The Snow Sprite seemed to have had a sore spot poked. "I'm a Snow Sprite born of heaven and earth! I was always far nobler than you spirits that were created. I don't need companions. I can live perfectly well alone."
Little Pearl laughed. "Are you sure you're not calling the grapes sour because you can't reach them?"
"Nine-Star World-Cleansing Pearl, and you call yourself a sacred artifact spirit! Once I get out, you'll be the first one I destroy!"
Little Pearl was not afraid. "Then come out! Come on out! A Jiu's barrier may not be all that powerful, but it's still not something you can break right now. I reckon you won't get out for another eight or ten years."
"To us spirits, eight or ten years pass in the flick of a finger. Sooner or later, I'll get out!"
Little Pearl continued with a laugh. "Don't worry. I won't give you that chance. Whenever the time is nearly up, I'll remind A Jiu to seal you again!"
"You acquired spirit! How dare you be so rude to me! Aren't you afraid of my revenge?"
"Then I'll just have to make sure you never get back on your feet. And stop calling me an acquired spirit every other breath. Are you still clinging to the Spirit World's hierarchy? Go outside and see who still bothers distinguishing between innate and acquired spirits. All spirits are equal!
"Even I, a sacred artifact spirit, have never said I look down on painting spirits or ordinary artifact spirits. I suggest you drop that attitude sooner rather than later."
Only after listening to Little Pearl and the Snow Sprite's conversation did Su Jiu learn that spirits had their own pecking order.
Naturally born spirits looked down on acquired spirits, sacred artifact spirits looked