Chapter 249: I Just Love This Untamable Kind
These spiritual beasts started to approach, but were suppressed by Chu Qi’s relatively powerful aura.
They appeared timid and hesitant.
Only a few bold spiritual beasts drew near Zhan Sheng, opening their mouths in what looked like eager anticipation.
Zhan Sheng narrowed her eyes slightly.
’Spiritual beasts being drawn to me? That doesn’t seem right.’
In her real life, she had the kind of personality that animals just didn’t like.
Even passing dogs would tuck their tails between their legs at the sight of her.
"Strange."
Chu Qi scratched her head, quickly convincing herself. "They like you!"
Zhan Sheng: "..."
"That’s great! You actually have a personality that spiritual beasts are drawn to, so choosing one won’t be hard for you. Let me tell you, there’s a knack to picking them. Since we’re from Green Bamboo Ridge, our cultivation techniques lean toward the Wood Element, so it’s best to choose a Wood Element spiritual beast."
"Growth System spiritual beasts can grow alongside our cultivation. As long as you treat it well, the spiritual beast will evolve and advance in rank when it reaches a certain stage. Some can even grow from the First Rank all the way to the Sixth Rank!"
Zhan Sheng asked curiously, "None higher than the Seventh Rank?"
"That’s very difficult, almost impossible," Chu Qi said. "It all depends on the bloodline. A spiritual beast above the Seventh Rank has to be born from a Seventh Rank spiritual beast. Even though we’re in the Taixue Sect, spiritual beasts with good bloodlines are claimed by the other elders as soon as they’re born. Our cultivation is still low, so it’s not our turn for the best spiritual beasts. However, our selection is already quite large. Ordinary disciples don’t get to choose Growth System spiritual beasts; they can only pick from among these cubs at or below the Third Rank."
"Besides, we won’t have just one spiritual beast in our entire lives. Our master prefers us to build a solid foundation first, so he won’t let us start with one that’s too powerful."
Zhan Sheng asked thoughtfully, "What about your spiritual beast, Chu Qi?"
"It’s resting in my room. It’s about to evolve to the Third Rank, so it can’t just go out whenever."
Chu Qi suddenly recalled something and added, "But there’s another possibility, though it’s quite rare. You should have come across this in your recent studies, right? Spiritual beasts can undergo atavism."
"’Atavism...’" Zhan Sheng mulled it over. "I did see that, but the explanation wasn’t very detailed. It only mentioned that spiritual beasts have a chance to experience bloodline atavism."
She had a general idea of what atavism meant.
In the modern world, it represented a form of regression.
But on the Yunzhou Continent, atavism was a stunning form of evolution.
"Right. Some spiritual beasts carry, to some extent, a trace of an Ancient Holy Beast’s bloodline." Chu Qi made a wildly exaggerated gesture. "But it’s just a tiny trace! In all these years, I’ve only ever heard of one case of atavism at the Li Yun Sect. An ordinary spiritual beast underwent atavism and awakened the Vermilion Bird bloodline."
That didn’t mean it became a true Vermilion Bird, though.
Rather, through bloodline atavism, it gained a portion of the Vermilion Bird’s power.
That portion of power alone was enough to allow a Cultivator to rise to incredible heights overnight.
Zhan Sheng mentally filed this information away. She could contribute it later by sharing it with the other players.
After all, it wasn’t exactly top-secret information.
The Hundred Herbs Garden, where the spiritual beasts were raised, was enormous. Chu Qi continued to fly forward with Zhan Sheng on the Jade Flute. Countless spiritual beasts ran below them, while winged ones occasionally zipped through the sky.
The higher-ranked ones were less afraid of people.
They even approached Zhan Sheng and Chu Qi out of curiosity.
Most of the beasts here were young, however; the adults had generally already been claimed.
After all, the Beast Taming Sect didn’t just train beasts for its own members; it was also responsible for selling them.
But the highest-ranked cubs here were only at the Fourth Rank.
Recalling the different gates they had passed, Zhan Sheng guessed the High-level beasts weren’t in this area.
"We’re here!"
Chu Qi pointed to the area below them. They had arrived in a new, secluded valley where the spiritual beasts were mostly Wood Element, suitable for them.
Most Wood Element beasts were terrestrial. As Zhan Sheng glanced over them, she was dazzled by the sheer variety.
Being the responsible senior sister, Chu Qi dutifully explained, "If you see one you like, go and pet it. If it doesn’t resist, that means you can claim it. Spiritual beasts usually run away from unfamiliar Cultivators."
Zhan Sheng landed on the ground. Just as she was about to start looking, she saw a dozen or so spiritual beasts of all different kinds come running toward her from all sides.
They scrambled over each other to get close to her.
They were very enthusiastic.
So enthusiastic, in fact, that a few opened their mouths as if to bite Zhan Sheng.
Zhan Sheng: "..."
’It feels less like they’re afraid of me and more like they want to eat me.’
’How terrifying.’
It even made her wonder if there was something wrong with her body.
And indeed there was. She already knew her body was made from a puppet, and that the puppet’s materials consisted mostly of medicine powder.
’—And these spiritual beasts like to chew on plants.’
’Case closed.’
’Looks like the Longevity Sect will have to be careful about raising spiritual beasts from now on.’
But she couldn’t possibly let them actually take a bite.
Zhan Sheng gestured to shoo them away. The spiritual beasts weren’t very brave; a single wave from her made them take a step back.
They watched her with hesitation.
Chu Qi was confused. "Huh? Do they like you that much? They all want to get close to you?"
Her eyes filled with envy. "I don’t remember them liking me this much when I first came to pick one."
Zhan Sheng said calmly, "Are all of these Growth System spiritual beasts?"
"Pretty much. Most of them are."
That was why there were only a few different species.
There were many duplicates among the dozen or so beasts.
In the distance, other spiritual beasts watched them, tilting their heads in curiosity.
There were rabbit-like ones with enormous tails, and vine-type spiritual beasts resembling treants that moved by hopping on their tendrils.
Mixed in with them were a few Fire Element spiritual beasts that clearly didn’t belong—fluffy little lion-like creatures with long, thin tails.
But they moved with the hopping gait of a puppy.
They bounced around Zhan Sheng.
Every so often, one would spit out a Fireball.
But the Fireball would extinguish before it got far, looking like a smoke ring puffed from its mouth, which was utterly adorable.
This type of spiritual beast was called a Fire Crow Beast. It could grow up to the Fifth Rank and had very strong attack power. Its initial Fireballs could eventually become fiery tornadoes.
It was a popular choice among many Cultivators.
The system suddenly spoke up. "Take the one leaning against the tree."
Zhan Sheng paused and followed the system’s direction with her gaze. A lone Fire Crow Beast was leaning against a tree, looking utterly bored as it swished its long, thin tail. It hadn’t approached them.
When their eyes met, the Fire Crow Beast froze for a moment before suddenly spitting at Zhan Sheng.
Zhan Sheng: "..."
System: "Yes, that’s the one! I love the rebellious, untamable ones!"
Zhan Sheng: "..."
She hesitated for a second, then pointed at the Fire Crow Beast and said to Chu Qi, "How about that one?"
"Huh?"
Chu Qi looked over, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Are you sure? Our Spirit Transformation Technique allows us to borrow some of our spiritual beast’s power, so a Fire Element one would work... but it’s best we lean toward the Wood Element, since our Cultivation Technique is Wood Element-based."
Fire and Wood clash with each other.
But as long as it wasn’t her Cultivation Technique itself, having a single spiritual beast of a clashing element was manageable.