The First Seat

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Chapter 37: The First Seat

Guan Ange's smile stiffened.

Unless he had misread the situation, the Darkwater Spirit Turtle had just rejected him.

But how could that be? Spirit Jade Carp had tender, succulent flesh brimming with spiritual energy. They should have been irresistibly enticing to turtle-type spirit beasts.

Could it be that one wasn'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 did not stop, continuing to wander leisurely along the lakebed.

Could that rumor be true? Guan Ange stood frozen in place, a trace of resentment showing on his face.

Even Spirit Jade Carp couldn't sway this variant. That meant appealing to the Darkwater Spirit Turtle's preferences was useless. How could he win its approval and form a Companion Beast contract?

If even Spirit Jade Carp could not move this mutant, appealing to the Darkwater Spirit Turtle's tastes was useless. How was he supposed to gain its approval and forge a companion beast contract?

Treat it sincerely and build an emotional bond?

Demonstrate his strength and win its wholehearted respect?

Display his talent and promise a bright future?

Every time Chen Beiwu thought of an approach, another Qi Refining cultivator met with defeat just as Guan Ange had, proving that approach would not work.

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

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

"This mutant spirit turtle is unmoved by everything." Chen Beiwu spoke with a headache. "To be honest, I haven't thought of a way yet, so I won't go up there and embarrass myself."

"Methods are useless. To gain the approval of the Darkwater Spirit Turtle clan, what matters most is your destiny." Guan Ange shook his head, then let out a long sigh, seemingly reminded of something.

"Could you explain that, fellow Daoist? Sorry for the trouble," Chen Beiwu asked curiously.

The other man clearly came from an extraordinary background and seemed to know something about winning over a Darkwater Spirit Turtle.

Guan Ange hid nothing.

The method for winning over a Darkwater Spirit Turtle was straightforward and blunt. Any cultivator who met the requirements could win one over without even knowing the specific method, so there was no reason to keep it to himself.

"Darkwater Spirit Turtles are naturally drawn to destiny and have a special fondness for cultivators whose fate patterns match their own. Cultivators with exceptional fate patterns don't need to ask-the spirit turtle will approach them on its own."

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

"How could they? A cultivator's fate pattern is elusive and intangible, liable to change with shifts in fortune. Even Golden Core True Persons have trouble discerning it, let alone Darkwater Spirit Turtles."

Guan Ange gave a wry chuckle and explained, "The Darkwater Spirit Turtle clan merely possesses an innate spirit bond sense. Through resonance with water-element spiritual energy, they can sense a cultivator's spiritual root attributes and magical power realm, roughly assess whether their fate pattern is good or bad, and determine whether it suits them. They cannot discern a cultivator's exact fate pattern or whether they possess the primary and secondary seals."

He paused briefly. "If you're interested, fellow Daoist, just go up and say hello. That will settle it. When a Darkwater Spirit Turtle encounters a cultivator whose fate pattern is compatible enough, its spirit bond intuition alerts it, and it submits of its own accord."

"I see. Thank you for explaining, fellow Daoist." Joy stirred in Chen Beiwu's heart.

When it came to wealth, he could not compete with these second-generation cultivators.

But when it came to fate patterns and fortune, with nine-breath chaos within him, he feared no prodigy in Fallen Dragon Prefecture.

Detecting the almost imperceptible flicker of delight in Chen Beiwu's eyes, Guan Ange grew uncertain.

"Could it be that his fate is exceptionally good, and he's confident he can win the Variant Spirit Turtle's approval?"

At that thought, his gaze instinctively locked onto Chen Beiwu.

Though the man wore ordinary clothes, if he truly could win over a Variant Spirit Turtle, he was definitely a talent worth drawing to his side.

Whether he recruited him as a follower or simply forged a friendly connection, it could prove useful later.

Boom, boom, boom!

;psme&;psme&

Just then, a luxurious flying vessel of imposing grandeur abruptly sank to the lakebed, drawing every cultivator's attention.

The next instant, the vessel's restrictions disengaged, and a cold-faced, middle-aged cultivator clad in lightning armor stepped out through the water.

After taking three steps, he stopped and surveyed his surroundings warily. An immense wave of divine sense, impossible to ignore, instantly swept through heaven and earth.

The vast lakebed of Four Seas Lake fell utterly silent.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator! Chen Beiwu was slightly startled.

The newcomer made no deliberate effort to restrain the pressure of his divine sense. The Qi Refining cultivators present could clearly feel just how profound his cultivation was, and surprise appeared on their faces.

The Spirit Beast Pavilion in Fallen Dragon Prefecture belonged to the Immortal Alliance's Law-Control Pavilion. How could a Foundation Establishment Rogue Person dare act so brazenly?

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

The vessel's main door opened, revealing a poised, confident young man to everyone's eyes.

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

An entire outfit of third-tier treasure artifacts, each giving off a faint spiritual glow, displayed this second-generation cultivator's wealth and noble standing to the fullest.

His calm gaze swept over the Qi Refining cultivators present before settling on the Variant Spirit Turtle, as though everything were already in his grasp.

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

But as a proper second-generation cultivator, he showed not the slightest envy or resentment. Instead, he cupped his hands in salute and greeted him warmly. "Young Master Lin."

There was no helping it. Even among second-generation cultivators, there were differences in standing.

The Guan family was merely a renowned Golden Core aristocratic clan in Fallen Dragon Prefecture, Heavenly Derivation Commandery. They could just barely count as a local serpent.

The Cold Domain Lin Family, however, was an illustrious True Venerable Clan in Heavenly Derivation Commandery, Origin-Opening Province. Rumor had it that a Spirit Transformation Venerable presided over them. They were a mighty dragon through and through; the two families could not be mentioned in the same breath.

Still, the Guan family had protection from someone above, so Guan Ange was not particularly afraid of Lin Xinghe.

Setting aside his status as a scion of a True Venerable Clan, Lin Xinghe was not much stronger than him. Both were Qi Refining cultivators. Guan Ange simply fell a little short when it came to competing over whose father was more powerful.

"Mm." Lin Xinghe nodded calmly and, guarded by his Foundation Establishment steward, walked through the water toward the coral.

Clearly, this second-generation cultivator of illustrious birth had also come to form a contract with the Darkwater Spirit Turtle.

Is this the great opportunity Grandfather spoke of? Lin Xinghe met the young spirit turtle's eyes.

As a mutant of the Darkwater Spirit Turtle clan, this young turtle possessed a bloodline almost comparable to that of an upper-grade third-tier treasure beast, the Mysterious-Water Nether Turtle. Its advancement to a third-realm Demon General upon reaching adulthood was practically nailed in place.

It was no exaggeration to say that, with a spirit beast of such aptitude as their companion beast, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator of poor talent might be able to use its three meridians to advance to a Golden Core True Person.

Yet, tremendous though the opportunity to become a Golden Core True Person was, Lin Xinghe did not consider it worth his attention.

What truly stirred him was the qualification to enter the Cavern Mystery Immortal Sect without an examination, along with the position of Cavern Mystery First Seat that came with this Variant Spirit Turtle hatchling's unique bloodline!

The favored sons of heaven who emerged from the Thirteen Immortal Sects were all acknowledged by the Immortal Alliance as possessing Nascent Soul potential. Even Golden Core True Persons would lower themselves to show them respect. But that did not mean the outstanding graduates of the Thirteen Immortal Sects were certain to reach Nascent Soul.

An Immortal Sect First Seat was different. That position practically reserved a place among the Nascent Soul True Lords.

(End of chapter)