Back hills of Xuanqing Sect.
A gentle breeze blew, golden sunlight filtered through the trees, and spiritual herbs blanketed the ground in shimmering light. It was the perfect day for weeding and cultivation.
That is—if she weren't being fully monitored and live-tracked by her five overly attentive villain senior brothers.
"Junior Sister, be gentle when you pull them."
"Don't get your hands dirty—the spiritual skincare lotion I sent you hasn't fully absorbed."
"These herbs might prick your fingers. Let me do it for you."
"The wind's too strong today. Just sit and supervise."
Xu Nian: I'm just pulling weeds! Why do I need a deluxe personal bodyguard squad?!
But when she looked back and saw First Senior Brother Shen Wang standing on a giant rock nearby, eyes scanning the surroundings coldly, sword half-drawn—
She could only sigh and accept her fate (which was either incredibly lucky... or tragically short).
With a deep breath, she grabbed a small spirit herb, trying to show some initiative.
Except—
"Huh? Why won't it budge?" She infused a bit of spiritual energy and tugged harder, only to feel the earth tremble beneath her feet.
"…Eh?"
BOOM!
The ground exploded. A burst of violet light shot into the sky, and a furry little creature with golden eyes burst out from underground!
"Squeee!"
"Junior Sister, step back!" Shen Wang was instantly in front of her, sword flashing coldly. "It's a variant spirit beast!"
Third Senior Brother Bai Qi landed beside him, brow raised. "A primordial-type cub… buried underground?"
"Tsk, normally these kinds of beasts sleep for centuries. Little Junior Sister actually weeded one awake?"
"…Talk about luck."
Xu Nian stood frozen in place. "I was just pulling weeds… How did I dig up a living creature?!"
"Squeee!" The violet-furred beast blinked its glowing eyes at Shen Wang, then abruptly dove into Xu Nian's arms.
It licked her cheek, rubbed its face affectionately against her, and curled its fluffy tail tightly around her wrist.
Then, in a muffled voice, it spoke—
"…Mas…ter…"
Everyone: "..."
Fourth Senior Brother Xie Linyuan spoke dryly, "...Niannian, looks like you picked up another heaven-defying spirit pet."
"I didn't mean to!" Xu Nian tried to pry the tail off, panicking. But the little beast whimpered sadly and clung even tighter.
Shen Wang frowned. "Once this species chooses a master, it won't part. Especially primordial types—if separated, they go berserk and… devour worlds."
"…So I have to keep it?"
"Yes."
"Until when?"
"Until it's strong enough to destroy sects."
Xu Nian: "???"
I just wanted to weed a bit—why am I suddenly carrying around a walking armory?!
And the chaos didn't stop there.
Within half a day, the story spread like wildfire throughout the sect.
"Did you hear? Xu Nian dug up a primordial beast while weeding!"
"Those are practically baby divine beasts! Even the Sect Master's never seen one!"
"She's too lucky—this is god-tier fortune!"
"I'm starting to think she's not a normal disciple. Maybe she's some hidden heiress from a legendary clan?"
That night, her doorstep overflowed with "congratulatory gifts": spirit fruits, pills, jade talismans, artifacts… Someone even delivered a spirit chicken that lays golden eggs.
Xu Nian held the chicken, staring blankly.
"…Maybe I've drawn too much attention?"
But what really made her want to pull her hair out—was the beast's personality.
Not only was it ridiculously cute, it had… several fatal weaknesses:
Afraid of the dark.Afraid of the cold.Terrified of being apart from her.
Which meant Xu Nian had to keep it with her 24/7. She couldn't reject it, couldn't hide it, couldn't so much as take a step away without triggering spiritual energy instability.
If she didn't soothe its emotions, it could cause energy surges, weather anomalies, or even premature lightning tribulations.
This wasn't a pet. This was a walking nuclear reactor!
"…System, is this really a reward?"
[Yes! Most female leads would kill for this.]
"Can I return it?"
[No.]
"…Do you just think I've lived too long?"
[Please cherish your mascot-tier status. Your survival rate has now increased to 33%.]
Xu Nian: "…Wait. You mean my survival rate used to be under one-third?!"
"Forget it…" She resigned herself and picked up the fuzzy purple beast. "Guess I should give you a name…"
"Chirp!" The little creature used its claw to write three words in the dirt:
Snowball the Menace.
Xu Nian: "…"
…Are you cursing me?
All she wanted was a peaceful, low-key sect life.
Now she had become the center of attention… with a disaster-class fluffball glued to her side.
What she didn't know was—this "Snowball" was actually a key existence capable of influencing the very balance of the heavens.
Its recognition of her as master would completely alter the novel's original storyline.
And far beyond the quiet hills, its awakening was already drawing the attention of the secluded Sect Master… and some people who were never meant to live in the original plot…
—New trouble was on its way.And her life as the sect's precious mascot… was just beginning.