The disciples of the Wushuang Sect all carried a hint of pride on their faces.
Other cultivators had to run around searching for opportunities. They, on the other hand, had one chance after another delivered right to their doorstep. With conditions this perfect, if they still couldn't surpass disciples from other sects, they might as well cut their own throats.
"This is only the first small world. Based on what I know about the Sect Master, if there's one, there'll definitely be a second. I bet more small worlds will be opened later."
"Of course. Come on, let's go find our spiritual beast partners first."
Chatting excitedly, the Wushuang Sect disciples rushed toward the Library Pavilion.
For the next few days, they needed to hurry and comprehend the Divine Mind Codex. The rewards from the Trial Tower also gave direct proficiency boosts to cultivation methods.
They had to open their Beast Space as soon as possible.
It was another small world. If they didn't go explore, wouldn't that be a huge waste?
Talking nonstop, the disciples streamed out of the Mission Hall.
A whole group of super spiritual beasts stood nearby, trying their best to look reserved. When they heard the disciples say they were going to find spiritual beast partners, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Partners, huh.
What kind of partner could be better than a super spiritual beast?
In their minds, once those disciples came begging, they would act a little aloof, put up some tests, and as long as the disciples showed enough sincerity, forming a contract wouldn't be impossible.
That was what the super spiritual beasts thought.
However, the disciples of the Wushuang Sect simply walked right past them and left the Mission Hall. Not a single person invited any of them.
All the beasts froze.
Were these humans blind? Were the Wushuang Sect disciples actually blind?
They ignored super spiritual beasts like them and went off to look for others?
Di Xiao glanced at the beasts and spoke calmly. "These past two years, many spiritual beasts have formed contracts with Wushuang Sect disciples, yet not a single super spiritual beast has done so. The times have changed, but you're still acting as if you're above everyone else. Given that attitude, why should they bother warming up to cold faces like yours?"
He paused, his tone carrying deeper meaning. "Wushuang Sect disciples never lack opportunities. A super spiritual beast partner might be a nice bonus to them, but it's not essential. Even I lowered myself to become the sect's Guardian Divine Beast. And you think you can stay lofty forever? If you keep acting like this, no one will ever choose you."
The faces of the super spiritual beasts shifted.
They didn't want to admit it, but everything he said was true.
And he was already being polite about it.
"Mother." The young Tongtian Hou cub, Xiao Bao, suddenly raised his head to look at Sang Qing. "I want to go to the spiritual beast world. Can I ask that big sister to take me?"
Xiao Bao looked at her expectantly.
The sister he mentioned was Li Xiaoran.
Xiao Bao guarded the first trial in the Celestial Divine Palace. Every time a Wushuang Sect disciple restarted the trials, they always had to pass him first.
Li Xiaoran was the one who attempted the trials the most. When she first joined, her strength was still weak. Each time she lost, Xiao Bao had to hold back carefully so he wouldn't accidentally crush her confidence.
Yet no matter how many times she failed, she never showed disappointment. She just threw herself into the next attempt with even more energy.
As time passed, she grew stronger and stronger.
At first she was a mortal. Two years later she'd already formed her Golden Core and was close to breaking through to Nascent Soul.
Compared to a Unity stage cub like Xiao Bao, she was still far too weak. But after fighting her so many times, seeing her spirit never waver, something in his heart had quietly changed.
Sometimes she even stopped to chat with him.
She said she wanted to travel to countless places in the future. She wanted to find many trustworthy partners. She said this world was too exciting, and she wanted to keep walking forward forever.
Whenever she said those words, her eyes would shine.
Xiao Bao, originally a carefree little cub, eventually found himself wanting to go on adventures with her.
He had told his mother about this before. At that time, she refused immediately.
Even a balanced contract was unacceptable to her. She believed it was a humiliation to super spiritual beasts.
But now, Xiao Bao felt that her thoughts had shifted.
A complicated light flashed in Sang Qing's eyes. She gently patted his head. "Go."
Joy lit up Xiao Bao's face. He hopped away happily to look for Li Xiaoran.
Rong Zhou let out a sigh. "Stop restricting these children. Let them choose their own partners."
All the beasts nodded.
The younger super spiritual beasts had witnessed the rapid growth of Wushuang Sect disciples these past years. Many of them had already thought about picking a partner, but their elders had always stopped them.
Now that the elders had finally relented, the young beasts naturally rushed off excitedly to find someone they liked.
"Every Wushuang Sect disciple has limitless potential. They won't waste the future of any partner." Di Xiao said.
Rong Zhou and the others nodded.
The super spiritual beasts were already undergoing a subtle change.
-
Meanwhile, Yun Jin had already arrived at the Holy City.
She looked around with curiosity.
This was the spiritual beast small world, and it had its own unique charm.
Inside the Holy City, all kinds of buildings were mixed together. There were stone houses and caves. From time to time, the sewer entrances popped open and a few underground beasts climbed out.
In the center of the city stood a massive tree. Its branches blocked out the sky, and countless aerial spirit beasts roosted among the leaves.
Yun Jin walked through the city without drawing any unusual attention.
Many beasts preferred to stay in their beast form. Many others liked walking around in human form. With both mixed openly, no one treated her as strange.
Besides, the Yin Yang Chains wrapped around her suppressed her aura entirely. To these beasts, she simply looked like a mysterious spiritual beast species they'd never seen before.
She wandered around a bit, then walked up the giant tree.
The upper levels were home to aerial beasts.
The middle and lower levels had been carved into treehouse shops.
Yun Jin picked a tea house and sat down, listening quietly to the beasts chatting.
Their topics were surprisingly varied.
On her left, two aerial beasts were gossiping.
"The bugs yesterday didn't taste fresh. The owner must've switched the quality again. Every time, it's that shop in East Lightning City."
"These shameless merchants. They raise the bugs artificially, yet they keep claiming they're wild caught. It's ridiculous."
On her right, an underground beast and a surface beast held each other, sobbing miserably.
"The distance between us isn't just one layer of earth. It's two different lives. I'm sorry. I love you, but we have no future."
"No, I'll live underground for you. Please, don't leave me."
"Stop saying nonsense. Go follow your family's arrangement and marry that dog outside. I'll bless you."
Yun Jin was pretty sure that dog was literally a dog.
She ordered a pot of tea and listened from sunrise to nightfall, gathering countless bits of information.
Finally, she heard the news she'd been waiting for.