After hearing Master Zhu's explanation, Li Chen quickly raised his hand and asked,
"Master Zhu, how can we make spirit beasts willing to sign a contract with a cultivator?"
Master Zhu glanced at him and smiled. "It's simple. Treat the spirit beast well, and it will naturally trust you. It's like making friends—when both sides trust each other, the spirit beast will be willing to form a contract with the cultivator it acknowledges."
He patted the crane's back and continued, "These azure cranes were raised here since they were young, so they're close to humans. Forming contracts with them isn't difficult. But truly powerful spirit beasts usually dwell deep in primitive forests and wild lands. Take the Vast Wilderness Forest to the north of us, for example—there are many rare and strange creatures there. If fate allows you to encounter and tame one, it may become your spirit beast."
Li Chen nodded vigorously, his eyes full of longing. Lin Fei, however, suddenly recalled the dragon he had seen beneath the waters of Dragonfall Lake and wondered to himself:
Does a dragon… count as a spirit beast?
It was nearly Shen Hour (around 3–5 p.m.) when Lin Fei and Li Chen finally finished their chores at the beast shed.
The two returned to the pavilion of the beast shed to report to Elder Tang and the instructors. Master Sun marked their completed task in the register and looked up with a smile.
"Good work today. You can head back now."
The two thanked him and walked out of the beast shed.
Just as they stepped outside, they saw a familiar chubby boy squatting on a roadside rock, absentmindedly plucking blades of grass.
"Liu Jinfu?" Li Chen blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
Hearing his name, Liu Jinfu's eyes lit up. He hurried over.
"Lin Fei! Li Chen! I've finally found you!" He looked a little embarrassed. "Um… can I walk back with you?"
Li Chen looked puzzled. "Can't you go back by yourself?"
Liu Jinfu shrank his neck and whispered, "I'm afraid… I might run into Mao Fei again."
Lin Fei frowned. "Mao Fei? Is he still causing trouble for you? Didn't Senior Brother Huang report him to the elders last time?"
Liu Jinfu made a miserable face. "I don't think it worked… I was doing chores in the Forging Valley earlier and ran into him again. The way he looked at me felt bad. As soon as I finished my work, I ran here to find you. I was worried he might block my way back to the dorm."
Lin Fei remembered the incident from last week when Mao Fei had stopped them. Instinctively, he touched his abdomen, recalling the painful punch he had received.
"Alright," he said. "Let's go back together."
"That's great! Oh right—you've both been working for so long. You must be hungry. Have some pastries from my family." Liu Jinfu cheerfully took out a box of pastries from his treasure pouch.
Seeing his enthusiasm, Lin Fei and Li Chen each took a piece.
The three of them walked along the mountain path toward the dormitories. The autumn sun was warm and comfortable. As they walked, they chatted about their chores at the beast shed, and the atmosphere was relaxed.
But halfway up the mountain, at a bend in the path ahead, three figures suddenly appeared.
The one in front had loose hair, sleeves rolled up high, and that same annoying smirk on his lips.
It was Mao Fei.
Behind him stood the same two third-year students who had helped him steal snacks last week.
"Well, what a coincidence," Mao Fei said lazily as he walked forward. His gaze swept across the three of them before settling on Liu Jinfu.
"Little fatty. We meet again."
Liu Jinfu immediately shrank like a startled bird and hid behind Lin Fei.
Lin Fei remained calm on the surface, staring directly at Mao Fei.
Li Chen stepped forward and bowed politely. "Senior brothers, what brings you here?"
Mao Fei laughed and folded his arms. "What brings us here? Last week these two reported me and got me scolded by the elders. I even had to spend three days facing the wall in the Discipline Hall. Since we've run into each other today… shouldn't we have a nice little chat?"
"It wasn't us who reported you," Liu Jinfu muttered from behind Lin Fei. "Senior Brother Huang did."
"Oh?" Mao Fei looked around mockingly. "And where is this Senior Brother Huang now?"
"So you're not planning to let this go," Lin Fei said.
Mao Fei stepped closer, looking Lin Fei up and down before his gaze shifted to the treasure pouch in Liu Jinfu's arms.
"Little fatty, what delicious food did you bring today? Why not share some with your senior brothers?"
Liu Jinfu stepped back, clutching the pouch tightly.
Lin Fei knew there would be no easy resolution today. Better to strike first.
He suddenly formed hand seals.
"Wood Release — Leaf Dance Technique!"
The moment the words left his mouth, fallen leaves from the trees on both sides of the mountain path rose into the air, transforming into countless green blades that shot toward Mao Fei and his companions!
Caught off guard, the three of them quickly retreated to dodge.
"Run!" Lin Fei shouted, darting past them along the side of the road.
Li Chen immediately understood. While running after him, he formed hand seals.
"Wood Release — Entangling Vines!"
Several thick vines burst from the ground, wrapping toward the feet of Mao Fei and the others. If they could delay them for even a few breaths, it would be enough.
The two sprinted up the mountain path.
After running more than ten zhang, Lin Fei suddenly felt something was wrong. He turned back—
Liu Jinfu was nowhere to be seen.
"Damn! The fatty didn't make it!" Lin Fei exclaimed.
The two immediately turned back.
Down the path, Mao Fei and the other third-year students had already broken free from the vines. Mao Fei grabbed Liu Jinfu by the collar and lifted him up like a chicken.
"Well, little fatty," Mao Fei laughed, "your two good friends ran away and left you behind. Let's have a proper talk."
Carrying Liu Jinfu, the three of them headed into the forest beside the mountain path.
Lin Fei gritted his teeth and was about to rush forward.
Li Chen grabbed him. "It's useless if we go now. The difference in strength is too big. Third-years should already be in the Foundation Establishment Realm. We can't beat them."
"But we can't just abandon him!" Lin Fei said anxiously.
Li Chen took a deep breath and spoke quickly. "You follow them. Don't let them notice you. I'll go back to the beast shed and find Master Sun!"
Lin Fei thought for a moment and nodded.
Li Chen ran back down the mountain while Lin Fei quietly slipped into the forest, following Mao Fei from afar.
The forest on the mountainside was sparse. Even from dozens of meters away, he could still see their figures.
Keeping a distance of about ten zhang, Lin Fei followed carefully.
Soon, Mao Fei and the others reached a small clearing and threw Liu Jinfu onto the ground.
Mao Fei kicked him.
"Little fatty, dare disobey me again?"
Liu Jinfu curled up, trembling. "I won't… I won't…"
Mao Fei crouched down and slapped his face lightly.
"You thought that entering the Giantwood Academy meant you didn't have to listen to me anymore?"
Hidden behind a tree, Lin Fei listened carefully. It seemed Liu Jinfu and Mao Fei had known each other before.
Just as he leaned forward to hear more clearly—
"Not bad hiding there," Mao Fei suddenly called out toward Lin Fei's direction. "Come out. I saw you."
Lin Fei's heart jumped. Realizing he had been discovered, he stepped out from behind the tree.
"Lin Fei!" Liu Jinfu cried, both shocked and frightened. "W-why did you come back…"
"Hmph. Pretty loyal, aren't you?" Mao Fei folded his arms, looking Lin Fei over. "Where's the other one?"
"Just me," Lin Fei replied calmly.
"Not bad, kid. You've got guts." Mao Fei pointed at Liu Jinfu. "I told you before—you like sticking your nose into other people's business. This fatty and I go way back. Disciplining him is between us."
"I don't care about your past," Lin Fei said firmly. "He's my friend now. And what you're doing is bullying."
Mao Fei laughed. "Kid, were you born in the Year of the Dog?"
"What?"
"Because dogs love sticking their noses into other people's business."
His two followers stepped forward.
Lin Fei formed hand seals again.
"Wood Release — Entangling Vines!"
Several vines burst from the ground.
But the two senior students jumped high into the air, easily dodging them. One used a Wood technique while the other used an Earth technique. Leaves and stones flew through the air toward Lin Fei.
Meanwhile, Mao Fei kicked apart the vines around his feet.
"Kid," he sneered, "you're just a first-year in the Spirit Motion Realm, and you want to fight us? All three of us are in the Foundation Establishment Realm. We didn't want people saying we were bullying juniors—but now you're trying to fight three against one!"
Lin Fei formed seals again.
"Wood Release — Leaf Dance Technique!"
Leaves rose from the ground and collided with the incoming leaves and stones.
The attacks seemed evenly matched at first—but many stones still broke through.
Lin Fei quickly hid behind a tree as stones smashed into the trunk.
"Not bad, kid," one of the seniors said with surprise. "Your Wood techniques are impressive."
"Metal Release — Air Blade Slash!"
Lin Fei's heart sank when he heard Mao Fei shout.
Crack!
The tree trunk split.
Lin Fei dashed out from behind it just in time.
Another set of vines shot forward to stall them.
A sharp blade of air sliced past him. Lin Fei rolled to the side in panic as the blade cut a deep groove in the ground.
His face turned pale.
Mao Fei laughed.
"For a first-year brat, you're not bad. Surviving this many moves against us is impressive. But you should know—I'm already at the late Foundation Establishment Realm."
Two whole major realms above him.
Sweat dripped down Lin Fei's forehead.
At that moment, the two senior students suddenly rushed in from the sides, grabbing his arms and pinning him to the ground.
"Kid," Mao Fei said as he walked over, looking down at him, "I told you not to meddle."
Lin Fei said nothing.
Mao Fei crouched and patted his face.
"You remember that punch from last week, right? Today you'll get a few more."
Nearby, Liu Jinfu was crying.
"Senior brother… please let him go… it's all my fault…"
"Shut up!" Mao Fei snapped. "I'll deal with you later."
He raised his fist—
"Someone's coming," one of his followers suddenly said.
Mao Fei frowned and looked deeper into the forest.
A thin figure was walking along a path between the trees.
He wore a simple green robe. His face was cold and expressionless, as if he didn't care about anything happening here.
It was the boy from the Kingdom of Kunlun—
Zhou Ping.