After their conversation, Yu Yan planted the newly acquired rare seeds in an open spot within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The tenfold growth rate would let the seeds mature in the shortest possible time.
Understanding that this place held no godhood Opportunity for her, Xiao Wu voiced few complaints; she simply stood and helped Yu Yan sow the seeds inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Two or three hours later, Spirit Cat Wu Xue finally completed its transformation from a thousand-year Spirit Beast into a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast.
From birth until now, Dark Snow had reached the Ten Thousand Year rank in only a few years; its growth could be summed up with a single character: lie.
Every day it soaked up Yu Yan's Essence of Sun and Moon for rapid Cultivation, drank the water of life from the Lake of Life together with Xiao Wu, and lucked into two top-tier herbs just below Immortal Herbs, plus many other beneficial plants.
Among the Spirit Cat species, Wu Xue was probably the first to break racial limits and become a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast.
Of course, give any Spirit Beast the same treatment and it could easily break through to Ten Thousand Year rank.
After advancing, Wu Xue's posture became even more agile. An indescribable aura surrounded it; the pale gold in its eyes deepened, and a single golden cowlick sprouted on its head, wreathed in a halo of azure Life Qi.
"Wu Xue, now that you're a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beast, did you gain any new abilities?"
Meeting Wu Xue's gaze, Yu Yan poked the cowlick and asked whether it had acquired a new power.
Wu Xue tilted its head in thought, then a cloud of black smoke erupted around it, wrapping its body and vanishing from Yu Yan's sight.
Moments later the cat reappeared at Xiao Wu's side, calling to Yu Yan to show it had moved there.
"So, something like stealth or concealment. Anything else?"
With a mew, Wu Xue released a mental shockwave that struck Yu Yan's mind; it did him no harm, but the backlash left Wu Xue rather dazed.
"A mental blast—nice. Anything more?"
Mental-type Spirit Abilities work wonders against foes of equal or lower strength, but against stronger opponents they're purely detrimental.
Under the anticipatory stares of Yu Yan and Xiao Wu, Wu Xue raised a paw and slashed at a nearby boulder. Three black crescent claws tore through the rock, splitting it cleanly and carving a deep gouge into the ground; the mirror-smooth cut surface testified to the terrifying power of the strike.
After launching the three crescent slashes, the black energy did not disperse; it still cloaked Wu Xue's claws, apparently ready for another attack.
"A solid Move. Any others, Wu Xue?"
Impressed, Xiao Wu chimed in before Yu Yan could, hoping to see yet another new technique.
In answer, Wu Xue shook its head: no more tricks.
"Hey! Stingy Wu Xue, when Yu Yan asks you show off something new, but when I ask—nothing. You're doing it on purpose."
Not truly angry, Xiao Wu muttered, scooped the cat up, and began petting it without further logic.
Used to such treatment, Wu Xue calmly nestled into a comfortable pose in her arms and narrowed its eyes contentedly.
After two days in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Yu Yan, Xiao Wu, and Wu Xue—two humans and one cat—set off again toward the Extreme North Land.
Passing Heaven Dou City, Yu Yan thought to visit Dugu Bo and invite the ninety-third-rank Titled Douluo along as a bodyguard, but after asking around he learned Dugu Bo had not been seen in two months.
Even with his toxins resolved, he remained the reclusive, hard-to-track Poison Douluo.
Unable to find him, Yu Yan waited at an inn in Heaven Dou City until the School Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Fengzhi, came calling.
Naturally, Ning Fengzhi did not travel alone; with him were Sword Douluo and Ning Rongrong, whom Yu Yan had met before.
Yu Yan recalled that the School Master was usually accompanied by either Sword Douluo or Bone Douluo on outings; both times he'd met Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo had been the one present.
"Haha, young friend Yu Yan, we meet again! Two years since we parted—how have they treated you?"
At first sight Ning Fengzhi greeted him warmly, asking after his well-being while actually knowing far more about Yu Yan's recent exploits than Jiang Jing.
Learning that Yu Yan had already reached Spirit Ancestor at his age, Ning Fengzhi's desire to recruit him peaked.
Such a Genius—if he could join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and become a son-in-law—would secure the school's supremacy for centuries despite its current shortage of heirs.
Xiao Wu, equally close to Yu Yan, was a super-Genius in her own right; for that, Ning Fengzhi could overlook much.
Based on their ages and Cultivation speeds, Yu Yan publicly claimed a Spirit Power Level of 41, Xiao Wu 38; neither revealed their true strength.
Great talent attracts attention—both welcome and malicious; in those two years Yu Yan and Xiao Wu had dealt with three separate attempts on their lives.
"Thank you for your concern, School Master Ning. These years have treated me well. I remain grateful for the Spirit Beast notes you gifted me back then—they proved invaluable."
After some polite banter, Yu Yan sincerely thanked Ning Fengzhi for the book on ice-and-fire draconic Spirit Beasts suited to him; it had indeed helped, and he acknowledged that.
With two Titled Douluo and the potent support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, allying with them cost Yu Yan nothing.
"Haha, merely old records gathering dust. If they aid a rising star like you, their purpose is served."
Able to discern sincerity, Ning Fengzhi was pleased that Yu Yan remembered the gift; recruiting a grateful Genius beats recruiting an ungrateful one.
With an opening topic secured, the two—each intent on befriending the other—fell into animated conversation.
Any onlooker would have taken them for old friends despite the difference in age; no one would guess this was only their second meeting.