2: Isn't that the black snake that even a dog wouldn't want?

When Ye Feiyan walked out of Spirit Beast Valley with Mysterious Ink, it was no surprise that she immediately attracted everyone's attention.

After all, Ye Feiyan's identity was too special.

She was once detected to possess a Heaven Rank Spiritual Root, and was directly recognized as a goddaughter by the current Clan Chief of the Ye Family, making her a qilin child rarely seen in the entire Ye Family for a hundred years.

Unfortunately, three years ago, an accident damaged her Spiritual Root, causing her Cultivation to regress. She fell from the clouds into the dust, becoming the 'most regrettable' wasted person in the Ye Family's eyes.

Now, this former Prodigy, at the most important Spirit Beast contract ceremony, did not choose those Crimson Flame Tigers or Azure Luan with powerful Bloodlines, but instead chose a dying little black snake that looked like it could perish at any moment.

This undoubtedly became a huge joke.

"Look! Isn't that Ye Feiyan? What is she carrying in her hand?"

"A snake? Hahaha, is this the Spirit Beast our former number one Prodigy chose? This snake probably can't even beat my pet dog!"

"Tsk tsk, she's really given up. She became a useless person who can't Cultivate, so she found an equally short-lived useless Spirit Beast. How fitting!"

Several Ye Family Disciples who had just contracted powerful Spirit Beasts and were full of vigor gathered together, pointing at Ye Feiyan and Mysterious Ink, openly mocking them without restraint.

Their voices were neither too loud nor too soft, but just clear enough to reach everyone's ears.

Mysterious Ink, lying on Ye Feiyan's arm, could clearly feel that the surrounding gazes were filled with disdain, ridicule, and schadenfreude.

A surge of anger rose in his heart.

It was fine if these people mocked him, as his current appearance was indeed not presentable. But why did they humiliate Ye Feiyan like this?

No matter what, she was now his nominal master, the one who gave him new hope.

However, to Mysterious Ink's surprise, Ye Feiyan's expression showed no change in the face of this overwhelming malice.

Her deep eyes were as still as an ancient well, as if those harsh taunts were just a few flies buzzing in her ears, not worth any emotional fluctuation from her.

She simply took a step and walked directly towards home, leaving those vulgar words far behind her.

Mysterious Ink was somewhat puzzled, but soon, a subtle yet powerful Divine Thought fluctuation quietly entered his mind.

It was Ye Feiyan's voice, carrying a hint of disdain and arrogance.

"They're just a bunch of short-sighted fools, no need to pay them any mind."

"They think that with my Spiritual Root damaged, I have no hope in this life? How laughable."

"As a reborn empress, the Heaven-Defying Cultivation Technique secret arts in my mind number in the tens of millions! A mere Spiritual Root injury is nothing; give me some time, and reshaping a Divine Grade Spiritual Root will not be difficult. By then, the entire Ye Family will tremble because of me."

These words were filled with unparalleled confidence and domineering aura!

Mysterious Ink's mind was greatly shaken.

reborn empress?!

He instantly understood why Ye Feiyan always had a calmness and indifference that didn't match her age, and why she could face humiliation with such composure.

It turned out that within this young girl's body resided a powerful Soul that once looked down upon the world and was a Dominator of all beings!

For such an existence, the mockery of these Ye Family Disciples was indeed no different from the chirping of ants.

Understanding this, the anger in Mysterious Ink's heart also subsided.

He quietly lay on Ye Feiyan's arm, silently absorbing the experience points that the System was gaining every second, while developing a strong curiosity about this new master... Ye Feiyan's home was in a rather secluded courtyard within the Ye Family mansion.

The courtyard was not large, but it was well-maintained. In a few cultivated herb gardens, some common herbs were planted, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

Before even entering the door, a gentle voice came out.

"Is Feiyan back?"

The courtyard door was pushed open, and out walked a middle-aged woman dressed in a simple hairpin and cloth dress. Her face was kind, and upon seeing Ye Feiyan, a warm smile immediately appeared on her face.

Immediately after, a burly, dark-skinned middle-aged man also walked out of the house, holding a hoe in his hand, evidently just returned from the fields.

These were Mother Ye and Father Ye.

Their gazes immediately fell upon Mysterious Ink on Ye Feiyan's arm.

Mysterious Ink's heart tightened.

He had already prepared for looks of disdain. After all, even those Prodigy Disciples looked down on him, let alone these parents who hoped their daughter could contract a powerful Spirit Beast to change her fate?

However, the next scene once again exceeded his expectations.

"Oh, what a cute little snake!" Mother Ye saw Mysterious Ink, and instead of disdain, her eyes showed a hint of affection. "Completely black, but its eyes are so bright, truly spirited."

"Ahem, dear, this is a Spirit Beast, not a pet." Father Ye coughed, correcting her. But his gaze towards Mysterious Ink was also full of kindness and gentleness. "Feiyan, is this the contracted Spirit Beast you chose? Very good, very good."

There was not a trace of disdain, nor a single word of disappointed questioning.

There was only the purest acceptance and welcome.

Mysterious Ink was completely stunned.

He could feel that the couple's kindness was genuine.

This formed an incredibly stark contrast with the disdain of the Disciples in Spirit Beast Valley, allowing a warm current to quietly flow through his cold heart.

"Quick, come in and sit. You must be hungry after a day of traveling. I've prepared delicious food for you and... this new companion." Mother Ye greeted them warmly.

The dining table was laden with rich dishes.

Although they were just home-cooked meals, for Mysterious Ink, they were a rare delicacy.

Mother Ye even specially prepared a bowl of minced meat porridge cooked with Spirit Rice for him, with some herbs added to nourish Qi and blood.

Mysterious Ink ate heartily without ceremony.

His current body was too weak and urgently needed energy replenishment.

After finishing a bowl of minced meat porridge, he could clearly feel a warm current flowing through his limbs and bones; his originally weak body seemed to gain a few points of strength.

After the meal, Ye Feiyan took Mysterious Ink to her room and stayed alone.

"I'm going to do a Family mission, and I might be away for a few days." She looked at Mysterious Ink, her tone still cool, but it seemed a little softer than before.

"You can stay here with peace of mind; my parents will take good care of you."

Mysterious Ink nodded, indicating understanding.

Ye Feiyan was silent for a moment, seemingly weighing her words, then slowly began, "You don't have to feel inferior because of your Innate deficiency. All things have spirits; even ants can shake a tree, and a snake may not necessarily fail to become a Dragon."

"There are many late bloomers in the world; a temporary setback is nothing. Remember, as long as you are alive, there are infinite possibilities."

After speaking, she seemed to feel that she had said too much today, and a trace of unnaturalness flashed across her cool face.

But her words, like a thunderclap, exploded in Mysterious Ink's heart!

These words had far exceeded the scope of what a 'temporary master' should say to a 'disposable tool'.

This was more like... encouragement?

Mysterious Ink stared at her blankly, momentarily at a loss for how to react.

And Ye Feiyan's subsequent action completely stunned him.

She took out a small cloth bag from her bosom and placed it in front of Mysterious Ink. When the bag was opened, inside were ten crystal-clear stones emitting pure Spiritual Qi.

Spirit Stones!

A full ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

Mysterious Ink's snake pupils suddenly constricted!

Although he had only recently Transmigrated, he had learned about the currency System of this world from the conversations of other Spirit Beasts.

Spirit Stones were the most basic and most important Cultivation resource for cultivators.

In the Ye Family, even a respected Elder's monthly salary was only ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

And Ye Feiyan's parents were just Mortals without Cultivation, living by farming a few meager fields and herb gardens.

These ten Spirit Stones were probably all the profit they could accumulate from an entire harvest season of hard work!

Such a huge sum, she actually just casually gave it to him, this 'short-lived' Wasted Snake?

"Take these; the Spiritual Qi contained within them might be beneficial to your body." Ye Feiyan pushed the Spirit Stones towards him, her tone calm.

"No, I cannot accept them!"

Mysterious Ink refused immediately with Divine Thought, without thinking.

What a joke!

He had the The God of Survival System, getting stronger every minute and second, so he didn't need these Spirit Stones at all.

And these ten Spirit Stones, for Ye Feiyan, this former Prodigy with a 'damaged Spiritual Root', their importance was self-evident.

Moreover, this was her parents' hard-earned money!

Seeing Mysterious Ink refuse, Ye Feiyan's willow-like brows slightly furrowed, seemingly a little displeased.

Just then, Mother Ye walked in with a plate of fruit, and happened to see this scene. She couldn't help but smile, "Feiyan, this little fellow of yours is quite spiritual, knowing how to think for its master. But this is our welcome gift for you; you must accept it."

She gently tied the bag of Spirit Stones and placed it beside Mysterious Ink, saying in an unrefusable tone, "Good child, accept it with peace of mind.

Although our Family is not wealthy, we are not short of this. As long as you can stay well with our Feiyan, we will be content."

Feeling the warmth of Mother Ye's hand and listening to her gentle and sincere words, Mysterious Ink could no longer refuse.

He silently looked at the ten Spirit Stones in front of him, a mix of emotions in his heart.

He had thought this was just a cold transaction of mutual benefit.

But he never expected that behind this transaction, he would also gain an unexpected, heavy warmth and kindness.

Finally, Ye Feiyan left at her mother's urging.

In the room, only Mysterious Ink and the faintly glowing bag of Spirit Stones remained.

He raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the roof, looking into the distance.

"Ye Feiyan... and your parents... this kindness, I, Mysterious Ink, have remembered!"

"From now on, as long as I, Mysterious Ink, exist for a day, I will protect your Family for a lifetime!"