“Lord?” Manager Zheng called from behind him. “Are you alright?”
Shen Mo did not answer.
He probed in another strand of Spiritual Power.
The moment it entered, it was shredded by the Sword Intent.
He probed in another strand, and it was shredded again.
Strand after strand.
His face grew paler and paler, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Spiritual Power gushed out like water from an open sluice gate, unstoppable.
His Dantian began to feel hollow, aching faintly.
But he did not stop.
He saw that mass of Sword Intent roiling, howling, struggling inside the eggshell.
Shen Mo felt his Spiritual Power nearly depleted, his Dantian aching from emptiness, darkness flickering before his eyes.
“Lord!” Manager Zheng’s voice came as if from very far away. “Lord, you’re bleeding!”
Shen Mo looked down. The cracks on the eggshell had cut his finger, and blood dripped down the shell.
The blood seeped into the cracks, mingling with the faint blue light.
The Sword Intent suddenly quieted for an instant.
That instant was very short, almost imperceptible.
But Shen Mo sensed it. The Sword Intent was recognizing his blood.
Recognizing his Spiritual Power. Recognizing him as a person.
Then, it quieted.
Not the kind of quiet from being subdued, but the kind that recognized him.
As if it knew him. As if it had been waiting for him.
Shen Mo was stunned.
After a moment’s hesitation, he gently placed his palm on the cold eggshell.
His Pure Yin Spiritual Power probed in gently, sensing the condition inside the egg again.
What the Spiritual Power fed back was a chaotic and active vortex of energy, far more intense than anything he had ever sensed before.
Just as he was filled with doubt, footsteps came from the entrance of the Rare Birds Garden.
It was Su Wan’er.
Her gaze passed over Shen Mo and landed on the abnormally transformed Spirit Kite Egg on the Incubation Array Platform. Spiritual Qi swirled around it.
She furrowed her delicate brows.
Yesterday she had already heard the whole story from Manager Zheng, and couldn’t help but admire her husband’s astonishing talent in the art of spiritual beast nurturing.
She released her Divine Sense, extremely gently enveloping the egg, and carefully sensed it for a moment.
“You don’t need to worry too much.”
After a while, she withdrew her Divine Sense, her tone calm but certain.
“It’s not your problem. This little one… is about to hatch.”
“Sword Feather Spirit Kites are born with Sword Bones. When hatching, they need to absorb enough Sharp Metal Qi and Spiritual Qi to successfully condense their Lifebound Sword Feathers. The unusual movement of the Sword Patterns on the eggshell and the unstable Spiritual Qi are signs that the Sword Embryo inside is communicating with the external Spiritual Qi, making final preparations for hatching. Just maintain the current nurturing, ensure a stable and pure Spiritual Qi environment, and don’t do anything extra, so as not to interfere with its natural process.”
Shen Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief. The heart he had been holding dropped. “So that’s how it is. As expected, Wan’er’s knowledge is vast.”
Su Wan’er felt her heart stir at the pure trust in his gaze.
A warmth rippled through the lake of her mind.
She averted her eyes, letting them fall back on the Spirit Kite Egg.
Casually, she said, “You’ve nurtured it with your Pure Yin Spiritual Power for months; your auras are already connected. When it hatches, the first person it sees and the one with the most familiar aura will be you. Most likely, it will regard you as its closest person, even acknowledging you as its master. Once a Sword Feather Spirit Kite grows up, its combat power is considerable, and it’s highly intelligent. It’s a good helper. You… treat it well.”
Shen Mo was taken aback, then immediately understood her implication.
She was worried that his cultivation level was too low, that he lacked the ability to protect himself.
If he had a powerful spirit beast by his side, at least he’d be a bit safer.
He nodded firmly. “Mm, I will.”
Carefully, Shen Mo adjusted the temperature and humidity around the grass nest to ensure everything was perfect.
Only after doing all this did he stand up.
Because he had been crouching for so long, his vision went slightly black, and his body swayed.
“Careful.”
Almost instinctively, Su Wan’er reached out and supported his arm.
“I’m fine. I just stood up too quickly.” Shen Mo steadied himself and smiled at her.
‘But I can’t help thinking of Chao’er.’
Su Wan’er said nothing more, standing a step away from him.
A gentle breeze blew through the garden, bringing the fresh scent of soil.
A few docile Fluffy-eared Rabbits poked their heads out curiously not far away, making soft chewing sounds.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the spirit plants, casting dappled light and shadow over the two.
At this moment, spirit beasts chirped softly, and the wind whispered.
The grass was seeding, the wind rustling its leaves.
Until a slightly hurried set of footsteps approached from afar, breaking the tranquility.
A disciple on duty came hastily, stopped outside the garden, and bowed respectfully.
“Reporting to Peak Master and Peak Master Shen, Chunlan of Heavenly Sword Peak has arrived and is waiting in the main hall. She says… there is an important matter to discuss.”
Shen Mo’s back stiffened at the words.
His fingers curled unconsciously.
The warmth that had risen from Su Wan’er’s gentle gesture instantly faded away.
His heart was ice-cold.
Chunlan… that maidservant who had once peeked at him with an abnormally burning gaze in the Quiet Chamber of Heavenly Sword Peak, then fled in panic.
Did Qin Shuying send her?
An important matter to discuss?
Those four words sounded like a death curse in his ears.
‘What does Qin Shuying want to do now?’
‘Did she turn a deaf ear to the Female Sovereign’s warning?’
‘Or… has she finally lost patience and wants to tear off all pretense, exposing everything to Wan’er?’
Countless conjectures surged into his heart.
His face paled a few shades.
Forcing himself to stay calm, Shen Mo raised his eyes to look at the beautiful woman beside him.
Su Wan’er lifted her gaze, shifting her eyes from the Spirit Kite Egg to the disciple bowing outside the garden.
‘Qin Shuying’s personality is aloof and cold. She rarely interacts with other peaks, let alone sends her personal maidservant as an envoy.’
‘Could it be related to the matter Shen Mo mentioned before?’
“I understand. Please escort her to the side hall for tea. I will be there shortly.”
“Yes, Peak Master.”
Once the disciple had walked away, Su Wan’er turned.
“Mo’er, you don’t look well. Perhaps sensing the Spirit Kite Egg just now consumed your mental energy. Since someone from Heavenly Sword Peak has come, I’ll go meet her. You go back to your room and rest, or continue watching over the Spirit Kite here. No need to worry.”
‘She’s going to face Qin Shuying’s person alone.’
‘Is she being considerate because I’m still shaken?’
‘Or… has she sensed something and doesn’t want me to have more dealings with Heavenly Sword Peak?’
Shen Mo’s heart was a tangled mess.
He was afraid of Su Wan’er going alone and hearing from Chunlan some exaggerated or direct accusation…
And he was terrified that if he went along, he would lose composure under Chunlan’s possibly meaningful gaze and reveal more cracks.
Then he made up his mind.
‘Going is better than not going.’
“Wan’er, I want to come with you to receive the guest.”
“I am the Lord of Jiaoyue Peak. The Heavenly Sword Peak Master sent her personal maidservant to discuss important matters. How could I not see her?”
Su Wan’er glanced at him and nodded. “Alright.”
Without further delay, the two turned, their white figures gliding gracefully.
They walked unhurriedly toward the main hall.
Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was solemn.
Chunlan stood with her head bowed, hands folded in front of her, her posture respectful.
She wore the standard inner-sect maidservant’s robe of Heavenly Sword Peak.
The material was ordinary, but it was starched very clean.
Hearing footsteps, she quickly raised her head.
The first thing that met her eyes was Su Wan’er’s cold, peerlessly beautiful face, exuding an aura of authority without anger.