Soon, word spread among the seven elders that Skyler Ling had reached the first layer of Qi Refining in just three days.
When they heard the news, they were first amazed, then regretful—because Skyler Ling was not female by birth. No matter how talented he was, he couldn't cultivate the Jade Maiden Sect's core art. Otherwise, maybe the sect would have produced a Nascent Soul master!
That day, Ian Song sat cross-legged atop a man-high round boulder halfway up the mountain, absorbing spiritual energy. Not far away, Lana Snow and Lena Ling quietly arrived and watched him cultivate in silence.
Before, Skyler Ling was just one candidate. Now, with his Spirit-Link Body, even if no one else goes, he has to go.
"Here are some rewards for Skyler Ling—give them to him. I need to go consult with your seven senior uncles and aunts about Myriad Spirits Island. Also, now that Skyler Ling has joined our Jade Maiden Sect, he needs a proper Dao-name. 'Second Fool' is just too... crude!"
At this, Lena seemed to think of something and stopped talking.
"You mean it's a shame he joined our Jade Maiden Sect, right?" Lana smiled.
"Don't get me wrong, Master, I didn't mean it that way," Lena Ling laughed.
"Heavens, Sect Master, are you sure Skyler Ling has a Spirit-Link Body?"
"Thank you, Master!"
"Haha, it's a good thing we accepted Skyler Ling into the sect. If we'd really kicked him out, we'd regret it for the rest of our lives!" Shayne Snow said with a laugh, deliberately glancing at the stiff-faced Yara Snow.
"What's wrong?" Lana Snow raised her voice slightly when she saw Lena Ling suddenly space out.
"Ah, Master, I just thought of something I need to report to you."
"What is it?"
"Actually, Skyler Ling has a Spirit-Link Body!"
"What!" Lana Snow's voice rose again, her expression full of surprise and delight. But after a moment's thought, recalling how all three third-rank spirit beasts were so close to Skyler Ling, she was almost certain it was true.
Before, she thought the three third-rank spirit beasts only liked Skyler Ling because of his cooking, but now she realized she'd been thinking too narrowly.
"When did you find out about this?"
After a moment, Lana Snow fixed her gaze on Lena Ling and asked.
"Before he joined the Jade Maiden Sect!" Lena Ling answered honestly. She knew that even if she lied, she couldn't fool her master's sharp eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"
"I just forgot, Master—I'm only remembering now!" Lena Ling protested.
Hearing her disciple's excuse, Lana Snow couldn't help but laugh and sigh. Still, the news came at the perfect time: in just one month, Myriad Spirits Island would open. These days, she and the seven elders had been discussing who to send.
Before, Second Fool was just one candidate. Now, with his Spirit-Link Body, even if no one else goes, he has to go.
"Here are some rewards for Second Fool—give them to him. I need to go consult with your seven senior uncles and aunts about Myriad Spirits Island. Also, now that Second Fool has joined our Jade Maiden Sect, he needs a proper Dao-name. 'Second Fool' is just too... crude!"
After giving her instructions, Lana Snow hurried away.
A quarter of an hour later, at the sect master's courtyard.
"What!"
"Heavens, Sect Master, are you sure Second Fool has a Spirit-Link Body?"
"This is unbelievable!"
"Haha, it's a good thing we accepted Second Fool into the sect. If we'd really kicked him out, we'd regret it for the rest of our lives!" Shayne Snow said with a laugh, deliberately glancing at the stiff-faced Yara Snow.
Halfway up the mountain.
Ian Song exhaled a mouthful of stale air, jumped down from the boulder, and headed straight for Lena Ling nearby.
"Senior Sister, what brings you here?"
"Skyler Ling, Skyler Ling!" Leah Ling repeated the name twice, then said seriously, "Hmm, it sounds much better than your old nickname."
"What are these?" Ian Song pretended not to know.
"The pouch contains three low-grade spirit crystals. Using them for cultivation is many times faster than absorbing ambient spiritual energy. The jade bottle holds two physique-tempering pills—Master was worried you'd progress too quickly and neglect your body's foundation, so she sent you these!"
"Thank you, Sect Master!"
Ian Song said gratefully.
"By the way, I've already told Master about your Spirit-Link Body. Because of that, the sect will definitely value you even more!"
"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Ian Song bowed deeply, his face full of gratitude.
"I don't care about words—if you really want to thank me, give me ten bottles of that Maotai liquor!"
"Senior Sister, brewing Maotai isn't easy. You need to drink it sparingly!" Ian Song took ten bottles of Maotai from his storage pouch and handed them to Lena Ling, adding, "That's a week's worth. Once you finish these, I won't have any more."
"You talk too much, brat!" Lena Ling waved her hand, and the ten bottles of Maotai vanished into her storage ring.
"Alright, I'm off. Oh, and think up a Dao-name for yourself—just make sure it starts with 'Ling.'"
"Isn't a Dao-name supposed to be bestowed by a senior? Why do I have to come up with my own?" It reminded Ian of his middle school days, when teachers made him pick an English name.
Still, what kind of Dao-name should he choose?
"Ling Yan? No, that's too opportunistic!"
"Ling Jian? Too tacky!"
Suddenly, inspiration struck Ian Song—a name popped into his mind.
Then Ian Song clapped his hands and declared, "From now on, my Dao-name is Skyler Ling!"
"Skyler Ling?"
Just then, a plainly dressed young woman walked over, eyeing Ian Song with curiosity.
"Oh, Senior Sister Leah Ling! Skyler Ling is my Dao-name." Ian Song replied with a smile.
"Skyler Ling, Skyler Ling!" Leah Ling repeated the name twice, then said seriously, "Hmm, it sounds much better than 'Second Fool.'"
"Mhm!"
Ian Song's face darkened.
"By the way, Senior Sister Leah Ling, did you come here for something?"
"Sigh, breakfast in the canteen has been awful lately. Yours was so much better." As she spoke, Leah Ling unconsciously rubbed her stomach.
"Really? I was just about to make breakfast. Would you like some, Senior Sister?" Ian Song asked with a smile.
"Yes, please!"
Leah Ling clapped her hands, clearly delighted.
Half an hour later, Ian Song finished making breakfast and set it out on the wooden table.
"Wow, it smells amazing!"
Seeing the soup dumplings and pork congee with century egg on the table, Leah Ling eagerly grabbed a bun and popped it in her mouth, but immediately cried out, "Ow, it's hot!"