"Oh~ it's actually something good~"
"Ji?"
After observing the stele for a while, Feng Yuan took Xiao Ji down from his head. Xiao Ji, somewhat bewildered, tried to turn around to see Feng Yuan, who placed Xiao Ji in front of the stele and said,
"Xiao Ji~ it's up to you now~ Try to sweep up all his rewards~"
"Ji?"
Seeing Feng Yuan's actions, the others curiously gathered around. Qi Chen looked at the text on the stele and asked with some confusion,
"Can you understand the text on it?"
"Of course, it's just ancient script, no problem understanding it."
"You really do know everything, don't you? How about you translate it for us, big shot?"
Zhong Liuyan teased, and Feng Yuan looked at the text and said,
"You can take a picture and translate it slowly when you get back. Anyway, the general gist is that those who enter this secret realm and have the destiny can take the stele's challenge. Depending on the outcome of the challenge, rewards will be given."
"Huh? What are the rewards? Is there any danger?"
"It clearly states there's no danger on the stele, and the rewards seem to be various spiritual medicines."
"How do we participate?"
Hearing Feng Yuan's explanation, Zhong Liuyan looked eager to try and Feng Yuan pointed at the stele, saying,
"Just infuse a bit of the Spirit Beast's power into the stele, and that should do it. The challenge seems to be a test of the Spirit Beast's combat ability."
"No worries, let Ah Mu give it a try; there's no danger, right?"
Seeing Feng Yuan glance at himself and then at Ah Mu, Qi Chen said with a smile. Feng Yuan bent down and gently patted Xiao Ji on the head, saying,
"Xiao Ji, channel your power into the stele."
"Ji~"
As Xiao Ji infused power into the stele, Feng Yuan and Xiao Ji were enveloped in a green light. After the light dissipated, Feng Yuan and Xiao Ji were gone from their original spot.
"Ji?!"
Finding himself in a vast grassland, Xiao Ji frantically looked around. Feng Yuan bent down and touched Xiao Ji's head, saying,
"Don't be afraid, I'm right beside you."
"Ji~"
Turning around and seeing Feng Yuan bending down with a smile, Xiao Ji took a few shy steps forward. After a short while, a sky-blue bird adorned with various white cotton-like tufts of fluff suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Chirp!~"
"Eh? A Cotton Dream Sparrow? From its looks, it should be mature, with at least the strength of the Common Level, right? Can you handle it, Xiao Ji?"
"Ji!"
Seeing Xiao Ji's confident stance, Feng Yuan shook his head and said,
"Go ahead then. If you can't hold out, you can call me for help."
"Ji~"
Xiao Ji let out a spirited chirp and boldly faced the Cotton Dream Sparrow, which was prepared for battle. Before the adversary could attack, Xiao Ji took the initiative and sprayed out blue flames,
"Chirp!!"
"Ji!"
The Cotton Dream Sparrow flapped its wings to take to the skies, evading Xiao Ji's attack and simultaneously unleashing a whirlwind technique, sending a ferocious wind howling towards Xiao Ji,
"Chirp!"
"Ji!"
Because the whirlwind technique covered a large area, Xiao Ji couldn't avoid it and was struck by the technique, tumbling across the ground. However, the Cotton Dream Sparrow, unable to evade the Wind technique Xiao Ji released, was knocked to the ground.
"Are you okay, Xiao Ji?"
"Ji!"
Seeing Feng Yuan pull out a sickle, ready to move forward, Xiao Ji shook his head in refusal. Full of fighting spirit, Xiao Ji glared at the Cotton Dream Sparrow as it stood up. They clashed again, with wild winds and sparks flying everywhere. The Cotton Dream Sparrow occasionally used techniques like Hypnosis and Slumber Wind to disrupt Xiao Ji's state. But ultimately, weakened by the Power of Death in Xiao Ji's technique, it couldn't keep going and collapsed to the ground. Before the Cotton Dream Sparrow hit the ground, a green sphere encased it, and when the sphere dissipated, the Cotton Dream Sparrow was gone.
"Ji~"
Finding that he had successfully dealt with the Cotton Dream Sparrow, Xiao Ji excitedly jumped to Feng Yuan's side. Feng Yuan smiled, helping Xiao Ji smooth out his disheveled fluff, and praised,
"Xiao Ji, you're amazing~ But remember next time to avoid your opponent's techniques more. Even if you're overall more capable than others of the same potential, you can't just play like this~"
"Ji~"
Xiao Ji happily sat on the grass, allowing Feng Yuan to groom its fluffy feathers.
"Ji?"
"It's okay, it must be the post-battle healing," Feng Yuan guessed as he gently rubbed Xiao Ji's head to soothe it. After a while, the light orb faded to reveal Xiao Ji, fully healed.
"Ji~"
"It seems like you're up for Elite Level strength now, Xiao Ji. Can you handle it?"
"Ji!!!"
Seeing the Dreaming Dragon Baby emerging not far away, Xiao Ji stepped in front of Feng Yuan signaling for him not to interfere. Feng Yuan said with a wry smile,
"Alright, alright, whatever makes you happy."
"Ji!"
"Ao~"
Watching Xiao Ji and the Dreaming Dragon Baby tangled in battle, all Feng Yuan could do was mutter to himself with a bitter smile,
"I hope it doesn't end up like this when we get back. The dorm can't withstand them fighting like this..."
"Ji!!!"
Even though Xiao Ji possessed the potential of a Divine Beast, it had not fully adjusted to or accepted that power. Approaching the strength of a Common Level, Xiao Ji could only be suppressed by the Elite Level power of the Dreaming Dragon Baby. After a while, an infuriated Xiao Ji shot out a bluish flame whirlwind from its mouth.
"Fire Whirlwind? No, it must be a Ghost Fire Whirlwind, right? Xiao Ji, your comprehension ability is impressive, but why does it seem a bit skewed?"
Surprised by Xiao Ji's emission of the flame whirlwind, Feng Yuan was somewhat speechless—after all, Eggshell Chicken was a pure Wind Attribute Spirit Beast. He didn't know why Xiao Ji, after obtaining the power of a Death-series Divine Beast, always managed to come up with fire-type moves.
"Ji~"
"Ao!!!"
The Dreaming Dragon Baby was hurt by Xiao Ji's flame whirlwind and glared angrily at Xiao Ji as it spewed out vortexes of flame. Seeing Xiao Ji about to be engulfed by the flame vortices, Feng Yuan thought "Not good" as he rushed in front of Xiao Ji. He shook the long handle of his sickle against the ground, and a dusky Protective Shield encased both him and Xiao Ji,
"Ji~"
Xiao Ji looked up in surprise at the figure standing before it. When the flame vortices dissipated, Feng Yuan smiled and bent down to ask Xiao Ji,
"How about it? Still want to go solo?"
"Ji..."
Xiao Ji hesitated for a moment then shook its head. Feng Yuan straightened up, glanced at the irate Dreaming Dragon Baby, swung his sickle, and several dusky blades of light streaked across the Dreaming Dragon Baby's body. The Dreaming Dragon Baby, unwilling to give in, glanced at Feng Yuan gripping the sickle before falling to the ground, enveloped in a green light orb and disappearing from sight.
"Ji~"
Xiao Ji rubbed against Feng Yuan's leg. Turning around, Feng Yuan smiled, picked up Xiao Ji, and placed it on his head, saying,
"There, leave the rest to me~"
"..."
"Who's sighing?"
"Ji?"
As Feng Yuan looked around for the source of the sigh, a green light orb enveloped him and Xiao Ji. When the light faded, they were back in front of the stele.
"Ao~~"
The Dreaming Dragon Baby landed on Feng Yuan's shoulder, yawning. Feng Yuan felt as if he saw a look of surprise in its eyes. Recalling the battle between Xiao Ji and the Dreaming Dragon Baby on the grassland, he quickly reached up to comfort Xiao Ji on his head,
"Ji~"
"Hey! Stop digging around! You'll make me go bald!"
Feeling Xiao Ji scratch at his hair, Feng Yuan quickly picked Xiao Ji up and held it. After exchanging a look with Xiao Ji, which turned away proudly, Feng Yuan placed Xiao Ji on the ground, straightened his hair, then picked up Xiao Ji again, saying reluctantly,
"Really now, can't you just stay put? No need to dig around, it's not your nest."
"Ji!"
"Alright, alright, let's check out the reward."
With resignation, Feng Yuan held Xiao Ji as they approached the stele. A translucent green light curtain emerged in front of it. After carefully reading the instructions on the light curtain, Feng Yuan looked at Xiao Ji in his arms and said,
"You can freely choose Spiritual Medicine, eh? Xiao Ji, what do you plan to evolve into?"
"Ji?"
Seeing Xiao Ji tilt its head in confusion, Feng Yuan thought for a moment, selected a few Spiritual Medicines and said,
"Never mind, seems like it's too early to discuss this with you. As long as you're happy, that's what matters~"
"Ji~"