In the wooded wilderness behind the book pavilion.
Fang Qianyuan darted about, leaping and weaving at astonishing speed, displaying extraordinary agility.
Before long, he landed in front of a tree with a trunk as thick as a bucket. He curled his fingers, gathering condensed spirit essence over them to form sharp claw-shaped Gang Edges, then lashed out.
Crack!
With a dull impact, the trunk tore like paper, sending bark and wood chips flying.
"Just as I thought. A stronger spirit creature can withstand more spirit essence, and the techniques I unleash become correspondingly stronger!"
"If spirit creatures are tools, then this is like replacing a blunt knife with a keen blade. The power increases tremendously."
"Besides that, higher-tier spirit creatures have innate traits that lower-tier ones lack. They say some high-grade spirit creatures and above can even cast spells!"
"If I could obtain a spirit creature like that, I could use the Borrowing Art to cast its spells myself. My combat strength would surely make a qualitative leap!"
Half a month flew by. It was now late September, almost the end of the month.
Fang Qianyuan trained diligently every day, familiarizing himself with his spirit creature's new power while eagerly awaiting the delivery of his sect reward.
Having undergone a second transformation, he now possessed a powerful physique, endurance, sturdy muscles and bones, and ample spirit essence. He was confident that with a suitable high-grade spirit creature, he could immediately bring all those advantages into full play and achieve another increase in strength.
Moreover, this high-grade spirit creature would shape how he developed his own power and combat system, determining the direction of his future growth.
It was something well worth looking forward to.
Whether through the Transformation Dao or the Manifestation Dao, a Spirit Tamer's power comes primarily from spirit creatures. But their varieties are as numerous as the stars. It's almost impossible for one person to study them all in depth. The best approach is to advance through similar spirit creatures of the same kind, such as going from a Gray Wolf to a Blue-Eyed Gray Wolf. Even if I switch to an unfamiliar spirit creature, it should follow a similar path, like a Bear Spirit or Tiger Spirit that also uses martial arts to fight at close quarters...
The thought had barely crossed Fang Qianyuan's mind when Ding Long's excited voice came from behind him. "Junior Brother Fang, good news! Good news!"
"Senior Brother Ding." Fang Qianyuan stopped at once, withdrew his spirit essence, and steadied his breathing.
Ding Long had not come in person, however. He had sent a Swift Eagle flying over.
It circled the woods once before landing on a branch in front of Fang Qianyuan and saying loudly, "Stop tormenting these trees and come with me to Elder Gong. He asked me to find you."
"What happened?" Fang Qianyuan asked. "Good news? Could it be..."
"That's right! The sect's reply has arrived. You can choose your reward now. If things move quickly, you'll be able to use everything in another three to five days!" the Swift Eagle relayed.
"Really?" A faint smile appeared on Fang Qianyuan's face. He immediately formed the Hand Seal of Presence, summoned a Gray Wolf, and leaped onto its back.
The Gray Wolf broke into a run, soon charging out of the woods toward the Heavenly Hall.
Less than a quarter of an hour later, Fang Qianyuan arrived at the Heavenly Hall. The disciple guarding the entrance recognized him and quickly said, "Junior Brother Fang, Elder Gong is waiting for you inside."
Fang Qianyuan thanked him and entered. Gong Yuan was seated at the head of the hall, drinking tea alone.
When Fang Qianyuan came in, Gong Yuan set aside his tea and said with a smile, "Ah, Qianyuan, you're here."
"Greetings, Elder Gong," Fang Qianyuan said, bowing.
"Did Ding Long tell you?" Gong Yuan asked. "The sect's reply has arrived. I have a list of high-grade spirit creatures for you to choose from. You may select any one on the list. Come and take a look. See what kind of high-grade spirit creature you'd like."
As he spoke, he picked up a stiff paper envelope from the tea table and drew out the sheet inside.
Fang Qianyuan approached and saw a list of spirit creature names, including the Triangular Beast, Crimson-Patterned Tiger, Bloodsucking Vine, Golden Silkworm Gu, Silver-Armored Blade Mantis, Two-Headed Gray Wolf, and others.
"These are all common high-grade spirit creatures," Gong Yuan explained. "Their market prices range from roughly three hundred to five hundred spirit jade. Any difference in price is determined by supply and demand. In reality, they're all at about the same level. Don't focus on how much they're worth. Choose one that suits you."
"If I were choosing for you, I'd pick the Two-Headed Gray Wolf or the Crimson-Patterned Tiger. The others are either suited to Manifestation Dao summoning or belong to systems you aren't familiar with. There's no need for that."
Fang Qianyuan nodded inwardly at his words.
Gong Yuan's advice was sound. Every one of these high-grade spirit creatures was stronger than the Blue-Eyed Gray Wolf he currently cultivated. Whatever he chose, it would be an improvement.
But that did not mean he could choose just anything. There was no best spirit creature, only the one that suited him best.
Fang Qianyuan was already leaning toward the Two-Headed Gray Wolf.
It was a mutated variety of Gray Wolf, possessing strength far beyond that of ordinary Gray Wolves and Blue-Eyed Gray Wolves. Moreover, after refining a Wolf Spirit, he already knew the circulation pathways and control methods needed to command it. With a little adjustment, he could quickly master it.
Just then, Fang Qianyuan's gaze suddenly stopped on the last spirit creature name on the list.
"Gale Berserker Wolf..."
"Oh, the Gale Berserker Wolf? It is indeed a powerful spirit creature. It's a mutated variety of Berserker Wolf, born with fierce winds protecting its body that produce an effect comparable to gang qi. By swinging its claws, it can also unleash Gang Edge attacks similar to blade qi."
"But it has one major flaw: using it consumes far too much spirit essence and stamina. An ordinary person would exhaust himself after only a few moves. Only those who practice assassination techniques and seek to kill with a single strike tend to choose spirit creatures like this."
Gong Yuan spoke with the easy confidence of his extensive knowledge.
"I believe Wei Wen and the others mentioned that you're exceptionally gifted. Your physique, muscles, and bones are far stronger than those of ordinary disciples, and you have ample spirit essence and endurance. Perhaps you could master it."
"But you must think this through first. With something like the Two-Headed Gray Wolf, you could use it skillfully as soon as you received it, without any obstacles. That might not be the case if you switch to this Berserker Wolf."
Everyone was born different, and the coordination between a Spirit Tamer and a spirit creature was also constrained by compatibility and other factors.
Why were lower-tier spirit creatures so popular? Aside from being affordable to everyone, they were generally the most thoroughly domesticated, allowing disciples of almost any aptitude to master them relatively quickly.
By contrast, certain higher-tier spirit creatures, such as the healing Rejuvenation Grass and Origin Lotus, or unusual varieties like the Gale Berserker Wolf, required particular aptitudes and talents.
For an ordinary person, choosing the wrong spirit creature as the focus of their cultivation came at far too great a cost.
Even now, Fang Qianyuan would be taking a risk by choosing the Gale Berserker Wolf. If he could not adapt to and master its power, he would have to return to cultivating the Blue-Eyed Gray Wolf, wasting this opportunity to improve.
Yet after hearing all this, Fang Qianyuan's gaze remained resolute. "I've made up my mind, Elder Gong. I'll choose it!"