Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Shadow, having dodged the strike, not only didn't flee but took advantage of the moment to hop twice on the white crane's bare back, letting out two extremely provocative "cheep cheep" sounds, as if mocking the other's clumsiness.

"This little thing..." Qin Yi watched from the side, utterly dumbfounded. The evasive movements actually carried a hint of a naturally formed formation's dodging trajectory.

"Get back here right now!"

Su Ming finally snapped out of it. His figure flickered, and with steps channeling the Like Water Art footwork, he appeared beside the white crane. His right hand shot out, spiritual energy forming a pliable, huge net that scooped up the still-swaggering Shadow in one go, grabbing its flapping wings.

The white crane turned its head angrily, its eyes bloodshot as it glared at Su Ming.

"Brother Crane, calm down, Brother Crane, calm down! This little one just broke out of its shell, doesn't know the rules, my sincere apologies!" Su Ming immediately put on a fawning, panicked smile. While speaking, he used his left hand to press down on Shadow's little head, which was still trying to struggle, forcing it to lower its head toward the white crane.

The white crane stared fiercely at the black ball in Su Ming's hand, snorted a puff of white air from its nostrils, and let out an extremely human-like humph. Then, it abruptly spread its wings, whipping up a whirlwind, and flew straight out of the great hall, landing toward the spiritual spring in the back mountain. It was clearly extremely pissed off.

"With guts like that, you'll end up stewed in a pot one day." Su Ming pinched Shadow's neck, placed it back on his shoulder, and gave it a low warning.

Shadow shrunk its neck in grievance, but those golden eyes showed not a shred of remorse.

"Hahaha, Little Junior Brother, don't blame it. When a strange beast is first born, it's naturally wild and hard to tame. This is a good thing." Qin Yi wasn't angry at all; instead, he watched the scene with keen interest. "Come on, come with me to the storeroom. This little one has grown so fast; its previous rations probably won't be enough anymore."

Following Qin Yi through the long, winding corridors of the Spirit Beast Hall, the two arrived before a heavily guarded underground storeroom.

Qin Yi made several complex hand seals, and the heavy stone gate slowly rose. A rich, almost tangible aroma of medicinal herbs, mixed with the unique bloody scent of demonic beast flesh, rushed toward them.

The storeroom was extremely spacious. Both sides were lined with sandalwood shelves several zhang high, densely packed with various beast hides, demon cores, and jade boxes of spirit plants sealed with talismans.

Qin Yi walked straight to a shelf at the very back, reached out, and beckoned.

"Thump! Thump!"

Two heavy sacks, each half a person's height, were lifted by spiritual energy and placed steadily at Su Ming's feet.

"This is a batch of juvenile beast rations I just prepared in the past few days." Qin Yi untied the rope of one sack, grabbed a handful, and held it out to Su Ming.

Shadow cowered its neck in grievance, but those golden eyes showed not a shred of remorse.

"The main ingredients are hundred-year yellow essence and purple monkey flower, supplemented with crushed first-grade fire-attribute demon cores, then simmered with spirit spring water over a low fire for three days and three nights before being pressed into shape." Qin Yi listed the ingredients like he was reciting his own possessions. "For a juvenile spirit beast, this stuff not only provides massive blood energy but also warms and nourishes the meridians, which is extremely beneficial for the development of its muscles and bones."

Su Ming's eyelids twitched as he listened.

Hundred-year spirit herbs plus crushed demon cores? This wasn't feeding a bird; this was burning money! These two big sacks of rations, if taken to the outer sect market, could easily sell for a high price of several hundred mid-grade spirit stones.

"Second Senior Brother, this... this is too valuable." Su Ming quickly waved his hand in refusal. While someone following the Way of Survival cherished wealth, he also understood the principle of not accepting rewards without merit. Besides, if he owed such a huge favor, it would be hard to repay later.

"Take it." Qin Yi's expression turned slightly stern, pretending to be displeased. "We're fellow disciples of the same sect. If you keep being polite with me, you'll be looking down on the craftsmanship of my Beast Peak. Besides, juvenile Profound Shadow Crows are extremely rare. I also want to see just how far it can grow. Consider it a little research investment I'm making for the sect."

Seeing Qin Yi put it that way, Su Ming couldn't be pretentious any longer. He could only cup his fist solemnly. "Then, Junior Brother will shamelessly accept it."

"Now that's more like it." A gentle smile reappeared on Qin Yi's face. He turned around and, from a very hidden secret compartment at the very top of the shelf, carefully took out a small sealed jar made of obsidian, only the size of a palm.

"What I gave you just now were only basic rations to fill its stomach. This is the real good stuff."

Qin Yi gently unscrewed the jar's lid.

The moment the jar opened, in the dimly lit storeroom, a faint, extremely fine patch of silvery-white starlike specks began to flicker faintly.

Su Ming focused his gaze. The jar was about half-filled with extremely fine, silver-gray powder. This powder seemed unaffected by gravity, floating slightly within the jar, exuding a profound aura that calmed the mind.

Shadow, which had been quietly perched on Su Ming's shoulder, went crazy the instant it saw the small jar, chirping wildly as it tried to pounce, only to have Su Ming firmly press down on its claws.

"This is 'Stardust Powder.'" Qin Yi watched Shadow's impatient look and explained with a smile. "I specially went to the Vessel Hall to find an elder I'm familiar with and asked for some leftover star-iron ore from refining high-grade artifacts. Then, I borrowed an earth fire chamber and used the purest true flame to grind and calcine it for a full half a month to extract this."

"The most fundamental source of power for the Profound Shadow Crow clan is star power. But within the sect, the star power during the day is too thin. From now on, when you feed it daily, mix a fingernail-sized pinch of stardust powder into its rations. This can greatly accelerate the purification and awakening of the starlight bloodline within its body."

This time, Su Ming was genuinely stunned. For his single juvenile bird, this Second Senior Brother had gone through so much trouble. This favor was not insignificant.

"Thank you for your trouble, Second Senior Brother!" Su Ming didn't refuse this time. He took the small jar with both hands and put it into his storage pouch with the utmost care.

"Don't mention it. But, feeding it does have its rules." Qin Yi's expression turned serious, taking on the demeanor of an elder guiding a junior.

Su Ming immediately took out a blank jade slip, using his divine sense as a brush, ready to take notes.

"First, avoid overfeeding. Feed it three times a day: morning, noon, and evening. Each time, only give it a small handful of rations and mix in a little stardust powder. Spirit beasts are like cultivators; their meridians' capacity is limited. More is not better. Overeating can lead to blood energy stagnation, or even explosive death."

"Second, at its current stage, the most important thing is not to accumulate spiritual energy, but to temper its physical body. Let it fly more, move more. You can even let it hunt some low-grade insects in the forests of Formation Peak. This kind of primal exercise helps it fully absorb the medicinal power from the rations into its bones and muscles."

"Third, when it grows a bit bigger and sheds its baby fluff for hard feathers, you can start using some low-grade demonic beasts to spar with it, awakening the combat instinct deep within its bloodline. Don't raise it like a caged songbird."

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