Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
In contemporary ways of speaking, Yalina was a pure workaholic, soaking herself wholeheartedly in her own magical world, forgetting about the passing time and anybody else. This fact may have been one of the factors that made her a genius.
After an unknown amount of time, Han Jin’s magical shields had vanished. Electric arcs suddenly swept under his feet, giving him the slightest tingle; however, since he wished not to disturb Yalina as she controlled the magical matrices with full concentration, he winked at Gibran, as they moved out of the valley. Winston and Saxon, with their bodily strength and Qi of Body Guarding, were not sufficient enough to guard Yalina.
Reg and Gibran both used branches to make an extremely simple shed. Mercenaries were not particularly picky—- neither could they afford such luxuries—- so they hid in simple sheds to escape the annoying spring rain. Though the weather was still quite cool, it was no problem with Cain’s presence.
Yalina only showed up during dinner time and had a few bites, then returned back into the valley. Every other aspect aside, with just the spirit of hard work, she was already worthy of much admiration.
The rain kept pouring, and the thunder continued to roar, making any cultivation impossible. Han Jin released Harley from duty and let him do his own vigil duties, while the others slept half-sitting, half-lying in the shed.
In the morning, Han Jin was woken up by a burst of crisp chirps. He moved his body around, crawled out of the shed, and saw Yalina running and jiggling, followed by a large group of chick-like stuff.
After a night without sleep, Yalina looked very tired, but she was very excited, sometimes running in place, sometimes turning around and clapping, just like a child.
Gibran’s group had also heard the noises and crawled out of the shed one by one. Seeing the chick-like horde, Reg uttered with a face of astonishment, “No way? The thunderbird eggs are already finished incubating? Is it… because they absorbed the electric element?”
“Yes!” Yalina smiled, running forward a few steps, teasing the little thunderbirds and making them chatter aloud, “See, how cute they are!”
For however strong the thunderbirds could possibly get in the future, they were currently too weak. Already, more than a thousand chicks were already dragged into a string. Those who could closely follow Yalina were all in good shape, while those who were left behind were in very rough shape. Although the spring rain had finally ended, the ground was extremely muddy; coupled with the distance all the way out of the valley—- it was just way too much for the tiny thunderbirds to handle—- those who were dragged behind were barely making it forward by rolling and crawling. There was even one chick in the back who had gotten stuck in the muddy water.
Julia suddenly rushed up and grabbed the lying small thunderbird. It was no lie that females often loved small animals; as an elve, Julia was no different.
Some observations later, Julia sighed with grief, “This thunderbird isn’t gonna live long.”
Yalina was instantly stunned, “Why?”
“It was too weak and wasn’t able to eat.”
“Raphael, I have heard from Moxinke that you’ve saved a dying armored barbaric cow using magic, right?” Reg exclaimed. “Can you also save this baby?”
“Really?” Julia was greatly pleased, holding the little thunderbird in front of Han Jin.
“You…” An angry expression appeared on Han Jin’s face. He originally intended to use the thunderbird eggs for absorbable energy, and didn’t stop Yalina only because he assumed it was her magical research. He would have opposed the decision much earlier were he to know Yalina’s intent of incubating the eggs, “Why save it? We just killed all the thunderbirds, and now we’re… isn’t this just funny?”
“That’s different.” Yalina said.
“How’s that different?” Han Jin asked.
“It’s totally different!” Yalina stopped. “See how cute they are!”
“Boring.” Han Jin despised Yalina’s excuse.
“Raphael, you have seen their power before. If we can domesticate their species, it will be a great win for us!” Julia’, making a rather smart move, attempted to show Han Jin the realistic benefits.
“Impossible.” Gibran exclaimed, “Even if tamed, they won’t necessarily obey us. Could you communicate with them? You wanna catch a few Ogre Shamans as well?”
Seeing Gibran opposing her idea, Julia stared at him wildly. However, Gibran’s was right; at the very least, Julia now had a solution to the problem at hand. A few seconds of hesitation later, Julia placed the little thunderbird on the ground, extremely reluctantly.
Yalina looked at Han Jin angrily. During her pause, the horde of little thunderbirds had begun to surround her, some attempting to climb on her legs.
“How much time does it take for the thunderbirds to grow?” Han Jin asked, rather abruptly.
“They should be able to fly by the end of spring.” Julia answered.
Han Jin then stepped forward as he bent over to pick the little thunderbird up, placing it in front of his eyes for careful observation, “That quickly?”
“They have no choice. By natural selection, they would die in the winter without a fully-grown set of feathers.” Julia replied.
The little thunderbird originally looked half-dead, but due to Han Jin’s rough actions, it began to struggle, using its weak beak to peck at Han Jin’s fingers.
“You are going to hurt it.” Julia was somewhat unable to bear Han Jin’s actions, taking the little thunderbird away. It was quite interesting how the little thunderbird became much more tamed in Julia’s hands, lying motionlessly with its eyes closed.
Han Jin shrugged his shoulders, turning to look at the horde under Yalina’s feet. The horde was filled with a large sum, between 140 and 150 babies in total; Han Jin was beginning to get swayed. Actually, many things ended unsuccessful, not because of a lack of ability, but because of the wrong choice at a critical moment. Yalina’s attempt to move Han Jin because of cuteness was useless, but Julia’s words still had an actual effect.
In the thousands of Daos, there indeed existed a place for raising holy animals, which was left to the heterodoxy; ultimately, the primary target of cultivation and improvement is oneself; the strength of his holy animals wouldn’t turn the owner into a flying god, therefore it was seen as a poor prioritization. Additionally, in modern society, holy animals were nearly extinct, making the demise of holy animal Daos natural and inevitable.
The Spiritual Beast Sacrifice was a moderate-class Daoist Art. Long ago, Han Jin saved a near-dead little barbaric cow using the Charm of Spirit Refreshment and the Spiritual Beast Sacrifice. However, it was just a single barbaric cow. He now had more than a hundred little thunderbirds to handle; despite the huge improvement in power, the Yuan energy required for more than a hundred moderate-class Daoist Arts was just too extensive. Even worse, the Spiritual Beast Sacrifice was the necessary medium to control such a group of thunderbirds. After considerable thought, Han Jin nonetheless went ahead with the spell. He suddenly thought of something special; even if the intended effects couldn’t be reached, more than one hundred thunderbirds meant more than one hundred level 9 magical crystals! Such a reward warranted a great effort.
It turned out, the little thunderbird was by no means docile; it was only lying motionless because it was out of strength.
With no injuries and only a power shortage, the Charm of Spirit Refreshment and the Spiritual Beast Sacrifice immediately showed its effects; the little thunderbird immediately jumped up, surveying Han Jin with its head tilted. The Spiritual Beast Sacrifice creates a form of affinity; that’s why the little barbaric cow continued surrounding Han Jin earlier. Of course, the thunderbirds were not exempt; the little thunderbird, after jumping near the edge of Julia’s hands, waved its weak wings and jumped towards Han Jin. However, with no ability to fly, it fell straight to ground after jumping off Julia’s hand.
Han Jin then held up the little thunderbird with his hands. By this point, the little thunderbird had no resistance towards Han Jin, jumping in his hands happily, its wings flapping up and down nonstop, like a dog shaking its tail at its master. Its young beaks opened widely, making a string of crisp tweets, but its intended message was unknown.
Yalina worked all night; it was now turn for Han Jin’s portion of labor. Revamping more than one hundred thunderbirds was a huge project, and hiding in a quiet place for breath adjustment could only compensate partially. He worked and rested, and finished his work in the dusk. However, by the time he had finished, he had discovered something truly horrifying.
Love existed in all people more or less. Seeing a large group of ‘little chicks’ cheering around like family members, most would be very glad initially. However, what about after thirty minutes? What about after a few hours? What about after a whole day?
Han Jin felt that his head was on the verge of explosion. Under the influence of the Spiritual Beast Sacrifice, the little thunderbirds forfeited Yalina and continued following Han Jin. When he crawled into the shed, the little thunderbirds rushed inside in droves; when he sat on the mountain slope, the little thunderbirds crowded around him; when he jumped on top of a rock, the little thunderbirds would surround the rock. Following him around everywhere was not so much of the problem, but the endless tweets were nearly untolerable, particularly for Han Jin, who loved quietness.
Han Jin was forced to arm the Sword Light and leave. The little thunderbirds promptly lost control, running in all directions, creating a huge mess. With the Yuan energy already spent, every little thunderbird lost would be a huge grievance. Han Jin then quickly returned back, stabilizing the moods of the little thunderbirds.
As annoyed as Han Jin was, Yalina and Julia were filled with envy. It was particularly so for Yalina, whose energy had returned back after a morning at rest. She attempted to trick the little thunderbirds to forfeit the dark side and join the bright; but for them, she was the ‘dark side’.
Reg and Gibran’s return from hunting with two rabbits finally gave Han Jin a moment of relief. In normal circumstances, at most one third of the little thunderbirds could survive. However, Han Jin’s Yuan energy wasn’t spent in vain; the little thunderbirds looked healthy and active, tearing the two rabbits into undistinguishable puddles in just minutes.
