Chapter 33: Is He Your Owner? Part 1

Although he now knew what was wrong with his body, attempting transformation was not easy. Not to mention, Lin Chuyun didn’t even have a Demon Core yet.

Looking down at his fluffy front paws, then at his chubby hind paws, Lin Chuyun seriously doubted a little kitten could sit in meditation.

Did Demon Beasts cultivate while squatting?

The little kitten sighed heavily. With Feng Xixing away, he didn’t need to maintain his Shizun’s dignified image. Lin Chuyun decisively flopped sideways onto the bed, his tail swaying contentedly behind him.

Seven days had passed since they came out of Thunder Echo Grotto.

Originally, Lin Chuyun planned to go back to the original host’s place to live, but his little disciple vetoed it.

According to Feng Xixing, Lin Chuyun could only stay in human form for a very short time each day. He was usually a little kitten. If he encountered danger, he wouldn’t even be able to run. It was safer for him to stay here, where Feng Xixing could also take care of him.

Truthfully, Lin Chuyun didn’t like the original host’s house either. Although it was much bigger than his little disciple’s bamboo hut, the furnishings felt cold and impersonal.

Most importantly, he had worked so hard to rub his scent all over his little disciple’s bamboo hut! If he moved to the original host’s house, he’d have to repeat the entire process! And while the original host was said to be the poorest Immortal Lord in the entire Star Point Sect, his house was still over a dozen times larger than his little disciple’s bamboo hut.

Over a dozen times!

If he tried to mark all that territory with his scent, he’d probably rub all the fur off his head before finishing!

Lin Chuyun decisively chose his little disciple’s bamboo hut, even going so far as to reinforce the scent markings that had begun to fade slightly.

With the living situation settled, Lin Chuyun started fretting about his cultivation.

Initially, he thought that since raising Demon Power was still cultivation, just like raising Spirit Power, the methods should be roughly the same. However, he quickly realized his mistake.

Because he couldn’t sit in meditation at all.

While cultivators didn’t strictly need to meditate to absorb ambient Spirit Power, serious cultivation naturally required forming hand seals. But cat paws…

Lin Chuyun lifted one of his own paws. It admittedly looked very soft and white, even he felt the urge to nibble it.

But such paws clearly could not form hand seals!

Lin Chuyun experimented fruitlessly, managing only to ruffle up his fur, achieving nothing. He finally had to admit that Demon Beast cultivation was different from that of a human cultivator.

But the original host’s memories contained no method for Demon Beast cultivation.

There was only one place in Star Point Sect that would have such methods: the Library Pavilion on Spirit Beast Peak.

Spirit Beast Peak was a rather unique branch within Star Point Sect. Its Peak Master wasn’t one of Fang Tianyuan’s disciples, but rather a Phoenix that had followed Fang Tianyuan back in the day.

This Phoenix was brought back by Fang Tianyuan from an ancient ruin. It was rumored to carry a trace of the ancient Vermilion Bird’s bloodline. In its early years, this Phoenix accompanied Fang Tianyuan through many battles. When Fang Tianyuan took over as Sect Leader, it refused to leave and so stayed in Star Point Sect.

But within the sect, it ignored everyone except Fang Tianyuan.

Thinking of this, Lin Chuyun couldn’t help but feel a headache. For no other reason than, if he remembered correctly, the original host seemed to have some grudge with this Phoenix…

Back then, Fang Tianyuan had also brought the original host back. Because of this, the Phoenix had some initial hostility towards the original host, but for Fang Tianyuan’s sake, it remained somewhat cordial.

Then, no sooner had Fang Tianyuan gone into seclusion than the original host tricked the Phoenix out of three Tail Feathers.

It was true that the Phoenix molted every year, easily shedding over a dozen feathers annually. But there was a difference between a gift and a trick!

The Phoenix had a volcanic temper. It chased the original host and burned down three entire mountains before being persuaded to return by Eldest Senior Brother, who rushed over upon hearing the news. Not only that, it decreed: no one from Spirit Cloud Peak was allowed to set foot on Spirit Beast Peak. Burn one if one comes, was the rule.

That meant he couldn’t even send his disciple to scout things out.

Life was hard. Cat sigh.

The little kitten flipped over on the bed, lying on his back and staring glumly at the ceiling. His tail, pinned beneath him, flicked with mild annoyance, but he ignored it.

What to do… Maybe go ask Eldest Senior Brother for help?

The thought had barely flickered through Lin Chuyun’s mind before he swiftly rejected it.

No way, I don’t want to be petted on the head!

The sunlight outside was perfect, streaming through the window and landing right on the bed. Surrounded by the familiar scent, Lin Chuyun relaxed more and more. The little black ball started out sprawled on his stomach basking in the sun, slowly changed positions a few times, and finally ended up fully on his back.

This is called equal sun distribution.

The fur on his belly was warmed to a cozy softness. The little black cat flexed his paws involuntarily, feeling his whole kitty self growing sleepier and sleepier. The head that had been pondering problems grew heavier and heavier. Emerald cat eyes slowly started to close. The intention to wait for Feng Xixing’s return was tossed to the back of his mind.

With sunshine this good, not taking a nap would be a crime against cathood.

Before long, the breathing of the little black ball on the bedstead became slow and steady.

By the time Feng Xixing returned and opened the door, he found the little black ball sprawled out messily on the bed.

He had no idea how his Shizun managed to fall asleep like this: both hind paws tucked up, both front paws hugging his own tail, as if the tail had been disturbing his sleep and he’d decided to make it stay still for a bit.

Feng Xixing carefully freed the little tail from the paw pads. The tail twirled with what seemed like gratitude, nuzzling his fingers.

The little black cat vaguely sensed someone nearby. His emerald eyes slitted open for a glance. Seeing it was his little disciple, he simply rolled over, buried his head under his paws, curled back into a ball, and went right on sleeping.

Feng Xixing looked at the little black ball whose only wish was to sleep, smiled helplessly, and didn’t disturb him. Instead, he quietly sat down beside him to meditate.

…

Lin Chuyun slept for a long time before waking. The sunlight outside was already gone, and he discovered that someone was kneading his paws.

He silently opened his eyes. Sure enough, his little disciple was up to mischief.

The claws hidden within the pads silently extended. The little kitten valiantly—and very, very gently—hooked that troublesome finger, attempting to warn this human cultivator lording it over his cat head not to abuse his favor.

But… Feng Xixing’s fingertip gently tickled the pad again.

The little kitten couldn’t resist; his paw involuntarily spread open.

The warning had failed. Lin Chuyun huffily swatted his little disciple’s fingertip away, stood up, and stretched. Then, out of habit, he gave a “Meow” at his little disciple, tilting his head.

What could Feng Xixing do? He obediently helped the little kitten wipe his paws, smooth his fur, and then brought out Spirit Fruits to place before him.

After Lin Chuyun finished eating the fruit, Feng Xixing spoke. “Shizun, this disciple has already spoken to Senior Brother Xu about the matter.”

Lin Chuyun swished his tail and nodded.

Back when he made the deal with Xu Quanfeng, he’d asked Xu Quanfeng to agree to help him with one thing. At that time, he’d already decided what that task would be.

His little disciple now possessed both Ice Silkworm Illusion Crystal and Purple Ice Soul Stone. Adding just a few more Ice Crystal Stones would be enough to forge an exceptionally fine Spirit Sword.

The problem was, Artificers were hard to find. And within Star Point Sect, those most skilled in artifact crafting were naturally the disciples of Spirit Wind Peak, whose Peak Master, Jiang Fengmo, had even forged a Heaven-tier Spirit Sword before.

Although Lin Chuyun hadn’t yet uncovered memories of the original host’s grudge against Jiang Fengmo, he estimated the two probably weren’t on good terms either. If he himself went to ask Jiang Fengmo for help forging a sword, Jiang Fengmo might just refine Lin Chuyun instead.

Feng Xixing couldn’t go either.

So, Lin Chuyun could only have Xu Quanfeng ask his own teacher for help. That should work. After all, Xu Quanfeng was Jiang Fengmo’s favorite disciple… Hmm… Wait, was he forgetting something?

Lin Chuyun replayed his perfect plan in his mind before slowly recalling a fragment from the original novel. Wasn’t the childhood friend Xu Quanfeng had broken his engagement with… Jiang Fengmo’s daughter?

“Meow…” No way…

Lin Chuyun instantly grew anxious. His front paws tapped repeatedly on Feng Xixing’s palm, meowing non-stop.

Feng Xixing rarely saw the little kitten this flustered. He watched for a moment longer than necessary before saying, somewhat sheepishly, “This disciple didn’t quite catch that just now. Could Shizun repeat it?”

“…” Lin Chuyun really wanted to roll his eyes. As if repeating my meows would magically make you understand!

It was at times like these that Lin Chuyun was truly desperate for his Demon Power to form a core. At least after forming a core, he could occasionally speak instead of having to meow endlessly!

Seeing the little black cat about to get genuinely annoyed, Feng Xixing’s eyes curved. He obediently explained, “Peak Lord Jiang has agreed. However…”

“Meow?” However what?

The little kitten tilted his head in confusion.

Feng Xixing took advantage of the kitten’s distraction. Behind him, his fingertip secretly played with the little tail. “Senior Brother Xu seems to have been beaten up by Peak Lord Jiang. He looked quite miserable.”

Lin Chuyun was puzzled. Had the plot changed again when he wasn’t paying attention?

Well, it wasn’t his concern. As long as Jiang Fengmo had agreed, that was enough.

The little kitten stood up and gave his tail a swish—tug—the little kitten looked back at his tail, pinned under someone’s hand, and angrily chomped down on it.

“Meow!” Let go!

Feng Xixing let go obediently. Inwardly, he was still scheming: later, while Lin Chuyun was asleep, maybe he could stealthily play with the tail.

Lin Chuyun had no idea that the well-behaved disciple beside him was already plotting against his tail. Seeing Feng Xixing release it, the little kitten swished his tail a few times, shifted position, and resumed pondering his problem.

Forging a Spirit Sword would take at least a month. Moreover, during the final three days, the owner of the Spirit Sword had to personally temper it with their own Spirit Power. He definitely couldn’t accompany his disciple then. Lin Chuyun figured he absolutely had to resolve the cultivation problem within this month.

So what to do…

Unfortunately, no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t come up with a way to sneak a Heart Technique out of the Library Pavilion under the Phoenix’s watch. Not to mention, Spirit Beast Peak also housed several already-transformed Demon Beasts that the Phoenix had brought back.

“Meow…”

Lin Chuyun worried for three straight days. Seeing the little kitten grow more and more dejected, Feng Xixing thought he was simply bored staying cooped up in the bamboo hut and took Lin Chuyun to the Back Mountain for a change of scenery.

The more dangerous Demon Beasts in the Back Mountain dwelled in the deeper parts; the outer areas were relatively safe.

The incident where Immortal Lord Lin had defended Feng Xixing in the square and furiously denounced Bai Linghan had already spread throughout the sect. The disciples guarding the entrance had clearly heard about it as well. Their attitude towards Feng Xixing was significantly better than before.

Feng Xixing paid it little mind. His attention was focused on the little kitten in his arms. True enough, seeing the surrounding forest, the little black cat visibly perked up, darting out from Feng Xixing’s hold.