Little Black

Biodata

Name	Little Black (小黑)
Species/Race	Bucktooth Insect; later an Insect Cultivator
Affiliation	Zhu Yu's spirit insect and companion
Occupation/Role	Mount, Life Seed nurturer, and caretaker of Zhu Yu's residence
Status	Alive; first-rank perfection, preparing to attempt the second rank 314 392
First Appearance	Chapter 20 20

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Unranked Bucktooth Insect	20	Frightened by Zhu Yu's newly formed spiritual aura and seized with spiritual power.
First-rank low-grade	38	Completed its first transformation into an insect beast and awakened the unranked innate technique Lightness.
First-rank low-grade, 52%	52	Moon-white aura thickened its carapace, strengthened its limbs, and lengthened its mandibles.
Peak first-order low-grade	79	Its progress stalled under bloodline shackles; Zhu Yu rejected methods that would sacrifice its potential to become a Qi Beast.
First-rank mid-grade	94	Received Moon Sprite origin power, condensed a Life Sac, and transformed into an Insect Cultivator. Lightness evolved into Wind Riding, and it awakened Earth Travel.
First-rank perfection, 5/20	314	Gained the moon attribute and Moon Swallowing; its required Spirit Ruins Origin for a second-rank breakthrough doubled, increasing its potential.

Background / History

Little Black was already living with Zhu Yu when Zhu Yu entered Qi Refining. Initially a timid Bucktooth Insect, it recoiled from Zhu Yu's spiritual aura and was used while Zhu Yu tested his new spiritual power 20.

After consuming food Zhu Yu prepared, Little Black drew spiritual energy into its body and entered a prolonged slumber, growing steadily larger. Its insect mother had been killed, confirming that it no longer had a source of care beyond Zhu Yu 36. It emerged as a first-rank low-grade insect beast, awakened Lightness, and became Zhu Yu's first reliable mount 38 39.

Little Black was injured by a blade-wielding insect monster, leaving blade marks on its carapace and chips in its incisors. The incident left it fearful and anxious, while Zhu Yu resolved to capture and roast the attacker in revenge 45. Its growing intelligence later became apparent when it was temporarily trapped at the peak of first-order low-grade by bloodline shackles 79.

Moon Sprite origin power ultimately changed its path. Little Black condensed a Life Sac and became an Insect Cultivator; its intelligence rose to the level of an ordinary person, while its original Lightness technique evolved into Wind Riding 94. It later demonstrated an instinctive understanding of Heaven-Sent Divine Seeds and insisted that one should be nurtured rather than eaten 106.

While guarding Zhu Yu's home, Little Black planted a Treasure Herb seed and helped it gestate into Xiao Wu, demonstrating its capacity to nurture Life Seeds 149. Its later moon-attribute transformation altered its cultivation requirements and granted Moon Swallowing 314. During its preparation for a second-rank breakthrough, its body shrank to less than a millstone in size and developed star-like markings as Divine Radiance from Starry Wood altered its constitution 369.

Appearance

Little Black is a black, six-legged insect with a broad horny head, a heavy carapace, and conspicuous oversized buckteeth. Its size has changed repeatedly as it cultivated, from a shoulder-high mount to a house-sized creature, then to a body smaller than a millstone during its moon-attribute transformation 39 186 369.

• Dark carapace that deepened in color as it grew 39.
• Six long, jointed legs capable of rapid movement 38 39.
• Large plate-like mandibles and prominent buckteeth 38 41.
• Tortoise-like head, dark-cyan pupils, and a black, veined body after becoming an Insect Cultivator 94.
• Star-like spots and web-like secret markings on its carapace after receiving Divine Radiance 369.

Personality

Little Black is deeply attached to Zhu Yu, regularly rubbing against him, expressing joy at his return, and calling him “Master” after gaining speech 38 186. It is strongly food-motivated, particularly fond of spiritual fruits, figs, mushrooms, and other snacks 132 149.

Its growing intelligence brought both cleverness and anxiety. After being injured, it became jumpy and fearful; later, it was intelligent enough to play innocent when it wanted something and to understand when Little Seven was deliberately provoking it 45 79 314. It recognizes Little Jade's superior combat strength and behaves submissively toward her despite occasional annoyance 52 94.

Abilities & Skills

Wind Riding

Wind Riding evolved from Little Black's original Lightness technique after it became an Insect Cultivator 94.

• Allows it to travel on the wind at more than ten times its previous speed 94.
• Makes it an exceptionally fast ground mount for Zhu Yu 39 94.
• Its former Lightness technique made carried weight feel greatly reduced, allowing Zhu Yu to ride without feeling bumps from its movement 38 39.

Earth Travel

An earth-attribute Dharma Seed awakened after Little Black's transformation into an Insect Cultivator 94.

• Allows it to briefly tunnel through the ground 94.
• Complements its wind-based mobility with short-distance subterranean movement 94.

Moon Swallowing

Little Black gained a moon attribute and Moon Swallowing after its connection to Starry Wood changed its constitution 314.

• Absorbs moonlight to nourish its body and divine soul 314.
• Expels impurities from its body 314.
• Its moon-attribute Spirit Ruins Origins are especially effective for refining its Dharma Vein 314.

Life Sacs and Life Seed Nurturing

As an Insect Cultivator, Little Black can nurture Life Seeds through its Life Sacs 94.

• Initially possessed two Life Sacs: Starry Wood and Pure Bamboo 94.
• Later gained a third Life Sac, Seven-Treasure Soul-Returning Ginseng 314.
• Recognized a Heaven-Sent Divine Seed by instinct and understood that it should be planted and nurtured 106.
• Successfully planted a Treasure Herb seed that became the talking Life Seed Xiao Wu 149.

Intelligence and Communication

Little Black's intelligence increased alongside its cultivation.

• Reached the intelligence of an eight- or nine-year-old child while still constrained at first-order low-grade 79.
• Reached the level of an ordinary person after becoming an Insect Cultivator 94.
• Communicates through emotions, telepathic intent, and increasingly clear speech 52 106 186.
• Can understand basic cultivation-related concepts but may instinctively know facts without understanding their source 106.

Bloodline Shackles

Little Black's early growth was hindered by bloodline limitations 79.

• Its cultivation stalled at peak first-order low-grade despite continued physical growth 79.
• Zhu Yu found methods to force a breakthrough, but all would have eliminated Little Black's future potential as a Qi Beast 79.
• Its later moon-attribute transformation doubled the Spirit Ruins Origin needed for its second-rank breakthrough, but also doubled its potential 314.

Relationships

• Zhu Yu — Master and primary caretaker. Zhu Yu feeds, cultivates, protects, rides, and entrusts Little Black with guarding the household 38 45 149.
• Little Jade — Fellow spirit insect and acknowledged “boss.” Little Black acts obsequiously toward her and avoids openly challenging her greater combat strength 52 79 94.
• Little Seven — A troublesome Life Seed subordinate. Little Black claims authority over it, while Little Seven frequently provokes and manipulates it 305 314.
• Xiao Wu — Treasure Herb Life Seed nurtured by Little Black. Little Black initially threatened Xiao Wu for absorbing too much spiritual energy, then showed curiosity and concern 149.

Trivia

• Little Black's original innate technique, Lightness, was a non-ranked art that could make an object three times lighter with minimal energy consumption 38.
• It is notably gluttonous and can operate a Beast Bag after Zhu Yu taught it how to store food inside 132.
• It once used Little Seven's Life Essence to nourish Starry Wood without regard for Little Seven's exhaustion 305.