The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 33

“Light Spirit Root?”

The Madwoman seemed to have a revelation. “No wonder the elves treat you as an honored guest. No wonder Granny Zhi believed your plan and agreed to cooperate.”

Light is the source of all things. It is needed by all, and gives rise to all.

Yi Xian tilted her head and watched the light spots dancing in her hand. The little specks of light seemed to have awareness. They gathered near her eyes, and when she poked one gently, they scattered like startled birds. Once sure Yi Xian had stopped moving, they floated back again, playing a game of come and go.

“Is this like the fireballs Duanmu Ya can create?”

A Light Spirit Root versus a Fire Spirit Root? There was no real comparison.

The Madwoman was briefly speechless, then was stunned into silence by what Yi Xian did next. The small light specks in her palm gathered, one by one, then fused together into a single ball about the size of a bead. It bounced happily in her palm, full of energy.

Yi Xian smiled. “They are so mischievous.”

The Madwoman was envious. She had chosen to burn her own soul and escape into this body exactly because of its innate potential. But even then, she had underestimated it. This body’s talent was truly extraordinary. Even though it had borne a child and had passed the prime age for awakening a Spirit Root, what Yi Xian achieved today could take others three months to a year to accomplish.

How long had Yi Xian taken?

Half a day? One incense stick’s time?

Not quite. Yi Xian had been dreaming for over a month. In those dreams, there was only endless darkness and those faint, gentle lights surrounding her.

Suddenly, the ball of light rolled once in her palm and vanished.

Yi Xian tensed. “They’re gone.”

The Madwoman corrected her. “They were unconsciously absorbed into your body. From now on, just like today, the more Light Spirits you absorb, the faster your cultivation will grow. When the time is right, you will be able to contract a Light Spirit Beast to fight alongside you. Look inside. The specks are still within you.”

Yi Xian followed the instructions, closed her eyes, and focused on her body. Just as the Madwoman said, the light particles flowed along her meridians, a truly wondrous feeling.

She had witnessed the beastmen’s strength and resilience, and had grown ever more aware of how fragile a human body was. With a battle beast at her side, her fighting ability would greatly improve.

This realization made her take absorbing Light Spirits even more seriously. Whether eating, walking, or standing under trees, as long as there was light, she could sense the Spirits drifting midair. With a single thought, the mischievous specks would rush toward her.

Every day, Duanmu Ya would follow a few elves into the forest to dig traps, waiting for the timid and cunning Di Huang Jing. But most of the time, they came back empty-handed. This day was no different. She came stomping over to find Yi Xian, only to see her sitting cross-legged under a tree with her eyes closed. A faint light surrounded her, making her look almost sacred.

“Wait, this is not…”

“Her Light Spirit Root has awakened.”

Duanmu Ya jumped. Granny Zhi had appeared without warning. She stood quietly to the side, smiling gently before walking away. Later, Duanmu Ya told Yi Xian about it.

“That Granny Zhi, who is she really? She seems so mysterious.”

Yi Xian thought for a moment. People with deep cultivation always gave off an unfathomable presence. And Granny Zhi was likely a Six-Winged or even Eight-Winged Elf.

“I once heard Tian Tian accidentally mention it. Granny Zhi might have the ability to foresee the future. She’s best at matchmaking among the elves.”

Duanmu Ya widened her eyes. “Foreseeing? That makes her a prophet! How does she end up doing matchmaking?”

Yi Xian nodded. “Maybe it’s her personal interest. Tian Tian and Xiao Xiao both say her matchmaking predictions are incredibly accurate. Most of them come true.”

Duanmu Ya leaned in close with a gleam in her eyes. “Yi Xian, have you ever asked her to read your match? What kind of person is your destined one?”

Duanmu Ya really had a way of touching the sore spots.

Yi Xian did not want to mention that beast, Lan Tong. Especially not the image in the crystal ball of a happy family of four. Given their current positions on opposite sides of the human and beast tribes, their next meeting would surely end in bl00d.

“If you want to ask her, you’d better line up soon. Otherwise, you might miss your chance.”

Duanmu Ya waved it off. “Such petty tricks will never fool my eyes.”

Yi Xian had once seen a glimpse in her mind of Duanmu Ya suffering in flames, writhing in torment. She hesitated but chose not to bring it up. People who cling too tightly to what they think they saw often miss what really matters, leading everything to spiral into chaos. Duanmu Ya was deeply thoughtful. If she knew, she might dwell endlessly in that darkness.

Duanmu Ya noticed Yi Xian zoning out. “Hey, what are you thinking about? You’re not even listening to me. Want me to try your Light Spirit?”

“Try it how?”

Ever since learning that Yi Xian had awakened her Light Spirit Root, Duanmu Ya had been more excited than she was. “You use your light ball, and I’ll use my fireball.”

Yi Xian hesitated. “You’re not going to burn this place down, are you?”

“Of course not. Last time was an emergency. I had no time to think. That’s why I lost control of the fireball’s size and power. This time, I’ll be careful. Trust me, I’m an alchemist.”

Yi Xian had already mastered the technique of forming a light ball. She released one the size of a luminous pearl. At the same time, Duanmu Ya summoned her own small fireball. One red and one white, they collided and disappeared.

“Wow! That’s amazing! Yi Xian, you’re going to be someone with incredible healing powers in the future.”

Yi Xian was confused. “What just happened?”

The Madwoman answered. “The Light Spirit Root is quite special. It is highly tolerant. And because you mean no harm, your light ball carries no trace of attack.”

After hearing that, Yi Xian finally understood. In short, her Light Spirit Root was kind of… useless.

The Madwoman was struck speechless for a while, then said, “Everything has two sides. Where there is light, there is darkness. Your Light Spirit Root may seem to focus on healing and support, but against creatures of darkness, it is a natural nemesis.”

Even so, a deep sense of disappointment welled up in Yi Xian.

Seeing her downcast, Duanmu Ya scratched her head. “Maybe I didn’t control the power well. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll go practice some more. We’ll try again next time, alright?”

Yi Xian shook her head. It had nothing to do with Duanmu Ya. She had expected too much from this Spirit Root and overlooked its nature. She conjured another light ball and tossed it into the air. Unexpectedly, Tian Tian and Xiao Xiao came flying at her just then. The ball hit Tian Tian squarely, startling Yi Xian.

Tian Tian flipped in the air and cried out excitedly. “Wow! That felt great! Do it again, Sister Xian! Throw another one!”

Yi Xian formed two or three more light balls. Just as the Madwoman said, they had no offensive power. When they touched the elves, they simply disappeared without harm. In fact, the elves loved them. Tian Tian and Xiao Xiao played wildly, begging her to throw more until Yi Xian’s head began to throb, and the game finally ended.

“You must know your limits. You’ve just learned to form Light Spirits, and already you are using so much. Do you even know how dangerous it is if you run out?”

Yi Xian already had a headache, and the Madwoman’s nagging made it worse. Truth be told, she had no idea what would happen if her Light Spirits were depleted. She had hoped that awakening this Root would aid her in battle. But instead, it turned out to be a support-type root, lacking offensive force.

What was the point?

Maybe she would just have to heal herself when near death. She laughed bitterly. A self-service, self-amusement kind of power.

Still, Yi Xian practiced daily. Although she was upset, she understood one thing. She could not choose what kind of Spirit Root she had, and all she could do was learn to adapt.

“Sister Xian! Come quickly!”

“What is it?”

Tian Tian barged in, tugging her urgently by the arm. Yi Xian, bewildered, asked what had happened. But the little elf was too anxious to explain clearly. She just kept saying someone was hurt.

When they arrived, several elves lay on the ground. A few were writhing in agony. Their wounds were all gashes, and something dark and eerie rose from them.

“Poisoned? You should call a physician. Don’t you elves have one?” Yi Xian hesitated. She knew healers were rare in this land. “No wait, Tian Tian, you should fetch Duanmu instead. She can probably save them.”

Tian Tian flew around her anxiously. “But Granny Zhi said only Sister Xian can heal them!”

Yi Xian pointed at herself. “Me? I’m not a healer.”

The Madwoman reminded her, “They aren’t poisoned. It looks like a wound inflicted by some kind of dark power. The little elf is right. You can save them.”

Yi Xian recalled her seemingly useless root. She said nothing more, stepped forward, and examined the nearest injured elf. A long gash ran across his pale pink wing. The bl00d, once bright red, now oozed black mist, as if something vile had contaminated it.

“What should I do to heal them?”

The Madwoman paused before answering. “Try using the Light Spirits. Focus on healing.”

Yi Xian stared seriously at the wound. The cheerful little lights she called on every day gathered at her thought. One by one, they dove into the gash like moths to a flame. With each touch, the black mist thinned. Eventually, all the darkness faded, and the eight-centimeter wound closed, leaving it fully healed.

Yi Xian was stunned, hardly able to believe it had been her doing.

“It’s done.”

“Wow! Sister Xian is amazing!”

“Thank you!”

Flustered by the praise, Yi Xian quickly moved on to heal the next. As she continued, her pace slowed. Her head throbbed and her hands trembled. It felt as if her strength was being drained.

Still, she managed to finish healing the last elf. As the wound closed, Yi Xian collapsed to her knees. The surrounding elves carried her back.

When she woke up, she saw a shadowy figure by the bed.

She sat up, and the dizziness and nausea hit all at once. Worse than before. Losing all her Light Spirits this time had knocked her unconscious. Now she truly understood the Madwoman’s warning. If this had happened in battle, it would have been fatal.

Duanmu Ya swayed her head dramatically. “You, the honored guest, really stole the spotlight. See that pile in the corner? Those were gifts from the elves you saved. And look at this.”

She twirled a flower crown made of fresh blossoms and vines, its soft fragrance still lingering. Mimicking the elf girls’ sweet voices, she said, “This is for Sister Xian, who saved my brother. I hope she gets well soon.”

Yi Xian could not help laughing. “If you like it, take it.”

Duanmu Ya did not hesitate. She put it on and admired herself in the water basin, striking several poses. “Yi Xian, these elf girls are so pretty. They sing, dance, brew wine, and gather dew. If I could sneak one back home to serve me, that would be something.”

Yi Xian sighed. “If you try, the elders will probably toss you back in that tree hollow.”

Mentioning the tree hollow made Duanmu Ya shiver. Her smile stiffened. “I was just joking. Really. By the way, how are you feeling now?”

Yi Xian rubbed her head. “Still a little dizzy. I’ll be fine after another nap.”

Duanmu Ya, seeing her discomfort, pulled out a porcelain bottle from her storage pouch. “Foundation-Reinforcing Pill. One a day will really help your cultivation. Honestly, Yi Xian, who pushes themselves this hard right after awakening a Spirit Root? I don’t believe the elves have no other healers. You’re too reckless.”

Yi Xian had not thought that far. She had only wanted to test her Light Spirit Root’s healing power. But Duanmu Ya’s words reminded her.

“It was Granny Zhi.”

“What about her?”

Yi Xian smiled. “Nothing. She kindly sent some practice patients my way. I should thank her.”

Duanmu Ya touched her forehead. “You seemed fine. Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?”

Yi Xian swatted her hand away, took a pill from the bottle, swallowed it, then tossed the bottle to Duanmu Ya. “Alright, you keep it safe for me.”

After saving the elves, Yi Xian became much more popular. Sometimes, strangers would appear to give her fresh flowers or handwoven crowns. Others came just to sing, dance, or hold her hand.

All of this change… owed itself to her so-called useless Spirit Root.

That night, just after Yi Xian lay down and closed her eyes, she saw clusters of glowing motes dancing in front of her. Normally, light spirits became scarce at night. Just as light needed darkness, the night was ruled by shadows. That was why she usually cultivated by day and slept through the night.

Yet the light spirits spun restlessly in front of her, circling over and over. They did not flow into her body through her mental power, as they normally would. Yi Xian sensed that these little beings were trying to tell her something. Maybe they wanted to lead her somewhere.

With that thought, she rose and followed the light spirits.

Leaving the elves’ domain, she noticed the guards were dozing off. Heading south, she glimpsed what looked like a silver river cascading from the sky in the distance. It was accompanied by constant and agonized wails, sharp cries that pierced the soul with despair.

Yi Xian hesitated. The light spirits guiding her noticed her pause and quickly flew back, circling anxiously before her eyes. Their spinning made her dizzy.

“Stop spinning. Lead the way.”

Something was causing this much commotion in the dead of night, yet Elfa Forest was quieter than ever. Even the elves slept undisturbed. That could only mean one thing. A terrifying creature must have emerged that frightened most of the forest’s beings.

And she, just an awakened human with a light spirit root, was going there to… what? Get herself killed?

She was internally torn, but her feet did not slow. Yi Xian was used to running through forests, and with the light spirits leading the way, she soon arrived at the glowing source. A green pool lay before her.

Dozens of holy-looking pegasi circled overhead, forming rings of protection. Layers of white light cascaded downward, lighting the night as if it were day. In the center of those rings lay a pool of emerald water. The light flowed from the pegasi above, pure and blinding.

Two pegasi were in the water. One stood on edge, anxious and vigilant. The other repeatedly struggled to rise, only to collapse each time. Its heart-wrenching cries echoed from its mouth.

Yi Xian stepped closer and saw that each of them had a long, spiral horn on their forehead. The eyes of the fallen pegasus were a frosty blue, glistening with hopeless tears. It spared a glance toward Yi Xian as she approached.

Its belly was swollen. The waters around it gradually turned dark red. The other pegasus tried to comfort her, licking her gently. Even so, Yi Xian could see it. That mare’s strength was failing. Two lives were slipping away.

A difficult birth?

Yi Xian thought about the primitive medical skills of this era and immediately felt a headache coming on. In her past life, it would have been simple to make an incision in the abdomen, remove the troublesome infant, disinfect, and suture the wound. A life would be saved.

But now… She touched the dagger strapped to her leg.

Save or not?

Honestly, she had never delivered an animal before. She didn’t even have experience delivering humans. One wrong move with the knife could be fatal. A little too deep, and a major artery could rupture. Too shallow, and she might miss the right spot.

Before she could decide, the light spirits returned, spinning wildly until she felt dizzy again. Then it became clear. These pegasi were light spirit creatures, born of the same origin as herself. That was why they had brought her here.

They really know how to put me in a tough spot.

Yi Xian gritted her teeth and summoned a small ball of light. Under the wary eyes of the pegasi, she slowly stepped into the green pool. The water was freezing, making her teeth chatter.

“I… I can try helping with the delivery.”

She didn’t expect the pegasi to accept. Animals were still animals. Yet to her surprise, the one standing beside the mother moved aside voluntarily, giving her space.

Unbelievable.

Yi Xian raised her dagger, letting them see clearly.

“Believe me or not, I need to cut open her belly and take out the foal. Then I’ll use light spirits to heal her wound. Otherwise, she and the baby will bleed out. If you agree, go find some bl00d-replenishing herbs.”

If conditions were better, she would want fire and alcohol, too. But that was wishful thinking. Saving lives took priority. No time to delay.

To be safe, she washed the dagger clean before making the incision.

The Madwoman spoke. “How confident are you?”

Yi Xian didn’t respond. She had only seen someone deliver a horse once in a livestream. These pegasi resembled horses. It was a gamble, but if she didn’t try, both would die.

Taking a deep breath, she gently touched the pegasus’s head and whispered, “You want to see your child, too, right? Hang in there. We’ll do our best.”

Every muscle in her body was taut. Her slicing hand moved fast and firm. When warm bl00d splashed on her face, she didn’t even blink. She found the foal and pulled it out. It was a little bundle, slightly larger than a newborn beastling, slick with bl00d. She needed both hands to lift it.

Only then did Yi Xian realize the baby pegasus’s eyes were shut tight. Its spiral horn was only the size of a thumb.

Strange. Most newborns make a sound or open their eyes.

She checked for breath. Not believing it, she checked again. Then she felt the mother’s pulse for a long while.

Dead.

Maybe it had stayed in the womb too long. Or maybe…

She didn’t dare guess. She quickly healed the mother’s wound using light spirits. The mare kept nudging and licking the foal, cleaning it thoroughly. It was a stunning little creature, snow-white and pure.

Yi Xian had felt a small bump earlier, which was likely its undeveloped wings. When it grew up, it would surely be like the others, strong, radiant, and winged.

Yet she was overwhelmed by the bitter regret of having tried her best but failing nonetheless. The mare’s heartbroken cries seemed to tug violently at her own chest.

“I’m sorry.”

“Young one, you can preserve their only bloodline.”

In the dead of night, the sudden voice felt like a corpse rising from a coffin. Yi Xian’s scalp tingled and her hair stood on end. She turned to find Granny Zhi standing at the edge of the pool, smiling gently.

Yi Xian’s heart stirred with hope. “Granny Zhi, do you have a way to save the foal?”

“The foal has already lost all signs of life within the womb. Even the Sacred Pool of the elf tribe cannot revive it.”

The Sacred Pool?

This was the Sacred Pool?

She had heard Tian Tian mention it. Every newborn elf needed to be bathed in the Sacred Pool’s water to grow up healthy. The waters could even bring the dying back. If an elf was barely breathing, the Sacred Pool could heal them completely.

She had always imagined the Sacred Pool as something grand. But in reality, it was just a simple green pond. Appearances could truly deceive.

Yi Xian said, “If you have a method, Granny Zhi, please tell me.”

Granny Zhi replied, “Ask the one who has always followed you. You’ll get your answer.”

A chill shot from the soles of her feet up to her crown. Yi Xian had thought she was well hidden. She had even evaded the City Lord’s charm spell, but not Granny Zhi’s crystal orb. Could true foresight exist in this world?

The Madwoman growled, “That nosy old crone.”

Yi Xian could tell immediately that the Madwoman had been keeping things from her. She was furious. She had nearly forgotten about the ticking time bomb in her mind.

“Speak.”

The Madwoman cursed under her breath, then grudgingly said, “As a Beast Tamer, you can choose a phantom beast to form a contract with. Phantom beasts aren’t ordinary animals. There are two types of contracts. First, there is a living phantom beast. Second is with a dead one that still holds a lingering spirit. Regardless of which, if it’s not your life-bonded beast, it becomes either a slave or equal contract.”

So it’s about the life-bonded beast again. That’s why she didn’t say anything before.

“How do I form the contract?”

“Summon it with your will. If it responds, you can form a bond. If it doesn’t, then you two have no fate.”

Yi Xian asked again, “And how do I form a life-bonded contract?”

That question was like setting off a string of firecrackers. The fragile peace between them was shattered instantly.

The Madwoman nearly screamed, “You’re insane! You’d rather pick a newborn corpse than choose me or that shriveled worm?!”

Yi Xian hadn’t actually planned to choose the foal as her life-bonded beast. She just wanted to provoke the Madwoman. Ignoring her screaming in her mind, she sat down cross-legged and began to search for the foal with her mind.

Maybe she was too close to the pegasi. Even with her eyes closed, everything remained bright. It was hard to focus.

“Little cutie?”

“Little pegasus?”

The baby reminded her of Little Lan. She wondered if the little cub was being bullied after going back with Lan Tong… The more she thought, the angrier she got. She wanted to hurl a ball of light spirit at that brat.

Focus. Find the foal first.

Racking her brain, she chose a story from her childhood, voicing both characters with vivid expression. Luckily, it was all happening within her thoughts… Otherwise, she’d never face Granny Zhi or these pegasi again.

“That was nice. Tell me more.”

“…Hm?”

Yi Xian thought she had misheard. She retold the story flatly, without emotion.

A puzzled voice responded, “It’s different.”

She coaxed gently, “Then come out. I’ll tell it to you face to face.”

The blinding light slowly dimmed. Darkness returned. A softly glowing foal appeared before her, like an oversized lamp. Its ice-blue eyes curiously examined her.

“I’ve seen you. You saved my mother.”

That sweet and tender voice could melt any woman’s heart.

Yi Xian thought, If only this little one could play with Little Lan. That would be perfect.

But life never gave you both. She extended her hand. A gentle light danced in her palm.

“Come. Will you form a contract with me?”

The foal tilted its head, then stepped forward. It raised a hoof and stamped it into her palm like a seal.

“Will you tell me stories in the future?”

Yi Xian had a headache. This might be more trouble than having a child of my own.

Before she could think of how to respond, a white light shot into both their foreheads. The contract was sealed.

Yi Xian stared.

That’s it? It’s that easy?

She hadn’t even finished speaking. What if this foal started demanding stories every day?

Yi Xian opened her eyes and found herself surrounded by a herd of pegasi. What she could not see was the mark that had appeared on her forehead. Within the glow of white light, a tiny image of a foal galloped. It was the mark that appeared only when a Beast Tamer summoned a phantom beast.

Granny Zhi said, “Very good.”

Yi Xian did not know what this “very good” meant. She let the little foal reveal its form and stay beside the pegasus couple who had just lost their child and were on the verge of losing another.

Her forehead felt warm. She rushed to the green pond and looked at her reflection. Sure enough, a mark had appeared there.

Later, the pegasus parents, along with the other pegasi, flew away. The white light dispersed, and the foal returned to her sea of consciousness, mumbling that it wanted to hear a story.

Yi Xian said nothing.

Everything that happened that night felt like a dream. If not for the next morning, when the foal knelt in the grass outside her door basking in the sunlight and drawing the attention of the elves and Duanmu Ya, she might have thought it had all been a hallucination.

In the middle of the night, instead of sleeping, she had helped a mother pegasus give birth, summoned the soul of its dead son, and accepted it as her own. In her previous life, Yi Xian would never have dared to imagine such a thing.

Duanmu Ya circled the foal with bright excitement and a strong desire to pet it. “Yi Xian, you are a Beast Tamer? You sure hid it well.”

Hide what? She had not even scratched the surface of being a Beast Tamer. Everything she knew came from the gaps between the Madwoman’s teeth. Take yesterday’s contract, for example. She still had no idea what a Life-Bonded Beast Contract was, nor what kind of pact she had made with the foal.

Being led by the nose like this was far from ideal.

“Ahhh! What did you do while I was gone? How could you sign a contract with such a little idiot behind our backs?!”

“Little idiot?”

“Ah!”

Yi Xian had not known where Lord Yin Bao was hiding. Then a flash of white light exploded beneath a tree. The light orb had exploded, revealing Lord Yin Bao with its small hands on its hips, caught in the blast and falling flat.
It was Tian Tian, the sharp-eyed elf, who dragged the dazed ball out.

Duanmu Ya covered her mouth. “Oh my, Yi Xian, your phantom beast is a Light Spirit attack type? The future is bright for you.”

Yi Xian quickly rescued Lord Yin Bao from Tian Tian’s hands. “Attack type?”

Lord Yin Bao’s little green hat was blown askew, but it was still breathing. Yi Xian gently placed it on the bed and healed it with Light Spirit energy. “Tell me about Beast Tamer contracts, especially Life-Bonded Beasts.”

Duanmu Ya, being a true lady of the Duanmu family, was well-versed in such knowledge. Thanks to her, Yi Xian no longer had to grope in the dark or rely on the Madwoman’s storytelling.

Beast Tamers were spirit cultivators who awakened their spiritual roots and could fight alongside phantom beasts. They were quite popular among humans. Duanmu Ya herself was initially trained as a Beast Tamer, having awakened dual spiritual roots at a young age, which was rare. Sadly, she could not communicate with any phantom beast or tame one, so she chose the path of an alchemist. Fortunately, she had great talent in alchemy.

Phantom beasts were ranked by levels. The higher the level, the harder they were to hunt and subdue. In such cases, a Beast Tamer might choose to kill the beast and then subdue it using another method. This was the Soul Contract. Unlike Equal Contracts, Soul Contracts were master-servant bonds.

Of course, whether the beast was tamed or if it turned on the tamer was a different matter entirely.

Yi Xian nodded. No wonder the contract had been completed so quickly the day before, without any ceremony or process. It had happened so fast she barely understood it. “What if the phantom beast is alive?”

Duanmu Ya frowned slightly. “If the beast is alive, the Tamer can choose to form a Life-Bonded Contract. Once chosen, there is no turning back. It means tying your life to that of the phantom beast. Of course, one can also choose an Equal Contract. That way, after many years, you can part ways.”

Yi Xian thought the Equal Contract sounded more reasonable. The Life-Bonded one seemed like a trap. “What good is a Life-Bonded Contract, then?”

Duanmu Ya pondered. “Blessing or curse, it depends. For example, if you want to attach yourself to a powerful being, you can form a Life-Bonded Contract with a powerful phantom beast. Your cultivation speed would skyrocket.”

Yi Xian considered this. That advantage did not apply to her. She was not strong at all. On the contrary, she was quite weak. But the Madwoman and Lord Yin Bao both seemed eager to claim the Life-Bonded position. Yi Xian voiced her doubts.

Duanmu Ya puffed her cheeks and looked puzzled. “Even if the Tamer is weak, some phantom beasts still fight to become the Life-Bonded Beast…” She suddenly slapped the table. “I get it. Besides growing together quickly, there’s another benefit. Once strong enough, a phantom beast can cultivate into a human.”

Bingo.

Yi Xian’s confusion vanished. That was the real reason the Madwoman and Lord Yin Bao were competing for the position.

“Oh no, I feel dizzy.”

Lord Yin Bao sat up on the bed, wobbled a bit, and nearly toppled over. Thankfully, Yi Xian caught it in time.

A mouse that wants to become human?

What a grand ambition!

Duanmu Ya looked at Lord Yin Bao’s outfit with curiosity. “Yi Xian, this little mouse is hilarious. It’s even wearing clothes, so proper. Is this your pet?”

Lord Yin Bao placed its hands on its hips and chirped furiously at Duanmu Ya.

Duanmu Ya saw the posture. “Yi Xian, is your little pet scolding me?”

Yi Xian thought she had to find a way to seal off the leftover will in her consciousness sea. If this kept up, they would argue every day, and her head might just explode.

Duanmu Ya suddenly ignited a small flame. Lord Yin Bao screamed and darted underground.

“Such a coward.”

“Don’t scare it like that again. It’s timid.”

Duanmu Ya pouted and mumbled something under her breath. Whether she heard the warning was unclear.

Yi Xian counted the days. They had stayed with the elves for over a month, enjoying delicious meals and fine wine. Life had become so comfortable that she almost forgot the days when death had clung to her heels.

“Let’s go find the Di Huang Jing you wanted. Once we catch it, we can leave Elfa Forest.”

Duanmu Ya nodded, her eyes darting mischievously. “Yi Xian, why not bring your little foal along?”

The foal loved basking in the sun. At sunrise, it would run outside and stay there until sunset. Maybe it was her imagination, but Yi Xian felt its form had become more solid.

Due to its soul-based nature, others found it hard to touch. Once, Duanmu Ya had tried and her hand went straight through it. She even described the sensation, saying it was extremely cold.

Yi Xian said, “Bring it along. The sooner we catch it, the better.”

They had come to Elfa Forest for the Di Huang Jing, though many side events had interrupted that mission. The two of them set up traps while the foal lay nearby in the sun. Lord Yin Bao was hostile toward the foal, partly because it had been beaten, and now wanted revenge. It kept popping up to tease the foal.

Thankfully, after Yi Xian warned it, the foal stopped attacking with light balls. Instead, it simply ignored Lord Yin Bao.

Sometimes Yi Xian thought, with Xiao Nan included, she could open a zoo… Lord Yin Bao and its gang of little mice could manage an entire animal park.

“It’s here.”

“We’re lucky today.”

Duanmu Ya held the spirit-binding rope tightly, her eyes fixed on the bouncing Di Huang Jing. The plant was drawn to the gentle glow coming from the foal and circled around it without stopping. Not even its favorite, Bao Hua Jade Dew, could lure it away.

Duanmu Ya scratched her head. “What’s going on?”

Yi Xian said, “The light source. Plants love it.”

Duanmu Ya smacked her forehead. “Then, why not have your foal lure it over to me?”

Before the words finished, the foal, annoyed by the Di Huang Jing’s hopping, flung a light ball. The herb was instantly surrounded and collapsed.

Yi Xian, “…”

Duanmu Ya, “….”

The foal gave them a lazy look and continued basking.

Duanmu Ya rushed to check and confirmed the Di Huang Jing had only been stunned by the light. Relieved, she pulled Yi Xian aside and showered the foal with compliments.

With the mission complete, Yi Xian and Duanmu Ya prepared to leave. Tian Tian and Xiao Xiao, the two little elves, burst into tears. They each held onto one of Yi Xian’s hands and refused to let go unless she promised to return.

Granny Zhi smiled and comforted them. “She will return. The gates of the elf tribe will always be open to our young friend.”

Duanmu Ya muttered from the side, “Seems I’m not welcome.”

Yi Xian felt a chill hearing Granny Zhi’s prophecy-like words. Once she returned to human territory, she likely would never set foot in this place again.

What, was she supposed to miss the days of being brutally bullied in the Beast Tribe? She was no masochist.

Thanks to Lord Yin Bao scouting ahead, they found a shortcut to Yars City.