Divine Beast Creator-Chapter 1952 - 1953: Demonstration

Watching the Hao Chun Bird chirping excitedly on Qi Chen’s shoulder, Feng Yuan looked at Estir with a peculiar smile and said,

"I have to say, I’m a bit suspicious that you did it on purpose."

Looking at Feng Yuan in confusion, Estir didn’t quite understand what he meant. What did he mean by ’on purpose’? Was there something wrong with seeking his help?

Tilting his head, Estir asked, puzzled, 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"What do you mean by ’on purpose’?"

"Hehe, if you wanted a Hao Chun Bird, you wouldn’t refuse, right?"

"What are you planning? If they choose to follow, I won’t stop them, but..."

Gazing at Xiao Ji, Estir was unsure of what Feng Yuan meant. After all, as a fellow avian Spirit Beast, the Hao Chun Bird had limited assistance to offer Feng Yuan, as it lacked an evolutionary form and would remain small. However, the Hao Chun Bird’s role is mainly supportive and healing.

To Xiao Ji, these were unnecessary. For a Death-series Divine Beast not to master self-healing would be laughable, and support wouldn’t be much help either.

Though inclined towards life-based support techniques, they could affect Xiao Ji but not raise its limits. Given Xiao Ji’s status as a Divine Beast, its power is capped at the current stage’s limit. That’s why Xiao Ji didn’t use enhancement techniques; they simply had no effect.

On the other hand, the Hao Chun Bird was quite compatible with Qi Chen, and following Estir’s theory, the bird’s amplification could inherit abilities from Estir, making it a perfect match with Ah Mu.

After all, as the Master of the Forest, with its authority, a Hao Chun Bird adept in healing and support would surely be more effective on plant-type Spirit Beasts than other types.

Looking at the Hao Chun Bird on Qi Chen’s shoulder, Feng Yuan said,

"What do you think of him? That Hao Chun Bird seems to like him as well."

"Him? I remember he’s your friend... Ah, I see, Nainefar’s power? That’s a good thing, but this shouldn’t be forced."

Estir thoughtfully said, glancing at Feng Yuan as a reminder. Ignoring the fact that Qi Chen was Feng Yuan’s friend, Estir was seeking his help now. With Qi Chen’s talent, having the Hao Chun Bird with him wasn’t a bad thing.

Even though he had never seen Nainefar, Estir knew that Nainefar’s power had a unique enhancement effect on forest Spirit Beasts. This was why the Hao Chun Bird landed on Qi Chen’s shoulder.

Unlike Feng Yuan, who only borrowed power from Xiao Ji when needed, a typical Beastmaster would gain feedback from the beast’s power upon signing a Taming Beast Contract. Therefore, possessing a hint of Nainefar’s power, Ah Mu passed some of it to Qi Chen, giving him a portion of Nainefar’s power.

However, because the aura was faint, few Spirit Beasts could detect this besides some exceptions.

The Hao Chun Bird, though a special Spirit Beast, was ultimately a forest Spirit Beast born of Estir. Thus, it could sense the faint aura of Nainefar’s power emanating from Qi Chen and Ah Mu.

Qi Chen, who was teasing the Hao Chun Bird, was momentarily stunned upon hearing Feng Yuan’s words. He gently poked the little green bird, asking,

"A second beast? Would you... be willing?"

The Hao Chun Bird tilted its head, watching Qi Chen. Just as it was about to explain, Ah Mu chirped a few times, and the Hao Chun Bird let out a crisp call, flapping its wings and flying up.

Special-type Spirit Beasts don’t necessarily have great strength. Just like the Prolonging Life Incense Feng Yuan encountered before, it was a special-type Spirit Beast, but each has its distinctive traits.

At first, Qi Chen hadn’t considered special-type Spirit Beasts due to their rarity and lack of evolutionary forms. While considering team composition for his second beast, a Spirit Beast too weak was unsuitable for taming.

However, this Hao Chun Bird seemed fine. With its resonant call, green sparks appeared around Ah Mu, indicating to everyone that this was likely a Hao Chun Bird’s augmentation.

Through Cotton’s movement atop the Amu Tree Crown, everyone realized the amplification effect of the Hao Chun Bird was significant.

"They can use the Call of Spring to simultaneously boost energy recovery, energy potency, and regeneration. Spring’s Song enables area healing using surrounding plants, with effect depending on the number and strength of the plants. If you provide them seeds, they can use Planting Spring to create a bush.

Estir explained as the Hao Chun Bird demonstrated its skills. Remembering something, it added,

"But the amplification and healing effects of the Hao Chun Bird double only for plant-type Spirit Beasts. And for interference techniques like the Calamity Command, when used by the Hao Chun Bird, they seem half as effective against enemy plant-type Spirit Beasts."

"Hmm, so if the enemy is a plant-type Spirit Beast, interference techniques won’t be as effective?"

Upon hearing this, Estir replied,

"Not exactly, it’s just that status-effect abilities are halved, but physical techniques like the Earth Trap aren’t affected."

"Huh, can the Hao Chun Bird use those techniques too?"

Surprised, Feng Yuan looked at Estir and asked. Wasn’t it only earth-attribute Spirit Beasts that could master Earth Trap? Though not impossible for other types, Feng Yuan knew Ah Mu couldn’t learn Earth Trap.

"Yes, the Hao Chun Bird can master almost all environment-related techniques."

After some thought, Estir replied. This brightened Feng Yuan’s eyes as he turned to Qi Chen.

"What do you think?"

"It seems somewhat... too versatile?"

Scratching his head, Qi Chen expressed disbelief. Aside from Divine Beasts, Spirit Beasts have limits, and a truly versatile Spirit Beast doesn’t exist in this world. So, an apparent versatility must come with major drawbacks.

Shaking its head, Estir said,

"It’s not versatile; the Hao Chun Bird can’t master any defense techniques, which is both its flaw and price. Even vines lack defensive capability."

As Estir spoke, the Hao Chun Bird unleashed a vine attack. Everyone noticed that the energy forming the vine was unique. This unstable vine energy meant that upon contact, the vine would instantly explode.

"I see, but despite this weakness... is it due to the nature of its power?"

Stroking his chin, Feng Yuan glanced at Qi Chen and asked Estir, who looked at him puzzled and said,

"No, can’t you feel it? It’s a power similar to a curse."

"Hmm..."

Scratching his head, Feng Yuan was a bit troubled because if there was no defense, although the Hao Chun Bird could greatly aid Ah Mu, its protection for Qi Chen was lacking...

At that moment, Veronia intervened. It summoned another Hao Chun Bird, borrowing its power through special means to create a Rune Stone Barrier around itself. Seeing this Rune Stone Barrier infused with its power, the Hao Chun Bird curiously studied Veronia.

With a chuckle, Veronia said,

"I see, rather than a curse, it’s more of an inherent negative trait. Although it can’t use defensive techniques, this doesn’t prevent a Beastmaster from using its power to protect themselves."

If the so-called curse was entwined with the Hao Chun Bird’s power, Veronia suspected that Feng Yuan might persuade Qi Chen to give up, as the second beast for the latter must offer protection, unlike Feng Yuan’s case.

Though the Hao Chun Bird couldn’t use defensive techniques itself, if its energy could be utilized personally, it wasn’t as impactful. Given its petite size, it seemed a good choice for Qi Chen.

Qi Chen realized Feng Yuan and Veronia’s intentions, and looking at the hard-working display by the little creature, he said,

"If it agrees, perhaps it will be my second beast."

Dou Yanlan pondered but didn’t stop him. Although the Hao Chun Bird couldn’t perform defensive techniques, it wasn’t a major issue for Qi Chen. As Ah Mu was the mainstay and naturally resilient, it only rarely used defensive techniques due to its offensive role. This didn’t mean it couldn’t defend.

Staring at the Hao Chun Bird, Dou Yanlan murmured: "Ah Chen’s luck seems pretty good."