Spell Spirits

"You felt nothing?"

"How could you feel nothing?"

Lin Jing did not believe it.

An extraordinary phenomenon had appeared, and it claimed it felt nothing.

"Squeak..." The Pineleaf Squirrel stood its ground.

It really had felt nothing at all.

Lin Jing froze, then realization dawned.

"Maybe the Divine Ability you awakened is too powerful for you to control at your current cultivation level."

"You need to work hard at cultivating."

The Pineleaf Squirrel: ???

Its mouth fell slightly open. Even though it knew it was quite talented, it was nowhere near as optimistic as Lin Jing.

Having successfully reached the First Layer of Qi Refining, Lin Jing was in a good mood.

But perhaps because the Pineleaf Squirrel's cultivation level was too low, he had yet to feel any of the supposed beast-taming feedback.

"Oh, right." Lin Jing did not dwell on the matter.

He suddenly remembered that, according to the Sect Handbook, Outer Gate Disciples who successfully began Qi Refining received one opportunity to visit the Outer Sect Scripture Pavilion and choose a basic spell to learn.

He was very curious about what spells the Beast Taming Sect's Outer Sect Scripture Pavilion held.

For the first time since joining the Beast Taming Sect, Lin Jing left his courtyard, bringing along the Pineleaf Squirrel he had dragged out with him.

The Pineleaf Squirrel needed a little fresh air too, to ease its tangled emotions.

Along the way, they encountered quite a few Outer Gate Disciples wearing the same blue robes, but exchanged no words with them.

Following the map on the last page of the Sect Handbook, Lin Jing and the Pineleaf Squirrel soon reached their destination.

Verdant ancient trees surrounded the pavilion. A breeze rustled their leaves, mingling with the occasional lingering cry of an immortal crane among the clouds. It lifted the spirits, as though even the soul had been washed clean and clear.

In a nearby gazebo, a handful of disciples discussed cultivation. Everything was peaceful.

"This is the place..."

Just as Lin Jing was about to enter, someone came out of the pavilion.

"Junior Brother Lin!" At the familiar, feeble voice, Lin Jing looked over in surprise.

Clad in white, he looked somewhat frail, his eyes revealing deep exhaustion and weakness... Who else could it be but Senior Brother Ouyang?

"Senior Brother Ouyang? What are you doing here?" Lin Jing asked in surprise.

"I'm carrying out a sect mission, stationed at the Outer Sect Scripture Pavilion. I'm responsible for organizing spells and helping our junior brothers and sisters in the outer sect choose theirs." Ouyang Hao chuckled.

"What a coincidence. Looks like you've successfully begun Qi Refining already, faster than I expected. Are you here to choose a spell? Want me to help you weigh the options?"

"You still love analyzing things, Senior Brother Ouyang. This mission really suits you," Lin Jing said.

"I have no choice. My purse is empty, and buying tonics every day costs too many Spirit Stones. I can only take on more missions." Ouyang Hao shook his head awkwardly.

"Let me take you both inside."

With that, he invited Lin Jing into the pavilion.

As the two entered the Scripture Pavilion together, the surrounding Outer Gate Disciples suddenly began whispering among themselves.

"Who's that Outer Gate Disciple? He seems really close to Senior Brother Ouyang! What's their connection?"

"Isn't Senior Brother Ouyang friendly to everyone?"

"This is different. Senior Brother Ouyang came outside to greet him! He's one of the best in the inner sect, a genius who supposedly has a shot at becoming a True Disciple! He wouldn't treat just anyone like that. They must have a close relationship."

"Is this Senior Brother Ouyang... really that impressive?" a recently admitted disciple asked curiously.

"Of course. Senior Brother Ouyang contracted a Fox Demon. Fox Demons are Demon Beasts that suck away your yang energy. Did you see how he looked? Get it now? He must have raised a seriously powerful Fox Demon..."

Inside the Scripture Pavilion.

The first floor.

Ouyang Hao explained:

"This first floor holds books you can borrow directly. Histories of the continent, ancient kingdoms, and the sect-you can find them all here. Let's go to the second floor to choose a spell."

He pulled Lin Jing along.

He was extremely enthusiastic.

"At the First Layer of Qi Refining, you can choose one basic spell..."

"Actually, the outer sect's Scripture Pavilion doesn't have any particularly good beast-taming methods. Usually, Outer Gate Disciples choose minor spells that can nourish their pets' Root Bone, bloodline, or spiritual energy to help them grow."

"That's the most common choice, and the most suitable for Beast Taming Sect disciples."

Upon reaching the second floor, Senior Brother Ouyang pointed to a row of jade slips on the most conspicuous bookshelf.

Judging by their descriptions, spells such as the Spirit-Nurturing Art and Qi-Nurturing Art mostly used a disciple's own true qi to nourish a pet's mind, blood, and qi. Of course, some could also be used on oneself.

Lin Jing looked toward another bookshelf.

The Fireball Art, Object-Controlling Art, Binding Art, Water Arrow Art, Quicksand Art, and so on looked much more normal.

"Senior Brother Ouyang, what about these?" Lin Jing asked.

Following Lin Jing's gaze, Senior Brother Ouyang smiled.

"It's not that you can't choose them, but only cultivators themselves can practice these. They're useless to pets, and Spirit Beasts generally can't learn them either."

"Your Pineleaf Squirrel, for instance, would have a hard time learning the wood-element Binding Art. And even if you learned it, it wouldn't help it much."

"Most of the time, they still have to rely on their own racial abilities."

"Most of the precious spells Spirit Beasts can learn are kept in the inner sect."

Senior Brother Ouyang looked at the Pineleaf Squirrel, which puffed out its cheeks indignantly.

"In short, these 'normal spells' are only suitable for human cultivators. But for us Beast Taming Sect disciples, normal is precisely where the great trap lies."

"Most of us Beast Taming Sect disciples aren't suited to practicing mainstream cultivation methods, so when we practice these spells, we often get half the results for twice the effort."

"And everyone's energy is limited. It's better to pour all that limited energy into raising your pets, strengthen them, then wait for their feedback. That's often more efficient than cultivating yourself."

"If your pet is a Battle Ape or Horned Ox, you can choose a support spell that nourishes its physique. If it's a Pineleaf Squirrel, you can choose one that nourishes its mind."

"Of course, if you're really curious, Junior Brother Lin, there's nothing wrong with choosing a 'normal attack or defense spell.'"

You'll live a long time anyway, so trial and error won't cost you much... Ouyang Hao muttered inwardly.

"I see..." Before Lin Jing could make his choice, the Pineleaf Squirrel hurriedly waved its paws. "Squeak!!!"

It suddenly remembered that, at Lin Jing's cultivation speed, even practicing a normal cultivation method was already unbearably slow. If he split his attention to learn an attack spell as well... wouldn't that be the death of them?

"Oh, right!" Ouyang Hao seemed to remember something just then. Clapping his hands, he said, "Junior Brother Lin, when choosing a spell, pay attention to its 'potential.'"

"A spell's potential?"

"Yes. Choose a spell that can stay with you throughout your life if possible. Take the Object-Controlling Art: it's basic, but even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators might still use it. By comparison, some basic spells are easily rendered obsolete once your cultivation level rises."

"Junior Brother, have you ever heard of Spell Spirits?"

Spell Spirits? Lin Jing looked at him and shook his head.

Ouyang Hao said, "Once you practice a spell to its ultimate limit, it can give birth to a spirit of its own, possessing consciousness."

"Our Beast Taming Sect is located in the Great Wilderness Region of the Heavenly Origin Ancient Kingdom, on the Heavenly Origin Continent. Within the Great Wilderness Region, we count as a first-rate sect, with a Nascent Soul cultivator presiding over us. But across the entire Heavenly Origin Ancient Kingdom, we're only third-rate."

"The Heavenly Origin Ancient Kingdom's greatest sect, the Spirit Dao Sect, specializes in Daoist spells. Supposedly, many cultivators there have comprehended the true essence of magic and reached the ultimate heights of spellcraft, allowing the spells they practice to give birth to true spirits.

"Spell Spirits can draw upon the energy of heaven and earth and attack on their own without using a cultivator's magical power. They can even be passed down to later generations, helping them practice the corresponding spells and even protecting them on their path."

"You could call them 'another kind of pet,' born from spells." Ouyang Hao sighed in admiration. "Take the Black Tortoise True Spirit that True Person Black Tortoise of the Spirit Dao Sect developed through practicing the Black Tortoise Shield. It's far more powerful than ordinary Treasure Beasts!"

"Perhaps you could develop a Spell Spirit someday too, and become the first in our sect!" Senior Brother Ouyang chuckled. "As long as you're dedicated enough! Focus on practicing just one spell and spend half your life contemplating it."

Lin Jing understood. Senior Brother Ouyang meant that, since he would live so long anyway, he might as well try grinding away at it with time.

With a lifespan at least ten times that of a normal cultivator, focusing exclusively on honing one spell would indeed make it easier to master it thoroughly.

"You could try it." The more Senior Brother Ouyang thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. "If your progress is too slow, you'll still have time to switch later."

"Does that really work? Can any spell give birth to a spirit?" Lin Jing asked doubtfully.

"In theory, yes," Senior Brother Ouyang said earnestly.

Lin Jing pointed to a spell.

"Contraception Art."

"What about this one?"

Ouyang Hao took a look and froze.

The Contraception Art was a spell Beast Taming Sect disciples needed to practice to prevent their pets from fooling around outside.

After all, pets suffered a major loss of vitality during and after pregnancy, which was detrimental to cultivation.

"If I practice it to its ultimate limit, can it give birth to a contraception spirit?"

"Uh..." Senior Brother Ouyang said, "P-probably?"

"That doesn't sound reliable." Lin Jing shook his head.

His gaze swept across the bookshelves one by one. Spell Spirits, huh...

"I'll stick to raising my pet normally for now!"

With that, Lin Jing walked over and picked up a basic recovery spell called the Spirit-Nurturing Art. It used true qi to nourish the mind and relieve fatigue.

The Pineleaf Squirrel's racial talent could accelerate the ripening of Spirit Plants, a process that consumed large amounts of spiritual energy and left it mentally exhausted.

This spell could help shoulder some of that expenditure and speed up the Spirit Plants' growth. It concerned Lin Jing's grand farming plan: he needed to become self-sufficient in resources, since he consumed far too many himself!

Furthermore, he planned to learn more about immortal cultivation in his spare time. He had just seen plenty of books about alchemy on the first floor. This minor spell for relieving mental fatigue would also be useful for his own studies.

Yes, in short, this spell could not only support his pet but also help him absorb alchemical knowledge faster. To refine pills with blood, he needed to build a solid foundation first. He could hardly go without even knowing what certain ingredients were used for.

"Wait... why has your mind suddenly started working normally?" Senior Brother Ouyang Hao was baffled. From his impression of Junior Brother Lin, he did not seem like someone who would choose a normal spell. He had almost thought Lin Jing would pick the Contraception Art!