The night passed uneventfully. Although Chu Shaoye had not slept long the night before, he still rose early. He had the little fox watch the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse while he went out and caught a spirit rabbit.
It was a Tier One Six-Eared Gale Rabbit, similar in size to an ordinary domestic rabbit, but with two extra pairs of ears.
The Six-Eared Gale Rabbit’s hearing was astonishing; it could hear the unusual rustling of grass blades two hundred meters away. Often, before a predator could even catch sight of it, the rabbit would already have fled.
Chu Shaoye was quite lucky. This Six-Eared Gale Rabbit had somehow injured one of its hind legs earlier, greatly reducing its running speed. That was the only reason he had managed to catch it.
After lighting a fire, Chu Shaoye deftly skinned and deboned the Six-Eared Gale Rabbit. When he cut open its belly, a pale cyan Spirit Core rolled out. It was unmistakably a Tier One Spirit Core.
His luck really was good today. People said that having a Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse improved one’s luck, and there seemed to be some truth to that.
Chu Shaoye picked up the Spirit Core, wiped it clean, and handed it to the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse, which was watching eagerly.
“You really are my little lucky star. This is your reward.”
The Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse’s dark, beady eyes lit up. This human was actually pretty nice.
With the Spirit Core in hand, the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse completely forgot how Chu Shaoye had threatened and enticed it the night before. It was a classic case of siding with whoever fed it.
The Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse opened its mouth wide and gulped the Spirit Core down whole in one bite. Although the Spirit Core was half the size of its body, it swallowed it with ease.
In fact, Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mice had an innate storage space in their cheek pouches, where they could keep the treasures they found. Anything they could not eat right away could be stored there to keep other Spirit Beasts from coveting it.
Chu Shaoye tapped its forehead with a finger, then took a pale blue Spirit Core from his Storage Ring and handed it to the little fox.
He had to treat his Spirit Companions equally. He could not neglect the older child’s feelings just because he had a second one. Counting the Spirit Core he had given the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse last night, it had already received two. He had to give the little fox at least one.
Sure enough, the little fox was delighted to receive the Spirit Core. Rather than eating it immediately, it first rubbed against Chu Shaoye, making soft, affectionate whines.
Chu Shaoye patted its head and said gently, “Go on and eat.”
The Six-Eared Gale Rabbit was soon roasted. Chu Shaoye gave the two hind legs to the two little furballs and ate the two front legs himself.
The two furballs tucked into their meal. Although the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse was only about one-twentieth the little fox’s size, its appetite was no smaller. It swallowed one bite, then nibbled off another two to store in its cheek pouches. Surprisingly, it finished its rabbit leg at the same time as the little fox. The source of this chapter is novelping . com.
Chu Shaoye took out a handkerchief and wiped their mouths, certain that the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse’s willingness to accept his conditions had something to do with his skill at roasting meat.
After putting the leftover rabbit meat into his Storage Bag, Chu Shaoye tidied up the cave, led out the Horned Horse, and rode on at a gallop with the two little ones.
By evening, Chu Shaoye finally reached a town. It was much larger than Qingwu Town.
As soon as he saw the town, Chu Shaoye took the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse off the little fox’s head and tucked it inside his robe.
Although the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse was difficult to identify by appearance and most people would not recognize it, it was better to be cautious.
After entering town, Chu Shaoye first found an inn. Once he had settled the Horned Horse, he asked the innkeeper for directions and found a shop.
This shop also sold Storage Spirit Artifacts, but it was much smaller than the one in Zhuyu City.
This time, Chu Shaoye wanted to buy Beast Essence Pouches, the Storage Spirit Artifacts that the Aptitude Examiners in Qingwu Town had used to hold Spirit-Communing Beasts.
He had overlooked this when buying his Storage Bag in Zhuyu City. Only after encountering the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse had he realized that he should buy a few Beast Essence Pouches, just in case.
Ordinary Storage Spirit Artifacts could not hold living creatures; only Beast Essence Pouches could. However, Beast Essence Pouches were relatively fragile and could only hold low-tier Spirit Beasts that were tame, docile, and obedient.
Chu Shaoye’s Black Jade Ring could also hold living creatures, but he had quite a few Spirit Cores stored inside. He was afraid that if he put the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse in there, it would swallow them all.
The Beast Essence Pouches in this shop were not of high quality and could only hold Tier One Spirit Beasts. They were inexpensive, though, costing only eighty Copper Coins each.
Chu Shaoye wanted to buy two. Just as he was about to bargain with the shopkeeper for a lower price, he caught sight of a pile of small trinkets in a corner of the display cabinet.
Among them was a jade bell very similar to the one the shopkeeper in Zhuyu City had given him. It was much smaller, though, making it just the right size for the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse to wear.
So he asked the shopkeeper, “If I buy two, could you throw in that jade bell as an extra?”
The jade bell was meant to hang on a Storage Bag as an ornament and was not worth much, so the shopkeeper readily gave it to Chu Shaoye.
Chu Shaoye also asked for two red cords, then returned to the inn with the two furballs nestled inside his robe.
Once inside his room, Chu Shaoye placed the two furballs on the table and took out the bells and red cords.
First, he used Thousand Stars to break the beads inside the bells and tipped out the fragments. Then he threaded the red cords through them, completing two simple necklaces.
The greatest difference between Spirit Beasts and ordinary wild beasts was not the gap in their strength, but the fact that Spirit Beasts possessed spiritual intelligence.
Since they possessed spiritual intelligence, they naturally had a fondness for beauty as well.
The two furballs pawed at the jade bells, their movements making their delight and fondness plain.
The little fox rubbed against Chu Shaoye’s arm, whining affectionately. This time, the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse came over too, resting its paws on his finger and squeaking as though telling him how much it liked its gift.
As long as they liked them, that was what mattered. Chu Shaoye smiled and stroked their heads in turn. “These two jade bells aren’t very good quality. Once we have more money, I’ll buy you better, prettier ones.”
The “family of three” spent a happy night together. Early the next morning, Chu Shaoye resumed his journey.
Before leaving, he told the Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse to enter the Beast Essence Pouch, but it was rather reluctant.
Spirit Beasts could only sleep inside a Beast Essence Pouch, which was no fun at all. Lying on the little fox’s head and enjoying the breeze was much nicer.
Chu Shaoye coaxed it, “Just go in for a nap, and you’ll be out again soon. At noon, I’ll catch a Spirit Beast and roast it for you. How does that sound?”
The Golden-Striped Treasure-Seeking Mouse hesitated for a moment. The lure of delicious food won out over the breeze, and it crawled into the Beast Essence Pouch of its own accord.
Chu Shaoye tucked the Beast Essence Pouch against his chest and set off with the little fox.
The next two days passed without incident. At noon on the third day, Chu Shaoye finally reached the Crimson Firmament Sect.
The Crimson Firmament Sect’s mountain gate stood halfway up the mountain. Its tall plaque was clearly visible even from the foot of the mountain, and the gate was more imposing than the city gate of Zhuyu City.
The Horned Horse could not climb the mountain, so Chu Shaoye first visited the relay station to return it before heading to the Crimson Firmament Sect to report his arrival.
The Crimson Firmament Sect’s mountain gate looked close, but it was actually a long way off. As the saying went, a mountain may look close, but the journey can wear a horse out. Chu Shaoye climbed for two full hours before reaching the gate.
He straightened his clothes and took the recommendation letter from his Black Jade Ring. Only then did he approach the mountain gate and address the disciple guarding it respectfully. “Senior, this is my recommendation letter. Could I trouble you to pass word inside for me?”