A month passed in a flash, and by the time Qian Duoduo and the others finished their wilderness training, Fengtou Mountain had already become a small castle.
After the skirmish with the Liang Family Old Ancestor, the Protectorate, the Artificer Hall, and Xiong Jin Legion sent hundreds of people to build houses, construct buildings, set up formations, and lay ambushes there. A teleportation array was also established between the Zhu Family Castle and this location. Zhu Pingdao was extremely pleased with this development. The development of the Phoenix Mountains also signified the rise of the Zhu Family.
However, Qian Duoduo knew that the grand construction of Fengtou Mountain, while ostensibly to prevent retaliation from the Shengling Sect and prohibit their re-entry, was actually a cover for the construction of a new Jail on Phoenix Tail Mountain. And the construction of the new Jail was, in turn, a cover for the development of a new gold mine.
In this past month, Qian Duoduo's biggest gain was becoming extremely close with the Seven-Colored Golden Bull. Qian Duoduo had invested heavily in it. On one hand, it was the highest Cultivation Realm Spirit Beast Qian Duoduo could access; on the other hand, it was related to Qian Duoduo's future Golden Ox Army, and to the refinement and use of the “Soaring Overlord.”
Bottles of delicious Spirit Liquid, piles of Purple Clover Grass urgently delivered by Huang Guiren, plus full-body massages every night, made the Seven-Colored Golden Bull always sneak into Qian Duoduo's tent, much to the exasperation of Palace Lord Dajiu.
Fortunately, seeing the Seven-Colored Golden Bull's aura grow stronger, showing faint signs of advancing, Palace Lord Dajiu was secretly pleased. If the Seven-Colored Golden Bull advanced, it also meant his own strength would advance.
As soon as they returned to Meng Yuan Legion, with Palace Lord Dajiu's tacit approval, Qian Duoduo brought the Seven-Colored Golden Bull to Purple Gold Manor.
“Huang Guiren, look who’s here?!” Still more than twenty zhang from the manor gate, Qian Duoduo shouted loudly.
On his left was the Seven-Colored Golden Bull, and on his right was Brother Tiger. This was truly too majestic; there was no way to be low-key. If his voice hadn't been loud enough, he would have wanted to shout when he entered the mountain gate.
“Oh my goodness!” The moment Huang Guiren saw the Seven-Colored Golden Bull, he rubbed his eyes hard, unable to believe it was real.
In the hearts of Meng Yuan Legion's Disciples, the Seven-Colored Golden Bull was synonymous with Tang Honggong, an object of awe. But now, the Seven-Colored Golden Bull and Qian Duoduo came to Purple Gold Manor side by side, and were quite intimate.
Huang Guiren respectfully saluted the Seven-Colored Golden Bull, then led the way, guiding it into the cattle shed. The female Golden Ox resting in the shed immediately stood up upon seeing the Seven-Colored Golden Bull, approached it, and gently rubbed it with her nose.
“There’s a chance.” Qian Duoduo and Huang Guiren exchanged glances, then quietly exited the cattle shed. The cattle shed was very spacious, designed to accommodate two hundred Golden Ox. With only the Seven-Colored Golden Bull and the female Golden Ox inside now, whatever story unfolded would not be disturbed.
“Brother Tiger, this is Huang Guiren, the second manor lord of our manor.” On the way to the tiger enclosure, Qian Duoduo introduced Huang Guiren to Brother Tiger.
Brother Tiger shook his head, indicating he understood.
“He has countless Spirit Chicken in his hands,” Qian Duoduo added.
Brother Tiger stopped and let out a low growl at Huang Guiren. Whether he was a manor lord or not, Brother Tiger didn't care, but a person with food in hand deserved respect.
Huang Guiren immediately became humble, “What second manor lord, we are all one family. Spirit Chicken are plentiful, Brother Tiger, just tell me what you want to eat, haha…”
The arrival of the two great Spirit Beasts made his feet feel light. Having spent time in both the Ling Beast Research Institute and the Spiritual Plant Research Institute, how could he not know the arrogance of these powerful Spirit Beasts? To Cultivators of the Qi Condensation Realm, those battle beasts wouldn't even glance at them.
But now, he was calling a Foundation Establishment-level Golden Tiger “Brother.” This feeling was truly wonderful!
The tiger enclosure was built at the highest point of the manor. Four caves were dug into the fifty-plus zhang hill. The caves were spacious, with winding passages, much warmer inside than outside, and the innermost parts of the ground were even covered with soft Spiritual Plant.
After inviting Brother Tiger into the largest tiger cave, Qian Duoduo couldn't control his excitement and said to Huang Guiren and Brother Tiger, “I'm going to invite the Purple-Forehead Golden Tiger.”
Upon arriving at Wen'an Peak and explaining his purpose, not long after, an Elder from the mountain gate led a Spirit Beast to Qian Duoduo.
This Spirit Beast was too beautiful. Its body was slightly smaller than Brother Tiger's, with a purple “King” character on its forehead, and its stripes were brownish-purple. Its bowl-sized tiger paws landed on the ground without a sound. Its demeanor was majestic and natural, like a noble queen.
“Head Seat Chu said that Zi'e can come to your manor every day, stay for one hour each time, for a period of three months.”
Zi'e was the name of this Purple-Forehead Golden Tiger.
The Elder waved his sleeve, pulled Qian Duoduo onto his Flying Sword, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at Purple Gold Manor.
“Fellow Daoist Zi'e, please come this way.” Qian Duoduo quickly led the way for the Purple-Forehead Golden Tiger. Zi'e was a High-Level Profound Beast, equivalent to a Yuanying Perfected cultivator.
The Purple-Forehead Golden Tiger wagged her tail, as if identifying the Spirit Beasts in the manor, then calmly stepped forward and walked directly towards the tiger enclosure.
Qian Duoduo's heart pounded: Could she fancy Brother Tiger? Brother Tiger was currently only a battle beast, two whole ranks lower than her.
When Zi'e entered the manor, all the Spirit Beasts and Spirit Birds in the manor quieted down, not daring to make a sound. Even the newly hatched Spirit Chicken didn't cry for its mother to feed it.
This was probably power without anger. Qian Duoduo followed behind Zi'e, filled with emotion.
Huang Guiren stood at the entrance of the tiger cave, bowing slightly to Zi'e.
After Zi'e entered the cave, Qian Duoduo and Huang Guiren excitedly raised their hands and waved them wildly in the air for a while, then quickly ran far away from the tiger cave.
When Nascent Soul cultivators were getting things done, how could they, Qi Condensation Cultivators, peek from the side?
Qian Duoduo and Huang Guiren certainly had this self-awareness.
Besides, Qian Duoduo and the others' Spiritual Awareness couldn't penetrate to observe the scene inside the cave anyway.
Time flew by, and an hour passed. Zi'e emerged from the tiger cave, didn't even glance at them, leaped into the air, and soared back to Wen'an Peak.
Qian Duoduo and Huang Guiren quickly scurried into the tiger cave. Brother Tiger was eating a Spirit Chicken. Seeing the two enter, he paused, then lowered his head and continued eating.
“Little glutton. How was it?” Qian Duoduo ran over, gently stroked Brother Tiger's head, “Did you get it done?”
Brother Tiger shook his head, flicking Qian Duoduo's hand away.
“That Zi'e ate Spirit Chicken and drank Spirit Liquid,” Huang Guiren said happily. He had arranged the tiger cave, and he judged Zi'e's behavior based on the tiger fur dropped on the ground.
“Eating and drinking isn't the goal…” Qian Duoduo carefully examined Brother Tiger's eyes and body, hoping to find some trace.
But, it seemed there was nothing. If there was nothing, then the goal of offspring was unfulfilled.
“Don't look anymore, they didn't do that thing,” Liu Boli, who was inside the Golden Toad, couldn't hold back and spoke up.
“Why not? Our Brother Tiger is so handsome,” Qian Duoduo was a bit anxious. First impressions were very important; if it didn't happen this time, it would be even harder next time.
Could it be that Zi'e's standards were too high, and she disliked Brother Tiger's low rank?
“Tell me, what season is it now?” Liu Boli chuckled.
“Winter. Snow everywhere, no need to say.”
“Think again about what the Spiritual Beast Scroll says, when do Golden Tiger breed?” Liu Boli pressed.
“March to May.” Qian Duoduo slapped his head. This was ridiculous, the season wasn't right.
“And the Seven-Colored Golden Bull, you guys are also too early.”
Indeed, the breeding season for Golden Ox was also in early spring. Qian Duoduo immediately looked foolish.
Liu Boli slowly stroked his beard and said softly, “However, you still have a way.”