How the silkworm signed for the package no longer mattered.
Su Hao tore open the parcel and pulled out a bunch of "supplementary ingredients."
Things like red maple leaves and volcanic rock crystals weren't particularly rare—just a hassle to buy.
Fortunately,
there was the all-powerful online shopping service.
Delivered right to the door.
Didn't even need to sign for it himself.
This batch of supplies wasn't all for the little fire crow.
Well,
to be precise, when Su Hao was ordering special ingredients for the little fire crow, the silkworm gave him a look that said something was off.
So he ordered another batch of wood-type ingredients to feed the silkworm.
Quantity-wise… it was a bit more than the fire-type ingredients.
Roughly a sixty-forty split.
Besides the "supplementary ingredients," there was also plenty of "jade powder" as the main component.
That way, he could mix a proper "nutritious meal" for the spirits.
This required several types of intermediate jade powder and several types of basic jade powder. Getting the ratio right was crucial.
Only with the perfect ratio, combined with the "supplementary ingredients," would it become a true nutritional feast.
If the ratio was off, it was just an expensive mishmash of jade powders.
Rumor had it,
these jade powder formulas were closely guarded secrets among veteran spirit breeders.
Even in the Spirit Tamer Alliance's marketplace, only a few very simple formulas were for sale.
That shows how precious these formulas are.
Su Hao didn't think much of it.
When basic cultivation was unlocked, it provided two formulas.
When spiritual power enhancement cultivation was unlocked, it provided three more.
Too bad,
they only worked for the silkworm.
Using them on other silkworm-type spirits would result in some loss of effectiveness.
Su Hao felt this little fire crow was fated to be with him.
Just a few days ago, its cultivation plan had been unlocked.
It was the first time he'd unlocked a fire-type spirit, and it was a bit pricey.
[Spirit: Little Fire Crow]
[Skipping details…]
[Basic Cultivation (9 [15] intelligence points to unlock)]
The basic cultivation included two formulas as well.
Mixing the formulas required precision.
And the Spirit Cultivation House had all the necessary equipment.
Su Hao borrowed a room.
A formula's information surfaced in his mind, and he was about to start mixing.
Suddenly,
he caught sight of the silkworm nearby, watching curiously.
His hand, reaching for the jade powder, paused briefly before he casually picked up a wood-type jade powder from farther away.
He began mixing.
After all, it was his first time.
Though Su Hao had plenty of theoretical knowledge, his technique was still a bit clumsy.
About half an hour later…
…
On the first floor of the Spirit Cultivation House,
in the area where spirits were kept.
Recently, there had been a regular visitor.
A silkworm several times larger than the juvenile spirits.
It often hung around the little fire crow.
"Gu nuo~"
"Ya ya."
The little fire crow had gotten used to the silkworm.
It responded and then kept staring at the wall.
Contemplating crow life.
But it didn't fly away.
Compared to other childish spirits, the silkworm seemed quite thoughtful.
The little fire crow still remembered what it had said that day.
The silkworm had said, "Money can do a lot. If you think it can't, it's because you don't have enough."
The little fire crow found that reasonable.
If it had three hundred thousand, could it buy its freedom?
It didn't mind staying at the Spirit Cultivation House.
It was just that,
every week, some foolish humans tried to contract it, which annoyed the little fire crow to no end.
With three hundred thousand, it could buy some peace.
Just then,
it was mealtime.
The Spirit Cultivation House staff brought them feed.
Not jade powder, just ordinary feed.
The Spirit Cultivation House only fed the spirits jade powder two or three times a month.
That was one reason they only sold juvenile spirits.
Growing spirits needed nutrition for development.
The Spirit Cultivation House couldn't afford to feed too many.
The more mature a spirit, the harder it was to contract.
The little fire crow pecked at some feed, eating until it was about seventy percent full.
Humans said eating until seventy percent full was healthier.
"Gu nuo~"
The little fire crow turned its head.
It saw that in front of the silkworm wasn't feed, but a delicate little box.
What's this?
"Gu nuo."
Jade powder?
The little fire crow lost interest immediately.
"Gu nuo~ gu nuo gu nuo!"
The little fire crow paused, a bit skeptical, "Ya ya!"
Jade powder only tastes a bit better than feed. How could it be something I, the little fire crow, have never tasted before?!
Do you think I've never had jade powder?!
It flapped its wings.
The silkworm opened the jade powder box.
The carefully mixed jade powder meal gave off a faint glow.
Exuding an indescribable allure.
"Gu nuo nuo Ψ(￣￣)Ψ"
The silkworm could barely hold back.
Then, remembering Su Hao's instructions, it called to the little fire crow, "Gu nuo."
"Ya ya."
The little fire crow glanced over.
So this is the food carefully prepared by that human feeder?
Tastes good?
Makes you stronger?
A pleasure for both body and soul?
If I contract with that feeder, I can enjoy delicious jade powder every day?
"Ya ya!"
The little fire crow turned its head away.
It didn't believe it.
It's just a little prettier, that's all!
Just then,
a human brought over another exquisite box and placed it in front of the little fire crow.
"Gu nuo~~"
"Ya ya?"
The feeder sent this to me?
Hah, do you think I, the little fire crow, am so easily bought off?!
I'm a crow with dignity and principles.
Even if I starve to death, die out there, I won't contract with some foolish human over a bit of food!
The human delivering the food opened the jade powder box.
A soft red glow burst forth.
The little fire crow froze.
It couldn't help but step closer.
An inexplicable pull came from the jade powder box.
It lowered its head and gave a gentle peck.
"Ya?!!!!!"
…
Feeling the intimate connection in his soul, Su Hao's heart steadied.
Poisoning the jade powder…
Ah, no!
Adding a drop of blood to the jade powder wasn't anything new.
But it didn't mean that just because the spirit ate the blood, it would be contracted.
Both sides still had to agree.
This acceptance had to come from the heart.
Even if you defeated or knocked out a spirit, you couldn't force a contract.
Su Hao had been prepared for a long struggle, but he never expected that one meal—no, one bite—would win over the little fire crow.
Those who failed to contract it before were utterly pathetic!
"Ya?"
The little fire crow noticed the person in front of it.
Compared to other foolish humans, this one was like a lotus emerging from clear water, radiating a unique charm from the inside out.
This person was its spirit tamer?
But how embarrassing for a crow!
How could it contract in one bite? It should've taken at least two… no, three bites.
"Ya! Ya!"
The little fire crow pecked at the jade powder a few more times to hide its embarrassment.
Su Hao reached out and patted the little fire crow's head.
The basic cultivation plan for the little fire crow surfaced in his mind.
Hmm…
There were only two months until the five-school practical exercise.
To make sure the little fire crow didn't embarrass itself then, he had to step up the training.
With his current resources, he could give the spirits extra meals often, so it was only reasonable to give them extra training too.
The little fire crow enjoyed the touch of this human who brought it closeness.
It pecked at the delicious jade powder meal again.
Feeling like it was at the peak of crow life.
Completely unaware,
that a gray, devilish tomorrow was waiting for it.
—
Let me do a quick survey:
This book's theme is spirit cultivation and battles, but in my setting, humans aren't just spectators—they can play a small supporting role.
For example, since there are no spirit balls, I've set up a [Summon] ability to call contracted spirits (with limits);
Another example is [Acceleration], which can slightly boost a contracted spirit's speed for a duration, etc.
There won't be any cases of humans dealing damage.
This kind of setup, giving spirit tamers a bit of auxiliary ability, should be acceptable to everyone… right?
A. Yes.
B. No problem.