3: Lifesaving grace

The Cloud Boat is a small flying vessel owned by the Cloud Sword Sect, generally used for Sect Disciples to travel back and forth.

The Cloud Boat is protected by Defense Formations and guarded by Inner Sect Disciples of the Foundation Establishment Stage, making it extremely safe.

However, although traveling by Cloud Boat was very safe, Zhang Daobai did not plan to choose it.

As for the reason, it was simple: he was 'poor'!

The Cloud Boat requires Spirit Stones to operate, so ordinary Disciples who wish to ride it must pay Spirit Stones or contribution points as a fare.

A Utility Disciple is charged one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, an Outer Sect Disciple one hundred, an Inner Sect Disciple fifty, and True Disciples ride for free.

Over the years, Zhang Daobai had only accumulated a little over three hundred Spirit Stones; how could he bear to part with half of his savings to ride the Cloud Boat?

"Hey, have you heard? A month ago, Fairy Luoxue failed her Breakthrough to the Purple Mansion, and her dantian rupture turned her into a cripple!"

"Is that for real!?"

"That's impossible! Fairy Luoxue is at least the Sect Master's Personal Disciple. Even if the Breakthrough failed, she couldn't have been without Medicinal Pills or secret techniques to prevent failure, right?"

"Exactly! Fairy Luoxue is the number one Genius of our Cloud Sword Sect. How could she possibly fail her Breakthrough!"

"You'd better not speak recklessly. If Fairy Luoxue's admirers hear this, you're finished."

As soon as Zhang Daobai returned to the first-floor Mission Hall, he heard waves of exclamations coming from the crowd.

"Fairy Luoxue? Lin Luoxue?"

Upon hearing the name, Zhang Daobai couldn't help but stop and turn his head to look at the crowd nearby.

Fairy Luoxue, Lin Luoxue, was the Personal Disciple of the Cloud Sword Sect's Sect Master, possessing Metal and Lightning Dual Spiritual Roots and top grade Aptitude.

At only twenty years old, she had already Cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Perfection realm and had even comprehended the Sword Intent that countless Sword Cultivators yearned for, being hailed as the greatest Genius in the history of the Cloud Sword Sect!

A Nascent Soul Loose Cultivator once passed through the Cloud Sword Sect and took a liking to Lin Luoxue's talent at first sight, wanting to take her as his sole Disciple.

But Lin Luoxue rejected the Nascent Soul Loose Cultivator's kindness on the grounds that she had already acknowledged a Revered Master.

One must know that the current Cloud Sword Sect Revered Master, Yun Lingxiao, who is also Lin Luoxue's Revered Master, is only at the Golden Core Early Stage.

As for whether the Cloud Sword Sect had any hidden Old Ancestors, Zhang Daobai didn't know, but what was certain was that the Cloud Sword Sect definitely had no Nascent Soul Stage Old Ancestor.

As for why Zhang Daobai cared so much about news of Lin Luoxue, it wasn't because he was one of her admirers, but because Lin Luoxue was his savior.

Three years ago, Zhang Daobai had unintentionally offended a Utility Disciple with a background, and as a result, he was forced to accept a mission to go out and hunt Yao Beasts.

Simply put, he was sent out as cannon fodder, with a survival rate comparable to one in ten.

And indeed, after joining the mission, he was directly sent to act as bait to attract the attention of a Yao Beast.

It was a Rank 1 Perfection Black-Armored Bear, and even though Zhang Daobai used every means at his disposal, he couldn't block a single one of its strikes.

Just as Zhang Daobai thought he was about to die, a thunder-infused golden Sword Qi descended from the sky, instantly splitting the Black-Armored Bear in two.

Before Zhang Daobai could even look up, a healing Medicinal Pill was shot into his mouth.

Then, a cold snort came from above, and only then did Zhang Daobai see clearly that the person who saved him was actually the Cloud Sword Sect's number one Genius, Lin Luoxue!

After warning those few Outer Sect Disciples, Lin Luoxue didn't say much more, nor did she look at Zhang Daobai again, before flying away directly.

Fortunately, with Lin Luoxue's warning, those Outer Sect Disciples did not continue to make things difficult for Zhang Daobai, and even gave him quite a few benefits as hush money afterward.

They even helped him teach that slightly connected Utility Disciple a lesson after returning to the Sect, sparing Zhang Daobai from any future worries.

Although for Lin Luoxue, he was just a life she saved in passing out of Sect kinship and she probably didn't even remember him now,

To Zhang Daobai, Lin Luoxue was his savior.

While Zhang Daobai was reminiscing, exclamations once again erupted from the crowd.

"How could I be talking nonsense? This matter has already spread throughout the Inner Sect!"

"Is what you're saying true!?"

"Of course it's true! Otherwise, who in our Cloud Sword Sect would dare to spread rumors about Fairy Luoxue?"

"Hiss!"

Hearing the man's firm tone, the surrounding people couldn't help but believe his words, and they all sucked in a breath of cold air.

Following that, the crowd began a heated discussion centered around the topic of Lin Luoxue.

After listening from the periphery for a while, Zhang Daobai left by himself.

Although Zhang Daobai had the intention to repay the kindness, his strength was meager, and he still had some self-awareness.

"I'll wait until my strength is greater in the future to come back and settle this Karma."

After leaving the Utility Hall, Zhang Daobai shook his head and murmured softly.

After unsealing the book of contracts, Zhang Daobai believed he could definitely grow up quickly.

Only when his strength was great would he have the qualifications and capital to repay the debt of gratitude for saving his life.

Upon returning to his residence, Zhang Daobai began to think about how he should proceed with his path.

First, how should he Contract his first Spirit Tamer?

After deeply understanding the Spirit Tamer system, Zhang Daobai discovered a Heaven-Defying aspect of this system.

That is, after contracting a Spirit Tamer, as the Tamer Master, he can fuse with a part of the Spirit Tamer's talent and Aptitude.

For example, if he Contracts a Fire Attribute Yao Beast with good Aptitude, then his white spirit root can fuse with the Yao Beast's Fire Attribute, thereby turning into a fire Spiritual Root.

At the same time, his Aptitude will also be significantly improved, promoted from Low Grade to Medium Grade or High Grade.

Additionally, contracting a Spirit Tamer requires Soul Power for the connection, and with Zhang Daobai's current Soul Power, he can only Contract one Spirit Tamer.

Therefore, in the choice of his first Spirit Tamer, he had to screen carefully.

"The attribute of the Spiritual Root is not important; what's important is the Aptitude!"

After thinking for a while, Zhang Daobai murmured softly to himself.

As for the choice of Spirit Tamer, the first thing Zhang Daobai thought of was Yao Beasts, which could assist him in battle while also improving his own Spiritual Root and Aptitude.

But where could he find a Yao Beast that met his requirements?

After frowning and contemplating for a moment, Zhang Daobai suddenly thought of something.

"Right! Yunshan City!" Zhang Daobai's eyes suddenly lit up as he exclaimed softly.

Yunshan City is also one of the cities under the Cloud Sword Sect's jurisdiction. Due to its proximity to the Sunset Mountain Range, it attracts a large number of Loose Cultivators.

Every day, countless resources such as Spirit Medicine, Yao Beast Materials, Yao Beast cubs, or Yao Beast eggs flow out from the Sunset Mountain Range and are sold in Yunshan City.

Therefore, to find a suitable Spirit Tamer, Yunshan City was undoubtedly one of Zhang Daobai's best choices.

However, Yunshan City had many Loose Cultivators and was a mixed crowd of all sorts of people; to survive in such a place, Zhang Daobai had to plan carefully in advance.

Thus, for the rest of the time, Zhang Daobai began to plan in detail.