"Speaking of which, even if we don’t choose the Netherworld Origin Stone, there seems to be another way to enhance it," Qi Chen said.
Recalling something, Feng Yuan turned to Xiao Ji who looked back puzzled, then rubbed Xiao Ji’s head. Feng Yuan nodded towards Cotton saying,
"Try to strengthen the connection between Cotton and the Netherworld."
Xiao Ji looked oddly at Feng Yuan, and Agunas flicked its tail in annoyance,
"Do you think it has that ability now?"
"That’s hard to say."
Remembering the authority Xiao Ji had chosen, Feng Yuan mysteriously said. Xiao Ji shook its head, a bit confused. Then Agunas explained to Xiao Ji in a voice only it could hear, detailing the situation and method.
In fact, Divine Beasts can bestow special blessings within their authority to Spirit Beasts, giving them an advantage in using powers associated with that authority. For instance, the special blessing from Lorraine Tower could make it easier for a Spirit Beast to manipulate time within the Time Series.
Agunas’ blessing, on the other hand, allowed for a quicker and easier reproduction of more powerful moves, like a flashback in time. What blessing Xiao Ji could bestow Agunas didn’t know, as it was unclear about the specifics of Xiao Ji’s authority. It only knew that it was related to the Death Series, but the details were probably only known to it and Feng Yuan.
After some thought, Xiao Ji looked at Cotton who then began to emit a pitch-black glow interspersed with flickers of pale blue flames. Moments later, Cotton was also bathed in the same glow, and after a while, Cotton slowly woke up, looking confusedly into Xiao Ji’s eyes.
After a long time, Xiao Ji released its state, visibly fatigued. Feng Yuan hugged Xiao Ji,
Xiao Ji chirped joyfully. It was happy to have helped Feng Yuan. Cotton looked blankly at everyone, sensing that something had been strengthened but not understanding what exactly. This strange feeling was uncomfortable for it.
"What did Xiao Ji do?"
Seeing Cotton’s discomfort, Qi Chen asked worriedly. Feng Yuan smiled and replied,
"It strengthened the connection between Cotton and the Netherworld. Nether Cross activates faster and is stronger now."
Upon hearing Feng Yuan’s words, Cotton instantly snapped awake, joyfully sensing its connection to the Netherworld. The power of the move Nether Cross was related to the depth of the Spirit Beast’s connection to the Netherworld, so even though Cotton didn’t possess attributes of the Death Series, it could still activate Nether Cross.
Jumping into Dou Yanlan’s arms, Cotton meowed and acted coquettishly, seemingly urging something. Dou Yanlan laughed and tapped Cotton’s forehead,
"It’s already night, can’t it wait until tomorrow?"
Meow~ Cotton kept cuddling up in Dou Yanlan’s arms, insistent in a way that said it would not give up until agreed to. Dou Yanlan, finding it funny, looked at Cotton and then turned to Feng Yuan and Qi Chen,
"Of course, what else would we stay here for?"
As Feng Yuan spoke, he swept Qi Chen with a mischievous gaze. Noticing Feng Yuan’s look, Qi Chen retorted,
"What are you imagining?"
"Did it become instant-cast?"
Seeing the swift appearance of a space portal and the wooden ship emerging from it, Dou Yanlan exclaimed in surprise. However, Cotton seemed unable to adjust to such a quick release speed – the wooden ship shot straight towards the ground and exploded, and the portal in the sky rapidly collapsed.
"Looks like it’s not used to it yet."
Feng Yuan calmly stated. Whether it was the speed of opening the space portal or the flying speed of the Nether Cross ship, there was a significant improvement; it was normal for Cotton to be unable to react immediately.
Xiao Ji watched proudly as Big Cat swayed its body. Little Green Snake looked at Xiao Ji enviously. It wished that one day it could also have the ability to enhance other Spirit Beasts’ powers like Xiao Ji, then it...
Qi Chen asked curiously. Seeing Cotton standing still and not continuing with Nether Cross bothered him. Feng Yuan glanced at Qi Chen saying,
"Have you forgotten that the wood ship summoned by Nether Cross is a real entity that exists? Once it is destroyed, it has to be recast in the Netherworld, which takes time and effort."
"We’ve just blown up that ship, how can we possibly continue to use Nether Cross now?"
"I’ll be going back first. Oh, and remember to ask Cotton if anything is amiss later."
Feng Yuan said and turned to leave. It wouldn’t take a short amount of time for Cotton to recast the wood ship, and there was no reason for him to stay there anymore.
"What are you planning to do?"
Agunas looked at Feng Yuan with some confusion, while Xiao Ji glanced at the familiar small grove and then at Little Green Snake, who had been following silently behind Feng Yuan, as if it understood something.
"Do you think it should be set on this path? The path of the Divine Beasts?"
Agunas asked, dubiously looking at Feng Yuan.
"This is something only you can decide—what’s the use of asking me?"
"Please, explain this matter to it for me, will you?"
Unlike Xiao Ji, Xiao Ji was actually in a state of severely damaged potential at the time, which is why it seemed so weak at first. Therefore, Feng Yuan didn’t have many regrets about his actions back then, but Little Green Snake was different. Although its evolutionary form wasn’t particularly strong,
its potential hadn’t been affected at all and was within the normal range. If it were granted the qualifications of a Divine Beast, it might continuously repeat the failed evolutions that Xiao Ji experienced before. Since there is no potential loss when Divine Beast evolution fails, Feng Yuan could guess what would happen then.
"Are you hesitating because you’re afraid?"
Agunas stared at Feng Yuan and calmly asked, Feng Yuan glanced at Agunas and retorted,
"Do you really think you can treat it with an indifferent attitude?"
Flicking his tail, Agunas closed the book in his hands and drifted over to Little Green Snake to explain. The wind rustled the leaves, and Xiao Ji slowly walked to Feng Yuan’s feet and nuzzled him. Looking at Xiao Ji, now in the form of a majestic eagle beside him, Feng Yuan smiled and said,
"I didn’t expect to find a quiet place subconsciously, and yet here we are again, huh~"
Xiao Ji let out a soft chirp. Compared to before, although it still couldn’t help Feng Yuan much, it was no longer the weak Eggshell Chicken. Even though it didn’t know how strong Feng Yuan was, Xiao Ji believed that one day, it would be able to fight in place of Feng Yuan, just like the beasts of other Beastmasters.
Feng Yuan casually placed his hand on Xiao Ji’s head and quietly observed the surroundings. Xiao Ji gently leaned against Feng Yuan and closed its eyes, seemingly enjoying the moment, with only the rustling of leaves in the forest. Agunas didn’t seem to plan on using the cumbersome method of verbal explanation.
After a while, Little Green Snake, having received all the information from Agunas through Divine Sense, fell silent. The snake stood frozen, making Agunas wonder if he had accidentally used the wrong ability or unintentionally inflicted a Psychic Shock?
Pomiti seemed to sense something and sat quietly behind Little Green Snake. Although it liked Feng Yuan very much, who let that unscrupulous guy leave it in Little Green Snake’s care all the time? Now, in its heart, Feng Yuan could at most share the same spot as Little Green Snake, well... maybe just a little bit higher, not more.
After a long silence, Little Green Snake made up its mind. In fact, it wasn’t afraid but was contemplating whether this decision could be of help to its species. After remembering something, Little Green Snake hissed and asked Agunas. After a while, Agunas broke the silence and said,
"If it chooses the path of the Divine Beasts, will the special evolutionary form that emerges be suitable for its species? Or will it be like Xiao Ji’s, a unique form exclusive to its evolution?"
Although Xiao Ji evolved from an Eggshell Chicken, its new form has no name and no other Eggshell Chicken can evolve into its form. That is a unique evolutionary line exclusive to Xiao Ji.
Under the expectant gaze of Little Green Snake, Feng Yuan thought for a moment and said,
"If we don’t mix in the powers of authority of a Divine Beast, it can serve as an evolutionary form for its original species. But if we mix in the power and authority of a Divine Beast, then it’s not possible."
As he spoke, Feng Yuan looked at Xiao Ji. The reason for the appearance of the exclusive form was right here. During its evolution, Xiao Ji had mixed in too much of the power and authority of a Divine Beast. Other Eggshell Chickens don’t have that, and without this evolutionary condition, they simply can’t evolve into the form of Xiao Ji.
Moreover, that power and authority must be the same as Xiao Ji’s. Mixing in the power of other Divine Beasts, such as Agunas, would be useless.
Agunas glanced at Little Green Snake, and with a moment of contemplation, the snake made its final decision.