Jun Moxie’s thoughts seemed to recede like a tide from the ethereal void, returning to his consciousness. He appeared somewhat dazed. “I find it strange too, Third Uncle. Please, for now, don’t ask me what happened, because I’m just as bewildered as you are, and I have no clue how this all transpired.” Jun Wuyi smiled indulgently. “It certainly can’t be a bad thing.”

Jun Mowo looked at him apologetically. “En, it shouldn’t be a bad thing.” He paused. “What about them?” “I knocked them out. They’re still out cold.” Jun Wuyi sighed softly. “This was truly sudden. It’s better if they remain unaware of this for now!”

“It was certainly sudden. You handled it perfectly, Third Uncle.” Jun Moxie stood up. The Hongjun Pagoda was tied to the grandest secret of his transmigration to this world; it was also his greatest reliance for survival and ascent in this foreign land. Not a single shred of it could be leaked, absolutely not, not even to his closest kin. Some secrets were destined to be held by one person alone for a lifetime.

Only Little Bai Bai was exceptionally excited, scurrying back and forth over his body as if traversing flat ground, apparently beside itself with glee. It occasionally flipped weightlessly in the air, yet remained perfectly steady, absolutely refusing to fall to the ground. In a fit of exhilaration, it leaped up, grabbed a strand of Jun Moxie’s hair, and swung from it with muffled cries, clearly having a magnificent time.

Jun Mozou watched the little creature, which was obviously overexcited, with helplessness, knitting his brows. “This little guy seems determined to cling to me. Third Uncle, since everything is settled now, perhaps you can wake the others up shortly.”

“You should first figure out an explanation that won’t arouse suspicion…” Jun Wuyi smiled, his eyes suddenly locking onto Little Bai Bai. He stopped dead, shock flashing in his eyes, and he blurted out, “How is this possible? It—it actually advanced! This, how could this be possible… Oh my god!” With his vision as a Tianxuan master, he could naturally perceive the difference in the little creature, and he finally couldn’t restrain himself from letting out an expletive.

For someone of Jun Wuyi’s temperament to utter those two words out of sheer astonishment meant he was shocked and surprised to the absolute extreme. Frankly speaking, even if a living ghost materialized before him, he might not have lost his composure this dramatically! A high-tier Xuan Beast, still in its infancy, managing to advance!? This was no longer a miracle; it was a divine act!

“Advanced? Is it?!” Jun Moxie snatched the little thing, ignoring its flailing protests, and inspected it repeatedly, bewildered. “There’s nothing different. The little guy’s little thing is still just as tiny.”

Jun Wuyi let out a sound of disbelief: Nephew, I truly thought you knew everything, but this reasoning of yours is hilarious! Does a Xuan Beast’s advancement really correlate with the size of its private parts?

The little creature was also enraged, hissing in fury. After all, it was now approaching the existence of a top-tier Xuan Beast. Even if it was deeply attached to him, he couldn't possibly critique its anatomy like that! Contemptible! Does one judge a Xuan Beast’s rank by evaluating that?

One must know that Xuan Beasts have inherent limitations, and advancement is severely restricted by talent. High-tier Xuan Beasts especially cannot transgress this iron rule. For a beast like the Iron-Winged Leopard, a peak Tier Seven high-tier Xuan Beast, reaching Tier Seven peak was practically its absolute limit. To advance further, while perhaps not absolutely impossible, would involve a difficulty so immense it was nearly insurmountable.

Taking the Iron-Winged Leopard as an example, to achieve another breakthrough, it first needed to reach its peak strength while still in its prime. If a Xuan Beast entered its later years, even if its strength reached Tier Seven peak, the physical decline would preclude any possibility of advancement. However, even if the Iron-Winged Leopard attained peak strength during its prime, that was merely a prerequisite for the chance to advance. To truly advance, it required the favor of Heaven and Earth, obtaining some mysterious opportunity or wondrous heavenly treasure to even have a shot at breaking through that barrier.

An adolescent Iron Leopard would never have the opportunity to advance. In reality, the vast majority of Iron-Winged Leopards only reach peak Tier Seven strength as they age; possessing peak strength during their prime was exceedingly rare!

Yet, at this moment, this established, universally acknowledged iron law of the world was being brutally shattered right before Jun Wuyi’s eyes—an Iron-Winged Leopard cub, not even a full month old, a creature that hadn't even begun to explore its innate Iron-Winged Leopard abilities, had somehow managed to advance!

Was it because of Jun Moxie?! It advanced just from lying on Jun Mobang for a while!

No one else had touched the little thing during this time!

What kind of implication did that carry?!

Miracle?! Divine act?!

“This, this, this, the change is too much!” Jun Wuyi pointed at the little creature. “You actually elevated its rank just like that! How can such a world-shaking event be concealed? Heavens, I am looking at an Eighth-Tier Iron-Winged Leopard… cub!” Jun Wuyi was nearly frantic.

Indeed, while an Eighth-Tier Iron-Winged Leopard was exceedingly rare, it wasn't entirely nonexistent. Even if the chance was microscopic, some peak Tier Seven Iron-Winged Leopards had fortunately managed to advance. But this Eighth-Tier Iron-Winged Leopard was merely a cub! In the history of Xuan Beast advancement across the Xuan Xuan Continent, this cub might not be the only one, but it was certainly unprecedented!

“If it advanced, it advanced. So what? It has nothing to do with me. What do I know? I know nothing!” Jun Moxie spread his hands with an air of innocence. “It advanced entirely on its own. What has it got to do with me? Who saw me taking credit for it?” “Only by playing dumb,” Jun Wuyi exhaled heavily, glaring fiercely at his nephew. “If you continue to be so careless, you’ll expose yourself sooner or later! Hey, this is an Eighth-Tier Iron-Winged Leopard!”

To be honest, even given Jun Third Master’s usual character, he felt a sudden urge to keep this little thing hidden. After all, the creature was too precious, and its future prospects were limitless!

“This time it was an accident…” Jun Moxie defended weakly, feeling a bit guilty. Young Master Jun was rather simple-minded. He had grasped some characteristics of Xuan Beasts, and advancement didn't seem that difficult, so he genuinely hadn't paid much attention to the little thing, especially since it involved the little girl. If he could just send that plague god away sooner, none of this would matter!

“What just happened?” Dugu Ying’s eyes darted around, and the expressions of the other six were identical. “Third Uncle, why did you hit me?” Dugu Ying dared not be disrespectful to Jun Wuyi, addressing him respectfully as Third Uncle. This stemmed mainly from early upbringing. For the Dugu brothers, only three men were permitted to strike them without fear of reprisal: first, their grandfather Dugu Zongheng; second, their father/uncle Dugu Wudi—no, second was this Uncle Jun before them; and last was their father/uncle Dugu Wudi.

“Hit you? Where? You must have gotten drunk a few days ago. My wine jars are right here. The moment you smelled this scent, you passed out from the fumes. It must be a lingering effect, how useless,” Jun Moxie declared, eyes wide with an expression of exasperated amusement and utter disdain. “It’s quite something—seven muscular men, strong as oxen, fainting just from smelling wine. Fainting together, too. Truly rare.”

The seven brothers simultaneously raised hands to grab their hair, looking sheepish and embarrassed. “So that’s how it was.”

Jun Wuyi’s movements had been too fast, and his control over the force was excellent. They had only vaguely perceived Jun Wuyi leaping up and knocking them out, but they hadn't seen clearly. Now, as they tried to recall, their minds were even hazier. When their noses caught the rich aroma of wine again, being just out of a drunken stupor, they couldn't help but feel slightly lightheaded once more. The seven pairs of eyes simultaneously drifted toward the wine jars, and a chorus of gulping sounds arose. They immediately forgot whatever had happened before.

They didn't even notice that those wine jars hadn't been there when they first arrived... As for the changed desk—for these carefree brothers, it made absolutely no impression whatsoever.

Only Dugu Xiaoyi was not fooled. She was about to question them with her wide, round eyes when Little Bai Bai suddenly darted out of Jun Moxie’s arms, scrambling excitedly over her, making poses on her hand, as if to say: Master, look! I advanced! Wahahaha! Hmm, why aren’t you happy? Didn’t you see that uncle’s eyes almost popped out of his sockets…

“Little Bai Bai is so cute,” Dugu Xiaoyi stroked the little one with immense affection, her bright eyes narrowing into crescents. Seeing Little Bai Bai so happy and lively today made her heart soar with joy. Just for this, her trip today hadn't been in vain.

Little Bai Bai’s show was entirely wasted. Although the little girl was sharp as a tack, she lacked the experience to understand what advancement meant. In truth, whether Little Bai Bai was an Iron-Winged Leopard or a mere kitten seemed to make little difference to her; it was just a pet to be cherished! “You seven, follow me.” Jun Wuyi pushed his wheelchair. “Let me see what Dugu Wudi has taught you.”

Dugu Ying and the seven exchanged glances, unable to hide their excitement. From Jun Wuyi’s tone, it was clear he intended to offer guidance to the seven of them. Their father and uncles held this Third Uncle Jun in the highest esteem!

Who was Jun Wuyi? A quintessential master, the invincible Blood-Clad General, a legend of the military. Even a casual word of his guidance could benefit them immensely.

And so, the seven Dugu brothers followed Jun Wuyi’s wheelchair obediently, their rear ends wiggling. Dugu Xiong eagerly pushed the chair for him, his movements exceedingly careful and gentle, lest he jostle Third Master Jun. These seven men never once considered whether leaving their little sister alone might be improper! They even forgot the original purpose of their visit—all thanks to Third Uncle’s immense charisma. Seven burly men following him about like that. Jun Moxie sighed inwardly. “Miss Dugu, I still owe you a fine blade, if I recall correctly,” Jun Moxie said calmly, a slight smile playing on his lips.