Jade Maiden Sect, in the palace courtyard where Sect Master Lana Snow resides.
Lana Snow's gaze slowly swept over the seven elders present, including Yara Snow, and said with some excitement, "Ever since our master passed away, Redfeather Crane Lord has been listless and uninterested in anything, not even leaving the Spirit Beast Stables for decades. But this time, it was lured out by the soup dumplings made by Second Fool. I have to say, this is really good news."
"Indeed."
Elder Shayne Snow nodded in strong agreement. "It truly is good news. Redfeather Crane Lord isn’t just an ordinary third-rank spirit beast—it has the bloodline of the ancient Fire Phoenix. If it can break through to the Golden Core Realm, its strength could sweep the entire Golden Core stage and become a new pillar of our Jade Maiden Sect. Unfortunately, since the old sect master’s passing, Redfeather Crane Lord has lost its former spirit, and if this goes on, it will surely affect its temperament. Now, however, it’s been tempted out of the Spirit Beast Stables by Second Fool’s buns. Next, we should have Second Fool make more delicacies for Redfeather Crane Lord to help it recover its old vitality as soon as possible!"
"As far as I know, Second Fool has just over two months before he turns sixteen. According to our ancestral rules, no adult male can remain on Jade Maiden Peak!" Elder Yara Snow suddenly spoke up.
Hearing this, Lana Snow’s expression darkened slightly. "That is indeed a problem." After a moment of thought, she continued, "How about this: for the next two months, let Second Fool focus on making the best food possible for Redfeather Crane Lord. If, during this time, Redfeather Crane Lord regains its former vitality, we’ll reward him generously when he leaves. If not, we can discuss other solutions then."
"I support the sect master’s proposal," said Elder Shayne Snow.
"I agree as well!"
Yara Snow nodded. As long as the sect rules weren’t violated, she naturally had no reason to object.
The other five elders also voiced their support one after another.
Lana Snow nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "Since no one objects, I’ll send Lena Ling to inform Second Fool and make sure he satisfies all of Redfeather Crane Lord’s requests!"
While the sect master and elders were meeting, news that Redfeather Crane Lord had gone to the canteen for soup dumplings spread throughout the entire Jade Maiden Sect.
For a while, all the disciples who hadn’t tasted the soup dumplings secretly guessed that they must be unbelievably delicious. Otherwise, how could they have tempted Redfeather Crane Lord, who hadn’t left the Spirit Beast Stables in decades?
At the same time, Second Fool’s name spread across the entire Jade Maiden Sect. Except for those first-generation disciples in deep seclusion, everyone in the sect now knew who he was.
That night, while Ian Song was still cleaning the canteen, Lena Ling arrived again.
This time she hadn’t been drinking. She beckoned Ian over warmly. "Second Fool, come here."
"Greetings, Fairy Lena Ling!" Ian greeted her respectfully.
Lena Ling eyed him curiously, then playfully punched his chest. "You rascal, you’ve got some real skills! You actually managed to bring Redfeather Crane Lord out of the Spirit Beast Stables. Come on, tell me—how did you do it?"
Everyone else thought Redfeather Crane Lord was drawn by the aroma of Ian’s soup dumplings, but Lena Ling had chatted with him at length the night before. So when she heard the news, she was suspicious: the Spirit Beast Stables are so far from the canteen, even with Redfeather Crane Lord’s keen sense of smell, it couldn’t possibly have scented the buns from that distance. She strongly suspected Second Fool had done something special to lure Redfeather Crane Lord over.
Ian glanced around theatrically, pretending to be guilty, then whispered to Lena Ling, "Actually, I can communicate with spirit beasts. This time, I deliberately invited Redfeather Crane Lord over to help me."
"Spirit-link!"
Hearing Ian’s words, Lena Ling was stunned, her face full of shock and disbelief. Anyone with a Spirit-Link Body would be fiercely contested by all the major cultivation sects.
She never would have imagined that Second Fool, treated as a chore boy in the Jade Maiden Sect, actually possessed such a rare Spirit-Link Body.
"Fairy Lena Ling, what is a Spirit-Link Body?" Seeing Lena Ling’s shocked expression, Ian asked in confusion.
Lena Ling took out a jug of wine from her Storage Ring, drank a mouthful, and said, "Second Fool, let me tell you: the Spirit-Link Body is an extremely rare constitution. Anyone with it—even the Prime One Church—would scramble to recruit you!"
Ian deliberately put on a bewildered look.
Lena Ling quickly explained, "The Prime One Church is the largest cultivation sect in the Tang Dynasty, and a true Immortal personally sits in town there."
Ian nodded "confusedly." "What about our Jade Maiden Sect? Do we have any true Immortals?"
Seeing Ian actually compare the Jade Maiden Sect to the Prime One Church, Lena Ling was speechless. She slapped the back of his head, exasperated. "Just remember, the Prime One Church is the strongest cultivation sect in the Tang Dynasty. Now, let me tell you about the wonders of the Spirit-Link Body. In our world, besides humans, there are two other kinds of beings: demonic beasts and spirit beasts."
Demonic beasts are bloodthirsty and savage, fond of devouring humans. Spirit beasts, on the other hand, are friendly to humans, don’t eat people, and can even become our battle partners.
Both spirit beasts and demonic beasts are divided into nine ranks—rank one is the weakest, rank nine the strongest. Those who reach rank nine, whether demonic or spirit beast, can rival true Immortals.
"Back to the Spirit-Link Body—do you know where our Jade Maiden Sect’s spirit beasts come from?"
Ian shook his head. "No idea."
Lena Ling said, "They’re all invited back from Myriad Spirits Mountain."
"Myriad Spirits Mountain? Where’s that?" Ian asked.
A trace of nostalgia flashed across Lena Ling’s face. "Myriad Spirits Mountain isn’t within our Tang Dynasty—it’s on a very distant island. Every year, for one month, all the cultivation sects can go to the mountain on that island to choose spirit beasts. As long as a spirit beast there is willing to follow you, you can bring it back!"
People with the Spirit-Link Body are much more likely to win the recognition of spirit beasts and can bring them back more easily. That’s why all the major sects fight over anyone with this constitution!
"Can’t you just capture those spirit beasts by force?" Ian suddenly asked.
"Of course not!"
A wary look flashed across Lena Ling’s face. "There are plenty of ninth-rank spirit beasts on Myriad Spirits Mountain. If they catch anyone trying to forcibly capture their offspring, the consequences would be disastrous!"
At this, Lena Ling looked a little reluctant. "Second Fool, listen to me: with your constitution, if you join the Prime One Church, your future will be limitless. If you’re willing, I’ll send you there myself in two months. What do you say?"
"No, I’m not going to the Prime One Church. I want to join the Jade Maiden Sect!" Looking at Lena Ling, Ian declared with unwavering determination.