Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age

Lu Chang’sheng couldn’t quite bring himself to look. In all his hundred years, he had met all sorts of people, and Zhong Mountain was definitely one of a kind.

He really didn’t act like some mighty Foundation Establishment cultivator at all.

"It’s rare to see Steward Lu over here—are you here to feed the Little Fire Cloud Beast?" He Qing walked over, a wary look in his eyes.

These days, everyone was trying to win over that sassy Little Fire Cloud Beast; naturally, folks were pretty guarded around each other.

"Feed it? Nah, I’m not nearly as loaded as you guys." Lu Chang’sheng shook his head.

"Well, that’s just facts. Sure, you’re a second-tier Alchemist, but you haven’t run the business long enough." Zhong Mountain trotted over, half of his goatee still singed.

"Man, this Little Fire Cloud Beast’s really wild. I even heard it wants to fly!"

Lu Chang’sheng had heard about that too. Apparently, not long after they’d left that day, Huang Ling was observing nearby, and the Little Fire Cloud Beast started acting like it wanted to ’fly’. Of course, ’fly’ wasn’t about literally taking off—it was more like wanting to leave Good Beast Sect and live carefree.

This idea was a first in Good Beast Sect’s history. Afterward, everyone started paying extra attention to the Little Fire Cloud Beast—you could tell by the sharp uptick in Beast Institute disciples hanging around, and they weren’t slackers either.

"Ancestor Ning Yun doesn’t even dare sleep much these days. Hasn’t gone back to the rear hall at all, just parked herself in the side hall."

"Total disaster, huh!"

Zhong Mountain turned and looked back, just as the Little Fire Cloud Beast glanced his way. He forced a big smile and waved, "Little Ancestor, easy there, don’t trip!"

Everyone else looked away—not trying to see his wrinkly mug. He might not be embarrassed, but they cringed for him.

Zhong Mountain had one face when he was with the beast, and another behind its back—one second buttering it up as ’Little Ancestor,’ next second just ’Little Fire Cloud Beast.’

"Not sincere at all. All fake!"

He Qing looked utterly contemptuous.

Lately, he’d been tagging along with He Feng.

He Feng was closest to him—kind of cold by nature, obviously way too mature for his age when handling people. To make sure he didn’t get played, He Qing stuck close.

Compared to Zhong Mountain, He Feng was much more dignified—standing quietly inside the grand hall, holding a few pills, offering one up every time the Little Fire Cloud Beast strolled by.

Zhong Mountain couldn’t care less—for the Little Ancestor, losing face was no big deal.

The contest for the Little Fire Cloud Beast was cutthroat. Looked like these guys were in it for the long haul, ready to battle it out right up to three years from now.

Per Good Beast Sect’s rules, if no one earns its approval by then, the Little Fire Cloud Beast gets to choose for itself.

After chatting with the others, Lu Chang’sheng headed out.

After hesitating for a moment, he walked toward another grand hall on the side.

"Maybe there’s another way to play this!"

Lu Chang’sheng left the hall, his gaze landing on the entrance to the other grand hall.

"Lu Chang’sheng from the Alchemy Institute, here to pay respects to Ancestor Ning Yun."

Walking up, Lu Chang’sheng was halted by a Beast Institute cultivator. But once he heard Lu was there to see Ning Yun, he stepped aside.

Pretty soon, Lu Chang’sheng found himself facing Ning Yun the Fire Cloud Beast, eyes closed and resting.

The massive creature lay there quietly, its sheer size giving off a heavy, oppressive vibe.

This Fire Cloud Beast had lived for centuries and was clearly nearing the end of its life. To Lu Chang’ssheng, a Fire Cloud Beast in this state must really care about the next generation.

"What brings Steward Lu here?" Huang Ling stepped over from the side, eyes narrowed with irritation at Lu Chang’sheng.

Ning Yun the Fire Cloud Beast was well into its old age, health declining fast—this was basically retirement, waiting for the inevitable end.

Normally, even elders couldn’t barge in without the beast’s permission.

"These past few days have been a special case. Otherwise, when’s stuff ever this easy?" Huang Ling muttered.

"I came to talk about the Little Fire Cloud Beast."

Little Fire Cloud Beast?

Huang Ling frowned, "Ancestor Ning Yun doesn’t get involved with that."

"Huang Ling, did Ancestor Ning Yun tell you that personally?"

Lu Chang’sheng looked her way.

"Of course! It’s part of the agreement made between the first generation Fire Cloud Beast and our sect founder. Ancestor Ning Yun isn’t some rebel."

By ’rebel,’ she meant those Fire Cloud Beasts who wouldn’t toe the line.

Ever since Good Beast Sect was founded, a bunch of Fire Cloud Beasts had done whatever it took to break out, and those who stayed called them ’rebels.’

Lu Chang’sheng privately chuckled. The first Fire Cloud Beast must’ve been dead for ages—how would Huang Ling know what really happened?

So, no way Ning Yun actually said that. Huang Ling was just assuming, out of habit.

Either way, even if he guessed wrong, the worst that could happen was ticking off Ning Yun... or maybe just irking Huang Ling.

As a second-tier Alchemist, he could handle that.

"So Huang Ling, you really don’t care what Ancestor Ning Yun actually thinks?"

Lu Chang’sheng’s question left Huang Ling speechless; she shot him a nasty glare, then looked anxiously at Ning Yun.

After a minute of silence, old Ning Yun cracked open her cloudy eyes.

Huang Ling closed her eyes to sense Ancestor Ning Yun’s Spiritual Sense feedback, then translated it into words.

"Ancestor says, he won’t get involved."

Huang Ling glanced triumphantly at Lu Chang’sheng.

Ancestor’s decision matched hers, perfectly.

But soon after, Lu Chang’sheng left her looking utterly deflated.

"Back home, elders as old as Ancestor Ning Yun are always super protective about their bloodline’s future. Honestly, on some level, that’s a way of continuing one’s own life."

Ignoring the huffy Huang Ling, Lu Chang’sheng pressed on: "I doubt Ancestor would really let the Little Fire Cloud Beast run off, right? The Spirit Realm’s crawling with danger—sending a baby Little Fire Spirit Beast out at this stage is pretty much a death sentence."

"If Ancestor Ning Yun has spent centuries here in Good Beast Sect, must be a lot of feelings tied to this place. So, in the end, I bet she’ll pick someone from within the sect to watch over the Little Fire Cloud Beast."

"I figure the final choice will probably end up being He Feng. But Ancestor’s reluctant, so that’s why no Spirit Contract’s been signed yet."

"Don’t talk nonsense, Steward Lu. You’re reading way too much into it," Huang Ling said, but couldn’t help glancing anxiously at Ning Yun, clearly rattled by his words.

Ning Yun the Fire Cloud Beast didn’t react, but Huang Ling could sense subtle changes.

In her old age, Ning Yun couldn’t perfectly control the Spiritual Sense blanketing the hall anymore. That way, Huang Ling could catch a shift in the emotional current carried by Spiritual Sense.

Wait—was Ancestor Ning Yun really thinking about it?

Huang Ling looked at Lu Chang’sheng, a hint of amazement in her eyes. She had no idea how he’d figured that out.

But just as she hoped Lu Chang’sheng would explain further, he pulled out a bottle of pills and set it down in front of Ning Yun.

"These are pills I’ve refined lately. Maybe the Little Fire Cloud Beast will like them."

With that, Lu Chang’sheng turned and walked out.

He’d just reached the door when Zhong Mountain came out.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, did you see Ancestor Ning Yun?"

"Yup! You wanna go?"

"Forget it, forget it. Old lady’s half-dead anyway; no use going. Besides, you can’t even bribe her, so what’s the point?"

Zhong Mountain shook his head.

Lu Chang’sheng chuckled.

Bribery wasn’t really the move, but hey—sometimes you gotta steal the march right under their feet!