Chapter 48: Reception

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For a moment, the four True Spirit Masters instinctively focused their gazes on Chen Fei.

“He’s still alive?” The elder in blue robes was secretly shocked.

“This kid is truly strange!” Sun Qianyi was also surprised.

The power of the ice arrow unleashed by the Silver Jiao just now was immense. By all logic, a Great Spirit Master at such close range, without external assistance, would have no chance of survival.

Chen Fei, however, was suffering in silence. His body was drenched in blood, his skin torn apart, as he desperately activated the talent of the Iron-Clawed Rock Eagle to strengthen his flesh and heal himself.

Even the Silver Jiao seemed slightly surprised. A mere human Great Spirit Master had actually survived.

Without hesitation, the Silver Jiao launched a powerful attack, forcing back the four True Spirit Masters. Then, instead of lingering, it twisted its massive body and pounced straight at Chen Fei.

No one had expected such a sudden turn of events.

“Chen Yang, watch out!” Sun Qianyi’s expression changed slightly. He instinctively wielded a silver curved blade, transforming it into a streak of silver light, aiming to intercept the Silver Jiao and prevent it from killing Chen Fei.

Seeing the Silver Jiao pouncing toward him, Chen Fei was so terrified that his soul nearly left his body. Forget about being gravely injured— even in peak condition, he stood no chance against a powerful beast of the Spirit Master realm.

Bang!

The Silver Jiao’s tail lashed out like a whip, striking Sun Qianyi’s blade and instantly sending it flying.

Then, with a single motion, the Silver Jiao opened its massive maw and clamped down on Chen Fei, lifting him into the air and soaring away.

“Stop it!”

The elder in blue robes shouted angrily, forming a series of hand seals. His longsword transformed into a streak of rainbow light, slashing toward the fleeing Silver Jiao.

The grey-robed elder and the armored man also joined in, unleashing their weapons to strike the beast.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Their spiritual weapons struck the Silver Jiao’s body, but they couldn’t even scratch its scales. Sparks flew, yet they failed to stop the beast’s determined escape.

“What a pity!” Sun Qianyi sighed, feeling deep regret.

“He was just a Great Spirit Master. If he’s dead, so be it,” the elder in blue robes said indifferently, even believing that Chen Fei being taken was his just punishment.

Sun Qianyi glared at him and said coldly, “He stumbled in by accident. He didn’t deserve to die. If you hadn’t attacked earlier, he could have left safely.”

“He ruined our hunt for the Silver Jiao. He deserved it.” The elder in blue robes immediately refuted.

The grey-robed elder and the armored man remained silent, but it was clear they agreed with him.

They had painstakingly tracked down the Silver Jiao’s lair, preparing to set up a killing formation in secret. But before they could finish their preparations, Chen Fei’s unexpected intrusion alerted the beast, disrupting their carefully laid plan.

“With this scare, we may never get another chance to find this hundred-year-old Silver Jiao,” the grey-robed elder sighed.

“I never expected such a powerful beast to emerge from a small place like Yellow Mist City,” the armored man remarked, contemplating the matter.

With their hunt for the Silver Jiao a failure, the four of them left, dissatisfied.

Sun Qianyi wanted to save Chen Fei, but he lacked the strength to do so alone. The Silver Jiao’s speed was too fast. Without a higher cultivation level or an array to assist, a fair fight would be nearly impossible, let alone a victory.

Chen Fei, believing himself doomed, was astonished to find that the Silver Jiao did not intend to eat him.

The beast had endured attacks from four True Spirit Masters without a scratch. Now, it carried Chen Fei through the skies like a streak of lightning.

In just a few minutes, they had traveled over a hundred miles before stopping at a cliffside.

The Silver Jiao placed Chen Fei down beside a clear pool, using the water to wash away the blood staining his body. To his shock, the numerous wounds on his body had already healed and scabbed over.

The massive head of the Silver Jiao loomed close, its ink-colored eyes staring at him with curiosity, as if lost in thought.

Chen Fei, staring at the mighty beast, had no idea why it had taken him.

For a brief moment, a strange silence settled between man and beast.

Chen Fei dared not speak or move, afraid of provoking the creature into devouring him on a whim.

The Silver Jiao’s gaze remained fixed on him, but instead of hostility, there was confusion.

Then, breaking the silence, the beast opened its massive jaws and spoke.

“Thank you for saving me.”

Chen Fei’s entire body shuddered.

It could speak?

No— the voice didn’t come from his ears. It resonated directly within his mind.

Chen Fei froze, unsure how to respond. Did the beast actually think he had saved it?

“You can understand me?” The Silver Jiao’s voice echoed in his mind again.

Chen Fei still didn’t speak but instinctively nodded.

“You are different from them… Strange. I feel an inexplicable sense of kinship with you,” the Silver Jiao continued, conveying its thoughts through spiritual awareness.

Chen Fei was stunned.

A powerful Spirit Master-level beast was speaking to him— and it felt close to him?

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you,” the Silver Jiao reassured him.

“Really?” For the first time, Chen Fei spoke to it directly.

“Of course!” The Silver Jiao nodded firmly.

“I feel like you’re my kin. I should follow you,” it declared through spiritual transmission.

Chen Fei swallowed hard, utterly baffled.

He was human. The Silver Jiao was a beast. How could they possibly be related?

Wait— did it just say it wanted to follow him?

A Spirit Master-level Jiao… wanted to follow him?

Realizing that the beast truly meant no harm and was expressing goodwill, Chen Fei finally calmed down.

“You… want to follow me?” he asked.

“Yes,” the Silver Jiao nodded again.

“But you’re a beast, and I’m human. How would that even work?” Chen Fei frowned.

Hearing this, the Silver Jiao fell into deep thought.

Seeing its hesitation, Chen Fei immediately regretted his words. He wished he could slap himself. Even if it wasn’t feasible, he shouldn’t have questioned it now— what if the beast changed its mind and ate him instead?

“By forming a soul contract. From now on, you will be my master.”

After a long pause, the Silver Jiao finally reached a decision.

Before Chen Fei could react, a powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted from the beast’s body, enveloping him entirely.