Position of Chief Disciple

Guan Ange's smile stiffened.

If he hadn't been mistaken, he had just been rejected by the Darkwater Spirit Turtle.

But how was that possible? Spirit Jade Carp had tender flesh and abundant spiritual energy. They should have been irresistible to turtle-type Spirit Beasts.

Could it be that there aren't enough?

At that thought, Guan Ange took out another Spirit Jade Carp and raised his offer. "How about two Spirit Jade Carp a month?"

The Darkwater Spirit Turtle kept moving, unhurriedly swimming along the lakebed.

Could that rumor be true? Guan Ange stood rooted to the spot, a trace of unwillingness showing on his face.

Seeing this, Chen Beiwu breathed a sigh of relief, hesitation flashing through his eyes.

Even Spirit Jade Carp couldn't move this Variant Species. That meant trying to cater to the Darkwater Spirit Turtle's preferences was useless. How was he supposed to earn its approval and form a Companion Beast Contract?

Treat it with sincerity and build an emotional connection?

Show his strength and win its willing submission?

Show his talent and promise it a bright future?

Every time Chen Beiwu thought of a way to win it over, another Qi Refining Cultivator like Guan Ange failed, proving that approach wouldn't work.

As time passed, most of the cultivators wandering around the lakebed left. Only several dozen cultivators remained, still unwilling to give up, lingering beside the Coral Grove as they kept thinking of ways to succeed.

Seeing Chen Beiwu's outstanding bearing, Guan Ange struck up a conversation. "Fellow Daoist, aren't you going to give it a try?"

"This Variant Species Spirit Turtle is indifferent to everything." Chen Beiwu said with a headache, "To be honest, I haven't thought of a way yet, so I'll refrain from making a fool of myself."

"Methods are useless. The most important thing in gaining the Darkwater Spirit Turtle clan's recognition is fate." Guan Ange shook his head, as if recalling something, and let out a long sigh.

"Could I trouble you to enlighten me?" Chen Beiwu asked curiously.

The other man came from no ordinary background. He probably knew something about how to win over the Darkwater Spirit Turtles.

Guan Ange didn't hide anything.

The method of winning over a Darkwater Spirit Turtle was simple and direct. Any cultivator who met the conditions could win one over even without knowing the specific method, so he had no need to keep it secret.

"Darkwater Spirit Turtles are born to love fate, and they're especially drawn to cultivators whose Fate Patterns are compatible with theirs. A cultivator with an excellent Fate Pattern doesn't need to seek them out; the turtle will approach them on its own."

"Fellow Daoist, are you saying that Darkwater Spirit Turtles can see a cultivator's Fate Pattern?" Chen Beiwu asked in surprise.

"How could that be? A cultivator's Fate Pattern is illusory and elusive, and it can easily change in accordance with fate. Even Golden Core True Persons can hardly see it, let alone a Darkwater Spirit Turtle."

Guan Ange gave a bitter laugh and explained, "The Darkwater Spirit Turtle clan merely has the Innate Talent of Spirit Bond Sense. Through resonance with Water-Element Spiritual Energy, they can sense a cultivator's spiritual root attributes and Magic Power realm, then roughly deduce whether their Fate Pattern is good or bad and whether it's compatible with their own. They can't deduce the cultivator's specific Fate Pattern or whether they possess the Primary and Secondary Seals."

He paused slightly. "If you're interested, Fellow Daoist, you can go up and greet it. That'll tell you for sure. If a Darkwater Spirit Turtle encounters a cultivator whose Fate Pattern is compatible enough, its Spirit Bond Instinct will alert it, and it will submit of its own accord."

"I see. Thank you for enlightening me, Fellow Daoist." Chen Beiwu felt a surge of joy.

He couldn't compete with an Immortal Second Generation when it came to wealth.

But when it came to Fate Pattern and Fortune, as someone who possessed Nine-Breath Chaos, he absolutely had nothing to fear from any prodigy in Fallen Dragon Prefecture.

Noticing the barely perceptible flash of joy in Chen Beiwu's eyes, Guan Ange felt a little uncertain.

Could his Fate Pattern be extraordinarily good? Is he confident he can win the Variant Species Spirit Turtle's recognition?

At the thought, his gaze instinctively fixed on Chen Beiwu.

Though this man was dressed plainly, if he really had the ability to win over the Variant Species Spirit Turtle, he would be a talent worth drawing to his side.

Whether he took him on as a younger brother or simply formed a good connection with him, he could put him to use in the future.

Rumble!

Just then, a luxurious Flying Boat of imposing presence suddenly descended to the lakebed, drawing every cultivator's gaze.

The next moment, its Restrictions lifted, and a middle-aged cultivator clad in Lightning Armor, his face cold, stepped out of the Flying Boat and onto the water.

After taking three steps, he stopped and swept his surroundings with a wary gaze. A vast Divine Sense, impossible to ignore, instantly surged across heaven and earth.

The vast lakebed of Four Seas Lake fell silent.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator! Chen Beiwu was slightly startled.

The newcomer hadn't deliberately restrained the pressure of his Divine Sense. The Qi Refining Cultivators present could clearly sense how profound his cultivation realm was, and they all looked surprised.

The Fallen Dragon Prefecture Spirit Beast Pavilion belonged to the Immortal Alliance Law-Control Pavilion. How could a Foundation Establishment Rogue be so brazen?

Under everyone's gaze, the Foundation Establishment expert turned slightly and respectfully looked behind him, as though welcoming some honored presence.

The Flying Boat's Regular Gate opened, and a composed, confident young figure appeared before everyone.

The Heart-Piercing Jadewater Pendant, Crimson Void Storage Ring, Water-Spirit Jade Girdle, Cloudwing Wind-Treading Boots, Azure-Mystic Wood-Folding Fan.

A set of Third-Tier Treasure Artifacts radiated faint spiritual light, bringing the luxurious aura of this Immortal Second Generation to its fullest.

His gaze passed calmly over the Qi Refining Cultivators present before finally settling on the Variant Species Spirit Turtle, as if everything were already within his grasp.

What a show-off! Guan Ange cursed inwardly, irritated by the other man's ostentation.

But as a proper Immortal Second Generation, he showed no trace of jealousy. Instead, he cupped his hands in greeting and warmly called out, "Young Master Lin."

There was no helping it. There were differences even among Immortal Second Generations.

The Guan Household was merely a Golden Core Aristocratic Clan with a reputation in Fallen Dragon Prefecture, Heavenly Derivation Commandery, barely a local power.

The Cold Domain Lin Family, on the other hand, was a renowned True Venerable Clan in Heavenly Derivation Commandery, Origin-Opening Province. Rumor had it that a Spirit Transformation Venerable was in residence. It was an unassailable dragon, and the two families couldn't be compared at all.

However, the Guan Household had someone powerful protecting it, so Guan Ange wasn't particularly afraid of Lin Xinghe.

Setting aside his status as a member of a True Venerable Clan, he and Lin Xinghe weren't far apart in strength. They were both Qi Refining Cultivators. The only difference was that he couldn't quite compete when it came to fathers.

"Mm." Lin Xinghe nodded calmly and, guarded by his Foundation Establishment Steward, stepped across the water toward the Coral Grove.

Clearly, this Immortal Second Generation of illustrious birth had also come to form a Contract with the Darkwater Spirit Turtle.

Is this the great opportunity Grandpa spoke of? Lin Xinghe's eyes met those of the Spirit Turtle hatchling.

As a Variant Species of the Darkwater Spirit Turtle clan, the hatchling's Bloodline was almost on par with a Third-Tier Upper Grade Treasure Beast (Mysterious-Water Nether Turtle). Once it reached adulthood, its advancement to Third-Realm Demon General was all but certain.

It was no exaggeration to say that with a Spirit Beast of such aptitude as a Companion Beast, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with poor aptitude might be able to rely on its Three Meridians to advance to a Golden Core True Person.

However, though the opportunity to achieve Golden Core was powerful, Lin Xinghe didn't consider it worthy of his attention.

What truly stirred his heart was the qualification to enter the Cavern Mystery Immortal Sect without an exam, as well as the Position of Cavern Mystery First Seat that came with the Variant Species Spirit Turtle hatchling's special Bloodline!

One had to know that the heaven's favored prodigies who emerged from the Thirteen Immortal Sects were recognized by the Immortal Alliance as possessing Nascent Soul potential. Even Golden Core True Persons would lower themselves to show them respect, but that didn't mean every outstanding graduate of the Thirteen Immortal Sects could achieve Nascent Soul.

The Immortal Sect First Seat was different. That position was all but guaranteed to lead to a Nascent Soul True Lord.