AMSSO-Chapter 91: Yet Another Golden Core

Zhou Wanyao stared at the scene before her, completely petrified.

The last time she came here, there wasn’t a single spirit beast in sight.

But now, watching the lively young spirit beast cubs happily eating, and the Iron-Eating Beast devouring bamboo with vigor while still radiating oppressive power, she found herself frozen in place.

Was she dreaming?

“Mm…”

“Li——!”

“Ah!”

Just as one of the men on the ground began to stir, the Black Abyss Falcon swooped down from the sky and landed on him.

The Black Abyss Falcon was not light, its landing directly crushed the man with a scream of pain before he fainted again.

That shriek snapped Zhou Wanyao back to her senses.

She stared in shock at the scene before her, realizing finally that this was not a dream.

It’s all real!

But what stunned her the most was how Mu Shiyue remained utterly calm and composed in front of all these spirit beasts!

Zhou Wanyao’s parents and Mu Shiyue’s parents had been close friends despite the age gap. So, when Chu Jingzhuo could no longer remain in the Chu Family, they thought of Wanxuan Sect.

Zhou Wanyao was in her forties, about twelve years older than Mu Shiyue.

Because of the age difference, they had never been close. After all, just because their parents were friends didn’t mean they were.

Even though Chu Jingzhuo had become Mu Shiyue’s disciple, Mu Shiyue used to spend most of her time in seclusion cultivating, rarely appearing. In reality, Chu Jingzhuo had been taught by Mu Shiyue’s parents. So the two women weren’t very familiar with each other.

Still, no matter how unfamiliar they were, Zhou Wanyao had never seen this side of Mu Shiyue before!

These were spirit beasts!

And the strongest one seemed to be a fifth-rank Soul-Devouring Tiger!

Looking around the small courtyard now crowded with so many spirit beasts, Zhou Wanyao felt an odd sense of claustrophobia.

Wasn’t this place… a little too small for all of them?

Chu Jingzhuo turned toward the unconscious men, “Mom, who are they?”

Everyone’s gaze followed his, their expressions strange.

It had been really lively around here lately.

“They’re the ones who were chasing me!” Zhou Wanyao gritted her teeth. “I was originally on my way to tell you some good news, but not long after I left the Chu Family, they began following me!”

The memory of that danger still made her tremble, “Thankfully, I reached Wanxuan Sect in time. Sect Master Mu… and these spirit beasts saved me!”

At that, Chu Jingzhuo’s face tightened with worry, “Mom, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Zhou Wanyao shook her head. “I’m not hurt.”

Qin Yiwei frowned as she looked at the three unconscious men, “They’re Golden Core Stage cultivators, right?”

Since they’re unconscious and not releasing spiritual pressure, she couldn’t be sure, but she suspected as much.

Zhou Wanyao nodded, “Yes, they’re all Golden Core.”

Zhou Wanyao herself was also a Golden Core cultivator, so naturally, her pursuers were as well.

As for Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, those were leaders of sects—people who rarely acted personally.

“Golden Core again,” Jiang Yunnuan muttered under her breath.

It felt like they had stumbled into a nest of Golden Core recently, they kept running into them.

Chu Jingzhuo frowned deeply,  “Three Golden Core cultivators were chasing you, yet you’re unscathed? They must not have gone all out!”

It wasn’t that he underestimated his mother, but Zhou Wanyao’s natural aptitude was, at best, decent.

With several Golden Core cultivators attacking in unison, there’s no way she could’ve escaped so easily.

His gaze darkened, “Mom, tell me exactly what happened.”

“Oh, all right.”

“First, why did you go to the Chu Family?” Chu Jingzhuo’s question cut right to the point.

Chu Jingzhuo’s father, Chu Tianling, had been a prodigy, a top grade water spiritual root cultivator who reached Golden Core Stage before turning thirty.

That level of talent was outstanding even within the Chu Family.

And when Chu Jingzhuo was tested, he was revealed to have a Top Grade Ice Spiritual Root.

Father and son, both with such extraordinary spiritual roots, their futures were limitless!

But Chu Tianling’s brilliance drew jealousy.

When Chu Jingzhuo was thirteen, Chu Tianling died in battle.

According to survivors, Chu Tianling had been killed by the Chu Family’s mortal enemies, the Xiang Family.

As for the real truth, only the heavens knew.

From that point on, Chu Jingzhuo’s personality changed drastically.

Once a proud and confident prodigy, he became cautious and sensitive.

Even so, peace didn’t last.

Two years later, during a trial, Chu Jingzhuo’s spiritual root was damaged.

That incident made both mother and son realize that they weren’t safe even within their own family!

Everyone praised him as the Chu Family’s most talented descendant, saying the clan’s future glory rested on his shoulders.

But those were just empty words.

And Chu Jingzhuo, perceptive as he was, noticed that some family members had begun acting strangely.

A foreboding premonition loomed over him.

So, the two decisively left the Chu Family!

However, Zhou Wanyao’s parents only held ordinary status and strength in the Zhou Family, and they could not protect their grandson.

Moreover, the Chu Family would never allow their own member to live openly under his mother’s maiden family.

Wouldn’t that just be slapping them in the face?

So Zhou Wanyao thought of her parents’ old friends, the Mu couple of Wanxuan Sect.

She had originally planned for Chu Jingzhuo to become their disciples, but in the end, he became the disciple of Mu Shiyue instead.

Regardless, once he had a master, he no longer needed to return to the Chu Family.

For the past few years, Zhou Wanyao had kept her lips tightly sealed, never revealing anything about Wanxuan Sect’s whereabouts. Neither the Chu Family nor the Zhou Family knew where it was.

Of course, it might also be because Chu Jingzhuo’s damaged spiritual root had made him half a waste, so neither family cared much about his fate.

Zhou Wanyao never expected that after years of peace, trouble would resurface so suddenly.

“It was Uncle Zhen and the others who said they’d found something that could repair your spiritual root and wanted to give it to you. That’s why I went!” Zhou Wanyao explained.

“Repair my spiritual root?” Chu Jingzhuo frowned. “Didn’t I already write to you, telling you it’s been restored?”

“Your spiritual root’s been restored?” Zhou Wanyao’s pupils shrank, her face changed dramatically. “When did this happen?!”

Seeing her reaction, Chu Jingzhuo’s brows knit tighter, “Over half a month ago. Didn’t you get my letter?”

“No!” Zhou Wanyao almost wailed. “If I had, I never would’ve gone to the Chu Family!”

She anxiously grabbed Chu Jingzhuo’s hand, looking him over from head to toe, “Your spiritual root really recovered? You’re all right? You can cultivate again? Do you feel any discomfort—”

Chu Jingzhuo gently patted her hand, his voice soft, “Master gave me several Crystal Fish. After I ate them, my spiritual root healed.”

Zhou Wanyao’s eyes lit up instantly, “Crystal Fish! That’s an incredible treasure!”

She was overjoyed, “Your spiritual root really recovered? No side effects?”

“None.” Chu Jingzhuo shook his head. “It’s completely healed, I can cultivate normally again.”

“That’s wonderful!” Zhou Wanyao’s eyes reddened, tears brimming with relief. “That’s truly wonderful!”

She had always worried about her son’s damaged spiritual root. Now that it’s restored, a heavy weight was lifted from her heart.

“And there’s more good news—I’ve advanced to Golden Core Stage!”

“Golden Core—Golden Core?!” Zhou Wanyao gasped, she was so excited she directly fainted on the spot!