The feathered serpent had certainly once possessed higher-tier power. Chen Chuan estimated that it had most likely reached the legendary Fifth Limit.
But its fortunes must have been bound to Kavatua's rise and fall. It had not lived on the other side of the Rift, and so it had degenerated.
After all, creatures like this broke through their limits differently from Fighters. They originated in Convergence Zones and either relied on energy from the other side to survive and evolve, or sustained themselves through spiritual power gathered from people's faith. They did not transform themselves from the roots up through their own cultivation.
The feathered serpent might have relied on both. After spending so long in the material world without sufficient replenishment, with the First People long in decline and their faith utterly shattered, the foundation sustaining it no longer existed. That was how it had ended up in its current state.
Even so, such creatures still had an extremely powerful transformative influence. If Zhao Ming used its life essence to transcend his limits, he might well become a member of the feathered serpent's race, or even its offspring. That would be far from ideal.
It was not that there was anything wrong with the feathered serpent's race. Rather, becoming Ikuss's offspring, or sharing a blood connection with it, could leave him subject to its control. That was not something Chen Chuan wanted to see.
Unless he could resolve that problem, he had no intention of rushing to use it. Of course, if Zhao Ming faced an emergency or mortal danger, he would still be willing to try, because this substance could serve as a lifesaving medicine. Any problems could be dealt with afterward.
For now, he would wait until he found someone suitable, or someone knowledgeable about such matters,