Gu An sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, blue spiritual light swirling faintly around his body. Morning sunlight streamed through the window, falling across his calm face.
"Hu…"
Letting out a long breath, he opened his eyes—clear and sharp, yet tinged with helplessness.
After cultivating all night, he had only gained a thread of spiritual power. The path to immortality was truly grueling.
Thankfully, he had [Spirit Source Feedback] to aid him; otherwise, he wouldn't even have the right to chase this dream of eternal life.
After washing up, Gu An stepped out of the house. By then, Bai Zhi and Qing Liu had already prepared breakfast—just a bowl of porridge and a plate of pickles.
He ate quickly and was about to check on the black spirit fish when a sharp, ringing "Gaaah!" split the air. The cry of a wild goose echoed across the clouds.
Gu An froze mid-step, eyes narrowing.
That cry wasn't ordinary—it carried crushing wind pressure, and an unmistakable spiritual aura rolled toward him. His heart clenched.
No way… that thing's flying straight at me?
"Don't tell me it sensed the lake's spiritual energy and came to hunt? Damn it—how unlucky can I be? A monster beast, now?!"
As the pressure grew nearer, Gu An quickly gauged it. Late-stage Qi Refinement… Way beyond his strength. He poured all his spiritual energy into his legs, activating Lightfoot Technique and bolted like an arrow.
He could always raise new fish. He could survive punishment for losing a mission. But he only had one life—no point being brave now.
But the giant goose screeched, flapping its wings—and accelerated.
Gu An felt the pressure closing in behind him, panic rising. He glanced back—and almost cursed out loud.
The creature's feathers shimmered with violet clouds. Its wingspan was nearly three zhang across.
"A Purple Cloud Goose…? Of all the beasts, it had to be one of the fastest!"
He stopped abruptly, realizing he couldn't outrun it. "No use running. If I'm gonna die, I'll die fighting."
Summoning his Qingyuan Sword, he concealed a Jade Shadow Needle in his sleeve and gripped a spirit stone in his right hand. Spiritual energy surged—a water spear materialized before him.
He hurled it—but the goose folded its wings, blocking the strike. Only a few violet feathers drifted down.
"GaaAAH!"
The goose screeched again—and suddenly, a sealed letter shot out from beneath its chest feathers, smacking Gu An right in the face.
"…Wait. What?"
Gu An blinked. Something was off.
Before he could react, the furious goose swooped down and smacked him repeatedly with its wings, sending dust and grass flying.
"Gaaah! GAAH!"
Each strike came with what could only be described as indignant squawking.
It was a courier beast—just here to deliver mail—only to find its recipient run away from it, then get blasted by a spell that knocked out its pretty feathers.
Gu An realized it wasn't using spiritual energy and—feeling guilty—didn't fight back, letting it vent.
Whose spirit beast is this? Late-stage Qi Refinement? Its owner must be at least Foundation Establishment…
He dared not retaliate against such a messenger.
After a while, the goose's rage burned out. It stopped flapping, though it glared at him like a disappointed parent.
Gu An quickly apologized. "My apologies, mighty one! I panicked when I felt that overwhelming pressure. How about I make it up to you—with some spirit fish, perhaps?"
The goose's eyes narrowed. At the word spirit fish, its feathers visibly fluffed up in interest.
"Gaaah…"
That sounded like agreement. Gu An sighed. Well, at least if it eats my fish, it might not rat me out.
He led the goose back to White Mirror Lake. After assuring Bai Zhi and Qing Liu that all was fine, he used Binding Vines to pull up two spirit fish.
"GAAH!" the goose cried again, creating a gust of wind that yanked up two more.
"…Guess today I'm paying a heavy price," Gu An muttered bitterly, tossing his two fish to it as well.
The goose devoured all four in moments—each one swallowed whole.
[One of your Black Spirit Fish has reached the end of its lifespan and returned a portion of spiritual energy to you.]
The familiar notification rang in his mind. Warm energy surged into his dantian. Gu An felt a little better—at least something good came out of it.
While the goose ate, Gu An sat under the willow tree, opened the letter, and began to read.
To Junior Brother Gu An,
You have been stationed in Heiyan Prefecture for one year now. As of the seventh month, all stationed disciples must report to Cloud City for assessment and stipend collection.
You are to collect the sect's spirit tax, including:
Golden Cloud Rice and Red Maple Sap (30% tribute) from the Lin Clan of Red Maple Mountain.
Any Black Veined Iron produced within your jurisdiction must also be submitted.
All reports and tributes are to be completed before the 15th of the seventh month.
Additionally, I intend to hold a Cloud Kingdom Trade Gathering shortly after that date. Prepare accordingly.
—Yun Xiuyan
Gu An frowned slightly. He'd heard of Yun Xiuyan—a royal-born cultivator, possessing dual Gold and Water spiritual roots, disciple of Master Qingxiao, and one of Qingyuan Sect's Four Prodigies—the only female among them.
A direct heir to greatness, yet she'd volunteered for a field posting like this? She had spirit stones, status, and talent… what business did she have managing regional taxes?
Gu An couldn't wrap his head around it. He finally shrugged. Not my problem.
It was already the end of June—he still had half a month before he needed to head to Cloud City. Plenty of time to handle the tax collection.
Red Maple Lin Clan, huh? They brought me Golden Cloud Rice once before. Guess I'll be seeing them again.
And the Black Veined Iron—he'd have to get Lord Zhang to deliver that tomorrow.
"GAAH!"
The goose cried again, interrupting his thoughts. It had finished eating. Gu An sensed four fresh bursts of spiritual energy merging into his own.
"These fish really are the best—loyal and grateful," he said with a grin.
The Purple Cloud Goose fluttered its wings and landed in front of him, patting his shoulder with one wing like an old friend. Then, with a flick of light, it dropped a glowing purple-patterned egg at his feet.
Only now did Gu An notice a storage pouch tied to its leg—covered in cloud-shaped runes, clearly higher-grade than his own.
He blinked. "Is this… a gift?"
A late-stage Qi Refinement Purple Cloud Goose egg was worth about four to five spirit stones—almost exactly the value of the fish it ate.
"Guess that's fair trade," he chuckled, tucking the egg away. His heart lightened.
The goose nodded proudly, gave a final "GaaAAH!", and spread its massive wings, soaring into the sky.
"Hey! Gift or not, don't go tattling on me!" Gu An yelled after it.
His voice echoed across White Mirror Lake, chasing after the receding silhouette in the clouds.