Chapter 5: Selecting a Flying Mount
After entering the room, Fan Xing casually kicked off her shoes, tossed her bag aside, and walked in barefoot.
He Chaoyang, on the other hand, skillfully took a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet and slipped them on.
“Have a seat, I’ll get you some drinks,” Fan Xing said as she headed toward the refrigerator.
He Chaoyang nodded and sat down on the sofa.
Noticing the new sofa cover, he asked curiously, “Is this the set I bought you before? Didn’t you dislike it?”
Fan Xing glanced at the sofa and made up a story, “The original one got accidentally scratched, so I’m using this one for the time being.”
He Chaoyang never doubted a word she said and nodded in trust.
Fan Xing placed a cup of green tea on the table in front of He Chaoyang, revealing a jade-like spiritual rune bracelet on her wrist.
Seeing the bracelet, He Chaoyang paused slightly. “You…”
“What’s wrong?” Fan Xing looked puzzled.
He Chaoyang swallowed his words and shook his head. “Nothing… it’s nothing.”
“Then why do you look like you want to say something but can’t? Speak up.” Fan Xing sat down on the nearby sofa.
“Are you… really okay recently?” After hesitating, He Chaoyang asked.
Fan Xing was baffled by the question. “I’m fine, what could be wrong?”
“That’s good to hear.” He Chaoyang sighed with relief.
Suddenly remembering her upcoming training, Fan Xing said, “By the way, I have some things to take care of recently, so I might not be able to go to the studio. Could you ask the boss for leave on my behalf?”
He Chaoyang hesitated but eventually nodded. “Alright, how long do you need?”
“A month, I guess.”
He Chaoyang didn’t press further and said, “Looks like the boss will be furious.”
After chatting for a while, He Chaoyang took his leave.
He had come because he was worried about Fan Xing, and since she was fine, there was no reason for him to stay.
Once He Chaoyang left, Fan Xing took out her spiritual energy cards and released the Black Spirit Cat.
The Black Spirit Cat was lively and playful. Although the spiritual energy cards were filled with energy to help it cultivate, it still enjoyed the taste of freedom.
So as soon as it came out, it jumped around Fan Xing’s home.
With a loud crash, a painting hanging on the wall fell, the frame shattered into pieces, and the canvas split in two.
“Come here!” Fan Xing shouted angrily.
The Black Spirit Cat lowered its head and approached Fan Xing.
“I’ve been too good to you, haven’t I? So you’re running wild!”
The Black Spirit Cat stood on its hind legs, grabbed Fan Xing’s pant leg with its front paws, and looked up with big, wet, pitiful eyes, letting out an irresistibly cute “meow.”
“Just this once!” Fan Xing warned sharply.
“Meow meow~” The Black Spirit Cat nodded quickly.
Fan Xing thought for a moment. “I should give you a name.”
“Meow~ Meow~” The Black Spirit Cat’s eyes brightened, looking up at Fan Xing with all the devotion, eager for a name.
Fan Xing pinched her chin in thought. After a long while, she said, “You’re all black, so why not call you…”
The Black Spirit Cat suddenly had a bad feeling. Was she about to name me “Black Coal Ball”?
But the cat’s worries were unfounded. Fan Xing had indeed thought about giving a casual name like that, but then she remembered Fan Honghong and dropped the idea.
A wrong name could stick for life.
Fan Xing recited softly, “Deeper than moonlight over half the village, Big Dipper on the railing, Little Dipper slanting south… You shall be called Yedou.”
Relieved that it wasn’t “Black Coal Ball,” the Black Spirit Cat—now Yedou—joyfully rubbed its cheeks against Fan Xing’s calves.
Time flew to the next day.
In the morning, Fan Xing took a taxi to the Hongguang City Flower Base again.
Just as she was about to enter, staff stopped her. Only when she showed her spiritual rune bracelet did they let her pass.
Then she used the teleportation device to enter the Inner World’s Hongguang City Flower Base, planning to continue on to the city center.
Without Ye Qing’s flying mount to help today, she hurried and barely arrived on time—almost late.
The building housing the identity registration office was called the Alliance Office Headquarters, where all matters concerning spiritual practitioners were handled.
When Fan Xing arrived at the lobby, she was utterly lost and had to grab a staff member for directions.
“Excuse me, I’m here for the spiritual practitioner newcomer training. Where should I go?”
The staff looked at her in surprise. “You’re a newcomer?”
Fan Xing nodded. “Yes.”
Impatience flickered across the staff’s face. “Why are you only coming now? I don’t even know if they’ve left. Follow me quickly.”
Realizing she was late, Fan Xing didn’t argue and hurried after the staff.
After some searching, Fan Xing saw a group led by an elderly man briskly walking outside the hall.
The staff called out to the man, “Teacher Zhao, there’s a newcomer here.”
Teacher Zhao stopped walking. When they reached him, he glanced at Fan Xing and said, “Hurry up and join the group. We’re departing!”
“Yes!” Fan Xing quickly moved to the back of the line.
At that moment, a girl with long black hair, wearing a miniskirt and smoky eye makeup, said sharply, “Still late at a time like this? Do you even understand punctuality? You’re wasting everyone’s time—tch!”
Next to her, a short-haired girl tugged her sleeve and said, “Xiang Xiang, cut it out. She must have had something holding her up.”
The girl named Xiang Xiang slapped the other’s hand away. “Why should I? I’m going to say it anyway. I…”
Before she could continue, Teacher Zhao snapped, “Quiet! If anyone causes trouble, they’re out and can’t join the training.”
Xiang Xiang was silenced and shot Fan Xing a fierce glare.
Fan Xing: ...
“Sorry, everyone.” Regardless, Fan Xing whispered her apology.
Most of the group understood and nodded slightly in greeting.
Since they were all future colleagues, there was no need to quarrel over something so small.
Led by Teacher Zhao, they stepped outside the building, where a bus awaited.
“Get on,” Teacher Zhao said, boarding first.
The newcomers followed one by one. Once on the bus, Fan Xing was surprised to see that it had no driver.
Seeing this, Xiang Xiang sneered, “What’s wrong, country bumpkin? Never seen a spiritual mount bus before?”
Fan Xing steadied herself and said to Xiang Xiang, “I’m older than you. I admit I was late earlier, so I accepted your rude tone then. But that doesn’t mean you can keep picking fights. I’ll let this one slide, but next time I won’t hold back.”
“Tch, hold back? As if I’m scared!” Xiang Xiang scoffed and found a seat disdainfully.
Xiang Xiang’s friend, the short-haired girl, smiled apologetically at Fan Xing and then complained to Xiang Xiang, “Why do you always pick on her? We’re all going to be colleagues, and if she ends up better than you, you’ll regret it.”
Hearing this, Xiang Xiang snapped, “Mei Xiaohuan, whose friend are you? Why do you always defend outsiders? And how could she be better than me?”
Mei Xiaohuan replied, “I’m just looking out for you. Your mom asked me to keep an eye on you and stop you from causing trouble.”
“Tch.” Xiang Xiang snorted and turned away, unwilling to listen, “She always talks about my mom.”
The spiritual mount bus sped along swiftly, the scenery outside flashing by. After half an hour, they arrived at their destination.
As they disembarked, Teacher Zhao said, “This is the Glimmer Academy. For the next month, you’ll be students here. Only those who graduate successfully can start working. Otherwise, you’ll have to train with the next batch of newcomers—and that would be embarrassing.”
No sooner had Teacher Zhao finished speaking than another spiritual mount bus pulled up.
A group of a dozen or so people stepped out, led by another older teacher.
To Fan Xing’s surprise, among them was a familiar face.
That person, spotting Fan Xing, waved and shouted, “Xingxing, we meet again!”
It was Fan Honghong, whom Fan Xing had met briefly the day before.
Fan Honghong walked over quickly, linked her arm through Fan Xing’s, and joyfully said, “Xingxing, I’m so glad to see you again.”
Fan Xing was helpless: We only met once—are we really that close?
At that moment, an untimely voice rang out.
“Where did this country bumpkin come from? Oh, it’s Fan Honghong’s friend. What a perfect match of trash.”
Fan Honghong immediately exploded, “Who’s got such a foul mouth? Did you eat poop this morning? Brushing your teeth is a good habit—too bad some don’t. And Xiang Xiang? She should be called Stinky.”
Apparently, Fan Honghong and Xiang Xiang knew each other.
“You…” Xiang Xiang was furious. “Fan Honghong, do you want to fight?”
Fan Honghong placed her hands on her hips. “Fight? Bring it on. Do you think I’m scared of you?”
Xiang Xiang lunged forward, but Mei Xiaohuan quickly pulled her back. “Xiang Xiang, calm down.”
Fan Honghong said, “Oh, and Mei Xiaohuan, keep your dog on a leash—don’t let her bite people everywhere.”
Fan Xing: ...
Fan Honghong’s tongue was truly venomous—admiringly so.
“Fan Honghong, I’m going to take you on!” Xiang Xiang roared ferociously.
Teacher Zhao called out, “Quiet! Anyone who causes trouble goes back—no training for you.”
Instantly, Xiang Xiang became as deflated as a wilted eggplant.
Fan Honghong whispered to Fan Xing, “My family are neighbors with Mei Xiaohuan’s and Xiang Xiang’s. The three of us grew up together, but they always play together without me. Xiang Xiang even bites people all the time—I’m so annoyed with her.”
“Why don’t they play with you?” Fan Xing asked curiously.
“I have no idea!” Fan Honghong tossed her head. “Hmph, they must be jealous of my beauty!”
Teacher Zhao clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “The first thing you’ll do at the academy is choose your own mount spiritual beast.
The Inner World isn’t as well connected as the Outer World, so every spiritual practitioner needs a flying mount. Today someone was late—if you have a flying mount, your chances of being late drop drastically.”
Hearing this, the newcomers were eager, their faces glowing with excitement. They had long wanted their own flying mounts.
Fan Honghong grabbed Fan Xing’s hand. “Xingxing, what kind of flying mount should I choose? A Skylark, a Radiant Dragonfly, or a Bat-Winged Wyvern? I like them all. What should I do?”
The newcomers all knew the flying mounts by heart, but Fan Xing was clueless except for the Radiant Dragonfly.
“All right, follow us,” Teacher Zhao said, leading the group toward the academy’s Rare Creature Garden.
The Rare Creature Garden was a huge glasshouse, simulating various ecosystems, each area housing different species of flying spiritual beasts.
Teacher Zhao explained, “These flying beasts are carefully bred by the academy and are the best suited for mounts. Each one is rigorously trained, so feel free to choose.”
The newcomers cheered and entered the glasshouse enthusiastically.
Fan Honghong linked arms with Fan Xing and headed to the first area.
There was a small lake surrounded by flowers and plants, at the edge of which dozens of Radiant Dragonflies were drinking.
Their wings shimmered with rainbow colors under the sun’s refraction—a breathtaking sight when gathered in large numbers.
“So beautiful!” Fan Honghong pressed her face against the glass.
Fan Xing asked, “Do you want to pick the Radiant Dragonfly?”
Fan Honghong thought for a moment. “I’ll look around some more. No rush.”
She then pulled Fan Xing to another area.
This zone was full of tall trees, with many plump, round blue-and-white birds perched on the branches.
The birds either napped with eyes closed or preened their feathers, looking very docile.
Fan Xing glanced at a sign on the glass: “Skylark.”
“Ahhh!” Fan Honghong jumped excitedly. “Skylarks are so cute too!”
“Are you going to pick one?” Fan Xing asked.
Fan Honghong shook her head. “Skylarks are faster than Radiant Dragonflies, but they aren’t as stable in flight. They require better riding skills. Let’s pick something safer—don’t want to fall mid-air.”
Fan Xing nodded. Fan Honghong seemed quite sensible after all.
The third area they saw was a barren sandy land.
Just as Fan Xing wondered where the flying beasts were, the sand suddenly shifted, and a huge yellow lizard emerged.
The lizard was massive, sleek, and covered in coarse scales.
Remarkably, it had a pair of bat wings on its back.
This was the Bat-Winged Wyvern. Despite its name, it wasn’t actually a dragon.
Fan Honghong exclaimed, “Wow, the Bat-Winged Wyvern is so cool!”
Fan Xing thought to herself: Cool? It looks pretty ugly to me.