Chapter 557 - Sacred Trials And Little Shrubby Awakens

Silently sneaking into the Ripple Mist Sect, Lin Mu began eavesdropping on the different conversations that were going on between the people.

"Did you hear? Senior sister Bi is going to participate in the sacred trials this time."

"Of course I did! It's the talk of the sect, even the servants know about it."

"Do you think she will be able to gain fortune from the secret trials?" 

"If she can't then who else can? She's the only peak core condensation realm cultivator joining the trial this time and is the strongest of all candidates."

"That's true. Even Core Disciple Tian Jun was at the early stage of the Core commendation realm when he joins date Sacred trials thirty years ago. If he can gain one of the supreme inheritances of our sect, then Senior sister Bi should definitely be successful."

Lin Mu heard the same topic nearly everywhere in the sect. Apparently, the Ripple mist sect had a 'Sacred Ground' that only opened every ten years. This sacred ground contained the supreme inheritances of the Ripple mist sect and was said to have been set up by their ancestors.

The ripple mist sect had a history of thousands of years and thus they had a lot of time to nurture this sacred ground. It could be said that this was the foundation upon which they erected their sect.

Their best cultivation techniques could be found hidden within the trial ground, along with many other precious herbs that grew within. Any person that got them would be incredibly lucky and would rise up through the ranks if they obtained it.

Still, Lin Mu didn't mind it much, as it didn't have anything with him. It was not like he would be able to enter there, anyway. Or rather… he would not want to enter there, as it would mean risking his identity being revealed. 

Since the Ripple Mist sect was part of the Zither Wind alliance, there was bound to be someone here that was spying for Gu Yao. Plus, there was a great chance that if he revealed his face, he would be discovered.

So far, Lin Mu had not seen any portraits of him in the sect so he was unsure whether anyone knew what he looked like.

Lin Mu had wandered in the sect for about two hours now and had learned quite a few things, though they were mostly related to the Sacred trials. He also learned that the sect had actually become aware of the uproar caused by the beasts in the forest.

They had even sent out some disciples to check the forest, but they had not gone too deep into the region where Lin Mu was living. There were stronger beasts around the mountain that Lin Mu lived in and they were too much for most disciples to handle.

Even core condensation realm beasts could prove too much to them and if they made a mistake, they would have to pay with their lives. Not to mention that there were about four Nascent soul realm beasts that lived in the forest as well.

If by some misfortune the disciples encountered them, they may be saved by the formations but will probably suffer some severe injuries. Usually, this should have been handled by the sect's elders who were also at the Nascent soul realm, but they were all busy with the preparation of the sacred trials.

They were one of the most important events that ever happened in the sect and thus they needed to be well prepared, there was no scope for a mistake. Each disciple that entered the sacred trials would have the potential to become one of the powerhouses of the sect in the future.

Thus they all knew to do their best and not to slack off on it.

'At least this works in my favor. When the Heavenly Tribulation happens, hopefully they won't come to check. If everything goes smoothly, I might be able to take advantage of it properly.' Lin Mu thought to himself.

He returned to the mountain and decided to wait out till Little Shrubby woke up. The hours passed like flowing water and it was soon evening. 

~purr~

Lin Mu opened his eyes and saw some movement in front of him. Little Shrubby, who had been asleep the entire time, finally started moving. Low purrs came out of his mouth as his eyelids trembled. Finally, a minute later, the beast opened his eyes.

"Master…" Little Shrubby spoke.

"You're finally awake. You've been asleep for a while now." Lin Mu said with a smile.

"Are you okay, master?" Little Shrubby questioned.

"I'm fine. I… also need to thank you for saving me at the Tri Cauldron peony sect." Lin Mu spoke.

"Of course! I won't let anyone harm master!" Little Shrubby said with determination.

~pat~pat~

Lin Mu pat the head of little Shrubby, which was a lot softer due to the new and long fur that had grown there.

"How do you feel now? Are there any problems in your body?" Lin Mu questioned.

Little Shrubby closed his eyes for a bit before opening, slight confusion present in them.

"I broke through? And I feel different." Little Shrubby spoke.

"Yes, you broke through. You've been absorbing the Beast Qi that I've been injecting into you." Lin Mu replied.

"Beast Qi?" Little Shrubby questioned.

"Ah, yes you haven't seen it yet." Lin Mu said. "Let me show you and you can tell me what you feel about it." He added.

While Lin Mu knew about Beast Qi and had seen its effects on Little Shrubby, he would still know better if Little Shrubby himself told him how it felt. 

Lin Mu chanted the Nurturing heart sutra, which made Little Shrubby's ears perk up.

"What is that, master? It's so… good?" Little Shrubby said, finding the chants pleasant.

Lin Mu lightly nodded his head before completing the chant and refining the Beast Qi string in his Dantian.

"It is one of my abilities that allows me to make Beast Qi." Lin Mu said before drawing out the string of beast Qi from his Dantian.

As soon as little Shrubby saw it, his pupils went wide, fully covering his eyes.