Chapter 34 Hard to Say
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After a moment, the few Emerald Swans reached a consensus.
The leader looked at the three Dragons again, let out a crisp cry, then turned, spread its wings gently, and flew off into the distance.
After flying a distance, it looked back, clearly signaling for the three Dragons to follow.
The Fire Dragon, Earth Dragon, and Wind Dragon looked at each other, their eyes igniting with the light of hope.
The Fire Dragon carefully picked up Jiang Bai again, secured him on the Earth Dragon’s back, and the three Dragons followed closely behind the Emerald Swans.
After crossing another stretch of forest, they arrived at a massive cluster of lakes.
The lake water here was astonishingly clear; one could clearly see the swaying aquatic plants and small fish swimming beneath the surface.
Scattered across the lake were several islands of varying sizes, covered in trees of peculiar shapes, their leaves shimmering with an emerald luster under the sunlight.
The deeper they flew, the more intense the aura of life permeating the air became.
Occasionally, they could see flocks of Emerald Swans gliding on the lake, preening their feathers.
Seeing this strange procession fly by, they would curiously look up, but showed no hostility.
Finally, the leading swan led them to land on the edge of the shore of the largest Lake Heart Island.
A ring of strange flowers emitting a soft white light grew along the lakeshore, and the air was filled with a sweet, fresh floral fragrance.
The leading swan arched its slender neck and let out a melodious, winding cry.
Almost as the cry faded, an elegant and noble figure slowly rose from the direction of the dense forest in the center of the Lake Heart Island.
At first glance, the figure resembled an ordinary Emerald Swan, but as she flew closer, the differences were obvious.
Her form was more slender and perfect, her wings spanning a full ten meters when spread, every feather looking as if it had been carved from the finest white jade.
As she landed on the shore, light swirled around her body, and her form shifted rapidly, transforming into a human!
She was a stunningly beautiful woman with a tall, graceful figure. Her emerald green hair cascaded behind her like a waterfall.
Her eyes were a similarly deep emerald green. She wore a simple water-green dress, the material resembling gauze yet not quite, which drifted gently with her movements, outlining her slender and perfect curves.
Her exposed arms were as white and tender as lotus roots, and most striking were the translucent emerald green wings on her back, which were currently folding slowly.
She stepped barefoot onto the soft grass by the lake, her ankles delicate and exquisite, quite alluring.
Bi Ji, Clan Chief of the Emerald Swan clan, the most powerful healing-type Spirit Beast in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, a being with five hundred thousand years of cultivation.
Her gaze swept calmly over the strange combination of three Dragons and one human, a flash of surprise appearing in her emerald eyes before returning to calm.
"You..." Bi Ji spoke, her voice gentle and pleasant, "why would you save this human?"
There was no hostility in her tone, only pure curiosity.
As the Clan Chief of the Emerald Swan clan, Bi Ji’s personality was an anomaly among Spirit Beasts.
She was pure, kind, and possessed a natural compassion for life.
Although she knew of the conflicts and hatred between humans and Spirit Beasts, she was not so extreme as to hold deep malice toward all humans.
The Wind Dragon stepped forward, lowered its head, and explained using its Mental Energy.
"—Aba Aba—"
"...Therefore, we did not actively form a contract with the human, but rather, it is a special connection generated after our master’s Spirit mutated."
The Wind Dragon concluded.
"Our Souls are one with our master; if he dies, we will also dissipate. We implore you, Senior, to lend a hand; we are willing to pay any price."
Bi Ji listened quietly, a glimmer of thought flashing in her emerald eyes from time to time.
When she heard that Jiang Bai’s Spirit was a mutated Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, capable of housing Spirit Beast Souls through spirit rings and establishing a symbiotic relationship, she showed clear interest.
"So that’s how it is—" she murmured to herself, "Human Spirits—they truly are miraculous. In all my long life, I have never heard of this type of mutation."
She walked slowly to Jiang Bai’s side, crouched down, extended her hand, which was as white as jade, and hovered it gently above Jiang Bai’s chest.
Emerald green light flowed from her palm, purer and richer than the healing light of the previous Emerald Swan.
The light slowly seeped into Jiang Bai’s body.
The purple-black, evil aura within Jiang Bai surged out again in an attempt to resist, but before Bi Ji’s power, it was like snow meeting the scorching sun, rapidly melting and dissipating.
Wherever the emerald light passed, dead tissue was gently removed, new granulation tissue grew and connected at a visible rate, and broken bones were precisely aligned and healed.
A while later, when Bi Ji withdrew her hand, the gruesome wounds on Jiang Bai’s body had completely disappeared, his skin restored to its original smoothness, leaving only a few faint traces of new pink flesh.
His breathing became steady and strong, and although his complexion was still somewhat pale, it no longer carried the aura of death.
Bi Ji did not stand up immediately; instead, she pressed her hand gently against Jiang Bai’s forehead and closed her eyes.
A more delicate and gentle Soul Power probed into Jiang Bai’s body, carefully checking every Meridian and every organ.
After a moment, she opened her eyes, a flash of understanding in them.
"His physical injuries have basically healed." Bi Ji stood up and looked at the three Dragons watching her nervously.
"But his Soul seems to still be in a state of deep slumber. This requires time to slowly repair; it is difficult for external forces to directly intervene."
She paused, then continued.
"You may stay on the outskirts of the lake for a few days until he wakes up naturally. During this time, do not disturb the lives of my clansmen, and do not leave this area; the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest are not friendly to outsiders like you. Especially humans!"
"Thank you, Senior, for saving his life!"
The three Dragons bowed their heads simultaneously, their voices filled with sincere gratitude.
Bi Ji nodded slightly and was just about to turn and leave when a rustling sound suddenly came from the direction of the woods by the lake, and immediately after, a golden figure darted out like lightning!
It was a strange Spirit Beast.
It was over a meter long, about three feet tall at the shoulder, and its entire body was covered in a layer of brilliant golden fur.
Its overall form was very much like a lion, but its four claws were as sharp as Dragon claws, and under each claw stepped a flickering golden flame.
Most peculiar was that it had three eyes, with a third vertical pupil growing on its forehead!
The two normal eyes were brilliant gold, while the middle vertical pupil was a deep, blood-red.
It ran extremely fast, reaching Bi Ji’s side in the blink of an eye.
"Sister Bi Ji~~"
A crisp, slightly childish female voice rang out.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion affectionately rubbed its head against Bi Ji’s fair, slender legs.
A trace of doting flashed in Bi Ji’s eyes as she reached out and rubbed the Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s large, furry head.
"You little one, why did you run over here? Where is Chi Wang?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion squinted its three eyes comfortably and said in a muffled voice.
"Uncle Chi Wang said he wanted to rest for a few days, so he let me come find Sister Bi Ji to play!"
As she spoke, she curiously turned her head, looking around.
Her gaze swept over the Emerald Swans respectfully bowing their heads, swept over the three Dragons, and then—
Fixed on Jiang Bai lying on the ground.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s three eyes widened simultaneously.
A human?
How could there be a human here?
And—Sister Bi Ji is actually treating a human?
A bold, gossipy thought instantly formed in her mind.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion raised a front paw, pointed at Jiang Bai, then pointed at Bi Ji, her tone carrying a teasing smile.
"Sister Bi Ji, why do you have a human here? Could it be that you like—"
"Ouch!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Bi Ji had already curled her finger and flicked her gently on her furry forehead.
Bi Ji put her hands on her hips, staring at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion with her emerald eyes, her tone carrying a bit of helplessness and feigned anger.
"You little thing, what are you thinking about all day long! Do you think that’s possible?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion rubbed the spot where she had been flicked with her front paw, her three eyes rolling around.
She looked at Bi Ji’s stunning and serious face, then looked at the unconscious, handsome youth on the ground, tilted her head to think for two seconds, and then slowly spat out two words.
"Hard to say."