God of Pets

"What does this mean?" Chen Guan truly did not understand.

Jiuyue smiled and explained, "The Yellow Springs Outpost here is the exit of the Yellow Springs River from the mountains. The winds are strong, and the water rushes all year round. If one day it suddenly becomes calm, it sure means a significant Secret Spirit has emerged from the mountains."

"If it is just the river becoming calm, then as long as we stay away from the banks, we are safe. But if even the winds cease, then we must be wary, it might mean a terrifying World-Defying Secret Spirit has come out from the mountains, and we must hurry back to the outpost, lest the spirit targets us."

"If you hear thunder, then it's serious, and we must quickly hide in the shelter beneath the outpost, or else our lives might be at risk."

"The following two sentences are easier to understand. If you see floating dead fish Secret Spirits on the Yellow Springs River, do not even think about fishing them out, or death is inevitable. If you hear someone calling your name over the river, do not turn back, return straight to the outpost, do not glance back for even a moment, or else you will tread the path of death."

All these have been summarized by our outpost elder, Mo. I've heard those who do not follow these rules, eight or nine times out of ten, disappear without a trace."

Old Mo said indifferently, "Young people have strong curiosity and do not like to follow rules, but here, not obeying the rules can cost you your life. As long as you obey the rules, it won't be difficult to spend three years safely."

"Don't worry Chief, I am a rule-abider," said Chen Guan.

"You can just call me Old Mo, in this desolate place, there are no outsiders, just the three of us, no need for formality, it's just like cohabiting really," Old Mo laughed and said, "As long as you follow the rules, there's actually a lot of profit to be had. You can fish for Secret Spirits in the Yellow Springs River, there are many rare and unusual spirits, golden-eyed turtles, silver-eyed fish, black-glow toads, horned snakes, they're all good things. The folks from the Areval Fire Force, love to exchange good stuff with us. But we don't ever bother trading with them..."

Chen Guan listened with relish, now he could confirm one thing, that around the Yellow Springs Outpost, the Secret Spirit resources are indeed abundant.

Moreover, there is summarized experience from predecessors, whenever a World-Defying Secret Spirit appears, there are always signs.

Flat water blossoms World-Defying, calm winds rear big bosses, if thunder rumbles, then you must hurriedly flee.

During usual times, hunting small fish and shrimp can also yield significant benefits.

Chen Guan summoned Warring States out, letting it play around nearby, it also could have some guarding function.

After resting for a day, Chen Guan was assigned to duty, starting his first shift of standing guard.

Each person guards for a day and night, afterward can rest for two days, every seventh day of the week is a holiday for everyone, on this day, no one needs to stand guard.

Chen Guan asked Old Mo why no one needed to guard every seventh day, Old Mo just said, "This day doesn't need guarding," with nothing more.

When Chen Guan was standing guard during the day, he saw Jiuyue heading to the river to fish.

Since all the Secret Spirits are in the water, to get rid of them, one must first fish them up.

Catching different Secret Spirits requires different bait, and the fishing rods are specially made.

The first day of guarding, nothing really happened during the day, Chen Guan spent the whole day consuming elixirs and cultivating, although there were High Level Elixirs assisting, the progress was not very fast, temporarily unable to reach level 12.

At night, Chen Guan saw lights atop the Yellow Springs River.

It was a white three-sail ship, brightly lit, slowly sailing out from the gorge's mountain mouth.

Chen Guan squinted and gazed carefully, discovering shadows of people aboard, but because the distance was too far, he couldn't clearly see what they were doing.

"What is that? Are they Secret Spirits or humans?" Chen Guan hurriedly sounded the alarm, shortly Old Mo and Jiuyue climbed up the watchtower.

"Old Mo, what is that thing?" Chen Guan pointed at the white ship on the river and asked.

Old Mo took out a cigarette, lit it, and after a couple of puffs, blew out smoke and said in a deep voice, "That's the Spirit King Ship of Ling Wangye."

"What is Ling Wangye?" Chen Guan asked curiously, he had never heard of this title.

"Ling Wangye is the deity on this Yellow Springs River, the only one able to take people to the upper reaches," Jiuyue said.

"So Ling Wangye is a person?" Chen Guan pondered aloud.

"Ling Wangye was originally an old soldier, during the expedition of the Celestial Court Army to the upper Yellow Springs River, they encountered terrifying Secret Spirits, the entire army was annihilated, only he survived, supposedly signing some contract with the terrifying Secret Spirits from unknown regions, becoming Ling Wangye of the Yellow Springs River, unable to leave the ship for a lifetime, only able to transport cultivators aboard," said Old Mo.

"Transport cultivators? Is it to take human cultivators as food for Secret Spirits?" Chen Guan chuckled.

"Sort of, the Secret Spirit who's contracted with Ling Wangye is a gambling spirit, unlike ordinary spirits, he himself owns vast properties, mountains of treasures piled high. If you can defeat him at the gambling table, you can gain unimaginable treasures. But if you lose, you are likely to remain at the spirit's location as a servant, never to come out again."

"Those who dare to rebel face certain death, haven't heard of anyone losing and leaving alive. But those who win bring back treasures of enormous value, instant riches are not an exaggeration. Our Celestial Court Army's Grand Commander, Chu Nan, gained an exceptional Secret Treasure from that ship, elevating him from an unknown ordinary soldier to the Grand Commander. This event is widely known within our Celestial Court Army," Jiuyue exhibited a longing expression.

"There's a Secret Spirit so interesting?" Chen Guan was a little surprised, thinking, "Surely the world is vast and full of wonders, the textbooks describe Secret Spirits too rigidly, but those are for regular folks, ordinary cultivators usually don't have the chance to encounter these."

"Interesting? The secret spirit's gambling odds are at most one in ten, those bête their lives when going there, you mustn't entertain that thought," Old Mo snorted coldly.

"What does he gamble over?" Chen Guan asked curiously.

"Forget it, even if we wanted to go, there is no opportunity. Ling Wangye has standards when picking up people, not everyone is qualified to participate in that spirit's games."

"To board the Spirit King Ship, one must first be able to ring the bell on it, which is said to be made from some unknown material. No matter how hard ordinary folks strike it, it makes no sound. Only those who have cultivated Unparalleled Secret Techniques can ring that bell, and then Ling Wangye allows them onboard."

"Moreover, the Spirit King Ship has age restrictions for picking up people; cultivators over 20 years, regardless of how skilled their Secret Techniques are, are denied entry."

Chen Guan found things more fascinating as he listened, just as he was intending to inquire further, the ship stopped at the shore after emerging from the mountain mouth. Soon people came ashore, successively striking the ship's bell, boarding one by one, most wore hats and sunglasses, making it hard to recognize them.

Chen Guan saw from afar a gracefully shaped woman, ring the bell on the side of the ship, the dull chime instantly resonated throughout the river.

"How could it be her?" By the lights of the Spirit King Ship, Chen Guan vaguely saw the woman's appearance, she didn't wear hats or sunglasses to obscure her.