Nova flopped over as the energy left her body, clearly having expended a good chunk, if not all her qi reserves in that singular attack. It was still hard to believe that she had managed to figure out how to use Wind Qi by merely experiencing it a few times and then even applied her understanding to come up with a Wind Art that was more suited to her nature, so perhaps it was for the best that such a powerful attack would leave her drained.

  Hey, you okay? Xiao Feng asked.

  “Tiiired. My core is drained, my human. This does not feel good,” Nova protested, her tone surprisingly whiny for the mighty predator she was supposed to be.

  There, there. You’ll be alright. I read that spiritual beasts are capable of naturally drawing on the ambient qi to refill and strengthen your cores, so it should come to you as easily as breathing, Xiao Feng comforted.

  “Yes, I know how to draw qi from my surroundings,” Nova agreed, sounding proud of herself. However the ambient qi here is weak, my human. I doubt that I will be able to significantly strengthen myself like this.”

  We’re heading to the Beast Master now that you’ve gotten an idea of how to use Wind Qi, Xiao Feng revealed. You need to be careful now, Nova. A Beast Master is like us, he has a true bond with one spiritual beast, but he also befriends and takes care of many others. He is also interested in any beasts he runs into and for one as unique as you, he will try to probe at your secrets. You need to make him believe that you are a Wind Beast at all costs, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous.

  “Will he try to take me away from you, my human?” Nova asked, her tone growing angry.

  In this world, where power is everything? Yes, most likely. In fact, he might not even have a choice in the matter.

  “Then why must we visit such a dangerous human?” Nova countered.

  Because as long as he doesn’t find out the truth, he will be an ally of great use to you, Xiao Feng replied, his tone solemn. There was no way he would conceal Nova forever and if he wanted to keep the surprise surrounding her presence to a minimum, he needed the Beast Master to smooth things over, like the question of where the Beast Egg came from.

  “Hmph, if there is no choice then I will fool this Beast Master for as long as needed,” Nova finally conceded. “However, I will keep sharpening my fangs for the day he strikes, my human.”

  Uh, well, I suppose that’s fine, Xiao Feng sheepishly replied.

  Having smoothed things over with Nova, Xiao Feng turned to Lianhua.

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  “We’re done for now,” He said. “Nova got overeager about displaying her capabilities and now the poor kid is completely drained.”

  An amused laugh escaped Lianhua’s throat, before she said, “Reminds me of my days as an initiate.”

  “Do not call me a kid, my human. I am a predator, born with the knowledge to fight since the day I hatched,” Nova protested through a telepathic message, practically fuming.

  It’s a term of endearment, Nova. I only call you kid because I am your human, am I not? Xiao Feng asked.

  “... It is fine then, my human. Yes, you should call me kid more often then,” Nova approved, her tone caught somewhere between embarrassment and pride.

  Xiao Feng laughed as he walked over to Nova and picked up her lithe form in his cupped hands.

  “Okay, back to the satchel with you,” Xiao Feng declared, making sure that the now tired Nova was made as comfortable as she could be on a bed of spiritual plants.

  “Where are we going now?” Lianhua asked.

  “To Beast Master Zen. I need his help.”

  “Uncle would be delighted. Follow me.”

  Thus, Xiao Feng, Lianhua and an unassuming cloth satchel made their way to the menagerie, through the pathways of the alchemy division.

  As they walked, Xiao Feng took advantage of the moment to inquire with his predecessor, So, what does Nova being a prodigy have to do with me?

  “I’m sure you’ve figured out the gist of it,” His predecessor calmly replied, seemingly having regained his composure. “Unless you’ve grown more talented overnight, it is highly unlikely that you perfected the fourth form of the Flowing Wind Art in a few weeks of training, when I could not do so in years. The only thing that’s changed is the bond you share with your beast.”

  But just because we’re bonded doesn’t mean that Nova’s talent is somehow going to be what, shared with me?

  “Neither should her affinity. Yet here you stand, in contrary to that supposition. It is a miracle, no doubt, but there is a reason behind it. Even if it is an absurd and unheard of reason, it is still a valid reason.”

  As much as Xiao Feng wanted to refute his predecessor’s words, he knew better than anyone that he certainly wasn’t a cultivating genius that was only seen once in a hundred years. He was more like a few times in a day cultivation genius, assuming the word genius was used by a doting mother and he was lacking years, if not decades of essential training that he could not emulate by accessing shared memories alone.

  That is, until now, Xiao Feng thought. If something as vague as talent can really be shared, then does it mean that I can learn the other forms of the flowing wind art now?

  It was not his wish to become a martial cultivator, but if he wished for his cover to not be blown, it would be ideal if he could recover as much of his predecessor’s prowess as possible.

  The very idea sounded absurd, because up until that moment his predecessor had been a mountainous existence, one whose prowess Xiao Feng would need years upon years of practice and training to even approach, but even then he would not be close to one who had gained experience on the true battlefield.

  But what if that had changed?

  Oh well, first things first. It’s time to meet Beast Master Zen and see if we can come to an agreement.

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