The little cubs were punished to stand facing the wall. Everyone looked at them with sympathy, but they didn't dare plead on their behalf.
This was Master's decision, they could only obey.
Besides, they were indeed a bit too mischievous and needed their hides tightened.
Everyone's attention returned to the egg in Chu Jingzhuo's hands.
"What kind of spirit beast is inside?" Ke Chongbo asked curiously.
"I don't know." Chu Jingzhuo shook his head. "My father didn't have time to say."
His father had only said he was going to give him a spirit beast egg, but what kind of beast it was, was meant to be a surprise.
But later, all surprises were gone.
Naturally, he didn't know what spirit beast was inside.
Everyone looked at Mu Shiyue, "Master, do you know?"
Facing their curious and trusting gazes, Mu Shiyue was speechless, "How would I know? My eyes can't see inside it."
Were they thinking too highly of her?
She didn't have X-ray vision, how could she know what cub was inside?
The egg looked ordinary, no different from other eggs. Even if she wanted to guess, she couldn't.
Hearing that, everyone was a bit disappointed, but that didn't affect their curiosity.
"Then how long will it take for this egg to hatch?" Jiang Yunnuan asked, looking at the egg and unable to resist touching it.
Chu Jingzhuo let her touch it, shaking his head, "I don't know either."
Then he looked at Mu Shiyue, "Master, what do you think?"
The corner of Mu Shiyue's mouth twitched. Did her disciples take her for an encyclopedia?
But she still took the egg and checked it.
She sent her spiritual power inside, but as expected, the eggshell blocked her probing.
She thought for a moment, then took out a piece of extremely light-proof black cloth and wrapped herself and the egg inside.
Then she took out a stone.
This piece of stone gave off its own light that was quite bright.
As she worked, she thought to herself that next time she should have Old Third make something like a flashlight.
While thinking, she placed the egg on the stone.
In the completely dark space, the light from the stone was even brighter.
The light shone into the big white egg.
After adjusting the angle, Mu Shiyue finally saw what was inside.
It wasn't very clear, just faint shapes.
"Old Fourth, come in."
"Yes!"
Chu Jingzhuo slipped under the black cloth, seeing the situation inside and feeling a little confused.
Then, under Master's guidance, he finally saw the inside of the spirit beast egg.
He was instantly overjoyed, "It seems like it moved!"
"Yes." Mu Shiyue nodded. "It should be the tail moving."
That long line had moved a little.
"What moved?!"
"It moved? I also want to see!"
"Really?!"
Outside, everyone was just as curious.
But the space inside was small, and they couldn't see.
Mu Shiyue packed up the items and returned the egg to Chu Jingzhuo, "There's movement so it should hatch soon."
Chu Jingzhuo hugged the egg, ecstatic.
"Can you tell what kind of spirit beast is inside?" they asked.
"No, I only know it can move." Chu Jingzhuo obediently shook his head.
Mu Shiyue said, "You need to nurture it with your spiritual power and build a bond."
"I know!" Chu Jingzhuo nodded firmly, expression serious.
Everyone looked at him with envy, he's about to have a contracted beast!
They also wanted such an opportunity!
"Hou~"
Little Tiger Baby cried.
"Alright, you may come down." Mu Shiyue glanced at it. "Next time, you can't run into someone else's room."
"Awuu~" Little Tiger Baby answered, then ran off.
"Ying~"
Little Sesame immediately followed.
"Moo~"
Ah Lang kicked his hooves and also ran.
Chu Jingzhuo watched the cubs running off, eyes full of envy.
Who knew when his spirit beast would hatch?
After all, Chu Jinglin had nurtured it for several years and there was still no movement.
Thinking of that, he couldn't help asking Mu Shiyue, "Master, how long do you think it will take to hatch? Chu Jinglin raised it for seven years but nothing happened. How long would I have to wait?"
Mu Shiyue was used to her disciples asking when they didn't understand.
She was their Master, after all.
But this question was also difficult to her, "I don't know. But, we can ask Hu Niu for help."
"Senior Hu Niu?"
"Yes." Mu Shiyue nodded, and an idea instantly formed, "Right, we'll have her help!"
They were both spirit beasts. The nurturing effect would be much better than a human cultivator.
Chu Jingzhuo was a bit uneasy, "Is… that okay?"
"Of course it's okay, why won't it be?" Mu Shiyue raised an eyebrow. "She's been living here for so long, she should do some work. If she keeps lying around, she's going to get fat!"
Everyone: "…"
There basically weren't any fat wild spirit beasts.
Normally they grow stronger by eating.
To catch prey, they need to burn a lot of energy.
Spend energy, catch prey, eat prey, grow stronger, that's the normal process.
But the Soul-Devouring Tiger just lounged indoors every day doing postpartum confinement, eating and drinking comfortably.
Of course it got chubby.
And it didn't need to move at all.
Mu Shiyue was speechless towards this, how could Hu Niu be living more comfortably than her?
It needs exercise!
So Mu Shiyue directly picked up the egg and went into the room to look for Hu Niu.
Everyone exchanged looks, hesitating.
"Should we… go inside and see?"
"See?"
"Let's see."
Although Hu Niu wasn't fierce to them, they still respected it. After all, it's a fifth-rank spirit beast!
Normally, they wouldn't enter the room except to deliver food.
But now, they were too curious.
So they cautiously followed.
Then, they saw Mu Shiyue place the egg in front of Hu Niu.
Seeing the egg, Hu Niu's eyes lit up. It almost pounced at it, "Hou!"
Was this food for it?!
Although they were all spirit beasts, spirit beasts had food chains too.
A spirit beast egg delivered straight to it, why would it refuse?
Spirit beast eggs were nutritious!
"It's not for eating!" Mu Shiyue slapped its head, killing its fantasy. "You're going to help incubate it!"
"Hou~"
Hu Niu's voice instantly grew loud, filled with anger and unwillingness.
Not only was it not allowed to eat it, but it was also forced to incubate it?
What kind of joke was that?!
"What are you yelling for!" Mu Shiyue slapped its head again. "You eat so much every day and don't move, aren't you embarrassed? Hurry up and move!"
"Hou~" Hu Niu's voice softened but was still full of reluctance.
But Mu Shiyue was firm and overbearing, "Incubate half an hour every day."
"Hou~"
"If you hatch it, I'll cook two meals for you."
"Hou~" Too few.
"…If you hatch it within five days, you'll get five meals. The longer it takes, the fewer meals."
"Hou-woo!"
Hu Niu pulled the egg toward itself and placed it under its paw.
Deal!