Lao Mountain Daoist

"Template: Ostrich

Life Level: Level 1

Attributes:

Strength: 10

Agility: 17

Constitution: 12

Perception: 16

Charisma: 7

Skill: Bite"

After several days of testing, Ling Qing successfully recorded the Ostrich template.

It was unexpected, yet made sense. Wild Shape restricted innate swimming and flying abilities.

Creatures like the goshawk and White Crane were born to fly, while ostriches, though still birds, had become creatures born to run.

Even chickens and ducks were better than them. At least according to what Ling Qing had learned from the Druid inheritance, he couldn't transform into a chicken or a duck.

That meant chickens and ducks were birds that could fly.

Ling Qing checked the prerequisites for Five Animal Frolics. As expected, he had all five forms and fully met the requirements to raise it to Master level.

The only thing holding him back now was having enough experience.

Next, it was time to stick to his original plan and work hard to earn experience.

When the staff at the villa learned Ling Qing was preparing to leave, they saw him off with some reluctance.

After all, during the half month he'd been there, the Beast Garden, usually plagued by frequent accidents, had been much more peaceful.

Those who practiced Imitative Boxing were bold to the point of recklessness. Relying on their martial arts, they would often goad the ferocious beasts in the Beast Garden.

Sometimes they provoked a beast, then injured it, leaving the veterinarians to treat it and soothe its aggrieved feelings.

Other times, a beast bit them, and the staff standing nearby had to rescue them and then soothe the beast's fury.

The main task was calming the beasts' tempers, something Ling Qing found effortless, since he could get tigers and deer to live in peace.

Now they suddenly had to return to the old days of chaos, and they weren't quite used to it.

"Knock, knock!"

"Come in, the door's unlocked."

Ling Qing had just finished packing when he heard someone knock outside.

With a creak, the door swung open. Tian Yong and Zhang Zhe walked in, bringing along a plump, fair-skinned Daoist with a jolly smile and a resplendent robe.

"Ling Qing, you're leaving already?"

Zhang Zhe asked when he saw Ling Qing's packed luggage.

"Yeah. I've finished observing everything. There's no point in staying longer."

Ling Qing invited the three of them to sit on the bed, then sat down on his cushion.

Since their last parting, they'd kept in touch regularly. Both of them knew Ling Qing was there to practice Five Animal Frolics.

They, meanwhile, had been digesting what they'd gained last time and figuring out how to refine the Clear Heart Rings, so they hadn't had time to visit him.

Neither of their families was short of money, so there was no need for them to come to a crowded, noisy villa.

As for how the two families divided things up, that had nothing to do with Ling Qing.

"Are you done with your business?"

"Thanks to Fatty Zhu's help. Look."

Zhang Zhe rolled up his sleeve and proudly waved his wrist in front of Ling Qing.

A gleaming yellow copper ring shimmered there, bouncing up and down with the movement of his arm. Every so often, it gave off a refreshing, clear-headed aura.

"But I haven't fully refined it yet. Once I do, it won't be so conspicuous, and I'll be able to make it appear and disappear at will."

Zhang Zhe stroked it with a delighted smile.

"All right, enough showing off. Ling Qing, this is Zhu Guang. He came because he has something to ask you."

"Ask me?"

Ling Qing looked at Zhu Guang, who had been smiling cheerfully the whole time, a little puzzled. He also stood up to greet him.

"Hello, Ling Qing."

Seeing this, Zhu Guang stood as well. His hands, like white jade radishes, grabbed Ling Qing's and shook them up and down.

"Hello, hello. My name is Zhu Guang, and my Daoist title is Daoist Treasure Aura."

Good grief!

That name!

That Daoist title!

But Ling Qing looked him up and down and found that both suited him perfectly.

To have grown so plump and to be close friends with Tian Yong and the others, he was probably from a wealthy family too.

"Here's the situation."

After greeting him, Zhu Guang continued, "I won't hide anything from you. A large Time Fragment is about to open again.

"We've pulled some strings and confirmed that we'll definitely be able to enter.

"But there are quite a lot of demons and ghosts inside, so we'd like to buy that Ghost-Repelling Pill of yours."

In the previous instance, the pills granted along with his role had given Ling Qing eleven Ghost-Repelling Pills in all.

He carried the highest-quality one on him, and kept the other ten in his Medicine Case.

He'd first given one each to Tian Yong and the others for self-defense. After they reached the graveyard, they'd ground up the remaining five and smeared the powder on their weapons.

Later, though they encountered a vengeful ghost, they never had a chance to use the pills. Daoist Wenxi struck it with a bolt of heavenly lightning and blasted it to ashes.

After that, everyone still had their self-defense pill.

"I looked into it before. There's information about Ghost-Repelling Pills online, and the Special Affairs Department must have collected a recipe. It shouldn't be hard to make, right?"

Ling Qing asked, puzzled.

The pill had come with the medical knowledge, and he'd never thought much of it. How had it turned out to be such a treasure?

Zhu Guang said with a wry smile, "To be honest, I've seen your Ghost-Repelling Pill and compared it with the ones the department has prepared. Even the pills you gave Brother Yong and the others are more effective than ours, let alone the one you're carrying.

"Of course, the department does have pills with similar effects, or even stronger ones, but they're keeping those for their own use. I can't get my hands on any right now."

Then he thumped his chest. "Don't worry. Just name your price. Since I dare to call myself Daoist Treasure Aura, I do have a few things to offer."

Zhu Guang thumped his chest and looked at Ling Qing expectantly.

"I can vouch for that. He's bound to gain plenty from this trip, so don't hold back, Ling Qing."

Tian Yong, who'd stayed silent nearby to avoid getting involved after Zhu Guang spoke, joined in. "Besides, with us there, we definitely won't let you get the short end of the stick."

After hearing them out, Ling Qing pondered for a moment, then asked, "What would I need to do to enter this instance?"

The three exchanged glances. They'd considered this possibility before coming, but it wasn't that they were unwilling. It was just...

"Brother, I'll be frank with you. Anyone can enter this instance, but that doesn't mean everyone can get in." Zhu Guang gave another wry smile.

"The instance is in Mount Lao, Lu Province. It's the well-known 'Lao Mountain Daoist.' On the ninth day of the ninth month, anyone within the area of Mount Lao might enter.

"But the odds are very low. The last time it opened, there was no anchor, and plenty of people were just sightseeing. Along with the locals, only five people got in."

"The reason we're sure we can enter is that someone obtained an anchor from inside. They used some special means to guarantee their success."

At that point, Zhang Zhe explained, "But first, the number of slots is limited. This matter has far-reaching implications, and word has already gotten out in some circles. Plenty of people are competing for a spot.

"Second, the department doesn't want too many people getting involved, so it's set a few conditions. You have to have some way to deal with ghosts.

"The main reason is that without a way to fight ghosts, it's extremely dangerous inside.

"Know that if you die in an instance, you're really dead. You might not even get to take your bones back with you."