The younger disciples stared in awe, hanging on his every word.

  "So, Big Brother," one of them asked hesitantly, "Are you saying this little beast came from the Howling Wilds ti? But... what's it doing here in the Mystic Evergreen Forest?"

  "Good question," the leader replied, rubbing his thoughtfully. "It's likely this beast was captured by one of those Hunter Families during one of their expeditions. Somehow, it must have escaped and ended up here. These forests are vast and wild—it's the perfect pce to hide."

  He paused, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "It could very well be one of the Major Hunter Families near our Supreme Dao Sect—perhaps the Shou Family from Ninzhou ty in the Zhenou Kingdom. They're infamous for their unsavory dealings, known far and wide for traffig in sve beasts, demi-humans, and even humans."

  Another disciple frowned, his voice ced with unease. "But Big Brother, if this beast truly is a direct desdant of one of the Supreme Rulers or the Imperial Family of the Howling Wilds ti, won't they have means to track it? What if they discover it's here, withierritory of the Supreme Dao Sect? Couldn't that ignite a war?"

  The leader smacked the back of the young man's head, his toinged with exasperation. "Fool. Do you think those Hunter Families operate without precautions? They're seasoned professionals. When they capture beasts of this caliber, they take meticulous steps to erase any trace of their involvement."

  He crossed his arms, his voice firm but measured. "And even if the Imperial Family discovered what happened, do you really think they'd rush into a war against another ti? The Supreme Dao Sect is one of the paramount overlords of the Sleeping Dragon ti, standing as equals in power to an Imperial Family of the Howling Wilds ti."

  He paused, his gaze pierg, as if to emphasize the weight of his words. "No one would dare to recklessly ignite a flict between two tial overlord powerhouses. The chaos would only invite opportunistic forces to exploit the turmoil. Such matters are never handled impulsively."

  He tinued, his tone deliberate and authoritative. "Instead of res to ht war, they would turn to diplomacy, appealing to the overlord sects and grand academies of other tis. With promises of staggering rewards and unparalleled resources, they would seek alliances and cooperation. This is the way of true power—the art of iation, not reckless frontation."

  The group seemed somewhat reassured, though another disciple hesitantly voiced a new . "But Big Brother, wouldn't it be safer to hand the beast over to the sect? Surely, they'd reward us far menerously than Young Master Niu ever could."

  The leader's expression darkened, and he shook his head firmly. "You're missing the bigger picture. If we hand it over to the sect, the higher-ups will take trol. They'll hahe iations, rake in an astonishing fortune for returning the beast, and leave us with nothing more than a little amount of Sect tribution Points and a pat on the back for our troubles."

  He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a spiratorial whisper. "But if we offer it to Young Master Niu—a man with genuine influen the capital of Zhenou Kingdom—everything ges. He hails from a Major Family, oh power that stretches far beyond what we could imagine."

  The leader leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a spiratorial murmur, every word steeped in calcuted i. "And have you heard the rumors?" he asked, his tone deliberate and anding their full attention. "They say the one bag Young Master Niu is her than the Sed Prince of the Zhenou Kingdom himself."

  The words hung heavy in the air, electrifying the group. The disciples exged gheir expressions shifting from mild exhaustion to eager anticipation as the leader tinued.

  "With a e like that," he said, his lips curling into a sly smile, "Young Master Niu's favor isn't just about rewards—it's about security and power. If we hand this beast to him, we're not just earning gratitude. We're seg our pce within his household. Positions of influence, prote under his name, and—if we py our cards right—a pathway to true status beyond this sect's rigid hierarchy."

  He straightened, his eyes gleaming with ing. "The sect might see us as expendable, just pawns in their grand schemes. But Young Master Niu? He values loyalty. He remembers those who serve him well. And his rewards... they far surpass a few measly Sect Points or the empty gesture of a pat on the back."

  The disciples hung on his every word, their ambitions ignited by the vision he painted. One of them broke into a wide grin, his voice brimming with admiration. "Big Brother, you're brilliant! You've thought of everything!"

  The leader smirked, rubbing his h mock humility. "Of course," he said, his tone oozing fidehat's why I'm the one leading this mission. Now stop wasting time. That beast is out there, and it's olden ticket. Keep your eyes sharp. ood days are just around the er."

  The disciples nodded eagerly, their fatigue fotten as they quied their pace. Each of them dreamed of the rewards to e, their imaginations painting a picture of wealth and status.

  But as they charged ahead, a storm was quietly brewing, ohey were entirely unprepared for.