Originally, everyone thought Fletcher Toba would go head-to-head with Warren Tang, but unexpectedly he just laughed and said, "Since someone doesn't welcome us, Xian'er, let's go!"
Watching the Toba siblings leave, Warren Tang frowned, sensing something off about Fletcher Toba. He thought for a long time but couldn't figure out the reason, so he asked Lila Li, "Junior Sister, do you think Fletcher Toba might have some scheme?"
Lila Li chuckled softly, "Most likely he's just putting on an act. Even if he does have a scheme, as long as Senior Brother keeps his emotions in check, he won't fall for it."
Warren Tang nodded in full agreement, "Junior Sister is absolutely right."
Skyler Ling also nodded quietly to himself. Lila Li was truly a perceptive and thoughtful woman, unlike Warren Tang, who was far too emotional and had just been completely led around by Fletcher Toba.
Another two days passed, and more and more Immortal-Dao cultivators arrived in this small town. There were likely no fewer than ten thousand people now.
However, the strongest among them were only at the Deity Transformation stage, and there were just nine such experts.
Six of them were Warren Tang and Lila Li, the Saint Son and Saintess of the Prime One Church of the Tang Dynasty; Fletcher Toba and his sister, the Divine Son and Divine Daughter of the Fire God Church of the Fire God Nation; and Damien Chi and Mira Xuan, the Witch Son and Witch Daughter of the Witch God Church of the Ming Dynasty.
The remaining three experts deliberately hid their identities and origins, so Skyler Ling had no way of knowing where they came from.
During these two days, Skyler Ling kept up his cute and harmless act, sticking close to Warren Tang and Lila Li. Through their conversations, he learned a lot about major events in the world and gained a much deeper understanding of this place.
First off, this continent is called Southsky Continent, and the most powerful force here is the High Zhou Imperium.
The Tang Dynasty, Fire God Nation, and Ming Dynasty are all vassal states of the High Zhou Imperium.
The official state church of the High Zhou Imperium is called the Phoenix Heaven Church.
It's said that there are over a hundred Immortals within the Phoenix Heaven Church, making it unimaginably powerful.
As for the state churches of the three dynasties, they're far weaker than the Phoenix Heaven Church—honestly, there's just no comparison.
There are only nine Deity Transformation experts, but the number of Out-of-Body experts is much higher—up to two hundred. Nascent Soul experts number over a thousand, and there are simply too many Golden Core cultivators to count.
So with Skyler Ling only at peak Qi-Refining tenth layer, among all these Immortal-Dao cultivators, he was basically a weak nobody—completely unremarkable.
Tomorrow, Myriad Spirits Island will open, meaning everyone can go onto the island to tame spirit beasts.
That night, at the wine table.
After tasting a pastry made by Skyler Ling, Lila Li said to him, "Little Skyler, once you get onto the island tomorrow, don't go too deep. Just tame one spirit beast and leave right away. Don't get greedy, okay?"
"Thank you for the reminder, Sister Li. I will," Skyler Ling nodded seriously.
Warren Tang raised his wine cup and said, "Myriad Spirits Island probably won't be peaceful this time. The longer you stay, the greater the danger. We're only warning you because we feel a bit of kinship with you!"
Skyler Ling thanked them again, "Thank you, Brother Tang and Sister Li. By the way, what might happen on Myriad Spirits Island?"
Warren Tang's expression darkened, and his tone grew cold. "Don't ask about things you shouldn't know. Knowing too much won't do you any good."
"Yes, Brother Tang. I understand," Skyler Ling replied respectfully.
Skyler Ling nodded. After spending several days together, he'd figured out Warren Tang's personality—proud, arrogant, impulsive, and especially protective of his own junior sister, as if afraid someone might steal her away.
After finishing the wine, Skyler Ling had just returned to his room when he was summoned to Abbess Yvonne's quarters.
Everyone was present.
Abbess Yvonne spoke gravely, "Tomorrow, Myriad Spirits Island will open. The deeper you go, the higher the rank of spirit beasts you'll encounter. But remember, you can go no farther than two hundred li into the island. If you cross that limit, return immediately. Is that clear?"
"Yes!" everyone replied in unison.
"All right, now I'll assign teams. Team One will be led by Shayne Snow, with Lena Ling and Lacey Ling following Elder Shayne. Team Two will be led by Yara Snow, with Leah Ling and Jade Snow following Elder Yara. Is everyone clear?"
"Understood," everyone replied again.
"That's all. Everyone go rest—tomorrow at the hour of the dragon, we'll set out."
Back in his own room, Skyler Ling lay on his bed, thinking things over. If he guessed right, Warren Tang and the others were all heading to Myriad Spirits Island for the Spirit Beast King.
Spirit beasts are divided into nine ranks, but what rank is the Spirit Beast King?
Skyler Ling couldn't figure it out.
"How could I be so clueless?"
Suddenly, Skyler Ling slapped his own forehead, and in a flash, entered the Divine Temple's Scripture Repository. He called out to the flying books overhead, "Are there any books about spirit beasts?"
Whoosh!
A black book landed in his hand.
After spending an hour reading through the book, Skyler Ling finally understood what the Spirit Beast King really was.
Simply put, beasts are divided into three categories: mortal beasts, immortal beasts, and divine beasts.
Mortal beasts include demon beasts, spirit beasts, fierce beasts, and magic beasts.
The so-called Spirit Beast King is actually a mortal beast that carries immortal beast blood—a descendant of immortal beasts, to put it simply.
Once it reaches adulthood, its strength far surpasses that of other spirit beasts.
The greatest potential for a mortal beast's evolution comes from its bloodline—the higher the grade, the greater the potential for growth.
Take the Jade Maiden Sect's Redfeather Crane, Jade-Eye Toad, and Blackflame Tiger—these three spirit beasts all have ordinary bloodlines. Even at their peak, they can only reach rank five, and even then, it's highly unlikely.
This book lists tens of thousands of spirit beasts and demon beasts with superior bloodlines. The Redfeather Crane, Jade-Eye Toad, and Blackflame Tiger aren't included—they don't qualify.
After putting the book back, Skyler Ling entered the training chamber, set the time to one hundred times acceleration, and began cultivating.
The more he learned about this world, the stronger his motivation to cultivate became.
With the Divine Temple's vast collection of techniques and immortal arts, plus the system's support—and the Divine Temple itself as a cheat—he was like someone cultivating atop a giant's shoulders. If he still got surpassed by others, he might as well bash his head against a block of tofu.
After a night of cultivation, Skyler Ling felt his cultivation had advanced significantly, drawing even closer to the Out-of-Body stage.
At the hour of the dragon, the Jade Maiden Sect group left the inn and boarded the treasure ship bound for Myriad Spirits Island.
As the Jade Maiden Sect's treasure ship rose into the sky, countless other treasure ships followed suit, creating a spectacular sight.
After a quarter of an hour, the treasure ship landed at the edge of a massive island.
As soon as Skyler Ling set foot on the island, he felt a suppressive force—sure enough, flight was forbidden here.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Watching groups charge into the island, Shayne Snow couldn't help but urge, "Lena Ling, Lacey Ling, hurry and follow me!"
"Yes!"
The two answered in unison and quickly followed Shayne Snow into the island's interior.
After traveling ten li into the island, the three saw three men surrounding a small snow-white fox.
"It's a rank-two spirit beast—Snowfox!"
As soon as she saw the little fox, Shayne Snow's eyes lit up and her face showed regret. If they'd hurried, maybe they could've found the Snowfox first.