Since resolving his cultivation stagnation with the miraculous efficacy of the Snow Sprout Pill, Lin Feng had felt a significant lightness of being. Each day passed with a newfound sense of ease and contentment.
His primary objective for coming to the Lingyue Sect—securing the Snow Sprout Pill—had been achieved. In truth, leaving now wouldn't pose a problem. Yet, Lin Feng had no immediate plans to depart. One reason was the recent turmoil surrounding the Giant Python Mountain incident. Members of the Absolute Sword Sect and the Verdant Wind Valley were still hunting for him. While the odds of being recognized outside were low, caution was paramount. Waiting for the heat to die down was the wiser course. Another reason was his lingering hope to learn alchemy if an opportunity presented itself. But the biggest reason by far was his profound reluctance to abandon the veritable 'treasure trove' he currently possessed.
Hundreds of top-grade pills pouring in daily represented a substantial fortune for Lin Feng at his current stage. How could he simply walk away from such an immense windfall? He resolved to stay long enough to accumulate a sufficient stockpile. With enough pills stored, he wouldn't need to worry about pill or spirit stone shortages until he reached the Golden Core realm.
Moreover, his brief month outside Qingyun City had starkly revealed how little he truly understood the cultivation world. Despite his efforts to fill knowledge gaps with purchased texts, he realized he had barely scratched the surface. Many fundamental aspects of the cultivation world remained a mystery to him. Travelling in such a state invited trouble. The Lingyue Sect offered an ideal buffer zone—a platform to grow stronger and wiser before venturing out again. As a millennium-old, fourth-tier sect, its Scripture Pavilion undoubtedly housed vast stores of knowledge. Lin Feng planned to dedicate time there to broaden his horizons.
Having laid out his plans, Lin Feng settled into a structured routine: Deliver pills to the spirit beasts, return home to repair another batch, study alchemy, cultivate… It was simple, peaceful, and deeply fulfilling.
Apart from his daily lunch at the South Compound dining hall and the bi-weekly alchemy lectures, Lin Feng spent most of his time alone in his quarters, rarely interacting with others. Fei Biao was the only person he could consider somewhat familiar, their conversations usually brief encounters in the canteen. As for Xia Xin, he hadn't seen her since her arrival; presumably, she had begun her cultivation journey under Elder Zhou's tutelage.
Additionally, Xiaoqiu seemed increasingly committed to genuine 'hibernation'. It remained deeply asleep, showing no signs of waking. Lin Feng had stopped carrying it around, leaving it nestled beside his pillow instead. He only checked on it morning, noon, and night. Over time, he'd almost started treating the little creature like a plush toy...
...
Another month slipped by unnoticed. Lin Feng had now been at the Lingyue Sect for nearly two months. The time to formally begin learning alchemy was fast approaching.
One noon, Lin Feng returned to his dwelling after lunch. The moment he opened the door, a yellow blur shot out from inside, leaping straight for his chest.
Startled, Lin Feng almost instinctively swatted at the incoming object. But he recognized it instantly. Joy surged through him. "Xiaoqiu?! You're awake?!"
——The small figure that had dashed out and landed in his arms was indeed Xiaoqiu!
"Qiu!!" Xiaoqiu chirped excitedly, then scrambled up Lin Feng's robes in a flash, settling on his shoulder. It began tugging playfully at his hair with its tiny claws.
"Haha, alright, alright, settle down. Let's go inside first." Grinning, Lin Feng carried Xiaoqiu inside, lifted it off his shoulder, and placed it gently on the table. He then leaned in for a thorough inspection.
Xiaoqiu stared back with bright, inquisitive eyes, its head tilting slightly as if puzzled by Lin Feng's intense scrutiny.
"Hmm... doesn't seem any different..." After a long moment, Lin Feng couldn't spot any noticeable changes in Xiaoqiu's appearance or aura. Doubt crept in. Was I wrong? Was this not an advancement hibernation after all?
"Qiu?" Xiaoqiu tilted its head further, its expression clearly asking, What are you looking at?
Lin Feng frowned. "Xiaoqiu, you slept for a full two months. Wasn't that supposed to be for advancing? Was it really just... ordinary 'hibernation'?"
"Qiu?"
"Did you advance? Learn any new skills? Can you discharge electricity now?"
"Qiu?"
"How do you feel? Try unleashing your full power—let me see what level you've reached!"
"Qiu?"
"Ah... forget it. Seems I was overthinking it..."
...
After this frustratingly one-sided 'conversation,' Lin Feng gave up, disappointment washing over him. His long-held anticipation had seemingly come to nothing. Xiaoqiu appeared to have merely taken an exceptionally long nap.
"Qiu Qiu!" Seeing Lin Feng fall silent, Xiaoqiu chirped twice more and waved a tiny claw at him insistently.
"You little glutton! Wake up and your first thought is spirit stones?" Lin Feng chuckled, shaking his head. He produced a mid-grade spirit stone and tossed it over.
"Qiu!!" Xiaoqiu caught the stone, examined it briefly, and its eyes instantly reflected dissatisfaction. It chirped at Lin Feng again, more insistently this time.
"What? Not satisfied with a mid-grade stone? Want a Spirit Crystal instead?" Lin Feng feigned sternness. "No. No more Spirit Crystals. Last time you ate just a little bit of one and slept for two months. I thought you were advancing, but now I strongly suspect you were just... stuffed! From now on, no Spirit Crystals. Mid-grade stones are your limit."
"Qiu..." Xiaoqiu's ears drooped under Lin Feng's scolding. It looked down at the mid-grade spirit stone in its paws, radiating dejection.
"Alright, enough with the pitiful act. Mid-grade stones are a luxury! You managed just fine on low-grade ones before." Lin Feng patted Xiaoqiu's head reassuringly. He picked it up and placed it back on his shoulder. "Come on," he said, heading for the door. "I'll introduce you to some new friends!"
Lin Feng failed to notice the faint, unusual glimmer that flashed within the spirit stone as Xiaoqiu, perched indignantly on his shoulder, took a fierce, almost vindictive bite. The light vanished in an instant...
...
Xiaoqiu's awakening lifted Lin Feng's spirits immensely. While the recent peace was welcome, it had also been somewhat lonely. Having his little companion back was cause for genuine celebration.
As they walked, Lin Feng recounted the events of the past weeks to Xiaoqiu, regardless of whether the creature understood. Xiaoqiu listened, its bright eyes wide with curiosity as it took in the unfamiliar surroundings.
Upon seeing the Azure-Horned Rhinoceros, Xiaoqiu nearly dropped its half-eaten spirit stone in fright. It shot under Lin Feng's robes like a bolt of yellow lightning. Only after repeated assurances and demonstrations of safety did it cautiously re-emerge.
After the Azure-Horned Rhinoceros lumbered off with its 'rations', Lin Feng continued his rounds: delivering pills to the Adamantine Savage Bear, the Nether Profound Wolf, the Verdant Mandala Python, and the Armored Pangolin. Finally, he headed towards the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane's peak.
"Hey, old Crane! Pills are here! Catch!!"
Reaching the mountaintop, Lin Feng saw the Thunder Crane preening its feathers in its nest. He called out and flung a generous arc of twenty-plus top-grade pills towards it.
Over the past weeks, Lin Feng had grown quite familiar with the spirit beasts in the back mountains. His rapport with the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane was particularly strong—strong enough, in fact, for them to venture deep into the mountains together on 'hunting' and herb-gathering expeditions.
Watching the Crane swallow the pills, Lin Feng adopted a wheedling tone. "Listen, old Crane... how about another trip to that valley we found last time? Let's try again to snatch that Cloudfire Ganoderma from that beast. If we succeed, I'll give you an extra ten top-grade pills every day for the rest of the month! Deal?"
"Shrieeeeek!!" The Thunder Crane's eyes gleamed with interest. It glanced at Lin Feng, ruffled its magnificent wings, and stood up. It tapped its beak pointedly against its back, the universal crane-sign for 'Hop on.'
A grin spread across Lin Feng's face. With a light push off the ground, he landed smoothly on the Crane's broad back, gripping the sleek feathers at the base of its neck. "Let's go!"
With powerful beats of its wings, the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane surged skyward, carrying Lin Feng and Xiaoqiu swiftly towards the heart of the dense, mist-shrouded forest...