Xiaobai and Xiaohong looked curious, eager to know what kind of dream their Beastmaster had.
"It’s late, children should be going to bed." Lin Chen scolded, urging them to sleep.
He closed the door and lay down with the two beasts cuddled close.
"Should be invisible..."
Lin Chen pondered for a long time in this state until his eyelids could no longer hold and he fell into a deep sleep.
The next day when Lin Chen woke up, he found Qin Shaoshao still sitting there, counting petals.
"Were you awake or haven’t slept?" Lin Chen asked.
Qin Shaoshao stopped counting petals and said, "If I sleep, I have nightmares."
"Because I absorbed all the spiritual powers from my dead comrades."
Lin Chen was startled, he had heard about this, that absorbing a person’s spiritual power might also absorb all their memories.
"Haven’t you slept for over a thousand years then?"
Lin Chen swallowed hard, finally understanding why Qin Shaoshao repeatedly counted petals.
This was to prevent herself from falling asleep.
He didn’t understand how she managed it, but he knew the process must be painful and long.
"You get used to it." Qin Shaoshao said it lightly.
The routine in this home was, Xiaobai would first go check its Spirit Grass upon waking, Xiaohong would start cooking, while Lin Chen would first read a book, contemplate on the day’s tasks.
Before long, the aroma of food filled the air.
"Senior, please taste it." Lin Chen gestured to the food.
"I do not need food."
"Good food can help discern dopamine, making one happy." Lin Chen said.
Qin Shaoshao didn’t know what dopamine was, but Little Fox eagerly offered her a bowl.
After a light taste, Qin Shaoshao closed her eyes, and when they opened, they were reddened.
Little Fox was teary-eyed, wondering if the food was unpalatable.
Lin Chen understood, Qin Shaoshao was likely reminded of old memories, like Qin Hao cooking for her...
The food’s delight is because it is shared with family.
"It’s delicious." Qin Shaoshao saw Little Fox’s unease and said.
Little Fox beamed with joy.
Lin Chen noticed an issue...
Qin Shaoshao couldn’t smile.
Just now, she tried hard to give Xiaohong a smile, but seemed unable to.
Lin Chen did not mention it further, simply continued eating.
After the meal, Lin Chen prepared to head to the Monster Hunter Guild; he asked Qin Shaoshao if she wanted to come, but she declined.
"It’s good to see the cities you once protected, they’ve developed fast, the city construction is excellent."
Lin Chen said finally, unexpectedly Qin Shaoshao agreed.
So Lin Chen took a detour, leading Qin Shaoshao through many streets, which felt very unfamiliar to her.
Yet, Qin Shaoshao had long lost the youthful curiosity, mostly nodding during Lin Chen’s explanations.
Upon arriving at the guild, they found surprisingly few people, he intended to find Lee Zhen, instead encountered his assistant.
"They’ve gone to Black Mountain City for support, won’t be back soon." The assistant didn’t know much, he smiled and said, "Don’t worry, your rewards aren’t running away."
As he raised his head, the assistant noticed Qin Shaoshao, and asked, "Such a pretty girl, are you bringing her to join the guild?"
Lin Chen was embarrassed, quickly shaking his head.
Qin Shaoshao’s strength level was unknown.
Yet the Celestial Spirit Body was inherently abnormal, and she had stayed for a thousand years, making it even more so.
Outside, having nowhere else to visit, Lin Chen remembered Qin Shaoshao seemed fond of food, so he took her to the top barbecue shop, getting a free meal.
But Qin Shaoshao just ate plainly.
Jiang Dadong noticed Qin Shaoshao, gesturing teasingly, saying, "Brother Lin, you scored well, this girl...."
Lin Chen hurriedly covered his mouth.
Qin Shaoshao had mentioned she absorbed so much spiritual power, along came memory absorption.
Such people could easily lose control of their emotions.
Just like last time her brother Qin Hao committed suicide.
After eating, they returned home directly, Lin Chen having nothing to do, began studying Xiaobai.
This time Xiaobai broke through to Level 11, but it was just a change in level, with no other changes.
"Divine Enlightenment Realm’s Iron Horn Impact isn’t easy to reach, your Soul-Calming Hoof is still Entry-Level, better to improve this first." Lin Chen analyzed thoroughly, offering suggestions.
Xiaobai nodded, then looked troubled.
Soul-Calming Hoof indeed wasn’t easy to cultivate, Iron Horn Impact required brute force but Soul-Calming Hoof involved spiritual power, making the cultivation extremely hard.
This was why Xiaobai hadn’t managed a breakthrough.
Nonetheless, Xiaobai thrived on diligence, beginning repeated attempts.
After countless tries, Qin Shaoshao finally spoke:
"Spiritual power isn’t cultivated through diligence alone."
The corner of Lin Chen’s mouth curled into a smile, but he quickly restrained it...
The reason for practicing Soul-Calming Hoof was being aware Qin Shaoshao, the spiritual power Master, could guide a bit.
This scene wasn’t overlooked by Qin Shaoshao, though she didn’t mind, she continued:
Xiaobai was dumbfounded, without cultivating skills, how to improve?
Qin Shaoshao seemed aware Xiaobai couldn’t comprehend; she raised her hand, Xiaobai’s pupils contracted instantly.
It felt someone was manipulating its mind.
It tried desperately to resist, Lin Chen said, "Xiaobai, don’t resist, Senior won’t harm you."
"Resistance is what’s needed." Qin Shaoshao immediately refuted.
Lin Chen was speechless, but Xiaobai was genuinely struggling with pain.
Finally, Xiaobai seemed to find the knack, gradually quieting, attempting to use spiritual power to counteract spiritual power.
Seeing it discover the knack, settling into meditation, Qin Shaoshao stopped, then resumed plucking petals.
After the meal, Xiaobai hadn’t woken, Lin Chen left food for it.
Little Fox went to wash dishes, Lin Chen bored, then asked:
"Senior, was there any difference between past Beast Taming and now? Any Ancient Beast Taming Method?"
At this moment, human greed was fully exposed...
Qin Shaoshao pondered, responded, "Back then humans could still cultivate, hence weren’t classified as Beastmasters; human abilities were formidable, it was a chaotic era."
"Like my Celestial Spirit Body, you rarely see now."
Qin Shaoshao was right, Celestial Spirit Bodies were recorded in books but extremely rare.
"Was there any Desolate Ancient Sacred Body back then?" Lin Chen was curious.
Qin Shaoshao shook her head, hadn’t heard of such.
Lin Chen was disappointed, then inquired if there was any Innate Dao Body...
Even knowing it as a daydream, wondering if he might possess such a physique.
Within such regret-filled conversation, Xiaobai finally opened its eyes.
It called out, surprisingly with a hint of ethereal aura.