Chapter 18: The Green Carp Transforms into a Flood Dragon (Please add to favorites! Please keep reading!)

Shao Heng suddenly smiled and said to Zhao Tang, "Thank you, Elder."

Zhao Tang added, "Actually, I remember you. That day when the Great Yan Dynasty was recruiting disciples, we were on the spiritual boat and heard everything you said clearly."

But after saying this, the female disciple before her merely looked up at her, her face showing no trace of shame or embarrassment.

Those eyes seemed to be saying, "So what?"

Zhao Tang finally couldn't help but laugh.

"Since one must contend, then contend to the very end."

"Contend with cultivators for opportunity, contend with heaven and earth for spiritual qi, and contend with the Great Dao for destiny. This path to immortality is, by its very nature, something to be fought for."

Shao Heng straightened her expression and bowed deeply to Zhao Tang.

"This disciple has learned."

Compared to the previous guesses of the gatekeeping disciples, she naturally believed Zhao Tang's words more. Having obtained the information she needed, she did not linger; after a few words of small talk with Zhao Tang, she took her leave.

Meanwhile, the grey-clad old woman stood in place, watching the female disciple named Shao Heng disappear into the stairwell. After a long while, she murmured to herself.

"I remember that thirteen light spots emerged on the Mirror of Source, which is not in the previous records. The aura it emitted was indeed only at the strength of a low-grade aptitude, yet she was able to guide qi into her body so quickly. If she can maintain this cultivation speed and condense over a hundred cauldrons of mana within a year, then the Outer Sect Competition won't be too difficult for her. She truly has a chance to soar to the heavens and ascend to the Inner Sect."

Zhao Tang glanced at the disciples still unconscious in the lecture hall and let out a sigh; she would have to endure the tedious task of guarding them here.

However, after a moment's thought, she decided not to wait at the door but instead walked into the hall and sat down in a cross-legged meditative pose.

...

Having already exposed her progress in guiding qi into her body, Shao Heng simply took out her travel permit after leaving the Hall of Profound Methods and infused a wisp of mana into it.

The cinnabar-drawn runes on the brownish-yellow talisman paper appeared dark red, but once stimulated by mana, the emitted red light became crystal clear and bright. Then, the shape of the runes shifted, actually transforming into a directional marker.

She followed the direction indicated by the marker, walking and observing along the way.

The chaos caused by the previous thunderclaps was already being handled by Outer Sect Elders. Furthermore, since cultivators with certain levels of cultivation are not easily knocked unconscious, the disciples were coming and going, and the scene appeared no different from usual.

"The Martial Arena, the Medicine Pavilion... this is the Beast Garden."

The Beast Garden occupied an entire mountain peak. At the foot of the mountain, Shao Heng saw a fence made of golden thorn brambles encircling the mountain body.

Upon closer inspection, runes were clearly flowing through the fence; it was likely a special kind of barrier to prevent the beasts in the mountain from escaping.

"Knowledge gained from books is always superficial." Shao Heng stood in place, recalling the contents of the books she had read recently.

"The ancient masters of the human race created many magical incantations and contract scripts, all of which are brilliant treasures. Among them, the Beast Taming Lineage is quite famous. It is said that the successors of this lineage forgo physical tempering to specialize in nourishing their spiritual consciousness, thereby using contract scripts to command the demon race as mounts."

"The true inheritance of the Beast Taming Lineage is never passed down externally, but the Demon Contracting Incantations are widely publicized. Cultivators can use these to form contracts with the demon race to gain assistance, but they cannot perfectly suppress the demons within the contract as the Beast Taming Lineage can. Ordinary cultivators using Demon Contracting Incantations must remain vigilant at all times to prevent the demon's strength from growing too fast, eventually becoming strong enough to tear the contract apart and backfire upon its master."

The demon race is arrogant; how would they willingly be bound and driven by incantations?

"The Beast Garden actually pens low-level demon cubs. Their unruly nature is tempered from a young age, so the possibility of backlash after contracting is greatly reduced, allowing them to become helpers to their masters."

Shao Heng recalled the records in the books, but then shook her head and prepared to walk away.

"There won't be any demons with powerful bloodlines in the Beast Garden. The truly powerful ancient demons even created Human Contracting Incantations that can be used to enslave humans. In the end, the human race and the demon race are just competing to see whose fist is larger."

Suddenly, the golden thorns on the fence shifted and parted, revealing a gate.

A woman in plain clothing walked out. Upon seeing Shao Heng, her eyes showed astonishment, but she was the first to speak: "Shao Heng, long time no see. Have you been well lately?"

This person had purple hues in her pupils and a smiling countenance. Her gentle inquiry felt like a spring breeze.

Who else could it be but Jiang Yunjiang?

Shao Heng was also sizing her up. She possessed a clear, ethereal aura, clearly having guided qi into her body. However, the robe embroidered with a silver eagle suppressed her mana aura, making it impossible for Shao Heng to see how many cauldrons of mana Jiang Yunjiang had condensed; it was likely a magical tool.

She also noticed that on Jiang Yunjiang's left shoulder, there was actually a green-scaled carp, surrounded by flowing water and floating in the air—clearly a Carp Demon.

Shao Heng's mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but she replied, "I am very well."

Jiang Yunjiang's expression remained unchanged, while Dan Hua transmitted her voice secretly: "This girl has only recently guided qi into her body. Logically, a low-grade aptitude would need more than half a month to condense a Yellow Bud. It seems she truly possesses the strong spiritual consciousness and extraordinary comprehension you mentioned. In that case, she can barely be compared to those with medium-grade aptitudes."

"She holds a long-standing grudge against you and is no mediocre person. Why not find a way to strike first to avoid future troubles?"

Dan Hua was once famous for her alchemy. If she were a kind and compassionate person, how would she deal with others' greed for spiritual pills and cultivate all the way to the Sixth Realm?

Jiang Yunjiang did not answer, only saying to Shao Heng, "Shao Heng, since you have come to the Beast Garden, are you here to choose a spiritual beast for companionship?"

"I see that green carp on your shoulder; it looks quite fat. Did you catch it specifically to braise it in soy sauce or steam it?" Shao Heng replied with a question instead of an answer.

The carp was full of spirit. Upon hearing this, it shrank behind Jiang Yunjiang, then timidly poked its head out, its small eyes seemingly glaring intensely at Shao Heng.

Jiang Yunjiang gave a light laugh and reached out to soothe the carp demon.

At the same time, she replied to Dan Hua through her mind: "The one Lu Shaoheng hates most is definitely not me, but Lu Shaojia and Lu Shaojing."

"Only that bunch of fools from the Marquis of Pingnan's manor and Qin Ji would think we are fighting over their people and their hearts. But me and Lu Shaoheng? At the beginning, she perhaps didn't see it clearly, but later on, what we have always fought for is interest."

"Since it begins with interest, it can naturally end with interest. Now that the advantage is mine, why can't Lu Shaoheng become a blade in my hand?"

Only then did Dan Hua understand what Jiang Yunjiang was thinking, but she merely left a single sentence: "Be careful not to play with fire and burn yourself."

As for Shao Heng, looking at the person and the fish before her, although Jiang Yunjiang appeared normal, she always felt something was amiss.

Since she began her cultivation, her five senses had become increasingly sharp. The faint glint in Jiang Yunjiang's eyes, the slight, sudden upturn of the corner of her lips... Shao Heng observed them all.

"Is this damn Jiang Yunjiang possessed? Is there something dirty on her?"

Shao Heng took two steps back and looked at the carp demon again.

Although there are legends of carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, in reality, the vast majority of carp demons possess mediocre talent and extremely limited potential.

Based on her knowledge of Jiang Yunjiang, this person was skilled at utilizing all resources and would never choose a useless carp demon.

Seeing Shao Heng staring so frankly at the green carp on her shoulder, Jiang Yunjiang found it strange, but not excessively so.

She said, "My master practices divination and calculated that I have an affinity with this green carp, guiding me here to the Outer Sect Beast Garden. Upon investigation, it turns out it possesses dragon blood and will have the chance to evolve into a Green Flood Dragon in the future. It has already formed a Demon Contracting Incantation with me."