"Calm down, sworn brother. I never said I wouldn't help."
"I was just wondering whether there was a better way."
"After careful consideration, I think there might be another option!"
Yang Ling spoke solemnly.
Ji Tianming was curious. "What other option?"
"Hasn't your physical body already turned into an exotic beast? I happen to be a Spirit Pet Venerable, so why don't you see if you can acknowledge me as your master?
"If it works, you can cultivate in the Spirit Pet Space. Everything will be the same as before. You'll just be lying in a different place, and it'll be even safer!"
Yang Ling grew more excited as he spoke.
"Sworn brother, I think this is a great idea! It's much more reliable than going to the Abyssal Beast Grotto to find Master Zhao De!"
"Oh, you're a Spirit Pet Venerable? I thought you were a Spirit Armor Master."
Ji Tianming looked at the Spirit Armor Yang Ling wore.
"You mean you want me to become your second spirit pet?"
Yang Ling said, "You've misunderstood, sworn brother. It's just a temporary measure. We'll still be brothers!"
"Temporary measure, my ass!"
Ji Tianming was so angry he laughed.
"You're not even Second Grade. Even if I wanted to acknowledge you as my master, I couldn't!"
"..."
Yang Ling asked curiously, "It depends on my cultivation too?"
"What else? Your cultivation is far below mine. The gap is too great. If I really tried to acknowledge you as my master, you'd be the first to die."
Ji Tianming said flatly, "There's only one way: find Zhao De.
"Back then, his position in the Abyssal Beast Grotto was chief under the Five-Poison Emperor.
"His current identity is Seal Keeper Zhao, the Cicada-Holding Directorate's warden of Jia-One City."
"..."
Yang Ling's expression darkened.