Xiao Feng complied with the requests of his two companions, both implicit and explicit ones. Nova got the firedust diamond she had been asking for and thankfully her Masala Chai was hot enough for the spicy ingredient to fully dissolve, while Xiao Feng offered to add another emberdust gem to Lianhua’s cup and she did not refuse.

  Sure enough, the satisfied smile on Lianhua’s visage after she finished her cup and the manner in which Nova had eagerly lapped up her portion told Xiao Feng that he had not let their expectations down.

  So Nova likes her spice, Xiao Feng thought. I should’ve expected her taste buds to be accustomed to entirely different flavours, but I guess I got caught up by how intelligent she is. If I want her to truly enjoy chai, I’ll need to craft a new recipe tailored to her tastes after figuring them out.

  But he couldn’t do that alone.

  He needed Beast Master Zen’s help, a man that while Xiao Feng respected, he was also fairly wary of. Without him, he would not have entered into a bond with Nova, which meant that he owed him big-time, but Xiao Feng also shuddered to imagine what would happen if he discovered the truth that Nova was concealing.

  Even if their special bond was to be set aside, the fact of the matter was that just Nova’s ability to use Phantom Dao made her an incredibly valuable spiritual beast, both for powerful cultivators trying to seek insight into a new dao that they hadn’t encountered before and for Beast Masters who were always on the hunt for unique beasts.

  There was no way he’d be able to raise Nova in the alchemy division without Beast Master Zen’s assistance, which meant that he needed to diminish that attention significantly.

  “What is your plan now?” Lianhua asked him as she respectfully placed the cup she had drunk warm Chai from back onto a tray.

  “I need to go to the training room,” Xiao Feng replied. “Well, we do. Before I meet Beast Master Zen, I need to see what Nova is capable of. And I need your help in smuggling her in, because I think it’s a bad idea to let others see her because I have a talk with him.”

  “Would it not be better to head to uncle directly then?” Lianhua asked.

  “Nova wants to stretch her legs first,” Xiao Feng nonchalantly replied, or at least tried his best to. “Besides, aren’t you curious about what she’s capable of with her Wind affinity?”

  “Is she a wind beast then?” Lianhua peered closer at Nova, her eyes glimmering with interest as she asked the question.

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  “From what I sense through the bond, it’s the only element she’s got an affinity with in any meaningful capacity,” Xiao Feng explained, trying hard to keep the guilt from his tone. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Lianhua— he did, despite the short time they’d known each other and she had gone above and beyond in offering assistance to him during his time in the alchemy division. However, his friend’s secret was not something he could offer without her consent and given the fact that a Soul Emperor might get involved in the future, it was far too heavy of a burden to impose on Lianhua to begin with.

  “That is a most fortuitous occurrence,” Lianhua said, her tone one of amazement.

  Xiao Feng blinked, not quite having anticipated that response, before he asked, “How so?”

  “Well, uncle always told me that most Beast Masters try to find a spiritual beast to bond with that shares an affinity with them. Not only can they share their own insights into the element they are attuned to, but they can also learn from their bonded beast’s instinctive utilization of Qi. Unlike cultivators, who have to learn everything from scratch, Spiritual Beasts inherit instincts that guide them on utilizing their qi, which is what makes even young beasts such a threat to cultivators. If a Beast Master offers their own insights and guides the spiritual beast with his own insights, then it will benefit you both,” Lianhua explained and it didn’t take long for Xiao Feng to understand just how true her words were.

  Except, Nova didn’t have a natural affinity with the wind element, which meant that her ancestral memories would not guide her on how to use it.

  This isn’t great, Xiao Feng thought. If I tell Beast Master Zen that Nova has a wind qi attunement, then he will expect Nova to be more powerful due to my guidance. After all, on paper at least, I am a Wind Cultivator of the Martial Division who has proven himself on the battlefield. He doesn’t know her tier yet and I doubt he’s going to find out Nova’s race easily, but I doubt I’d be able to trick him into believing that she is a Tier 1 beast.

  “Do you know how we can hide Nova?” Xiao Feng finally asked, keeping his tone casual.

  “I can fill a satchel with an assortment of ingredients and Nova is small enough to snuggle in there. Alchemist Zhi has his eyes on you, but no one’s going to suspect anything awry if I am the one carrying the satchel. But will a newborn beast be able to remain still enough until we get there?” Lianhua asked, not concealing the doubt in her tone.

  What do you say, Nova? Can you remain still until we get to the training room? I’ll tell you when it’s time to come out.

  “Are you going to teach me how to use Wind Qi?” Nova asked, her tone practically dripping with curiosity.

  I promised before, didn’t I? Since you inherited it from me, who else can teach you? Xiao Feng winked at Nova.

  “I cannot explore new hunting trails without knowing how to defend myself, now that I cannot rely on my Phantom Qi. Very well, my human, I will learn from you so my claws can regain their sharpness!” Nova boisterously declared, with more gusto than Xiao Feng had expected.

  Thus, the plan was decided upon and Xiao Feng, Lianhua and a stuffed cloth satchel headed towards the training rooms.

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