"Hold on, hold on. Who exactly are you? If you had to deal with Li Jue Tian yourself, wouldn't that be giving him far too much credit? It would be an utter humiliation to them," Xiong Kai Shan's thick lips moved, the words flowing out with remarkable ease. "In front of Your Excellency, what is he but a speck of dust? You absolutely cannot strike personally; doing so would cause you to lose too much status!"

They had assumed that after such a long delay in fulfilling the agreement, and with this mysterious, supreme master having personally arrived in Tian Nan, the original pact would certainly have been voided by now.

To their utter astonishment, this grand master's tone suggested he still intended to follow through! They were overjoyed and knew they had to seize the opportunity immediately!

If this mysterious master was willing to grant them a chance, didn't that mean the hope of advancement still existed? Hahahaha!

Still, to think that Li Jue Tian, the second supreme under heaven, was dismissed as less than a puff of air by Xiong Kai Shan... that was an exaggeration, even if only slightly...

"Hmm, so?" Jun Mo Xie murmured thoughtfully.

"...So, naturally, leave it to us to handle it," He Chong Xiao, fearful that Xiong Kai Shan might stumble over his words, anxiously interjected himself, puffing out his chest and volunteering eagerly.

"Hmm... Since that is the case... very well... Alas!" Jun Mo Xie sighed, his voice tinged with the weariness of one too high above the world, echoing with profound loneliness. "Against a junior like Li Jue Tian, this old man truly cannot muster an ounce of interest..."

"It's excellent that you can't be bothered. Rest assured, leave it to us brothers, and we guarantee you will be satisfied..." Xiong Kai Shan clapped his hands with a crisp sound.

He Chong Xiao, however, was inwardly musing: 'A junior like Li Jue Tian'? Good heavens, this master sounds even grander today than he did when he was in Tian Xiang...

"...However, Esteemed Senior, never mind whether you are interested or not, that Fa Tian Sacred Fruit is the property of Tian Fa," Snake King Qian Xun grew anxious, stepping forward slightly. "I was ordered to guard the Fa Tian Sacred Fruit, and its loss on my watch is my responsibility. I humbly request the Senior return the Sacred Fruit; I would be eternally grateful and would never forget your great kindness."

Snake King Qian Xun's speech was neither servile nor arrogant, perfectly measured, which earned a flicker of appreciation from Jun Mo Xie. However, Young Master Jun had a temperament that meant once something good was in his hands, there was little chance of him letting it go.

"Oh? This watery, tender, delicate little girl certainly knows how to speak, and her words are quite sharp. But, was it you, little lass, who was cursing me just now?" Jun Mo Xie’s voice dropped heavily on the final sentence, unleashing an endless, terrifying oppressive might that bore down upon them. Step one: subdue with awe! If intimidation worked, all the better; if not, there was always step two.

Like the weight of ten thousand mountains pressing down, Snake King Qian Xun let out a muffled groan and staggered back three steps. She managed to stabilize herself, though her face was now noticeably pale. Yet, she stubbornly held her head high: "It is my duty. I cannot abandon it, even in death! If the Senior wishes to mete out punishment for Qian Xun's ignorant offense, please proceed. But I still request that after dealing with me, the Senior returns the Sacred Fruit!"

He Chong Xiao panicked. Qian Xun’s words had undoubtedly deeply offended the eminent master present. Retrieving the fruit was a secondary concern; if the master became enraged, he could end Qian Xun's life with a mere gesture. He quickly urged, "Senior, please restrain your anger! My junior sister is young and ignorant, overly anxious about the Fa Tian Sacred Fruit, which led her to offend you. I beg for your magnanimity and ask that you overlook this!"

"...What Fa Tian Sacred Fruit? What nonsense are you calling it?" Jun Mo Xie corrected her sharply. "This fruit is clearly called the Thousand Evils and Ten Thousand Poisons Fruit! Don't speak carelessly if you don't know. Little girl, look at you eight small beasts—your cultivation isn't weak, right? But I tell you honestly, not a single one of you could withstand the medicinal potency of even a single drop of the Thousand Evils and Ten Thousand Poisons Fruit’s liquid! Whoever swallowed it would simply die on the spot! My previous lowering of status to act was out of goodwill. Why are you ungrateful, girl? Do you think I lack the basic grace not to haggle over such a trifle with a little lass like you?"

Step two: persuade with reason. If persuasion failed...

"...Even if we burst apart, that would be our fate," Snake King Qian Xun was stubbornly resolute, her small, pale hands held out with fierce dedication. She completely failed to notice He Chong Xiao and Xiong Kai Shan frantically signaling her.

Why wouldn't He Three and Xiong Four be anxious? The function of the Fa Tian Sacred Fruit was merely to help the Beast Kings enhance their strength, coupled with the fruit's inherently terrifying side effects. Finding a better alternative solution would be the absolute best outcome. And the mysterious master before them clearly possessed the miraculous means to achieve this!

If they could leverage the Fa Tian Sacred Fruit to form a connection with this great master, it would be an utterly profitable deal. But Qian Xun’s stubbornness was undoubtedly about to ruin this excellent opportunity. Furthermore, the Sacred Fruit was already in the master's possession; he had clearly stated he was taking it by force. What could they do? Watch him walk away? If he merely walked away, that would be good; but if he became displeased, he might eliminate all of them with one move. Where would they go to plead their case then!

"Enough, enough! This little girl has a point. Although I took the fruit earlier with the intention of helping you, taking your property is indeed improper. However, letting you consume it recklessly would be a terrible waste and might cost you your lives. Since we have met by fate, and I intended to use the fruit for alchemy anyway, I might as well see this act of kindness through to the end!"

Jun Mo Xie put on an expression of genuine pain, as if several pounds of flesh were being carved from him. "I require this Thousand Evils and Ten Thousand Poisons Fruit to refine certain elixirs; you all need the fruit simply to break through bottlenecks and advance. When my elixirs are complete, I will gift you a few pills that guarantee you can advance safely and without peril! How about that? Is that acceptable now? Eight individuals who were clearly facing certain doom have now been offered a chance at safe advancement. What else do you have to say?"

Step three, and the final step: exchange of conditions! If they still refused, Young Master Jun would truly have exhausted all his tricks. Though rather despicable, he would have no choice but to simply vanish and depart.

His words immediately made the Beast Kings present’s eyes light up, even Snake King Qian Xun hesitated. He Three and Xiong Four kept glancing pointedly at Qian Xun, thinking, Sister Qian Xun, hurry up and agree!

In truth, the Beast Kings all knew the consequence of consuming the Fa Tian Sacred Fruit—that it could cause them to explode. It was pure falsehood to say they weren't scared or uneasy! But for greater strength and longer life, they felt they had to risk it.

But now, a path to advancement that was safe and without peril lay before them. Who wouldn't be tempted?

If these words had come from an ordinary person, the Beast Kings would never have believed them: Are you kidding me? That kind of nonsense could only fool ghosts! You think you can trick us? Dream on!

But who was the person before them?

He was a genuine, world-shaking grand master! In terms of sheer cultivation, he was far superior to their own leader. More importantly, Three and Four had already confirmed that he could help Xuan Beasts advance with ease!

Even if the testimony from He Three and Xiong Four was considered thin, there was another profoundly shocking, tangible example right before them: that unexpectedly powerful Level Eight cub, the Iron Winged Leopard. This undeniable fact proved that the person before them truly possessed supernatural, unpredictable abilities!

For a moment, the other Beast Kings focused their gazes, leaving Snake King Qian Xun caught between choices.

"Why are you being so slow? If you still have doubts, can't you trust He Chong Xiao and Xiong Kai Shan? Have them vouch for me! They understand me deeply. Is that sufficient? Heh heh, you overthinking little girl! He Three, Xiong Four, are you two willing to vouch for me? I'll give you a share later!"

Jun Mo Xie commanded in an ancient, lofty tone. Young Master Jun had clearly noticed the desperate signals from He Three and Xiong Four, so he dragged them into it directly.

"...Yes, yes, we vouch for him! Ninth Sister, can't you trust us?" Xiong Kai Shan's thick lips stretched open, encompassing the promise.

He Chong Xiao remained more cautious. Hearing the mysterious master speak proactively, he vaguely sensed something was amiss, but after a moment’s thought, he ultimately remained silent. Having hope was always better than having none!

"...Then," Snake King Qian Xun hesitated, feeling extremely conflicted. Biting her full, red lower lip, she asked hesitantly, "How long will the Senior require to produce the spiritual elixirs?"

Damn, she's a little enchantress! Even biting her lip looks beautiful! Young Master Jun groaned inwardly, nearly losing his composure and falling out of the sky. He hurriedly stabilized his mind and held up three fingers: "Three years at most! I can gather the herbs and refine the elixirs by then!"

Saying this, he suddenly remembered something. He fumbled on his person and pulled out a jade vial. "This old man won't take advantage of you juniors either. As I said, we met by fate, so I will fulfill you a bit more. This bottle contains a few pills—they are some I concocted while playing around before. I didn't use any top-tier materials. Ingesting one can roughly increase cultivation by ten years. Alas, materials are so hard to find! Otherwise, the effect would be much more than this!"

Saying that, he took out eight pills and tossed them into the air. Not more, not less—one for each person, or rather, one for each beast.

The Lion King, Monkey King, Tiger King, and the others held the tiny pills, somewhat uncertain whether they should take them.

Xiong Kai Shan had no such reservations. He tilted his neck back and swallowed it directly. Circulating his energy, he suddenly gasped in shock, crying out, "Eh?..."

After three cycles of his cultivation, he had absorbed the medicinal power. As a Supreme-level master, his physical body was incomparably stronger than a human's, so he could easily verify the results. He exclaimed in shock and joy, "It really increases cultivation! ... Hmph, at least ten years of diligent practice! A divine medicine!"

Upon hearing his declaration, He Chong Xiao could no longer restrain himself. He swallowed his pill too, and naturally, his reaction was also one of surprise and joy.

Seeing their expressions, which did not appear deceptive, the other Beast Kings exchanged glances and swallowed their respective pills. Shortly thereafter, they all suddenly stood perfectly straight, their sixteen eyes locking onto Jun Mo Xie simultaneously, their gazes burning intensely!

Heavens! There really is such a magical pill in this world that can increase cultivation! It actually exists!

Oh my god, and with absolutely no side effects! The eyes of the major Beast Kings became even more fervent!

A true master.

This cemented their belief that the mysterious grand master before them could indeed refine elixirs for advancement using the Fa Tian Sacred Fruit!

What did that Senior say just now? 'Concocted while playing around before, didn't use any top-tier materials'... Otherwise, the effect would be much more! Gods! If he used good materials, what kind of elixirs would that yield?!

The facts were right before them; why doubt? This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Advancement without facing life-or-death choices—what a marvelous thing! A thing they couldn't even dream of!

In the mid-air, Jun Mo Xie stood with his hands behind his back, his black robe billowing—truly possessing the detached, ethereal bearing of an otherworldly master.

Hmph hmph, those who believe me shall prosper!

Finally managed to subdue these blockheads!