Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age

In the spacious grand hall, you could faintly make out a massive beast with fire-red and green streaks, lounging there and dozing. When it sensed people approaching, it just lazily lifted its eyelids before letting them fall again.

Even lying down, it was over three meters tall, and a faint ripple of magical power flowed all around its body.

Spirit Beasts and demons are two totally different kinds; the former have pure magical power coursing through them, while the latter are stuffed with bizarre demonic power.

From what Lu Chang’sheng knew, Spirit Beasts are just ordinary animals mutated, who then gradually evolved into their own kind.

"Dear Steward Elders, Ancestor Ning Yun says you can come in now."

A crisp, clear voice rang out.

Lu Chang’sheng looked up and saw a flaming figure gliding over, standing confidently right in front of him.

Noticing Lu Chang’sheng’s gaze, she grinned, showing two shallow dimples.

"Come on, let’s go, don’t disturb Ancestor Ning Yun’s nap." Zhong Shan waved his hand with a sweeping gesture.

Lu Chang’sheng had no choice but to follow.

Just out the door, Zhong Shan grabbed that red-robed girl’s hand, plastered a smile on his face, and asked, "Hey, little ancestor, what’s the old ancestor thinking? Give us a hint so we know what to expect."

Lu Chang’sheng pricked up his ears to listen in.

He’d been here a couple times before, but never met this red-robed cultivator; maybe she’d been out the last times, same with that Fire Cloud Beast called Ning Yun.

After those visits, he just hadn’t returned, so naturally he didn’t know much, only heard rumors that the Dean’s junior tended to the Fire Cloud Beast here.

Judging from Zhong Shan’s attitude, this must be the girl.

"The old ancestor said he’s not too pleased this time."

The red-robed cultivator giggled and slipped inside.

"Ahem, judging by your look, Fellow Daoist, you must not know the identity of this little—um, little cultivator—little ancestor here."

"Elder Zhong Shan." A streak of red peeked out from the front of the hall, showing off that dimpled smile.

Zhong Shan immediately switched gears, pretending he hadn’t seen anything. "She’s Dean Huang’s granddaughter, born beautiful, everyone adores her."

Lu Chang’sheng glanced back.

The girl’s eyes flashed with satisfaction before she ducked away again.

Zhong Shan had nothing more to say and shut his mouth tight.

Once outside, he grumbled, "That Huang Ling kid really doesn’t respect her elders at all."

Lu Chang’sheng secretly chuckled and asked about what Huang Ling had just said.

At that, Zhong Shan’s face showed some bitterness, and so did the others around him.

"What she meant was, the Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun isn’t happy with any of us, and Fire Cloud Beasts pretty much all have the same picky taste. If Ancestor Ning Yun isn’t satisfied with us, odds are that little one won’t be either."

"Of course, you shouldn’t stress too much. Ancestor Ning Yun just follows protocol, never meddling in the business of other Fire Cloud Beasts. What really counts is how the baby Fire Cloud Beast feels about us."

Lu Chang’sheng then asked what Huang Ling was doing here, and Zhong Shan replied, "Now, that’s a real talent—she’s got a special gift that lets her communicate, sort of, with intelligent Spirit Beasts. So when needed, she comes here to handle exchanges between the Fire Cloud Beast and sect disciples."

"Ancestor Ning Yun really doesn’t get involved in signing spirit contracts for Fire Cloud Beast cubs?"

"Probably not, right?" Zhong Shan answered, not entirely sure.

The grand hall was right next to Ning Yun the Fire Cloud Beast’s own hall; everyone got their act together and went on inside.

First thing they saw was a young cultivator in white robes.

The crowd’s expressions shifted slightly; he was just coming out of the hall, with an elder beside him. Behind them, not far off, was a round thing wrapped in faint fire, gently bouncing about, with a bunch of Beast Institute cultivators watching it like hawks.

That flaming round thing was, of course, a Fire Cloud Beast’s Spirit Beast Egg.

If the Spirit Beast Egg’s flames are spilling out, it means it’s nearly impossible to damage it, and besides, all those Beast Institute cultivators can help keep it safe too.

Lu Chang’sheng sensed a faint veil of spiritual sense hovering over them, with an aura much like the Ning Yun Fire Cloud Beast next door. Clearly, Ancestor Ning Yun was watching from afar; anyone with bad intentions would get smacked down immediately.

"Don’t mind us, everyone," said an elder. "He Feng found a sprig of Fire Eagle Grass outside the other day, so Ancestor Ning Yun gave him permission to come in."

The elder smiled.

No one responded much, just stayed put and quietly waited for the Fire Cloud Beast to hatch fully.

Using Fire Eagle Grass—a treasure good for newborn Fire Cloud Beasts—to interact with the Spirit Beast Egg early is technically allowed, though it’s not exactly a shining achievement by the books.

On the surface, everyone kept things cordial. The elder was He Feng’s senior, probably knowing this sort of thing would tick off others, so he came along to smooth things over.

"Fellow Daoist Lu." Before long, the elder and He Feng came up to apologize for today.

"We’re really sorry, it’s just that Ancestor Ning Yun hasn’t produced a descendant in decades, and with a treasure like Fire Eagle Grass, we couldn’t just leave it unused."

The elder’s name was He Qing, and his tone was pretty sincere; still, Lu Chang’sheng picked up on the subtext.

"So, Fellow Daoist He, are you saying you’ve already nabbed this Fire Cloud Beast?" Zhong Shan’s voice chimed in, a touch sarcastic.

He Qing’s face twitched and he shot Zhong Shan a glare.

"Nonsense!" And with that, he lost interest and retreated to his original spot.

"That guy, always got that annoying habit—gets the goods and still pretends."

Zhong Shan snorted, "Still, he does have the right to be cocky. When the time comes, don’t get down about it—if it’s meant to be, it’ll be, if it’s not, don’t force it."

He patted Lu Chang’sheng’s shoulder, wearing a look of self-satisfaction. "I’ve got an ace up my sleeve, you know."

"Ace up your sleeve?"

Lu Chang’sheng asked, intrigued.

"Secret, secret—you’ll see soon enough."

Zhong Shan played it mysterious, and Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t help but grin.

"Looks like they came seriously prepared." Lu Chang’sheng swept his gaze around the room, now understanding why these people had rushed back even knowing He Feng was involved—they must have some confidence of their own.

"Don’t tell me they can actually know the personality of an unborn Spirit Beast?"

Lu Chang’sheng chuckled and shook his head, but before he knew it, he was left stunned.

With a surge of scorching fire, the Fire Cloud Beast’s Spirit Beast Egg finally cracked open completely. A tiny Fire Cloud Beast, about the size of a hand, appeared in the hall, with a bright red cloud pattern right on its forehead.

Whoosh~

The newly born Fire Cloud Beast bathed in sparks, then suddenly opened its soft pink mouth and spat out a ball of fire, which kept changing size and even shape right before their eyes.

Lu Chang’sheng’s eyes lit up; this fire-manipulating ability was truly remarkable, and would save him a ton of trouble if he put it to use in alchemy.

"What a waste if it’s not used for alchemy!"

The others weren’t quite as blunt, but everyone praised it: "A natural Qi Cultivation genius."

This control over flame alone could rival a mid-stage Qi Cultivator wielding a Great Success Pill Fire Technique.

Right then, the spiritual sense of Ning Yun the Fire Cloud Beast swept down.

"Steward Lu, the Fire Cloud Beast has been born, you may come up to meet it now."

A Beast Institute cultivator came over to remind him.

"This Fire Cloud Beast was born with a cloud pattern—its talent for fire is the purest, even better than Ancestor Ning Yun’s!"

"Maybe we won’t even need a hundred years before our Good Beast Sect raises a late Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast."

"This one’s mine! Folks, take pity on an old dude and let it go!" Only Zhong Shan could say something like that.

"Fellow Daoist Zhong, precisely because you’re old, we definitely can’t let you have it. Just think—if your lifespan runs out, you won’t be around to nurture this Fire Cloud Beast, that’d really hurt its development!"

"Pah, I’ll live to three hundred easy!"

Zhong Shan spat, then glanced at He Qing not far away and grinned, "Fellow Daoist He Qing, your He Feng is handsome, gifted, got a bright future ahead. I figure Ancestor Ning Yun will definitely have another little one in twenty years—no, ten years tops! Why not wait till then? When the time comes, I’ll back you all the way. Seriously, second kiddies are better than the first, third child tops the second, and later litters are always best—"

"Dream on! My He Feng’s set to win!"

He Qing wiped off a bit of stray spit from his brow, struggling to hold back the urge to jab a flying sword at Zhong Shan, while forcing a wise and composed smile.

"Hmph, you think you’re so special—for today, I gave up a mid-tier second grade magical artifact! This spirit pet is mine, nobody can stop me, I said so!"

"Heh!"

He Qing wasn’t the least bit rattled by Zhong Shan’s act, though He Feng beside him was nervous.

"Ancestor He Qing, you’re sure we haven’t missed anything?"

He Feng tried to steady himself; he’d only entered Qi Cultivation late-stage a few years ago. Facing Zhong Shan, a True Man of Foundation Establishment, was a bit overwhelming.

"Don’t mind him. You’ve got fire in your fate—a perfect match for this Fire Cloud Beast. You’re bound to win it over."

"This Fire Cloud Beast manifested its own cloud—its potential’s beyond what I thought; if you secure it, you’ll probably end up raising a late Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast in coming years."

He Feng nodded, his usually impassive face showing a smile. Looking at the little Fire Cloud Beast playing with flames, he said, "This little one, I really like it, but—"

"Something’s not right!"

Lu Chang’sheng stood before the Little Fire Spirit Beast, and the spiritual sense of Ning Yun Fire Cloud Beast fell from above, making the baby beast go silent, fixing its big shiny eyes on Lu Chang’sheng.

Lu Chang’sheng quickly took out a few things he’d prepared—mostly pills, along with a few trinkets.

"Consider this a meeting gift."

Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.

Gift-giving’s a must—if you want to win it over, you’ve got to bring presents; get it right, boost your favor, get it wrong, you won’t get anything, but don’t bring anything, and you’ll surely lose points.

Of course, this isn’t just Lu Chang’sheng’s opinion—it’s a trick the Good Beast Sect picked up from experience. Lu Chang’sheng was only covering his bases.

Will it work or not?

He looked at the Little Fire Cloud Beast in front of him, feeling a bit awkward about the whole routine, but since it was done, might as well see how it goes.