A short nap? You've been sleeping for nearly ten days! For a mayfly that lives and dies in a single day, that's several lifetimes!
Qi Ping finally gained a direct understanding of a Stone Spirit's capacity for sleep. Compared to their habit of slumbering for centuries, ten days probably didn't even qualify as a blink.
"We've arrived. This place is safe!"
"Ding! Ding! (This place? Hey, there's spiritual energy here! Wonderful!)"
The little Stone Spirit's nose twitched as if it had discovered something else.
"Ding! Ding! (There's even a small mineral vein underground! It's not much, and the quality is average, but it's still great!)"
The Stone Spirit was more than satisfied. Staying here meant it wouldn't grow weak, and more importantly, safety was priceless! In its bloodline memories, the cultivation world was a terrifying place where exposing oneself meant certain death. One had to hide in a safe haven.
"Mhm. You can stay here for now. Once I obtain a spirit vein, the energy here will become even denser!"
"Ding! Ding! (That's amazing! If there's enough energy, my sleeping spot will generate a delicious metallic ore. I'll give you half!)"
To the little spirit, that ore was a delicacy.
"Keep it for yourself; you don't need to share it with me." Qi Ping chuckled, shaking his head.
"Ding! Ding! (It's really tasty! You'll see when you try it... so, when does the covenant ceremony start?)"
"I can't exactly bite through metallic ore... let's start the ceremony now!"
With those words, Qi Ping activated the summoning ritual. The familiar, eerie green array began to manifest slowly. At this moment, Qi Ping couldn't suppress his excitement. This was a Stone Spirit!
Though he couldn't determine its exact grade yet, he was certain its potential surpassed even Ya Ya's! Creatures born of the world's natural essence found advancement much easier; they simply needed enough minerals. High-quality mineral veins were hard to find in human territories, but they were abundant in the beast domains. Once he unlocked the second stage of Wild Shape, he could travel those lands as a demon beast.
By finding a powerful metal-vein, he could rapidly elevate the little spirit's rank and talents. However, what excited him most was the talent he was about to share. According to his research, most Stone Spirits possessed three primary talents: Supreme Defense, Earth Affinity, and Longevity—and each was exceptionally potent.
Take Longevity, for example; a Stone Spirit's active lifespan could exceed ten thousand years, and in dormancy, they could survive for hundreds of thousands. They were the absolute patriarchs of longevity in the cultivation world. Even the tortoise-type beasts famous for their lifespans would have to bow in respect. If he could share this talent, he would have ample time to break through and create his own techniques.
The other two talents were equally impressive. Regardless of which one he received, it would be a massive boon. However, he couldn't be entirely sure if this specific spirit followed the norm. In the rules of the Animal Companion covenant, there was a high probability of sharing one of the three primary talents, but individual differences existed. Some possessed unique special talents, some had over ten, and others were simply weaker.
Qi Ping hadn't encountered a "god-tier" individual with a massive list of special talents yet; generally, he shared the primary traits of a standard bloodline. He did his best to avoid obviously weak companions for this reason. Since he couldn't view a status panel before the contract, he relied on his judgment and knowledge of spirit beasts.
(Species: Primordial Stone Spirit)
(Bloodline: Unknown, Unique Entity)
(Talents: Golden Stone Physique, Primal Stone Armor, Golden Stone Longevity)
(Golden Stone Physique: A specialized metallic constitution that grants supreme metal-attribute talent and allows for highly efficient manipulation of metallic objects.)
(Primal Stone Armor: The ability to manipulate metal and stone elements to cover the body for reinforcement, granting extreme defense and a physical strength boost.)
(Golden Stone Longevity: A lifespan exceeding the vast majority of living beings. Can survive for hundreds of thousands of years in dormancy and over ten thousand years while active.)
(Evaluation: Born of the world's essence, this is a unique and miraculous entity of the cultivation world with extraordinary capabilities.)
'What a powerful creature...'
Reflecting on the descriptions he had read, Qi Ping marveled at the Stone Spirit's might. It was a tragedy that their suitability for weapon-forging had led the strongest twenty thousand of their race to be turned into a sword array. Qi Ping could hardly imagine the terrifying power of a set of artifacts made from the elite of such a race.
However, great power often came with a price; it was said that this specific sword array had backlashed against multiple masters. Since its creation, no one had truly mastered the full set. Instead, smaller artifacts refined from ordinary Stone Spirits often stole the spotlight in the cultivation world.
'No matter which talent I share, the impact will be enormous!'
The value of Longevity went without saying; ten thousand years of life would drive any cultivator mad with envy. He had seen the power of the Primal Stone Armor; even in a weakened state, the Stone Spirit's defense made a cultivator's attacks feel like a mere itch. That survival capability was legendary.
Finally, the Golden Stone Physique might seem common, but it provided elite metal affinity and allowed the user to manipulate any metal-attribute object. In records of battles against Stone Spirits, metallic weapons often had their effectiveness significantly reduced. In a world where the vast majority of artifacts were metallic, this was a terrifying edge.
As the array fully formed, it merged into the little spirit's body. Immediately, a wave of profound insight rose in Qi Ping's mind.
"Golden Stone Physique..."