Chapter 17 – Heavenly Secrets

“Wu Ailang!” A voice resonated from the sky, as deep as a gong being struck.

Wu Ailang shrank his neck and whispered to Snow Wolf, “Xiao Yuan, it’s windy, let’s get out of here, quick, run!”

Snow Wolf flipped up stylishly, shook his body, scattering hair all over the ground, and transformed from a silly husky into an imposing Snowfield Silver Wolf.

He barked at Chi Qiong, meaning, “Phoenix Venerable, I’m going to grow stronger,” then flew toward Wu Ailang by the window.

Wu Ailang hugged Snow Wolf’s neck tightly, jumped onto the wolf’s back, and was about to fly away when a massive eagle wing swept over, sending Wu Ailang and Snow Wolf flying through the air.

Two giant hands reached out, grabbing Wu Ailang and Snow Wolf by the nape of their necks as if they were mere chicks.

A shadow loomed outside the window, revealing the full figure of the newcomer.

It was a man with an eagle’s head and wings, towering at four meters tall. Compared to him, Wu Ailang, who stood at a height of one meter eighty, looked like a helpless baby.

Director Zhao’s office was on the seventh floor, yet the eagle-headed man hovered outside the window effortlessly, like the mythical Garuda.

“Lao Zhao, are you trying to snatch our intern?” the eagle-headed man asked Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu, a disabled man in a wheelchair, struggled to hold onto White Tiger’s head, dragging the enormous beast up to prevent it from continuing its embarrassing meowing.

His face was drenched in sweat as he responded to the eagle-headed man, “Pah! Who knows this big idiot! Old Ling, keep your group under control, don’t disturb me while I’m teaching the interns!”

The eagle-headed man was Ling Rui, the leader of the fieldwork team. He said, “Better be so.”

With that, he carried Wu Ailang and Snow Wolf into the air and performed a Thomas seven thousand two hundred degrees spin. Wu Ailang vomited repeatedly from the dizzying rotation, weakly following Ling Rui as he was taken away.

It seemed Ling Rui was a powerful team leader who knew how to “gently” instruct interns. Under his guidance, Wu Ailang would receive strict training, and most likely wouldn’t be in mortal danger. His luck was truly not bad. Yun Xiguang secretly rejoiced for Wu Ailang and also took the opportunity to enjoy his misfortune a little.

The appearance of Wu Ailang and Ling Rui dispelled the awkwardness caused by White Tiger’s “meow meow” calls. Taking advantage of everyone’s attention being on Ling Rui, Zhao Yu managed to put White Tiger back into the contract space with great effort.

When everyone regained their composure, Zhao Yu was sitting properly at his desk once again. However, this time, the desk and the floor were covered in silver wolf hair, and a gray feather was perched on his head. This feather was likely left behind during Ling Rui’s seven thousand two hundred degree training session with Wu Ailang, and Zhao Yu was unaware of it.

Unaware of the silver fur and the gray feather on his head, Zhao Yu put on a stern expression and said, “This year’s interns are one stronger than the next, but why did you choose the Records Department? The Records Department is for students who desperately need practical knowledge. You are already mature Spiritbond Masters and should go to more practical departments rather than staying here to study theory.”

As he spoke, he slowly shook his head, causing the gray feather on his head to sway along.

The interns wanted to laugh, but refrained due to Director Zhao’s power, struggling to contain their amusement.

Xue Lan said, “Teacher Zhao, I was just lucky enough to gain the favor of the Dragonfish. But our Dongshan Spiritbond Master Academy is just a small Spiritbond Master academy, lacking any book inheritance or access to new theoretical knowledge developed in the Spiritbond World. The Records Department is our only way to access external knowledge.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Zhao Yu understood the difficulties these ordinary students faced and said, “Since you’ve chosen the Records Department, this year, I’ll try my best to teach you some of the information that can be made public. However, the knowledge in the Spiritbond World is vast and varied. These materials cannot be taken out using copying, photocopying, photographing, or circulation. You can only rely on your own brains to memorize them. How much you remember in this year depends on your own efforts.”

Everyone chorused, “Yes.”

Zhao Yu continued, “Also, you young people will have to shoulder some of the work in the Records Department. Divide these handwritten archives and enter them into the computer.”

Zhao Yu pointed to a stack of documents reaching two meters high, all of which were handwritten.

Each of the five interns received forty centimeters thick worth of documents, and they left the office together.

Yun Xiguang walked at the back, and just as he was about to leave, he heard Zhao Yu say, “Yun Xiguang, you, stay behind.”

Resigned, Yun Xiguang stopped and turned to look at Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu said coldly, “I know you’re a member of the Yun family, with your own channels of information. You probably don’t care much about the materials held by the Records Department, merely seeking a safe place to pass the time. Before you came, Director Li instructed me to take extra care of you. I understand your situation and didn’t intend to make things difficult for you, but you shouldn’t have played tricks!”

Only now did Yun Xiguang realize that Zhao Yu had known all along about his lack of a spirit root and hadn’t planned to unleash lethal moves against him. His previous preparations for battle would have been futile even if they had failed.

But he really hadn’t played any tricks! And what trick could make White Tiger meow like a cat?

Zhao Yu continued with a cold face, “I guessed that you must have used the special strong catnip made by the Yun family specifically for feline spirit beasts. I’ve heard rumors about it before, never expecting it to be so effective. But let me tell you, this time I wasn’t prepared, but next time you will never succeed.”

At this point, Yun Xiguang felt the need to clarify.

“Director Zhao, the Yun family doesn’t have such catnip.” Yun Xiguang clarified, “In recent years, to maintain its status as the top family in the Spiritbond World, the Yun family has spread many rumors. They claim to possess items that exploit the weaknesses of most spirit beasts, including seven-inch nails for snake-like spirit beasts, mesmerizing grass for insect-like spirit beasts, falling sky feathers for bird-like spirit beasts, and catnip for feline spirit beasts. These are all lies.”

Yun Xiguang had turned eighteen and was no longer under the control of the Yun family, embarking on the path of becoming a Spiritbond Master. At this moment, Yun Xiguang was free from the Yun family’s restraints and could speak his mind.

“None? All false? Then what about the story of a Yun family child defeating the patriarch of the Qi family with seven-inch nails?” Zhao Yu asked.

“It was staged. The Qi family had long decided to rely on the Yun family and was willing to cooperate in this play. Of course, they received sufficient benefits in return,” Yun Xiguang replied.

Years ago, the patriarch of the Qi family visited the Yun family with Qi Liu to discuss this very matter. That was when Qi Liu first met Yun Xiguang.

The Yun family forbade Yun Xiguang from accessing core secrets, but Yun Xiguang was meticulous and observant. He had long guessed the secret from the information Qi Liu inadvertently revealed.

“Really?” Zhao Yu’s expression grew serious. This was significant news.

Yun Xiguang said, “I have no proof, and you shouldn’t ask me for proof.”

“Evidence is required for cases in secular courts, but in the Spiritbond World, the possibility alone is enough to be recorded,” Zhao Yu said.

He scrutinized Yun Xiguang, then suddenly realized something, “I see why Director Li assigned you to the Records Department. It wasn’t to let you learn here, but to enrich our department’s confidential records!”

Yun Xiguang: “…”

Looking at the gray feather on Zhao Yu’s head, which was constantly swaying due to his emotional agitation, Yun Xiguang began to doubt the intelligence of the head of the Records Department.

Although Yun Xiguang didn’t understand why Li Zheng had assigned him to the Records Department and specifically instructed Zhao Yu to take care of him, if he were standing in Li Zheng’s shoes, he would never allow someone with a deep grudge to access confidential records.

Allowing a young person to access confidential records without higher orders, was Li Zheng’s directorship coming to an end?

Zhao Yu had appeared wise and intelligent when teaching the interns earlier, so why was he acting this way now? Could it be that he was affected by White Tiger’s intelligence?

However, White Tiger, as a descendant of a divine beast, was a spirit beast with peak fighting strength and wisdom. How could it suddenly start meowing like a cat?

Indeed, the Snowfield Silver Wolf was also a noble and aloof spirit beast. According to the records, the Snowfield Silver Wolf and Wu Ailang’s silly husky Xiao Yuan were completely different species.

These majestic, spirited, and awe-inspiring spirit beasts recorded by ancestors seemed to simultaneously lower their IQ and become like pet cats and dogs.

Yun Xiguang couldn’t help but recall his encounters with Snow Wolf, remembering the scene where Snow Wolf bit Wu Ailang’s butt and dragged him behind him during their first meeting. Suddenly, he gained a hint of insight.

These spirit beasts seemed to turn foolish after hearing the chirp of the little spirit bird.

Could the little spirit bird truly be a spirit beast with extraordinary powers, capable of affecting the IQ of other spirit beasts and bringing them down to its level? Yun Xiguang pondered deeply.

However, the little spirit bird’s ability seemed unstable, currently only affecting Snow Wolf and White Tiger.

“That’s not right. Interns don’t have the right to access confidential records; I must have thought wrong.” Zhao Yu’s intelligence quickly returned to normal. He asked, “Really no catnip?”

“No,” Yun Xiguang sincerely looked at Zhao Yu and said.

“Why did White Tiger turn out like this then?” Zhao Yu asked.

Yun Xiguang replied, “You can ask White Tiger yourself, you’re its Spiritbond Master.”

Zhao Yu fell silent for a moment before saying, “I can’t get an answer. Whenever I ask, it only meows.”

Yun Xiguang was also curious. He sat opposite Zhao Yu and discussed, “What about emotions? Can you sense White Tiger’s emotions?”

Zhao Yu’s expression became even stranger, “You might not believe me, but I saw mosaics in the contract space!”

Yun Xiguang: “…”

Zhao Yu continued, “White Tiger crouches in front of the mosaic, trembling. Although I can’t discern what the mosaic is, I can vaguely make out its shape.”

“Oh?” Yun Xiguang perked up. He remembered that Wu Ailang could see the color of the mosaic, which was fire red. Zhao Yu could see its shape. What did this mosaic represent? Wasn’t it about to surface soon?

“It’s a bit like Ling Rui’s feathers!” Zhao Yu clapped his hands, “Could that brat have secretly done something to White Tiger?”

Unable to resist, Yun Xiguang reached out and took the gray feather from Zhao Yu’s head, asking, “Is it this shape?”

After a careful examination, Zhao Yu shook his head, “No, the mosaic in White Tiger’s contract space is more magnificent, more noble, longer, and more elegant. It’s far more beautiful than this drab thing.”

“It wasn’t done by Leader Ling then.” Yun Xiguang defended Ling Rui, so that Zhao Yu wouldn’t unjustly blame him.

“Hold on! How did this stray feather end up on my head? Has it been there all along?” Zhao Yu exclaimed angrily.

“It’s been there since Leader Ling left,” Yun Xiguang said.

Zhao Yu gritted his teeth, “This feathered bastard, always finding ways to tease me! Watch me scratch your feathers bald with White Tiger!”

With that, Zhao Yu turned his wheelchair into a windmill, rushing out of the office to settle accounts with Ling Rui.

Yun Xiguang watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

“Do you think Zhao Yu is genuinely angry with Ling Rui, or is there some mysterious force making him ignore the mosaic issue?” Yun Xiguang asked the little spirit bird.

Little Spirit Bird: “Chirp?”

Chi Qiong: Before seeking enlightenment from this Exalted One, at least explain the whole situation and offer tribute. This servant is becoming increasingly unruly.

Seeing the little spirit bird’s puzzled expression, Yun Xiguang knocked his head and ridiculed himself, “I must be out of my mind, how could it have anything to do with you.”

He thought for a long time but couldn’t find an answer. He could only set aside his doubts for now, planning to interact more with White Tiger in the future to find out the truth.

After all, this matter didn’t seem to have much to do with him. He had more important things to do.

Meanwhile, on a mysterious altar of the Spiritbond Master Association, the horn on Bai Ze’s head faintly glowed.

“So?” asked a senior member of the Spiritbond Master Association.

Bai Ze said, “The first aura of spirit has appeared. It’s the light of destruction, an ominous portent. I saw countless flying words, simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, seal script, small seal script, even oracle bone script, Chinese, and characters from other countries. They flew toward the sun like moths, burning in the fire, symbolizing the destruction of all civilizations.”

“We must stop the disaster!” said the president of the Spiritbond Master Association, seated in the first row, “Where is the direction of the first aura of spirit?”

“It’s…” Before Bai Ze could finish speaking, he foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

Qin Shu, standing beside Bai Ze, spat out a mouthful of blood and said weakly, “Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. The Heavenly Laws do not permit Bai Ze to disclose the location of the spirit aura. If we continue predicting, this place will be burned by heavenly fire!”

“What can we do to prevent the disaster?” asked Li Zheng, representing national power to hear the prophecy.

Qin Shu shook his head with a pale face, seemingly saying, “Fate cannot be defied, wait for death.”

“We can’t just sit idly by,” Li Zheng said.

The president of the Spiritbond Master Association, hidden in the shadows, also said, “Notify all Grade A Spiritbond Masters and above to pay attention to all abnormal events around them, especially those related to books, classics, and characters. Since we don’t know where the crisis lies, we can only cast a wide net.”

Li Zheng said, “I will report to my superiors and have local police pay attention to relevant matters, cooperating with the Special Affairs Bureau.”