At Jiang Yan's words, Venti finally gave up his futile chase.
Panting, he dropped to the ground, glaring sourly at the Qingluan.
The little bird tilted its head, glanced at him once, then turned its bright eyes toward Ganyu. Within those tiny pupils flickered a trace of thought.
"Master, did you just say this Qingluan is… a spirit beast?"
Madame Ping asked curiously.
Jiang Yan smiled and nodded.
"Correct. I've told you before—beasts in the cultivation world fall into three categories."
"The first: feral beasts, without wisdom, little more than ingredients."
"The second: demon beasts, who cultivate like humans, wield artifacts, and are our primary foes."
"And the third—spirit beasts."
He raised his head toward the Qingluan, beckoning softly.
Perhaps because Jiang Yan's soul-form radiated unforced kindness, or perhaps because the Qingluan had never encountered humans before, the bird hesitated only a moment before gliding down beside him.
It brushed him with its wing experimentally. Finding no physical body, its eyes lit with playfulness. With a delighted cry, it darted back and forth through Jiang Yan's incorporeal form, wings fluttering merrily.
"This little one…" Jiang Yan chuckled helplessly, not minding the mischief.
A single glance told him: this Qingluan was less than two centuries old.
In Qingluan terms, still an infant—no more than a three-year-old girl.
And yes… female.
"No rudeness!"
Ganyu frowned, a rare flash of sternness in her gentle face.
The Qingluan, oddly perceptive, cast a pitiful glance at Jiang Yan before flitting onto Ganyu's shoulder. There it settled, preening its feathers.
"Master, this…"
Ganyu froze, heart racing. They had all witnessed the bird's blinding speed, had seen it crush stone with a single talon. Even Venti had been utterly toyed with.
Yet now it perched on her shoulder—unmoving, harmless.
"Do not fear," Jiang Yan reassured her.
"This one won't harm you."
"Unlike demon beasts, spirit beasts are children of heaven and earth's aura. Gentle by nature, yet powerful."
"Mount Shu has ever stood against demons, yes—but never against spirit beasts."
"In Mount Shu's golden age, we were sworn friends with the Darkfeather Clan, the Qingqiu Spirit Foxes, and even the Nine-Colored Deer of Ziwei Mountain."
"This Qingluan is a branch of the Darkfeather lineage."
"Spirit beasts are born with their own inherited arts and innate divine abilities. They abhor disorder, preferring peace and balance. For this reason, every spirit beast is known as a darling of heaven and earth. Their births are exceedingly rare."
"In the past, the Darkfeather Clan numbered but twenty-four. Yet each of those twenty-four reached Unity of Dao."
"Legends tell that Darkfeathers cherish the merciful. Should they sense a compassionate heart, they will carry spiritual roots to gift it. Hence, the idiom 'Darkfeather bearing a branch' to praise upright character."
"They are also known to appear when mortals or cultivators fall into despair, guiding them to safety."
"Of course, demonic sects have exploited this nature to ensnare them. In the end, Mount Shu allied with the Darkfeather Clan, making them our guardian beasts. Only then did such tragedies lessen."
"This Qingluan belongs to that noble line."
At Jiang Yan's explanation, everyone's gazes softened.
The Qingluan herself seemed fascinated, eyes wide like a child hearing bedtime tales for the first time.
"But if she's so pure, why did she steal my Qingyuan Fruit?" Ganyu asked, puzzled.
The bird ducked her head shyly and nuzzled Ganyu's cheek. Instantly, Ganyu's faint resentment melted away.
"The Qingyuan Fruit is irresistible to any creature attuned to speed." Jiang Yan chuckled.
"And this one is still a mere child. Greediness is only natural."
Zhongli extended his senses, expression turning odd.
"Less than two centuries old… yet already at the peak of Refining Essence into Qi?"
Ningguang and the others gasped—until realization struck.
"With cultivation that high, no wonder even Venti First Seat couldn't catch her."
Venti's face darkened.
"I just don't have a proper speed technique yet! Once I do, I'll be faster than her!"
No one bothered to humor his pride.
Jiang Yan continued:
"Spirit beasts are blessed from birth. This Qingluan is gifted beyond measure—her progress unsurprising."
"As for why you couldn't catch her, Venti—her clan's innate divine ability is called 'Glimmering Instant'. It is famed throughout the realm."
"Long ago, one Qingluan at the peak of Spirit Transformation used that very speed to rescue a cultivator from a mid-stage Void Returning demon. The whole cultivation world trembled with awe."
"Beyond speed, Qingluan also wield illusion. The phantoms you saw earlier? Her work. Neither fully real nor false. At every moment, she herself might be any of them."
"Without mastery of speed or piercing vision, few can truly catch her."
"Of course, if Venti had a true movement art, or Zhongli invoked the Divine Eye through the Qingyun Incantation, either of you could restrain her with ease."
"She simply lacks true battle experience."
The disciples nodded in dawning understanding.
Jiang Yan looked upon the small creature with fondness, tempted to stroke her feathers—but as a soul-body, he held back.
"She was likely hatched from an egg once brought here by a Mount Shu disciple. That disciple must have perished in Nine Nether Secret Realm, else she would never have been left here."
"Yet, as the saying goes: misfortune and fortune intertwine. Remaining in this forbidden realm spared her from other calamities."
"She may be the last Qingluan in all the cultivation world."
The disciples' hearts ached.
Still but a child, yet forced to survive two centuries alone in Nine Nether Secret Realm's deadly wilderness.
Ganyu gently stroked her head. The Qingluan leaned into her touch, eyes narrowing in pleasure.
"Master, it's too dangerous for her to remain here. Can we take her back to Mount Shu?" Ningguang asked at once. The others nodded eagerly.
Not a demon beast, but a true spirit beast—rare, powerful, adorable.
She would be Mount Shu's treasured mascot. A source of joy just to look at.
Jiang Yan smiled.
"Of course. Didn't you notice? She already favors Ganyu. She never left after stealing the fruit—she was gauging Ganyu's nature."
"And now that she rests on her shoulder, it's clear—she has chosen her."
"Congratulations, Ganyu. You lost one Qingyuan Fruit, but gained a spirit beast with limitless potential. In time, she may even carry you between worlds."
"Nor will you need to cultivate arts for her. Spirit beasts inherit their clan's techniques through blood. No need to train her from scratch."
"Moreover…" Jiang Yan's eyes glimmered as he pointed at the Qingluan.
"The Darkfeather Clan are peerless treasure-seekers. With her, you'll uncover countless relics."
"And after two centuries in the Myriad Demon Mountains, she knows this place well. She'll keep you far safer."
Envy rippled through the group.
Losing one, gaining another—such fortune!
Especially Baizhu, who sighed bitterly. As the eldest disciple of Luoxia Peak, he had yet to bond with any spirit beast…
Ganyu, meanwhile, could barely contain her joy. Cradling the Qingluan in both arms, she asked softly:
"Little one, would you like to come with me?"
The bird tilted her head. After a moment, she nodded.
"Wonderful!"
Ganyu rubbed her cheek gently against the feathers.
"I'll care for you well. I'll help you grow strong."
The Qingluan closed her eyes in bliss, wings flapping happily.
Zhongli asked curiously:
"Master, even demon beasts at Refining Essence into Qi can speak human tongue. Why not this spirit beast?"
Jiang Yan, pleased for Ganyu, explained casually:
"Spirit beasts evolve under stricter rules. Many cannot assume human form until reaching true immortality. Qingluan is not so strict, but she must at least reach Spirit Transformation before she can reshape her throat and speak."
"Without aid, even with her talent, that will take centuries."
Ganyu looked up eagerly.
"Master, how can I help her?"
"Ask Baizhu. The methods are similar to training a cultivator: pills, spiritual energy, treasures."
"And though she has chosen you on her own, you should still form a formal bond upon returning. With such a contract, you'll share part of her speed. In short, Ganyu, your movement will be vastly enhanced."
"Moreover, with your hearts linked, your battle synergy will far exceed the sum of your strengths."
At that, everyone's envy deepened.
Shared Qingluan speed, combined with Ganyu's blazing Sunshot archery? Within her realm, she would be invincible.
Indeed—cultivation was a world ruled by fortune.
Lisa sighed inwardly, then instinctively glanced at Klee.
If Ganyu's luck was so bright, surely Klee's…
But then she remembered Klee's absurdly opulent equipment. Lisa fell silent.
Klee, the Sect Master's personal heir.
Protected by enough treasures to shrug off a late-stage Spirit Transformation demon.
For her, this Nine Nether Secret Realm expedition was less a trial… and more a picnic.
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