After devouring the eggshell, the Fire Qilin Beast ran up to Jiang Chen, rubbing against him affectionately.
Jiang Chen smiled and patted its head. "Little guy, from now on, I'll call you Xiao Huo."
The Fire Qilin Beast tilted its head, seeming to think about the name. After a moment, it reluctantly nodded, though it clearly wasn't entirely satisfied.
"You understand me?" Jiang Chen was astonished. He then asked, "Xiao Huo, can you make yourself smaller?"
He knew that as the creature grew, its size would become a problem. Carrying around a giant beast every day would be far from practical.
In response, Xiao Huo's body shrank rapidly until it returned to its newborn size.
"Not bad!" Jiang Chen nodded in approval. This would make traveling with the little beast much more manageable.
After spending some time playing with Xiao Huo, Jiang Chen, exhausted from the day's events, finally went to sleep.
---
Early the next morning.
A knock at the door woke Jiang Chen. After freshening up, he opened the door to find Meng Qingxue standing there.
Suddenly, a fiery red blur darted out of the room and leapt onto Meng Qingxue's shoulder, waving its small paws in greeting.
"A Fire Qilin Beast!" Meng Qingxue exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise. She glanced at the creature on her shoulder, then looked at Jiang Chen in astonishment. "You really hatched it?"
"I told you, as long as we found the Bamboo Shoot Spirit Milk, hatching it wouldn't be difficult," Jiang Chen replied with a faint smile. "So, what brings you here so early?"
"Sister Qingshuang asked me to come get you," Meng Qingxue said, her attention fully focused on the adorable beast. She gently picked up Xiao Huo and cradled it in her arms. "The Moonscar Chamber of Commerce has sent someone to the Azure Adventure Group. They want to meet you."
Moonscar Chamber of Commerce?
Jiang Chen paused, surprised.
The Moonscar Chamber of Commerce was one of the most powerful and influential trading organizations in the Daxia Kingdom. Their branches extended across all nine provinces, and their reputation was known far and wide.
But Jiang Chen had never had any dealings with them. Why would they want to see him?
Without waiting for Meng Qingxue, who was still playing with Xiao Huo, Jiang Chen walked straight to the main hall of the Azure Adventure Group.
---
In the discussion hall, he saw Ye Qingshuang talking to a middle-aged man, who appeared to be in his thirties.
"Jiang Chen, you're here," Ye Qingshuang greeted him warmly. She gestured to the man beside her. "This is President Cui from the Moonscar Chamber of Commerce in Thunderstone City."
The man stood up quickly and addressed Jiang Chen with great respect. "Master Jiang, I am Cui Fu from the Moonscar Chamber of Commerce in Thunderstone City. I hope you don't mind this unannounced visit."
"President Cui, you're too polite," Jiang Chen replied, his tone calm but curious. "Please, just tell me what you need."
Cui Fu appreciated Jiang Chen's straightforwardness. "Since you prefer directness, I'll get straight to the point," he said sincerely. "Our Thunderstone City branch urgently needs a formation master to set up a third-tier spirit formation."
He looked at Jiang Chen earnestly. "We would be honored if you could assist us. The Moonscar Chamber of Commerce will ensure that you are well compensated for your efforts."