Beast Spirit Valley.
After several months, Xu Changqing set foot here once again.
But this time, he had not come to find Wangwang a wife. He had come for Crane Seven.
She was both a white crane and a spirit pet bound to Chu Qiu by contract, sharing life and death with him.
Before long, Xu Changqing arrived at Thousand-Crane Grove.
Some of the white cranes here were nearly ten feet long, their white feathers piled like snow.
Others were smaller, with crimson fleshy crests growing atop their heads.
"Stop!"
"Do not come any closer!"
"Human cultivator, what business do you have in Thousand-Crane Grove?"
Just as Xu Changqing was about to enter, two white cranes capable of human speech suddenly blocked his path.
They were tall and large, their beaks and claw tips glinting blue-black.
Xu Changqing stated his purpose. "My name is Xu Changqing. I come from Azurewood Peak, and I would like to see Crane Seven."
Upon hearing this, the white crane on the left shook its head. "No. Crane Seven is injured."
Xu Changqing quickly said, "We know each other. Please inform her."
The white crane on the right let out a caw, then flapped its wings and shot into the air.
With a swoosh.
It turned into a streak of white light and vanished into the distance at astonishing speed.
Meanwhile, the crane that remained offered a brief explanation. "Our clan ranks status by cultivation. Crane Seven has cultivated for over a thousand years and now lives deep within the grove. I am merely a gatekeeper like the other one, and we have no chance to meet her. If you cannot see her, please do not blame us."
Xu Changqing nodded slightly. "I understand. If I cannot meet Crane Seven, I will turn around and