Joining the Spirit Pagoda

Even she, the Lord of Spirit Beasts, felt ashamed by his attitude toward spirit beasts.

"Maybe it has something to do with the environment I used to live in. In that place, life was highly valued. Other than those beyond redemption, every life deserved respect. You couldn't casually take someone else's life, or you'd suffer retribution," Meng Li said. Even now, he had not been able to change his way of thinking. He still handled matters according to the laws of his original society.

"Your talent does not allow you to act this way!"

"This is my own choice. So what if it limits my cultivation? I don't want to become someone who only knows slaughter!" Meng Li's gaze suddenly turned resolute.

Gu Yue looked at the boy before her, her heart pounding wildly.

The fall of that Southern Moon Elephant King had shown Meng Li the cruelty of this world. Human hearts were greedy.

Once enough time had passed, Meng Li and Gu Yue withdrew from the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Upon seeing Meng Li, the Spirit Master nearly cried. Finally, they had finally come out.

Outside the Spirit Pagoda, Xie Xie and the other two were covered in dust and dirt.

"Where have you been these past few days? How did you disappear for an entire month? We asked Teacher Wu, but he wouldn't say anything," Xie Xie asked doubtfully upon seeing Meng Li.

"Teacher Wu took me somewhere. If he wouldn't tell you, then of course I can't either. What happened to you guys?" Meng Li asked curiously.

Xie Xie glanced at Gu Yue behind Meng Li and said calmly, "We just ran into a Soul Master in his thirties. Wang Jinxi and I were eliminated first. Tang Wulin is the only one still inside, though that Soul Master in his thirties was eliminated too."

The protagonist really is the protagonist. Meng Li nodded.

"Then did you pass the assessment?" Meng Li asked curiously.

"Yeah, we lasted well over an hour."

Xie Xie said indignantly, "If it weren't for that Ice Staff Man, we could have held on longer!"

"Who was he? I'll stand up for you when the time comes," Meng Li said.

"That guy seemed to have a sister complex like you. Even when he was leaving, he was still thinking about his little sister." Xie Xie tried hard to recall.

"..." Meng Li said, "Handle it yourselves."

"This is bad. Tang Wulin was hit again. This time, it's a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear," Wang Jinxi cried out.

"Why can't this child ever stop worrying people? Hurry and administer first aid!" Wu Changkong said worriedly.

Gu Yue's expression remained calm, as though learning this was the most ordinary thing in the world.

There were doctors at the emergency center. He and Gu Yue had returned ahead of the others, but after the two of them parted ways with Wu Changkong, they encountered someone—a person dressed as a Spirit Master.

"Are you willing to join the Spirit Pagoda?" The Spirit Master was straightforward, without any needless beating around the bush.

Gu Yue thought for a moment. "What benefits are there to joining you?"

"You can receive the Spirit Pagoda's protection. You can get discounts when buying items made with Spirit Pagoda technology, and you can earn rewards by accepting missions issued by the Spirit Pagoda! You can also enter the Spirit Ascension Platform once for free every month!"

"Alright, I agree to join you!" Gu Yue's eyes imperceptibly flicked toward Meng Li.

"Then I'll join too!"

Meng Li noticed the glance from the corner of Gu Yue's eye. After thinking briefly, he chose to join the Spirit Pagoda. He needed to search for Na'er across the continent, and having an organization would make things more convenient.

Besides, he had another important reason for joining the Spirit Pagoda: he wanted to change the relationship between Soul Masters and spirit beasts, and develop something that could replace spirit rings even better than soul spirits could.

The Spirit Master was slightly surprised. He did not even get to say the speech he had prepared.

"The contributions you Spirit Masters have made are enormous. You've changed the fates of many spirit beasts. If not for you, spirit beasts might already be extinct! That's why I believe joining you is the right choice," Meng Li said with a smile.

Gu Yue was moved inside, and her favorable impression of Meng Li soared.

"Welcome to the Spirit Pagoda!" The Spirit Master smiled.

After giving Gu Yue and Meng Li each a token, the Spirit Master turned and left.

"Did we agree too easily?" Meng Li muttered.

"-_-||..." Gu Yue said, "You only just realized that?"

"I'm so hungry. Come to think of it, I haven't eaten anything for over a month." Meng Li's stomach rumbled at that moment.

"Shall we go out to eat?" Gu Yue suggested.

"The food outside is terrible. You probably haven't tried my cooking before, right? I'll make noodles for you. They sell shredded rabbit meat by the roadside, and that stuff tastes pretty good."

"Didn't you say Tang San's wife is a rabbit..." Gu Yue's mouth twitched.

"What does her being a rabbit have to do with me eating rabbits?" Meng Li said with a completely serious expression.

"Fine."

Dormitory.

Meng Li filled the Soul Tool Self-heating Stove with water and began preparing the seasonings. He had bought all of them according to the flavors he remembered from his previous life.

He had studied cooking under a chef uncle for a year before, so his skills were decent. In this world, where people only cared about ingredient quality and flavors were extremely strange, he was quite confident in his cooking.

"It smells so good!" As Gu Yue smelled the aroma of the shredded rabbit meat, she thought of the Shura God who had injured her. She viciously bit into the rabbit meat. It was supposed to be revenge, but the more she ate, the better it tasted, until she could not stop.

"Leave some for me." Seeing Gu Yue eating with such gusto, Meng Li reminded her.

"Alright, I'll save some for you." Gu Yue nodded seriously, tore off a piece of meat from the rabbit leg, and held it to the mouth of the busy Meng Li.

Meng Li bit into the rabbit meat.

Mm, it's still not as good as what I make...

"What is that? It smells so good." Gu Yue was suddenly drawn to Meng Li's special seasonings on the table. She sniffed and caught a scent she had never smelled before. It was different from the usual food smells, and merely smelling it made her swallow.

"Here, for you. Braised Beef Brisket and Egg Noodles."

Gu Yue looked at the highly appetizing noodles, picked up her chopsticks, and began eating them without a thought for the remaining half rabbit leg.

With one bite, accompanied by the tenderness of the beef brisket and the flavor of the special braising broth, Gu Yue's eyes instantly lit up.

"Mmm, these are the best noodles I've ever eaten!"

Gu Yue wore a blissful expression. Forgetting all about ladylike manners, she ate quickly with her chopsticks.

Only after eating two large bowls did Gu Yue contentedly rub her little belly. Her face filled with happiness as she said, "I'm coming again tomorrow. Compared to yours, everything outside tastes awful."

"I'm glad you like them. I was worried they might not suit your taste while I was cooking," Meng Li said with a smile as he began clearing the bowls and chopsticks.

"Wait, let me do that." Gu Yue pressed down on Meng Li's hand. "You made the noodles, so I can't let you wash the dishes too."

"Alright, then." Meng Li hesitated for a moment.

After dinner, Gu Yue lay in the chair Meng Li had specially prepared for her and looked at the night scenery outside the window.

His room was quite nice. Beyond the recliner was the sports field, and farther ahead lay the park and forested hills. With no teaching buildings blocking the view, his window had the most beautiful scenery.

"Meng Li, what is your dream?" With nothing else to do, Gu Yue began chatting with Meng Li.

Why does that sound so much like some chicken soup for the soul? Meng Li looked at the moon tonight. It was as round as it was on the fifteenth.

According to the customs of his previous life, after exams came the New Year holiday. He had always spent it together with Na'er.

"A dream... It's for my family to be safe and sound, and to find Na'er."

"The weather is getting colder now, so remember to wear more clothes," Meng Li said.

"We're Soul Masters. What does a little cold like this matter?"

Meng Li: "..."

Are you allergic to feelings or something?

"Still, your dream as someone with a sister complex is way too simple. You have no ambition..." Gu Yue curled her lips.

"If we're talking about ambition, then I hope spirit beasts can become protected animals, and anyone who harms them will be arrested," Meng Li said seriously. They would become protected animals.

He would create a profession called spirit beast caretaker, responsible for protecting spirit beasts and caring for their physical and mental health. Of course, it would be a high-risk profession.