One thing had been left unmentioned: this Shadow Leopard was female.
Another half year passed. Jiang Chan and the Shadow Leopard were each cultivating when rumbling thunder suddenly sounded in the sky. The Shadow Leopard’s ears pricked up. She glanced at Jiang Chan, who sat motionless beside her, then immediately raced far away on all fours, making sure she was outside the lightning tribulation’s range.
It was not that she lacked loyalty. Her own cultivation was also nearing the Nascent Soul stage, and she had been following Jiang Chan’s instructions to compress it as much as possible.
If she remained within Jiang Chan’s lightning tribulation, she might have to undergo her own ahead of time. Two lightning tribulations together were not a simple matter of one plus one equaling two. They really could strike a beast dead!
Jiang Chan lifted her head to look at the dark sky. Opening her small mouth, she released a formation disc that glimmered silver and floated in midair. This was the same formation disc she had found back then, but it was no longer what it had once been.
After entering the Golden Core stage, Jiang Chan had acquired core fire. She had taken the formation disc into her body and constantly nourished it with that fire. Now, the moment she brought it out, it looked extraordinary.
A Nascent Soul lightning tribulation consisted of nine times nine, eighty-one bolts. Jiang Chan dealt with the first few dozen quite easily. Tempering her body under heavenly lightning was beneficial, after all. But once she passed the halfway point, the formation disc began playing its part.
Jiang Chan struggled more and more. Under each successive bolt, more cracks appeared on the formation disc. Unable to bear it, since she had rarely found a formation disc that suited her so well, she simply used her true body to withstand the lightning tribulation.
By the final bolt, Jiang Chan’s true body was covered in wounds. Her original fur color was no longer discernible, and blood seeped steadily from all over her body.
Watching that bolt draw closer, Jiang Chan felt a hint of despair. Was she really going to die here today? Suddenly, her mind went blank, and an obscure, incomprehensible incantation appeared in it.
Jiang Chan immediately jolted. These were the Treasure-Hunting Mouse’s inherited memories! Forcing herself to rally, she ignored her body’s pain and circulated the cultivation incantation that had appeared in her mind.
The tribulation lightning fell, and Jiang Chan raised her head…
A breath later, the site of Jiang Chan’s tribulation had been blasted into a large pit, desolate and barren. Peering from far away, the Shadow Leopard’s front legs weakened. Had Jiang Chan been struck dead?
But at the sight of the pouring rain, the Shadow Leopard relaxed. This time, she ran faster than anyone. Spiritual rain after a lightning tribulation was wonderful stuff!
Jiang Chan could not use that much anyway, so why not let her benefit? The Shadow Leopard rolled over with her furry belly facing upward, paying no attention to appearances.
Jiang Chan climbed out of the bottom of the pit, covered in dirt and grime. As soon as she emerged, she saw the Shadow Leopard lying belly-up, limbs dangling loosely, looking utterly content.
Jiang Chan was terribly envious. She shook her disheveled fur, suddenly grew to the same size as the Shadow Leopard, and pounced straight at her soft belly.
This was a game she often played with the Shadow Leopard. The leopard reacted quickly too. As Jiang Chan pounced, she nimbly rolled over, and Jiang Chan landed securely on her back.
“Roar…” Congratulations. You survived your lightning tribulation.
“Squeak, squeak.” You’re welcome. Your turn is coming soon too.
At the familiar mouse squeaks, Jiang Chan froze. She had already reached the Nascent Soul stage. In principle, she should be able to transform and speak now. Jumping off the Shadow Leopard, she silently recited the incantation. The next moment, a golden-haired girl stood in her place.
Her hair was golden, and her eyes were yellow too. Anyone with discerning eyes would immediately recognize her as a spirit beast in human form. Jiang Chan took out a mirror, knowing she could not enter human society looking like this.
She slowly circulated her magical power. Her hair and eyes gradually turned black, with only an occasional flash of golden light in her eyes. Seeing Jiang Chan take human form, the Shadow Leopard unceremoniously sneezed, spraying saliva all over her face.
In a spirit beast’s eyes, human forms were unattractive. The Shadow Leopard still preferred Jiang Chan’s true form as a Treasure-Hunting Mouse. After advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, Jiang Chan’s true form had also undergone further changes. First, it had become even larger.
Second, almost all the fur on her true body had turned pale gold. A true Treasure-Hunting Mouse’s body was golden yellow, glittering brilliantly. Jiang Chan still had a long way to go.
According to Jiang Chan’s estimate, she might not become a true Treasure-Hunting Mouse until she ascended. This was a very long-term mission. Fortunately, she had reached Nascent Soul now and could be considered capable of protecting herself.
Wiping away the saliva, Jiang Chan pinched the Shadow Leopard’s head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. “Mo Yu, did you do that on purpose? Look at my face. It’s covered in your saliva!”
As she complained, Jiang Chan unceremoniously rubbed her face against the Shadow Leopard’s inky fur. Mo Yu yawned lazily. Knowing Jiang Chan was in a good mood, she did not bother arguing with her.
What was the first thing to do after taking human form? Have a good meal, of course! In her five years in the forest of magical beasts, Jiang Chan had not eaten a single bite of meat. She had wanted to, but had not had the physical means to prepare it herself.
A quarter of an hour later, a whole sheep was roasting over a campfire. The Shadow Leopard, Mo Yu, lay beside it. The fire was quite warm. It happened to be winter, and warming oneself by the fire was very comfortable.
Jiang Chan leaned against Mo Yu, turning the wooden spit as they chatted intermittently. “Your cultivation looks about ready. When do you plan to undergo your lightning tribulation?”
“Roar…” I don’t know yet. I’ll see when the time comes. Watching you go through yours frightened me.
Mo Yu opened her mouth. Jiang Chan’s lightning tribulation had been terrifying. Perhaps this was the difference between a divine beast bloodline and a spirit beast? How enviable. But thinking of Jiang Chan’s pitiful fighting ability, Mo Yu felt better again.
This fellow could only run fast and set up a few formations. In actual close combat, she would be killed in an instant.
Unaware that Mo Yu was disparaging her, Jiang Chan continued briskly tending the roast sheep. Her mouth was watering. Taking a bottle of honey from her space, she carefully brushed it over the leg of lamb, releasing wafts of fragrance.
Mo Yu swallowed, saliva gathering in her mouth. Suddenly, she roared toward one side, her tone full of warning.
Jiang Chan reached back and patted Mo Yu’s head. “Stop roaring. It’s the little bear and its family.”
Before she finished speaking, a small golden bear emerged from the bushes, followed by two large bears. They were also Jiang Chan’s neighbors, a family of three Earth Rock Bears.
But the large bears hibernated. Why had they come out now? Jiang Chan frowned, then understood when she saw the cub sniffing incessantly. So it was because of the honey.
Earth Rock Bears were also dominant beasts in the forest of magical beasts, with bad tempers. When Jiang Chan first moved here, the two large bears had picked fights with her too. After she taught them a lesson with her formations, they became much better behaved.
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