"

"Ah?"

Ding Xiaoxue was stunned, somewhat puzzled.

"Why?"

"Because of your Physique."

Mysterious Ink's voice deepened.

"Yin Spirit Body."

"These three words are the ultimate tonic for certain individuals, possessing a fatal attraction."

"Especially... those things behind Sanhai City."

Ding Xiaoxue's face instantly turned pale.

She was exceptionally intelligent and immediately understood the meaning behind Mysterious Ink's words.

Sanhai City!

Now, these three words were a thorn in the hearts of everyone in the entire Beast Taming Sect!

"Your Physique holds unimaginable benefits for cultivators of the Yin Spirit Clan. Once they discover you, what do you think your fate will be?"

Mysterious Ink's tone was very calm, but Ding Xiaoxue shivered, a fine layer of cold sweat seeping from her back.

She had no doubt that if she fell into the hands of those people, her fate would definitely be even more miserable than death!

"Therefore, the safest place is to stay within this Beast Taming Sect."

Mysterious Ink slowly added.

"Preferably, stay by my side and don't go anywhere."

Upon hearing this last sentence, the fear in Ding Xiaoxue's heart immediately dissipated by more than half, replaced by a warm current.

She knew that Senior was protecting her.

"Mm!"

She nodded heavily, a smile returning to her face.

"I'll listen to Senior in everything!"

"Senior, you must be hungry, right? I'll go make you some food right away!"

With that, she bounced like a cheerful little butterfly, running towards the Small Courtyard.

Watching her retreating figure, Mysterious Ink shook his head helplessly.

This girl still had such a big heart.

However, this was also good.

The path of Cultivation was inherently full of thorns and slaughter; to retain a hint of innocence was truly not easy.

It closed its eyes again, its mind sinking deep into its consciousness.

A pale golden virtual panel, visible only to itself, quietly appeared.

"host: Mysterious Ink"

"Bloodline: Ancient Mysterious Dragon (Pseudo)"

"Tier: Fourth Tier Late Stage"

"experience points: 21,600,000 / 35,000,000"

"Divine Abilities: Profound Black Domain, Absolute Defense."

...Looking at the long string of experience points, Mysterious Ink's heart was calm.

More than two months had passed since it had luckily broken through to Fourth Tier Late Stage after devouring part of the Dragon essence that had escaped from the black Dragon outside Sanhai City last time.

According to the System's current growth rate of four experience points per second, these two months had accumulated over twenty million experience points for it.

It still needed thirteen to fourteen million more to Break through to Fourth Tier Peak.

Calculated, it would take approximately another two months.

"Alas, it's still too slow..."

Mysterious Ink sighed silently in its heart.

If it were in a time of peace, this amount of time would merely be a nap.

But now, powerful enemies surrounded them, and no one knew when Jia Wenmo and that mysterious Gray-robed Elder would come knocking.

Time had become unprecedentedly urgent!

However, there was no use in rushing.

All it could do was wait silently.

Waiting for Ye Feiyan to Break through, waiting for itself to become stronger... Soon, a rich aroma of food wafted from the Small Courtyard, whetting one's appetite.

"Senior, dinner's ready!"

Ding Xiaoxue walked out, beaming, carrying several exquisite small dishes and a large Jade Basin filled with fragrant beast meat.

Mysterious Ink's eyes instantly lit up.

It slowly crawled down from the bluestone, unceremoniously moving to the Jade Basin, opening its large mouth, and beginning to feast.

"Mm... not bad, not bad!"

"Girl, your cooking skills are truly getting better and better!"

Mysterious Ink praised indistinctly while eating.

Ding Xiaoxue sat beside it, smiling, propping her chin on one hand, watching Mysterious Ink eat with relish, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

For her, being able to do something for Senior was the greatest joy.

The Small Courtyard was, for a time, filled with warmth and harmony.

However, this tranquility was soon broken.

A figure hurriedly walked in from outside the courtyard, with a hint of respect and urgency in his expression.

The person who came was Lin Yao.

"Senior Mysterious Ink!"

Lin Yao quickly approached, first bowing respectfully.

Mysterious Ink didn't even lift its head, continuing to deal with the delicacies in the basin, merely giving a casual "Mm."

"What is it?"

"Reporting to Senior," Lin Yao glanced at the Quiet Room where Ye Feiyan was in seclusion, lowering his voice and saying, "Outside the mountain gate, someone from the Ye family has come to visit, specifically asking to see you and... Martial Uncle Ye."

"Someone from the Ye family?"

Mysterious Ink's movements finally paused.

Two kind and aged faces appeared in its mind.

They were Ye Feiyan's parents, The Two Elders who had raised it since it was young.

Calculating the time, they should be nearing the end of their Lifespan.

Thinking of this, a ripple inexplicably rose in Mysterious Ink's heart.

"Let them in."

It ordered faintly.

"Yes!"

Lin Yao acknowledged the order and quickly retreated.

Before long, he led a middle-aged steward, dressed in Ye family attire and looking sorrowful, back into the Small Courtyard.

As soon as the steward saw Mysterious Ink, he fell to his knees with a thud, his voice choked, tears flowing before he could speak.

"Old Ancestor Mysterious Ink!"

Mysterious Ink's brows furrowed slightly, and a sudden ominous premonition rose in its heart.

"Stand up and speak."

"What happened?"

The steward tremblingly stood up, took out a Jade Slip warmed by his body temperature from his Huai (huai - bosom), offered it with both hands, and said, sobbing uncontrollably:

"Old Ancestor..."

"The Old Master and Old Madam... they..."

"Their Lifespans are nearing their end, their great limit has arrived!"

"Before their demise, their... their only wish is to see Young Miss and you... one last time!"

Boom!

These few sentences, like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens, exploded in Mysterious Ink's mind!

Although it had long anticipated it, when this moment truly arrived, the sudden impact still squeezed its heart fiercely!

A slight tremor!

It was a bitterness, a sense of loss, a complex emotion that could not be described in words.

The Two Elders... are they leaving?

Those two old people who always liked to pat its head, chattering, treating it like their own son... ultimately, they still couldn't resist the erosion of time.

Mysterious Ink stared blankly at the Jade Slip, for a moment, even forgetting to take it.

The atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became incredibly heavy.

Even Ding Xiaoxue, who had been full of smiles just moments ago, now put away her smile, her eyes slightly red, feeling the profound sorrow that couldn't be dispelled.